by Susan | Dec 28, 2012 | On the Farm
Mother Nature dropped at least a foot of snow upon us yesterday. Everywhere you look, it’s a Winter Wonderland. Today it was time to dig out. Hannah soon discovered that snow shoes were the easiest mode of transportation. My Birch trees are sagging under the...
by Susan | Dec 27, 2012 | Family, On My Mind
This is my latest favorite picture of Hannah. She’s snuggling Purfessor Snape (aka Boo). For Christmas I gave her a framed copy of this for her room. Snape is her best friend and Hannah is his human. He guards her. At night he’s parked on the foot of her...
by Susan | Dec 26, 2012 | Out and About in Maine
This morning, the day after Christmas, it seemed as if we were settling in to be couch potatoes. It was brrrr cold, but sunny – the calm before tomorrow’s storm – so I suggested a hike up Catherine’s Mountain. Hannah and I headed out with...
by Susan | Dec 25, 2012 | Family, On My Mind
Christmas 2012. Not a child, not quite grown up, she finds great joy in the day. It’s not about what’s under the Christmas tree for Hannah. It’s about us all being able to share the day together. It’s the planning, the preparation, the making...
by Susan | Dec 24, 2012 | In the Kitchen
We finally got around to our Christmas cutout cookies this afternoon. Hannah decided rather than traditional Christmas cutouts, the cookies should be have a Downeast Thunder Farm sort of feel – moose, lobster, bears, and chickens. Quite the menagerie. A moose...
by Susan | Dec 24, 2012 | Family, On My Mind
My great, great aunt, Elizabeth Stroble, created this beautiful linoleum block print when she was an art teacher at Central High School in St.Paul, Minnesota. Carved with the help of her students, she sent these to family and friends as her Christmas card. Wishing you...
by Susan | Dec 23, 2012 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Ground and Game Bird Patterns
I asked my friend Carol what her favorite bird was. I’m sure she knew why I was asking, given my penchant for my felt birds. She said, “A Robin for what it represents, but I should say a Peacock!.” She should know me well enough by now that I could...
by Susan | Dec 22, 2012 | On My Mind
Written on the 21st with pen and paper – posted online at the library. It’s December 21st, the Winter Solstice, and I sit here writing this post by candle light. The wind outside is roaring like a freight train and rain is pounding on the roof. We lost...
by Susan | Dec 20, 2012 | Critters, On My Mind
Purfessor Snape slinks into the dog’s bed when she isn’t looking. What do you think? Naughty or nice?
by Susan | Dec 19, 2012 | Critters, Odds and Ends
Our little kitty, Cinder, adopted my grandmother’s laundry basket – circa 1930. These days she has competition for the basket. Ginger – aka “Beast.” Silly dog.
by Susan | Dec 16, 2012 | Family, On My Mind
I spent much of the weekend cleaning and pulling out Christmas decorations. This wooden Santa face Mom gave me is perfect for one of our porch posts. I made a garland to frame my grandmother’s mirror using White Pine brush that Hannah gathered for me. An old...
by Susan | Dec 16, 2012 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
A few years ago, when we had an extremely cold winter with loads of snow, a flock of Pine Grosbeaks descended upon our bird feeder. Unfamiliar with the bird, I had to look them up to identify them. They stayed for a couple of weeks before departing and I’ve yet...
by Susan | Dec 15, 2012 | On the Farm
For the past few years, we’ve been cutting a tree from the farm for our Christmas tree. These fir trees have not been groomed for the purpose, so they’re “au natural” or as Paul calls them – free range, organic Christmas trees. Started...
by Susan | Dec 11, 2012 | Family, On My Mind
A basketball game day, all of the players have to dress up (i.e., no jeans and jogging shoes). As I watched Hannah get ready, it struck me like a bolt of lightning that my little girl is growing up. From the borrowed scarf to dress up? a t-shirt to the tiny brush of...
by Susan | Dec 10, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
Each night when we put The Girls in their run we do a head count. There should be 14 chickens: Gilfy and Miri (Miri is always the straggler and has to be coaxed in), The Colonel, six Rocks, five Buffs. I was on chicken duty last night and counted them – twice....
by Susan | Dec 8, 2012 | Bird Patterns, Domestic Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns
A goose is on the list of critters I’d like to add to the farm. The Pilgrim Goose would make a good sentinel for the property. However, until we have more open space and a budget that includes feed for the geese, I’ll have to settle for this goose. Right...
by Susan | Dec 7, 2012 | On My Mind
Last year when our chickens started laying, we quickly realized that a dozen hens lay enough eggs in one day to last us almost a week. We started selling extra eggs to friends and neighbors who appreciated farm fresh eggs. One week, overrun with eggs, Paul called the...
by Susan | Dec 5, 2012 | Family, On My Mind
It’s junior high basketball season. That means between two jobs, and now with basketball pick ups, drop offs, and scheduling in games, I have entered the craziest season of the year. No, it’s not the holiday season – it’s basketball season. I...
by Susan | Dec 2, 2012 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
A little bird with a big personality – this may be the quietest Mockingbird you ever see. You can download a printable pattern for this ornament (right click on the link and select “save target as” to save to your computer). Comment here to share a...
by Susan | Dec 1, 2012 | Chickens, On the Farm
A bitterly cold day found Paul and I outside running fence around the duck pond. Now that the pond is solidly frozen, the ducks don’t have much protection from predators. We tuck them away into their house at night, but they’re used to having the run of...
