Restful Weekend...

We kicked completely out of gear for the weekend, and I don't think anyone exemplifies it better than this silly Labrador. Carly has taken to sleeping on the sofa - on her back. Not very ladylike if you ask me, but she obviously wasn't asking. What a hoot this dog is. She makes us laugh every day! 

The most I exerted myself was to run out to the grocery store to get a few necessities, while a stewing chicken cooked in the pot. We got four birds from the same gal where we buy our farm-fresh eggs. (Just FYI - we paid $3.50 per bird - a steal if you ask me.)

When I got back home, I put away the things I bought. Then I washed my hands, strained the contents of the pot - reserving the broth - and cleaned all the meat off the bones. I returned everything to the pot, adding celery, onions, fresh carrots, some of the sweet corn I'd frozen in September, frozen peas, and some of the potatoes I canned. After it simmered for another couple hours, I added dumplings. The entire meal for two, with plenty of leftovers, cost us about $10. A frugal meal that I'm sure knocked out the last vestiges of my cold. (I really am feeling back to full health.)

Today, I'll be baking bread and catching up on a little laundry. All these changes in the weather have taken their toll on my hands, but I'm going to do my best to finish the knit baby kimono this week, too. Tag will take over tomorrow, so I'll just keep knitting while he visits with you. 

It's hard to believe it's already Thanksgiving week, isn't it? Gosh, it seems the older I get the faster the clock moves. Why is that? As long as time waits for no one, I'd better get busy. Breakfast and coffee, and then I'll be bustling around the kitchen. See you Wednesday!

NOTE: For some reason, Blogger isn't posting my replies to your comments. I promise I'm reading all of them and will respond as soon as they fix their issues. xoxo 

Hen Party...

Brynwood Needleworks - Chicken Pincushions

I watched one of Jenny Doan's videos last week, and decided that I should make a few of these cute and simple chicken pincushions. If you sew, HERE'S the link to the information and video for you to watch.

Brynwood Needleworks - Doily Combs

You can see that I used red wool fabric for one of the chickens' combs, but the rest of them were made from this little, crocheted doily. The sections were perfect for the size of my chickens, and the cut edges were all captured within the seams. I love how they turned out!

I began each chicken with two half square triangle blocks. I used some of my farm-themed fabric (the gray with lettering) for half of the blocks, and paired them with a sweet floral fabric. I used the farm fabric on four of the chickens, and then flowers and dots for the pink one. Their beaks are all a yellow wool triangle, and they each have a little Prairie Point tail.

Once they were sewn (except for a small opening for turning and filling), I stuffed each one with crushed walnut shells, and then stitched a French knot eye on each side of the head.

Brynwood Needleworks - Five Finished Chicks

 

They really were that simple. Now I have five little chickens roosting on my cutting table, waiting for more. I finally have chickens at the farm! (Even if they are made of fabric.)

 

My New Girlfriends...

Live Well Acres Chickens

 

I recently learned that we had a new source for local farm eggs right around our country block. I got spoiled by our Florida neighbors, Stacey and her daughter, Jenn's eggs, and needed to find a Wisconsin source. On Saturday, Handsome and I went to meet our neighbors and purchase some of their eggs.

Live Well Acres Chickens

When we arrived, we were impressed by the accommodations for their chickens...a repurposed trailer! We drove up the drive and introduced ourselves to Mike Sabel. His wife, Jenni, had just left to run errands, but Mike was happy to tell us about their operation and the chickens.

He told us he removed the floor from the trailer and put in a base that would allow their droppings to pass through onto the pasture. He said they move the trailer up to three times within the large enclosure, and then they move the whole enclosure up the hill for new pasture for them to explore and forage.

Live Well Acres Barred Red Chickens

As we chatted, the hens were happily pecking at seeds and insects. They made sweet clucking noises that made me smile. They are truly contented chickens.

Mike told me they're the Barred Red variety, and that there are two different age groups within the enclosure. They're about six months apart, and one group has leg bands so he can tell the age groups apart.

A Curious Hen

As I took photos, one of the hens came over to say hello. She was more curious than the others, who came over, but not as close. She talked as she stood there, too. I love those soft, quiet chicken vocalizations.

Eggs From Live Well Acres

We came home with two dozen eggs, in varying shades of brown. The girls are pretty consistent in egg size, and the eggs have slightly thicker shells than store-bought. I intend to hold the shells aside to add to our (near) future compost pile. 

I only have to decide where to place it, and the best way to accomplish it. Should I choose a commercially made compost bin that I can turn with a handle, or make one of those more rustic models from wood pallets? Then there's the matter of whether or not one version might invite "critters", which I definitely don't want. But I digress...

Eggs Comparison - L-R: Store vs Farm Fresh Egg Yolks

Back in 2016, I did a little "store vs home grown egg yolks" unofficial study, to show the difference. (I posted this image on my FaceBook page.) I placed the yolks side-by-side in one of my clear prep bowls. The egg I purchased at the store had a cloudy albumen while the home grown was clear. 

Also, the egg from the store was light yellow, while the home grown egg was a rich, golden color. Further research revealed that the darker the yolk, the more nutritious it is. I know they definitely taste richer. As far as we're concerned, the home grown varieties are definitely the winners, and worth buying at a slightly higher cost ($3.00 per dozen) from the farm. Support local, right?

Mike & Jenni Sabel's Business Card

 

This is Mike and Jenni's business card. I especially like the line at the bottom. "Everybody should know where their food comes from." As a hunter safety instructor, I taught this particular line to each of my students over ten years'-worth of classes. I think it's something everyone takes for granted.

We told Mike we'll definitely be repeat customers. I'm looking forward to seeing my new Barred Red girlfriends again. I'm also looking forward to creating delicious meals and pastries courtesy of his and Jenni's chickens. It's another way that our lives are enriched by living here at the farm.

 

Here Chick, Chick, Chick...

Brynwood Needleworks - Chicken Decor

 

When Handsome and I travel, we frequently stop at Cracker Barrel restaurants. (Of course, once we park the Airstream though, I love to provide home cooked meals for us.) Anyway, CB provides consistent, tasty meals...and I always have fun browsing the market that greets hungry travelers when they enter.

Brynwood Needleworks - Chicken Baskets

 

When we stopped to eat on this latest trip, I got the chance to check out their latest stock - in this case "livestock"! One whole display was dedicated to chickens!

Now, Handsome has nixed any ideas I might have about adding chickens (or anything else live) at the farm, aside from Tag and Bella. I agree that we couldn't possibly while we're only there part time. After all, Andy and Shelly take great care, watching over our place in our absence, but I think even they would say "no" to taking care of chickens in my absence. (Don't worry, Shelly. I wouldn't dream of it.)

But, I can't see a good reason that I couldn't have a chicken-shaped basket; or a hanging piece; or

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Chicken Shelf

 

this awesome-sauce chicken shaped shelf unit to hang in the kitchen! It's at least two feet tall and had all those shelves to hold my creamware pitchers or some of the gifts Shelly has given me since we bought our northern home!

I didn't buy anything this time, but I'm not making any promises if I happen to stroll into one of the local restaurants. (No chickens dressed in polka dots, but the rest...) What do you think? Yes or no?

Here, Chick, Chick, Chick...

Brynwood Needleworks - Chicken Waterer

 

Sunday was full of surprises. Mom's daughter, Deb called and came to visit me at the farmhouse. The weather was perfect and we had a nice time catching up with each other.

In addition to sharing her fall tradition with me - every year she makes a lovely curried squash soup - she brought a light dinner and gift. (The soup was spicy and delicious, by the way.)

She has some of Mom's things that she's going to share with me, but those items are waiting until after our renovations are completed. I know what they are, but they're fragile, so I agreed they should wait a while.

The gift she brought for me is a little chicken waterer. According to Sis, one takes the jar off the base, fills it with water, places the inverted base on top of the waterer and then turns it over. The water refills the base as needed, but it won't overflow. Such a genius, low-tech gadget!

Sis usually kept it in the garden to offer a drink to birds and butterflies. I may do the same until such time as there are chickens at the farm. In fact, I may even fill it with sugar water to see if I can attract hummingbirds. 

I'll keep it safe until next spring, and then it will have a place in the garden (away from nosy Corgis and Labradors).

Playing Chicken...

The elves and I are hard at work in the studio. We're cranking out Christmas gifts, so we thought we'd take a break to share a completed project.

I've finished a set of six two-sided napkins and six coordinating placemats. The napkins feature roosters on one side, and chicks on the other. They measure 18" square and are made from 100% cotton.

I didn't choose matching placemats so that they can be used separately with other napkins. They have a light fabric on one side, and I used the same fabric on the back that is on the binding for two completely different looks.

I have a list of projects that I'll need to finish to ship out by the 15th. This one is taken care of, but I still have other items on my list.

Let's see...

• 3 pairs of Grammies Jammies
• a lap quilt
• small wall quilt
• a stuffed animal
• a couple of totes
• two garment bags
• mug mats
• my Blissfull ATC swap card for Dec.
• ...and a few other items that I'll complete after the 15th and before the 20th. whew!

I may not show you full images of everything, but I promise to show you "peeks" as I finish each gift. Back in the studio today, with more photos tomorrow!