Away for Holidays

Birthday was simple and a wonderful death by chocolate cake was had. These flowers lasted over 3 weeks before drying up. Local flower shop knows what I adore.

Then we took a trip away from our farm Big Cedar Lodge for our anniversary

Stained glass windows in the cabin

Huge cabin with a Christmas tree and a fireplace. Full bath with shower and tub and a full kitchen.

All decorated for the holidays

many photo ops as you walk about the place

The view across a marina of the cabins all lite up for the holidays

Jimmy Morris touches of Bass Pro everywhere

Golf cart self tour of the table rock lake

Many wells and springs

 

Turkey and tractors

This thanksgiving we were invited to a friends place for the big day. They made everything and we brought biscuits. After a big meal we offered to change the fuel filters on their tractor that needed doing.

We did not bring the right tools but got it done, almost.

a few too many gaskets were found and we have to do again. 

Hard to get the right parts these days

We live close so we will bring our tools to get this done.

 

Life on mars

This doe got her leg stuck in our chicken yard

She got it torn up good

 

Had to cut the fence and let her rest. We call her limpy. She has a scar and limps but is doing well with her two fawns. She was trying to get to the chicken feed. 

Jack O' Lantern hat

Finished hat felt hat, foam clay, real moss some paper Mache, and sewn in orange LED into the face plate

Vine arms and claws

Glass eyes placed in the vines

See how they glow

This hat was finished and given away to highest bidder. The money collected at the charity raffle was donated to another artist who needed funding. If I have enough time I will make more seasonal hats for charity. At the moment things are quite busy on the farm.

 

Spooky Hat

Foil and tape and time to create.

Claws and felt make my heart melt

EVA is just the base for the face.

Foam clay is the way to make it stay.

 

Fall farm colors

These mums were bought from a local farmer. Very happy with the colors.

After a decade of wanting a Japanese maple, we got one. I was not seeing the price drop even after a decade. So we just bought one in our zone locally grown. I am happy with the growth as it is a three year old specimen. The mums may stay or not, depends on how they overwinter next spring.

Cooler weather means sleeping cats

Had a full farm call this week. Our vet came over and gave shots to equines, felines and canine all in one go. It was so nice to have the entire herd taken care of at one time. No more piling the cats in the car and driving to see the vet. No more accidents in the car and cage. I rounded up the herd and all were ready for whatever they needed. After the vet visit, farm call, all animals were quiet and nappy for the rest of the day.

More mums blooming.

 

Haunt You

I bought a set of outdoor led  pumpkin heads. They were kind of plain, so I upgraded them.

Painted with flat black and then layers of oranges. Sprayed with mat clear spray.

final effect at dusk 

 

Playing with wood

I am diving into wood and lasers.  Along with wrapping up Halloween, I am prepping to make some of these for our church for the Christmas season.

 

Blue Bayou

Here is a sneak peek at my latest project. This is something I have been playing with and learning about for a while EVA foam. It has leather like properties but is very light weight.

Some heat and lots of sewing of layers.

I am sewing neon tubing as I layer the eva foam. I could just use UV resin but I prefer more stability in the final product. Only wish the battery pack was smaller. Might use solar or rechargeable neon tube lights for the next one.

 

They Call Me Mello Yellow

I was given some seeds of yellow watermelon to grow. This year I did just that and boy did they produce for me. This one was 20 pounds.

Big yellow sweet melons. But the drought was hard on the melons. Several were split by deer and overwatering. But the few I saved were over the top tasty.

The grower did not know why the skins were white but the inside is normal and yellow. I gave some starts to a fellow gardener and hers were also very sweet and white on the outside.

The seed were from a farmer in Salem, Missouri. I wanted to save this line so I did not plant any other type of melon so the seeds will carry the same dna next year.

 

Flower me

This is a hand sewn hand painted placemat set of 4 sold in the 1990's at various stores. Though it looks old, it is not. It was made in China on the back. What I love is how sturdy these are. The dye is very suspect and fugitive if wet, not practical as a placemat.

I am in the process of stabilizing these colors to use this placemat as a purse embellishment.

I had hoped these colors were wax based but they are watercolor based. 

I love the vines and flowers and the tiny stitches. I will try to copy this design using wax based colors.

Just another neat fiber project I am working on.

 

Restoration, Rest and Visitors

This was the final wax up of this very old Japanese inlay wood box. Several stripped layers down to the original patina under the barn dirt.

Rich variety of woods and inlay. I also removed and reinstalled the handles of this small box. Beeswax in a very light coat to French polish the outside and cutting board oil for to moisten the dry Japanese cedar drawers. This box still has a light scent for its age.

Frosty taking a nap on me as I read. He loves to get on my back for the rare times I take a break.

Alan's cousin came to visit our farm. This was the first visitors since the pandemic began in 2020. It is always a pleasure to share our joys of living on an Ozarks farm with others.