Cool nights, Autumn is here.

Once again, I find myself lacking anything to blog about... Summer is gone.  Three months have passed since I wrote anything.

Life here on Big Rock Farm has been rather uneventful.  Summer was warm.  We had a hot spell, then a wet spell, now a warm & dry spell.  We got enough rain that our rain barrel was never empty.  That's a first, I think.

Joshua & John went fishing one day & caught 3 brim to put in our "pond".  We did our part, and raised 2 different breeds of tadpoles.  Ariel always likes playing with them.

Work on the Hobbit House was rather slow.... but the door & window are in.  The entire exterior has been coated with Hydro-Ban (water proofing), I finished the painting with the main colors.  I still have some faux painting to do and some stenciling.  And I need to lay the tile floor.

The "parlor"or main area in the Hobbit House

Walking up to the front door

The door & window.

Mandala on a triangular shawl

 I did a bit of silk painting & dyeing this summer.  I'm happy with the results.

Sun painting silk scarves & shawls

Luna Moth silk shawl

My friends Gena Stout & Dee Blansett & I had a booth at a local craft sale. I sold most of my hand dyed yarns (mostly to Dee).  Here's a picture of our space.

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Health wise, I've been plagued by a chronic sinus infection.  Annoying!  John's still having trouble sleeping.  I think I've joined him in that.  Most mornings I wake between 3 & 5 o'clock.  Today I woke up at 2:00.

Earlier, in May, I hatched out 10 Black Copper Maran chicks.  As they grew up, I discovered we had 8 new roosters. Great!  I advertised them for free on Facebook & Craig's list.  Seven of them were gone within 2 hours.  I kept 1 young rooster & 2 hens.  I named the Prince, Mini & Betty.  Our bantam hens sat on eggs all summer, but didn't hatch out even a single chick.  Our adult Copper Maran rooster is named Elvis (because he "sings" from 3 AM to 10 PM), and his ladies are Ginger (RIR/Copper Maran cross), Mary Ann, & Mahogany.

This year's chicks

I knitted a wrap for my niece Kendra Kittle.  It came out pretty well.  Ariel was working on a project with the same pattern.  I'm not sure it will ever get finished.

Starting Point knit along project

Now I'm crocheting ponchos for my great nieces.

"Virus" poncho for Nevaeh

Poncho for Revan

The Hardy Homesteader's quilting project was completed.  I think it came out well.  We will be giving it away on October 7th.

Quilting

About once a week, I get together with a local group of ladies and work on a quilt. We make 1 quilt a year and raffle it off at our annual Homesteaders event.  I've been involved in the quilt making 3 or 4 years now.

The quilt we raffled off on October 1st was very nice.  The design is called "9 patch".  Here's what it looked like.

2016 raffle quilt

We using the "strip" quilting method.  For those who aren't familiar with quilting, "strip" quilting means all the fabric to be used is first cut into uniform strips (in this case 4 1/2 inches).  Then the strip is cut into squares (again 4 1/2 inches).  These squares are sewn together into "blocks".  The squares in the blocks are now 4 inches wide, the 1/2 inch being the seam allowance. The blocks are then sewn together with another strip, the background color (here it's orange and 6 inches wide). These are then sewn together to make the "field" of the quilt.  Then the border is sewn on (brown in this case and 6 inches wide).  The quilt "top" is now complete.  We sent the top off to a local lady who has a larger sewing machine specifically for quilting large items.  She added a layer of cotton batting, and a "backing" (in this case a king sized sheet), and then sews all 3 layers together - the actual quilting.  The border is folded over and is attached to the backing, giving a nice finished edge.  She did a great job on the quilting.

We used new 100% cotton fabric, washed it and ironed it before we started any cutting.  We used a rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat to make the strips and blocks.  This makes the cutting much easier.  We take turns doing different tasks, but I normally do the ironing.  I can't cut the strips straight with my wiggly hands...

Last year's quilt was a big more difficult.  We still used the strip method but the sewing was trickier.

2015 raffle quilt

This quilt came out very well, it was also king-sized.

This year's quilt to be raffled off in 2017 will be another 9 patch, in blue/red/yellow.  It will also be king-sized 100% cotton.

Several years ago, I saw that the Parkinson's Disease Foundation was seeking 24 inch quilt blocks from people with Parkinson's, which would be put together and displayed in Scotland.

I was really enthusiastic about this, and make a square to be included.  I used 100% cotton fabric, already dyed using the batik method.  Batik dyeing uses more than 1 color.  The fabric is bunched up, folded or waxed to make the pattern.  I love batik fabric because of the wonderful interplay between the colors.

I used the applique method of quilting.  This is done by cutting all the pieces into the proper shape, and then stitching them fast to the background fabric.  This is done by hand-stitching rather than machine, using the blanket stitch.  I sewed the pieces down the embroidery floss.  The color range on floss is amazing!

Time flies when you're having fun....

Another week has passed us by.  Although the weather was warmer the past 3 days, last weekend and the early part of this week (2/14 - 2/18) were cold.  Cricket and I did get to take some longer walks in the woods, which she really likes.

Our little water pools are coming along slowly.  The pools on the east side of the property (I need to come up with a "name" for this area), are looking very good.  All the pools were holding water.  It's interesting to see how the water seeps out of the ground in various places.  It's not really a "spring"... because the water seeps out in about 4 different elevations on the side of the hill.  But the water does all flow down hill following the same path... So I guess it is a spring.  A very small one.  But, small is better than none.

The springs on the north end of the property have a few natural pools, and I haven't started working on that area.  This is the area with 4 different "springs" that come together to form a seasonal stream.  The stream had water in it the other day when we were down there.  Once I'm sure the pools on the east side of the property are holding water successfully, I'll focus my effort down here.  We've just been calling this section "the hollow"... Not very imaginative, but accurate.  First, I need to impede the flow of the stream to start a pond... then I need to define the pond and get water accumulating.  I'd really LIKE to have a pond down there.  It would be great!  This property really needs a pond.  We'd have more wildlife around if we had a pond.  Blocking that seasonal stream is going to be hard work without any machinery.  But, if a beaver can do it, I can!

I find my energy level is pretty low.  I can walk down to this area, work about an hour and then walk back.  If I try to work any longer, I can barely make the walk back.  This damn Parkinson's really does hamper me!  I hate that!  I'm not old (I'll be 55 in March).  But I have the energy level of a much older person.  I get so tired I fall asleep just sitting in my chair.  Or riding in the car.  When it's close to time for my next dose of Sinemet CR, I'm very shaky and my voice is weak.  My balance is crappy too.  Most people call this their "off" period.  Off because the medications has no effect in relieving the symptoms.  After I take my pills, I'm "off" for about an hour.  My day consists of taking my meds to manage my off times, so I can accomplish something useful while I'm "on".

I take Sinemet CR every 6 hours, at 4 AM, 10AM, 4PM and 9 PM.  I go to  bed after my evening dose, and usually fall asleep by the time it takes effect.  And I wake up with my legs kicking at 4AM.    I get up and make myself some coffee.  Read my emails and look at Facebook, maybe listen to Coast to Coast.  Or watch Youtube videos.  John and Josh are still asleep at this time of morning, so I try to be quiet.  The cat and dogs get their breakfast at this time also. 

John usually gets up around 8.  After we eat and I finish my indoor tasks, I go outside and feed the birds.  For some reason, going out to feed the chickens is VERY exciting to the dogs.  Some times they get so excited, they almost knock me over to get out the door!

I take my 2nd dose at 10AM.  Once my pills have kicked in and John's have too, we're ready to start our daily activities.  John runs out of energy before I do.  That makes sense, as he's 9 years older than me and his Parkinson's is more advanced than mine.  By about 1 PM, we're both ready for a break.  I cook our main meal of the day and we eat as a family.  After we've eaten and I've done the dishes, I find most days that I still have a little energy left.  I usually spend the afternoon watching TV with John while I work on one of my knitting, crochet or other handiwork type projects.  Sometimes John naps, sometimes I do.

We don't go out at night.  John and I can't see well to drive in the dark.  And I get so shaky by 8PM or so, that I really don't accomplish much.

I'm supposed to help with the Hardy Homesteader's Quilt again this year.  The ladies get together on Monday nights from 6 - 9 PM.  I missed last week.  I never know how my day is going to go, so I can only tentatively commit to activities like this.  I wish I could just say "sure, I'll be there".  But I can't.  If I don't have the energy to sew, I don't go.  It's that simple.

Hardy Homesteader's quilting project

The Hardy Homesteader's group has been hosting an educational event every year for over 20 years.  It's an all-volunteer organization made up of many people in our community.  Some were raised here, some re-located here long ago, we got here 6 years ago... And some who get involved are area newcomers.

Here's a few pictures from last year's event.

Blacksmith's tent

Our group focuses on keeping the "old timey" skills alive.  One way we can do that is to have a public demonstration focusing on all the trades and crafts we can.  All the displays are set up by the volunteers.  The food being made is available to all - with only a donation box in evidence.

Biscuts baking

There's biscuts and gravy.  Freshly churned butter... Jam... beans.













 Lye soap making is always interesting to the people who come to visit.

Lye soap making

There is hot water in that big kettle.   And lye is made from wood ashes.

The recipe is available for anyone who wants more information.  People are encouraged to take a sample.






Dutch over cooking is always a favorite pastime at the Homesteader's.  Some of the Bushwackers set up their wagons, get they're fire started and put their dutch ovens to work.  Dang, it smells good!

Dutch oven cooking

 My husband Johnnie, friend Gena, son Joshua and I have a display for spinning and weaving.  We have a good time.  My husband and son make drop spindles.  And then he usually manages to give them away while we're there.  We both love the smile it brings to someone's face when they've learned how to spin their own yarn!

Gena weaving on a triangular loom

Gena made that shawl she has on.

It's woven from a merino/cashmere bulky yarn.  I crocheted the edging around it to give it a more finished look.

The fabric on this cool loom is warped AND woven at the same time.

I've woven a lot of shawls on there!

John and Josh

John and Josh get the spinning wheel set up.  The laundry rack is what we use for our display.  Both blankets displayed in this picture were hand spun, hand dyed and hand woven by me.  I love those blankets.







A group of the ladies get together during the winter and work on a quilt.  This quilt is raffled off as seed money for the following year's event.

2012 Quilt

Here's the ladies who worked on last year's quilt.  I'm 2nd from the right.

We have a great time making the quilt.  Lots of talking, laughing and sewing.  And not much swearing at the sewing machines either!  That's amazing, in itself!






We had our first quilting meeting last Thursday night and decided to make a more modern looking quilt.  It took a lot of time to piece all those 5-inches squares together last year.  So we thought we'd use 12-inch squares this year.  But, how many squares do we need for a queen sized quilt if we use 12-inch squares?  I found this handy chart this morning.


The picture of the quilt we had in mind had about 6 blocks across.  So, we need to make 16-inch squares.  Geeze, that was easy.  I wish I'd had this handy little card last week!