Rainy Day Today

It's a rainy, dreary day today here at Patchwork Acres. The craft shows are over for this year; but I have to continue making soaps to get ready for next year, which isn't that far off. Today's soap making will be of Oatmeal and Honey Goat Milk Soap. I don't add fragrance to this one and it always smells good.

I haven't put up the Christmas tree yet, but will get to that this week. I have to clean the living room first and re-arrange some items to make room for the tree. This will be the first year that my oldest daughter won't be home anytime over the Christmas Holidays. She's living across the country from us now and and still looking for a job. She has an interview today and she's very hopeful that she'll be offered a position as a permanent substitute teacher for a high school history class.

Hubby did some repair work on one of the chicken houses and we finally moved the chickens, who decided the barn was their house, back into their "real" chicken house. Silly birds! Don't know why they have to hang out down there. Then we get to "hunt" for eggs instead of getting them out of the nest boxes.

Hubby also got his motorcycle put back together and running again. He rode it to work yesterday, but not today. Even though the temperature is up, it's raining and feels colder than it is. And he won't ride it tomorrow because there is a high wind advisory for the area.

I bought supplies for another project....a new purse. I've never sewn a purse before, but I don't think it will be too difficult. I bought extra fabric, which I usually try to do, to use for rag strips for rugs or for patchwork quilt blocks. In fact, I need more rag strips because I made two rugs recently and used up almost all of the strips I had.

I finally, after several weeks, got to play my dulcimer yesterday. Worked on several Christmas songs. Oh, that reminds me, I need to send a web page to Hubby. It's Dulcimer song books I would like to have. He's going to "surprise" me with one or two. Well, it will be a surprise, because I won't know which one or two until Christmas. LOL. I also practiced a very short time on my harmonica. Would like to play again today, but after I make soap, I really need to bake some kind of dessert for the family and get that cleaning done so I can put up the tree. Oh, I should make some fruitcake, too, though it should have already been baked by now. I LOVE fruitcake! My kids don't, but Hubby and I do, so that just leaves more for us. Haha!

Off to get busy now. Later!

A Cool November Day

Yesterday it was raining and foggy all day.  Yuk!   And I baked a delicious Sourdough Chocolate Cake with chocolate frosting.  It's very tasty!

Today is cool, cloudy, and damp.  Another "yuk".  I made a double batch of jalapeno pepper jelly this morning.  It looks like there's still enough peppers to make another single batch, but I have to buy more jelly jars and liquid pectin first.  Later in this afternoon I'm going to make Sourdough Pecan Sticky Buns.  The sourdough "sponge" is doing it's thing  right now....sitting and bubbling away.  I haven't used my sourdough in a while, so I decided to make several sourdough recipes over several days.   When the cake has been eaten, I'm going to bake a Friendship Cake.  It's easy and I haven't made it in quite a while. 

I ordered 2 Christmas Dulcimer songbooks, but sent one back.  It wasn't in the same tuning as I play my dulcimer.  Since I'm a new player, I don't know yet how to rewrite the music, nor do I want to retune my dulcimer.  But hey, the company shouldn't mind that I sent the book back because I ordered another book, more expensive than the first one.  Anyway, the second songbook arrived yesterday and I can play most of the songs.  Just need lots of practice to play smoothly.  I had to laugh because on the front cover it says something to effect of "small hand friendly".  Ha! Ha!  I have small hands and I can't play a couple of the chords.  I have no idea how I'm supposed to reach them.  Luckily the author had a new tip for me:  If you can't reach the bass string in any chord, don't.  The music still sounds like it's supposed to.  That makes it easy and still enjoyable for me to play.

I have a new soap to wrap this afternoon:  Citrus Sage.  This coming weekend is one of the "Big" craft shows of the year.  My younger daughter and I are looking forward to it.  We meet LOTS of people and, of course, sell soaps.

So it's off with me to practice my dulcimer, bake the sticky buns, and wrap soap!

CATS

Last Saturday my younger daughter and I were vendors most of the day at a local church bazaar.  It was late and dark when we got home.  After the evening chores were finished and since it was still warm outside, Hubby and I decided to sit on the front porch and play with our 4 House cats.  (They are called House cats because they hang around our house, as opposed to the Barn cats, who hang out at the barn.)   Earlier when I was unloading the soaps from the vehicle and carrying them into the house, the cats were meowing at me, trying to rub on my legs and walking between my feet---whatever they could do to get my attention.  However, when I sat down and wanted to hold one of them, any of them, they had other things to do!  The barn cats had come up to the house to see if they were missing any fun.  All of the cats were either wrestling with other, chasing a spider or a moth, or chasing each other.   No one wanted to sit on Mama's lap to be petted!  Not a single cat!  And I kept fussing to my husband that my kitties didn't love me anymore.  Finally I got a hold of Bandit, a pretty black and white cat (one of 3 black and white cats), and set him on my lap and started petting.  He decided it was lap time and he stayed right there, purring contentedly, until I was ready to go in for the night.  That's all I wanted, to hold one of my kitties for a little while.  But they were fun to watch while they were playing.  

What's up at Patchwork Acres?

Well, we've had quite a lot of rain last week, actually a lot for the month of October.  It caused several accidents last week, one of which included my husband and his motorcycle.  Thank God, he's okay!  He didn't get a scratch, but his bike is out of commission for the time being.  He's waiting to get a repair estimate from the shop so he can turn it in  to the insurance and then decide what he's going to do.  Either repair the bike himself, which is most likely what he'll do, or buy another used bike or buy a new bike.  Because of his accident, I was unable to do the spinning demonstration at an area elementary school last week.  We only have one other vehicle and hubby needed that to get to work.  

The new baby goats are doing well.  Since it's stopped raining, the goats are going outside to the fields or the woods.  They don't particularly like getting wet; so if it's raining, they're hanging out in the barn.  

One of my younger daughter's friends has taken some of the barn kitties to his house.  That will help out on the cat food bill.  I like cats, but we had too many.  Now I only have 2 more females to get spayed before this next spring.  

I washed and hung a load of clothes outside on the "solar dryer" this morning.  I had to use the electric dryer last week because of the rain.  I prefer to hang the laundry outside as often as I can because I'd don't like using the electric dryer.  I keep seeing the dollars adding up on the utility bill.   I even hang the laundry out when it gets cold, as long as it's not below freezing or raining or snowing outside.  I have to hang it out first thing in the morning to give it plenty of time to dry before dark.  

All of the regular farmers' markets are over now until next spring.  The winter market we joined that's located  St. Louis will open next week, but I won't be able to go because I'm already committed to craft show that weekend.   And I'm still busy making soaps for the craft shows that are coming up.  This morning I made a batch of Green Irish Tweed Goat Milk Soap.  MMMmmm, smells good in my house!

Some really exciting news about my younger daughter.  She received an invitation to apply for admission at the Missouri Academy of Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science.  If she's accepted (of which I have no doubt she will be since she's an almost straight A student), she'll be attending the last 2 years of high school there.  She'll receive a high school diploma and a 2-year Associate's degree and have a head start on her regular college career.  We are already familiar with this program since my older daughter graduated from this school several years ago.

I've been busy knitting baby socks from leftover sock yarn.  I'll have them for sale along with my soaps at the craft shows.  I've almost finished a 2nd pair this week.  I'm using a wonderful bamboo, wool, and nylon yarn.  It's very soft and comfy on the feet!  I'm still working on the lacy, red cotton cardigan for my younger daughter.  I had hoped to have it finished already, but now my goal is to finish it by this spring.  I have too many irons in the fire right now.

I really need/want to finish sewing a skirt that I started quite a while ago because my daughter is ready to learn to sew.  She's been checking out patterns for dresses that she wants to make.  I think she'll first sew a few aprons for her older sister and for me.  Then she can tackle a dress.

My dulcimer lessons are going well, when I can find the time to practice.  I can play the melody fine, just have to work on moving my fingers faster on the chords on the faster songs.  I'm sure that will come with lots of practice and time.

Well, it's time for Y&R, so I'll go watch that and finish that pair of baby socks.

What's Happening at Patchwork Acres?

Our last pregnant goat finally gave birth yesterday to twins!  Seems like the poor thing was pregnant forever.  Mama and babies are doing well and we'll start bottle-feeding in a couple more days.  

It's been so rainy, cold and chilly this last week!  Last Saturday my family and I left the Saturday morning farmers' market early because of the cold.  There were only 5 vendors and about that many customers.  Three more weeks to go and the markets will be over until we start going to the once-a-month winter market in St. Louis, which we are looking forward to.

I do have Christmas shows that will be starting soon, so I have lots of goat milk soaps to make and wrap.  In fact, next week I'm attending a planning meeting for one of my Christmas shows.  I have a new scent, Magnolia Magnifique, to add to my list.  If you like florals, you'll probably like this one.  I have shaving soap in the molds that I will take out once I finish blogging and checking email. 

Speaking of blogging, I attended an Agritourism Celebration this week and one of the speakers talked about using social media for advertising.  She said that blogs are supposed to be updated 2 or 3 times a week.  I guess that means I'm a bad blogger because I don't update my blog that often.    Anyway, about 95%  of the meal was locally grown foods and the chef did a wonderful job preparing them!  Delicious!!!!  Go local foods!

I have a new passion!  I bought a mountain dulcimer yesterday from a local man.  His price is so reasonable.  Better than buying on the internet and again it was from someone local, who I'd rather support any day.  It was the last one he had in stock.  So now he'll have to make more for the next customer(s) who want one or two.  Oh, it is so gorgeous! It's made of sycamore wood, which is a light, multi-colored wood.   I could hardly wait until after supper so I could sit down to start learning how to play.  It is so easy and so much fun!!!!  I used an electronic tuner to make sure it was in tune.  Let me tell you, that was so easy to do.  Traditionally, mountain dulcimers, or lap dulcimers, are played with a quill.  Since my son has a stash of feathers from one of our farmers' market vendors, I asked him for one.   It works as well as a plastic guitar pick, which my daughter is loaning me until I get back to the music store to buy some picks for myself.  I'm eyeing several (5 or 6) dulcimer music books on internet, so once I buy them, I should be set on PLENTY of music to play.  The only thing else I could really use is a music stand so my music can be directly in front of my at about the same height as my dulcimer on my lap.  This will make it easy to look back and forth between the music and the dulcimer.   Hhmmm, will have to add that on the list next to the guitar picks.  

My daughter and I have also joined the local Cat Ranch Art guild.  I know some of the members and 2 in particular have been trying for while to get us to join.  We attended their Cat Ranch Round-up two weekends ago, where we sold soaps and I demonstrated spinning on my Babe production spinning wheel.  People were amazed that I was spinning wool on a wheel made of PVC pipes and a wheel chair wheel.  So since my daughter and I are both artist, creative types, and we "caved"  haha! and joined the guild last week.  The folks we have met so far are really nice and very encouraging of everyone's talents.  And the Guild is already planning on next year's Cat Ranch Round-Up.  It's going to be bigger than ever, with lots of activities and music, and most important, the members artistic creations will be on display and for sale.  Stayed tuned for more info!

I have to go now and wash dishes and then I'm going to make mozzerella cheese because I have lots of goat milk now.  I made mild feta cheese for my husband and yesterday it was ready to eat.  However, he likes marinated feta, so I put in several jars with Italian dressing.  Once it sets for several more days, it will be ready to eat.  As long as it stays covered with the oil, it will keep indefinitely.  As least that's what my recipe book says.  Marinated feta never lasts long enough around here to know for sure how long it will keep!  

Until next time.

No Time for Slacking!

Well, one farmers' market will soon be over...one more market day until late next spring.  There will be a market "finale" next week.  I'm taking along my spinning wheel and will demonstrate spinning wool into yarn.  There will be face painting and pumpkin decorating for the kids, an apple pie contest, and strolling musicians.  Should be fun.  My other two markets will continue for another month or until the produce is gone.  

But, that doesn't mean I can slack off.  No way!  Christmas is only months away and I have craft shows/events still to come after the markets close for the winter.   I joined a once-a-month winter farmer's last year and it will be starting soon.   My family and I are looking forward to attending again.   My soaps continue to sell, which means my inventory is quite low right now and I have to keep at it...making and wrapping soaps.

I washed sheep wool yesterday.  The fall brings along several events where I spin wool into yarn.  I haven't bought commercially prepared roving in quite a while since I was given 4 HUGE  bags of wool.  But I have to make time to pick it out and wash it so it's ready when I need/want to spin.  Sometimes I'll card the wool with my drum carder, but lately I've been using my hand cards.  People like to see that, as well as the spinning.

And I need to somehow find time to work in the garden, plant some fall veggies I bought, pick peppers and make pepper jelly.  Not enough hours in the day!  Maybe I should give up sleeping.  LOL!

It's been a mostly dreary, humid, sometimes rainy week.  I washed laundry this morning, but had to use the electric clothes dryer instead of my "solar dryer".  It rained this morning and it's so humid the clothes wouldn't dry anyway.   The humidity hasn't allowed me to wrap any soaps this week either.  It doesn't affect the soaps that are already wrapped, but the ones that not wrapped yet are damp.  That's a good thing in that it tells me my soaps are doing what they're supposed to do....be moisturizing.   Once the humidity level goes down, I'll be able to package the soaps.  Or I could wipe them off with a paper towel and wrap them anyway.  I did that earlier this summer and it seemed to work okay.

This coming weekend I have two events to attend.  Saturday is Marquand's Pioneer Days and Saturday & Sunday is the Cat Ranch Art Guild's Art Show.  I'll be there on Sunday.   At both events, I'll bring along my spinning wheel and sheep wool to demonstrate spinning and my family will sell my soaps.  I hope someone has funnel cakes for sale.  They are one of my favorite treats!

Better go for now.  Have to fix supper early as the kids have their 4-H meeting this evening.

Canning, Soap Making, Baking Bread, and Knitting

Had a busy week last week.  I've started baking bread to sell at the farmers' markets along with my goat milk soaps.  So I spent last Tuesday baking until it was time to leave for the market.  Wednesday morning was another market.  Afterwards I drove to my parents' farm and picked up 3 boxes full of green beans that Daddy had picked earlier in the day.  I put in them in the freezer and finished that job around midnight.  

I spent 5 hours Thursday at the shop where repairs were made on my Durango.  To pass the time, I finished a pair of hand knit socks for #2 daughter and started on another pair.  I have lots of wool socks now, so I thought I'd knit a pair to sell at one of my craft shows this fall.  While at the Saturday morning farmers' market I was telling an acquaintance of mine about this pair of socks and she wants to buy them.  She doesn't care what color or pattern I make them; she just wants a pair of socks that I knitted.

I canned a double batch of spaghetti sauce, as well as a double batch of salsa last Friday.  I didn't have enough spaghetti sauce to fill the last jar, so I made spaghetti and meatballs for supper tonight, along with 2 baguette shaped loaves of artisan herb bread.  The French chevre goat cheese, seasoned with Ranch seasoning, that I made was delicious on this bread.    I ate some on my sandwich at lunchtime, too.  

We're getting lots of goat milk right now, and I have another batch of French chevre sitting until the morning, when I'll drain it and put it in the freezer.  Hubby is patiently waiting for me to make feta cheese.  He really likes the marinated feta.  Timewise, I won't be able to make that particular cheese until later in the week.  I think we need to seriously consider buying an ice cream maker to make home-made ice cream with all the milk we're getting now.  The goatie girls are really producing!!!  Hubby is milking three right now, and we're still waiting for one of the does to give birth anytime.

Tomorrow is Market Day.  I have a batch of artisan herb bread dough in the fridge and will bake it tomorrow.  I have an order for 2 loaves of that bread.  I mixed up another batch of sourdough refrigerator rolls and they are in the fridge until tomorrow morning.  I plan to bake a double-batch of the garlic dinner rolls since they sell out quickly, just ahead of the sourdough rolls....which are wonderful with another vendor's honey spread on top!

I was finally able to make soap today!  Yeah!  I made Smokey Patchouli goat milk soap...not my favorite; and a new scented soap....Magnolia Magnifique.  I wasn't sure what to expect other than it was a floral, but it smells really nice so far.   Have more soap making to go as I'm out of Lavender, Frankincense & Myrrh, plain lye soap, and low on other scents.

Well, it's my bedtime, so I'd better get off of this computer.  I have a busy day tomorrow baking breads and rolls.