It was such a nice day without wind that I started taking pictures as I went to the barn this morning.
Becky brought a bag of kitchen scraps for the chickens – they feasted!
Remember when I bemoaned the fact that they live 20-30 years?
Since it was a nice day I took the dogs to the grove and what we could see of the wilderness trail.
I’ve watched a lot of basketball today – I’m glad there’s church tomorrow!
And here’s the pattern First Snow which can be ordered for $5.00 and a SASE WITH TWO STAMPS! It’s three big pages so it will need another stamp for postage.
I know this will be hard to remember – 2 stamps!!!
And the Dirty Dozen – gather 12 ufos and number them 1-12. The January number is 12 – find your number 12 and finish it before the end of January.
Good Night!
I do certainty love all the barn pictures! I used to raise pigs in our barn. We never had chickens, just calves to raise and sows for pigs. Actually, we had 26 white York sows. We bred them to a duroc boar (that I was very scared of). Jay did the chores on the weekend and I did them during the week. He fed the cattle all the time. old memories. Jay also worked full time as an accountant in Sioux Falls. That is why we had no social life…haahaa.
Thinking if you and your doctor appointment! Love you!
Joy – I’ve been meaning to write and tell you that the description of your family Christmas is the stuff dreams are made of. Mine and I’m sure many others!
Awe. Thanks Mary!
The quilt in the photo of Mortie! Does it have a pattern or is it something you just made? Love it.
You can easily make this half log cabin but the fabric I used here was actually a preprinted panel from many years ago.
I love to see the barn photos. Such a calm environment, although I know it can be different at times. Mrtie seems so calm after her spay. Our cats always needed a ‘t-shirt’ to keep from pulling on their stitches! Have spent the past days sorting in my sewing area and cutting pieces for blocks to take to AZ in March. Yeah, we’re different and wait till almost the end of winter to go, but we like to hike when we get there, so try to avoid any possible snow. Praying for a good resolve for your shoulder. Something always seems to get in the way of life at our age!
Linda – Mortie’s stitches were the dissolvable kind
Oh my, Mary. I especially loved all the farm pictures. There is lots going on in the barn. How long is recovery for a cat spay? It was nice the dogs could play out in the field and dig around in the grove. I have been watching some YouTube short stories featuring Navy Seals and German Shepherds. I thought about Keeper’s ears; how cool you have his DNA results.
Good luck with your Dr apt. 🥰
I really like the barn quilt a reader sent.
It I
I’ve not read my emails for the last few days. I’m catching up now. I started on my #12 quilt today – it is a preemie quilt, just 36 x 36 so the top will be finished tomorrow. This quilt is for our Feb guild challenge – the theme this year is water. I’ve done sail boats. I will send a picture once complete. Happy New Year – better late than never!
Mary, what a great to see photos of your animals! How many goats do you have now? What are their names?
I loved reading your Goat Express. I don’t see how you had time to publish that and do everything else. You are a Super Woman!!
Thank you!
Should be “how great to see your animals.”
Vicki – I have only the two goats you see – I used to have 20. These two don’t even have names – they’re part of the last group I rescued so none got names. I’m too old to start again sadly. I was a lot younger when I did all that!
Evening all. I’ve been tidying up my sewing room for the past few days to prioritize what projects I truly want to work on this year. I’m with Mary that life is too short to waste time on something I don’t particularly like anymore.
It was fun seeing the barn and all the animals. Be careful on those walks in the snow. I’m sure the fresh air felt invigorating. Thanks for giving us some wonderful pictures on your blog.
Thank you for your wonderful pictures!!! I so love all your animals and the run to the woods. I know how much work you have with all of them and I don’t know how you get it all done, but am so appreciative that you share it with us. Take care and stay upright! This ice and snow is no joke!
Great pictures on the wilderness trail and the snow drifts. From these pictures it appears that a lot of the damaged trees have been cleared and cleaned up.
A friend of mine who raises chickens, leaves a string of Christmas lights burning all winter in the chicken pen. She claims it help with egg production…and it looks cheerful,
I’m anxious to see everyone’s January project.
Pat – I’m with your friend – lights and heat mean more eggs thru the winter months.
Mary so nice to see the pictures of the barn and yard. Are you still getting lots of eggs? Here in East Central Iowa there is very little snow. I hope to trim up some Burning Bushes if the temp gets above 40 this week. It’s easier when there aren’t any leaves on the bushes. It so much nicer to do a little bit at a time than to do a big spring clean up. Been doing a bit of picking up in sewing area so that I can start quilting on quilt tops. A little sewing and a little quilting is on my agenda this month.
Rita – I get around 12-16 eggs a day – I give them away to friends.
Awesome pictures! Thank you for sharing!
My part of north Texas is having an extremely warm Winter so far…..too warm. The daffodils are popping up along with other Spring flowers. Winter cold will still arrive……..probably in February!
Life is good. Turned on my HP Microsoft computer and it fixed itself I guess. Back up and running. I did not want to buy another computer right now. And I can comment through the blog.
Great pics. I wish I could have been on your walk with you. Winter is going to be long and it feels so good to get outside even if cold. Its rather warm here in the SW Iowa but now the wind has returned.
I am home from retreat and ready for the sewing room after the rest of Xmas decor goes away!
That Barney sure is a handsome guy. And what a good looking flock of chickens. On our farm we had two German Shepherds. Rusty was the traditional colored tan & black and Duke was silver & black. Both dogs got along well with all the other farm animals. Rusty was my grandfathers loyal companion & Duke loved to play with all of us kids. Thanks for the memories of life on the farm.
Des – I’ve never had any past experience with German Shepherds but Keeper’s DNA came back as 51% GS and he has a wonderful personality.
Keeper is definitely more of a lover than a fighter. Sweet sweet boy!!
Up early (full moon?) but as hoped, had your blog to go with coffee! What a great view of your wilderness trail and drifts. Here our snow is mostly gone…it was 53° on December 31. The critters have a snug home and are well cared for. They enrich your life! And you enrich your readers.
I love your photos! Thank you!
I hope Mortie is healing well.
I really enjoyed all the barn pictures!
There are two quilts that I’ve had as UFO’s for over 10 years and one of them is my #12! I just don’t have it in me to do what it would take to finish it as it is supposed to be so I am going to lay it out and make a plan to use what I have done to make a quilt top. Even a small finished quilt will be better than just a tub of fabric and pieced bits and ]pieces, right? Wish me luck!!
Barbara – I have some projects like that and why would I want to finish them? I don’t even like them anymore and life is too short – I’m only going to work on things I still love. A small finished quilt will be great!
Really enjoyed all the photos. Those drifts are massive – it will take a big January thaw to get rid of them. Your critters all look healthy and happy – they have a good home.
Bonnie – I’m not sure a January thaw will do it – I’ll bet it will be May before they are gone.
You are probably right. We still have snow drifts in local parking lots from the snow storm Thanksgiving weekend!
Denise, Where do you live?
Hi Janet, I live in Brisbane, capital of Queensland, a State of Australia.
We are currently having our summer, today 30c, equates tio 86f (I think). Northern parts are currently in flood and a cyclone my be on the way.
We are hosting the 1932 Olympics so the name will become familiar.
Oopsc2032
Mary, Oh my goodness, you had a busy day taking pictures and going to the grove with the dogs. Doesn’t that bother you to drive the cart with your bad shoulder? Have you gotten an appt. For an MRI yet?
I saw the picture of Barney, and didn’t remember him. Can you please list the names of all the cats? You do have gobs of snow. We have none here in our part of Colorado. We sure could use some moisture, whether rain or a snow.
My daughter is leaving for Ks. Cty., Mo. tomorrow morning for a belated Christmas with her son’s family. They have 4 children so it will be a busy fun time. I opted to stay home because one of the kids will surely have a cold or will be sick and I certainly don’t want to catch it before my oncology appt. on Fri. She is returning to Colo. on Wed., hopefully before the predicted next snowfall of that area. While she is gone, I hope to baste a basket wallhanging together with hopes of beginning to hand quilt it. Does that count as starting a new project? I will send pictures in a day or two of several finished tops that need quilting. Hopefully my daughter’s vertigo issues will go away so she can use her long arm soon. My stack of unfinished quilt tops is growing.
Thank you for the wonderful pictures of the snow and your beloved animals.
Happy New Year everyone. Jeanne in Co. s
Jeanne – you are so wise to stay home and not jeopardize your upcoming appt. The cart can’t work in this snow so I have to walk but yes, driving it would bother my shoulder. I’m seeing a PA on Tuesday – my dr. Doesn’t have an opening till Feb 13!!! I’m wondering if I could just go to PT for results. Last evening was really bad for me but I slept pretty good with a soft pillow under my arm.
Amazing photos Mary, I have never seen real snow. Went to ski resort for a week once but it was ice and only in patches.
Hopevyou are rugged up, cheers