Crafty Tuesday's fun ~

When I set out my ideas for the day, they didn't look too large on paper. Boy was I wrong!I even went so far as to post them on my FB page in hopes of the accountability factor.

Good Morning, today is "Terrific Tuesday" and "Crafty Day "for me. Plans are to make yogurt, some Chevre cheese and finally putting together my first batch of Goat Soap in my kitchen pursuits. In the Craft room I will be starting the "Block of the Month" challenge. Creative Writing on Heartland Farm blog will need to be squeeze in somewhere. Whooo~ wonder if I can get it all done? What do you have on the agenda for Terrific Tuesday?

Either I'm getting slower or I must think that there are more hours to my day than reality says there are. Of course there are the little things that can pop up to take your focus from the task at hand. Thankfully today's didn't derail me too bad. They tried though, tried really, really hard. Probably would have too if I hadn't had my best friend by my side to help me through the hurdle's. Thanks baby! With hubby's help we were able to mark off the dairy projects planned. Thanking the Lord for the rain that kept him inside and the desire to "hang out" in the kitchen with me.

With his extra set of hands we were able to get the Yogurt made, have Keifer brewing on the counter, made a batch of Chevre mother culture also perking on top of the fridge and a pot Chevre incubating on the back of the stove. Even though I did get to start my soap :-( the kitchen was just too busy for something that takes undivided attention. Especially since I've never made a batch before. Thinking it might need a day all to itself, considering the learning curve on my part. Good news is I did get my quilt square made for the BOM challenge. Yea!

This is my very first machine stitched block. In years past I've only pieced together a few small pieces by hand. I was amazed how fast it went together. Angles not quite perfect, but I'm pleased with this first attempt. Next one for the month will probably be more forgiving as the sashes are set on odd angles. Definitely will work to my favor . It's not too late to join in on the fun, cause it is just starting. Just click on the button link to the right to get all the details.

Joy Dare ~ 10th of January (counting 1,000 Gifts in 2012)

#109/34~ a gift that's sour -discussion about God's word with one who doesn't see it the same.*

#110/35~ a gift that's sweet - my deceased Mother-n-laws pickle recipe I made this summer @ dinner tonight*

#111/36~ a gift that's just right - having Lon home 24/7*

#112/37 ~ working side by side with him

#113/38 ~ hearing him singing favorite songs of praise.

#114/39 ~ first machine stitched quilt square

It's been a Terrrific day,

Deborah

Fall Happenings

The weather has been typically Fall-ish in every way. I just love the warm days and cool sweater evenings. We have seen two groups of geese fly over yesterday signaling that colder weather is just around the corner. Today we saw 3 different groups flying in their trademark V formations.

We are still not ready for a fall garden, but Lon did manage to plant 2 kinds of cabbage and some collards we think, as the tag on the tray of seedlings were mixed up. I guess we will have to wait till spring to plant a garden in earnest. The best we can do this winter is to improve the soil with some natural amendments found around the barnyard. Then dream over the seed catalogs during the cold days when you don't dare stick your nose outside for long.

Curiosity got the best of us recently and we sat down to figure up the due dates for the girls. Not really knowing when Anna was bred posed a problem with her projected dates, but we just figured it from the week prior to her arrival here. The previous owner had said she and the buck had been seen together, so it is a safe bet that she came to us already bred. All three of the does have gone past their repeated heat cycle dates, so we feel sure they are all pregnant with our future herd mates. It was surprising to see how the due dates fell ~

Anna - due Dec. 24 - Jan. 2nd. (Holiday babies?)

Sugar - due Feb. 5th -Feb. 9th (her birthday is Feb. 9th)
This is one of her baby pictures from back in March. She has grown into a beautiful doe. Guess I need to take some new photos of her, huh?

Amber - due Feb. 12th - Feb. 16th ( Valentine babies?)

This will be our first kidding and we are excited about having baby kids running around the place. But a little nervous about any possible delivery problems we may encounter. I've helped deliver human babies before, but I have a sneaky suspicion that this will be way different. Reading up on the details will be one thing I can do as I wait for my injury to heal.

We now have the wood needed to put the roof on the new goat shelter we are building for their new living quarters. Hopefully it won't take too long to complete and they will have a dry place to wait out the winter weather sure to come. Plans are to also partition off a place in our "barn in progress"for a kidding area and holding pen. A big need that will be used sooner than I think we will be ready for. Here's hoping for some dry weather and well bodies to get the work done.

Lon put up a deer stand near his food plot behind the house, in hopes of getting us some venison for our freezer. We have seen signs of their presence on the property. The grasses and peas are coming up good in it and someone has been sampling the corn we left out in the woods. It is a wait and see game, that is played out each year about this time.

With all the time I've had to sit gingerly around the house, I was able to finish the quilted pumpkin I had been working on. I have several other fall craft projects I would like to get completed too if I am able. Some are leftovers from previous years and would be nice to finally see them finished. One is a small quilt that I started last fall during hunting season, from fabric bought many years before that. I have a wooden pumpkin that needs to be painted and some fabric acorns that would look great in a bowl with pine cones and other natural items if I could get "around to it."

Then there is this poncho I started knitting for myself that has been set aside for more pressing things. I am never at a lost for some sort of hand work to pass the time with. That is if I can ever find the time to pass. In an effort to get a jump on some Christmas craft items, I started back hand stitching some quilted pieces suitable to be used as coasters or ornaments for our tree. I think they would also make cute hostess gifts if we should get invited to some one's home this year. They are a pick-me-up kind of craft, one that can be easily set back in the basket by my reading chair if the need arises

As you can tell from my notes I am still not sitting or moving well. Lon is of the opinion that my tailbone is not broken or I would be in more pain than I am. I on the other hand is not so sure! I have had broken bones in the past and know what one feels like. Resting as best I can has been the order for the day and will continue for several more. Sleeping is beyond a comfort level that I can find right now. Lying on my back is impossible and trying to sleep on my side causes pain also. I am unable to sleep on my tummy, due to a previous injury to my cervical spine as a teenager. So that only leaves sleeping standing up or on my head. Don't think I want to risk another injury with that one!

Looking for some sleep,

Deborah