Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Sunday August 21-27

Up at 7:00 trying to get back on track.  Last week was a lost cause, slept in most days!

I got dressed, dogs out and then brought the farm records up to date.  I hadn't done them in two months!  Everything balanced so all is good. 

Chores done, then time to use the fresh milk to make cottage cheese.  The cream from last Monday is now setting for Creme Fresh (not spelled right, but that is what is sounds like) and there is five gallons of milk to fun through the separator.  Plan to freeze this cream to be used later.  Maybe ice cream or sour cream or even butter.

Took a short sit down then did the cheese draining and clean up.  Pat and Jenn arrived for our sewing work.  We are reupholstering their boat seats and bolsters.  Want it done by Thursday when they leave for Fife lake.  Worked seven hours including an hour for dinner break.  Got one seat one and a second almost.  Half way there.

They left and will be back on Monday after to work to finish up.  That means a crock pot dinner of Pot Roast.

Watched recorded Dexter then off to bed, chores were done around 9:30 PM.

Monday-Got up late, 7:30, didn't sleep good.  Dogs out and Creme Fraiche (spelled right here) tested and divided.  We'll let part work more and the other part is in the fridge.  Never had it so not sure what it is suppose to taste like.  Tasted better this morning then it did last night.

Beautiful morning, cool but bright and clear.  Almost fallish. 

Plan to make mozzeralla from last night and this mornings milk.  Need to use the milk somehow.  Soap will be next on the to do list.

After breakfast we moved the chicks into two different brooders with fresh straw and water.

Laundry is underway with the first load on the line.

Chores are finally done and mozzeralla is in the pot.

Worked on cushions and they are as done as I can do them now.  We have run out of blue fabric!

Got most of the lawn mowed before Jenn and Pat got here.  Jenn went to buy more fabric while Pat and I worked where we could.  By 9:30 PM all the sewing was done!  Now Pat has the stretching and stapling to do.

Kids gone, Greg and I relax on the porch.  Skipped milking, just closed up the barn.

Tuesday-Up, dogs out, did some computer work, then get ready for Doreen to come and trim the horses.

Decided that today is as good as any to go to once a day milking.

Greg took my older sewing machine into "Elaine's Too" for cleaning and repairs.  It hasn't been running right, so time to get it fixed.  Then the newere one will go in for a cleaning.  They have both been doing plenty of work this summer...Flower Girl dresses...Costume for a goat...
Chocolate chip goat cookie!



Boat seats.

Digitized and sewn embroidery design.





Also a Victorian Day Dress for myself and I shortened some pants for Jenn.  That is alot of sewing for summer.  I do most of my sewing during the winter months.

I wanted to do something "different" not something that needed to be done today, so we tore apart the old camper/poop trailer and made it into a small flat wagon for hay and whatever.  We had to buy plywood, so we went to St. Johns and had lunch and got the wood.

Back at home we worked on the trailer until I went into  fix dinner and shorten Jenn's pants. 

While in the house we got a call from Jere saying he and his were on their way here bringing back the camper.  Everyone should have gotten here around the same time, I did say "should"!  Jenn was here, Pat went on home to work on boat.  Jenn had Liver and Onions with us.  Jere called to say he was stoppping for pizza and would be later then first thought.  Dinner done, I took Jenn and the covers and her pants home.

Back at our house, got another call from Jere...he has a flat tire on the camper, will fix it and be even later.  Last call "I'm on my way..."

Finally all are here and safe.  Quick snack of dill pickles then unload the camper and they are on their way back home.

First night of no milking.  Going down to once a day. Closed up barns and gave feed to those who get it, then porch time.

Wednesday-Greg went to get blown tire so  he could take rim and get new tire.  He noticed then that there were NO NUTS holding the spare on!  Somehow, he had lost all four nuts and had driven with a tire that wasn't attached!  AMAZING!  How lucky can you be, that really could have gone really bad!

Greg went to town while I did chores.  The he called to say he was just delivering the Meal on Wheels since he was already out, be home soon.

He had tried at several different places in twon to find replacement nuts, but couldn't find any.  I made a couple of phone calls and found a place in Laingsburg called "Harry's RV Service", he had a couple and said we could use the spare 'hangers' for the other two.  Then just hang the spare with regular bolts.

We drove over to his shop to pick up the parts.  "No Charge" since he said they were just junk from a camper  he had parted out.  Now we plan to take the camper there to have some other work done, so it will be good and ready for our vacation in September.

Back home, new tire on, spare in place, now I go to visit with my friends at the knitting group.  Small gathering, only eight of us.

Back home by 4:30 PM, change clothes.  Going to dinner with Greg's Brother and his wife to celebrate Greg's Bithday and mine as well, since mine is one week from today.  Good meal and good company.

Chores done, time to relax.

Thursday-Up, dogs out, breakfast and then plan the next couple of days.  My neice Julia and her family along with my Brothere and his wife are coming on Saturday for a visit.  Also next Wednesday I am  hosting the knitting group for my Birthday.  Need to get groceries, but I need to plan my menues first.

Got my plan and list now time to set all in action.  Chores, groceries, yard work and then if all goes well pack and move camper down to "Trails End" and spend the rest of the night there.  Plan the work and then work the plan!

By around six we were packed and headed down to the campsite, dinner and campfire.  First camping for Anya!

Friday-Crazy foggy when we got up!  Quite cool as well.  Breakfast then straightened up camp and went back to the house.  Chores then Greg dusted and swept downstairs while I did the same upstairs.  I cleaned the bathrooms after a short nap.  Started eggs to boil and got potatoes ready to cook for Potatoe Salad. I also put together Five Cup Salad. Greg is out mowing hay.  Third cutting...

The plan today is for camping again tonight after hay, salads,scullery mopping and chores.

Saturday-Spent last night at camp.  Lost my hearing aid when Anya knocked me with her huge paw!  Spent 45 minutes crawling around with flashlights looking for a needle in a haystack...didn't think we would find it, but thank goodness we did!  Relief!

Had a quick breakfast and then back to the house.  Finished chores, showered and did the rest of the preparations.  Everyone arrived just shortly after noon.  We had lunch.  Then took a tour of the house as Julia has never been here before.  After the house it was time for the barns and critters.  Garret, Julia's son and youngest found Cubby to be his favorite.  He and Grandpa Dick drove it!



There was some time for visiting on the porch and then we packed up the truck and flat wagon with everything we needed for dinner at "Trails End".

We had a simple dinner of Burgers and Dogs over the fire, along with pickles, salads and watermelon.  There was time to sit in the shade and visit and just have some fun.


Julia and Me, with Dick looking on.




Before long it was time to pack up and head back.  Julia and all headed back to their homes.  Hope to see them again really soon.

Chores then we headed back to camp for another good evening.

Lots of goings on the past week, will be really glad when things slow down a bit!

Onward and Upwards!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Week after Fair...

Tried to get some things done all week, but just to darn worn out, plus something was always coming up that HAD TO BE DONE NOW!

Did manage to make myself a new Victorian Day dress, so that I had something to wear for the Mint Festival demonstration at the Paine-Gilliam-Scott Museum in St. Johns on Sunday.

I also used the cream separator to run five gallons of milk through and got almost two quarts of cream!  Maybe some Ice Cream will come from that.

On Thursday, Jeremiah came to pick up the camper so that he and the kids could go camping.  Ain't that fine, my camper has been out twice now and neither time with me!  Drats!

Mostly the week was playing catch up.

Will try to do better next week. 

How about a few Fair pictures to make this post more interesting...
Heerreee's Skippy!
Getting Skippy ready for Showmanship.

Yum, Fair Food with a Friend!


Here is the proud Showman and her elegant dry dairy doe.


Answering a question from the Judge.


A fun Costume class!


Just chillin' with Skippy.


Shhh, Skippy is asleep on my shoulder Grandma!





Sunday, August 14, 2011

FAIR WEEK!

Fair is done, had a Great Time with Daniella and Skippy.  Will get some pictures together and post them soon.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

JULY 31- AUGUST 6

Sunday-Up late about 7:30 AM.  Had breakfast, mine was "Breakfast Quinoa".  Got the recipe from the book that Patti gave me as a hostess gift.  It was pretty good, needed more raisins.  Put chili fixing in the crock pot for lunch and then chores.

Patti was  here around 11:00 AM and we left shortly after.  We made stops at Cummin Cemetery in Juddville, the Heard and Passmore homesteads, Cronk Cemetery, and then the Flushing City Cemetery.  Lots of family names and places.

Back at home we had lunch and then did some picture looking.  Before we knew it is twas time for Patti to head back to Ann Arbor.  Her birthday is August 2 and her parents wanted to take her out to dinner before she went back to Indiana.

Greg and I spent the rest of the evening watching "Dexter" on TV and then porch sitting.

Monday-Up at 6 AM, Anya out, did greenhouse journal, picked the first tomatoes, and did some computer work, Daniella arrived, we at breakfast and then did the chores.

We rough clipped Skippy for fair then had lunch and left to a work day for the 4H club.  Scrubbing boards and loading the trailer.

Porch sitting and crochet time.  I finished my dish rag and Daniella started a pot holder.

Dinner was rotisserie chicken and leftover salad.  Porch sitting and just before chores Dawn came to pick up the calves milk.  Chores and porch sitting again.

Tuesday-Up at 6 AM, Anya and I walked the hayfield and then did chores.  Had to treat one of the twins for coccidia, she had poopy butt.  We had breakfast, cleaned up and went to the Clinton County Fair to watch the goat show and the other exhibits.  One of my goats and her daughter and granddaughter were showing today.

Home then lunch and the final clip of Skippy.  Daniella did a great job!

Had some light rain, but really need more.

Chris came around 6 PM to pick up Daniella.  Greg and I had leftover Chicken and salad for supper.  Did the chores watched some TV and sat on porch.

Wednesday-Slept in until 7 AM and did some computer time after walking Anya around the yard.

Breakfast, chores, then Meals on Wheels.  Greg and I went together the ran some errands and had lunch.  Back at home I started the curtains for the fair decorations for D'Udderside 4H club.  Got about half done then made dinner, chores and porch time.

Weather turned cool, feels sooooo good!

Thursday-Up around 6 AM, Anya out then back upstairs to finish the curtains.

Made some phone calls, one was to get a sub for Meals next week.

Share customer called, she'll be stopping  by this afternoon for her shares.

Did bread inventory, there are 14 loaves of bread, so no need to bake this week.

11:16 AM Late chores, but getting things done.

Worked in the yard the rest of the day.  Wildflower garden is weed free, Mums are planted, and Greg started the hole for the dinner bell pole.  This dinner bell came down from the pole at the farm the day my Grandparents Sherman were married.  The family didn't want the shiverrieers to disturb the newlyweds!  Then my brother inherited it from my parents, and after he had it for awhile he handed it down to me.  It is at least 150 years old!

The usual evening time and bed.

Friday-Up at 6 AM, dogs out, computer time, quick breakfast and then chores.  Chita and Daniella got here just when I was finishing up.  They were here to work on the costume for fun class at fair.  Chita left to go shopping for new work clothes because she starts a different job next week.  We got Daniella fitted in her part of the costume before Chita left.  Then Daniella and I finished Skippy's part of the costume.  We were just finishing up when Chita got here.  The three of us tried Skippy's part on here and then they left.

Did more work on the bell pole, had dinner, chores, and I washed the truck.  Had porch time.  Then we went to Swanson's to dig post holes for the fence he is putting up for the twins.

Saturday-Up and gone by 7:30 AM, going to Market with 14 loaves of bread and 14 dozen eggs.  Big Market...14 vendors and lots of people!  Came home with only four loaves of bread and  no eggs!

At home lunch then late chores, raining really good.

While I did chores, Greg went to TSC to pick up fence posts for Swanson.  Because of the rain we were unable to set any posts, but we did have a nice visit.  Betty has a new kitten.

Jenn, Pat and a friend stopped by, they were on a site seeing tour of Laingsburg.  They had set up their new 5th wheel trailer at Sleepy Hollow to try it out for the first time.

We got back home at around 6 PM and had dinner.  I didn't feel like doing anything so I just watched some TV and didn't even do evening milking...will do it early tomorrow.

Next week is Fair week, I will try to get some pictures so I can post them when I do my next blog.

Onward and Upward!

Monday, August 1, 2011

July 24-31, trying to get back on track...

Sunday-Had planned on this being a rest day, but that didn't happen...mowed hay!  Then went to Chris's house as Jere and his kids were there.  Good visit.  Then home and more porch sitting.

Monday-Was hoping again for an easy day, once again...NOT!  Greg and I walked Anya and Isabeau down the lane to the camp site and found that there is another site in the south west corner of the field as well as the one under the Hickory tree.

Breakfast and chores, computer time to check to see when my new found cousin Patti plans on getting here on Saturday.  Then stripped all the beds and washed and hung them out.  Had lunch then raked hay.  After that we packed up the broilers in crates and took them to the butcher.  We will pick them up on Tuesday all ready for the freezer.

Beds need to be made, but need to take sheets off the line first, still awful hot, not much go.

Tuesday-Had my yearly check up at 8:00AM.  Had blood work, EKG, bone density, PAP and Mammogram.  All seem fine, but need to increase my calcium intake as the bone density showed some bone loss in my hips and neck.

Did a quick stop at Wally world for Hornworm spray...the tomatoes are super infested and we need to tough, so bring on the chemicals!

After lunch I did really late milking then it was time to pick up the chickens and got them in the freezer then time to bale the hay.  157 bales of second cutting all in the barn...Amen!

Wednesday-Late start didn't get up until 7:10 AM.  Took Anya out to the hay field for her walk and let her off leash to run.  Then we played with her new toy, a Frisbee.  She likes it really big!

Did some cost breakdown of the chicken project and decided on the price per pound.

Greg and I did some garden work, Hornworm killing! and then had breakfast.

Spent the rest of the day cleaning the upstairs.

Around 5:30 PM Jenn and Pat showed up to pick up their chickens.  I was running late for a 4H meeting, so we loaded Skippy and went to the Johnson's home for practice.  Got home around 8:30 PM did chores and watched TV.

Thursday-Up at 6:00 AM and cleaned the downstairs front house.  Daniella arrived around nine.  Did chores, had lunch, and relaxed on the porch a while.  Did some Fair preparations.  Daniella wormed Skippy, gave her a new collar and neck number and then walked the bucklings.  After that I gave Daniella her first lesson in crochet.

Greg worked in the barn all day doing some repairs and moving hay around.

Friday-Finished cleaning the downstairs, breakfast and then chores.  Daniella and I clipped the bucklings, which were surprisingly calm and took it all in stride.  Hoof trimming as well.

After lunch a friend stopped by with Isaiah's papers and we had a great visit.

Jenn and Pat stopped by on their way home from work and picked up Daniella.  After dinner Greg and I did some baking and salad making so we would have goodies for when my cousin and her parents are here.

Saturday-Made more food preparations.   Had breakfast and did chores by 11:00 AM.

Patti and her parents arrived right on time and we spent the rest of the day getting acquainted and sharing family history.  Patti's Great Great Grandfather was my Great Grandmother's brother.  We found each other on Ancestry.com.  We were able to fill in some information on each other ancestry.  We had a grand time and found that we had several interests in common.  Around 6:00 PM they left to go back to Ann Arbor for the evening, where her parents live.  Patti is coming back tomorrow to do more hunting and we plan on road trip to visit some "historical" places that I know of.

Did chores, we had a simple dinner of leftovers and relaxed on the porch.  I couldn't sit still, so I got out another box of pictures and ended up staying up until1 AM!

July 17-23, just little late...

Sunday-Slow one mile walk with Anya.  Did only what had to be done, toooo hot for anything else.  Sat all day on porch and read Far and Away.  Around 9:00 PM, Jenn and Pat showed up and we visited on the porch a while.

Monday-Up late couldn't sleep so I read until 1:00AM finished the book.  Another slow one mile, it's already HOT!  Chores then breakfast smoothies, then went to Owosso for groceries.  Lunch after everything was put away, then up to sewing room.  Button and loop for bustle, then cut out two jackets for the little girls.  Got one finished and the other one well started.  Light dinner of sandwiches, chores and porch sitting.  Got some rain, but not near enough.

Tuesday-Fog is coming in and out.  Plenty hot already.  Another easy one mile with Anya.  Got to visit with Mary Miller.  She is doing fine after her surgery.  Fog has moved back in and is really thick.  Hoping for rain.

Wednesday-Route for Meals and met with knitting ladies.  HOT HOT HOT!

Thursday-Daniella is here.  She clipped one goat while I clipped the other one.  She also tried her hand at trimming feet.

Friday-Daniella still here.  Too busy to keep track, so not much to say.

Saturday-Breakfast, chores, then bath.  Today is the wedding.  Rain held off so it was outside.  Nice simple and SHORT...still very hot. Came home as there was a couple of hours until reception.  Stopped at the Blue Moon on the way home from wedding and had a Hot Fudge Sunday.  Sat on the porch until it was time to go to reception.  Stopped at Bushon's to check on cow they have that is suppose to be due to calve...nothing.

Reception was nice, food was good.  We sat with our neighbors Joe and Rachel, Jay and Doreen and had a wonderful visit.  We all had animals to care for, so we all left by 9:00 PM.

Chores and porch sitting then bed.