Orphan No More

Last week a single duckling was hatched. After 2 days the mama did not get off the nest. The duckling was dehydrated and weak. I brought it inside to get better. Meanwhile, 4 other ducklings were killed by a chicken. 

So after waiting  a week another duckling hatched and I heard its cries. The mama duck left the nest and the duckling was cold. After tucking it in my pocket for warmth, he is now a companion to the orphan. Hoping the rest of the clutch will hatch with mama duck. She is a first time mama duck and new to raising her brood.

Melon Twin

This is Melon and his stuffed doppelganger. 

Nothing as soft as a feather duvet and a flannel cover.

Attack Rooster

This is a rooster I was given along with 5 more from a "I do not want roosters hurting my hens" type of farm. I told the giver their roosters would become roasters, they were fine with that. But I kept one of the lot for possible breeding. That was a mistake as I found out this rooster was hand raised and had no fear of people.

After about 3 months this rooster had no covered hens and was attacking us all the time. That is a death sentence on our farm, but our freezer was full. So I took him to auction instead.

I put a sign on his cage that he was mean. He sold for $2 and was for sale again the following month by that same buyer.  I am glad my own roosters fear me. They have a job to be with their hens and watch over them. I have learned that it is best to kill off a mean rooster. You do not want that aggression to be passed into flock. And you do not want the animal to end up potentially harming someone.

Oh Mr Finch

Mr. Finch is a gifted textile artist. Who does not love a giant fuzzy bumblebee?

You can go to his website:  

The photos take my breath away.

New Year Overload

Wow, I have been too busy to do anything productive. Life on the farm is great, but fences always need doing. We have had a mild winter until this week. Snow falls and the cold returns. My hens are broody and trying to hatch. One lone chick hatched in the freezing coop, so it is now inside my house. Have been so busy planning the garden, doing church stuff and visiting friends. My endeavor into sales finding it lacking and was not my forte. Back to what I love, creating and sewing. Now to rearrange my craft room back into the sewing and tack room it was before. New fabrics, new sewing machine and new friends who sew. And my Melon always in the middle of everything.

Hello Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki makes movies that kick Disney in the butt. For shear beauty, storytelling and adventure; his movies are a feast for the eyes, ears and heart.

My Neighbor Totoro is one of my all time favorites. I want a cat bus to take me somewhere.

           Just captivating gardens and scenery. Places I have never been but always want to return to.

My dream garden.

Spirited Away is very imaginative with a great lesson.

Howl's Moving Castle, just something for everyone.

Again, Totoro. Thank you Hayao Miyazaki for sharing your beauty and vision with everyone of all ages, races and cultures.

Lights On, Lights Off

Here is our farm for the holidays. It is now all taken down and put away until next Christmas. It was an all day chore, but my husband helped 'git 'er done. This was a cold night with rain and wind across our duck pond at night. The blue and white LED lights are so bright in the crisp night. The LED lights do not get hot and use less electricity. I also added a small bunch of solar LED lights to our mailbox as a try out. They worked except when the headlights hit them, they go out, but come back on instantly and stay on for 8 hours. Will have to add more of them where we have no outlets.

New Year Stuff

This is a boot holder a friend made me for Christmas. It was perfect timing and we have lots of chore and cowboy boots by the back door. I even like the color of the primer.

Now our boots can get dry and warm by the wood stove. And we can turn them upside down of they need to drain. Best gift ever!

Daisy and Melon taking in the wood heat on top of horse blankets.

Little bird hit our window and needed to warm up safely. Was set free to join the wild flock again.

The Big Blue

After many interruptions, chores, obligations, visitations and farm life, I finally got this quilt done. It will be given to its new owner soon.

She picked this pattern from an older McCall's Quilting magazine, with changes to the color, pattern and border.

First manipulation of the blue blocks and border ideas.

Stars fabric was not liked and was removed then not used. In the end I was very happy with the final selection from the client.

Christmas Eve Doings

Poppy supervising the holiday baking in the kitchen.

Curly dominating the front door and protecting the buckwheat hulls. And leaving tiny little brown tic tacs all over my rug, ugh!

Getting a quilt order done for the holidays.

My Farm Pats

I think this cartoon sums me up on my farm. I always pat my animals, any animals and feel great. My husband always points this out, that I pat the animals. I do not hug and pet them, just pat them and make sure they are taken care of. Anything more will result in a messy cleanup, fur and feathers everywhere,broken heart and mourning for their loss when they go. Some get sick, some get eaten and some just grow old. A pat is best for them and for me. I wish I could pat people, but they do not like that very much and prefer hugs and kisses. Resulting in fur everywhere, broken heart when they die and mourning their loss. At least on my farm, a pat is best.

Cranberry Compote for Christmas

 A good friend of mine makes this every time we are over her place for dinner. It is so tasty and a good side to any meal. Here is the recipe: Cranberry Compote
1 cup of sugar (or honey) I used half since sugar is not the best thing for you, 1 bag of cranberries half thawed if frozen, 2 large sweet naval oranges or 4 tangerines, 1 cup chopped pecans, all the orange skins without the pith (white stuff).

First you wash the cranberries. I soak in water with 2 sprays of white vinegar, rinse in water to kill off any bad things on the skins and dirt. Rinse, remove water and wash your oranges too!

Now I chop my cranberries in the food processor until chunky. Put in a bowl, then chop the pecans chunky, add to bowl. You will be hand  mixing all the chopped stuff.

Next, I remove the orange skins from the pulp, chop well in the processor or by hand, your choice.

Now here is the trick to make this so fresh tasty and not bitter. Remove the pith (white stuff ) from the orange skins with a very short sharp knife. Cut along the pith, away from you and just the skin remains. The pith makes the food taste bitter over time. So I carefully cut this away from the skins. Put the skins in the processor and blitz until finely chopped. Add to bowl along with your sugar or sweetener of choice. Hand mix the mess. Cover bowl and set in fridge at least 1 hour before serving or overnight is best. 

Looks like a mess, but is oh so tasty. We eat along with lunch and breakfast. Note: you can add a few drops of lime juice for a zing if you like. Enjoy.

First Snow