Nov 16, 2010

Good bye Mercy

I have had my sheep and my daughter's dairy goats for sale for 4 months now.  I had accepted that they probably wouldn't sell before next spring and then I got the email.  Someone wants to buy my sheep and the goats.  It's kind of a sad thing.  Those sheep are my friends and I'm having mixed feelings about this.  We have so much work around here and I know that this is the easy season for keeping sheep and goats.  Next spring I'll be complaining about having to shear, medicate, trim feet, etc.  A lot to do with the size garden I put in and all the calving and other stuff.  So, honey thinks this is a good idea.
So before she moves on, I'd like you to meet my friend Mercy.
She is dear to me and has the most wonderful fiber.  I saved her from being butchered and perhaps that's why she is so friendly towards me.  I sing to her...."Mercy came running, like a prisoner set free..."  She's so kind, she doesn't even comment on my singing ability.  As farmers, we're not supposed to get so attached to our critters, are we?  I guess we all have those special ones that stay in our memories.

Nov 11, 2010

Herbal Teas-Christmas Gifts

I've been drying herbs all summer in the hope of putting together some herb teas for gifts.  Yesterday I ground up my concoctions and tested them.
First I ground up the herbs and berries-
This is the strawberry tea, strawberries, strawberry leaves, red clover, currant leaves and stevia.
Then I put it in tea bags-




Ironing the bags shut-


I printed out some tea bag holders off of the internet.

Last, I put the tea bags in the holders and Viola! Christmas gifts.

I made peppermint, citrus, strawberry and licorice.
The Strawberry was great, I hope the rest taste as good.
These will go in the gift baskets that I plan to make up for Christmas presents.

Nov 9, 2010

Socks are so Exciting!

I've been working on some knitting projects for Christmas gifts.  Now, I'm more of a crocheter.  I usually crochet mittens, socks, etc.  for gifts.But,  I don't think they turn out as nice and warm as mittens and socks that you knit.  Mittens I can knit, no problem, but socks????They have always intimidated me.  No longer!  I have found a site that walks me through every step.  This is so exciting for me.  ( Doesn't take much :)  )  So... as soon as I'm done with these mittens I'm going to this knitting site and get started.  Want to come too?  We could all post pictures of our finished projects.  I bet we'd have some beautiful and colorful results.

Nov 8, 2010

Making Soap


After gathering my ingredients from far and near, I'm finally ready.  I had to get to a friend's to pick up my goat's milk, she was very generous and I have enough to make two batches.  I rendered the lard (previous post). And bought my lye and essential oils.  I'm ready to go.
Goats' milk soap is in much higher demand than the regular lye soaps that I make.  I just use the recipe off of Fiasco Farm.  This time I'm going to try to make a deoderant type soap.  One for my honey who says that regular homemade soaps don't cut the body odor.  I'm going to put in eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil.  And I'm making some "pretty" smelling stuff for selling and Christmas gifts.

We are almost done with the outdoor work.  God has blessed us with beautiful, unseasonably warm weather, (nearly 60 tomorrow), but snow showers on Thursday.  My Christmas gifts are getting done.  I have a pair of mittens, out of homespun, nearly completed and I'm going to do some socks after that.  I also have a t shirt rug that I'm crocheting for my daughter's dorm room.

What a glorious day!  Time to get out there and redeem the time.

Nov 16, 2010

Good bye Mercy

I have had my sheep and my daughter's dairy goats for sale for 4 months now.  I had accepted that they probably wouldn't sell before next spring and then I got the email.  Someone wants to buy my sheep and the goats.  It's kind of a sad thing.  Those sheep are my friends and I'm having mixed feelings about this.  We have so much work around here and I know that this is the easy season for keeping sheep and goats.  Next spring I'll be complaining about having to shear, medicate, trim feet, etc.  A lot to do with the size garden I put in and all the calving and other stuff.  So, honey thinks this is a good idea.
So before she moves on, I'd like you to meet my friend Mercy.
She is dear to me and has the most wonderful fiber.  I saved her from being butchered and perhaps that's why she is so friendly towards me.  I sing to her...."Mercy came running, like a prisoner set free..."  She's so kind, she doesn't even comment on my singing ability.  As farmers, we're not supposed to get so attached to our critters, are we?  I guess we all have those special ones that stay in our memories.

Nov 11, 2010

Herbal Teas-Christmas Gifts

I've been drying herbs all summer in the hope of putting together some herb teas for gifts.  Yesterday I ground up my concoctions and tested them.
First I ground up the herbs and berries-
This is the strawberry tea, strawberries, strawberry leaves, red clover, currant leaves and stevia.
Then I put it in tea bags-




Ironing the bags shut-


I printed out some tea bag holders off of the internet.

Last, I put the tea bags in the holders and Viola! Christmas gifts.

I made peppermint, citrus, strawberry and licorice.
The Strawberry was great, I hope the rest taste as good.
These will go in the gift baskets that I plan to make up for Christmas presents.

Nov 9, 2010

Socks are so Exciting!

I've been working on some knitting projects for Christmas gifts.  Now, I'm more of a crocheter.  I usually crochet mittens, socks, etc.  for gifts.But,  I don't think they turn out as nice and warm as mittens and socks that you knit.  Mittens I can knit, no problem, but socks????They have always intimidated me.  No longer!  I have found a site that walks me through every step.  This is so exciting for me.  ( Doesn't take much :)  )  So... as soon as I'm done with these mittens I'm going to this knitting site and get started.  Want to come too?  We could all post pictures of our finished projects.  I bet we'd have some beautiful and colorful results.

Nov 8, 2010

Making Soap


After gathering my ingredients from far and near, I'm finally ready.  I had to get to a friend's to pick up my goat's milk, she was very generous and I have enough to make two batches.  I rendered the lard (previous post). And bought my lye and essential oils.  I'm ready to go.
Goats' milk soap is in much higher demand than the regular lye soaps that I make.  I just use the recipe off of Fiasco Farm.  This time I'm going to try to make a deoderant type soap.  One for my honey who says that regular homemade soaps don't cut the body odor.  I'm going to put in eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil.  And I'm making some "pretty" smelling stuff for selling and Christmas gifts.

We are almost done with the outdoor work.  God has blessed us with beautiful, unseasonably warm weather, (nearly 60 tomorrow), but snow showers on Thursday.  My Christmas gifts are getting done.  I have a pair of mittens, out of homespun, nearly completed and I'm going to do some socks after that.  I also have a t shirt rug that I'm crocheting for my daughter's dorm room.

What a glorious day!  Time to get out there and redeem the time.