Me after 5 coffees and no lunch

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Office Changes

Our Christmas decorations new for the office a first time. The office has never been decorated before. It takes time but is worth it.

The front office desk decorated with sewing class projects.

Our new back office with donated desk credenza.

The new front office with rugs and donated desk we found in Arkansas. And we now have a new priest a local from the Ozarks. So lots of changes. This front office is a mini clinic, hospital, and safe haven. Many things have happened in this office for the good of several people. They feel welcome and safe here. And that makes it all worth it.

 

Snow Day

We had a lot of snow about 5 inches on top of the ice from last week. One afternoon a heard a bang outside my window and found this woodpecker out cold. So I brought it inside and let it warm up. It chirped and flapped about an hour later and I set it free.

My Chevy truck rusting away so I filled the hole with a plastic skeleton. It stayed put even in the ice and snow.

Our farm all the trees are heavy with snow.

Eos, my Anatolian/Great Pyrenees mix living her best life of year one. She is a very big girl (90lbs) and she does a great job keeping away predators. She will get up to about 120lbs when she turns 3 years. She loves the cold. She is a farm guardian, not a pet. She lives outside 24/7 no matter what. She has 2 heated  kennels and a fan if she wants it. She is chipped, spayed, tracked and vaccinated. She was the best decision I ever made for our farm. And she is very loyal and yet very stubborn. She loves the poultry and lives with them.

My second best guardian, Shelby the donkey. She also keeps predators away. 

 

Get the to a sewing machine

So along with the farm life, being a church secretary, an artist and a restorer I also teach beginning sewing classes. I teach both group and private lessons. I teach mostly adults but also sometimes children take the class. These classes are always free, sewing machines are provided along with the pattern and threads. Students just need to bring fabric and some supplies. Many can't afford sewing supplies so they are provided by donations. I picked up several good working sewing machines from the local thrift shop. I got the sewing machines working for the students to use.

This was the apron class and a big hit.

Change of pace. This is a muslin drape for a Sister to try on. I need to finish this apron for her. It is a custom apron for her. She had them custom made in France and there was no pattern. So I made one. She needs 2 one for everyday and one for gardening.

My first Catholic acolyte student. He is in his final semester at the seminary and is to become a priest this fall. And he is my best sewing student.

Learning how to cut patterns and fabric.

My classroom is also the church hall. Lots of room for the students.

My students are men and women. Nice mix to have.

Here is the stuffed bear class. This was harder than it looked but they loved it.

 

The brass restorations

The restorations will continue until moral improves. Here is a brass chalice from another church. The priest retired and these brass items were found. Several were in various states of tarnish and neglect. I gave a quick lesson to the parishioners and everyone picked a chalice to restore.

Before

and after.

Now this was a solid brass book stand. I was told about it a few years ago but the janitor at that church said he would try to restore it. Two weeks later he died unexpectedly. He had been a much beloved janitor to that church. So I was given the task of restoring this very heavy book stand. So far it's in pieces. I need to boil it and polish it. The tarnish is under the varnish.

There are no hurries as the parish got a new priest and he does not use this stand. So it sits in my studio until I have time to finish it. 

 

2024 Christmas cookie bake off

Here is the custom cookie decorating station I made for our church. These decorated cookies along with other donated cookies were boxed up and each family got to take a box home and give a box to a neighbor or the homebound.  Over 79 boxes were made and about 45 were given to those outside of church.

I baked and cut over 300 gingerbread and sugar cookies. Made the custom color icing bags.

The cookie boxes ready to be packed by the volunteers.

Used Boston gingerbread spice mix to pump up the gingerbread. Much to the delight of our German patrons.

Cookie people, ornaments and trees

All the cookie decorations , sugar sprinkles and eyeballs for the cookies. This was the 2nd time we have done this and it is very popular. Instead of a Christmas party, we have fun and share with the community.

 

Snowy January

Our horses we cozy in the lean too. Had to put up new walls right before the ice storm hit. Could not get them painted but the wood was coated in ice.

Ice on ice on electric fences. Trees were down and power was out. But the woodstoves kept us warm.

Our ducks love the snow. They go into the heated coop at night. In the daytime they frolic under the tarp where the food is.

Heavy branches under the weight of 1 inch of ice.

My truck under 5 inches of snow. Had to use a plastic shovel to clear it.