Summer Fun

The weather here the past few weeks has been beautiful, great for getting outside work done.

After putting up the greenhouse we seeded the lawn around it and in the back of the house.

Also spent some time working in the garage, we put up some sheetrock allowing us to hang quite a few things, it was great getting them up on the wall, it looks so clean and fresh on that wall, only 2 more walls to go!

Found some treasures at the transfer station aka "the dump", one 7' long 12" wide board and one water jug that is great for catching water from the greenhouse gutters! 

Finally stained and polyed two interior doors I replaced over a year ago, the house smells a little strong right now but at least the windows are open and hopefully it will get better soon. 

One of the doors was in my sewing room.....things were pushed aside to keep them from a possible spill, everything is back in place just in time for the second pattern of the Kim Diehl What Not Club #3 to arrive via email.  I will also be able to pick up the first month of a BOM offered by my local quilt shop, they have made it up using  'Farm Girl Vintage' by Lori Holt, this one should be quick since all the pieces are pre-cut!

 I have also been working on a quilt for a friend's SIL, it is made using pieces of her father's plaid shirt.  I have one more row to sew on then I will be adding two borders, I will share a photo when I complete the top.

Also need to get ready to do some canning.....the tomatoes and zucchini are going crazy, not so happy with the cukes, they didn't like the dry spell.  Corn should be ready for picking soon, a few new chickens were added to the coop and I have harvested a few more frames of honey that I look forward to extracting soon.  The flower gardens are still looking good, I guess being late starting my zinnias was a not so bad, it makes for some beautiful flowers in late Summer!

 

My husband just finished building a potting table for me using scrap wood, the frame was from leftover PT and the top and shelves were from an old shed, the old boards give it an instant "primitive" look!

 

Until next time...........

New Arrival

Last night was the night the hives finally moved to my house, fellow beekeepers (more experienced than me) helped move them.  It was fairly quick and uneventful, of course I prepared ahead in hopes all would go well.  I wanted to move them earlier this summer but in all fairness to the bees it was best to wait until most of the forage time was done and the weather was cooler.  Since is was almost dark when they were moved I really don't think any were left behind!

The grass in front of the entry is so they will orient themselves to their new surroundings, I am sure they know something is different!  They will probably be inside most of the next few days since we are expecting rain, I think this will also be helpful for them to orient themselves.  I will go out tomorrow and remove the screens that are covering the other entry/exit holes, already filled the water containers......Welcome to your new home! 

It's Fall......Time to Organize and Purge!

Irene has come and gone, power was out for just a short time.....not a real hardship for us as we have a generator.  We really were not bothered by Irene much just a few extra branches and one small tree that cracked......my family and home are intact, prayers answered.  Please keep those in Vermont in your prayers. 

Been busy getting started on the WOOD for winter, once that is in and out of the way we will be able to get the area where next year's larger garden will go!  We also had to get another area in the yard prepared to put the wood that still needs to be cut and split for next year. 

It doesn't look like I've done much in the above photo but I have already moved 2 truck loads out by the back door ready to come inside.  My goal this year is to have the wood in by October 1, I'll keep you posted on my progress. 

Earlier this summer I transplanted two very large pumpkin plants that were going to be thrown away, the seeds are from pumpkins that a local man uses to grow his HUGE pumpkins.  I really didn't think they would survive as the plants didn't seem to like being disturbed from their pots but as you can see in these photos the plants have taken over a corner and the loam pile.  I don't have many pumpkins, one of them was doing well but one day I noticed that the skin had cracked almost like it grew too fast. 

The next photo is the largest pumpkin........

All those pallets and the loam pile will be taken care of once the pumpkins are finished, that is all part of the "garden prep" plan. 

I haven't gotten much done in the sewing room as I have been busy doing some major organizing of draws, closets, etc........On Monday our next door neighbor was broken into (while they were gone) in the middle of the day.......that really got me to thinking about the important stuff (not necessarily the valuable stuff), two of their jewelry boxes were taken that contained mementos from their life, stuff that is priceless........you know like the boy scout pin from a son, etc.  A perfect time to "clean house" for me, and that I did yesterday......I was up past 11pm working in one room, I did have to catch up on paperwork, too, that took quite a bit of time.  It's raining again today so I will continue in the other rooms, it will be a nice start to Fall having tidy spaces.

I'm also still working on perfecting my yogurt making.  I made fresh from scratch french bread recently, my own homemade deodorant, planning on making homemade soap and homemade laundry soap, and of course getting my butt back in the sewing room.  Definately enough to keep me out of trouble for the coming winter.

Enjoy your day!