So Much to Share.............

All of my life I've wanted a Hoosier Cabinet. As some of you know, we are getting ready to do some minor kitchen remodeling. The Man came home from work last week and said, Why don't you buy yourself one of those cabinets that you been wantin'. Well let me tell you, that was all I needed to hear. I got right on Craigslist and started looking. I found one about an hour south of us that was VERY reasonably priced. It had been restored in the 70's and had been in use in the couple's kitchen for the last 33 years. That just happens to be how old I am now ;) So on Saturday we went and picked up this beautiful piece of history!  I can't wait to spend Monday getting it all set up the way that I want it.  Since it's been restored it will be strong enough to stand up to the rigors of daily use that I intend on putting it through!

Also on Saturday my folks came to spend the night with us so my Mom and I played with Steve.  I learned a great deal!  Mom taught me how to bind my quilt.

And here is the finished baby quilt.  I've decided since I'm setting up a hope chest for The Youngun, that I'm going to put this quilt in it for her.

Steve and I also finished my blouse! 

I really like my blouse!  It's comfy, modest yet cute and I've got such a sense of satisfaction knowing that i made it myself. 

I've got a bit more to share, but will do so in a day or two! 

Till next time..............GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

What We Do For Fun............

Sometimes things can get a little boring during the winter here at Goodwife Farm. If we have all the critters snugged up, the wood cut, the baking done, and are just relaxing in the evening, we might need a little entertainment. That's where this little girl comes in

This is She's Branded Lucky, or Brandy as we call her. Sometimes she gets called Little Bit, or Fluffy Dog, but she is always good for entertainment.

Brandy had a rough start in life. She was one of two puppies and was born via C-section. Her mama almost died and the other puppy did die. She was a bottle baby and 4 months old when I bought her. The lady I bought her from said she didn't really like people, but as soon as I came in the house she ran over to me and begged to be picked up and she's been my girl ever since. She used to curl up between my neck and shoulder while I was quilting. It was her favorite place to nap. She's almost 7 years old now and is still such a little stinker.

So anywho, this is what we like to do when we are bored.........please don't turn us in to animal cruelty, we won't listen anyway.........

She so loves her pony tail holders. To this day if I have a pony tail in and she can, she will crawl up my body, grab the pony tail holder with her teeth and tug for all she's worth until she gets it out. They are her favorite toy!

It's Official...........

Stage Two really stinks!  LOL!  Wow, I don't like this at all.  It's very difficult for me and instead of feeling strong and fit, I feel awkward and unbalanced.  I don't like that feeling, but I know the only way to overcome it is to continue doing the exercises.  So as usual I shall "endeavor to persevere" and I know it will get better.  Even if it doesn't, Stage Two only lasts 3 weeks and then I'm on to Stage 3, so there is always hope! 

Ps........anybody know where I'm quoting "endeavor to persevere" from?  It's one of our favorite movies......

Till next time......I'm struggling along but unTHICKINand valiantly endeavoring to persevere theTHINNIN!

Little Gray........and Other Odd Birds.......

This is Little Gray

Little Gray is a Banty hen and she is desperate for motherhood.  Every night when I go to get the eggs she is sitting on a clutch of around 9-12 eggs.  She isn't sitting on banty eggs either, oh no.  She's sitting on full sized eggs and it's all she can do to get herself spread out over them!  She is also a very protective mama and tries to peck holes in the back of my hand every time I reach under her to get eggs.  I'm very gentle and suffer her pecks.  I know what it's like to be a mama.  I'd peck holes in anybody who tried to take my chick too!  The Man however isn't blessed with that maternal instinct.  If he happens to be in the hen house getting the eggs I will invariably hear loud squawks and flapping of wings as he grabs her and tosses her out of the nest.  He has no patience for peckish hens! 

This ridiculous creature is

Stella

  Stella is no longer with us but she was also desperate to be a mother.  These silly little banty chicks were hatched by another hen.  That hen wasn't so crazy about motherhood and as soon as the chicks had all their feathers and could roost she said to heck with you and abandoned her mothering duties all together.  In stepped Stella.  Stella took chicken motherhood to a new level.  As you can see, those banty chicks are pretty close to full grown and yet Stella is protectively squatted over them the best that she can be.  Thank goodness there were only two of them or I think I'd see poor Stella perched atop a pile of full grown chickens!

Waldo

 

This beautiful bird is Waldo.  I should say was Waldo because he's been dispatched.  Please don't for one second let Waldo's beautiful face mislead you.  This bird was a stone cold killer.  He used to ambush me.  This bird would hide around the corner of the barn where I couldn't see him and patiently wait for me to come out the barn door.  Unaware of the danger I would jauntily leave the barn and as soon as the side of the barn was out of my peripheral vision Waldo would make his move.  I don't know how many times this stupid evil bird flogged me, but the last time was one time too many.  I had left the barn and The Youngun was down by the corner of the fence.  I heard her shout......MAMA HE'S COMIN'....and the next thing I knew there was a feathered ball of fangs and fury attacking me.  He flogged me from my hip to my knee.  By the time I got him off me and looked down my pants leg was soaked with blood.  To say that I was mad wouldn't do justice to the way that I felt.  I collected my child, stomped to the house, called The Man and told him that 5 minutes after he got home there had better be a dead rooster in the barnyard!  I didn't even want to eat him, he was so evil.  The Man and The Youngun went down and dispatched my attacker and that was the end of Waldo.  I knew never to trust a pretty face, and that little adventure led to me winding up at the doctor's office the next day for an examination, a tetnaus shot, and the doctor asking me how in the world he was supposed to code rooster attack on my medical chart!

Till next time............GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

I'm a Sewin' Fool!

Good grief, this birthday present may have created a monster!  Yesterday I decided to try and tackle making something with a pattern.  My mom told me not to read it, just to look at the pictures, so with that knowledge in hand I got out some muslin fabric and went to town!  I got it all pinned on and cut out and had the front pieces sewn together then I had to gather.  I had no clue how to gather........nada........so I turned around to my trusty computer and did a search.  K......got it.......know how to gather. 

Then the door bell rang.  It was Darlin' Deb and boy was I glad to see her!  I thought about calling her to ask how to gather, but I didn't want to bother her.......silly me.  So anywho, she had brought over a blouse that she had made.  She wanted me to try it on because she wants to make me one.  It fit except was tight across the shoulders and arms (cause I'm a super duper body buildin' mama!) and it was beautiful!  I really liked it alot and Darlin' Deb is a good seamstress. 

She proceeded to inspect my work and break into a fit of giggles at the mess that I had made of cutting out my pattern.  See, if I don't understand the importance of something (ie, points) on a pattern, I don't make a big deal of making sure I cut it out nicely.  So.........there was some stuff on my pieces that didn't exactly match up.  Darlin' Deb was having a fit of the vapors that my mom would've been proud of, but she went ahead and helped me out anyway, repeating over and over under her breath....it's only for practice, it's only for practice............LOL! 

Here is Deb showing me how to pin a sleeve on....

She actually does have a face, but she's a bit camera shy so I told her I'd just get her hands in the picture.  Silly Darlin'!

Here I am sewing the sleeve on........

Such concentration!

Today I'm sewing the other sleeve on, and I have a confession to make..........I sewed the first sleeve on inside out!  So the seam is showing........LOL!  Such adventures in sewing.  After I get this sleeve sewed on (the right way) then I'll have to rip the seam out of the other sleeve and take it off so that I can sew it on properly. 

I'm really enjoying learning to sew and I'm thankful for Darlin' Deb and the help that she's giving me.  It's a lot of fun and really gives me a feeling of satisfaction to take a flat piece of fabric and transform it into something I can wear!

Deb also taught me how to make buttonholes with my machine.  I was trying to turn the piece every time I turned the buttonhole dial on my machine.  Such a goober I am.  I didn't know that the machine did it all!  I was able to make a beautiful buttonhole as soon as I let Steve (that's what I named my sewing machine) do the work! 

Ok.......so now that you are completely sure that I'm totally nuts.........I'm of to finish my shirt!  Pictures to come when it's done. 

Stay tuned for the continuing love story of me and Steve...........and as always till next time.........

GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

Finally a finished product!

Today I made an actual skirt to wear after playing with my sewing machine for several days.  I love the fabric that I used.  Brown is my favorite color in the whole world and I just love brown calico!  It's a very simple skirt and again, I didn't have a pattern, just made one up as I went along, making it out of newspaper so that I can use it again.  It's a simple pull on skirt with a wide waistband and a single button closure.  I like it alot, it's very comfortable.  I ordered myself some cable knit wool stockings to wear under it and I think I'll really like it!  Now to make myself a shirt to wear with it.............

Till next time............GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

WI........

This morning I got on the scale and I'm down another 2.2 lbs!  Yaaay me!  I took all last week off from working out to let my body rest and recover so that I'm ready to begin Stage 2 of New Rules.  That's what I do today and I'm excited.  It's a new sequence of exercises with several new exercises in there as well.  My body is fitter and tighter than it's ever been, and I feel great.  I really don't have much to report, things are going great and I couldn't be happier with the WW program.  I may at some point in the future consolidate this blog with my main farm blog, but I haven't decided yet. 

Hope you are all well, fit, and fabulous! 

Till next time...........I'm unTHICKINandsoTHINNIN!