A Tisket, A Tasket ~ I Made Another Basket

Back on the 21st of November I took my first basket weaving class at the Library near my home. Robbie, who taught the class goes to church with me and is very handy with her hands. The one we made was a simple square napkin basket. The basket weaving was easier than I thought it would be. She tries to limit her classes to 6 students so as to be able to give individual instruction and still finish on time. But that particular Saturday some how the class had grown to 9! The increased number slowed the class down and we finally finished about 1 1/2 hours past the 3 hour class deadline. Even so, it was so enjoyable that I signed up for the next one the same day.

This past Saturday, 12-11 I met with 5 other ladies to learn how to weave a Sleigh basket. The ones on display at the front of the class were very intricate looking. As a class we weren't to sure that ours would look that nice. But by lunchtime we were all through and our sleigh baskets were ready to be taken home. Again I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was. Easy that is if Robbie was giving us round by round directions to follow. It wasn't hard to do but this one did required a little more concentration for some of the weaving techniques and keeping count on spacing.

I took the class for several reasons. One, to meet some other crafters in the area and have fun learning a new craft. Two, to be able to create small baskets for my future goat milk soap. Thirdly, I have 3 old rockers that I have been saving that need new seats and everyone threatens to throw away. They are good oak rockers that look tattered because of the broken woven seats, that I want to re-cane. I figure basket weaving is one step in that direction and would put me a step ahead of the learning curve required to do so. And lastly, who knows I might even get good enough to make some as gifts for family and friends. Maybe even selling a few in my "I dreaming of a Farm Store" one day. I keep that one tucked in the back of my mind, adding info and ideas nearly weekly to it's file. But that is a subject for another day.

We had a special visitor this past weekend as well. Our 4yr. Granddaughter, Leah came for a long visit, staying with us from Friday - Monday. The weather was bitter cold with a harsh wind chill. I was ever so glad I had already made a list of inside activities for her to do. Having gathered the needed items and a new video on my last grocery/errand day. It was a busy weekend for all! Anyone who has ever played or entertained a 4yr. knows just how busy you can be. The pictures to follow highlight some of our special holiday activities . . .

Our first kitchen project was to bake my Granny Franklin's Nut Cake. It has been in the family for over 100 years. It is a light version of a fruit cake, but with more nuts and less fruit. Most fruitcakes are heavy, this one bakes up light. It is the only fruit cake I have ever baked my whole entire life. Leah had fun dumping the ingredients I had measured out into the mixer. When it came out of the oven, she wanted to cut it right then. Stating "I think we should have it before supper, Papa's gonna want some of this!"

Saturday we began several projects, the first being a crafty one. We made orange studded ornaments to hang on our trees to make them smell nice. I remember making these as a little girl and thought she would love the hands-on sensory project. She loved the process, but thought the cloves smelled bad that is until we stuck them in the oranges.

Tough skins posed a problem until she used a push pin to pierce it first before sticking in the cloves.

Leah took this picture herself and is learning to do a great job of framing the objects in the camera's window. -------------------------->

Looks like one satisfied crafter to me. I hope we made a memory that she might repeat with her own children and grandchildren one day. Ummmm, sure does smell good!


I had promised her the last time she came to visit that we would bake Gingerbread cookies on this visit. Soooooo. . . she didn't let me forget and was the first thing she asked about when she came in the door on Friday.

After helping to mix the dough up, we rolled it out and she put her playdough skills to work. The recipe actually made 12 full size cookies.

She loved the whole process and begged to do more. I had to remind her we still had to bake them and then decorate. Just the mention of sprinkles got her motivated for the next step.

They were super easy to make, fun to decorate and yummy to eat. I do believe we have the start to a Christmas tradition. One that we both will enjoy for years to come. She took most of them home to show and share with her parents, but not before we ate a few.

In between all the baking and crafting we watched several Christmas videos; Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is coming to Town and The 12 Dogs of Christmas. Not just once but a couple of times each. She never comes out without bringing her movie cds and we watched several of them too. Friday night Papa popped corn for us to enjoy while watching movies. On Saturday night we had ice cream with sprinkles.

I had just sewn her a fabric nativity out of a panel of fabric I had bought years ago before she was even born. We play with it and her favorite toddler one made of little people. Mary and Joseph has had quite a few adventures over the past year. But since moving out to the farm she brings them out for some farm living, complete with tractors and other barnyard animals each time she comes. It's her favorite game to play, begging whoever is free to play farm with her.

She went with Papa to the feed store and to buy hay while I was at my basket weaving class on Saturday. I think Papa actually came away this time without buying another toy there. Her little blue eyes can melt his heart in an instant. I'm not quite sure what all they got into while I was gone, but I'm sure they loved having one on one time together.

All weekend she begged to put on the new dress and shoes I had gotten her to wear. Come Sunday she was ready before breakfast to get dressed. She has gone with us each time she visits and has gotten to know a few people there. Mrs. Jana's Sunday school class is now HER class and she loves it. The evening service was the Youth & Children's Christmas play and we sat up front so she could see all the action. There was a covered dish meal afterwards. The only problem I had getting her to eat was in getting her to sit still long enough to get finished. Before joining the other kids on stage playing.

I read it somewhere once that "You're always making memories. . . To make them worth remembering." I prayed we did just that the 3 of us ~ Papa, Nana and our precious granddaughter.

Loving the chance to make them,

Deborah

Ready or Not . . . CHRISTMAS Is Coming!

We've reached the end of November today, having tucked one holiday under our belts. For some who ate a little too much it may be peeking out around it even. Just like the past few months November blew by us in the hustle and bustle of colorful leaves, several rain showers, autumnal farm chores and a family gathering. It is such a gentle month, full of reasons to count our blessings more than once, as the days tick down towards winter.

Even as the calendar counts down the last 22 days of Autumn. I do know for many the "Christmas push" started way before Thanksgiving. I was quite surprised and saddened to find Christmas lights already on display on a few houses back at the end of October. A few "big box" stores had even started stocking shelves with Christmas items. Even before the turkeys had started chillin in the grocery stores. I do understand planning ahead, but to set out those items before you've even celebrated the holiday for the month your in, is plain wrong. No wonder our minds are over-whelmed! We're trying to focus on TOO many holidays and all of their details at once.

I for one believe that we could learn a lesson from our fore-fathers of early America. For them each holiday was celebrated on the day assigned. With the weeks, days leading up to them given over to thoughts about and anticipation for each holiday. They knew how to embrace them in fullness of heart and mind. Celebrated with thankfulness and simplicity. Yep! We need to over-haul our thinking and practices about the holidays we try to celebrate. Okay ~ off my soapbox now and on to more of why I was writing today.

In my line of thinking this morning, I decided that if I was to post my plans before you for this week. Then I would be more likely to stick with them, as accountability holds great power. Accomplishing my goals while not tiring myself out in the process would be a benefit to all who live around me. I love the different decorating items that come with each season and holiday. My biggest collection for sure centers around Christmas. I love the abundance of colors and cherished items I can use to bring a touch of cheerfulness to our home.

This can be a busy month for us IF we let someone else dictate our schedules. As there are work/office parties, school events, invites from friends, church activities, and family get-togethers to keep us extra busy if we try to make each one. Sometimes it can be even busier because of our own choosing or lack of focused organization. I have found it best to map out the needs of my family first. To tentatively pencil in the truly special events we enjoy having as part of our celebration next. Then add in as my body and mind allows any extras I feel led to do. That way I can arrive on Christmas eve with a rested body, well prepared mind and a peaceful heart.

So here's the start of my Christmas plans for this week. Set of course in pencil, because we all know how plans can change in the blink of an eye. It's best to remain flexible and adaptable in order to not find ourselves shattered on the floor like a fallen ornament from being stubborn about what we have mapped out for the holiday.

Here's my decorating schedule for the first week of December. With appropriate cleaning to be done in each room prior to ~

Nov. 30

Master Bedroom ~ set for sweet dreams and romance

Guest Room ~ ready & waiting for sleep overs.

Dec. 1

Living Room ~ our family & friends gathering place

Christmas Tree ~ A reminder of the reason we celebrate

Dec. 2

Kitchen ~ making a cheerful place for holiday baking and meal preps

Dinning Room ~ setting a pleasant atmosphere for our shared meals

Dec. 3

Bathroom ~ little luxuries to pamper & bless

Multi-function Room; office, craft area and "Command central"

Dec. 4

Outside Entrances ~ lending a cheerful "welcome home" each time we enter in.

Front Porch ~ our Holiday face to the world

Laundry Room ~ who says you can't have a lovely space to do a dirty chore?

There it is my work orders for the week. Will they get accomplished? Only by weeks end will we know. One thing for sure if I do, then I will have a home ready to celebrate in and only minimal upkeep for the rest of the month. Freeing my time to spend on the really important things and prepping my heart and mind for the reason why we celebrate this "Holy-day".

What do you have planned? Share your secrets for staying sane during the fast paced rush towards the 25th of December. If I get inspired I may even post a few pictures along with my progress. But then the whole idea is to keep things simple, so will have to wait and see how my days pan out.

Apron on, dust rag in hand and Christmas music playing to keep in step to,

Deborah

Who Stole the Month?

I looked at the calender yesterday to find the date. Only to discover that October begins this weekend? Where did all the of the days of this month go? Seems like it was just last week that I was thinking about the beginning of it. I was looking forward to all it had to offer and the cooler days of Autumn. Surprise! Yesterday they started arriving ~ it was pleasantly warm with the slightest breath of a cool breeze. I opened the house up completely. All windows and doors were opened to the refreshing air that seeped throughout the rooms. I love having the windows of our home open, both in the Spring and now. There is something healing to the soul and body to have natural air flowing through your space. As opposed to what I refer to as "canned" air. That which we breathe in as air conditioned or heated. Having open windows is easy, open doors can create a problem if there isn't a barrier of sorts. Lon installed the screen doors on the dinning room french ones yesterday. That left only the front door standing open like a missing tooth. Giving Midnight our newest kitty the pleasure of walking in and out of it at will. Though having the door thrown open allowed us to see the calm beauty of the barnyard every time we walked by it. Plans are to get a screen door for it, but I know that even as I desire to have one. That it will cut down on the view we now enjoy. But I can take solace in the fact that I love the sound of a closing screen door, always have. They remind me of the days spent in my grandparent's homes.

Leaving a few windows open last night had us wishing for more covers earlier this morning. I even had to add a pair of thin pants under my gown & housecoat to block out the chill. Maybe it's time to switch my sleeping clothes to something warmer and think about getting a new housecoat. I wonder if I could sew up a quilted one out of fabric scraps I have or better yet flannel ones? I have so many Fall craft projects I've been waiting to work on. That I feel slightly over-whelmed now that it is officially upon us. There is something about this time or season of the year that awakens in me a deep desire to craft, sew, quilt and do yarn work. I have as I sit here this morning 2 crochet projects going at the same time. With 3 unfinished ones waiting to be picked up again and several more I want to do. That doesn't even take into consideration the quilt that needs to be finished and the flannel one I want to start. Plus there are a few hands-on crafts I would like to work on too. Some requiring paint, others needing stitching in order to be completed. The challenge enlarges as these are just a few of the inside ones. The outside ones are just as numerous.

I think Summer sneaked away in the heat of it, when I wasn't looking. If Autumn comes in with the same quick flurry as Summer did last Spring. Then we will probably see snow in the next few weeks. I am already relishing the thoughts of campfires and a warm hearth inside.

I made our first pot of soup of the season last evening. All that was missing was a warm loaf of bread straight out of the oven. But being kind to my tired body didn't leave room for baking one. I truly want to start back to baking all of our breads. There are so many recipes for loaves I haven't tried yet. I think it is a scrumptious luxury to have fresh, warm bread with melted butter on top for any meal. A lost art that our grandparents lived with on a daily basis. Is slowly being rediscovered by those desiring the pleasure it can bring. Along with making a batch of goat milk soap that I've waited all summer to start due to the demands of our vegetable garden. I've had the needed supplies for starting a batch for some time now. Time was the only thing missing.

I just can't figure out at this moment how to do all of it. My desires appear to out number my days. Being so diverse in my interests can lead to a craziness all of it's own. For if I am busy with those activities that I delight in. Then I will miss the opportunity to sit and savor the days of Autumn. Only to find myself facing the reality of Winter's arrival and the beauty of this season being just a glimpse in my memory.

Enjoying the possibilities,

Deborah

We're WIRED!

Before you jump to the wrong conclusion, cause I know you could and probably will by just reading the title of this post. Let me explain our situation here at Heartland. Yes, I know the phrase wired takes on a new meaning in today's society. What with all the headlines in the news it's a daily problem for a lot of people. I admit on occasion I too have succumb to being slightly wired when I've had too many cups of "morning caffeine" (aka - coffee) or drank a glass of sweet tea too late in the evening before bed. To some extent I am a little sensitive to normally occurring caffeine. A fact that's come more into light since I've had a little scare with my heart last month, but that's another story.

It has been exactly 15 months since we moved into our little homestead. Wow! how time has flown by. For all of them and a few more before we moved in, we have been constantly remodeling, building, repairing and such to the 2 buildings that occupy our farm. One was a major undertaking, as it was the house we now call home. Large portion of the work went on even before we spent the first night here. After securing a safe, warm/cool place to lay our heads, we started focusing on the need for a barn of sorts. This place housed another dwelling on it, that in past years had been the home of a previous owner. Many, many, many years ago, so you can imagine the amount of decline we found when we first shoved open it's door. Not to mention the amount of junk, trash and old furniture left to be engulfed with cobwebs, dust and rats. UGH!

Slowly and with lots of muscle power we stripped it of it's dump treasures and began to make it into a usable structure. Thankfully the main part of the roof was sound at least for now, even though the porch roof leaks in a couple of places. Somewhere down the long road of plans there is a new roof in it's future. But that will have to wait as more pressing needs are met first.

We have over the past year, reinforced the floor of what is now our milking room. Put up wood siding on the walls and gave them a coat of soft Spring green. We used this space this past Spring when our 3 does gave birth in their individual labor and delivery stalls. The other room of this 2 room house we have been using to store bales of hay and feed. (Can you even imagine living in a 2 room house? Sorry, off topic.) Making choring easier by the closeness of the food items to the hungry mouths we met each morning. Plans were this past Spring to put power to this once electrified building. Our plans went as you know all plans can and so often do in a different direction when a new need arises. But I promised myself not to have to go through another winter milking by lantern light or checking pregnant goats by flashlight.

So for the past week I've been a "handyman" in an effort to get the necessary wiring done, a new breaker panel set and the main power wire strung overhead to a new disconnect on the pole. No, I am not an electrician! When I say I was working as a handyman, I am referring to a "hand me this", "hand me that" girl to my husband. He was the one doing all the electrical stuff, I just handed him the tools & objects needed for the job. We called the Alabama power last Friday to say we need a hookup to the pole. We were told that they would be here on Monday of this week. I could almost see the glow from the barn windows as I waited with excited anticipation.

Just as they promised they arrived on Monday, took all of 10 minutes to set the meter YEA! Only then to tell me that I still didn't have power. Seems that the transformer wasn't any good on the pole that should have been supplying the juice to our barn! My heart leaped with the possibility of disappointment before me. But I was assured by the power guy that he had called it into the office and someone should be out to put up a new one that same day. Whew! Hope stilled reigned that I could have the soft glow of lights overhead the next morning at chore time. Sure enough a truck rambled up into our pasture in a couple of hours and placed the need part securely on the pole. Just as soon as they had left out of my sight. I quickly called my husband for directions for turning everything on. WE WERE WIRED for takeoff.

Flipping a few breakers and switches spoke volumes. The good message was we had power coursing through the wires. The bad was we had some bad bulbs in the light we had just installed over the milking stand and it was still sitting in the dark. Lon was at work and I didn't have the bulbs to make it work. So wait I did, knowing that the next day he would be stopping off at the building supply store for new bulbs and a few other things we wanted to add to the barn.

I can honestly say I get a thrill every time I walk into to the place and flip up a switch. Seeing that light now floods the rooms. Even if I get started after sunrise and can see clearly in the barnyard, just being able to brighten the interior of the barn is great! The bright light pushes those imaginary creepies out of the dark corners of the rooms. No fear of stepping on something unwelcome or tripping over something that might scoot cross my path. Lon also put a light out in the goat shed too, along with a double floodlight on the opposite end of the barn and a single flood light directed to shine out over the space behind the barn. With little effort we now have added overhead porch lights and a receptacle should we need it. Opening the gate and reaching just inside allows us to light up the place should we find ourselves gathering eggs after dark. No more flashlight surprises for us.

As was the case this summer when Lon went down to the barn just before nightfall to gather the day's eggs. It was dark enough to need a flashlight when the need arose to capture and kill a visitor who was happily gulping down our hen's eggs. As it turned out I had to hold the flashlight while he did the killing in a narrow roosting area of the barn porch. The space houses our nesting boxes and roosting poles for the flock of hens & roosters that call it home. It was the third one that had been found in and about the barn since we moved to the place. Luckily for me, it was his "pleasure" to find all 3 of the unwelcome visitors each time. Though this particular one top the scales with the biggest dimensions of them all. Measuring in at over 5 feet.

All of them have been the same kind with a taste for fresh eggs. They have only been spotted just before dark, in those dusky hours when we as humans can't see real good. There is no telling how many eggs we have lost to these thieves. But each one has received swift judgement for their crime at the end of a shovel.

We hated to kill each one, as they are simple rat snakes. They are found anywhere there are mice/rats for the munching. Having livestock requires feed, having feed insures there will me field mice for gobbling up freebies, having free-loading mice insures a rat snake is nearby. Hence our problem with these non-poisonous snakes. They were doing us a service by keeping the mice population at zero. Only to eat themselves out of a meal and then to discover a tasty one under the fluffy undersides of our hens. We knew one meal would lead to two and so on. Plus we couldn't take the scare they put in our hearts before we could identify them. Not knowing if in the future they would go looking to some of our young chickens for their next meal. They had to GO!

Hopefully with the the amount of traffic in and out of the barn and the new illumination we have seen the last of the omelet eaters. We now are looking forward to being able to get morning chores done as early as we can pull our bodies from a warm bed. Then settling back with a cuppa of warmth in the front porch rockers and watch the sun rise yet again to start a new day.

Wired and happy,

Deborah