Chickens – Asbery's Echoes

Stitchy News

I have been busy stitching orders and am having a difficult time keeping up. So busy in fact that I’ve had to start saying no. It’s hard for me to say no but I realize that I just have to. It’s not fair to a customer to have to wait for weeks and weeks for something they’ve purchased and it causes way too much stress on my end. I promised Joe when I started selling my cupboard keeps that if it started to interfere with family life then I would stop. Well, it had gotton to that point where I felt I should be stitching all the time to get orders done. That alone interferes with family time because if I have to be stitching all the time I can’t be involved in other things. It also interferes in that if I’m constantly worrying about not getting my stitching done then I’m not able to enjoy other things. So, I’ve started to say no. I still have a ways to go in doing that but I’ve gotten much better! So, I’m still stitching lots of orders, but I’ve also put a limit to how many orders I will take, and I’ve started to say no. I’m so very flattered that so many people out there want something that I have made to display in their homes. It’s an amazing feeling. I can only hope that some of my humble little stitches bring joy to others. I can’t imagine not picking up a needle and thread on an almost daily basis and to know that I’m making something that others actually want and enjoy just makes the process even sweeter!

I’m Blessed

Long story here! Earlier this spring I got caught up in buying baby chicks. I knew we were needing a few more as some of our original flock is getting old and they aren’t laying anymore. But, I got a little out of hand and ended up with more chicks than our little coop could hold. Who could blame me, those little chicks are just so darn cute! And there were so many different kinds to choose from! And everywhere we went there were these little babies needing to be brought home! Unfortunately, about the time we were looking to buy or build a new coop, the price of lumber skyrocketed and we were not sure what we were going to do. Then Joe’s brother came to the rescue. He had this little building that he had originally built to be a playhouse for his girls. Well, he never got around to finishing it, the girls are grown and have families of their own, and he really just needed the building to be gone.

So off to Coon Rapids we went, Joe, Don and my dad tore the building down into pieces, and we hauled it home. Then Joe and Drew got to work. I couldn’t for the life of me see what Joe saw as far as how he was going to put this back together and attach it to his shop but I knew he knew what he was doing. He put the walls back together and changed the roofline. Then he moved the whole thing to the side of the shop. Drew loved that part – he was the one who got to drive the 4-wheeler and pull the building!

Then the work began. We used as much lumber as we could salvage from our woodpile but had to purchase windows, flooring and steel. But even at that, it didn’t cost us a fraction of what a new building would have cost.

The girls have been in it all summer. They love it and I love it. Choring is so much easier now. And gathering eggs is so much easier. And it will be so nice this winter to be able to go inside a building to chore and the girls won’t have to go outside if they don’t want to as I their feed and water will be inside. I loved the little prefab coop we originally had. It served its purpose well. And we still use it to house a chicken that the others pick on. But this big coop is just perfect. And then, over the weekend, Joe did this:

He added this sweet little porch. I just love it! It is so darn cute! I am so blessed to have a husband who knows me and what will make me happy! I love my silly chickens, I love having eggs to give to others and I love my sweet little chicken coop. And so do my chickens!

That’s Eloise in white! And I think Matthew the Rooster is to the left. They aren’t all named but there’s always those few special souls that stand out from the crowd!

A Simple Day

After days of hot and humid weather, the kind that make it miserable to be outside for any length of time, we finally got a break today! I even have the windows open! Perfect weather for hanging laundry on the line. Joe braved the heat last evening to finish up my clothesline for me – bless his heart! After I finished up the supper dishes I went out and helped. And I went to bed last night knowing I was going to get to hang clothes outside in the morning. I get excited about such crazy things! And today the sky is overcast, there’s a beautiful breeze, the temp is down and the humidity is gone. The chickens are even happy!

And I get to look out the open window and see my laundry dancing in the breeze! I get excited over open windows too. I hate having the house shut up – any chance I get the air gets turned off and the windows get opened. I love hearing the birds chirping and the trees rustling and Gilbert (in the picture above) and Matthew perfecting their cock a doodle doo!

I had wanted to learn to can for years and last summer I finally decided to jump in with both feet and teach myself. I asked for the Bell Canning Book for Christmas, purchased my canning supplies and next thing I knew I had jelly, salsa, applesauce and tomato juice all in jars waiting for winter meals! And now it’s canning season again!

The beginning of the tomato harvest. Now my table is covered with bright red tomatoes!

This year I’m finding that it has already become more “natural” to me. I don’t have to read before doing every step. I’m a lot calmer and I’m really enjoying the process. Last week I put up Canndied Jalapenos. I made them last year and Joe and I loved them. So this year, I’m planning to can a lot more of them. So far I’ve put up 8 jars using my tried and true recipe. But I’ve discovered a different recipe that is Trim Healthy Mama approved so I’m hoping to have enough jalapenos to give it a try. We’re working on eating healthier and we’re really loving the THM plan.

This week it’s been salsa. Abby came over Tuesday and we put up 11 pints. She took half and I kept half. Yesterday I put up 9 more. And it looks like I’ll have enough tomatoes and peppers to hopefully do that many more again! We like to eat salsa plain but I also put it in chili and other things so it’s nice to have it canned and ready. Canning for me is another way of living a more simple life. And there is just so much satisfaction in it. Yes, it’s time consuming. It takes a lot of time to harvest, prep and go through the actual canning process. But at the end of the day, you have all these beautiful jars full of summer goodness just waiting to be opened and enjoyed! And I never get tired of listening to that ping that says all is good! Homegrown, healthy ingredients – we know exactly where everything came from. Another step towards living simple!

And I pulled my onions today. My Mom says to never let the August sun touch your onions so no August sun for these guys! Last year I pulled them, chopped them up and put them in the freezer. This year I’m going to try and dry them and keep them in the basement. I’ve got them in the pergola right now drying. There’s lots of shade here so hopefully they will dry alright. I’ll keep an eye on them. Then when they’re dry, I’ll clean them up. Cut the greens off, trim the roots and dust off the dirt that’s left. Then I’ll put them in an old milk crate and store them in the basement and see how it goes. I want to keep freezer space open for our sweet corn so I’m hoping this will work out fine. It stays cool and dark in the basement during the winter so I’m hoping for good results. Again, another step towards that simple living. And the more I can put away for the winter, the less running to town I’ll have to do and less chance for worry when a winter storm hits!

A Productive Day

We were supposed to wake up to 6″ to 8″ of snow on Saturday. Instead we woke up to ice. Ice everywhere. I was so thankful Eric came home Friday night before the nasty weather started. He needed an oil change, he had two tires leaking and his door handles weren’t working right. Well, his dad changed the oil and replaced two leaky valve stems but the door handles we picked up at the salvage yard awile back were the front handles and not back handles so that means Eric will have to come home again some other time. Yeah!!!! So what to do on a cold and icy day? Well, I had started the process of mustard making and that was ready to be finished.

Gotta let these sit for two days to absorb all the moisture.

Oh my goodness – the beautiful colors, smells and taste of Homemade Lavendar Mustard. And it was so very easy. I’m positive I’ll be making this again and I’m thinking it will be a perfect Father’s Day gift for my dad as he loves mustard.

Then Joe helped me pull Drew’s bed out so I could finish painting his room. This kid and all his treasures. After getting the room done and everything moved back the way he wanted it, he went through the house, through cupboards and drawers, all the nooks and crannys and he “shopped” for things to decorate with. It’s funny what he chose to use from around the house. My old roller skates, some of Grandma Houseal’s dishes, old Sucrets tins, whatever he could get his hands on. Gotta love him!

Then sweet Humphrey got a nice clean rearranged home. Drew decided on a camping theme this time around. With white bedding so he’s camping in the snow! We found some timothy hay and something called Nature’s Salad for him and also scattered some carrot and celery pieces around the cage for him to find. He was one happy camper when we put him back in the cage and he explored for ages. Then he knocked his camper over, decided not to bed down in the timothy hay and instead made a new nesting area and promptly fell asleep!

Not a good picture but this little guy is constantly on the move. I have yet to get a decent picture of him!

We had bacon and eggs for breakfast so instead of crushing the eggs up this time around and giving them back to the girls, I let them dry all day and crushed them up and put them in a jar. Since then I’ve added egg shells two more times to the jar already. Those shells will go in the ground this spring along with the tomatoes we’re going to plant. It feels good to get started planning for spring even though we’re living in an ice covered world at the moment!

Stitching Time

Sameul and Elizabeth by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm

I love how this one turned out. I thought about not posting it to sell but decided I should. I just have way too many cupboard tucks stuffed away in the nooks and crannies of this house – I sure don’t need another one. I love that Elizabeth is offering Sam a pie and look at those boobies – oh they remind me of my Great Grandma Houseal. She gave the best hugs! And isn’t Sam quite the dandy!

Hickety Pickety by Lori Brechlin of Notforgotten Farm.

I’ve been on a Notforgotten Farm kick lately when it comes to my stitching. I love love how this one is turning out. Remmeber the old nursery rhyme Hickety Pickety My Black Hen? I’m not sure but I just may have to frame this one and hang it in the kitchen along with all my other chicken stitches I have in there. We’ll see. And maybe I’ll stitch another one to sell after I finish the Notforgotton Farm pattern I started last night. Although these are such teeny tiny stitches on Lori’s 40 count linen – I’m really getting too old for such little stitches!

Stitching Time

I finally got some stitching time in for me. It took me forever to get these three done – Sheep Heap, Goat Load and Hen Pecked. I had to stitch two of the Goat Load for others before I could finish one for myself! I will admit they came out pretty darn cute when they were finished into cupboard keeps. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with these three now. I’m thinking they would look cute framed but finding the right frame could be a challenge. They may end up in my HUGE pile of to be finished projects for now. We’ll see.

Then I started this one last night. I love bringing these little characters to life with my needle and thread. I swear that sometimes they talk to me as I’m stitching! To sit and stitch in the evening – there’s no better way to relax and unwind after a busy day. I know for sure I would simply fall asleep in my chair if I didn’t have something to do with my hands. A day without stitching doesn’t happen often for me and I usually have Drew snuggled up right beside me. Although those days are starting to be fewer and fewer. I’ll miss it when he decides he’s just too old to sit with him mom anymore.

Frost Quakes and Hoards

Beaky, Ethel, Blackie, Ester and Matilda – Liz didn’t want her picture taken I guess!

Frost Quakes – the official name for the sounds this old house has been making. I heard one last night right before I fell asleep – it sounded like someone rammed into the side of the house. You should have seen me jump! We had another cold night and it was cold out there this morning when I checked on the girls and gave them some fresh water. Right now it’s -7 with a wind chill of -26 and that’s nothing compared to what we had Tuesday night and yesterday! Tomorrow it’s supposed to get up to 20 and by Sunday 45. It will feel like a heatwave! No coats necessary! It always amazes me how by this time of the year we run around without coats in 30 degree weather and think nothing of it. Our bodies adjust. School was canceled again today and no mail delivery again. Two days in a row for that – I wonder if that has ever happened before? I’m thankful that the carriers don’t have to be outside in this weather. There’s no need.

Just a small pile of patterns to get organized and in binders – a daunting task!

So, today I’m back to sorting through endless piles of cross stitch supplies – threads, trims, linens, fabrics, needles, scissors I forgot I had, patterns. An endless amount of patterns. I could never stitch up all the patterns in my collection in my lifetime and yet I can easily find more I think I have to have . I’m pulling each and every one of them out of their plastic packaging and organizing them in three ring binders, some binders according to holiday, others according to designer. I’ve run out of binders and plastic sleeves so it looks like a Walmart run in the near future. (Weather permitting of course!) I cannot wait to have everything organized so that I can pick out exactly what I want and/or need at any time and get started on a project!

The Chickens Are Happy

While chatting with Uncle Jerry about chickens he mentioned he had been letting his girls out to free range now that the flowers were spent and they couldn’t do too much damage to them. So, we’ve started letting our girls run. I’m not sure who has been more excited – the chickens or Drew. He couldn’t wait to play with them and he even tried to bring Blackie in the house! We had four very happy chickens and two who were too scared to wander more than a few steps out of the pen the first time we let them out. Those two had never been out to free range before. I’m sure as we let them out more here this fall they’ll get brave and wander. Especially once they catch on to all the bugs they’re missing out on!

Unfortunately, we’ve been seeing lots and lots of rain these past couple of weeks and the chicken pen is full of mud so letting them run has been especially good for them. But, I’ve been subbing at the school the last five days and haven’t been able to let them run while I’m gone. After this week (only four more days – yeah!) hopefully the weather will improve and I’ll be home again and we’ll all be happy!

Being Happy

I was gathering eggs the other day and I brought in another blue egg. Of course I had to show Joe and he laughed and said, “Those blue eggs make you happy don’t they?” And they do! Acutally, just the act of gathering eggs and talking to the chickens makes me happy. And I get to do it on a daily basis!

Then the other evening, one of those few evenings here lately where we could just sit still and relax, we were outside on the deck Joe built this summer. I had my sewing with me and my glass of Diet Pepsi (a bad addiction I’m working on stopping) sitting beside me on the table Joe built. It was a beautiful evening to be outside. And I realized how content I was. I told Joe how spoiled I felt at that moment. His response was that I was far from spoiled. But at that moment I was happy and I did feel spoiled.

Then when we were camping in Clear Lake I shared some salsa with the group that I had made the week before. Dad and Mom have had an overabundance of tomatoes, onions and green peppers this summer and keep giving them to me so I’ve been making freezer salsa and I now have 31 containers of salsa in the freezer, not to mention how much we’ve already eaten. They keep giving me tomatoes and I haven’t wanted them to go to waste so even if it meant getting up extra early in the morning to make a batch before going somewhere else for the day, I was up chopping tomatoes. And I realized it makes me happy. Being able to share with family and friends something I had made that was not only yummy but full of fresh straight from the garden ingredients makes me happy. Knowing this winter I can bring out this homemade yummy salsa and use it in chili and for tacos or just to eat with chips makes me happy. Just the process of making the salsa makes me happy.

Joe just chuckles when I say my blue eggs make me happy but he knows me and he knows these little things are so important to me. It doesn’t take much to find something around here that makes me happy! And that makes me happy too!

Home

I’ve always been a homebody but it seems the older I get and the longer I’m out of the workforce, the more of a homebody I’m becoming. Being away from home these past few days was fun but I would find myself wishing I was back home. When we got home Sunday evening and headed down to check on the chickens I found our first blue egg. Matilda had laid her first egg while we were gone. It really didn’t matter that I wasn’t home when Matilda laid her first egg but it felt like I had missed out on a milestone in one of my baby’s lives! Silly I know but I just like to be home!