daily yarns 'n more

time passing by

The summer is flying by, some of our grandchildren have gone back to school this week.  It's been a very busy summer here in the Ocooch Mountains.

The wild coneflowers I planted last fall took and are doing great.  We had the Amish butcher our meat birds last week and we spent the day canning and freezing them and then over the weekend Mr. smoked some in the smokehouse he made.

Just incase you forgot what I looked like here I am :)  (Playing around with Snapchat)

I mentioned to Mr. yesterday that I didn't even know what day it was, as a matter of fact I was actually a week behind in my mind and totally forgot that I had to volunteer at the hospital yesterday morning and that's not like me to forget, though I have been known to forget something now and again.

I don't know about any of you but I'm so looking forward to fall coming.

hello

I had hoped that we would be drying out sometime soon, but it appears that we'll be getting more rain in the next day or so, hopefully it won't amount to much.  We have dealt with 3 separate bouts of flooding in our area.

There's one good thing if you want too look on the bright side of all the rain we've been having is that everything is green, and the fire danger is very low...just saying :)

Kar over at simply-kar has opened an on-line shoppe called The Wiggles & Squeaks Shoppe.  I bought her dishcloth pattern and made them.  They turned out great and so easy to make, her directions are perfect.  Head on over and check out what else she has for sale.

Yay, I finally finished my Baktus Scarf that I made.  I had run out of yarn and only needed just a bit more to finish...grrr...But it's done and I can't wait for cooler weather so I can wear it.

We had our dog at the kennels over the weekend as we went to an APPPA class on raising poultry and driving in and out from picking her up we passed a few cows laying in the driveway and had to drive around them.

I just love living in the country.

the ditches

I've been trying for awhile to get flowers to grow along our ditches.  It's very hard to mow and I thought wild flowers would look good growing there and they have finally started growing.

Even the Queen Anne's Lace growing along the roadside looks so pretty.

Looking past the wild flowers I could see the neighbors fields looking so lush and green from the steady rain we've had this summer.

Even after such a busy July we've had it's still hard to believe the month is over.

spring or winter?

We have been having a really weird spring so far.  We are supposed to be getting our second snowfall and being outside it sure doesn't seem possible.  Last night Mr went out to the barn to get the tractor and snowplow ready on the off chance it does snow.  I had grabbed my camera just to walk around and take photos when I could hear loud motor sounds.  I spied Mr up on the ridge watching the "wings" motoring through the air or rather Power Paragliding.   There were 5 of them and by the time I got out there I could really only get a couple of good shots.  We know the people who were flying them, they had helped us with the cement work when we built our barn.

Sadie on the other hand seemed to not notice the loud noises coming from the sky.

Heading back to the house after the para-gliders had moved on, I noticed my sad looking garden with no flowers growing yet other than weeds.  This grandma's garden plaque we given to me in 2001 for Mothers Day from our oldest granddaughter who was just born. 

We shall see today if winter has decided to come back.

they have arrived

I thought it was busy enough around here with sugaring, we just stepped it up a notch with the arrival of 50 chicks.

 

calves will be calves

Heading to town I spied what it seemed like all the calves playing around at our neighbors farm.  They were butting heads with each other, running around in the dirt, it looked like they were having a grand ol' time.

All the while their moms were having lunch.

It cracked me up to see this.

Linking with Farm Photo Friday and Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop.

life on the farm

Cutting brush and trees.

Clearing the way....

for the maples to grow.

Meet our newest neighbor...Billy.  He joined the farm to the north of us.

Life is good...even in a pair of muck boots.

See Ya...You all have a wonderful day.

Blessings,

Judy

i think i've got myself a farm girl

Our youngest is really enjoying living here in Southwest Wisconsin on Gentle Hearth Farm.  She chased this chicken around until she caught it just so she could hold it.

 

We had a blast with the grand kids and photos will follow.  I took lots of pictures of the fun things we did.  On Wednesday Lauren and I drove them back home to Minnesota so that they'd be home when their mom and dad got home from the airport.  They all tried to stay up to wait for them but they just couldn't make it.

Lauren and I stopped at a few places, more like I stopped :)  I went to the yarn shop where I bought the yarn for my sweater and picked up a skein just in case.  I was too pumped, the shop owner had some weaving supplies, so I picked up a few things.  I can't wait to start weaving now.  I dreamt about it all night long.

We stopped and had lunch with Becky and Erin.  Erin only had a half hour for lunch but it was nice visiting with her even if it was for a short time and Becky didn't start work until 4:00 so it worked out perfectly.

When we got back home the farmer who farms our land came and baled the hay they had cut.  Jim was too pumped the farmer who's name is Bob stopped and told Jim to hop on up.  So all evening long Jim rode with Bob while he baled the hay.

 

Check out that smile.

 

They baled hay until it was done. 

Jim came in all smiles.  He really enjoyed the ride and visit with farmer Bob.

I hope you all are doing good and that you have a wonderful weekend.

Blessings,

Judy

born to be free

The day has finally come when we've set the hens free.  They are now officially free range chickens.  Not that they weren't before, it's just now they can roam all over the place.

 

They weren't sure what to do and they stuck by each other.

Jim picked up Buffy and tossed her out into the field.

 

We have hawks here and we were a bit worried about that, and right away we heard one up in the sky.  The hens took cover in the tall grass and trees.  I don't think we have too much to worry about that.  Their instincts took over.

This spring we are planning to get more chicks.  In that batch I want my rooster.  So, the next project will be to make a bigger chicken coop.

We have had a busy time with the grandkids.  Today Lauren took them to the town pool to swim.  Tomorrow it will be closed for the season.  While they were gone that was when we set the hens free.

Now it really feels like a farm with my hens roaming free.

 

an early fall like day

Oh my goodness, it was a beautiful cool day today.  You could almost say it felt like fall was here.  The guy came out yesterday to give an estimate for the wood stove we are wanting to get.  I can't wait to show you, but not yet.

The nights have been really getting down and we are starting to think that when the wood stove gets here we'll need some wood to burn.  So, over the weekend we started to make fire wood.  We are wanting to clear out a few trees that are dead and in the way for the outdoor sauna that Jim plans to build.

 

Lauren even helped out and seemed to enjoy it.

Poor Sadie had to be tied up while all this was going on.  We just didn't want her getting hurt.

   

Today since it was so cool I decided to do some baking.  Oh man, did it feel good to be baking again.

 

 

We had a treat tonight for dinner, I made LIVER.  I know, I know, most people don't like liver but I do.  In fact I like it so much that I'll even order it in a restaurant.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Blessings,

Judy