Blue Sky Farm

My blogging posts and photos are part of me . I think of this as a scrapbook of my life. The names have not been changed.. they are real people who have crossed my path along my journey. Some I know intimately, my family and friends. If their names are mentioned it's a sure sign they are special to me and I love them dearly...come along see for yourself, perhaps you know some of them too..

December 4, 2010

Yes, we still have snow












Oh, what a pretty afternoon with Blue Sky over our  Blue Sky Farm. It is melting slowly but it is still pretty cold outside. This first picture is taken from the house facing west  and across the road looking at the hillside covered in untouched snow.  Second picture, as you come down our driveway from the road our tracks are visible as the snow begins to melt.  The third photo coming south along the house our shrubs are blanketed in a nice 4-5 inches of frozen snow. There are a few sunken tracks of Buster's and perhaps a deer. Now to the back of the house  here is the path to the "Girls' Coop. we found it still mighty slippery and covered in a nice layer of ice & snow.. That is one of our apple trees, I do hope the winter won't be too harsh on it and  that next Spring it and the other two trees will be full of blossoms for our bees to pollinate. We spent some time this morning before the sun was shining as bright as it is now cleaning out the coop and repairing the cage.
some how other birds are coming to the girl's "dinner table" uninvited and staying because they don't know how to find the exit. We were able  to patch a space or two in the cage area, but it is amazing how they can get through such small holes. I guess they prefer the chicken food over the bits we put in their feeders.(Or they are just picky eaters.) which ever it is every birds is taken care of ... they see to that.

December 3, 2010

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Wouldn't you know it..

The GOOD:
Well today started out pretty Good.. We ran some errands, after I made bread dough and left it to rise. Got home to beautifully raised dough.  I made two loaves of bread and a pan of Delicious Sticky Buns.( posted on this Hens a cookin Blog) go ahead go check them out. Click the side bar to go directly there.

So that's the Good...
 The BAD... As I had to taste one of the bun,  wouldn't you know it, I bit into a pecan and broke one of my front teeth! Didn't hurt but, and right now it doesn't...
The UGLY:
Oh My  I can't go anywhere looking like this.. I cannot even show  you...
Its late Friday afternoon, * wouldn't you know it?" I do not have a dentist here in Klamath Falls  and cannot get into one  here as a new patient  until 8:30a Monday.
I have plans to meet with friends to go to a Craft Bazaar & Craft Fair tomorrow and I might still go, but  I won't be smiling, eating or talking  much.. Now tell me What's a farm girl to do?

December 2, 2010

23 days and counting!




Oh how I love Christmas! I am Counting the days now.. it could become overwhelming . It is snowing, the tree is finally full of decorations, the Christmas lights are hung my Bears & Raggedy Ann are waiting for Santa....I have more shopping to do and Oh my, the baking and wrapping gifts and some into the mail...and the list keeps growing...I don't want to be late..for this important date,  I can do this....I can ! Sometimes my expectations are too big...this year will be different...I am already ahead of the game....and I will be traveling to be with some of my family...I wish we could all be together but  maybe next year... but for today ....I will Breathe, Relax and Enjoy  because it is My favorite time of the year.....did I say how much I Love Christmas?


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December 1, 2010

"Birdie, it's warmer inside"...


If this real cold little Oregon Junco came inside there would be a warm spot
for him on my "Christmas Bird Branch". It is really pretty at night all aglow.
Thinking I must go get some tree boughs, but that means a trip to the mountains..I bet its pretty up there too...
Just may be a day to play in the snow. We got another 3 inches last night. more expected through Saturday.
It truely is beginning to look like Christmas here.











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I do Love Red!

 Now that the outside decorating is almost done,I  wanted to share the pictures of the latest kitchen project. We finally finished painting the kitchen this week. I really do like what the "red" did for the cupboards. Don't you?
Remember my sister helped paint the first wall back in September?  With Christmas coming and "pressies" to buy, wrap and mail I figured this project needed to be the first priority. Gradually I will get to the rest of the projects I have on my Decorating list, but for now I am pretty darn satisfied. I know Clay has a list of things he wants me to do but my "honey do list" is growing too, I wish the budget was a bit bigger.. But some things will wait til next year.. It's only a few weeks away..right? Perhaps, I should add a couple items to my Christmas list for Santa. .I have been pretty good this year...well most of the time...

November 30, 2010

Tada! Lights up!

 It started this morning with our 15 ft. ladder being too short. Thankful to our neighbor, he loaned us his boom truck.My gosh it was really cold & windy working out there...and then we found our first strings of lights were defective so after awhile they were sorted and we exchanged bulbs and finally got a string long enough to hang across the peak of the garage roof.. red & white bulbs...taking a warm up break.


 We  made a trip to town to get more lights to string across the garage door and for the two baby spruce trees in the front yard. Of course we needed extra extension cords and surge protectors. We decided on Green & Red lights for this part of the job.This took all afternoon.We were even more cold and glad to be finished. Now doesn't that look nice & Cheery? Time to go inside for a hot drink..and warm up..


The next project will be to get some fresh pine boughs for inside the house and the Entrance gate.. I think, unless I go get another string of lights & a star to place on the Blue Sky Farm Sign in the yard.. then I will be finished....I think.....well maybe not.. The chicken coop just may need some lights too...I think the" girls" would like that.....don't you?

 We are expecting more snow tonight. Don't you think the lights will be even prettier reflecting in the snow?

I believe....



Tree in Front room done. Love my angel...Next is the outside light chore.. and brrrr its cold out there.. More later..

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November 28, 2010

Starting to Decorate Blue Sky Farm


Today I started the decorating.. I have much to do but here is a peak at work in progress. I will be cutting some boughs this week, Placing them in and around the tub. (If you magnify the photo you can see I have  5 ducks waiting to be "Gussied up")  and then dragging out the lights.. Many strings to be strung and decisions as to what will get trimmed. I love Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year. When I was a child my dad would  hang lights along the roof top and each year he would add a few more here & there. in trees, and along the driveway. Even though my children and grandchildren are away, and its just Buster Clay & me I have to do it.. I must have a tree and all the trimmings..next will come the tree and inside will be something different this year.. I think my tree changes each year depending on my mood and what inspiration I glean from magazines & store fronts.. I have my Charming Chicks coming on Dec 11th for our MJ Farm Girl Christmas Gathering so I must get  busy 
So stay tuned this is a true work in progress.... 

November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving Time


 I feel very grateful for my camera and the places I travel with my husband. (Not necessarily in that order) He really makes the journey fun and will stop anywhere for me to capture the Kodak moment.... some are definitely better than others..but we do enjoy this new discovered hobby.  My children are not with me this year, They all have families and husbands families to share their holiday with, & this year is a year for us to spend with my husbands side..( Really happy to say I Love being with them) so that's another Thing I am Thankful for... It could really be bad if It wasn't this way..
We made it over the Cascade Mountain P ass to spend the Holiday with them in Woodburn, Oregon

What usually takes 5 hours to get here took a little longer.. 7.5 to be exact. It was not slow going entirely because of the compact snow & icy roads.. There was heavy Traffic from Eugene to Woodburn for some unknown reason with stop & go traffic and 20 mph speed. We did enjoy a short stop, hoping to capture a picture or two of the snowy forest. There was plenty of snow and Amazing shots for us to capture. These are a few fit for framing  I think...

I hope you all have a very Nice Thanksgiving with your family and friends and if you travel drive carefully.

November 23, 2010

Today at Blue Sky Farm

Well my blogging friends, here are a few pictures of Blue Sky Farm on this beautiful morning. At first, 
Buster didn't want to come with me to the coop, But I insisted he come along. He does like playing in the snow....Here he is waiting for me to open the gate to the back yard.  We found our car almost buried out front. When we got to the back yard,  it looked  so pretty although the snow was deep. These are my tracks in about 9 inches of white powdery snow....
We made it to the coop.... and look how warm these girls are. The coop is dry and a bit of sunshine is coming through the doorway from their yard. As you can see I disturbed  Blondie as she was tucked behind the burlap curtain....to gather these two eggs.


 They  have been laying very well the past two weeks..even as the temperature dropped below freezing, I have been using a couple eggs a day and still have plenty for holiday baking. Some of these I will share with  my sister in law tomorrow when we travel to Woodburn for Thanksgiving . The Chickens will be cared for by our neighbor and they will gather the eggs. It really is nice to have good neighbors who are willing to watch things when we are gone.  
 I have bread dough rising and Buster is playing out in the snow.. Doesn't he  look like he is having fun? For now, I best stop here and take a look to see if  it's time to make the first punch down.... and pour myself a cup of hot tea....

November 22, 2010

Snow everywhere

Here is the latest picture of the snow falling out front of our house across the driveway.. It is snowing again and it really is pretty.. We are home from our drive to the Reserve marshland. That is an Eagles nest with snow stuck to the twigs. The eagle was around hunting for his lunch..




Below is a picture taken from my car window as we stopped along the waters edge. It was so quiet and peaceful and down right COLD.
Nice to be home now warming up with a cup of tea.

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November 21, 2010

Button up your overcoat...


I found my winter felted wool hat, a pair of gloves and my crazy socks.... Batten down the hatches, The wind and snow is coming again and not just a dusting. Another 3-5 inches expected tonight. Doesn't the sky look cold and bleak?  We are warm and toasty bracing for the next  Winter Blast. If you go to the kitchen you can see what this "hen's been cookin"... It's going to be good with dinner tonight.  My kitchen smells so homey and warm too. Bundle up if you are getting this Arctic Blast and keep those fires burning..& have a hot cup of something..You can make  mine a brandy!