THE SIDE GARDEN-THE PIANO

18 06 2013

Hello

The Side Garden

With the strange and rainy weather the gardens seem to be a bit behind.  The tomatoes I grew inside are still smallish compared with the ones you buy.  Tomorrow I am going to pick up a couple of heirloom 6 packs of them.  I think in the end its easier to purchase these.  The cost of seeds is what a 6 pack goes for.    It would be better for me to start pumpkins and squash I think..  Who knows they may catch up but I do want to insure lots of tomatoes.  I plant to can, freeze and dry tomatoes this year.

Last night I was later going out to the outside hens.   SOmething told me to walk on the road instead of walking around the house.  Good thing I listened, there was Mr. or Mrs. Skunk near the strawberries.  Busy eating some tasty morsel.  That is what is digging its way into the hens every night.  Eating what they did not finish.  Well if I had gone my usual way i would have walked right into it and who knows what would have happened.  He meandered under the porch.

MOM

I talked with Mom last night.  SHe had a busy day.  Her dead husband and herself went out for a drive.  This is the good side of dementia.  Sometimes if you are lucky you relive the happier times in your life and see the people you loved  frequently.  My Mom goes shopping with her Mom, I think its nice.  WHen my Mom is in this stage she is happier.

The Piano

The piano now is in its place, not where I thought it would go but a good place just the same.  Away from the outside walls and not in direct sunlight.    I am still in the middle of moving things around.  I did a the Seamus hooked piece up and I like where it is.  That was a fun project and all the yarn in it is from my Seamus’.

IMG_0610

IMG_0609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_0611

 

The Doll in the Bell Jar

This doll was given to my by my Grandmother along with two others.  This one was my favorite because  besides having red hair almost the color of mine I loved the gown and watched my Grandmother crochet it.  I found the bell jar in Vermont, I need to find two more.  These dolls were bought at a local 5 and dime.

 

 

 

Many thanks for reading my blog and I hope you have a wonderful day.    Carole


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : LIFE ON THE FARM, MOM, The Garden, THE PIANO

FUNK SHUN THE NEW STORE-SNAP SHOTS FROM COLRAIN

16 06 2013

Hello.IMG_0601

            Today was a busy day, with grain to unload and hay to get, my day is pretty full.

IMG_0605

IMG_0608  The ride up to  Joe Hillman’s farm  is only 10 minutes from here.  It heads up a mountain on a dirt, tree lined road.  There are magnificent views at every turn.  Its true about everywhere in Colrain, Its a beautiful town and I am lucky to live here.  My little car can hold 4 bales of hay with ease.  Three trips and the 12 bales are here.  Next week Joe will be haying that is if it ever stops raining!!  I did talk with Joe this morning about putting a lift in the barn to bring hay and grain up to the second floor.  He felt that it could be done and would be a good investment for me.  It gets harder and harder for me to bring 50# bags or a bale of hay up the stairs.  I am hoping he can do this for me between haying.

                                                                             

FUNK SHUN

http://www.funkshunbychristalee.com is the website check it out.

Christa owner of FUNK SHUN

Christa owner of FUNK SHUN

The store was lively yesterday with a good flow of people checking out the new store.  As you can see from the pictures there are many sewn items that Christa has made.  Pillows, aprons, bags of all kinds are among the many things that are there.  You can have a chair upolstered or a slip cover made or buy a chair already done.  Its a unique service that is hard to find.  I had her fix a cloth carry on bag that I loved and used a lot but the zipper broke, it had been sitting my my closet for years.  Today its just like new  and Christa did it in no time at all.

IMG_0594

FUNK SHUN

FUNK SHUN

 

 

 

 

 

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope you day is lovely.   Happy Father’s Day to All the Fathers out there.                                 Carole


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : COLRAIN, LIFE ON THE FARM

GOOD HAY-G-8- MAKING BEE’S WAX CANDLES

15 06 2013

Hello

Good Hay

It can be hard to find good. hay.  My sheep over the past  few months have been eating okay hay.  It the first time that particular field was cut.   I have been talking to Joe Hilman about hay for a month now.  He has plenty of last years and will be cutting  this years crop if it ever stops raining.  The fields where he cuts are at my friend Lynn’s house.  This is where my sheep used to summer pasture.  Joe takes tender, loving care of the fields so the hay is excellent.   I can get it right off the field.  Last night the sheep and Elliott had their first taste of the good hay, they ate it with vigor.  I hope to get my whole years supply from Joe.  He and his wife have a thriving goat cheese business but are not milking as many goats as they once did .

IMG_0582

The Shop

Today I am making bee’s wax candles and 1 ounce pieces of bees-wax.  Yesterday was a soft opening and  3 of my things were sold and Christa said it was a great day.  I am anxious to go down and  see how it looks all set up..Look for pictures tomorrow

IMG_0589                                                                 IMG_0588

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I make a lot of the 1 ounce  of the bee’s wax.  They come in handy for so many things.  Bee’s wax is used in a lot of salves and things like that, people who spin use it, people who sew. it can be quite helpful if your drawers stick, so many uses.

Rain

The rain has stopped for a few days.  The sun was beautiful yesterday and clothes will finally be hung out today.  It will take weeks of dry weather to dry up the back.  I think though I won’t have to have anyone in to do more heavy equipment work.  It’s just a matter of getting in the muck and redirecting the path of the water.  It worked yesterday and the water was diverted to the side of the barn.  Deeper ditches need to be dug and dirt moved away.  Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to do some of that work.

G-8 Summit

The G-8 summit is going to be held soon, all signs of opposition have been taken down on roadways in Ireland.  Only signs on private land are left up.  We certainly wouldn’t want any of the members to have hurt feelings!!!!!!  Those summits are a waste of taxpayers money  and certainly they don’t care about the common person. In  Ireland now they have  a carbon tax which will be a $.75 tax on a bag of coal, who buys coal anyway, only people who cannot afford oil and kerosene.  Isn’t that an insult.  We do the same or worse in the U.S.   My fondest wish is that there would be more honesty and humanity in governments everywhere.  We have to put the people first not big business.

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you have a lovely day.     Carole


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : BEES-WAX, IRELAND, LIFE ON THE FARM, PERMACULTURE

FOUND PICTURES-SETTING UP THE DISPLAY AT THE NEW SHOP-THE GAME AT UMASS

13 06 2013

Hello

FOUND PICTURES

About 6 months ago The Grandma Moses picture which had been in my childhood home and now in mine fell and broke.  I set it aside till after the holidays.

IMG_0575 

When I took it apart I found these two wonderful picture inside.  Now the frame was an old family heirloom to begin with so I really have no idea how old these pictures are.  The boy picture is very fraigle and has some torn pieces.  The Lion picture stood the test of time better.  I got a frame for the Boy picture yesterday and feel better now that its framed.  Soon I will get a frame for the Lion.  I am sure these pictures were hanging in a relatives house many years ago.  They must have treasured them to have saved them.             IMG_0574

IMG_0576

IMG_0577

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heavy rains again today.  Its staying out of the top of the barn but pouring through the bottom.  Luckily the hen houses are up from the floor.  There is flooding everywhere.

The UMass Game

Yesterday were the final for the Western Mass Softball  teams.  Besides being a great basketball player my Grand-daughter Tea plays softball very well.  There was a brisk wind and that changes everything in soft ball.  They didn’t win the championship but came in second.  There is no shame in that.  They played a good game.

IMG_0571

The New Shop

Today I brought things to the new shop.  Its just as cute inside as it is outside.  I think it will be a great success for Christa and I think I will do well there too.  Turners Falls is and up and coming town, with plenty of cute shops, good places to eat and entertainment.

IMG_0578

 

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope you have a wonderful day.     Carole

 


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : LIFE ON THE FARM, TEA, THE NEW SHOP

MINNIE-WATER-HAY FEEDER/CHICKEN HOUSE

12 06 2013

Hello

Minnie

Today the kidney test came back for Minnie.  She does have Kidney disease.  No more fancy feast and she will go on a low protein diet which the vet carries.  Being on this diet may bring her numbers back up.  Meanwhile after Baby is fixed she will probably live in my bedroom for a while without the other cats bothering her.

chicken caravan and minnie bisbee 001

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water

More and more rain today.  Its stopping tonight only to come back off and on next week.  I am fortunate that someone put in a cement trough that runs through my basement into the road.  Its been a life saver, I don’t have to have a sump pump.

THE WATER COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND FLOWING INTO THE STREET

THE WATER COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND FLOWING INTO THE STREET

This pipe runs from the mountain through Davids house and runs continually even in the hottest days of summer.

IMG_0563

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hay Feeder/Chicken House

While putting the outside hens to bed I glanced at the old hay feeder that I had replaced and though that it would make a cute hen house.  I am in desperate need for a outside area for the middle hens and the rooster.  I think this will be perfect, It needs to be higher so when adding some kind of pitched roof this will happen.  I want a clean-out door and a door for them to come in and out of, one panel screened with double hardware-cloth and I think it will be perfect.  When Pat has the time I will ask him to do it.

IMG_0565

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope you have a great day.   Carole


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : CHICKENS, MINNIE BISBEE, THIS OLD FARMHOUSE

THE GARDEN-A CARAVAN MYSTERY

10 06 2013

Hello, 

The Mock Orange is glorious this year.

The Mock Orange is glorious this year.

 

 

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day getting some of the tomatoes in and some green beans.  I needed to fix a few fences and the netting in the outside coop.  Today I planted a dozen peppers before the rain got heavy, I have 6 more to plant another day.

I decided to plant tomatoes on a cattle panel fence.  I think today I planted half of them, I have room for about 1/4 more so  the rest I will scatter around the yard.    I put up the bean poles which I bought last year.  I do really love them, you can grow a lot of beans on them.  I will plant the two in pole beans and have also planted a row of bush beans.

IMG_0552

The pathway down from the sheep which was dug up by the big machinery has been planted in clover and timothy and hay covering it to hold the seeds.  On the side of this was manure from last year which I never spread around.  I planted hubbard squash, cucumbers and some pumpkins there plus a row of bush beans.  I hope they do well there. 

IMG_0550

We are getting lots of heavy rain today with more off and on this week so the back can’t dry up.  The spring was running pretty well today.  I  have been thinking of digging a pathway down through the pasture and putting small stone in the trench.  Maybe it would lead to a pipe and I could pipe it somewhere.  My son tells me that there are springs all over the mountain in back.

Mystery in the Caravan 

chicken caravan and minnie bisbee 011

Everyone in the barn is settling down now.  But in the outside caravan there is a mystery.  I noticed that Helen the white hen was  really picking on Hester over the weekend, I also noticed that everyone seemed to laying eggs except Helen.  Today there were 6 eggs in the nest and a smashed up white one.  I just wonder……………………….Hester are you getting your revenge!!!!!

Many thanks for reading my blog and I hope you have a wonderful day.    Carole


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Chicken, CHICKEN CARAVAN

THE SHEEP-THE FEEDER-THE PASTURE-MINNIE BISBEE

8 06 2013

Hello

The Sheep

Sheep are like children, they can be good for the longest time and then the become the bad child in an instant.  I have two very bad sheep.  Marley who is in heat although he has been fixed as soon as I turn my back i get hit.  I have been squirting him with the hose when he does it, but he and I both forget and it happens every night.  Then two nights ago I saw Lucy on her two back legs eating Elliott’s grain.  Now Elliott is old and need his grain twice a day.  There is nowhere to hang the pail that she can’t reach.  I have a couple of ideas and may try bringing in a fence to separate them while he is eating.  SHe gets squirted with the hose but she doesn’t care.    My son and I tried several ways to hang the bucket but each time Lucy was able to get to it.  Last night I put it in its old place and scared Lucy away each time she came near.  Today I hung a nail on the other side of the gate.    Lucy can climb up on the gate but can’t get her head over.  She did try to bite the bucket.  She is very serious about grain.  She is already overweight and I will get a lecture from the vet about that.

IMG_0543

IMG_0548

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FEEDER

David with the sheep

David with the sheep

IMG_0539

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pat , my neighbor and house fixer-upper took the feeder home and made it yesterday.  It was delivered this afternoon.  Its beautiful. In the 3 or 4 days that have gone by since the barn was cleaned at least one bale of hay was wasted on the floor and had to be used as mulch. So far today there is no hay on the floor.  They have to work at getting the hay and not too much will be waster.  A savings to me of about $400. per year.   I was running out of room to use the mulch too.

THE PASTURE

We had lots of rain yesterday and last night and none got into the barn, there were puddles everywhere so shovel in hand I dug pathways for the water to run off.  There is still lots to do up there.  My biggest fear is that the pasture will remain damp.  We are having another week of rainy weather, I will have to wait till we have a spell of dry weather.  Wet pasture produces  hoof rot in sheep and in goats.  something that is a pain for the animal and a pain for the owner.  I want to avoid that extra work.

MINNIE BISBEE

Minnie went to the vets yesterday, She got eye drops and she had worms.  I was shocked as She was wormed three times before she came here.  I haven’t seen any worms.  She got medication for that.  Dr. Funk said it was from Fleas.  S0mething else I didn’t see on any of the cats.  Tomorrow they will be have no more fleas.  He did extensive tests on her and she may have some kidney problems.  It may be that she will have to be in my bedroom.   She may like that and can be let out occasionally.  Eventually she may be fine with the other cats.  Angus thinks it’s a game to chase her and Willie feels great that he is not the low man on the totem pole!!!

Next week I hope to catch Baby the elusive cat.  I am armed with a pill that will be crushed in her food.  I hope that it works.  She will be fixed and all her shots, checked out and anything that needs to be done will be done.  I hope that she will be a little friendlier after all this but who knows.  Once a feral cat always a feral cat so they say.

Many thanks for reading my blog and I hope you have a wonderful day.    Carole and Minnie

 


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Cats, ELLIOTT, MARION, MINNIE BISBEE, Sheep

« Previous Entries


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 69 other followers