Keeping warm...

Often life seems to get into a rut of trying to keep one step ahead of the urgent. How quickly I can sink into mere existance--keep up the laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc, etc. Jonathan sees life as a party--to be enjoyed at the fullest extent. He helps all of us to step back from the routine and see life in a new light. As tired as we get keeping up with this little guy, I can't imagine a day without his enthusiasm and love. Wayne got this picture of him yesterday as Jonathan was enjoying the company of his big brothers and their friends (see picture #2). This is the essence of Jonathan and I'm so glad he captured it in a picture.

These are the "big guys" that Jonathan so enjoys being around. Will (2nd from left) taught Jonathan to dance--complete with sound effects. Andrew (holding Jonathan) helps Jonathan "fly" by lifting him up in the air to give Will very high "high 5's". It's great to have these guys around and we enjoy our "other sons" invading the house--and yes, the kitchen. They are definitely part of our "abundant blessings".

These cold days/evenings we spend a great deal of time in our mudroom around our woodstove. We moved the "good" chairs from the sitting room out into the mudroom last night. That's definitely a sign that it's cold. Marc makes lots of extra trips to the chicken house to give the "girls" warm mash and plenty of water. They reward him with their eggs--he's averaging 9-10/day which is pretty good for the depths of winter (he has 15 chickens).

I finally got a chance to spin some fleece this weekend...Indian Paintbrush's fleece is becoming yarn this time around. This week I'm hoping to finish up the grant application I've been working on so I can have more time to do the spinning.

I did make another batch of remelt goat milk soap--actually 2 batches...they came out much better than my first attempt. I've got to figure out how to keep the air bubbles from forming on the back of the soap--otherwise the formed soap looks pretty good. I'm waiting for a shipment of lye to arrive so Matt and I can attempt a "from scratch" batch of soap. Maybe we'll get some pics of that adventure to share.

It's time to go stoke the fire...so bye for now...keep warm!

Beginning 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas and a special gift of Mom Jackson coming for a week's visit. She was able to make a snowman with the 4 youngest...it's been awhile since she's done that. (Georgia weather isn't snowman friendly)

We've taken a couple weeks off from school and will be starting again tomorrow. We've filled the time off with cooking, reading, sewing, crafting, re-organizing, playing games, puzzles, and enjoying the snow.

There was one sad part to the holidays...we had to give Midnight up and have him placed with another owner. He became agressive with us--especially at night when we wanted him to move from one place to another. Instead of him improving with time, he was becoming worse. He had started growling at the younger kids for no reason so we knew he had to go. Our vet saw how much we cared about him and offered to neuter him and try to place him in a home without children. It was a relief that he was willing to do this instead of putting him down--Midnight was such a good dog...when he was good. So-o-o we're back to being a one dog family...much to Brittany's pleasure. The house is much quieter and calmer with our more "mature" dog.

I tried "rebatching" a batch of goats milk soap today (remelting a prepared base and adding scents/coloring). It didn't work as the bags I used to put the soap in melted in the hot water. I'll have to try again using an oven bag (I had used 2 heavy duty ziplock bags as they suggested, but I guess my 'heavy duty bags' weren't heavy enough! The oven bag was the other alternative suggestion.) I'd like to get another batch done this week since I have an interested buyer at a local store. She asked me to bring me a batch after the Christmas holidays.

Today Wayne and I discussed what poultry we plan on raising this year. We want to do pastured broilers/roasters and some turkey. We're going to ask if any of our friends would like to go in with us on the turkey order since there is a minimum order of 15--I don't think even our family would eat 15 turkeys in a year. We're also dreaming of our garden crops as the seed catalogs have arrived. When we start writing down the tasks to be done on the calendar, spring doesn't seem so far away. Marc is eagerly awaiting April and the arrival of his goats.

This is Matt's last week working in Binghamton. He is due to start classes in Oneonta next week. He'll miss his co-workers but not the long commute (45 minutes each way). I'll be glad that he doesn't have to make that trip in winter weather.

It's time to call it a night and try to get some sleep since school starts tomorrow. Until next time...good night from the farm.

Linda

Christmas Eve on the farm

These are the last 48 of 192 crescent rolls that have come from our kitchen this week. That is not counting the rolls I've made for my baker friend who asked if I'd like to try selling some at her space in a local store. (Those were an additional 144.) It's a good thing they are easy to make. The kids were afraid we wouldn't have any, but I put some aside for Christmas dinner. The cake in the foreground is part of our traditional Christmas trifle.
I love this picture of our eldest and youngest resting after a very busy day. Matt worked all day--extra hard so the store would be all set and stocked for the day after Christmas. Ian played hard all day--tromping around the field with
Dad and playing with the rest of the kids.
I'm making our traditional Christmas morning cinnamon rolls with Matt's "help" (harassment!) That's Nathanial coming through the doorway.
The cinnamon rolls are from a recipe in MISERLY MOMS and taste just like TJCinnamons rolls that I used to love getting at the mall when we lived in Maryland. They are so addictive we only have them on Christmas and Easter. I did break down and double the batch this year.
Katelyn enjoying a Boxcar Children Mystery that she opened for her Christmas Eve gift. The sweatshirt was a surprise from Rachael and Dad who found it in a thrift store this a.m. while out doing errands.


Jonathan eager to tackle the presents...actually he's had a very busy day. I was interrupted while wrapping presents so I shut the door to our bedroom and went downstairs. Later I noticed that Jonathan hadn't been heard from in a while. I asked Nathanial to check on him...he was in our room playing with one of his new toys! I finished wrapping later this afternoon and was doing dishes this evening. Jonathan disappeared again. Katelyn went to find him...he had opened the biggest box in the pile and was examining a new globe. He finally got to open one gift without getting into trouble just before bedtime...a book which will hopefully keep him occupied until he falls asleep!

Speaking of sleep...I have a feeling it'll be a very early morning so I'll close for now. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It's beginning to look like Christmas...

This morning we woke up to a beautiful coating of white. Ian was watching the snowflakes fall from the sky and told me the birds must be having a party. I wasn't sure what he meant and then I realized he saw the snowflakes as confetti.

I love seeing ordinary things through the eyes of our little guys.

Wayne got up early with Jonathan and took these pictures. We spent yesterday afternoon hanging the wreaths and ribbons--just in time for a real winter scene. This is a view of the house without the front porch and with our new door and sidelights.

Wayne has been working on painting the dining room--the last of the flowered wallpaper that came with the house is now covered. He did one wall at a time as his back allowed. Shortly after getting up with Jonathan and after taking pictures of the outside, Jonathan decided he needed more sleep. Wayne got to finish the last wall of the dining room without any help. (Though later in the afternoon one of the window sills did end up having a bit of yellow added... thanks to Jonathan!) (I'll try to get a picture of the newly painted dining room next time.)

I didn't do much with our alpaca fleece this week. I did spin some of the Babydoll wool and the merino top which I bought at Rhinebeck. I got another order for some gray yarn so yesterday I carded Mystifier's fleece and started spinning today. Hopefully, by the end of the evening I'll have another skein done and ready to wash/dry. I want to get it to the customer asap since she's making a scarf for her husband for Christmas. Maybe next year I'll have enough spun so I can make Christmas gifts with our yarn!

Ian loves to sing Christmas carols. His favorite is "pa rum pa pa pum" (The Little Drummer Boy). Tonight at the dinner table he insisted that we should pray "pa rum pa pa pum" before eating. He was quite put out that we did a non-singing prayer. He also goes around the house humming the music to Away in the Manger. When he gets to the words he knows, he belts out "The Little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay!!!" (then returns to humming the rest of the song).

Until next time...

Counting our blessings...

Alpacas checking out the camera...

Jonathan and Ian...

Ian and Katelyn...

Marc walking along the field edge...

Our Thanksgiving was a wonderfully, quiet, relaxing day. Wayne's boss gave us a 24 lb. turkey which wouldn't fit in the fridge so I roasted it on Wednesday. Most of the other preparations I made the day before, too, which left Thursday as a day to enjoy being together with the family and our friend William who came to spend a few days with us while his family was in NYC. (Will had to work so he couldn't go to the City.) It was great having a day to rest and reflect on all that we have been blessed with. I'm including some pictures of our blessings.

I was able to get the six alpaca earwarmer kits to the shop this week. I made one using each alpaca's fleece and then blended Mystifier's and Indian's fleece to make a neat two-toned yarn. While delivering the kits we ran into Diane who was also making some deliveries of some of her knit products. She has used some of our alpaca to make items for the shop. We enjoyed talking with the owners and seeing what else local artisans had delivered for the Christmas shopping season. There are some incredibly talented people around here!

We left that shop and went across the street to visit another little shop we hadn't been in. There we had the fun of running into our dear friend Carole who owns and operates Covenant Baked Goods. She rents a small section of the store and sells her baked items in this little shop. We tried to catch up on all the latest news and she put in an order for all the eggs Marc's chickens can provide.

Next we went to a little diner and had a cup of coffee and muffin when other friends walked in. Deb was delivering potato salad which she makes for the diner. Her daughter got married last year and moved to Florida so we got to catch up with Deb and Danielle while having our coffee. Wayne and I both commented on how neat it was to visit the little shops/diner and be able to visit with people...such a nice change from the "Wally-world chaos". I hope that we'll see a revival of the little village shops and the sense of community they bring.

Since I met my "quota" of spinning for the shop, I decided to treat myself to some spinning time with some of the purchases I made at Rhinebeck. I also wanted to try spinning some of that Babydoll fleece I got from Mary a couple of weeks ago. I really like the Babydoll though it does have lots of second cuts...which basically means you get little "noils" (aka"pills") in your yarn. This is okay as long as you don't mind some added texture. I'm thinking of making some mittens from the yarn so the added bumps won't be a problem. I've done a bit of spinning with some cranberry colored mohair top. Spinning from "top" (where all the fibers are running parallel) is a bit of a challenge for this beginning spinner, but I'm hoping with practice my yarn will be a bit more consistent.

Wayne walking the dogs... Rachael & the boys playing with the dogs...

Introducing....

And he-e-e-ere's.....MIDNIGHT!

The farm has a new addition...Midnight, a 5 year old black lab, arrived last Saturday and has been settling into life on the farm. His previous owners lived in the city of Binghamton so he's adjusting to all the empty space surrounding the house. (They had to move and couldn't take him with them.) Midnight loves to play ball, chase sticks, and roll on the ground with 2 little boys. He's escaped more than once but since he loves to ride, he happily ran and jumped in the backseat of the car when I followed him and opened the back door.

Brittany is adjusting to having a very active male dog around...she can frequently be seen giving him disgusted looks. (Yes, she is a VERY expressive dog...the only one I've ever seen who literally pouts when she's offended.)

We've brought in all the gourds and are hopeful that they'll dry properly so we can attempt some gourd crafts. I'm really hoping the bushel gourds cure well--they'll make some neat bowls/baskets. This is just a sampling of some of the gourds we harvested.

I've finally finished working on the pattern for the earwarmer I've been working on to put into a kit. Here's a picture of Rachael modeling it. (This picture is on the package) I plan on getting at least one kit into the shop this week.

Yesterday I picked up 2 big bags of babydoll sheep wool to try spinning. In my reading, it was described as a good blender for alpaca. A fellow spinner that my teacher told me about gave me one fleece from her sheep (Babydoll/Romney Cross) and one from her neighbor (100% Babydoll). I must say, spinners are such a generous lot--they are so willing to help you find what you're looking for and if they have it, they are more than willing to share. She encouraged me to come back sometime soon with my wheel so we could sit, spin, and get to know each other. She also offered to give me a couple of rams for lawn trimming and future fleece harvests, but that's jumping way too far ahead of what we're up to having on the farm at this point.

Ian says, "See you later! Come back soon!"

October days...

Pictures! Matt and I have been trying to figure this system out and we think we've finally got it!

These were taken on Saturday...a beautiful, sunny, WARM day. Ian's favorite activity these days is playing hide and seek with chickens in the corn patch. He cornered one in the compost bin and she pecked him--He was NOT impressed, but it didn't keep him from continuing the game.

We harvested carrots and they are stored in the basement. The Indian corn has been on display for the neighbors and anyone else who passes by to purchase...so far they've sold about $10 worth.

Wayne found a trampoline at a yard sale, which the
kids are thoroughly enjoying. Jonathan and Ian are ready to go "jump" before they get out of their pajamas in the a.m.

As you can see by the picture our alpacas are filling in nicely with fleece. Tonight we gave them their menengial worm shots...by ourselves. I must agree with Matt--giving them their injections is MUCH easier than trimming toenails!! We dread having to repeat that experience...I think they do too!

Marc's newest chickens are laying eggs! Wayne has been teasing him that they better start producing or they'll end up on the dinner table. Maybe Marc spread the word and they decided to get busy.

Marc is dog-sitting for a neighbor's 2 Rotties. They are big babies and he adores them. They all seem to enjoy exercise time around the pond...Marc walks and enjoys the view while they chase off Canadian geese and tear around the property.

I've spun a bit of Mystifier tonight--I plan on using that to knit a sample of the headband that we are putting together in a kit. We'll provide the pattern, the yarn, and a picture of the finished product in a little package. Hopefully, they'll be a good seller. I don't think any of my yarn has sold at the shop yet, but with the warm weather we've been having, many people aren't thinking about needing warm, knit/crochet items. At least it's given me some time to do some spinning and working out the "bugs" in our pattern. Last week I spun an alpaca/angora blend--it is SO soft. I've also washed a lot of fleece. I'm finding the carding is the most time consuming step in the process. Hopefully at the beginning of the year I'll be able to purchase a drum carder which will allow me to do more in less time.

We've visited two goat farms in the past week. Marc is definitely taken with the Nigerian Dwarf breed. Matt is leaning towards the Alpine breed. Mom has been doing a lot of reading and encouraging (okay...nagging!) the boys that they need to be doing the reading if this is THEIR project. We'll see if this does develop into a new farm enterprise. Marc found out how much he needs to purchase a pregnant doe and is about 1/4 of the way there. He figures that he'll earn some for dog-sitting and from selling eggs...it'll be a long-g-g process, but I know if it's something he really wants to do, he'll make it happen. The doe will be bred in November and deliver in April so he has some time to earn the $--who knows, maybe Matt will decide the Nigerian dwarf breed is the way to go and will chip in on the purchase.

'Til next time....
Linda