ThistleDew Farm

Crochet Crochet.....

2011-12-03T16:38:00.011-05:00

I have been having a great fall crocheting this year....super inspired. Seems like hand crafting is back/still in vogue - yippee!

Here's what I've been working on.

And some of these,

Cupcake Marathon

2011-03-01T09:38:00.003-05:00

Two of my favorite things - running and cupcakes. That's right, they don't seem to go together, but I have found a way to have my cake and eat it too. Running. If I want to eat, I have to run....that's just the plan hard truth.

So, Jason at Cook, Train, Eat, Race has a competition - giveaway. Run a marathon distance over two weeks and you could win great prizes. I have decided to donate a crochet cupcake - isn't it the cutest ever? Best part - fat free, gluten free, vegan.... and the wrapper comes off - cause you should never eat a cupcake with the wrapper still on!

Transformation

2011-02-06T08:22:00.002-05:00

If you want to move to the next level in transforming your workout and your body composition - you have to enter this giveaway - or maybe just buy the darn thing outright....sounds very intriguing. Check out 26.2's blog for more info.

Headed out on a 5-10 mile run, I'll decide somewhere down the road exactly how far....

Cuties

2011-01-26T14:37:00.005-05:00

These little guys are the cutest. I followed a blog that had a picture of the little bear - I bugged her enough to put the patterns on etsy. Let me tell you they are very labor intensive! I will dig out the pattern so I can give a shout out to the pattern maker!

That is a quarter next to the bunnies foot to show scale! They fit in the palm of your hand!

Here's what I did during the great snow in of 2011 - it lasted two days in Knoxville Tennessee!

Now is about the time I start dreaming of spring - how about you? Today I wore a celery green top to work because I am over black, brown and gray!

On my way to work, I went to the grocery store and bought three bags of greens - spinach, mixed greens, and cole slaw mix (which I use to make my salads crunchy.) I made the most delicious salad ever!

Yummy Think of Spring Salad

handful of spinach greens
handful of mixed greens
two pinches of coleslaw veggies
1/4 of diced avocado
1/4 diced tomato
2 tbsp White Balsamic Vinegar Citrus Vinaigrette
1 sliced tofurkey spicy Italian sausage (mico'd for 30 seconds)
pinch sunflower seeds

I was either really hungry or this was indeed the best salad ever!

Speaking of sunflowers - last summer our cool farmer neighbor planted an entire wheat field with sunflowers! It was the most amazing thing - people stopped to take pictures for the few weeks they were in bloom....you couldn't help but smile. It inspired me to paint this picture.

Because of him I now use sunflower oil to cook with. It has a mild interesting flavor - you should try it.

Between crocheting, painting and running I have been keeping out of trouble...sort of!

What's your focus this year?

2011-01-21T08:56:00.003-05:00

So sorry friends, I have been so bad about keeping up my blog - but I shall try to do better.
Not much going on right now.

I have garlic patiently waiting in the ground - it grows a little with each warm day and then just waits for the next warm day.

I've been doing some water color - I've decided this year to make all my cards - especially thank you cards. I'm improving - even did a picture my husband thought worthy of framing...that's a pretty big compliment. They aren't worthy of selling, but you can tell what the subject matter is - always a big plus for me!

I've been kind of into amigurumi (little crocheted critters)....I guess I have lots of pictures to post. Hopefully I'll get that done this weekend.

Well this year is another year for running, gardening, and crafting for me.

What is your focus for this year?

Weird Huh?

2010-10-08T11:45:00.002-04:00

I know it's been awhile since I've posted....crazy I know....but I've been on facebook and running and working and gardening.....blah blah blah....excuses but darn good ones.

Well today something strange happened and I feel the need to chronicle it for safe keeping.

I am a very spiritual person but not overly religious. I am by faith a member of the Society of Friends, or a Quaker. For those who don't know this is a christian religion that believes very strongly in the spirit of God. I don't do much apostatizing and hope that my actions speak louder than words.

Although I do believe in signs, I try to pay attention to them. If I do, I am often rewarded by seeing a direct link from the sign to a manifestation - small or large, religious or secular, monetary or simply an action. I don't always see a response but I don't necessarily think I missed it or I misinterpreted it, I think I might have to just wait longer.

Well today I received some work correspondence from a man named John. Very ordinary. He answered many questions and in the middle of his response he asked for a meeting with me at 3:30. Preparing my response I erased his response and posted a prepared email response. As I was reviewing the response I got to the end of the email and say in very large bold letters JOHN 3:30.

I must say, I immediately associated this with the Bible. I looked it up. The quote is He must become greater; I must become less. If you use the New InternationalVersion. Or He must increase, but I must decrease. If you're a King James fan. Either way, I am puzzled. I'm not sure what I'm to do with the message. I'm not sure if it pertains to how I view God or place him in my life. Perhaps we're talking about loosing weight, giving something away....not sure. What I do know, is I'm open to receiving more info about this process. It's a pretty broad statement for the universe to just through out there. It also took some doing for the universe to make it happen and the universe would know that I would see a higher power in the revelation. The words were not together but were buried in the email and items on all sides had to be erased leaving portions in the middle. So I am left with food for thought for the weekend.

The Princess on Vacation

2010-06-10T11:13:00.002-04:00

The Princess hanging with her cousin at Rock Creek Horseshow.

Here's what her cousin did to earn the blue ribbon....notice the puff of dirt behind the pony. They are bookin'!

Horse Showing

2010-04-20T10:01:00.007-04:00

Well this year I am focusing more on hanging out with my sister on the semi-local show circuit.

Here's a few pictures taken at the Cloverdale Indiana Arabian Horse Show last weekend:

This one is Ashley aka The Princess on Tiny Tina. They are a good pair. Still learning to trust each other, but coming right along. Tina is an Arabian. I remember my legs being so short they didn't go below the saddle flaps - Ashley is following right in her mothers footsteps!

This is Ashley and Tina with Grandma. My mom is way cool with her sun glasses on indoors! Isn't she pretty in pink?

This is what happens between classes:

Soon will be pictures of the garden - got the salsa garden planted and the spring garlic bed with Silver Rose. The garlic is already up four inches in two weeks. I was concerned that I may have planted it to late - we'll see how it forms up. Not sure what stops it's growing cycle heat or maturity. I hope it can stand a warm summer because I don't expect it to be mature until July/Aug. Last year it matured in June. Over at Clayhill we planted hardneck in the fall - they are doing nicely. My hardnecks I planted in La Tres Belle got their feet too wet and haven't produced. I also ordered Pioneer garlic but they didn't seem to survive the shipping here and are moldy - I'll ask for a replacement be shipped this summer for fall planting.

I am getting ready to plant my seeds from Survival Seeds. I'll update you on how those grow!

Happy Spring!

Survival Seeds

2010-02-27T08:08:00.023-05:00

Well, the bug hit me....or fever, or whatever trigger causes the need to play in the dirt long before it's safe. I ordered from the Gurney seed catalog this week. My hubby has been concerned that I didn't plant enough garlic last fall (mainly because I waited too late to order the bulbs from the dealer I like.) So I just reconcile myself to make do with planting what I put aside for seed stock. Turns out, with an unlimited supply on hand we used way more garlic this fall/winter than ever before and my hubby has developed an addiction so severe he depleted our years supply of culinary garlic by January - with no fresh garlic until June/July we were very susceptible to vampires! I resorted to using the garlic in the decorator braids hung in my kitchen window. Not to fear, this was home grown garlic I braided. Thinking I had such a plentiful supply when I harvested the garlic last summer, I made a yarrow and garlic valance - the garlic is totally edible and organic, but I'd have liked to preserve my window treatments a few more months!

As we were preserving our salsa last fall, Ashley - AKA The Princess, recommended a salsa garden . We put up 12 jars of salsa and it was gone within six weeks. The child absolutely loves anything with vinegar in it and downed a pint of salsa in one setting. This left the extended family members highly disappointed because she ran through the entire stock of "Christmas salsa" in said six weeks. The salsa was intended as gifts to those who loved it the year before.

Back to the catalog order... I was looking for things I couldn't find locally. With The Princess's idea in mind and thinking this sounds like a great project for a mother-daughter duo I ordered some interesting tomatoes - my friends will not be surprised to note that I picked a variety called Flamingo's....they are an undersized plum tomato with raspberry pink interiors....It just sounded like to much fun to resist! They come as seeds which I don't generally have good luck growing tomatoes from seed, but for $2.45 it's worth the gamble.

Can't have salsa without onions - so I found an interesting variety of those also. Candy Apple Red's - supposedly eatable raw although I don't know why people do this - the plant makes you cry when you cut it - what makes you think you should eat it raw? Go figure....anyway, it looks pretty and if it is mild with a good flavor, will do nicely in the salsa. I generally saute my onions and garlic for the salsa and have had good results with the flavor.

To round out the salsa garden order I found some softneck garlic still in stock. So I ordered Pioneer Whites and Silver Reds....I hope they come soon so I can get them in the ground while it's still cool. With the softnecks I already planted and these, I should have enough to last through next winter and give some garlic braids as gifts. Maybe I can even replace my window treatment! If not, I'll double the order in the summer and hope I have help planting it all!

With those items added to the cart I decided I'd like some tomato plants - to get a jump on the season. I went out on a limb and ordered Black Krim heirloom cherry tomatoes. I've never had heirloom's before - I guess I felt they were to delicate for me to grow - I've got a limited budget - both financially and time - and I generally don't like to take a chance on something that's not going to produce. I thought I'd give through caution to the wind...

Before I log off, I wanted to share with you another site on seeds - Hometown Seeds they have a grouping of seeds called Survival Seeds. Hormone free and packaged to last for an extended period of time. Once you plant the seeds the resulting fruit produces seeds suitable to save for next years planting. Sounds very interesting to me - especially the hormone free aspect.

Although it is not very warm today - I have a need to prepare homes for the soon to arrive seeds and plants. This means raised bed preparation - I'm off to the rock pile to start hauling them up the hill for a bed near the house.....

ThistleDew Crochet Lessons

2010-01-27T10:46:00.009-05:00

Hurray - the dream of starting a craft haven at Thistle Dew Farm is becoming a reality.

My good friend Wendy has requested the inaugural crochet session. I am so excited to share my craft! I'll post more when we have a date and materials list.

Here's some samples of my work over the last few years to give an idea of what we can aspire to.

Ending the year with Food!

2009-12-31T09:00:00.009-05:00

This morning I thought - today is the day I'm going to tackle a recipe from Julia Childs.

I was inspired, as many were, by watching Julie Julia a few weeks ago. Not to mention that I volunteered to make beef stew for our New Years Eve dinner for the farm.

So why not give Beef Bourguignon a try? I must have been crazy. Have you actually ever looked at that recipe? Craziness I tell you! Sheer craziness. To spend that much time in prep work for something that doesn't involve chocolate or sugar - simply mind boggling!

So I decided to go Russian instead of French and try a recipe for Beef Stroganoff instead. I'll let you know how that works out.... Just in case I have already put on a crock pot of beef stew - hey you never know what might happen around Thistle Dew Farm.

But Julia kept niggling in the back of my mind. So I googled her and came upon this blog...http://www.bookstorepeople.com/2009/08/julie-julia-the-way-to-cook/ and after a little research I believe The Way to Cook is a better choice for me if I want to investigate Julia Childs methodology. My ultimate goal is to become a better cook....with Mastering the Art of French Cooking I fear I will waste a lot of money, time and get really frustrated.

Besides, I don't feel I've missed out on any of life's pleasures because I don't know how to de-bone a duck.

I als o found this blog about the book Julie Powell wrote which in part inspired Julie Julia along with her blog - Corrodentia Weekly- she answers the question I had about Julie Powell in the movie - "why is this girl so whiny?" I guess she read the book (which I haven't) and got the answer - the screen writers must have really played down her whineyness from the book because she just marginally got on my nerves in the movie. My sister-in-law, the marvelous Terri says they toned down her language from the Julie Powell blog also.....which is a good thing. I haven't read that and not sure I want to - I don't like fowl language!!!!! Hee Hee, little cooking joke there....

Well wish me luck on this last project for 2009 - making a delicious Beef Stroganoff.....near enough to Beef Bourguignon for Thistle Dew.

May 2010 be full of crafting, gardening, and friendship for you and Thistle Dew.

SantaClaustraphobia - again! Already!

2009-11-20T12:33:00.002-05:00

It is that time of year again. Time to get serious about my fitness level. I know most people think about this in the spring, but I am not like most people.

My work is doing SantaClaustraphobia again - the fear of looking like Santa Claus. Our motto is 2 and no more. If you gain less than two pounds over the holidays, you get a free t-shirt. As some of you know, I'll do almost anything for a free t-shirt!

Last year I lost about 8 pounds over the holidays - from two weeks before Thanksgiving to the middle of January. I am sorry to say that I gained it all back over the Spring and Summer. So the only place I have to go is down.....our office is having a competition with other offices for bragging rights to the team that looses the most. Hope I can contribute to their success!

Traveling Masterpiece

2009-11-15T18:27:00.002-05:00

I have been participating in a project for over a year now. It is called the Traveling Masterpiece. A canvas has been circulating through a list of those interested in contributing to the canvas. We get the canvas in the mail add something to it and send it on. I was appalled that it has taken over a year to reach me....until I had it of course. Now I see why it has taken so long. First I had to admire the work I received. Then I had to wait for inspiration to strike on how to improve the canvas. Then I had to get brave to actually apply my idea. Then I had to admire it for awhile. Now, I am ready to part with it and send it on it's way.

The masterpiece is nothing like I imagined. It is different, better, grows on you....it tells a story! Very cool - I hope to be involved in a project like this again.

I have asked Super Hubby to take a picture of it, so hopefully I will add a picture very soon so you can see the traveling masterpiece.

Happy Birthday US Marine Corps

2009-11-10T10:39:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the quick post - but needed to wish a Happy Birthday to everyone connected with, in love with, or associated with the Marine Corps. It's the Corps' birthday today born in 1775~

Semper Fi.

Weekend Here I Come

2009-10-16T09:07:00.003-04:00

This should be an exciting weekend. Ashley, aka The Princess, has her first horse show where she's totally in control. Previously she's been on lead line with an adult leading her and she is perched atop the horse - sort of a proto-type Auto Pilot. This year she has progressed to walk trot where she is in charge of the horse. She is very good at hanging on - but working on the finer points of riding and showing. We are all very excited - hopefully I'm not putting to much pressure on her! We'll know tomorrow morning if the pressure cooker gage blows! I am taking the camera (the one I haven't broken yet) with me, so you should actually see some pic's on Monday'ish.

As a side note....I am participating in National Blog Month, so I've been exposed to some blogs I don't normally see. It's been really fun. This morning I read Fleur De Aleta.
Aleta had a great post yesterday about credit card company shenanigans....The requirements to be part of this organization is to blog every day during the month of Oct....I'm not doing so well, but it's interesting to wander around and see other blogs.

Prepare not Change

2009-10-15T08:45:00.011-04:00

Today's post is in honor of National Blog Action Day. The subject is Climate Change. I am ashamed to say that I am not as informed scientifically on this subject as I should be....why should a crafty girl feel guilty about this you ask????

(Thanks for asking) Because I work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where cutting edge really cool science is being done on Climate Change. So if you want to know some really technical stuff about the subject, click on the link to read a cutting edge article and then follow your nose around their site.

As for me and my naive understanding, I am wondering why the world is so concerned with slowing down climate change as opposed to preparing for it's eventual happening? Perhaps we are, but we're just not hearing about it? I base my opinion about the inevitable climate change on the many offerings the History and Science television channels produce depicting what happened during the previous catastrophic climate upheavals - you know ice ages, mass warming trends which assisted the separation of continents and so on?

Believe it or not, even without the intervention of man, the climate changes! Shocking I know! Who would have thought such a thing.....surely these scientists who suggest such a thing are crazy! Or is that passionate - I always get those confused. So, if the climate is going to change anyway or some meteorite is going to crash into earth causing devastating climatic variances, I would prefer the scientists work on survivability. Might I suggest we start with the cockroach, now there is a creature that has survivability! Next they need to develop a space suit we will look good in. That's it, that's the extent of my scientific suggestions, everything else I leave to the professionals.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about clean water, pollution reduction, green spaces... but for the sake of enhanced living experiences not to avoid climate change....that one was set in motion long before we humans could do anything about it....lets learn how to live with it!

Oh and I almost forgot....I would like affordable solar panels so I can become independent from the energy companies....now I'm finished!

Planning my Christmas Dinner

2009-10-13T13:00:00.002-04:00

Well folks, I know this is crazy, but I'm actually planning my Christmas menu!

ThistleDew is hosting the Family Christmas on my side of the family. My fab sister Ellie from Windy Meadows started the tradition about five years ago. My siblings, and their families, and our mother get together a few weeks before Christmas to do fun things including a stocking exchange. We collect funky and cheap items throughout the year and stuff each others stockings. Sometimes it's caste off items, sometimes it's fun toiletries, sometimes its hilarious stuff we find at a garage sale....you just never know. It also includes retro candy! A personal favorite of mine.

Well since ThistleDew House is newly built and this is our first Christmas - we're hosting! So I must compete with my Fab Sister.....which is going to be difficult. I have decided to do a traditional English Roast Beef Dinner with Prime Rib, Yorkshire pudding and mashed potatoes. This could cause some concern on my husband's side of the family because I made this dinner for them 10 years ago and they have been requesting a repeat ever since....a few things have held me back....#1 the cost of prime rib, #2 you can never make it as good as you did the first time. This is ok for my family, because they didn't have it the first time (which did turn out awesome). I did practice for a month on the Yorkshire puddings, until my husband cried uncle already!

So I have put on my calendar to order the Choice Cut or Prime Cut Standing Rib roast the second week of November to ensure I have an awesome piece of meat come the second week of December. More on the recipes I've chosen and a pictorial session of the meal assembly to follow over the next two months.

For now, it's back to crocheting....with pictures of that to follow after I fix the camera.

Blog Action Month

2009-10-08T14:27:00.002-04:00

I have joined the blog action month - see the icon to the left. I guess I'm a little behind as it's the 8th and I'm posting my first blog....sorry about that.

I am very into crocheting now - it's getting colder and I'm getting motivated.....more tomorrow!

Best Laid Plans

2009-09-26T07:58:00.004-04:00

Today is scarf making day - I'll let you know the out come.

These are pictures of scarves past....Shannon and Tayler are the models. Pictures are taken by Danita Rogers - she's fab!

Garlic Prep and Moons

2009-09-15T09:55:00.006-04:00

Well I fully intended to prepare my garlic bed last weekend and that's about how far I got. Folklore says you should plant crops at the full moon. In my area, garlic should be planted in October or November. This year the October full moon will be the Harvest Moon because it falls the closest to the fall equinox (this won't happen again until 2017), usually the Harvest moon is in September and October is the Hunters Moon.

Anyway, I think October 4th is to early to plant the garlic so I'm going to wait for the Hunters Moon on Nov 2nd. I fully intend to have my beds prepared by then. I am thinking of putting an informal one on the hill outside my kitchen window just at the edge of the woods. This ground should be so fertile and with a little sand amended I think it might be perfect. I am going to use the bed next to this years garlic bed that belonged to the wererabbit (who did not bother the garden at all....giving him a few veggies of his own protected our spring bed.) Then I'm going to build a Salsa and Pickle garden in the front field. My daughter loved the salsa this year and it rekindled our idea to grow our own fixin's next year. The Princess also loves pickles and she'd like to put up her own pickles next year - so why not....anyway so that's two new beds, an informal bed for garlic and strawberries (ehhh that doesn't sound good together....) and that should be it for the fall tasks.....besides harvesting more sunflower seeds before the birds get them all. I am afraid to pick them to early because they aren't mature enough but the birds are sure getting after them....has anyone checked out the caterpillar coats, is there going to be a rough winter this year? Is that why the birds are so hungry or are they just pigs?

Hello

2009-09-10T10:34:00.002-04:00

I have not fallen off the earth - just bogged down within it!

The gardening season at ThistleDew is at an end. I've been cleaning beds and preparing for next season (and my hamstrings are killing me). I've also been planning a new location for the garlic bed. They did ok in La Tres Belle but it was so wet (good thing they were in raised beds), I think I can do better higher on the hill. That means building a new bed, which means work! I am pleased with my first crop of garlic and look forward to improvements for next year. The favorite was the hardneck. The cloves are so large but limited to only about 5 to 7 per bulb. The taste was really nice - less sharp than the softneck varieties. I harvested about 100 hardneck and about 60 softnecks. I made 5 garlic braids with the softnecks. I've saved the largest bulbs for seed stock and will be planting them Oct/Nov time frame for a June harvest next spring.

Other than that I've been providing horse riding instruction for my daughter - she hits the show circuit this fall if all goes well. I've also been trying to get motivated in my crocheting....lots of projects and ideas just short on motivation. Still lots of projects around the house and making salsa for Christmas presents. Next year I am definitely planting tomatoes - they are really expensive to buy for the salsa - I could have given gold necklaces cheaper!!!!

Hope you are adjusting to the changing season and getting along just fine!

Take of Tour of Thistle Dew What'cha Workin' on Wednesday

2009-06-17T10:50:00.043-04:00

Here's what we look like from the front now....imagine rock wall where the dirt is....I can! I took the camera for a stroll yesterday afternoon - wanna see what I saw?

Here's my front porch basket - I am ashamed to admit I purchased all these plants - my one big garden splurge this year. Closest to us is a large Cuban Oregano - which is very prolific - if you'd like a start - just let me know!

That's the sign at the entrance to the craft studio, I have cork floors so you have to show off your pedicure when you visit me! Wanna see what I'm working on? Come on inside....

Back out onto the other side porch, here's another planted pot - this one is all rescued plants from my sisters house - her landscaper got tired and left these beauties! They love me for rescuing them and they look nice in this pot set in this old chair.

Let's walk out front and look back at the house - we've done a little landscaping since you saw it last, the lovely live statue is quite a showpiece! I don't think you've seen the stone on the front either.

Here's some plants I have growing...pussy willow from Mom's, rooting nicely in the bucket by the garage....

Here's all the monkey grass I planted on the back slope....

Here's the bed I recently rototilled which resulted in a bout of poison ivy....I planted cast off plants in this bed, a few holly starts, some canna's, a crepe myrtle and a lot of seeds harvested last fall. The marigolds and sunflowers are growing prolifically (guess I planted a bit thick!) but the Echinacea and wildflowers do not appear to have made it - sadly enough.

Let's walk down the hill and see the other beds....Hey is that a butterfly?

The painted ladies are very active at our farm.

This patch is in the middle of the "yard". Super Hubby left it intentionally for the deer to have a hiding spot. It is mostly clover and there are two or three does that visit it daily....

This clump of flowers made me think of Daisy....

Here we are at La Tres Belle, that's what we call this space. It gets a lot of water and tends to flood in the spring - raised beds have worked perfectly.

The horseradish made it through the winter....this is it's first full year - I bought it as a start from Richters Herb Farm

It's starting to get dark so this picture isn't very bright - is it just me or do you think this yarrow is miss named - looks pink to me not red!

Here's the bed from a different angle - the left half is mostly gravel and holds my original rosemary and a lavender started last year. The right half has a columbine from Mothers, the horse radish and two yarrows. The aforementioned red hiding beside the yellow (from my Mothers herb bed)

Volunteer For-Get-Me-Nots...

Hey isn't this a pretty black eyed Susan?

Don't they look pretty together?

Check out my garlic bed!

Don't you love the two guardian sunflowers? They are volunteers! The bed was the wererabbit garden - a successful crop of peas and onions - a few carrots remain as a sacrifice to the wererabbit - he was very merciful to us and did not bother the garden at all....neither did his little deer friends, luckily.

Let's walk over to Winonna's Bed - here's the bayberry in it's second year - another Richter Herb Farm purchase last year.

I can't wait for berries - I have been reading about making home made bayberry candles and fragrance - I hope it works - do you know how old the bush must be before it starts to make berries - or do I need a girlfriend for HuckleBerry Bay?

Let's move on further to Bob's bed and check on the lavender there - it's been so wet it should be in shock!

Looks happy - so is the bumble bee drinking up the pollen - to bad it isn't a honey bee. Haven't seen any around us....maybe I should get a hive.....hmmmm

The Russian sage behind Bird Rock is doing nicely as usual. This plant is about five years old and lived in a pot for the first three years so I could bring it indoors at our rental. Last year I planted it in the ground and it did fine. It is neither Russian nor a sage - go figure! It has lovely lavender blooms and is a favorite for a butterfly garden.

Come back up to the house and look at another project I'm working on....

Hopefully this sign will greet you as you drive up to the property after the y-split....

That was a great walk, and bringing back a fresh flower bouquet placed in a home made vase is what life is all about. I am blessed!

Come on back for a visit anytime!

Big Brother is Watching - beware

2009-06-16T16:12:00.003-04:00

Now I know that all the security concerns I've secretly have a justified!

You know how your profile is supposed to be hidden...well some strange way - it's not.

I posted on a fun site today and when the word verification came up it was my last name with OG tacked on the end....now I don't have a very common name and it isn't spelled the way you'd think it was if I were to pronounce it.

I have this crazy personal rule about not putting to much personal info in electronic format - in my blog I never use the names of my co-workers, don't list the name of the place I work and rarely refer to work in a reality way and I am pretty sure I have never used my last name....so there really is no reason why my last name should have come up in the word verification when commenting on someone else's site unless the eye in the sky knew it was me....I don't even know how it was linked - pretty scary really!

Gotta go and take pictures for my blog -

Garlic - Hurray!

2009-06-15T12:10:00.013-04:00

The most wonderful thing about garlic is, when most gardens look like this in May and early June....

My garden looks like this - really no kidding, come out to the farm and check it out. (This isn't a picture of mine - but I swear mine looks like this - I am amazed, can't you tell?). You plant garlic in the fall, and it actually sprouts and pokes it's little head out a few inches and waits for Spring. The first sign of longer days and warmer sun it shoots up so fast you can nearly watch it grow.

My garlic is dangerously close to harvest - the bottom two leaves are dying but I am being patient as I have to wait until the bottom six leaves turn brown (but not more than the bottom eight leaves, then the bulbs spoil - according to the experts.....) OK, so I'm not really being patient, I peeked at a bulb to see what it was doing - it seemed happy and looked like a small bundle of garlic! So I snuggled the dirt back around it so the garlic will continue growing in my happy garden.

I am growing three types of garlic - two hardneck varieties (more intense flavor and cool scapes)and a softneck (similar to the grocery store kind)

Chesnok Red garlic which is a standard purple stripe garlic and is said to make the sweetest baking garlics of all. Over at The Garlic Gourmet they say "The first time I tried Chesnook Red roasted , I thought someone had put some sugar in it - they are sweet." They even purport that if squeezed on vanilla ice cream and refrozen it tastes like butter brickle - I think I'll pass.

The other hardneck is a Porcelain, German White. It's properties include being a great eating garlic - and very richly flavored with an earthy muskiness and generally hot strong tasting garlic with very large cloves. The Porcelains are the densest of all garlics and research scientists say that makes it a superior medicinal garlic, especially the hotter ones. Don't forget the rule - if one eats garlic, we all must eat garlic!

The softneck I have is a silverskin, Mother of Pearl. Silverskin garlics are usually the ones that you see in braids. Silverskins are generally the longest storing of all garlics and have a soft pliable neck that lends itself to braiding and holds up over time better.

I long to have garlic this beautiful and show you a picture of my very own garlic braid!!!!

I want to talk with you about the scape - this is probably the number one reason I decided to grow garlic this year. At the farmers market in Lagrange KY, near Windy Meadows Horse Farm, I taste tested Meadowview Farms garlic scape cream cheese. Then I immediately came back and bought the cloves for planting. Yes it's that good!

Here's what a scape looks like.Toward the top of today's blog, in that picture you can see where the scape is on the plant. My garlic is further along than that picture. I've harvested my scapes and they look just like these cuties to the left.

If picked early scapes are very tender. They have a very mild garlic taste and are excellent sauteed with a little olive oil...the smell is out of this world! A subtle garlic aroma that doesn't fill the house with a lingering odor, but summons everyone with a nose and a fork to the table...I added shrimp to the pan to make a scampi, then served over spaghetti noodles - absolutely fabulous...I then did it with chicken the next night. You can also saute them and serve as a side dish. Garlic scapes are now synonymous with spring for me and I will have to grow garlic every year even if I don't need more garlic cloves (I know sacrilege...how could I say such a thing - not need more garlic cloves.) I am learning how to preserve the scapes and also to preserve garlic. The only garlics to grow scapes are the hardneck variety which also have the shortest storage life...it appears that you can dry the garlic and then crush into powder as needed and it tastes, although not like fresh garlic, infinitely better than store bought powder, which I never use because I don't like the preservative flavor. You can also press and then freeze garlic and use like fresh. It is pretty close to the real thing, my friend has been doing this for years. Alas, poor soul, her garlic did not survive the winter.

I'll keep experimenting with the garlic and let you know....in any case, we have no vampires on my farm....think it's because of the garlic?

Peek a Boo

2009-06-11T10:30:00.003-04:00

Where have you been - you might have asked yourself.....

I've been everywhere, man - I might have answered.

The house is done - ok those of you who have built or renovated a home are really laughing now! Actually there are already projects to do.....hopefully sometime the craft studio will be finished!

I've been landscaping some - I found a listing for free monkey grass on Craig's List so I went to their yard and helped them excavate it - and then had to plant it on a steep slope at the back of the house for erosion control - that was a lot of fun.....well it looks good now anyway.

I've been traveling - I went to Washington DC with Ashley - aka The Princess. We were really going to Maryland, Baltimore area to the Maryland Wool and Fiber show - it was awesome. I bought some fancy yarns and a few books. The Princess took a lace making lesson - can you believe lace making is so easy to learn an 8 year old could get hooked and sit for an hour doing the antique craft? I am now looking for a lace making guild in my area and going to keep her interested - you don't even have to spend much on the equipment to do lace making - you probably have everything at home in the craft studio - they even showed us how to make our own bobbins which are just as useful as store bought ones!!!!! Amazing. Of course this is one of those talents that can be amazingly challenging the more advanced you become, but you can make really pretty pieces of lace right from the start.

I've been playing with recipes - I'm on a quest to make Chicken Lo Mein like a particular local restaurant makes it - I've had mild success but not perfection. I probably don't have enough preservatives or MSG in it!!!!!

I've been reading a few good books - I read Clive Cusslers The Chase - it was an airport pick and I figured it for a time filler, but it was very entertaining! I loved it and hope his other books are as exciting - I just fell in love with the characters and descriptions! I read Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton about the initial entry of the US Special Forces into Afghanistan in 2001. Even if you don't like factual military books you should read this - it will really open your eyes about the area over there and maybe let you see behind what the media portrays - it is a fast read without much battle gore - also provided insight into how the events came together. I am now reading Water for Elephants - it had me hooked from the first page. It is the recollection of an elderly man - not going gently into old age, who remembers his youth as a veterinarian with the circus.

Other than that - life goes on as usual!

I must also report that the Laurel Bay has been reborn - I mostly killed it when I left it outside over the cold spell we had....how was I to know that we were going to have a below zero day in February????? We don't live in Minnesota ehhh? Remember it is the Year of the Bay according to the Herb Association.

When you're through with that....

2009-04-27T13:04:00.005-04:00

I am starting a national campaign - I've never done this before so I'm not sure how to proceed but we can consider today the official start date of the When You're Through With That campain.

This thought started a few months ago when reminiscing with my sister about a treasured person who passed away at an appropriately "old" age. She maintained a place in our lives since we were about ten years old. She taught us both to play the piano and was a cousin to our grandfather. Louie Blanche was a modest collector of fine but useful things. She used items of her mothers (we'd call them antiques) up until her death. She was a lovely still life artist as many of her generation were. She had no children and few close relatives. Her estate was liquidated to distant relatives we didn't know and we did not have an opportunity to obtain a tangible memory of our time in her home.

How we wished now that we had let her know we'd love a keepsake - when she was through with it.

I surprised my sister this weekend by joining her (five hour trip for me) at an estate auction for a woman who was a hoarding collector of stuff - there were items that hadn't been touched in over fifty years and items that were in good condition, well over 100 years old. There were those at the auction who were old friends who were now bidding against dealers for their memories - you can't win in this scenario!

We all thought: wouldn't it have been great if these friends would have mentioned they'd like a keepsake - when she was through with it?

I had a dear friend; we lived next door to her in London, England. We moved on,
the way military people do, leaving behind lasting memories. Fortunatly, we came back to visit a few years later. Chris had a lovely antique hand carved wooden bowl on her table. It always held fruit and goodies. I made mention on this trip that I loved that bowl, it reminded me of her qualities: great shape, useful, beautiful, a timeless treasure. She immediately emptied the items into another container and gave me the bowl. I was overwhelmed and gladly accepted the gift. Little did I know at the time, but that was the last visit I'd ever have with her. She passed away unexpectantly from cancer a year or so later. I am so glad I told her I loved the bowl, and so glad she passed a tangible piece of herself to me...did she know it was the last I'd see of her? Or was she so generous of spirit? Maybe both, definitely the latter.

Everyone complains that this is a throw away society; some say we've lost touch with the past and our roots. Starting the When You're Through With That campaign could bring some of that feeling of being connected back. The items I wish I had are generally connected with my childhood and probably were discarded along the way as being of little value. My grandmother had a small lidded dark brown crock she always made pickled beets and eggs in. The lid was glued together several times, it was nicked and chipped and shabby. I loved that crock - I don't know where it is now - probably thrown away.....if only I had mentioned I'd like it when she was through with it....my daughter loves picked eggs with pickled beets - wouldn't it be awesome if she used that crock for her daughter some day - a lost opportunity.

For those important to you, ensure you have a keepsake of theirs, let them know how much an item means to you, suggest that you'd like it - when they're through with it....it might make their enjoyment of the item that much more precious, knowing it is valuable to your connection - or they may ensure you have that tangible reminder of your time together while they can see the delight you take in receiving it.

When you're through with that - pass it on.

Waiting Over - Hurray

2009-04-14T15:49:00.002-04:00

I am the proud owner of a mortgage - finally!

Hurray.

I'll post a few new pictures soon......this one is about 3 months old.

I Am Waiting

2009-04-07T14:33:00.004-04:00

Today's post is dedicating to waiting - because that's what I've been doing for the past week - waiting for my closing to happen.....each day brings a new challenge - I think it is the banks duty to ensure we are really committed to this mortgage, because the average person would have given up by now!!!!!

I am Waiting - By Lawrence Ferlinghetti

I am waiting for my case to come up
and I am waiting for a rebirth of wonder
and I am waiting for someone
to really discover America
and wail!
and I am waiting
for the discovery
of a new symbolic western frontier

and I am waiting
for the American Eagle
to really spread its wings
and straighten up and fly right
and I am waiting
for the Age of Anxiety
to drop dead
and I am waiting
for the war to be fought
which will make the world safe
for anarchy
and I am waiting
for the final withering away of all governments
and I am perpetually awaiting a rebirth of wonder

I am waiting for the Second Coming
and I am waiting
for a religious revival
to sweep thru the state of Arizona
and I am waiting for the Grapes of Wrath to be stored
and I am waiting for them to prove
that God is really American
and I am waiting
to see God on television
piped onto church altars
if only they can find the right channel
to tune in on
and I am waiting for the Last Supper to be served again
with a strange new appetizer
and I am perpetually awaiting
a rebirth of wonder

I am waiting for my number to be called
and I am waiting
for the Salvation Army to take over
and I am waiting
for the meek to be blessed
and inherit the earth
without taxes
and I am waiting
for forests and animals
to reclaim the earth as theirs
and I am waiting
for a way to be devised
to destroy all nationalisms
without killing anybody
and I am waiting
for linnets and planets to fall like rain
and I am waiting
for lovers and weepers
to lie down together again
in a new rebirth of wonder

I am waiting for the Great Divide to be crossed
and I am anxiously waiting
for the secret of eternal life to be discovered
by an obscure general practitioner
and I am waiting
for the storms of life to be over
and I am waiting
to set sail for happiness
and I am waiting
for a reconstructed Mayflower
to reach America
with its picture story and tv rights
sold in advance to the natives
and I am waiting
for the lost music to sound again
in the Lost Continent
in a new rebirth of wonder

I am waiting
for the day that maketh all things clear
and I am awaiting retribution
for what America did
to Tom Sawyer
and I am waiting
for Alice in Wonderland
to retransmit to me
her total dream of innocence
and I am waiting
for Childe Roland to come to the final darkest tower
and I am waiting
for Aphrodite
to grow live arms
at a final disarmament conference
in a new rebirth of wonder

I am waiting
to get some intimations
of immortality
by recollecting my early childhood
and I am waiting
for the green mornings to come again
youth's dumb green fields come back again
and I am waiting
for some strains of unpremeditated art
to shake my typewriter
and I am waiting
to write the great indelible poem
and I am waiting
for the last long careless rapture
and I am perpetually waiting
for the fleeing lovers on the Grecian Urn
to catch each other up at last
and embrace
and I am awaiting
perpetually and forever
a renaissance of wonder

If you have read this post to the end you most likely have mixed feeling about the poem's content. Some of it might offend you. I felt that way the first time I read it. Then I went through and looked up the actual meaning of some of the words that offended me and I had an awakening.....we have so corrupted the English language - or more appropriately limited the meaning of so many words to a narrow interpretation often not resembling the original intent of the word.....

I am waiting....

Closing on Friday!

2009-04-01T13:38:00.002-04:00

Hurray! We expect to close on the house on Friday. I should have pictures to post tomorrow! The appraisal came in above the prebuild appraisal which was done a year ago during the boom - this area doesn't really have a boom and bust mentality - it's pretty much maintain around Eastern Tennessee.

I will share with you this picture my Aunt sent to me - I thought it was so hilarious!

Finishing Up Friday!

2009-03-27T08:15:00.008-04:00

Yesterday I started a fiber project - yes I know you find that hard to believe. At this moment your mouth is hanging open and you are just finishing up the end of a long incredulous sighing "nnnnaawww".

Here is what I'm working on... a crocheted sachet - garnished with a delicate pansy and some ribbon.

Do you know who it's for? Possibly one of you. Terri (that's her to the right) over at Clay Hill Farm is sponsoring a giveaway and I so graciously agreed to be a part of it - she is so cool to let me join in~!
Terri's portion is a really cute tote bag which she'll fill with Easter goodies. My portion is a crocheted sachet.

While looking for an appropriate item to crochet my thoughts turned to Spring - I know - you're thinking I'm a mind reader, your thoughts are on Spring too right? Aren't I like --- AMAZING?

One of my favorite spring flowers is the Pansy. Any type of pansy - plain, ruffled, old fashioned, viola, yellow, pink, blue, purple, orange....

Now for the lecture portion of my post: The word pansy comes from the French pensee or pensie which means remembrance. So named because the first occurrence of the wild pansy was found in a French field after the 4th century. The origin of the plants we now call pansy began in Iver, Buckinghamshire, England in the 1800's by two guys messing around crossing Viola species.

These plants are easy to propagate and take little care to grow. Water and sunshine that's all they really need as they are pest resistant. Their enemies are drought and heat. Believe it or not pansies can have a delicate aroma in the early morning and at dusk when the humidity is high. The yellow and blue ones are more likely to have a smell.

Both the leaves and flowers of pansies, and violas for that matter, are edible and high in vitamins A and C. (I recommend using organic ones or grow your own to avoid pesticide/herbicide ingestion. The flowers impart a strong flavor and can be used to make syrup, flavored honey and salads. Both the leaves and flowers can be used as a garnish, such as on cold fruit or cream soups. The flowers are also useful as a dye. I like to freeze pansies and violas in an ice ring and add them to a punch for a pretty touch - especially for Mothers Day celebrations.

The most important reason I like pansies is because I can indulge my passion. I love to deadhead flowers. You know my motto - "Off with their heads". It is a stress reliever for me and an obsession - I can't hardly pass a bed with spent flowers without deadheading. It is embarrassing sometimes - especially if I am around a certain person, who shall remain nameless, who considers my passion - planticide! But she must concede that I have prolific blooms on my pansies and petunias.

So my Spring fever has led me to crochet a sachet which I shall include in Terri's giveaway. Don't forget to sign up by tomorrow and Think Spring!

2009 Herb of the Year - Bay

2009-03-26T09:43:00.004-04:00

Browsing around this morning made me wonder what the 2009 Herb of the Year is. I am a lover of herbs because they taste good but also because they like to grow for me. They are so forgiving, which is a good trait for anyone or thing that hangs around me. It happens on occasion that I get distracted and forget about you. I almost always remember to come back for you, but if you're fragile it might be to late.

This year the Herb of the Year , as established by the International Herbal Association, is Bay or Laurus nobilis if you are Latin or prefer to address your plants by their formal name. I, am on a first name basis with my plants. Sometimes even on a nickname basis.

I have a bay tree in a pot. I have had it for about 5 years and it loved me....hopefully it still does as I did not treat it well this year. I usually bring it in but this year I didn't have room. As luck would have it we had the coldest year in a long time. It was in a protected spot so we'll see how it does.

I highly recommend a potted bay tree. I pluck leaves from it whenever I make a stew or soup. It looks very professional and impresses people when I do this. The tree is easy to keep - it likes moisture during the dry winter months but that is all the special care it needs. Water and a misting when you remember.

On my recipe for the day I used Chocolate Pudding with Bay. This sounds great to me especially since it is a cold damp pre-spring day. Great for one last warm and cuddly treat before spring gets here and we have to go to fruit dishes. Nothing wrong with fruit (especially if it's dipped in chocolate) - but a warm cup of chocolate pudding makes me want to get a book and a blanket.

In Jane Austen type books they often refer to having a cup of warm chocolate for breakfast - I wonder if it is similar to this pudding served warm. I am reading the books by Elizabeth Ashton, she is continuing the Darcy story. They are light, fun reading and especially delightful if you are a Jane Austen fan - and a whole lot easier to read!

I am going to go read up on Bay and update my shopping list to include Chocolate Pudding with Bay ingredients.

Today is the Big Day

2009-03-25T12:55:00.002-04:00

Well it's official - we have a certificate of occupancy! We are no longer hippies - but have a bonafide governmentally certified to be safe and ready to be taxed home!

This afternoon the appraiser arrives to tell us if all the hard work we put into the place withstood the housing market crash.

It is all very exciting -

The rest of the week we'll be moving in and deciding where our belongs go....I'm not sure but this might end up being the hardest part.

Finishing Up Friday

2009-03-20T06:10:00.023-04:00

Here's an update before I dash off to Windy Meadows for the weekend. My little baby niece Tayler is turning sixteen! I can't believe it! We are having a celebration bash at Kaden Center in Louisville Kentucky. Tayler is an awesome young lady and makes you believe in the promise of youth!

Here's a few pictures to show what we've finished up - and what still needs to be done!

We finished the window seat bench. There are now over 241 hula girls dancing across our front room! The bench is a great place to sit and enjoy the view or soak up the sun. Especially if you're working on an intricate needlework item....hmmm I've got a few of those laying around somewhere.....

With the Princess' assistance we completed the project in an afternoon.

Super Hubby finished tiling around the stove - yes that's his Jenn Aire downdraft gas stove with grill and griddle - no propane yet - it is only for show! Every girls dream a kitchen that doesn't get dirty.

The Master Shower is complete also....

The above picture shows SH finishing up the grout at the drain - this shows about half the shower, it goes around the corner where the shower head is....after I finish this post, I'm going to take my first shower (the floor is heating up as we speak) - hurray, no more forced baths (I prefer showers over baths, that's why we don't have a master bath - we've got a master shower! - with a heated floor - I"m very excited!)

Super Hubby is nearly finished building the vanity - he's still got to set the sinks in - probably today.

Can you see the llama?

How about now?

I think it's a camel - but I'm out voted.

The fireplace hearth is poured (cement, awaiting stain) and the tilework around it is complete. I love the copper! We've gotten lots of compliments from the inspectors - putting the stone in is not so much a priority now! The budget is thankful! The front of the hearth will be finished in the tongue and groove on the window seat - probably this weekend also....busy Super Hubby!

I completed my first project in the Studio....

and working on the window treatments for the Game Room with this fabric....

It's been hard keeping reliable help for the sewing projects. The princess received Dollie from Grandma this week and immediately turned into a fairy....do you have any idea how hard it is to keep fairies focused? And out of your trimmings?

Striking resemblance in the hair!!!!!

Well, that's the update for this week - I'm off to dance the night away! If I have a chance I'll post a number you can text message Birthday Wishes to my niece on.....The DJ has a hook up that allows text messages to be shown on a big screen! Isn't that a great idea for those who can't be there in person? It's also a great venue for an Aunt who has some silly things to announce to the world about her niece!!!! Hee Hee Hee......

I Am Waiting....

2009-03-18T15:31:00.003-04:00

Today's post is dedicating to waiting - because that's what I've been doing for the past week - waiting for my closing to happen.....each day brings a new challenge - I think it is the banks duty to ensure we are really committed to this mortgage, because the average person would have given up by now!!!!!

I am Waiting -

By Lawrence Ferlinghetti

I am waiting for my case to come up

and I am waiting

for a rebirth of wonder

and I am waiting for someone

to really discover America

and wail!

and I am waiting

for the discovery

of a new symbolic western frontier

and I am waiting

for the American Eagle

to really spread its wings

and straighten up and fly right

and I am waiting

for the Age of Anxiety

to drop dead

and I am waiting

for the war to be fought

which will make the world safe

for anarchy

and I am waiting

for the final withering away of all governments

and I am perpetually awaiting a rebirth of wonder

I am waiting for the Second Coming

and I am waiting

for a religious revival

to sweep thru the state of Arizona

and I am waiting

for the Grapes of Wrath to be stored

and I am waiting

for them to prove

that God is really American

and I am waiting

to see God on television

piped onto church altars

if only they can find the right channel

to tune in on

and I am waiting

for the Last Supper to be served again

with a strange new appetizer

and I am perpetually awaiting

a rebirth of wonder

I am waiting for my number to be called

and I am waiting

for the Salvation Army to take over

and I am waiting

for the meek to be blessed

and inherit the earth

without taxes

and I am waiting

for forests and animals

to reclaim the earth as theirs

and I am waiting

for a way to be devised

to destroy all nationalisms

without killing anybody

and I am waiting

for linnets and planets to fall like rain

and I am waiting for lovers and weepers

to lie down together again

in a new rebirth of wonder

I am waiting for the Great Divide to be crossed

and I am anxiously waiting

for the secret of eternal life to be discovered

by an obscure general practitioner

and I am waiting

for the storms of life

to be over

and I am waiting

to set sail for happiness

and I am waiting

for a reconstructed Mayflower

to reach America

with its picture story and tv rights

sold in advance to the natives

and I am waiting

for the lost music to sound again

in the Lost Continent

in a new rebirth of wonder

I am waiting for the day

that maketh all things clear

and I am awaiting retribution

for what America did

to Tom Sawyer

and I am waiting

for Alice in Wonderland

to retransmit to me

her total dream of innocence

and I am waiting

for Childe Roland to come to the final darkest tower

and I am waiting

for Aphrodite

to grow live arms

at a final disarmament conference

in a new rebirth of wonder

I am waiting to get some intimations

of immortality

by recollecting my early childhood

and I am waiting

for the green mornings to come again

youth's dumb green fields come back again

and I am waiting

for some strains of unpremeditated art

to shake my typewriter

and I am waiting to write

the great indelible poem

and I am waiting

for the last long careless rapture

and I am perpetually waiting

for the fleeing lovers on the Grecian Urn

to catch each other up at last

and embrace

and I am awaiting

perpetually and forever

a renaissance of wonder

2009-03-18T09:11:00.002-04:00

Good Morning ThistleDew and Clay Hill Farm readers. I am posting simultaneously on both sites this morning to dispel the were-skunk confusion.

Terri has totally taken a serious issue and tangled it up in such a way that only exceptionally dedicated readers have a clue what is going on.....

So allow me to straighten things out for you.

There are two issues here - were rabbits (you can find out more about them by watching the film Wallace and Grommit and the Case of the Were Rabbit or reading my post about him)

and skunks
To through you off the trail, Terri has combined them!

She has discovered that there is a were-skunk on the property. The question is who's were-skunk is it?

I maintain that it is Terri's skunk:

he hangs around her house
she maintains a skunk buffet she calls a compost pile
the skunk's lover is at her house

and, on occasion, I have seen him in her house....

To affirm my view of Terri's were-skunk ownership I fall to the old adage "she who smelt it dealt it"

so adeptly put by The Yarn Princess

During the course of this debate, Terri organized a giveaway - don't be fooled, she is only doing this to bribe you - and it appears some of you are weak enough to fall for it! Adding chaos to the confusion she has turned things around so that I too must participate in the giveaway by including a crocheted item....I have until April 1st to whip something up worthy of the lavish praise she heaped on me....not that she really believes me worthy of the praise, she just knows how to awakened my competitive nature and backed me into a corner, forcing me to excel! What she is really after is your vote that I am the owner of the were-skunk - of which she has no proof what so ever, that is why she has resorted to bribery.

On second thought - she has got me involved in the giveaway so I can't enter the contest - drat I fell for it again!!!!! That skunk!

Put Your Money...

2009-03-17T19:51:00.005-04:00

...where your mouth is! Or, your crochet, that is! This is Terri from Clay Hill Farm, letting everybody know that I will honor the extra ten entries my partner in crime so rashly promised, IF Melissa will put one of her crochet creations in the tote for the lucky winner. What say you, folks? Don't you think she should take part?

Mildred can attest to Melissa's crochet skills - while my creations may have wonky bits, Melissa's truly don't. This is why I think she is an alien. I mean, really - what earthling can do perfect work??? And it's also why the were-skunk likes her so much, and why she keeps sending it to my house to dig in my compost pile.

So, neighbor, whaddaya say? Will you participate? Or will you chicken out like a yellow-bellied SKUNK??? :)

Terri

Guess What?

2009-03-13T14:54:00.003-04:00

Last night I used my new Dish Washer!!!

Yep, you heard it. With a few magic touches by Super Hubby I zipped right into the 21st century - I have running water (hot and cold) and an automatic dishwasher!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Photos on Monday - hopefully, you know how I am. Super Hubby did take my picture in my apron, next to the dishwasher - but I forgot to download them!

The house should be ready for our Certificate of Occupancy on Monday!
Let's all say a prayer for the house - pray that it passes!

Then start praying for a good appraisal!

I know I'm a task master!

Did I mention the Were-Rabbit might have frozen? At least he did if he stood around the garden waiting for it to grow. We planted in 75 degree weather and now we're back down to 30 degrees. Don't tell me you mumbled "I told you so under" your breath when you read my blog about planting the garden.....anyway the cold shouldn't affect the three items I planted - they like it chilly (I hope).

Have a great weekend - I think about you often and wonder what you're up to and wish you could drop by and see me. Don't forget to do your praying - we need it!

Did you notice the full moon?

2009-03-11T11:17:00.007-04:00

On my way to Lowe's yesterday evening I noticed that the moon was almost full. When I need info on the moon I call my mother - she is in touch with her lunar self. She informed me that this is the Warm Moon. And I was inspired to plant an impromptu spring garden. Which brought a recommendation from Ashley aka The Princess, to plant enough to satisfy the Were Rabbit. If you have not watched Wallace and Grommit's Curse of the Were Rabbit you are really missing out!

So, while in Lowe's buying another quart of paint, another two sheets of Hardy Backerboard and yet another box of concrete screws, I picked up a package of carrot seeds, peas and a bundle of sweet onion sets. By the light of the Warm Moon, accompanied by a princess, and being watchful of the Were Rabbit we planted our little raised bed. It was so much fun! We made up stories about what the Were Rabbit liked and what would happen if the crop failed and basic sillyness. We left a few onion sets on the path as a sacrifice to the Were Rabbit, in hopes he would only take his share during harvest time.

If the spring garden takes off like the Garlic Bed has, we'll be rolling in carrots, peas and onions! I was really worried about the success rate of the garlic especially during the January flood when the bed was completely covered and then again about a month ago when we had a really hard freeze. Tennessee just isn't prepared for zero degree weather. But it appears the little garlic are very hardy - glad I bought them in Kentucky.

So, if you haven't been bitten by the Spring Bug yet - go plant something by the light of the Warm Moon! And leave something for the Were Rabbit or you might regret it!

Wow What A Weekend

2009-03-09T11:48:00.015-04:00

We worked very hard this weekend and I think I can see a light at the end of the tunnel...let's all say a silent prayer that it's not a train!

The painting is all finished - ok not all finished. There is the pocket door in the master bedroom and touch up paint. Then it will be done - until it's time to change things (which might be a while before I want to look at a paint can again!). Most of the kitchen and laundry room are tiled and we covered the window seat cusions. Of course I didn't download the pictures - I'll get those this week sometime....

I wanted to share with you pictures of my studio and the cork flooring. It is wonderful stuff. The benefits include being softer to stand on, material is a renewable resource (only the bark is harvested and regrows within nine years.) and it comes from the mediteranean, and is a fab color. This cork is Lisbon Cork in the color/style Monet. You do have to treat it gently, no water on it, no stilletos, and gentle wear - it should be perfect in the studio and inspire me to be creative!

Here the Princess is telling you that she was in-charge of keeping the stock pile up.

The instructions said lay the cork on under layment and connect the pieces by gently tapping into place until you hear the "click". Obviously who ever wrote these had not actually done the process. It took much more than gently tapping and we messed up a few edges before we got the right combination of rubber mallet, shim and angle correct. It definately takes a strong person to install this stuff.

Once we got the hang of it we zipped right along.

Even had time for a quick break....doesn't the chocolate look fab next to my hep green wall? I really need to get better lighting so you can get the full effect of the green - it looks like lime yellow here.

Three hours later....and it was all done.

We had a little bit of left over supplies and as you expected The Princess turned them into a costume....

The final to do list is pretty short -
Put railing up where the dirt is more than two feet below the porch.
Plumb the kitchen - sink, garbage disposal, dishwasher
tile the master shower
build master bath countertop
grout kitchen and master bath
finish hanging trim
install propane tank
touch up paint
Apply for certificate of occupancy!
Maybe this is the last week of construction!
Yippeee!

House Pictures

2009-03-06T08:28:00.036-05:00

The long awaited update with pictures has arrived - it's like you've won a giveaway isn't it?

It's been so long - where to start....let's see.....
The middle of February Dan finished the trim on the windows. He stained it the same as the outside siding - thinking it would be cool to tie the outside with the inside. After he'd finished it just didn't set right with me...maybe because there wasn't any of that color on the inside - maybe it made that wall look like an exterior wall...I just couldn't put my finger on why... So the little critter in my head responsible for scheming starting working quietly in the corner of my mind. Keep your eye on the fireplace to the left in the picture - we'll get back to that later.

With the windows done and the pendant light installed it was time to remove the scaffolding and get to work on the flooring. As expected without the monstrosity of scaffolding the great room looked huge - hence the name great meaning large as opposed to the interpretation I'm accustomed to when referring to myself - fantastic!!! Ha Ha Ha!

Dan enlisted the assistance of child labor to help.

After a few lessons she was on her way!

We had a consultant
and a government inspector.

It was all very meticulous work!

Back to the fireplace. I decided that what it needed was a touch of copper. Actually I got the idea last summer when redoing my sister's kitchen at Windy Meadows. We did a venetian plaster in Sherwin Williams Sweet Cream (very light creamy orange) above the chair rail and the bottom was Chivalry Copper. I added some highlights on the copper with metallic paint. It turned out so well her husband asked me to do a treatment in blue for the bathroom....anyway I fell in love with the copper but couldn't get Super Hubby on board when I slipped it in as a color choice for our kitchen/dining area. So like a good wife, I put the idea aside waiting for a target of opportunity.

After we picked out the house colors Super Hubby agreed with me that the fireplace needed to be a darker color until we could get it stoned. Unfortunately he picked a color to close to the wall color and it would have looked like a mis-die lot. So he agreed that I could go darken it up.....I waited and thankfully I did because with the window trim a redwood color I had my inspiration to use the copper and tie it all in. This turned out harder than I thought - when I showed Mr. Sherwin Williams the color I wanted to change the already tinted can to - he shook his head. Something about that color being a light base with some black in the color made it impossible to go to the Chivalry Copper which was a dark base with some other dark color. What we got was a muddy pumpkin. That's Super Hubby applying it and mumbling under his breath that he didn't like it. I had not revealed that it was only step one! Back to the paint store portion of the story....I had Mr. Sherwin Williams open the metallic and see what it looked like over the muddy pumpkin - I loved it! So home I went with a gallon of Muddy Pumpkin and two quarts of Metallic Copper.

Super Hubby cut in the pumpkin as mentioned and then just finished it all since it was mostly ladder work. He kept hoping it would look better in the morning - boy what a shock he was in for!
He went back to tiling - our child labor lost interest after about three tiles. Which was a good thing because the pattern is really complicated - the schematic had to be posted on the wall for reference.

I woke up at 4am to put on the first coat of Metallic Copper - goodbye Muddy Pumpkin. Hello roller marks!

I started rehearsing my speech for when Super Hubby saw it. "Don't worry Dear, it's only the base coat, it's supposed to look blotchy". I got my chance a few hours later and Super Hubbies response was "but is it supposed to look amateurish?" I explained it needed a crossed brush stroke treatment on top to finish it off - it's a work in progress. He immediatly went and got the 25 foot ladder and took the quart of metallic. This was a great sacrifice on his part because he "doesn't do random" On the pych charts he's a square - everything aligned and even and centered. I on the other hand am a squiggle and do random very well. So...he's on the ladder and I'm below telling him where he needs to "be more random" add a stroke here, scruff up a pattern there.....it went amazingly fast and turned out so awesome I can't even describe how pleased I am (guess I better take a picture to show you). I immediatly went over and crafted a mirror to match.

I bought the unfinished mirrors at The Home Store for $8 each - it is sponsored by Habitat for Humanity and they sell new and used building materials. The proceeds go to building houses for low income and needy families. It is an awesome project and they have great deals. Items are donated due to overstock or contractors donate remodel unneeded items.

Sometime during all this - I painted the chocolate suede wall - what do you think?

And Super Hubby put in a tile "rug" at the entry way. It is so awesome - he is definately an artist!

Monday I will show you the cork floor in my studio.

Aloha

2009-03-04T11:26:00.002-05:00

No, I haven't been on a deserted island - I've been to Washington DC for training and fun with my sister - who followed me there because she thinks I'm cool!

Amazing things happened at the house while I was gone. Carpet for one! Tiled bathrooms for another! My hubby is the most amazing tile craftsman! He has done everything from car dealerships to show rooms to residential remodel and mansions in LA. He is truly a craftsman. We used 18" travertine through out and he developed a very complicated pattern for the great room. The sitting area has a carpet insert - very cool. It all looks so nice - I am so excited to move our furniture in and look for some cool antiques to add.

I'm painting every night after I get home from work. Super Hubby is building cabinets, finishing up tiling, putting down baseboard, building the window seat....

Things are really shaping up. About 5-7 days and we should be ready for the first final inspection. Pictures when I have a chance!

No PIctures - just blisters!

2009-02-16T15:39:00.002-05:00

Just a word to give a quick update so you won't think I've gotten lost or buried!
This weekend we started the tile in the great room! Woooo Hoooo! I thought I'd have time to work on my window treatments but as it turns out my painting license was not revoked I merely had a restriction put on it. "No painting after dark".

This came about shortly after I painted two walls in the great room one evening last week. Unbenownst to me, by the light of the day it looked pretty rough.

I was on a high, either from paint fumes or because I was actually allowed to paint in a public area of the house(I had been on my apprenticeship and only allowed to paint closets, bathrooms and my craft room.) Unsuspecting, the next day I asked Super Hubby if he wanted me to paint. With painting in the great room I felt I had graduated to semi-pro league. Well, Super Hubby's response knocked the wind out of my sails. He walked me over to the great room walls I had painted the previous evening complete with chunks of foreign matter painted onto the wall and missing spots where the primer showed through. He politely said "no thank you". How was I to know that the roller pan had old paint stuck to it until I filled it with new paint and went to town on it? How was I to know that those florescent lights which save energy do so for a reason, it's because they don't put out any real light - just ambiance?

I felt pretty bad because I'd caused him more work to fix my mess and I couldn't help out as much. So I made plans to do other things....line the kitchen cabinets with shelf paper, touch up my craft room paint, and make window treatments. Then I learned that my license merely had the "no painting at night" restriction so my plans went out the window. I painted two more areas of the great room, helped set up the tile for installation, lined the kitchen shelves and did gopher work. I was busy but it didn't feel like I accomplished anything - ever have those days? Luckily Super Hubby's Uncle and Cousin came to help lay tile. It's a big job and hard to do alone.

Well the chandelier pendant came in today so that will go up tonight and then the scaffolding will come down. I have come to think of the scaffolding as a part of our decor - I'll miss it and have to think about filling that big open space.

Carpet comes on Thursday so all the last painting has to be finished and the transitions to tile areas have to be complete. Maybe there will be time to put in my cork flooring in the craft room before then.....

Cinderella

2009-02-12T15:37:00.006-05:00

Yes, I feel like Cinderella of the construction trade -
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Here's what I was doing last week. Finishing up polyurethening the 197 boards. (See can on the right.)

Here's where they went - (that's Super Hubby 25 feet up)

Then I used a dark mahagony stain on some 6" beams (see stain can on the left in top picture) - like this -

Here's where the beams went - oops, forgot to take a picture.....see above ceiling - where the seams are, about a foot from the lights, imagine these beams over them.....in three places down the ceiling. I'll take some more pictures when I can lift my hands to hold the camera!

Last night, I painted the inside of my craft room door chocolate - well, actually it's Betsy Ross House Historic Color - which happens to look like chocolate pudding. As a matter of fact, the paint was a one coat covers Valspar - and it looked amazingly like chocolate pudding just before it's set. Ashley aka The Princess suggested that this would be a very good diet aid....it looks like pudding only without the calories. She neglected to take her reasoning down to the tastebud level....I declined to have a taste to see if it had chocolate pudding flavor....my combining cooking and painting has only ventured to cornmeal so far....

Update and hopefully some more pictures tomorrow!

Working Hard and Recipe of the Day

2009-02-10T14:07:00.022-05:00

Thank you, Thank you to those who posted a "miss you" comment!
It is so nice to be thought of!

We are on the home stretch and there is so much to do! Work is overwhelming so I can't take any extra time off and the tasks I need to help Super Hubby with at home are tiring!

I am painting, staining, cleaning, moving....you get the picture because you've all been there!

Well, I wanted to share a recipe with you. Since I don't have a kitchen - as you expected it must be a paint recipe.

I wanted the hep green color in my craft room to have a suede treatment - the problem is hep green isn't popular enough to make it one of the available colors - don't understand that! What's not to love?

Anyway, one of my Princess Sister-In-Laws, Deb and I schemed about how I could make my own suede paint. Deb is a fab non-professional designer. She helps her club each year with a home show. A vintage house is selected for a do over and they bring in professional designers and renovators. Club members assist the professionals and learn tricks of the trade in the process of re-doing the house in fab designs. The home owner can purchase some of the items. For the wall treatments and floor treatments I think the homeowner has a budget and the designers keep within that or are out of pocket - not sure how it all works financially but it's a fund raiser for a charity.

Anyway - Deb said the paint was textured - but not as much as sand....I offered flour or sugar, she responded corn meal.

So here's my recipe:

Ingredients:1 roller tray
Enough paint to cover desired wall size, I filled the well portion of the tray (fab color preferred)
1 cup corn meal (any brand, I used Krogers White Corn Meal)
1 old roller
1 paint brush 3-4"

Pre-treatment:
Primer the wall, allow to dry (4-12 hours). My primer happened to be the ugly light blue color I didn't like per the previous post.

Paint one coat in the desired final color with no texture added (that was hep green for me).
If you're using a vibrant color like hep green the coverage will not be even - that's ok.
Allow to dry (8 hours)

Suede Treatment: Fill 3/4 of roller tray or enough paint to do a section of wall (in my case one fill was to much for an 8' x 4' space) but I didn't want to throw off the ratio in case I needed more.

Sprinkle 1 cup corn meal and stir until well blended. This provides a very highly textured surface, adjust amount of corn meal to meet your desired texture.

Fill roller and apply to wall. The beginning of the roll will be very textured and it will reduce as you roll down the wall. Be sparing in the number of times you go over the textured portion. If the texture becomes to thin stop and reload the roller and then continue down the wall trying not to overlap. The corn meal tends to mush down if you over-work it - I did not like that on my sample so I just rolled once down the wall and did one touch up in a random pattern after I did a few vertical rolls. I recommend you go from different directions on each alternating vertical roll - starting at the top down and then starting at the bottom up of the next row for the area to be painted. If you try to touch up seeking perfection you will start to pull the textured portion off the wall and leave a blank hole. According to the real suede paint instructions if doing a large area work in 18" x 18" patches - I just did my entire 8'x4' wall in vertical stripes and one touch up over it all. It seemed to work fine, but again, it was a small area.

Here's a picture of my sample board so you can see what happens if you overwork the paint. Notice the mushed texture

Here it is applied to the wall- the texture is much sharper than the sample board. It isn't perfect or even - it is just "ok" but I decided to leave it alone until it dryed. Unlike manufactured suede paint you do not do the paintbrush "x" stroke treatment while the paint is wet

Allow paint to dry. I gave it a week (but that's because I was busy). I'm not sure of the curing time for corn meal!!!! I would give a day or two to ensure it is totally dry.

Final suede treatment step: (pictures to follow - I haven't taken them yet)
Mix a small batch of the cornmeal paint - this will add another layer of texture to even out spare patches and provide the layering of color associated with suede.

Using a 3" or 4" wide brush, apply x's to the wall randomly. Paying special attention to those areas that were light on texture. Do not try to cover the entire wall with "x"s. Leave small areas of the original textured portion showing. This will give you the different tones of the suede. Mine was darker in patches covered by the roller only and lighter more vibrant on the newly brushed patches. Again, do not overwork the paint. Do not be consistent either. Some thick and some thin, large and small stokes, some vertical and some angled is perfect. However, avoid drips!

I do not have proper light to show you the finished product adequately but I love it - I think it looks just like the suede paint treatment of a manufactured paint. I am pretty critical and I would tell you that it is just "ok" if I didn't think it was "professional" quality....Love the Color - Love the Treatment.

Tip of the Day:
Be brave - paint with food products!

Painting Update - House Tour

2009-01-29T13:44:00.011-05:00

Folks, we are closing in on the painting - could even be done this weekend, which is good because the tile just came in so it's time to move on to something new. Sixteen days until we hope to be done - gotta flip that construction mortgage to a conventional one! Everyone say a prayer it all gets done!

Anyway thought you might like a peak at the craft room colors!

Actually it is a little different because that was taken during a painting break. That's how I intended it to look, but I got carried away and forgot to cut in the left side, I just continued slapping paint around the corner and none of the original Morning Fog left to fix it back. So, I had to paint the top of the green wall the darkened Morning Fog (blue) like the rest of the walls. So the majority of the room is the blue color and the short wall is blue on top and hep green on bottom - divided by a chocolate chair rail.....not many would love this combo (or even like it) - but I do! I'm smiling just writing about it - there's something about that color - it makes me happy!

My husband falls into the first category - actually his exact words were "that makes me want to puke" followed by "is that the final color?" He's not smiling....

Terri saw the sample colors and is still laughing - and to think she purports to like green....I think she meant forest green though!

Just in case you didn't get enough - here's another look....these colors are truer and show the darker morning fog all around. The divided line will be covered by the chocolate chair rail.....love love love it!
That's looking out my craftroom door into the great room. See those boards? I painted those too, well stained them - all 197 of them. Just waiting now for Super Hubby to put them on the ceiling of the great room - 25 feet up. That's Min-Wax polyurethane in natural in case you were wondering - that's why I have hep green in my craft room....I didn't want the ceiling boards to be natural, I wanted a light oak, hubby "always dreamed of them being natural", sooo we all have to compromise - I think I got the better end of the deal - what's not to love about hep green?

It really does look pretty close to these colors - especially the green - gotta love hep green!

Oh and while we're touring the house, here's what the cabinets look like -

and one actually hanging....that's Super Hubby there...
The cabinets are all in now - looks amazingly like a kitchen....maybe pictures of that tomorrow! But you know me and the flash drive - often parted when needed!

We purchased the cabinets from Rail Salvage - these puppies are solid oak 42" tall. Our ceilings are 10 foot so we needed to go with taller cabinets. Eventually there will be a shelf and crown molding around the top of the cabinets - some day.....The cabinets were a really good deal.... The salvage yard uses every square inch of space and then some... things are packed in. The cabinets are new, so it's not a reclaimed salvage, I think its a wholesale and overstock place. But, they have the cabinets all the time, you have to search for other items - I really recommend these places as a resource when you're on a budget or want a good deal. I also found an iron coat hook - you might see that someday - if I can find it!!!! hmmm.

Post Script to my post -
Will ya look at that - check out The Inspired Room.....how about them apples? Green apples that is.....looks like a trendy hep green to me - who's the fashion princess now huh?????

It is True - I am a Princess!

2009-01-28T14:01:00.017-05:00

Since Terri told you some of my true identity last week, I am here to confess that I am a Princess - I'm providing a rare look into my royal life and sharing some pictures of my royal journey with you before the unauthorized version is published....

Here is my Royal Family - this picture was taken in 2004 at HRH's 70th birthday bash. We were just waltzing around Nashville, Indiana when the paparazzi caught up to us and took this picture. I'm in the pink shirt.

Here's the Royal Family at my sister's wedding....

This is a shot of us doing a ritualistic dance - you may have heard of it "Walk Like An Egyptian"?

That's me in the Jessica Rabbit dress - no Terri wasn't kidding. Striking resemblence isn't it?

In 2005 the Royal Family took a little trip down to one of our smaller palaces.

We hobb nobbed with the other royals....

Here's a shot from when I was young and on tour....we did extensive traveling when I was young - no doubt looking for Prince Charming.

Here's a picture of my personal body guard - she does duty for me around the palace in Tennessee, where I spend the majority of my time. The image is blurry because she wouldn't hold still for a shot, she doesn't want her cover blown. Notice the super silencer footgear she's wearing - nothing but the best for my detail.

Here's a picture of my escort detail when I'm on the road...and traveling incognito....this just happens to be Iraq. You never heard I was there.....shhhhh....

And finally to prove that I'm really a Princess here's a picture of my throne...

I would have had a picture taken with me sitting on the throne - but..., well...., never mind.....

Five Things Melissa Wishes She Had

2009-01-25T18:17:00.009-05:00

Terri here, again, with another unauthorized takeover that Melissa will discover tomorrow sometime during her workday. It will give her a lift, and she needs lifts right now, what with all the painting and those high ceilings. So, what are friends for? Here goes!

Melissa wishes she had:

1) A chihuahua. Yes, Melissa has chihuahua envy, and that's a sad, sad thing. She should just admit it and come snuggle my dogs!

2) A chihuahua WITH a WIG! Because, nothing beats a chihuahua except a chihuahua with fake hair. The picture speaks for itself. You know you want it! Personally, I'd go for the dreds, but Melissa is a bit of a traditionalist, so she'll probably go for a tamer style.

3. A donkey. She loves the call of the donkey, especially when it starts at around 4 a.m. - it's a beautiful thing!

4) A dried pufferfish. She begged for one of these when I lived in Florida, and I'm so callous and unfeeling that I refused to send her one. I'll make that up to you one day, Melissa!

5) A skunk. Two would be better. I actually think she already has one of these, and she keeps trying to share him with me. That's just the kind of generous soul she is.

So, there you have it, everyone - five things Melissa wishes she had. Stay tuned for next weekend, when I fill you in on the five things Melissa wishes she could do! It'll be a hoot!

Terri

Busy, Busy

2009-01-23T10:12:00.007-05:00

Well after Terri's great post revealing my inner most secrets what is left to say??? Except of course "Off with her head!" but that's been said before....

Actually there isn't much to say these days, I'm a girl of action - PAINT action that is! I'm getting painters wrist, but I'm sleeping really well....

We put in the kitchen cabinets last weekend (a break from painting) and stopped at Lowe's to buy some stain for the ceiling boards (we've had them a while but it's time to think about installation - the cathedral ceiling is tongue and groove board. I had a 40 board quota nightly to get them done by this evening - I'm 42 behind! So - I've extended my deadline to Saturday! I'm very lenient with myself that way....I don't want to stress myself out, then I'd have to go on strike, and I don't have time for that!!!!!

I also did something very daring yesterday

Don't get excited - this is a demo - not the actual room. I went to the Sherwin Williams website and played with the colors (after I bought them!) That's the daring thing - I bought a gallon of Hep Green paint!!!!!!! Yippee!!!!! Are you rejoicing with me? Are you smiling?

Remember the icky blue paint (you didn't actually get to see it because I keep forgetting my flash drive at work!) - well it's only icky during times of direct sunlight, turns from restive spa blue to robins egg! ....the rest of the time it's just OK.

Well I took it to Sherwin Williams to fix it. They hooked me right up from Morning Fog (aka Robins Egg) to Aqua Sphere! The booklet I saw also had this really cool bright green - I have always been a fan of the bright almost neon green even before it was trendy. Well they put a room together with the Soft Aqua Blue, Hep Green and Chocolate - it is very trendy chic....yes folks, I bought a gallon of the Hep Green - my hubby is not going to be happy. Just having the gallon of paint in my car on the way home made me smile. It is the happiest color ever! I know it's not easy bein' green but every time I look at it I smile. Terri will just laugh when she sees it. My hubby will be horrified, but I promise I will put it on the wall he won't see, because he does not venture into the craft room often! He thinks it's scary in there. I also plan to have built in's to house my yarn so I will paint the box portion of the cubbies the bright green and leave the back side the wall color and trim it in chocolate - the cubbies should really pop - I might not want to fill them!

Well enough day dreaming - back to painting and staining and painting! Pictures on Monday, if I remember my flash drive!

An Unauthorized Biography

2009-01-16T21:03:00.013-05:00

Melissa wanted me to tell all of you that she won't be back until Tuesday - she'll spend the holiday weekend painting and doing finish work on the new house. Which is exciting, to be sure, but it leaves me in charge of the blog. Bwahahahahaha!

So, I've decided that a little unauthorized biography is in order. See, I think all of you need to know the real Melissa, and, well, she's a little bashful about reveailing her true talents. In fact, you could say she hides her light under a bushel. This post is all about bushel-bashing, folks... here's the straight dope on Melissa.

Melissa was born the child of a sharcropping crocodile farmer and a debutante. This accounts for her unique sensibilities and fashion sense - she's practical, and frugal, and sensible, but has a killer instinct for a truly great dress. Still, a person can get mighty sick of crocodile shoes and fried crocodile tail, which explains why Melissa broke free at the first opportunity -

her musical talent was her ticket away from all things reptilian....

and it brought her into a new world. A world of order, and self-discipline, where hard work and strength of character would carry a person a long, long way from the crocodile farms of Southern Indiana. So, Melissa bid goodbye to her pet crocodiles and her beloved family, and she headed off, into the wild blue yonder, flying high - oh, wait - that's the wrong service!

No, not the Air Force, folks - Melissa joined the Marine Corps. Yes, Melissa became a Marine, and it was here that she learned to be tough as nails. Yes, the Marine Corps molded this woman into the sort of woman who would run a marathon with her crazy sister-in-law; the sort of woman who would run three miles the day before her back surgery (no, that part's NOT made up - she really did that!); the sort of woman who, in a word, makes strong men look like wimps.

Lest you think, though, that this experience left Melissa lacking in feminine charms, though, remember her debutante mother and relax - Melissa can pull out all the stops when she needs to do so. In fact, I have seen her in this very dress AND a tiara, dancing the night away. The belle of the ball, she was, and the life of the party! And you'd never know she'd spent a large part of the day planning and setting up the exact same party - she's multitalented, our Melissa. In fact a person could get a complex, hanging around such sheer perfection, day after day... so, that's why I've decided to let you all in on some of Melissa's weaknessess:

1. Melissa is afraid of horror movies. Of course, I am afraid of horror movies, too, but I am not a

Marine, right? So, I can be scared of horror moves while simultaneously ridiculing Melissa for the very same trait.

And ridicule her I will - see that photo to the left? That will give Melissa the heebie-jeebies, even though the monsters are muppets! Hahahaha!!!!! That will show you, won't it, my pretty!!!! Okay, maybe the muppets won't scare her, but I know she's scared of Vincent Price! Come on, it's Vincent Price!!!! And that creepy voice and those eyes and that lantern jaw? Holy cow - now I can't go to bed. Thanks, Melissa! Some friend you are!

2. Melissa has a weakness for sugar cookies. And vanilla cake and white icing. She particularly loves fresh cupcakes, straight out of the oven, with soft pale icing melting over the warm, vanill-y tops... okay, hang on a minute while I go get a snack.

Hey, I'm on a diet! I'm supposed to be eating carrots and celery - I'm not supposed to be raiding the pantry for vanilla cookies! Excuse me while I brush the cookie crumbs away from the keyboard!

3. Melissa cannot resist a rock. She would, in fact, probably think she could pick this rock UP and carry it in her truck to her house. This is why both her truck AND her back have seen better days, while my car is in pristine, untouched condition. Ignore that hay and the edges of those grain bags sticking out of my trunk - we're talking about Melissa here! :)

So that's it, everybody - now you know a little bit of the story behind the woman who singlehandedly named Thistledew Farm AND selected its colors, on the same day! Go ahead and finish your painting, Melissa - I've got your back!

Terri

Baby It's Cold Outside!

2009-01-15T14:24:00.010-05:00

In true Global Warming fashion it is a whapping 20 degrees for the high in the Knoxville TN area today. The good news is, that is going to feel warm right about tomorrow when we are predicted to be at 5 - FIVE - degrees for a day or two. This is a sad state of affairs for a family living in an unclimatized 1980's motorhome. "Awww", you say, but "don't feel to sorry for us" I say....Actually last night we moved into the house - with the functioning heater! and slept on air mattresses. Yes, the hippy life is alive and well at ThistleDew Farm but we're movin' toward domesticity! These are the times we'll look back on and laugh and admire how tough we were!!!! If we live that long!

This temperature reminds me of something I've done with Ashley aka The Princess since she was born eight years and some odd months ago.....and also reiterates what I posted a few days ago about having this tick that requires me to complete certain
words with published works - like I can't say "I don't know why...." without ....inserting "she swallowed the fly". I can not say "It's cold outside" without performing it in a singing voice and prefacing it with "Baby".....insert Dolly Partons voice as you say the line

Anyway, I always used to sing this to The Princess when it was cold....it's kind of our thing. Do you have a link with someone like that....now all I have to do is say "Baby It's Cold Outside" and she says "I really must go"....come to think of it, she says that everytime I burst into song (which is always spontaneous and often)....hmmm maybe there's something to that.

I often feel I'm living in a musical, and since I'm a limelight hog, I sing the lead parts just in case....who knows, we could be living in an alternate reality as a t.v. show - I want to look and sound my best.....

Really, I'm not bonkers, it's just cold outside....

Here's a few titbits taken from Wikipedia: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a pop standard with words and music by Frank Loesser. Loesser wrote the duet in 1944 and premiered the song with his wife at their Navarro Hotel housewarming party. The female voice in the song is called "The Mouse" and the male "The Wolf."[1] The lyrics consist of his attempts to convince her to stay with him at the end of a date; her indecisive protests reveal that although she feels obligated to go home, she is tempted to stay, partially because, as the title suggests, "it's cold outside." In at least one published version the tempo of the song is given as "fantana," a humorous reference to the composer's name. The recording by Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer was recorded on March 18. 1949 and released by Capitol Records as catalog number 567. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on May 6, 1949 and lasted 19 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4. Today, this is the most commonly heard version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and is often mistaken for being sung by Bing Crosby and Doris Day.

I really can't stay
But baby, it's cold outside
I've got to go away
Ah, baby, it's cold outside
This evening has been
Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice
I'll hold your hands,
they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry
Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor
Listen to that fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry
Oh beautiful, please don't hurry
Maybe just a half a drink more
Why don't you put some records on while I pour
The neighbours might think
Oh baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink
There's no cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how
Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell
I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir
Mind if I move a little closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried
What's the sense of hurting my pride
I really can't stay
Baby don't hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside
I simply must go
Oh, baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no
You know it's cold outside
This welcome has been
I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm
Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious
Oh, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door
Like waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious
Eww, your lips are delicious
Well maybe just a cigarette more
Never such a blizzard before
I've got to go home
Ah, baby, you would freeze out there
Say, lend me a comb
You know it's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand
I thrill when you touch my hand
But don't you see
How can you do this thing to me
There's bound to be talk tomorrow
Making my life long sorrow
At least there will plenty implied
If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay
Get over that old out
Ah but it's cold outside

The Bestest Surprise

2009-01-13T12:11:00.020-05:00

On my drive home yesterday I knew I had only a hard evening of painting to look forward to, sigh..... But what to my wondering eyes should appear (not a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer) but a neatly wrapped package from the USPS lady. I did not recognize the address so with my usual finesse, I tore into the wrapping.

Out popped the cutest apron that has ever graced my house! And the first apron to grace this house!

I was the lucky recipient of this wonderfully made apron giveaway from The Apron Goddess

Here is what the apron looks like in MY kitchen -

I know what you're thinking - "Wow what a kitchen!" - We're going through a minimalist period right now!

If you want decorating tips - I'd be happy to help you - I can definitely recreate this look in any kitchen.....sledge hammer please! Now stand back....

Notice also that I am wearing three layers of clothes and a scarf - no longer though, the heat is now turned on and I don't mean as a result of my sexy little apron either. The heating guy actually turned on the heat now that the dry wall is done!

Not only did I receive the lovely apron through The Apron Goddess from Practically Necessary
but as I reached my hand into the elegantly finished pocket (lined and brick a bracked)what should I find but an embroidered hanky. Not just any hanky but a Practically Necessary hanky with pansies on it! How did they know Pansies are among my most favorite flowers?
The hanky was so beautiful it brought a tear to The Princess' eye.....

But alas, even Cinderella has to go back to scrubbing floors - in my case the paint pail....

That's the slate blue primer I was talking about to go under the Chocolate - I mean Rootbeer Float - brown....guess what I'm doing tonight? Want'a pop over and help?

Painting Update

2009-01-12T13:45:00.004-05:00

The saga continues - another day, another pail of paint. The primer in the Master bedroom looks fab! I can't wait to see the paint color - it's supposed to be 25% darker than the primer.....it is very earthy and definitely induces sleep - it was all I could do Sunday to keep from curling up in a corner and taking a snooze - oh maybe that's because I painted for 12 hours a day in addition to doing my other motherly and wifely duties!

I painted the Master bath and loo (our toilet is a separate room inside the master bath) on Saturday until 1 a.m Sunday morning. The color is China Moon and reminds me of porcelain - if you break a piece - the middle part, kind of an off white on the gray/skin tone order....very delicate and nice. Not sure what the trim color will be - Super Hubby doesn't want it to be the green brown of the Master bedroom, but I think that would tie the two rooms together nicely.

Sunday brought me to the Guest Bath and Ashley's (aka The Princess') Boudoir. The primer is Morning Fog - a soft spa blue/green. Unfortunately I don't think I stirred the bucket enough because the bathroom looks like a muted robins egg blue but The Boudoir looks about the correct color - trouble is though, if this paint color is also 25% darker than the primer we're back to the robins egg color - definitely not what I had in mind.....Super Hubby says to wait and see, but he doesn't like the color of the bathroom primer either....well he didn't like the paint chip but I got my way on that one! He thinks the spa blue color off the Chocolate walls won't look good. He doesn't believe me when I tell him Chocolate and light spa blue are very trendy! Or he doesn't care if it's trendy - maybe that's it.....hmmm.

I did take pictures but forgot to download them to my flash drive so I could upload them for you.....maybe tomorrow....did I mention that painting is hard work???? Rewarding but hard work!

We're Painting!

2009-01-09T11:38:00.012-05:00

I know there are lots of you doing improvement projects - I've been spending some serious blog time checking them out! You guys are doing some awesome projects and sooooo pretty too. But folks - I'm painting My very own bedroom in My very own house (well, mine, my hubby's...and the banks - well, mostly the banks). I have never painted MY OWN bedroom before.....I've painted a lot of OTHER people's bedrooms, and living rooms, and fences.....you get the gist.

The house is starting to look like a home -
I primed the dark wall of the game room last night. It was to be Belgium Chocolate but Sherman Williams translated that to Rootbeer Float! hmmm, think I like Chocolate better - but we'll see.
It will have a granite texture in the paint - I'm so excited, except for the primer part - it looks like a slate blue.....
Hope it works ok
I would have thought they'd recommend a brownish or blackish gray as the preferred method but what do I know????? I suppose I should trust 'em, they are the professionals.

Then I moved to the bedroom - remember it was going to be Prairie Moss
.

OK, so he's not Prairie Moss Green, but he's cute. It's not easy bein' green ya know.

The green in this fiber died with Mushrooms is more the green it was - maybe deeper. However - every time my husband referred to the color HE selected, he'd say "Green - I don't know why, because I don't like green" (do you know how hard it was not to say "she swallowed the fly" after I said "I don't know why"???? - I have a problem with certain groupings of words - I feel compelled to complete the phrase. Like I can't say "I feel pretty" without singing it - does anyone else have this problem or am I out there?)

Sooooo, I went back to Lowe's and brought home another truck load of samples (for like the 12th time)- they probably think I'm wallpapering the house with paint chips, as they sigh and restock the cubbies. Super Hubby wanted restful and dark to induce sleep (he likes to work all night and sleep late - if he has a chance.) So I brought home some deeper earthy brown greens. He spied Dry Creek Bed and decided someone was sending him a sign (hee hee hee) - he loves creeks but you can't have a wet creek in the bedroom....so that's what I was priming last night, a dry creek bed right through the middle of my bedroom. The color looks more like mushroom to me - a deep earthy deep taupe greenish brown.
I'm ok with it though, I think I can use lot's of accent colors to spice up the room - it will be an excellent backdrop and easy to change the look with accent color changes.

I didn't download pictures of the actual painting process because I fell into bed exhausted...I'll have some on Monday to wow you.

Have a great weekend - here's another tip for a happy life.....

Don't compare your life to others'...You have NO IDEA what their journey is all about.

Things to do for Free

2009-01-08T14:39:00.009-05:00

Here are some tasks from a sheet I've had for several years - these items are intended to motivate you and allow you to live a more fulfilling life. I included some editorial comments! (if you can stand them)

- Take a 10 minute walk - every day, and smile - it is the ultimate anti-depressant. The funny thing about smiling is if you walk around with a smile, people smile back at you and they ask you where things are, especially in a grocery store. This makes me feel popular and needed so I smile all the time.

- Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. I have never done this one - I think it might make me crazy to be alone with myself - besides I'm not sure where to go to be alone unless I park on a deserted road....sounds kind of dangerous to me, I think I'll skip this one.

- When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My Purpose is to ____________ today."
This sounds pretty good - I might change this to "the most important thing to do today is...."

- Play more games and read more books this year.
I'm all about that - only not the electronic type of games, actually get dirty outside and use what nature provides! I love doing that.

- Make time to practice meditation and prayer.
I could definitely use more time to meditate - maybe I'll do this instead of sit in silence....maybe I'll listen - you can pick up on so much if you just sit, listen, wait...

- No one is in charge of your happiness EXCEPT YOU.
I forget this often....I let others try to make me happy or I try to make others happy - you can't force someone to be happy, I've tried!

- Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
This goes a long way in showing humility - sometimes I forget it's not all about me and that my trifles aren't foremost in others minds - I know it's hard to believe.

- What other people think of you is none of your business.
I worry about this a lot. I am much happier when being me, instead of that person I want others to see....Me is much more fun anyway, She can be a pain in the kester!

- Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. I might be awhile on this one.

What'cha Workin' on Wednesday The Never Ending Project

2009-01-06T13:20:00.019-05:00

Perhaps you've heard of The Never Ending Story - it is a really good family movie.

And a book which I assume the movie was based on.

Well, I have a never ending story of my own - only I call it The Never Ending Project....do you have one of these? A monumental project that you started with good intentions.....you saw fabric, yarn or material or maybe a pattern you just had to have? Now it's an old favorite you bring out of the closet now and then - get really excited about working on, actually put some effort into for a few weeks now and again only to allow it to be pushed back under the "craft pile" waiting to be rediscovered again?

My Never Ending Project is a crocheted masterpiece in the afghan stitch which uses a really long hook. The stitch affect allows you to cross stitch on top of the background. I found a really interesting pattern I liked - except for the daisies part (sorry Daisy) and adapted it (I like to do that - I can never leave well enough alone! An artist went to great trouble creating this pattern and I go and rip out their heart by "improving it"!) I decided what this afghan really needed was a great big white tail dear in the middle of it! Ok - come on, I was living in Idaho at the time and highly influenced by the wilderness environment. Besides my hubby will love it (and it's a way to introduce sage into our Master Bedroom color scheme.... I know wha'cha sayin' to yourself - "that girl is always thinkin'", huh? ) I used a cross stitch pattern from a book full of wildlife. It had the perfect white tailed deer design - jumping over a log which happened to have sage green leaves as well as autumn colors.

I am ashamed to admit that I bought the yarn and started the background in 1998 - yes folks - I am going on my tenth anniversary of working on this project. I commenced work on the masterpiece while on Marine Corps Recruiting duty in Lewiston Idaho. There was a fab yarn shop up on the plateau in Moscow Idaho - The Needle Nook - I don't know if it is still there but if it's not it is a cry'n shame - I hate to see a good fiber store go down, it is among the great tragedies of the last century - like giving Iwo Jima back, or The Duke passing away or Roslyn Bakeries closing down or Sara Lee ending production of the Banana Cake with that cream cheese frosting (you did have to be careful not to cut your fingers on the aluminum pan when you were bending the corners down over the cardboard cover.) Anyway, I finished the two side panels - because I always do the fun part first and the side panels had lots of color and a cool stitch pattern over the afghan stitch which reminded me of a Burberry checked pattern (spent some time in England also so I have incorporated a lot of memories into this masterpiece don'cha' know) - the center piece is a huge block of boring afghan stitch crochet - I get distracted easily so this part took me about 9 years!

In my defense during this time we moved to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii as our next duty station with the Marine Corps. I did not feel like working on yarn projects for the three years while stationed in Hawaii - it is so hot and so humid - woe is me (sigh)..... the project did go with me, just in case I got bored in paradise.

I daresay that yarn may be more traveled than some of you (not meaning to offend anyone who prefers to remain at home in a stable environment).....Idaho, Hawaii, Indiana, Tennessee.... Instead of finishing the afghan in Hawaii we had our Princess at Tripler Army Medical Center -
- now she is a project I am also still working on!

The Never Ending Project has been pulled out a few times while here in East Tennesse but never for very long - until this year. Here's a look at the pieces - I have been humming along the last few months. I am determined that it will be on our bed in the master bedroom when the house is complete. Truth be told, it was supposed to be a Christmas present for Super Hubby this year - needless to say that didn't happen 'cause here's where I'm at now!
Is it really my fault he didn't get done with the house by Thanksgiving - I really can't get the afghan done before the house is done - then it would just set in a box until it's unveiling - isn't it better to wait until it can be placed immediatly on it's place of honor?????

This will look lovely on someones bed - I just hope I'm alive to see it!

2009 Blog Awards

2009-01-05T10:46:00.001-05:00

If you are interested in submitting individuals for the 2009 Blog awards go here...

Which do you prefer?

2008-12-30T14:59:00.022-05:00

Do you prefer...
Superman or Batman -

Johnny Quest or Speed Racer -

Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck -

Snow or Rain -

Woods or Ocean -

Sweet or Tart -

Muted or Bright -

Cross Country or Down Hill -

Situps or Push Ups -

Strawberry or Cherry -

Red or Blue -

Shopping or Hiking -

Fly or Drive -

Inside or Outside -

reading or phoning -

cats or dogs -

drive or walk -

Down or Foam -

Carnations or Roses -

cake or pie -

Off with their heads!

I'm Back -

2008-12-29T09:31:00.003-05:00

I'm back and the password wasn't that hard to figure out - but it was really long.
"Terri is great, beautiful, clever and sooo smart" That's what I tell her all the time so it stood to reason that was my password!

What fun to come back to a giggle! I was so worried that everyone would have forgotten about me while I was gone - you know out of sight out of mind!

What a loyal group you are!

The holidays are almost over - sigh....I returned to a house that is looking suspiciously like a home. The insulation is nearly finished and most of the drywall is up. This week they should be taping and mudding and then a week or so until painting. I have the colors picked out and working on the draperies and upholstery fabric.

The master bedroom will be Prairie Grass (dark sage). With the wall the bed will be on as Bronze Essence a metallic paint (medium sage). The chair rail will be Ancient Bog (deep sage)
The master bath will be Bubble Tea (very light terra cotta/beige).

The great room area will be Timeless Taupe (medium taupe/light brown)
We'll have a dark wall in the game area of the great room - Belgian Chocolate (ymm)
The rooms off the dark wall (craft room, guest room, The Princess Boudoir, and Guest Bath) will be Morning Fog (very light spa blue/green).

The dining room area off the great room will be Bubble Tea on top and Timeless Taupe below the chair rail. The chair rail will be Naked Clay (a deep pink toned clay).
Transitioning into the kitchen which will be Bubble Tea. The cabinets will be a mahogany color and the counter top will be a black with brown and gold highlights granite.

The flooring will be neutral toned tile in the great room/kitchen and beige with chocolate flecked carpet.

I can't wait to see my color palette come to life!
Hopefully I'll have pictures tomorrowish.

Happy Holidays!

While The Cat's Away...

2008-12-21T08:47:00.002-05:00

Well, Melissa is out of town right now, and I miss her! So, I thought I'd come over here and wreak some havoc on her blog just to keep things interesting!

First, I added myself as an author, so it will be more obvious when I conduct a blatant take-over (like right now!). Oh, don't worry - I added her as an author to my blog, too, so that you can tell when she sneaks over and does the same to me!

Second, I changed her password so she'll have to guess what it is to access her blog again. Third, I messed up all her settings so she'll think she's doing one thing but she's really doing another! Won't that be funny??? Okay, okay - just kidding on those last two!

Anyway, it's kind of quiet around here without her. A person could get used to that... actually, no, a person like me couldn't. Instead, it might drive a person like me CRAZY!! I need noise and life and laughing and silliness. I need my friend back! Sigh.... :(

Merry Christmas, everyone !

Terri

Advanced Warning - Santa Claustaphobia

2008-12-19T11:01:00.002-05:00

'Twas the week after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).

I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
You never heard, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt

I said to myself, as only I can
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
"Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie - not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore
But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

We're Insulating! Hurray!

2008-12-17T15:49:00.002-05:00

Yes folks, you heard it right - the hippie life may actually be coming to a close! One day soon, we'll be moving into an actual house - with plumbing, and heat, and a stove! Oh happy day.

Super Hubby is insulating even as we speak. Thursday the dry wallers come to work their magic and turn a building into a home! We've picked out colors and nobody has any bruises - there was even some compromising! I can't wait to start painting - or watching Super Hubby paint because I am not up to the standards our house deserves when it comes to painting walls! I am very messy! I often have to have textured walls to cover the drips!

I received my ribbon iron and will try it out soon and post about it (I won the ribbon iron in a giveaway. Very cool!

I am catching up on a few things and then Friday afternoon it's off to Windy Meadows farm in Louisville KY and then up to my Mom's in central Indiana. This will be my last post until December 29th. I hope you all have fabulous holidays! I hope I get the last four gifts done before Dec 25th and I hope none of my siblings are leaving Mom's before Christmas, because their gifts won't be done!!!!! It is sad, but I have procrastinated this year - actually I didn't get the creative ideas until late - it's not my fault that the Muse didn't speak to me in a timely manner, who can control a Muse?

Happy Holidays!

Scrumble Crochet Purse

2008-12-12T13:14:00.032-05:00

If you have a lot of this...

Or this....

Or maybe some like this....

I told you I had a large yarn stash....and this is just the stuff I have out while we're building.

You can turn it into this.....

Here's the tools you'll need.

This is what your work area will look like...

When I have scrapes left over I now group them into color groups,
then when I'm getting inspired to make a scrumble purse I can pull out the color boxes and decide what colors work.

Then I decide on a pattern for the purse shape and sew the lining which doubles as the template. I like to put a small pocket inside the lining - I'm cool to my customers that way....I have trouble keeping track of my phone, so I need the pouch! I am very precise about the liner don'cha know!

The next step is to lock up the precision monster and let the free spirited chi loose.
You must abandon all ideas of keeping rows straight, counting your stitches and making things neat and tidy. It is helpful to get out a stitch book for inspiration.

Now gather together several different hook sizes, some safety pins, and about three different colors of yarn and many textures of those colors. Add a pair of scissors and you're ready to start.

Just start crocheting little swatches of patterns using combinations of stitches, twisting the stitches over and around, increasing, decreasing, big hook, little hook - just get crazy! The pieces should be various sizes, I usually don't make them much bigger than 3-6 inches with some smaller. Leave a tail long enough to sew the piece to its neighbor - no need to "finish off", neatness does not count in this game...I told you to get rid of the precision monster!

Crochet, and crochet, and crochet. I usually keep the yarn box available and sew a piece when the mood strikes me - since the pieces are only 3-6 inches you can whip one out during a commercial break or while you're waiting for the macaroni noodles to boil.

Sometimes the pieces start to look like things!

Sometimes not....

When you have a pile of pieces start putting them on the purse liner, puzzle fashion - to me this is the hardest part.
My first bag I spent hours putting the pieces just so, rearranging and adjusting...now I just plop them down, assess them as I turn my head to the side and then go on to the next piece. After you have filled some of it in... walk away for a few minutes and check out my blog....come back and see if you like what you did. If not - scramble the pieces and put the puzzle together a different way. If you like it, safety pin the pieces together. If you ever wanted to be an acupuncturist, you will love this part. After a bit you will know immediately if you've selected the proper spot for the piece. You'll be able to place and pin in one smooth action - which will reduce the traffic on my blog - so take your time getting that accomplished!

The handle sometimes can be tricky. It's hard to find the right one as my source selections are limited. I use handles from old purses, store bought ones from Hobby Lobby, or felted ones. I crochet a piece right around each handle end and then sew that to a piece in place. I use different methods of closures, sometimes magnets, sometimes a bobble at the end - whatever strikes me. Once you have all the spaces filled on your liner and safety pinned together you are ready to put it together.

Turn the piece over (leave the template down to refer to now and then). You will be sewing the pieces together with a tapestry needle and yarn which matches the pieces you're putting together. This is the part I really like - don't worry about weaving in the ends, they'll be hidden between the back and the liner!!!!! Hurray! After you've sewn the pieces together check to make sure you haven't left any gaps - fix these and sew them up.

Tips: You should not make pieces to fit spaces until you have filled up most of the liner with the puzzle pieces. The idea is to be free spirited and if you make pieces to fit spaces, you are cramping the spirits style.

You should keep some continuity to make it appealing - to many color variations can be distracting - it is really the texture and the stitch variety that makes people do a double take.

You should not crochet the pieces together ever! This will make it lumpy and hard to shape!

Remember the finished edge of the liner will be inside - I don't finish the outside edge 'cause you won't see it and I'm lazy - or my inner free spirit is which is what is left when I hide the precision monster!

I am working on this one for an 11 year old.

Her sisters is already done.

....
This one is an ongoing project

So is this one....

This is my first one, I made a crocheted dress for myself and Ashley aka The Princess and used the scraps to make a matching purse. I wore the outfit to my brother's wedding two years ago...the purse and dress are still around....

Scrumble is fun - set the free spirit loose and have at it. What have you got to loose? Except some of this...

Hurray - I'm a winner!

2008-12-08T13:05:00.003-05:00

I won - hurray - Kimberly was having this neat giveaway - a ribbon iron! I won. I submitted a million things I could do with the ribbon iron and Kimberly took pity on me!

This is an awesome gadget. You should check Kimberly out - she has a really cute site as you can tell by her headline picture!

Coincidence? I think not!

2008-12-08T12:37:00.004-05:00

It appears that Susie and Leedra were right - the "D" episode has not gone away!
This was an innocent "gift" from a co-worker who stated she won the shirt as a boobie prize but thought I might like it!!!!!

If only they remembered the good things as long as they do the errors!

If you're not getting the reference please read my post from November 25th. It is tooooo embarrassing to mention again!

Hurray - Mildred received her giveaway!

2008-12-05T17:46:00.004-05:00

Doesn't Mildred look great - if I do say so myself! Oh, and Harriet looks lovely too, posing with Mildred.

Mildred designed the hat and I made if for her as the winner of our ThistleDew giveaway!

It was so much fun to be inspired by you all! What a fun activity!!!!

Maintain Don't Gain

2008-12-04T11:46:00.003-05:00

Just thought I'd update you on Santaclaustraphobia. I made it through Thanksgiving with out gaining - even though Ashley aka The Princess and I laid in bed reading books and eating bonn bonns. Ok, they weren't bonn bonns they were pretzel sticks and white queso dip for me and cheese puffs for her....

Our group started a yahoo group called Maintain Don't Gain to commiserate together. There was this weird recipe - but you know me - weird is my middle name (well not actually, my middle name is Joy - my Mom was so happy I wasn't a boy she put Joy in my name. Background: I have two older brothers and my Aunt had two sons who are similar in age so my Mom was worried her maternal line was cursed! - hence the joy when I was born! - and of course I've been one every since.)

Turkey Beer Chili - here's the recipe. I'm going to try it - you do too and let me know how yours turns out - better yet, lets make it a competition - you make and post about your favorite weird chili and comment on my blog and we'll see what we come up with.

1lb ground turkey
1lb turkey sausage
2 cans pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
2 4oz cans chopped green chilis (drained)
1 can diced tomatoes (with liquid)
1 can/bottle beer, best with pale ale's
1/2 teaspoon salt
at least 2 teaspoons bottled hot pepper sauce
2 cloves garlic
1 medium onion, chopped
a touch of cheddar cheese

Brown sausage in skillet, set aside in cooking pot. Brown ground
turkey, onion & garlic in skillet sausage was cooked in. Drain & add
to cooking pot. Add all other ingredients EXCEPT PINTO BEANS & simmer
1 1/2 hours. Add rinsed beans. Serve with cheddar cheese on top.

Muffin Post before it's to late....

2008-12-03T12:22:00.012-05:00

Terri made some awesome energy muffins and gave me one, which I took for breakfast this morning. I am blogging about it very quickly because I am certain she laced it with arsenic.... The tricky thing about arsenic is that it takes a while to catch up to you, so you see, I really don't know how long I have until it keels me over,..anyway, the muffins were really good. Packed with fiber, flax seed, fruit, wheat....very yummy. She was looking for an alternative to sugary breakfast foods that are portable. She gets up really early and her breakfast wears off before lunch....these are the perfect solution.

Since it's been a few hours since I ate the muffin, it appears I'm safe for another day, concerning the arsenic.

If you haven't watched Arsenic and Old Lace as a stage show, you really should or check out this link which is a synopsis of the play/movie....it is hilarious - CHARGE!!!!!

I hope all of you had a great T-day holiday! I did. The best thing about the weekend was I had plenty of time to bond with Ashley, aka The Princess. The weather was mostly rainy and living the hippie life in a motorhome encourages closeness and bonding! Lucky for me Ashley has turned into a very entertaining reader with a very theatric reading voice - especially for an eight year old. Her oration is engaging and she has a nack for different voices and mimicing accents. Last summer on NPR they showcased a competition of dramatic poetry reading. I am going to look into it and see if she can start pursuing that as a goal....what fun! I'm not real sure where she gets the drama from.....

We read Roddy Doyles The Giggler Treatment....totally hilarious, it's about dog poo! As you know everyone poops and it makes a hilarious topic for a children's book!

We also read The Miraclous Adventures of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo - this was another non-stop read. Each chapter forced you to read on to either "rescue" Edward or see what would happen next. It was a heart wrenching tale - and a must read if you have any child in your life from 7-12. It is a great read aloud.

We've just started E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan, it is as good as Charlotte's Web. I had not read this growing up and wonder why popular culture has skipped over it and went for Stuart Little, also by White.

We got our books from the Public Library - I'm a big fan of library's and I'll bet their readership is way up with this economy.

I also had some time to catch up on my crocheting - finished a custom order scarf and working on those scrumble bags I keep saying I'm going to post a how to about....maybe this week!

Once you're done here pop over to Brandyanne's - she's having a giveaway!

Pumpkin the Pardoned Thanksgiving Turkey

2008-11-26T13:54:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving and may your holiday be as bright as Pumpkin's....he's on his way to Disney Land....

Embarassing Moment

2008-11-25T08:30:00.003-05:00

Sorry I didn't blog yesterday - but I was hiding in total embarrassment and did not surface the entire day!

I'll share my embarrassing moment, but then you'll have to share your's! Deal????

I was filing some paperwork. My filing cabinet has temporary stickers on the drawers depicting the alphabet of the files the drawer contains. I was wearing a fleece jacket which evidently was very attracted to the file "D". I did not notice this however until I walked into a meeting with a large "D" blazoned center stage on my right breast.

Most of you have not seen me, but those who have, know that I do not need a sign to denote that my cup size is a "D". Several people found my sign hilarious! Did I mention that I have only been at this job for about two months and I work in a pretty conservative environment!!!!

I'll blog more later - I am lucky enough to have two days away from the office right before a holiday so by Monday, hopefully no one will remember my cup size!

Now Give Me Some Figgy Pudding.....

2008-11-21T09:11:00.010-05:00

I was opened up to a wonderful new taste sensation yesterday!
Fresh Figs - not to be confused with fig newtons -

Remember the Big Fig Newton? I sure do and on select moonlite nights you can see me out on the front lawn doing the Fig Newton Dance - join me now....
Ooey , gooey, rich and chewy inside
Golden, cakey, tender, flaky outside
Wrap the inside in the outside
Is it good? Darn tootin’
Doin’ the big Fig Newton
one more time now - The Big Fig NewwwwTon

- not even similar...here's what the inside of a fig looks like. They have many texture layers with the middle a moist edible seed mass. The taste is subtle, fresh, moist, gently sweet and musky. Little hints of grape and apricot to me.

Terri, my sister-in-law and partner in crime - all types of crime....has been on a quest to provide me with fresh figs. I was dubious to say the least and I took it as a sign from God that each time she got close to mission accomplishment - it would slip through her grasp...She bought a fig tree - the first one didn't make it (might have something to do with the drought and a lawnmower.... Then she took me to the farmers market where she had bought fresh figs a week prior - when I went, no figs....not even a fig farmer! She has bought another fig tree - no figs this year. Anyway - periodically she would mention the fig quest and I would giggle and humor her. Well, yesterday she stopped off at The Fresh Market - she knows that is against the rules! The Fresh Market is a checkbook trap - we can not go there and stay within a budget because there are so many awesome, high quality items there. Anyway, she found fresh California Brown Turkey figs....and they are delectable....no sodium, no sugar, no fat! A dream food! I will definitely meet my 2 fruits daily requirement for the Health Rewards program with these guys around.

The figs were awesome - thanks so much Terri for awakening my Fig taste buds....they are very happy...

Santa Claustaphobia

2008-11-20T14:36:00.003-05:00

My work is doing an awesome motivational campaign to help avoid holiday weight gain. It's called Santa Claustaphobia (fear of looking like Santa after the holidays).

Here's the challenge - weigh in the week before Thanksgiving (yes Virginia, I did this today). No one but you and the nurse know the weight....thank goodness.

Then you weigh in the week after New Year's. If you do not gain weight, you get a free long sleeve t-shirt and points toward lowering your health insurance premium. At the end of the year, if you have 750 points you get a $$ savings per month. There are various things you can do to earn points - this campaign for instance earns you 50 points. Taking a health assessment counts also and gives you goals to work at to earn more points!

This is a really cool way of reinforcing health maintenance. So, if you're looking for a way to stay motivated maybe a weigh in is what is needed! Nothing like cold hard numbers to jerk you right back to reality! That is, if the tightening of the trousers doesn't do it!

An Austen Hijack!

2008-11-19T14:45:00.005-05:00

Okay, Terri again. This is a hijack, but Melissa instigated it, so I don't feel one bit guilty! Actually, I never feel one bit guilty about hijacking her blog, but this time I really don't, because Melissa is hijacking mine as soon as she takes the quiz for me!

I took the Austen quiz for Melissa and here are the results. I see Melissa as:

Take the Quiz here!

And the description: You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

I think this is an interesting exercise because you get to see how other people perceive you. I liked Elizabeth Bennet, so is it any wonder I like Melissa? Well, I pretend to, anyway, so I can steal all her good ideas! :)

'Til next time!

Terri

Jane Austin Fan

2008-11-19T12:52:00.004-05:00

I have been a Jane Austin fan for a while, but I must admit I don't think I've actually read any of her novels - my experience comes from the big screen. Therefore I am not as dedicated as I should be. My New Year's Resolution is to read her novels and some biography's. I shall keep a little list here on the blog so you can see how I'm doing.

Take the Quiz here!

I took the quiz and I am Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! According to the survey I am practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though I am tremendously sensible and allow my head to rule, I have a deep, emotional side that few people often see. (They had me right up to that last bit - I think I wear my emotions on my sleeve - but I'll have to let others be the judge. It might be funny to take the quiz answering as someone else would for you - then compare!!!!! Hmmmm, I think this is another opportunity to blog-jack Terri's site!!!!!

I will get right on reading my first novel right after I finish my custom order crochet projects. I've two scarves to finish up this week, 10 more of the 12 crocheted pouches (then they must be felted - I only hope my hubby gets the washing machine hooked up prior to Dec 15th so I can get them felted!), I have a few crochet cosies for soap bars to make for BrandyAnn and two scrumble purses I'm been meaning to talk to you about.....perhaps I'll tackle a tutorial this weekend!

The house is coming along - we are on permanent power now but it is very limited. We have a few inspections to go through prior to getting everything hooked up...Dan is finishing up the outside which is a good thing - because it is unseasonable freezing here in East Tennessee.....just what you need when you're living in an aluminum can and using a port-a-potty!!!!!

Hijack - Five Things Melissa Would Never Say

2008-11-18T10:57:00.008-05:00

Okay, Terri here, with your weekly blog hijack! I thought it would be fun to post five things I think Melissa would NEVER say, and see how she responds. Here goes:

1. No, I don't want a pale sugar cookie!

(I think Melissa would do just about anything for a pale sugar cookie!)

2. I never play in the rain.

(Just try to keep her OUT of the rain! But, it's one of the reasons she's so much fun to hang around with!)

3. There are too many plants around here!

(She can't be trusted in a garden center!)

4. I'm hurting, so I think I'll take it easy today.

(This is the woman who ran three miles the day before her back surgery! I have to make her go to the doctor when something hurts, and she often doesn't tell me because she knows what I'll say!)

5. No, lets not go dig another garden bed!

(I could ask her to go help me dig a bed as soon as she gets home, using flashlights because it will be dark, and in parkas due to the cold, and she would do it! )

So, there's Melissa - from my perspective. We'll see how she responds when she sees this post!

Terri

Terri, you are hilarious - you did forget one though!!!!!

6. Let me wash that off first!!!!!

Let Them Eat Cake

2008-11-17T08:55:00.005-05:00

It is hilarious that Daisy nominated me for the "Let Them Eat Cake" Award ("Marie Antoinette A Real Person, A Real Award"). This is one of my favorite sayings (and things to do). I generally follow up the comment with "Off with their heads!" Which is what Marie Antoinette heard right after she opened up the bakeries.....don't mess with people's cake - you could loose your head!

So for today I say to everyone!!!!! "Off with their heads"....oops, "Let them eat cake!"

I wish I had a petit four and a lounging couch!!!!

This weekend I finished up nearly all my custom orders. (Three car scarves, four pairs of half mittens, one long scarf, one hat for me (hee hee, I put in a custom order for myself! Hey my ears are getting cold.) I sorted through my available yarn stash and picked out the fibers for the two scrumble purses I still have to finish and sorted some craft boxes...I was one busy beaver.

During the week I need to start on the crocheted/felted pouches my sister wants for our shin dig at Mom's for Christmas. We are hosting an open house. It has been a while since Mom has had us all over for a holiday....we thought it would be fun to host an open house so friends, neighbors, family, and those people who drive around looking for open houses to get a free meal could stop by and wish us all a Merry Christmas. We eliminate the stress of cooking a big meal or rushing from one house to another and not giving full attention to anyone....For childhood entertainment we're going to decorate sugar cookies! What fun, nearly as much fun as eating cake.

Maybe pictures tomorrow of my goodies before I mail them all off to their new homes.

Hat Winner and Other Assorted Happenings

2008-11-12T09:05:00.032-05:00

It's been a busy few days...Last week before I left for Indiana, I delivered a few sweet potatoes to Lakeisha, a friend at work - I got the potatoes from this (remember my weekend which included digging up the sweet potato bed and turning it into a garlic bed for the winter?).....

Lakeisha used this.....

to make them into this.....

What a lovely pie...

The craft fair this weekend was fab.

That's me laughing at Deb (my fabulous Indiana sister-in-law) who is taking my picture. Notice we are conveniently situated next to the ATM....how fortuitous.
I'm making a custom order that was needed that evening.... coordinating hats for a 8 year old and 6 month old. We were interviewed by the Kokomo Tribune and an article was in the Sunday paper - complete with a picture of the booth! I think the guy just wanted a picture of Deb, and then felt obligated to publish a story!

Marmee's suggestion of a jewel toned snood which turned into a raspberry beret sold to a lovely lady in the red hat society -
her silver hair set off the beret exceptionally, making her look and feel like a million bucks. (I love the sparkle in the eyes of someone who loves wearing what I made! Especially when they look fab in it!) In fact, she liked it so well, she commissioned a free form crochet purse which I make from funky pieces sown together quilt fashion...(another post about that project.) I made my friend Danita a funky scarf out of the red fiber in the beret - I can't wait to see how she looks in it!

My mother loved Daisy's inspiration and wants one made with a snowflake on the brim for Christmas. Thanks for the award Daisy!!!

Other big sellers included anything made of Alpaca...I have several commissions to finish. One lady added to my future collection - she wanted fingerless gloves to wear while walking. She and her friend also bought both short scarves to look fashionable on their group walks with their club.

Another great recommendation was to make American Doll sized vests to go with the doll hats I made....I could really go over the top and make matching items in girls sizes so the American Doll and their "Mothers" match.

The pink baby hats went out the door so quickly, I wish I had more. The one Susie inspired sold....

I made a child's hat from Terri's suggestion of peach and soft dark green....the stitch pattern I used made it look like a turtle which my mother thought was hilarious! But I was the last one laughing as it was the first hat sold! - Thanks Terri!

My project for next year is to work on the aesthetics of our booth...Deb and I have a great idea for using an old screen door....put lattice where the screen was, a small mirror in the middle and old door knobs all over the door....hats and scarves can hang from the knobs and when they are sold the knobs will look cool...I think we'll hinge the door in half so it can fold down for transport....

And now for the winner of the you design it, I'll make it giveaway! Hurray Mildred - that's her with Harriet. Here's the comment Mildred left as entry: Oh, I love this! My unusual color combo suggestion was inspired by a Hull vase - peachy-pink, light aqua, buttery yellow. My grandma crocheted a hat for me when I was young that had a little brim that turned back, and the yarn was feathery soft. So Mildred, am I combining the color combo with a small turned back brim hat??? Also, can you measure your head and let me know what size it is? I'll get the hat made up this week and we'll expect to see a picture of you in it posted sometime soon!!!!

Happy Veteran's Day

2008-11-11T08:55:00.005-05:00

This is another blog hijack... Terri, here, wishing Melissa a Happy Veteran's Day! For those of you who don't know, Melissa is a retired Marine. This means she spent more than 20 years of her life serving this country. I am very proud of all she's done. Sometimes, when I have a dilemma to solve, I ask myself, "How would Melissa handle this?" And then I go and do the opposite!! Just kidding... :)

Seriously, Melissa is the epitome of a Marine - she's intelligent, strong, disciplined and has a great deal of personal integrity. Also, she's funny, and fun to hang out with, and she makes cool hats. She also makes a killer shrimp toast appetizer that is dangerously good. So, Melissa - this post is to you. Happy Veteran's Day!

Terri

Make it Take it Hats and Kylie's giveaway!

2008-11-06T13:03:00.023-05:00

Here's a cool bag Kylie did for a giveaway - I'd swap a hat for a bag....

Here's the status on the ThistleDew you suggest it, I'll make it hat giveaway - Lisa submitted - Natural Colors (tans and greens) with ear flaps and a tie. Here's the protype sans earflaps.

Mildred would like a peachy-pink, light aqua, buttery yellow like Grandma's Hull vase.

Mamma Bee at the Bee Content Ranch suggested a Dubblamuska in rainbow colors or a vibrant colored andes mountain hat with ear flaps. I must tell you this one has been the hardest - I have two failed dubblamuska prototypes - My daughter loves them - butttt they look like an elf hat (she's eight remember) - still working on this one....the concept is easy but for some reason I can't get the increasing correct! It has become a challenge....

GNG Girl just couldn't decide - times running out girlfriend! (Now you know she'll need a little glitz on hers!)

Tattingchic offered up green with a purple pompon on top - like a thistle!

Debra suggested a lavender and violet combo - oooo I could crochet a pansie for the brim of this one....extra points for posting about the blog - thanks

Hannah suggested a rolled up brim for her hat - not specific about the colors but she's wearing hot pink in her image!

....

Susie chimed in suggesting a rolled up brim with a daisy on it - she inspired this childs hat.

Amy first offered a raffia hat - but then didn't want one until spring and switched to a cloche hat in the colors sported by Terri from Clay Hill's image
She'd like a chocolate and pink version - sounds delicious!

Marmee inspired a version of her suggestion of jewel tones in a loose fitting snood
Doesn't this hat make you want to scream "RRRRRaaass berry Beret" at the top of your lungs???!!! (Not from the '80's are you???) Gotta love Prince or what ever his name is now!

Daisy offered up her namesake on a hat - here it is!

And she was kind enough to post a link on her blog!!!!

Jannellybelly suggested chocolate and pink - got the yarn all picked out! Chocolate wool and some pink mohair for trim.....

Another 24 hours - another three hats!

2008-11-06T09:33:00.010-05:00

I am addicted - you have sent me over the top....I now feel guilty if I don't get three hats done every 24 hours....remember I have to work (which is really unrealistic when it's craft fair season! Show some compassion will ya?!!!!)

Most things at ThistleDew are revolving around hats, but not everything. Dan finished up the house siding - with the help of two brothers and two nephews and a bucket of KFC (yuck! and wow how expensive!) So here's what I see when I pull up to the farm after a day at work!!!! Aren't I lucky? but it's been a long time comin' I can assure you!

Yesterday I worked on Daisy's hat idea during lunch and finished up after supper -
This hat looks very cool - it is chock full of textured stitches - I didn't want to put a brim on it because I did some fun stitches toward the bottom, but Daisy must have her daisy. (I think I'll work on more petals if Daisy wins the competition) - My daughter wanted this hat immediately. She thinks black is tres chic, so chic in fact that I made her pinkie swear that she would never get black fingernail polish - I am pretty lenient about colors of fingernail polish - after all if you can't wear glow in the dark vibrant yellow polish as a little girl, when can you wear it? And also who are they making it for????? Anyway I digress....back to the hats....

I found some fun fur - ok I confess I picked it up from a chain store yesterday because I was having fun fur withdrawal - and as predicted when I got home and opened up some found yarn stash boxes - there right on top were a few skeins of fun furrrrr...go figure! This is a little girls hat - who can resist pink!

This morning I woke up early and whipped out this fab red with jewel tone accents sprinkled throughout....

Ashley hated this one - it wasn't black! She did agree to model it for me....sorry Mr Kool-Aid, Jiff and Bounty (the quicker picker upper.)

I am off this afternoon to my Mom's for the craft fair and bonding.....next post will be Tuesday with the results of the craft fair and who's hats got the most ooooh's and aaaahh's....good luck to everyone who enters the giveaway posted November 3rd . I will close the entries on Tuesday after I return and post the result Wednesday.

Hats, Hats Everywhere Hats!

2008-11-05T10:47:00.021-05:00

You guys are so awesome!!!!
I am getting up at 4 am to work on hat ideas you all have submitted for my challenge/giveaway.....I have three I made since yesterday to show you...

The first one was inspired by Marmee - She wanted a snood - I thought snoods were those little bun covers ballerinas wore but Marmee says her idea of a snood is a cross between a beret and a cap. She loves jewel tones and included deep red as a choice. I happened to have a very lovely cranberry red chunky wool that I pared with a slightly duller red to make the cranberry pop and give more bulk. I made a beret out of it - I hope this is close to Marmee's snood! I have a feeling she wanted more snooding - I picture Scarlet O'Hara with that black net thing on her hair... This hat looks better on a live head, gives it more of a beret look. Notice the back covers a little more of the neck to the ears. One ear would be covered by the beret portion if chosen to wear that way. What do you think?

My next attempt was from Lisa's suggestion - she wanted naturals. I found this super chunkie yarn in my stash, it has naturals and greens in it. I started with it and decided to add chocolate wool paired with a specialty yarn in neutrals that changes every 20 feet or so. Then I thought I'd do the brim in alpaca and mohair really long so you could fold it up a few times and make it really thick... Lisa wanted ear flaps, which I will work on one of that ilk, but I really liked the alpaca over the ears so thick it has a sort of Russian look to the hat....well I got mostly done this morning before leaving for work and then didn't like the wide bands of color -

I'm going to rip it out tonight and make the bands smaller in a striped pattern - I think it'll give more continuity........what do you think?

During my lunch hour I whipped up one similar to what Hannah described -

She didn't have a color preference but wanted a roll up brim. This one is a small brim, I'll work on some a bit thicker. I thought it might also fit the bill for Mildred's suggestion, but when I re-read her message the colors are wrong....

Mildred wanted Peachy-Pink, Aqua and Yellow - reminescent of her Grandmothers Hull vase...I'll keep working on it....

Am already thinking about Daisey's suggestion - Black, loose fit with small daisey's on the brim....stay tuned - if you have suggestions, make sure you go to Nov 3rd's post and get in on the fun!

I wish I had more time - I love making these suggestions! What a crafters dream!

Create a Hat just for you!

2008-11-04T07:23:00.010-05:00

Wow, I am getting great ideas for hats - I want to make them all!!!! For those who didn't read yesterday - you design a hat and if selected in my giveaway, I'll make if for you!!!!

Here's an idea from Susie at Diggin In The Dirt. She wanted a hat with daisy's on it.

I worked up this child's hat as a demo - I like it.
Don't worry Susie, I'm working on the daisy's for a tassel. The baby hats to the left I worked up this weekend - please allow me a moment to give credit to my models - Mr. Kool-Aid and Jiff...thank you so much for working with me.

Here's a few of the hats I made this weekend.
The first one is made from variegated wool with a multicolored ribbon as accent. It's close fitting except for the top which is very textured (can't tell in the picture) The one on the right is rust wool with the same variegated ribbon.
This skull cap is made from Alpaca in a tweedie natural light brown. This is very trendy among teenagers and men who like what the football players are sporting - really I saw this stitch on a skull cap some famous dude was wearing!

Here's one using mostly aqua mohair with the alpaca and teal wool accents.

Here's Sarah, the little girl I taught to crochet last weekend - she's modeling a hat I whipped up for her while she was learning....

Below is Sarah learning to crochet with her Mom....Jan used to crochet but the knowledge is buried deep in the recesses of her mind behind how to make fairy wings and how to get peanut butter out of hair.

Here's a rust and green wool fiber straight from the Andes. I think I'll use this fiber to create Lisa's masterpiece she's from Life in New Hampshire. She'd like to see ear flaps on hers. I've had a lot of requests for ear flaps, funny enough! I guess I've been in warm areas for to long...although I love a neck gait in the winter - snuggle, snuggle!!!!

As you can see, they are pretty tame. I am now moving to some a little more creative. I can't seem to find my fun fur, which I love to put around the brims of the crazy color combo's....I refuse to breakdown and go buy some - I always fall into that trap and then end up never using my stash, but growing it....and spending the money from future sales...this doesn't make my hubby happy!

Don't forget to visit November 3rd's post and let me know your design if you haven't already done so.

You can also check out a quilt giveaway by The Handmade Quilter

ThistleDew Farm Giveaway!

2008-11-03T09:06:00.004-05:00

I am so inspired by the giveaways that I am going to join in the fun. Here's my idea.

You design your own hat! I make it - you wear it....
To enter: you will get an entry for commenting on my November 3rd post. Another entry for posting a link on your site to my giveaway. And TEN entries if I make a hat you inspired and it sells at my craft show next weekend. You'll get another entry if I can make your hat from my immense yarn stash... Please be specific when describing the hat you'd like. Include style, fibers, textures, and color. I will take pictures/post the fiber suggestions you make if I can pull them from my yarn stash....If you win, you must send me a picture of you in my hat and I'll post it on my site!

Remember your suggestion is my starting point - being an Artist - you know how that's pronounced Are Tist....I can take creative license with your idea...remember I said if you "inspire" a hat - then you'll get the credit. Also I'll try and reproduce what you had in mind for a hat but I can't be accountable for disappointment if I was inspired a totally different avenue than you felt ----what am I talking about - I will fix it until you are happy! What I will do if you win, is make your hat and post it on the site - if you like it, I'll mail it to you....if you don't, you can make suggestions for corrections and I'll work on it and then post it again....we'll keep going until you're happy, or I'm exhausted...whichever comes first.

Here's some hints to get you thinking...
Wednesday Oct 29th I had a post titled Color Wheel. It included some ideas about color combinations....I'll try and put up a few pictures of some wild hats I've done and see if that inspires you....P.S. the alpaca with parrot trim hat pictured on the Color Wheel posting sold at the craft fair last weekend as well as the Yak one I posted earlier in the month....

I made about seven hats this weekend and have so many color/fiber combo's lined up in my little head, I don't think I'll get them all done - don't worry if you come up with something cool, I'll drop everything and make it so you have a chance to win the 10 extra entries. I'm hoping if you suggest it, I build it, they will come!!!!....at last I'm in a creative spell...maybe I'll keep crocheting over the winter before another craft skill robs my crochet chi...

Winner!!

2008-11-02T18:39:00.002-05:00

Hi, all - this is Terri. Melissa, being the fab hippie chick that she is, can't get online at the moment, so I've been dispatched to end the suspense! Our winner is Angela!!! Congratulations and thanks so much to everybody who entered! We appreciate all of you and wish we could send candles to every one of you!

Stay tuned, too, because Melissa has a fabulous giveaway idea that I think you are all going to love. I can't wait for her to tell you!!!

Terri

Boo! House Update and Weekend Plans

2008-10-31T14:15:00.002-04:00

Today is the last day for National Blog Month. I did pretty good - didn't meet my goal of blogging every day, but still got in 28 blogs, not to bad for a girl with no internet at home until the house is done!

Tonight after taking Ashley aka The Princess around to Trunk or Treat at the Methodist Church it is back to staining the last 300 board feet of siding. Yes, we thought we were done with this, but the house will really look better if all four sides have siding! The good thing is, Terri may mosey over with a bottle of wine and we'll finish the siding in no time - lots of gossip and a little bit of a mess, but it will be done.

Dan aka Super Hubby, will finish the exterior trim work and then it's back inside the house. The next interior item is to blow the insulation. We got a great deal at Lowe's on the insulation - this month they had a rebate plan so we picked up enough savings on the insulation to buy the sinks (three bathroom sinks and the kitchen sink). Sometime after the insulation is blown we should be ready for the electrical inspection and then we'll be able to install the lights and turn on the heat and pump water! We will definitely be high tech then! I may even have to turn in my Hippy Credentials!

After the staining is complete, it's crochet time for me. I've got to sew up about 15 hats before next weekend to replace what I sold yesterday. The craft fair is in Kokomo Indiana at the IU-K commons. Kokomo is about 50 miles north of Indianapolis. It is a crafters heaven. Cold enough to work on fiber crafts from Oct to April....I love to get snowed in and have nothing else to do but work with yarn!!!!!! Perhaps that is why I collect so much....I am waiting to get snowed in and don't want to be bored (that is really hard to justify now that I live in East Tennessee)! There is a great group of fiber artists that work mostly in felt, needle punching, and rug hooking. They have an exhibition in February to sell and teach their crafts - lots of fun. I would love to do this as soon as ThistleDew has a craft barn (lottery dream)!

I received some wonderful ideas for color combinations and I'm going to make them all and blog about them on Monday, hopefully with pictures. I think I may do a contest - let me think about that one and I'll have a giveaway for December!

Craft Show Success

2008-10-30T13:51:00.004-04:00

My work had a craft fair/fall festival today. They let employee crafters bring in their stuff and set up a booth free of charge. They also invited the entire 4000 workforce and enticed them to come with a free sack lunch! Is that not awesome?

I had a great time. I did pretty well, made enough to hit the next craft fair by my Mom November 8th. It is in Kokomo Indiana.

It is funny, you learn so much from the first fair of the year. I found out this year that I don't have enough items for guys. Don't know why I don't....guys where hats also! Anyway, I think I'll make a few and if they don't sell in Indiana, they will be ready for this show next year.

Thanks for those who gave me best wishes and also for the color suggestions. I have two weeks to replenish the stock and I'll use your suggestions - I have most of the colors in my yarn stash - which is larger than the normal stash!

We Struck Water!~

2008-10-29T15:40:00.002-04:00

Whoooo Hoooo we struck water at 120 feet this morning! 18ish gallons per minute!
Pictures soon, 'cause nothing looks better than a big water derrick on your property!

Color Wheel

2008-10-29T11:21:00.006-04:00

Thank you to those who helped rev up my color stagnation.....I don't know why I was stuck in the neutrals, but you all pulled me out.

Terri at Clay Hill suggested muted tones of orange and soft forest green. That looks good!

Mildred at Nalley Valley loves deep orange and rust in Autumn. And her exotic color combo suggestion came from an old Hull vase that belonged to her Mother: rose, yellow and green.

Ashley my daughter loves black teal and vibrant magenta this year. I made her a hat and she got so many compliments on it - I'm making one for the craft fair.

Wolfie from Cherish Yesterday came up with orange, red and yellow for her favorite fall combo...she couldn't think of an exotic combination...yet. I do like the traditional fall combination she suggested.

Going through the yarn box (one of ten, at least I found one), I came up with buff alpaca and lavender cotton- looks warm and inviting. I found a good combo of aqua mohair and lime wool for a cool texture and color combo. Forest green brushed wool and purple smooth wool look interesting together.

I also had a skein of variegated alpaca and this parrot yarn in bright pink. The hat reminds me of Indian Corn - maybe I should have trimmed it in a fall color rather than pulling the pink.....hmmm.

What's your favorite wild color combination?

OK - if you're not into wild, what's your favorite fall/winter combo?

What color combo would you wear with your winter coat this year?

Well tomorrow is the craft fair so all my time tonight will be doing last minute stuff I should have done weeks ago. I've got to price everything, find the table clothes, and get change....

Tonight at ThistleDew

2008-10-28T13:15:00.003-04:00

Tonight, the family is going out! You heard me, Super Hubby is going to be torn away from the never ending house building project courtesy of Ashley aka The Princess.

Ashley participated in a Social Studies project which required posters, a binder, and a written report. 3rd - 5th graders each had a category and lots of rules to follow. Ashley's category was Communities and the topic she chose was the Assateague Ponies off the Virginia coast. Our hard work paid off and she took 2nd place among the 3rd graders at Friendsville Elementary School, which entitles her to proceed to the County level. She is very nervous about it as she doesn't like strangers to stare at her. We practiced to get the nerves out and appealed to her conservation mentality so hopefully her duty and responsibility will get her over the nerves....

I had some great inspiration for color combinations which should inspire me to create. I seem to be stuck in a neutrals zone which is very uncharacteristic of me! I am generally a wild colors and strange combination kind of girl.....I'll let you know how it works out!

Creative Styme

2008-10-27T13:09:00.002-04:00

I'm stumped - I'm having a color melt down!
Can you help me get over it?

What is your favorite color this fall and why?
What are your favorite color combinations?
What's the weirdest color combination you liked?

This may help me get creative again!

Weekend Update

2008-10-27T10:37:00.003-04:00

Here's the news from the weekend!
I can't wait until we have Internet in the house!!!! Shouldn't be to long now - the HVAC guys should finish this week as well as the well getting dug. With those two items complete we can finish the electrical wiring and move right into the 20th century!

This weekend was a combo weekend - half work half fun!
The septic guy finished up last week and did a fabulous job. It is the smoothest finish work in the number 2 business I've seen (little potty humor there!) Usually the ground is all diveted and torn up - but not this guy! Smooth as a baby's bum. I think we have a local thing called Angie's List which praises quality work, I am definitely going to rave about him on that venue.

Anyway, that left the first project of the weekend for me to tackle - seeding the bare patches. It was pretty muddy as we had some much needed rain on Friday, so not only was there the satisfaction of sowing the seeds, but I got a darn good workout lugging around 10 pounds of mud on each shoe!

Then we moved the plant maternity ward up to my craft room. It was in the way and dark in the garage. Hopefully the babies will be happy upstairs and the survival rate will increase! I started 12 rosemary bushes from cuttings so in the Spring I can start on my much coveted rosemary hedge to disguise the property line of our neighbor. Rosemary grows like crazy in Tennessee so it should work out....I'll keep you posted.

I worked on a few crochet projects and then my friend Jan came by with her two daughters Emily and Sara. The girls had a great time playing in the fresh air, especially visiting Aunt Terri's chickens over at Clay Hill. The visit ended after a crafting session on the front porch teaching Sarah how to crochet and giving Jan a refresher lesson. She learned to crochet when she was young and got out of practice. Sara was a really fast learner (she is a sponge for knowledge as many first graders are). Sara is expecting to see a picture of her in the hat I made her, but unfortunately she'll have to check back tomorrow. Super Hubby Dan was to busy putting up the ceiling bead board on my porch, he couldn't fit in down loading pix from the camera. Tonight he's going to teach me how to do this (again) so Sara will see herself tomorrow!

Sunday was spent crocheting more hats and scarves, visiting with Terri, shoveling mud off the pad to hold the HVAC system, moving the cinder blocks from the well site, relocating the sand pile and other clean up tasks generally associated with house building and fall.

Hope you had a fun weekend and if not, come on over, because here at ThistleDew it was fab....This indeed will do!

Put the Garden to Bed

2008-10-24T13:10:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I finished up my fall chores. The garden beds are all tucked in and ready for the winter. I dug up and potted the plants that are to tender to winter over, harvested the last of the wildflowers seeds, and put everything that requires darkness (mostly seeds and bulbs) into sacks and boxed them up. What a surprise I'll get next spring but, it was bittersweet! I am usually ready for fall, but as I may have previously mentioned I am bahhh humbug about fall and winter this year.

I had such a fun time creating things that are on my land (finally, after 23 years moving around where the Marine Corps told me to go and making a place home but only for three years at a time, it is nice to think of myself as being in a permanent location.) I had so many ideas I didn't have time to bring to fruition this summer. Another season passing just reminds me of my mortality! I generally think I am invincible but for some reason this Fall reminds me that I'm not - next Spring I will be revived again, but for this short period I feel sad. Most unusual for me 'cause I love Carmel Apples, crisp leaves and that smell in the air only fall can bring!

Exellence Awards - Drum Roll Please

2008-10-23T11:00:00.006-04:00

I have decided to get into the awards game.

It's really hard to select from all the blogs I check in on so I made up categories to justify my picks...(there's supposed to be five blogs you nominate)

Inspired Writer Blog

Least Amount of Time to Blog Blog

Blog That Inspires Me to Create

Blog I Like to Steal Ideas From

Living The Dream Blog

After you select your five, you've got to write a post about the blogs you picked and link back to them. Then, don't forget to let them know you gave them an award.

I selected Use Real Butter as my Inspired Writer Blog - the first time I read her blog I was so inspired by her story it compelled me to read all about her. I visit her site most days - she has the most beautiful pictures to go with her stories! Great Job!

Least Amount of Time to Blog Blog has to go to Terri at Clay Hill Farm. If you read her blog from yesterday which depicts a typical day for her, you'll know what I mean. Keep in mind that she has gone back to University at 40 something!

The Blog That Inspires Me To Create is Manisha at Indian Food Rocks. She got me involved in the National Blog Month (see you all there next year) and also invited me to participate in the Traveling Masterpiece....way cool - I am already thinking about what I'm going to add to the painting and participating in National Blog Month has introduced me to lots of blogs which inspired me to step up the game on my blog!

The Blog I Like To Steal Ideas from is Amy at Life In Pink Hi-Tops....sorry Amy, but I steal your ideas ALL the time - as a matter of fact the recipe of the day is from her site....I made the meatballs last night and I was a hero!!!! I just love your logo also - who did the watercolor for it? Pink is my favorite color!

Many of you are living the dream life - that's why you blog! Show offs! But I have had a long standing dream to go to Africa and stay for six months or so....Lynda from Food, Fun and Fast Life in East Africa always has such exciting adventures...she is always going off on safari or passing along a cool recipe....ahh the life!

Take the Food Challenge!

2008-10-23T10:20:00.003-04:00

Here is a fun thing from Delicioso Mama I subtracted a few and added a few of my own (I also included notes).
Here's the legend:
Bold print=I've eaten it
Red Print= I'd like to live on it, damn the calories or lack of nutritional propriety
Light Print=never had it
Blue Print = Would like to
?what the heck is it ?

Have you ever eaten ....????
Crocodile (her's had Fried Rattlesnake)
?Hoppin' John?
New Mexico green chile
Homemade buttermilk biscuits?
Tasso
Whole Maine lobster
Homemade liverwurst (but I love store bought liverwurst)
?Roladen?
Kansas City barbecue ribs (if this is the mustardy one, but I prefer sweet ones)
Hot glazed Krispy Kreme (hate that they are soaked in glaze, I know sacrilege)
Hawaiian Shrimp Tacos
Cheese curds (my daughter loved these in Wisconsin)
Sugar Cream Pie (prefer Lemon Merangue myself)
Philly cheese steak (mmm)
Pulled pork barbecue sandwich
Lowcountry boil (oh yeah! Love a meal that you cook outdoors and eat with your hands!)
Huckleberry Pancakes
New England clam chowder
Boiled peanuts (yuck, another ruination of a good food)
Elk Steak
Eggs Benedict
Pastrami on Pumpernickel
Corned beef and cabbage
Pancakes with real maple syrup (I prefer the fake maple syrup, sorry New England)
Fresh made Lox and Bagels
Thin Mints (preferably frozen)
Frito pie
Potato knish with mustard
Silver Queen corn on the cob
Soft pretzel from a street cart
Fresh-picked blueberries
Sourwood honey
State fair funnel cake
Chesapeake crab cakes (I've had lots of crab cakes and think it's a waste of perfectly good crab)
Candied yams
Oyster dressing (yuck, don't like cooked oysters, but love fresh or smoked)
Snow cone or snowball
Wild Alaskan salmon (cedar plank grilled or smoked - yummy)
Monkfish cooked in Sake
Persimmon pudding (my Mom loves this but I haven't tried it yet - we have a tree so we'll try it)
Kung Pao Chicken (take out the peppers as soon as you get it or you'll be sorry....)
Frozen custard (but only on a hot day)
Italian sausage with peppers and onions on a hoagie bun
Chili dog
Buffalo wings with blue cheese (prefer mine naked - not fried)
Spam Sushi (it's on the menu at McDonald's in Hawaii - no kidding)
Saltwater taffy
?Fluffernutter? sandwich on Wonder Bread
Black and white cookie
Frybread
BLT with thick-cut applewood bacon
Baked beans
From Scratch Pumpkin pie
Collards with vinegar and Tabasco
Tex-Mex fajitas with skirt steak and sautéed peppers
Fried green tomatoes (doesn't sound good enough to eat)
Succotash (I love succotash)
Shrimp and grits (why would you do this to shrimp?)
Hot off the Grill Crepes (I hate to brag, but I've had crepes in Paris, France)
Barbecue chicken pizza with red onions
Chicken fried steak
Carnitas burrito
Apple butter (we made some peach butter this year - fab!)
?Geoduck?
Soft-serve ice cream cone dipped in chocolate shell (especially Dairy Queen)
Pecan pie (yuck)
Catfish supper at a church or fire station
Oysters Rockefeller
Homemade cranberry sauce
Pimiento cheese
MoonPie washed down with R.C. Cola
Pickled watermelon rind
Cracker Jacks at the ball game
Smithfield ham (mmm)
Meatloaf and mashed potato blue plate special at diner (love it with catsup down the middle)
Chicken and waffles (together???)
Po'Boy
Green bean casserole with French's fried onions
Stuffed sopaipillas (never had them stuffed)
Turducken (heard of it, but never been around one)
Shad roe on toast (mmm)
Sweet potato casserole with or without marshmallows (how can it ever be without marshmallows!????)
?Cioppino?
Real New York cheesecake
Pan-fried river trout (had it on the river - then it is really good)
Jambalaya
Backyard Pig Roast
California rolls
Burgoo
Penuche fudge
Fried peanut butter and banana sandwich (the Elvis) (Never had it fried)
Lamb Shanks and Garlic mashed taters (Yummy)
Scrapple or livermush
Bear Sausage
Muscadine grapes
Cheeseburger at Backyard Barbecue
Open-face turkey sandwich
Chicago deep dish pizza
Cobb salad
Peach pie a la mode
Macaroni and cheese with Tillamook sharp cheddar
Orange Cream float
What's the most unusual thing you've eaten: Caterpillar (really, my brother forced me to when I was 5)

Wednesday is Catch-Up Day

2008-10-22T13:52:00.036-04:00

Here's what I did over the weekend - remember we're living the Hippie Lifestyle and we don't have Internet or cable at the farm yet, so I must catch up with you about the weekend during the week.

This past weekend I planted the Garlic Bed...

But first, I went grocery shopping and stopped off to buy some yarn to finish the cross stitch portion of an afghan I'm crocheting for The Hubby. Being a color and texture fanatic, I couldn't resist a treat for the Princess and allowed her to pick out a few skeins of wool for a hat at The Knitting Nest in Maryville. She selected black, dark pink, and teal green the little fashion diva.

...here's the result. (I started it on Sunday and finished up Tuesday evening - about 3 hours of work time). The result was a crafters dream.... I used a basic ripple pattern so it would be a little different and when she tried it on she said (right on cue)....I love it, it's perfect, just like I dreamed it would look! Ahhhh, be still my little heart - this is why she is indulged like a princess!

Oh yeah, I was talking about planting the Garlic Bed. Back home from shopping it was time to get to work....except that....

I caught a blurry shot of a greedy bumblebee using his last bit of energy to get drunk on my marigolds! I am easily sidetracked....

Oh I was talking about the Garlic Bed....

Every project includes several offshoots before you can do what is needed.

So, first I had to harvest the seeds from the Sunflowers, Beans and Wildflowers growing above the Sweet Potatoes... Then I got the Dahlias, herbs, fennel and miscellaneous items from Winona's Bed and Bob's Bed, since I had the gathering sacks out. You might refer to them as paper lunch sacks - but at ThistleDew Farm they are Seed Gathering and Storage Devices.

I am attempting to reduce my seed costs next year by harvesting as many seeds and digging up tender plants or mulching them in as I can. Yes, Lisa that is your Rosemary among his friends!
I don't know if the Sweet Potatoes were happy being pulled from their nice warm bed and put into a box, but let's hope after a week or two they sweeten up nicely....I'll let you know.

I got a nice small harvest from about 12 slips planted in a raised bed lined with newspaper - not bad for the first year and a less than ideal growing season....we are in our second drought year in Eastern Tennessee and although we watered regularly it was no substitute for mother nature's bounty.

The Garlic bed is the one closest to you, the other bed is dreaming of being a fall greens bed. Terri at Clay Hill Farm can let you know how that is working out.....

For the garlic I planted two rows of Mother of Pearl White down the center - a softneck variety. (Sorry for the icky picture to the left - but that's the Mother of Pearl White cloves and bulb) Softnecks are the type you normally buy in the grocery store. I also planted a row of German White and two rows of Red (can't remember the name right now) - both hardneck varieties. Hardnecks are a bit milder/less spicy but the great attraction is the scape or green portion that the flower will come out on if you didn't harvest the scape and grind it up into a wonderful dip! In the early summer you harvest the scapes, careful not to wait to long, if it blossoms they are past their prime. The added benefit in cutting the scapes is that it encourages bigger garlic bulbs. Softneck varieties don't get scapes unless they are stressed which usually means it's harvest time! You can braid the stems of the softneck varieties which also helps with storing them (lots of air and looks pretty). I am going to really love the Garlic Bed mainly because I don't have to do a thing until July - and then harvest! The cloves are planted in the fall usually around Halloween but our full moon was last week (this is a root vegetable planting sign) so I went ahead and got it out of the way. I reserved a bulb of the softneck white to plant in the early spring as an experiment (there is so much advice about planting garlic that it is hard to know exactly what will work in my situation so I'm experimenting!). Next weekend I will mulch in the little garlic cloves to keep them warm over the winter so they can think happy sprouting thoughts.

After harvesting the sweet potatoes, various seeds and planting the garlic the Hubby wanted to get his Lowe's Home Improvement fix so we headed down the road. We selected the bead board for the porch ceilings. We had to sort through 50 sheets to get 22 we liked! It is nearly all finished thanks to the Number One Nephew and Brother John (not from Robin Hood, Hubby Dan's older brother). I took a picture but it must not have made the cut when Hubby sorted them....I'll try again tomorrow.

There is a hub of activity around ThistleDew Farm! The HVAC guys are putting in the heating and air units and the septic guy is out front putting in the septic system! These items are a big step toward domestication for a family living the bohemian lifestyle! With a little luck in a mere two weeks we'll be pooping indoors!

Ashley, aka The Princess, is very excited about the prospect of recycling our waste and feeding the worms...at eight she is so concerned about the environment I'm sure she's being recruited by GreenPeace! She once cried because our dog ate a grasshopper. You see, grasshoppers eat plants and with this one gone the entire ecosystem was in danger - yes she actually said this!!!!. When I protested and requested she let the dog have it's fun I was informed that the grasshopper was one of God's creatures and I was very uncaring. I explained my belief that God put a few extra grasshoppers around to amuse dogs. She bought off on this especially since everywhere you looked were grasshoppers. The wellspring of tears subsided and peace was restored. Lesson learned: I restrict my bug killing activities and opinions to when The Princess isn't around.

Here is what Ashley did with some of the leftovers from the HVAC guys - I told you we are all about recycling around here....That thing around her head is a sheer plastic thing that she cut eyes and a nose out of.

I guess that makes it a weekend! I've caught you up to last weekend and it's only Wednesday...time to plan next weekend. Oh did I mention that we ran short of siding - I'm back to staining, there's 320 board feet waiting on me, guess my weekends booked already! This is trouble because this is the last weekend before my craft fair on the 30th....arrgggg (said in a pirates voice)

Potato Soup with fresh herbs

2008-10-21T15:41:00.004-04:00

Last evening I made an awesome Potato Soup. I will attempt to tell you about it!

I peeled two potatoes and then the Princess peeled 4. We laughed and giggled - I'm not sure how many of those you should put in but probably as much as your kettle will hold.

I then filled the pot half-way with milk and 1/4 way with water. Added the potatoes and a whopping scoop of butter. Then I went out to pick some fresh herbs. It was great because even though the summer harvest is over - the herbs are still plentiful. I collected the tender tops of two 2" pieces of rosemary, three sprigs of curly parsley and three bay leaves.

I peeled six cloves of Mother of Pearl White softneck garlic. I planted my garlic bed on Sunday and had a few of the smaller cloves left over from each bulb...waste not want not. I chopped two stalks of celery and two halves of green peppers I had in the freezer from the summer pepper bonanza my friend experienced.

I chopped up the herbs (except the bay leaves - I plopped them in whole) and veggies and into the pot they went. I added 3/4 of a leftover store bought pork roast diced up - probably about 4 oz. I liberally doused the pot contents with garlic salt and fresh pepper.

I had to let the pot sit for an hour while I showed off the house to the neighbors who had walked up to take a peek. About an hour later I put the pot on to simmer - this took about 30 minutes. I snuck a bowl and it was the most wonderful herbal potato soup ever! What a wonderful meal out of leftovers and giggles!
This Indeed Will Do!