Udder Madness

As some of you may know two years ago my husband and I inherited two heifer calves after our dear friend Rick passed unexpectedly. Well, since then we have put up a barn of our own, had the heifers ( or as we refer to them "Our Girls" ) bred, got a milking set up in place etc

. Well last week, a whole week and a half early we welcomed our first little heifer calf to the farm. After much thought I named her Annabelle.

 

 

                                           She is a doll and I love feeding her her bottle!

 

 However, the craziness of milking regularly has over taken our home! What are we to do with all that milk, how do I make butter and cheese, do we just dump the excess milk, plus a whole slew of other things has surfaced. Teaching a first time heifer to get accustomed to a milking machine has been my husbands chore and definitely a painful one on occasion.  I must say though that with all the madness going on around here this last week I have enjoyed most of it tremendously!

 

 

I have successfully made two small batches of butter and buttermilk. I also attempted farmers cheese ( it could use a little more flavor). 

 

 

 

Just think we get to experience this all again in a week or so! Our other cow Lucy is due with her first calf.  Life is definitely busy these days! Until we meet again...

 

 

 

Back At It....

Hello there my lovelies, it has been a while. I took an extended break from blogging and pursued some other things since last I wrote. Unfortunately, life has a way of always changing and evolving. These things didn't pan out quite as I hoped. Oh well, onward and upward. So here I am back in the realm of blog land. Crochet has always been a creative way for me to work out some frustrations, anxieties etc. It is one of my favorite things to do really. So I have written up a new pattern for just this occasion. a lovely little earwarmer. It is a very basic pattern, great for a beginner or a quick project for the skilled crocheter.  As all patterns must have names this one is called "Maeve".


                                  


My lovely sister modeled for me. This pattern uses Caron simply soft yarn ( I choose the color Bone) and a 5mm hook

Chain 76, join with the first chain you made

Row 1- Hdc in same stitch and each stitch around

Row 2-10 - ch1 Hdc in BACK LOOPS ONLY

Fasten off leaving a 6-8' tail . Where your seam is from joining each row gather and take you long tail and wrap around several times. Fasten off, weave in all ends and embellish with a button. My button came from my antique button collection

I hope you enjoy this adorable pattern! Until we meet again. 

School's Out for Summer

Hello there... How are you all doing? I am as busy as ever, our new barn project is under way and we are at the end of a the school year.  Bug has graduated from Kindergarten and Bud is moving up to second grade in the fall! How time flies! With the end of school coming up I always like to make  Bud and Bug's teachers and bus driver a little something. This year I saw these cute little pencil signs on Pinterest, I thought they were just darling. I decided to make them for their teacher's. I have also seen the boys bus driver out getting coffee several times and I crocheted up an adorable coffee cup cozy for her.

The weather here has been MISERABLE!!!! Rain for days with only a day or two in between with sunshine! The temperatures have been okay, so at least it's not cold too! Our garden has been flooded a bit this year and all the heavy rain has pummeled some of our plants. I have a feeling our garden will not produce a whole lot this year, I hope I am wrong! The other night as I was sitting and watching some television I looked out and the sky was a very interesting shade of peachy orange. I thought to myself I should go get some pictures, as I was snapping away I turned around and there was a beautiful rainbow! Upon further inspection the faintest line of another rainbow appeared! Oh my, it was amazing! So I  tried my hand at a few different photo options on my camera.

Yesterday we had a break in the weather and my eldest sister and I took our kids for a hike! It's wonderful having such an amazing park five minutes from my house! Marlee Moo went with us (for those of you who don't know she is our 1 year old golden retriever) and she enjoyed it immensely! We got home and she was tuckered out! So was I truth be told but, I pressed on and got three loads of laundry done and pegged out on the line. Go me!

I have started fiddling around with tapestry crochet, have you tried it?  It is addicting, more on that another time. Have a lovely day!

Flea Market Finds and Something New

Hello there, it has been awhile since I blogged. So here I am! Life has been a little crazy lately, so blogging has been put on the back burner. My sister gave birth to an adorable  little boy Nolan William and I am so giddy about being an Auntie again and having

a new little one in the family! I had started on a little girl blanket which I believe I showed you in my last blog. So when this little boy arrived I had to start an entirely new blanket. It is not quite done yet but, I will post pictures as soon as it is completed! Darn the sewing in of ends! The weather here has been glorious and dare I say Spring has sprung!

I went on a little flea market journey today and came up with some cute finds. Firstly, I rescued a beautiful little granny square throw. The thought of all the time and energy someone spent on this adorable blanket just to have it end up in  a pile of unwanted afghans and linens made me want to cry! So home it came, it needs a little TLC but will be good as new once I am done with it! I also found a cute vintage cake stand with a domed lid! Can't you just imagine a bunch of scrumptious just baked cookies on a cute little doily under the lid! I can, but who knows when I'll make that happen! 

So onto the something new, or should I say somethings new! I took out my sewing machine yesterday and made myself a cute new peg bag! Maybe it will help motivate me to do laundry! I do hope so! I am also re-vamping my kitchen and am so EXCITED, I ordered my first bit of GreenGate today! It's so hard to find here in the states! Can't wait for it to arrive! I have also purchased some other cute little dishes for my new kitchen! I can't wait to paint and decorate my new kitchen! Until we meet again!

Spring Has Sprung

A little bit of spring hookiness has descended upon my household! My hook has been busy, busy creating. Lots of my latest projects are being done in pastels, now normally I have always gravitated to the bolder brighter colors but this spring soft pastels are making me happy. 

A blanket started but not quite sure who the intended will be. My sister is due in April with my new niece or nephew! What a surprise that will be! If it is a she most likely this blankie will be hers.

 If it is a he (which I believe it is) I have created a pattern just for his blankie. I haven't started the blanket yet but I made up a test swatch and I am quite pleased with it!

I will be having Easter here at my house this year so I have purchased some new decorations and am busy making my home feel like spring.

The snow is SLOWLY melting but, we have more sunshiny-ness here lately!

Hopefully this warmer weather stays put for a while!

Until we meet again!

Lovlies

Just a few little pictures to brighten your day!

My lovely vintage linens! I actually got around to pressing them all!

They belonged to my grandmother who turned 90 years old this month!

Trappings and trimmings!

A little vintage quilty love! 

A beautiful sunset to end the day!

Little Bit Of Love

I know Valentine's Day is a a few weeks away yet, but in the spirit of this lovely holiday I am sending a little love your way! That's right a free pattern for adorable little hearts! 

Confetti Hearts

  I used a 4mm hook but really you can use any size

In a magic circle ch 3, 3 treble, 3 double, ch1, treble, ch1, 3 double, 3treble, ch3, sc. That's it folks, fasten off yarn and make up a bunch more. These hearts have so many uses string em' together for a garland, make a lovely little pin, or use them as an applique! Hope you enjoy!