Wreath Making

Here is a Dresden Plate pattern I made into a Christmas wreath. I will be showing my students how to make this easy wall hanging next week.

Coyote Stupid

Coyote Stupid season is here.

I don't mind hunters who obey the laws, hunt in season with permission. I can't tolerate trespassers and slob hunters on my property. Coyotes are hunted almost all year long as a pest, but the fall brings out the coyote "experts" the Coyote Stupids.

Out of town people who just run their radio dogs and kill anything their dogs flush out of my forest and pasture.

I really dislike a herd of 20 crazy hounds with radio collars blasting through my woods at 5am, scaring my livestock and breaking the silence of a fall morning with howls. I drive out to "hunters" nestled in their warm truck cabs and ask them "who's land do they think they are on and who gave them permission to run their dogs on said land?"

I get some mumbled names of dead people or names from the Civil War. They gripe and deny these dogs are their dogs as the panting dogs hop into their warm truck cabs. They then threaten me if I stop them from getting their dogs off of my property. The dogs they just said they do not own. They said they have the law on their side and there is nothing I can do about it. Ah, making friends is not a past time of the Coyote Stupids.

The "coyote hunters" then round up the rest of their "out of town" canines and posse and drive away to torment some other farmer or land owner farther down the lane. Meanwhile, trash (beer) is left behind, fences are cut, hungry lost hounds come to my house and livestock is missing. My morning has gone from a coffee break to D-day. I have fences to fix, trash to pick up and livestock to find. I am glad I did not wear my antler hat and coyote tail jeans this morning.

I think they would not like it if I ran my livestock across their porch at 5am and shot at anything that my animals flush out from my car while I drank my Starbucks and threw it out my car window. And then threaten them if I can't get my animals off their porch. Since it is legal to hunt coyote in Missouri after all. Even porch coyotes. Yes, it is the Coyote Stupid way.

October Crafters

It is so nice to be able to see people and talk with them about their craft. In the city, crafters and venders are too busy to talk at shows, too many people. But out here in the Ozark country they don't mind if you sit and learn while they make their craft. Just stopping and asking questions and watching; you can learn something you might not know. You might even take up an new craft. We met men who carved wooden bowls, spun yarn and made quilts! It was a nice way to enjoy a fall afternoon.

Hand Sewn Quilt

I met a wonderful quilter at the Alley Springs festival. She was on her knees hand tying a poly knit star quilt. I was just in awe of her tenacity to see this quilt through. I have worked with knits and they are stretchy and hard on the needle. This quilt will be donated to a family in need somewhere in America. The red, white and blue quilt was one her grandmother made for her. It is always nice to stop and talk to a quilter. You can learn so much because we love to share.

Alley Springs in October

We got the chance to go and see Alley Springs this past weekend for their fall craft festival at their Mill. We did not alter these photos, the spring water is that clear and blue. This is the way rivers and lakes used to look like across America. We are so lucky to live out here in the Ozarks where we can see all this color all year long.

Support Morningland Dairy

Time to share a little light of information. Small farmers are a dying breed thanks to our FDA and it's mishandling of samples and railroading. Morningland Dairy was ordered to destroy its cheeses here in MO from bad samples taken weeks ago in a store in CA. The dairy here in MO has always tested 100% clean and free of any pathogens. They should not be held accountable for poor cheese testing practices from another state and FDA. Our FDA is a sham/puppet to big business and it's time for them be investigated instead of "self regulated". It is time for people to stand up and question the "testing" techniques our FDA. We need to support our small farmers so we have the freedom of choice in what foods we choose to eat and not what the FDA says.

I'd like to quote Doreen Hannes:

What we have here is the continued destruction of food freedom, food choice and food availability. The federal government does not believe that people are capable of deciding what to eat themselves and have “erected a multitude of New Offices and sent forth swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.” Literally. That citation from the Declaration of Independence couldn’t possibly have been more true at any time in history than it is today. Remember, no farmers, no food."

Old Time Organ

My friend Tamara was having a yard sale last week to help gather funds for her mission trip to Africa this winter. One of the items for sale was this antique organ from the 1800's. Which has been kept in great shape and plays very well. She is seen here playing for my husband out on her front yard. If you are interested you can contact her husband at his office. It is located in Willow Springs, MO at his main office.

Cat Nesting

Fall must be coming when our cats all hunker down together on the sofa. They normally avoid ever getting this close to each other. But a cool night with the windows open will drive them into a reluctant blanket huddle.

Training Quarter Horses

My trainer got a job to train several untrained three year old mares. These mares have been to pasture since birth and have not been handled, wild like mustangs. They are all in horse "boot camp" learning to become usable quarter horses. This week was halter breaking and lunging with a saddle pad. The mares need to pay attention and trust humans for a change instead of just their herd mates.

Longhorn Saddle

We were offered to buy a vintage Longhorn Roping Saddle. It is an old one but the leather has been taken care of and is soft. The owner used to herd cattle in the west a long time ago with his wife. They are now retired from riding but could out ride me any day on any kind of horse. It will be nice to see if this saddle fits our horses.

Poppy's First Mouse

Poppy our "mostly outdoor cat that thinks he is a dog" caught his first field mouse. Poppy is an overfed walking mousetrap so it is good to see him earning his keep for a change. He did not eat the mouse but brought it to my car just for me. He waited all day lording over his prey until I came home to congratulate him.

Fall at the Mill

This past Saturday was our annual Fish Fry at our historic Mill in Summersville, Missouri. The day got started early with setting up the food, tables and chairs, pumpkins and fish. Since I was setting up and serving food, I did not get any shots of that, too busy! But I did get shots of Roy our Mill coordinator and his blue donated shuttle taxi. You can also see our new park benches on the Mill porch. The log counter was made with the help of donated materials, skills and time by friends of the Mill; it turned out great! I missed getting a shot of the Bluegrass Fiddlers who played for us while people enjoyed the fish and desserts. It all turned out to be a wonderful event to get ready for Fall.

October Crafting at the Mill

I had the pleasure visiting with crafter and writer Darlene Kenaga of Mountain View, Missouri. She is a quilter, knitter, tatter and rug maker. She has also written and printed her own book about her youth, "Four Kids in a Model-A". The book is only sold at events she is attending, like ours at the mill. She was there to sign books and demonstrate her crafting. I am always amazed at the skills people of the Ozark have and use on a daily basis. You just don't see this anymore in the modern city lifestyles of today. It was nice to stop and just listen to what she had to share. And she is a wonderful teacher of her crafts, a very patient.