Just around the corner

First snowfall of the year

Knitted wool scarf. LOVE IT!!

My first homemade chicken soup! Back off sniffles!!

This is Sophia's "bunny cape" because she refuses to wear a scarf.

I made it from snuggly purple fleece.

The sun is starting to shine a little bit more. Every morning, while taking the birds their breakfast, I notice the fuzzy little buds on the trees are getting fatter. The seed catalogs have been pouring in. Spring is almost here. Its been a long winter with modest amounts of snow. I've been hibernating with my knitting needles and homemade pumpkin lattes. I've worked on my sewing skills (or lack thereof) and even took a few classes on it. My mom is progressing along quite well with her new found love of crafting. AND, the biggest and bestest news is that I'm going to be an auntie for the first time in less than two months. I've probably bitten off more than I can chew because while I'm planning my sissy's baby shower, I am also making baby Hadley's bedding. I'm really excited about it and I hope it turns out as good as it looks in my head. It means a lot to me that my sis would even let me attempt to make something like this for her. People think I make things myself because its cheaper, but honestly, I pour my heart into making things for people that I love, whether its a cake or a scarf or baby bedding. This winter has provided a lot of "firsts" for me as will this spring. I finally placed my order for my brooder supplies and preparing for my baby chicks to arrive. I found some chicken coop plans that will work perfectly for my yard and Hubby and I are going to build it together. This is going to be a very productive and good year. And, with any luck, Hubby will see how badly I need a laptop and get me one! I can't stand being in the office typing. Its no wonder that my blog posts are months apart. There is nothing inspiring me while sandwiched between desks and bookcases and file cabinets! Not to mention this chair is ridiculously uncomfortable! I should be outside in the sunshine, among my plants and chickens!

The quilt material for Baby Hadley

My first hand-sewn sewing project! !

Another Odd Winter in the Ohio Valley

Yesterday was sunny and warm. Today was mild. Thursday is calling for snow. It hasn't really felt like autumn for more than a few random days. Nonetheless, I still choose coffee and snuggly sweaters to keep me in the mood for cold weather. I don't mind the plummeting temps as long as I can stay warm and focus on planning for the Spring. I have turned my mom into a crafting monster. I finally have someone around me who is as crazy about making everything that you can. We learned to knit and crochet together and it seems to have opened the floodgates. I love it. We are even planning to help each other in the garden this year. Yay for moms!

Making steps

So as I said before in my last post, I was beginning my journey to finding my niche in the farming world. This is where I will be going on Saturday: http://semonin.com/PropertyDetail.aspx?PropertyDetail=1187362&PropertyItem=0&PropertyIdx=1&tab=6&RecordType=180&0110_exc=1187362&5020_order=ascending&9375=1&AgoraItems=10&AgoraPage=1
Its small and most wouldn't consider this much of an opportunity, but I had a vision when I saw this place. I'm a sucker for a fixer-upper. There is just so much potential there. The house is in need of much repair which means I can have it fixed up as I'm fixing it. New houses gag me. I want to design and paint and remodel myself. There isn't much room for creativity in a brand new house. Plus, $10 says that little old rundown country home has more charm and character in its garage that a newer house has in its entirety! And, as much as I wanted to be an "urban farmer" and raise city chickens, I want to be able to experience lots of different aspects of farm life. So, please say a little prayer that I can sell my current house!

Hey...a girl can dream, can't she?!? :-)

What is a farm girl to do?

I love October. I love Fall. The baking, snuggling in the chilly air, and fun things like Halloween make the upcoming winter not seem so unbearable. Unfortunately, when my garden is dormant, my mind is wild. And by wild, I mean, chickens, bees, rabbits, new plants, bigger beds, new beds, and goats. Yes, I said it, goats. My hubby and I took our little one up to a local orchard and farm last weekend for a hay ride, pumpkin picking, and cider drinking. While there, of course we checked out the kids' area where you could feed chickens, a few goats, and a resident pot-bellied pig. Which brings me to my current predictament...the dream turned desire turned wishful think turned ACHE to live on a farm. I have a driving force in me that hurts because I want to be on a farm so badly. I thought this city gardening was fun and I guess rather chic for awhile. Urban farming is what they called it. I have enough land to do some serious farming damage and I really don't give a flying hoot what the neighbors think. What scares me is that people in the city are sometimes ruthless and I am reluctant to expose vulnerable animals to what could happen. I don't know when or how or where, but it must happen. So, right here, right now, I begin my plan. My heart needs this. For the record though, I don't know what I would do with goats.

and I grew these!

New Ideas and old pics

One of the most peaceful looking flowers I have ever seen.




Ever seen anything so proud to just be what its supposed to be?

I'm making seed packets for myself and friends of my most successful flower and veggie adventures from this year. Just some pics from the flowers around the yard that I plan to regenerate next year! I really loved my flower adventures this year. I think I could get as addicted to flowers as I am veggies. Most folks say they don't serve a purpose as veggies do, but they make me happy just by looking at them so thats enough for me!

Fall and sadness

Never is it more apparent to me where I should be than when I'm spending a beautiful Friday afternoon inside a dirty building at work rather than in my garden that is in dire need of maintenance. I was slightly productive this weekend. I managed to weed most of the beds and planted some lettuces for fall. I found a pretty large pumpkin that I'm hoping is going to turn white. I've got tons of little Baby Boos (mini white pumpkins) and a Sugar Baby pumpkin. I was hoping for a bigger turn out. The pumpkins are going to get their very own plot next year because they kind of took over everything. I've already started planning the layout for next year and the expansions. (sorry Hubby, more boxes, more digging)

-More space for pumpkins
-More tomato plants
-More cucumber plants
-Different variety of green beans (yucky)
-Adding some new herbs (going to try some teas)
-Spaghetti squash did awesome but had a few problems (troubleshooting and solutions added later)
-Potatoes NOT recommended for my small raised beds. I had a great yield, but I think I can do better in open groundrather than confined in beds. (12lbs of reds, 10 lbs russets, 10 lbs yukon golds) I'm also going to try a few new varieties. http://www.potatogarden.com
-My onions are also going to get a new home. 2010 will have a few new varieties but I will definitely plant less. I'm still trying to give those things away even after freezing about 5 lbs worth of chopped onions.

This year was great for experimenting. I had fun watching new things grow and trying to learn what not to do next year to help the things that didn't grow get a better start. Hopefully my chickens will help me do a little composting and insect control. Don't tell Hubby, but I was thinking of adding a few bunnies as well.

As my beds are being cleared of old plants and I prepare for Fall and Winter, I'm a little sad, but also very excited for next year. I'm planning on some shut-in time with my knitting needles and scrapbooks and daydreams of chickens.

Farm City by Novella Carpenter

A friend got me this book for my birthday and I haven't put it down since. Reading about urban farming makes what I have look like a real farm . Carpenter managed to keep bees, chickens, rabbits, 2 pigs, turkeys, ducks, and as she puts it "two monkeys" in a small apartment and an abandoned concrete lot across the alley. Along with making me appreciate the space that I have to work with, reading this book has opened up the potential for, and I'm sorry if I offend anyone, the idea of raising animals for more than just companionship and a few eggs. When I first started venturing off into the idea of having my own chickens the only things I thought of were eggs and compost. Novella vividly paints a relationship between animals and humans as it was intended; to raise animals, to respect their life, and to be thankful for their gifts. Once upon a time, knowing my food would have seemed morbid and I wanted no part of picturing my fried chicken's former life of clucking around a yard, pecking at worms and dust. Fast food, grocery stores, and any other modern "conveniences" have cut us off from the reality that what we eat was alive. We have no connection to how those animals lived. Were they confined in tiny cages? Or, were they roaming free and allowed to be cows or chickens or pigs before they became our nourishment? At least with my chickens, I can ensure they will live as chickens should with sunshine and scratching dirt and chasing grasshoppers. This book reminded me of the waste and carelessness of our convenient world. I find myself avoiding as much as I possibly can at the grocery store if I can make it myself or buy it at my Saturday farmers' markets. The more books I read about homesteading, the more ashamed of myself for living the way that I did for so long. By leaps and bounds or by baby steps and caution, I will become more self reliant. I will provide for my family. I will show my daughter the beauty and rewards of growing your own food.