My 5 Happy "Girls"

I haven't posted pictures for awhile of the ":girls" so here they are on this wet, cold Sunday morning , they are busy eating the goodies from the early morning rain.  A Breakfast  menu of worms and a hand full of corn scratch. Their coop is nice and warm, full of fresh straw and feed, but here they are outside doing what they do best. I think they are happy. They didn't notice the clocks were changed back an hour but maybe they did. They have not wandered far from the yard, . Today they only left me one egg..which one contributed to our supply I do not know...but it is appreciated. ( this afternoon someone may drop another).  The production has slowed a bit.. 3 pretty eggs yesterday, a sure sign of the weather changing here at Blue Sky Farm. We have added a warming light and heater for their inside water container...a few extra greens and leftover spaghetti noodles (that's another of their favorite treats) so they will continue to be happy don't you think?

Cleaning the pond

Saturday Morning and a pretty nice day to clean up the pond of the over grown cat tails. This pond is so pretty. The deer come from the hillside to drink and many migrating birds stop as well as our returning mallard ducks. It somehow became over grown with cat tails this summer and we ( Clay ) decided to clean some away.  ( hiding in the tall over growth) I captured a few photos of work in progress.while standing  in the middle of the dry pond bed surrounded by these cattails. He was working so hard  tugging and pulling. These roots go deep.. I was glad to see him take a break. He won't take them all out, some will remain. I am  hopeful we will see the pond full again come Spring when the snow melts, or we will  fill it ourselves. The deer will be happy I am sure. Today was a good day to prepare for winter.. She is coming, sooner than we think.

"Drum Roll Please.".. ..

 

 Ta Da! It's completed. It took exactly a hammer & a screwdriver, but I cheated and used an electric screwdriver..(Much faster) .The room is now 

nice and organized and I am happy. It took me over 4 hours to sort my "Treasures".. and another 3 hours to decide where to put everything. Plenty of space to create and spend "me" time..  What do you think?

With these two simple hand tools

(According to the instructions..on the boxes) it's all I need  to Create Big changes in my craft room.. No I am not destroying the walls, floor or windows... Wait until you see what my finished room will look like. However,  If you don't see me for a few days... I am buried under these piles of unsorted treasures.... notice I didn't say junk...I wont be out until it is finished...hopefully the project wont overwhelm me...Please check in on me..and Wish me luck!

It's about changes......

I am home at last.. at least until Thanksgiving.. I have so much to do..Change is in the air...The days will be long and I will be busy. It started this morning as I met with a few of my "farm girl chicks." to meet & greet a potential member of our chapter.It was great to have coffee with them. What a treat....Then
I came home to help my husband winterize the fruit trees with mounds of bark & leaves and to add wire to keep the "chickens" out of the straw & bark mounds. (boy!  they love to undo our work, by scratching for yummy chicken bugs and other goodies) I also planted my crocus bulbs for next Spring.
I got home Monday  from my latest trip to Washington, and unpacked a ton of new things to decorate our nest with. While away I visited my  dear friend Leila in North Bend . I was able to Spend the night and enjoyed some great  "girl time"...She was making  changes in her home decor and unloaded many items from her storage and house to my car. We have had the same taste for country decor and she has inspired me to change some things too..... She has discarded some great items...and I couldn't pass up the offers.  My car trunk & back seat were  really loaded with New Decorating Stuff..to hang on my walls, set on my tables and craft items for creating  my new look.. My poor husband will be shocked to see just how much "Stuff" I brought home....I will share them with you  as I complete the projects...but first  I have to paint the walls in the dining room and finish the painting of the trim in the guest bath & hang some draperies in the Family room.... I have a deadline for  some of these improvements by  November 13th when  I am hosting the November Charming Chick meeting and birthday party...I am really excited to get started... Do you have a good friend like me who really inspires you?

Home Sweet Home

I Love my Home. It feels so good to come back to when  my traveling takes me to interesting places. ( even if it's for only a few days) Yes, I am headed back to Washington  next Monday. To help out my mom, She is home from the hospital and although doing quite well,  I need to be there to make sure she has everything in order.It's part of being  the oldest daughter.. She has just returned to her home sweet home herself from a few days in the hospital. She has a few blood clots in her lungs and although feeling better,  I feel I must do a check up on her . You know how it is... don't you? Winter is coming and there are a few details that I would feel better  knowing she is well on her way to recovery. I will only be away a week.... and  My daughter Nancy will return to her Home Sweet Home for a few days as well and I will get to see her too...before she leaves again for Italy ( Business related through her job.)Once I return to my little nest, I am going to get started with some sewing, crocheting and settle into the fall with some cooking too.. I have been away from My Sweet Home much too long.. Do you feel this way too? Summer was very busy for me this year and it will be nice to stay home for a few weeks, Thanksgiving will be upon us shortly too and we have travel plans to share it with some of Clay's family... So I must get busy .. and start those projects I have been putting off... and I know It will be great to be settled into my home once again.

Oh! The beautiful flowers!

  

For me, Flowers used to be for special occasions, or so  I thought, but since I started adding bits of "pretties" to my budget I purchase them regularly now.. I love them in my home..and treat my home to fresh flowers weekly. I love flowers! They make me smile..... I finally purchased my first orchids today. My mom gave me a gift card for my birthday  and I knew just what I wanted. I have often purchased the lilies and others and saw the Orchids as a luxury item. Why ? I do not know, but probably because they are so much more expensive and I usually do not have luck with purchasing more expensive plants & flowers, Today I decided I deserve these... pretties and hope I can keep them alive. I know very little about the orchid but have been reading more & more about them.  Do you treat yourself to flower luxury?

 

A summer full of travel

 I have been traveling a lot this summer. I know my scheduled trips are coming to an end.  My journal is full of pictures of my family and friends and I have really enjoyed the summer. Trips to the mountains, lakes,and ocean. There is one more trip coming up, (next week) My husband is taking me to Mendocino California for my Birthday. It was planned yesterday morning. I have yet to completely unpack from the last trip but I am not complaining.... I love to travel. We will be leaving Monday and return by end of the week... My dear friend and farm girl sister ( April) is House/Buster sitting for us.. We are so thankful she was available at a last minute call... Thanks you so much April!

We are staying  at "The Inn  at School house Creek"  just outside Mendocino, and are looking forward to taking lots of pictures ( Now we have Photography class 101completed) but I also will enjoy sitting here at the cottage looking out at the ocean. This will be a birthday to remember I am sure. The only other trip planned is Thanksgiving in Woodburn, Oregon  with family.  I think I will have time to unpack before that trip. I am very fortunate to be able to travel and to enjoy this time of my life with my husband and family. Yes, Life is very good! 

A week long Road trip!

I am headed on the road again... Leaving Tuesday morning to my sisters ( she was here last week) & my youngest daughter's PJ who live in Washington State. I will be gone a week. My grandson Mason is celebrating his #8 birthday and I don't want to miss it... also his older brother  Alex is playing football and I'd like to see him play,  He is a senior this year in High School. My oldest daughter Nancy.. is also on the road..She accepted an assignment to go to Italy for 3 weeks..   You can follow her on her Self Care Blog, on my sideboard.  My husband is not going with me, He & Buster are "batching" it for a few days..It is a long  10 hour trip but I do enjoy it and before the snow flies I feel I must go... Also going up to Seattle to see my Mom & perhaps do some antique /thrift shopping if given the opportunity..(and  of course I will) but  I won't be able to post until I get home so you all have a great week.. Enjoy your autumn weather.. See ya soon.

Buster's Complaint: Not a Bath!

 Gee whiz.. Can't I just stay dirty for a while? I am losing the battle...

See what I have to put up with ? I went out for a look around with my dad and well.. I got distracted and was having such funn chasing the squirrels and what ever that other scent belonged to. When I got home My Mom insisted on Dad putting me into the tub! I agree the water got pretty DIRTY.  But sometimes these things just happen right?

Usually I don't get a beauty treatment until I go see Rhonna at the Paws Spa every month. I guess they thought differently.. (I like it at Rhonna's better, but don't tell them.)
Now I'll just sit here and dry off until I get the opportunity to go look for that dang squirrel again. I do feel squeaky clean..and Mom says I smell nice  .. but who needs that? 

Blue Sky Farm Dressed for Fall

 I have been shooting pictures like crazy.. trying different angles and working on how my "pictures tell a story." Must work on that one more ,..but here are a few of the Fall Decor. I think They tell a bit of a story....

Starting from the front porch.  I had to buy that rake thing last week at the "Antique Store" I couldn't pass it up.  The Canada Goose is resting on a basket.

Next just inside the front door we enter the Living room. Here sits one of my Annie dolls and a lighted creation.  ( with two cute black birds )

 











Peeking into the  living room over there on the table  look there is a Frightened Black Cat .

On to the Dining room table where these pretty flowers sit with my hen & rooster, Mr & Mrs Speckles











As we enter the Family Room  Look! There is a Crow on my table stealing Pistachios

So as you can see the house is dressed for Fall.. It sure was fun decorating....Is your home ready for Fall?

Photography Class

Last night was our first photography class. We are taking the class at a local Camera Shop. This is our camera
I say our camera because although he bought it for me last Christmas, He takes almost as many good & bad pictures as I do.

I know I have taken many photos and by chance alone have had a few (what I consider Great shots) but With this class we will learn how to take even better ones, by learning what makes a good picture, things to consider when taking pictures. Next week we will actually learn what the different icons do on the camera and what digital zoom is & what file size makes the best pictures. It is a two hour class packed full of great easy to understand material. I hope to take even better photos than I do now. And who said "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?"
It was fun to learn these things with my husband. Hopefully between the two of us we will retain what we need to do. Today I will finish decorating the front porch and have some photos to show you tomorrow.

Fall is showing up at Blue Sky Farm

 Yes, I am sure, It is Fall, and although it was a beautiful sunny day, resembling summer, this morning it was a lot cooler and you know how you can smell fall in the air? That early dampness from the nights frost.. the smell of fresh mowed hay in the distance and fading flower scents. I love it. This morningI took a couple photos of my little bit of fall. Here the Dining room table has a few farm visitors.. Mr. Piglet and Mr & Mrs Speckles. I see those flowers are almost fading dropping petals... but they were so pretty.


As I looked around I spotted my coffee table dressed also for Autumn. Martha's Living magazine came yesterday and I love the cover don't you? The pistachio nuts and candy corn were a treat from last weeks trip to Harry & David's and Boy do I love that store. I could have spent  hours there.

Awake way to early  this morning, laying in bed thinking of food again....( do you do that?)Think of food, I mean like "What  you are going to make for dinner, before its even Breakfast?"I do that often. Anyway,

I had the idea to make some croutons from some left over artisan rosemary bread. I had just enough to keep &

I cubes it and drenched it with olive oil and sprinkled garlic,thyme and some chili pepper seasoning over them, and toasted them in a 325 oven for about 45 minutes. The house smelled heavenly.  Oh Gosh! You can imagine can't you? A Carmel Spice Candle  burning and toasted bread... ahhhhh!

So what are croutons good on besides salads? Soup... And Fall at our house  brings out the flavors of Soup. I used some of our Yukon Gold potatoes and some North Country German Sausages from our local butcher and was very pleased  at how Great they blended together with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley...I guess I should have posted this over in my Thishensacookin blog page.

  I did post the Peach and Pepper Jam there. So
go on in the kitchen and check that out while you are here....Besure to leave me a note that you were there...

 

Time sure flies when you are having Fun

Where did the time go? My sister and her husband came for a visit from Wenatchee, Washing ton. We had a busy fun packed week believe me.. Our husbands went on a couple day trips to do some Sunstone mining and a day at Glass Mountain, both all day ventures  so Karen and I had lots of "sister time".  When they returned we shared our stories and enjoyed a  nice  dinner out and a few glasses of wine & laughter.. One of the "girlie"things we did was  to go to my favorite store "The Keepers Corner" and purchased a few great items for her new home.. and the local antique stores, spent one whole day painting my kitchen wall..yes I finally got it painted Red! and we also  baked, canned & made jams and sauces. I sure hated to see her leave this morning.... but have these great pictures to remind me of what a great sister I have and what fun we shared. I posted some of the preserved fruits of our labors on "thishensacookin" site.. Check those out.