Monday, October 14, 2024

Have I got a fun story for you

 Over the past few weeks I've been slowly ripping out the garden. 

I left the broccoli and whatever flowers there were, for the pollinators. 


I thought I had taken photos when I was cleaning out, but I did not.  Instead my phone was being used as a radio. I did catch this bumble bee clinging to one of the remaining cosmos. 

This year was a first for collecting seeds for hollyhock, calendula and a few other flowers that I started from seed in the last couple of years and some were volunteers. 

Okay, so I've been gradually cleaning out the garden, leaving things out there for as long as possible.  I'm in Zone 3b/now 4a. 

Last week I ended up ripping out everything, digging up the onions (the harvest was a joke/disappointment this year.  Carrots are still out there.  I'll dig those up next month before the ground completely freezes up. 

I harvested the last of the tomatoes and will let them ripen in the house. 


So the garden is pretty much empty.  I realize I keep saying this, but it's true, except for the flowers. 


The flowers I left are by the garden gate, where I'm standing to take this photo, and behind me. 

Also, how beautiful are those trees with the sun beams coming through? 



I think it was that night my son was outside, over by the garden, and came running back to the house, asking if it was all right that the chickens were in the garden.  I didn't give it much thought, actually, I said it was fine, cause it was.  They couldn't do any damage on what was left in there.  It was just some flowers, ground cherries and broccoli plants. 

Well, that one is on me.  Cause the deer discovered the garden was open and ate everything that was left.  Seriously.  They ate all the flowers.  The mowed down what was left of the broccoli, the lone jalapeƱo plant that was in there.  Hollyhocks.  I'm still shaking my head over that one.  They ate a whole hollyhock plant. 

They also ate the milkweed that was outside of the garden. 


I was like "Wow, really?" Guess nothing for the pollinators and the milkweed seeds were mown down, too. 

I made sure the gate was closed after that.  Though that's kind of like closing the barn door after the cows get out, right?  

We had one last thing in the garden area that is precious and that is our pear tree. 

Since I have been all over the place this past summer I don't think I wrote too much about the pear tree that my husband hand pollinated with apple blossoms. This is the pear tree my sister-in-law gave us.  It fruited for the first time and we had 13 pears on there. We were determined to keep those pears. 

A day or two later my husband and I were out by the garden and I was showing him all that I got done and we were just walking around. 

I don't recall if it was me or him who spotted the blow out in the garden fence. 


We both said "What the heck happened?"  He said it had to have been a deer breaking through.  

You'll notice that it is right next to the pear tree. 


Those bratty deer were bound and determined to get our pears. Have you ever heard of such a thing? The fencing is high enough that it can't be just jumped over, either. 



Somehow those deer got in to the garden and ate the pears and then burst through the fence. 

Oh, but wait, there was one pear left, we saw.  So we decided to just go ahead and pick it. So we walked around to the gate and stopped short. 

This one didn't photograph as well.  The deer pushed in the gate until it opened and walked in to the garden. 


The gate was all pushed in and the fence posts are kinda jacked up. 


While I was assessing the damage to the gate and how I could get it closed again, my hubby went and picked the pear and took a bite out of it. He then said I *had* to try it, as this was the sweetest pear he had ever had. 

I took a bite and had to agree that it was THE BEST pear I had ever eaten.  It was *so* super sweet, without being sugary sweet.  And juicy ... yeah ... 

I ate almost the whole thing and fully understood why the deer were bound and determined to break in to the garden so they could get the pears. 


We will need to do some reading to see what other steps we can take to further safeguard to pear tree next year. 




Friday, October 4, 2024

Episode 23: September FOs and October dream plans

 


Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!  Show notes are below

Forbidden Fiber Co's fundraising effort

Jan Hicks post: Jan Hick's Facebook post

Jan Hicks' Etsy Stop


Becca at Sambrie Stitches - Becca at Sambrie Stitches

Sambrie Stitches Etsy Shop


Little Robin Designs Instagram post

Little Robin Designs


Pat Sloan's Youtube video


Eight Days of Hope


Ladybug Stitches SAL


Knitting FO 



Project Name: World's Easiest Mittins
Started: Sept. 24, 2024
Finished: Sept. 28, 2024
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick
Colorway: Charcoal
Colors: Black/Grey
Needle size: U.S. 6 (4 mm) and U.S. 8 (5 mm)
Made For: myself.


Cross Stitch FO


Project Name: Rest in Peace
Started: Sept. 2, 2024
Finished: Sept. 20, 2024
Designer/Source: Becky Noland of www.LucyBeam.com. Chart was in Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Autumn 2024
Fabric:14 count Rustico Aida in the "oatmeal" color. Purchased from Hobby Lobby.
Floss colors: DMC conversion: 931, 799, 902, 356, 221, 3688, 347, 152, 340, 415, 318, 535, 3865 


Previous update:



************************************************************************

Cross Stitch WIP


Project Name: One Piece 
Stitch count (via pattern keeper) as of Oct. 4, 2024: 4,406 / 9029 - 48.8%
Started: March 30, 2024
Finished:
Designer/Source: Cross Stitch Bay on Etsy. Chart no longer available
DMC Floss: 310
Fabric: 14 Count Aida purchased at Walmart
Needle Size: 26
Making for my son. 

From previous update



Knitting WIPs



Project Name: Autumn Socks
Started: Sept. 1, 2024
Finished: 
Designer/Source: Vanilla sock pattern I use.
Yarn: Malabrigo
Colorway: 858 Arbol
Colors: browns, oranges and olives
Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm

Previous update: 


*********************************************


Project Name: Passenger Princess Socks
Started: June 3, 2024
Finished: 
Designer/Source:Vanilla sock pattern I use.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Sock Yarn
Colorway: Midcentury stripes
Colors: Peach, blue, cream, vintage looking colors.
Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm
Made For: myself.

Previous update


*******************************************************



Project Name: Bly Cardigan
Started: Sept. 3, 2024
Finished: 
Designer/Source: www.Berroco.com
Yarn: My own handspun corriedale, purchased from paradise fibers
Colors: Grey
Needle size: U.S. 6 (4 m.m.) and U.S 7 (4.5 mm)


Dream crocheting 


I want to make a shawl. More specifically, this one. Shawl tutorial

Cross Stitching I’d like to start

Nevermore Raven, Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2024

Black Cat Sampler, Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2024

Endangered Species Club, Lindy Stitches


Youtube channels mentioned


Sarah, Northwoods Stitcher

The Crow River Stitcher

Ladybug Stitches

Pat Sloan

Lindy Stitches



Monday, September 30, 2024

September, I hardly knew you

 I'm in awe that tomorrow is October 1. Seriously. 

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a blur. 

Let's see if I can try to recall the highlights.  This blog will probably be photo heavy, and not of the important stuff. Doh. 

My hubby tagged out like 10 minutes in to bow opener weekend. We kicked it in to gear processing the deer and got it all ground into ground venison and sausage. 

Meanwhile ... I'm still going out and waiting for my dream buck to come cruising through.  


Well, any buck, really. I've been putting in hours but nothing is walking through.  The buck I have my eye on is not on a set schedule, and doing whatever he wants. 

There have been a ton of squirrels, crows, blue jays ... raccoons. 

The porcupine comes through at night and I even saw a skunk run through at 3 a.m., according to the game cam. Oh yeah, and the bear ... there's at least once bear cruising through.  


It's good knitting time, though.  I take advantage of it when I can. If it's too chilly I don't knit. 


The sock is looking pretty good, yeah? 

I had a neat experience over the weekend. A quail showed up and graced me with it's patience. 


The first day of fall was celebrated with a fire in the wood stove. First fire of the season.  There was a fire that night and the night after.  Then it's been warm enough that none were necessary.  


The garden is slowly getting ripped out and I'm preserving what I can: Tomatoes and peppers.  Everything else I'm pulling out I've been using right away, like green beans in soup. 


Today I was out there ripping up pepper plants and I had to stop and stare at the marigolds that took hold in their little spot of the garden and are thriving. Sorry, I don't have a photo.  I didn't have my phone with me while I was out there.  Can you believe that? 

I did get a video of some bumble bees earlier this week.


Spent some time in the greenhouse, cleaning it out a bit and kind of prepping it for late fall. 


Aren't those coleus gorgeous?  I bought a few succulents, to go with the succulent my husband rescued and brought home to me.




On the sunny days when I'm feeling chilled, until it starts staying cold, I can go sit out in the greenhouse and soak in the rays and the solar heat.  The plants, however, have only a short time before I must bring in the plants I want to keep. Last year the first really cool overnight temp was Oct. 9. Brrr. 


Here's some photos I took when I was out in the woods.  Enjoy! 













Thursday, September 19, 2024

Episode 22 - Successes and learning experiences

 


Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!  Show notes are below

Cross Stitch


Project Name: Petite Pumpkin scissor fob
Started: Sept. 2, 2024
Finished: Sept. 8, 2024
Designer/Source: Wrought Iron Stitching on Etsy. Chart was in Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Autumn 2024
Fabric: 18 count Aida I hand-dyed. Purchased from Walmart
DMC in called for Color: 434 

*****************************************************



Project Name: Rest in Peace
Started: Sept. 2, 2024
Finished: 
Designer/Source: Becky Noland of www.LucyBeam.com. Chart was in Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Autumn 2024
Fabric:14 count Rustico Aida in the "oatmeal" color. Purchased from Hobby Lobby.
Floss colors: DMC conversion: 931, 799, 902, 356, 221, 3688, 347, 152, 340, 415, 318, 535, 3865 


*****************************************************





Project Name: One Piece 
Stitch count (via pattern keeper) as of Sept. 19, 2024: 3,967 / 9029 - 43.94%
Started: March 30, 2024
Finished:
Designer/Source: Cross Stitch Bay on Etsy. Chart no longer available
DMC Floss: 310
Fabric: 14 Count Aida purchased at Walmart
Needle Size: 26
Making for my son. 

From previous update



*****************************************************
Knitting 



Project Name: Bly Cardigan
Started: Sept. 3, 2024
Finished: 
Designer/Source: www.Berroco.com
Yarn: My own handspun corriedale, purchased from paradise fibers
Colors: Grey
Needle size: U.S. 6 (4 m.m.) and U.S 7 (4.5 mm)

The pattern wasn't as easy to interpret and understand as I would have liked.  I knit about 6 inches and then realized I misunderstood the instructions and I ripped out and wound the yarn back up into a ball. 



*****************************************************


Project Name: Passenger Princess Socks
Started: June 3, 2024
Finished: 
Designer/Source:Vanilla sock pattern I use.
Yarn: Patons Kroy Sock Yarn
Colorway: Midcentury stripes
Colors: Peach, blue, cream, vintage looking colors.
Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm
Made For: myself.

Previous update




*****************************************************





Project Name: Autumn Socks
Started: Sept. 1, 2024
Finished: 
Designer/Source: Vanilla sock pattern I use.
Yarn: Malabrigo
Colorway: 858 Arbol
Colors: browns, oranges and olives
Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm


This is just a few of the Youtube channels I've watched the last few weeks and think you should check them out. Sharing is caring!


Other channels mentioned in other parts of the video:

Friday, September 13, 2024

The woods are calling


 This past week has flown by.  There was a big push at work this week, too.  One of my coworkers is going on vacation and we are a small office, and we need to work ahead.  All is good though. 

In short, I was a busy girl this week.  Working hard at the work-for-pay, like always.  Cruising along with stuff at home, trying to get all the things taken care of. So I don't have to think about anything more than I have to this weekend. 

What's so special about this weekend? 


Yup, bow opener. I'm looking for redemption! Remember how last season ended?  I wrote about it back in January

This will be occupying my time, thoughts and attention for next several hours, days, weeks (?) until I get my harvest. 

Wish me luck! 






Wednesday, September 11, 2024

September is flying by!

Last week was a bit of a tough recovery from a three-day weekend.  I enjoy the long weekends but they can be tough when it's time to go back to work

I thought Monday was Sunday, and Wednesday was Friday. You know the drill. 

Because of all this discombobulation I didn't touch a lot of my crafty projects. 

I did, however, touch the garden. 

Oh, that sounds a bit obscene. Doh!

The garden is winding down and I've started pulling out plants. The first thing to go was the collard greens that I did not mean to plant.  They were mislabeled seeds. 



 I also pulled out some tomato plans that were not going to have any more tomatose, along with a few zucchini plants. 


I took a quick break and admired the grape vine that is now growing across the top of the garden fence. 


Yup, that's all milkweed.  I have a nice little patch of it growing for the butterflies.  I didn't see many butterflies this year. 

View of the garden from the table I have out there. 

This particular day I was feeling a bit moody about the state of the garden, and went to an online garden group and whined about it.  Then apologized for whining.  The majority of the people who responded said they felt the same about their own gardens this year.

This was definitely a tough year for the gardeners.



Stock flowers? So far only one plant bloomed. I do know this is a cool weather annual. 




Some of the fruits of the labor. 


Looks like I will indeed get my salsa this year. 


This, however, was for a small batch of spaghetti sauce. 





No gazpacho, though.  I was a bit bummed when I realized there would be no gazpacho this year. My coworker introduced me to it and I can't get enough of it when I realize I have enough tomatoes to make a batch. 

This past weekend I completed what ended up being a longer than it should have been project. Staining the trinket boxes. 

I held off on staining the boxes due to the weather.  I thought the stain and poly would take way too long to dry if I did it when it was raining. 


Boxes are now all done and ready to be finished off with any cross stitch I choose to top them with. 

This past weekend I was a bit productive with the crafty stuff.  I don't have pictures of everything, however. 

The heel was turned on my second passenger princess sock. 


The "Rest in Peace" sampler was started.  


Project Name: Rest in Peace

Started: Sept. 3, 2024

Finished: 
Fabric: 14 Count Rustico Aida, Oatmeal color, fabric from Hobby Lobby.
DMC in called for Colors: 931,799,902,356,221,3688,347,152,340,415,318,535,3865,320,169,930,501

I'm not going to lie, this sampler has got most of my cross stitch attention since the start of the month. 

This week feels like it is zooming by, despite only being Wednesday.  Then I looked at the date and realized it was Sept. 11. 

Sept. 11, you guys. 

Not only is it the anniversary of 9/11, it feels like we are reaching the middle of the month in record time. 

And yes, I do still remember where I was when I first heard about the plane flying in to the first tower.  I was in the drive thru at the bank, before work.  I was listening to The Bob and Tom show and Kristy Lee broke the news that the plane crashed into the tower and no one knew if it was an accident or intentional, or a big plane or a small one. 

I've been under the weather since Saturday.  I've been dosing myself with herbals teas and rest (when I can). Crossing my fingers whatever I have abates by the time Saturday morning rolls around.