Because...

I ought to write a post.

So I am.

Let's see...

A friend is having a little girl any day now.

I hope this is girly enough.

I ran out of pink so used green cause grass right???

It was too big for an infant so I washed it in hot water to shrink and felt.

No picture but hopefully it will be useable.

My favorite Halloween decorations.

Today is large Amish School Auction for our area.

The neighbor made cream filled doughnuts for their food booths.

There were a full dozen in the box. 

Now whatever could have happened?

End of season...

Show season has ended for LN and I.

The remaining shows we will miss because of college obligations.

We attended Big E and KILE for those of you that know those shows.

Good times with better friends!!!

As always this kid of mine impresses me with her poise and grace.

She is so helpful to others and a calming force in my life.

The world is getting a gem in this one.

I kinda feel like that that about the other ones but don't tell them ;]`

She just happens to be with me more often.

The jeans she is wearing with the pink shirt she bought for $5.00 from a consignment box

that was at a livestock supply trailer.

Geeze she was excited about them.

My girls love bargains.

Yesterday I went to Goodwill and found 8 prs of jeans for us three.

Retail therapy... and name brands in great condition some almost new.

$6.00 each was a great price considering the original sticker price.

All three of us fit in ascending  sizes which is a bonus.

Those two obviously are the smaller sizes :-/

I have found tons of bargains for Miss A as well over the last few weeks.

(toys, playclothes, some cute winter/fall puffy vests, etc)

Lancaster has a cool second hand place I stop each time I am up at Lena college.

I found a long sleeveless shawl collared cardigan that is wool/alpaca mix in a beautiful grey color.

I can't wait to wear it this fall.

It all helps the wallet.

Today is blusteringly chilly.

Steady winds from hurricane Michael moving south of us.

I am loving it.

Finally...

The sheep are being bred because the nights are cooling off finally.

A day (or month) late and a dollar (later lambing) short as my Dad always says.

Better late than never...

All appendages crossed please.

Flummoxed...

to say the least.

Disappointed...Sad....Resigned

All describe my feelings this evening.

I tried to express why I have feelings of resentment, anger and general dislike.

It was not taken well.

I have done research on the best way to say it all and be heard.

I asked advice of a physcologist I know. 

Didn't happen that way.

I am a bull in a china shop but I treaded as light as I could.

It has been 11+ years built up.

I feel exhausted and sad.

But relieved I finally put my feelings I have held in into words.

That is done no matter the consequences to come.

Sometimes ya just gotta get it out before ya burst.

Finish and finished part of

             The second sock is finished. 

                      A completed pair...

    

       Yesterday  the apple butter part one was  finished.

 

         After 24 hours in the crockpot on low it

           looked good and with a few spices added it tasted great.

Without the cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves I liked it but it seems it's expected .

      I used up a bunch of 1/2 cup jars we had.

                  A mix and match of types.

    The stove top was full even though I only

     needed to fill water up 1/2 way in canners to accommodate the smaller jars.

   

 First 20 are canned and have POPPED and sealed.

                      I love that sound.

Excuse the chubby white legs but I wound some new self striping sock yarn

in between the canning.

Today I'm processing the other bag of apples.

Half went into the crockpot for more apple butter.

The other half went into 7 pints of applesauce for my son and granddaughter.

Both devour it.

Been awhile

since I made apple sauce and or apple butter.

I was asked to make small jars to give as hostess gifts at a friend's wedding shower.

Since today was rainy and because shower is in 2 weeks 

I figured I'd get started at least ;]`

The local orchard had seconds in bins.

It cost $12.00 per brown grocery bag and you pick and fill it.

I filled 1 3/4 bags with Golden Delicious.

1/4 bag with Crimson Crisp and Red Delicious.

I will use Yellows first and see how far the first bag goes.

Just chunked them up and cut off any brown spots and cores.

Cooked them about 20 minutes till they softened.

Ran through the squeezo machine to remove skins and any seeds I missed.

General chaos as always .

Sticky too...

Dumped into 2 crockpots and set on low with lids askew.

Supposedly after 10 hours or so I'll have apple butter.

We shall see tomorrow.

A lot of recipes call for sugars and spices added.

I have never added sugar to my regular applesauce so I am going to wait and see how sweet it is.

I'll probably add spices ie: cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. after it cooks down.

If all else fails I'll be canning teeny jars of applesauce as gifts.

Pigs...

People never fail to disappoint.

I picked up 3 trash bags full from beside my pasture today as I mowed.

Tons of beer cans, alcohol bottles and cigarette packs.

If you can afford to buy these devices you can afford to use a trash bag and dispose of trash properly.

GRRRRR.....

Just pigs I tell ya.

This picture doesn't even show most of it.

  

After tank washing the show sheep today this "pig" was washed as well.

R held her as she swam to get out but first a gentle scrubbing.

She finds the most disgusting things to roll in.

Still love her though...R as well.

She filled for LN nicely .

Assisting poor ole Madre with sheep pen cleaning, washing sheep and pup, and 

allowing me to treat her to lunch as well.

Bracing ? and sad day remembered...

Florence is coming...

The rain and wind are constant albeit light so far.

We should be on the outside of the storm by a small bit.

That is still outside so we are lucky this time.

Maybe power outages and will be heavy rain and wind but we have a generator.

I'll bring the ram inside but otherwise just normal chores ie: fill water troughs and feed barrels, etc.

I mixed some extra feed up and have plenty of hay and straw.

Human wise we use propane to cook so we are fine.

The generator can keep the freezers going and water pump.

The people south of us are in our thoughts and prayers.

The beaches near us already have high waves and sand on their boardwalks and 

it's only the beginning.

This is attached to my front porch so

SCORE ... Halloween and fall decorating is complete!

This day is a constant reminder to stay vigilant and ready because

I will never forget!

I am not dumb enough to burn clothing and shoes I already own however 

I will not purchase anymore from that company as I haven't watched NFL since their foolishness

and unpatriotic nonsense started last year.

I have to stand for something.

I plan to be in this position with my friend's dog during the upcoming days.

Maybe I will finally finish this second sock.

Hopping Saturday Night

Wow I can't be more excited about my Saturday night.

I'm starting on the heel flap of the second sock.

Slow and steady knitter I am.

Watching Dr. Pol as I go.

Pink or Pinkers is her name.

She is a friends dog I am sitting for the next few weeks.

She is loving the farm life.

She has consumed all manner of manure as well as rolling in such.

She also has killed mice in my Dad's shop trailer which is a good thing.

A bath was executed much to her chagrin as she is sleeping with me (under the covers also).

We have had a cooling storm roll through last night and are expected to have a chilly ie: 60's day tomorrow and lower 80's next week.

I hope this guy "Mike" is ready for some girlfriends.

The first go round was too hot for any baby making.

This kid is as sassy as her picture denotes.

You can see the mischief in her.

Love her to pieces.

My son deserves this so much!!!

It is going to be my pleasure to watch the battle unfold.

Pass the popcorn please.

It is going to be fun watching this battle unfold.

From the beach to the mountains

No this is not LN but her roommate J.

But that is LN's side of the college room.

Don't you just live those posters LN has up with her lights?

Other girls put tapestries like J has 

or inspirational sayings or band posters.

Not my kid, she is different in a good way I think.

I ripped my thumb nail back to the quick yesterday working sheep.

That is so tender and hurts to bump anything.

Look at my thumb wrinkles.

You can have all the plastic surgeries in the world, color your hair, get botox, etc 

but the hands never lie about age.

Look around you will see...

Yesterdays 90+ temperatures was not the nicest to work in.

I however washed sheep so I was soaked during the worst of the afternoon heat.

That translates to a hot, sticky, sheep wet wool, nasty mess.

Hopefully this weekend at MD State Fair it all pays off.

This particular ewe felt the need to climb into a cockle bur bush that yes I should have removed.

Still nasty to spend an hour de-burring her.

Sunday after taking LN to PA to college I continued to western MD to drop a ewe off for breeding.

The mountains were calling and I answered :-]

An incredibly long day but necessary and I didn't mind the scenery one bit.

Tonight I mowed and tried to again beat back Mother Nature a little.

It is a jungle around here.

I had to stop because I ran the belt of the riding mower.

Time to shower and relax.

The weeds will still be there tomorrow.

Happy days....

Are words needed???