Month: January 2019

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!

Winter

I’m going to try this whole blogging thing again. Only different. Here goes.

We had record breaking cold weather last night. It was absolutely frigid. I had never heard the house groan and creak and pop like it did all night long. I’d read about that happening but had never experienced it myself. It was strange. Like the house was talking back to Mother Nature. But this 100+ year old house kept us safe and warm. The furnace kept up (thank goodness we had a full gas barrel), and the electric heater along with an old heavy quilt kept the back bedroom comfortable, the water pipes didn’t freeze. I’m so very thankful!

Joe was gone. He’s been in Pella this week. So it was up to me to hold the fort down. I stressed and worried about the poor chickens. I went out at dusk and gave them more bedding, stuffed some old sheets up and around them, then more bedding, told them good night and closed their door. And this morning – they were up and clucking and seemed to glad to see me. They got warm oatmeal and fresh water for breakfast and I opened their door in case they wanted to venture out. I was so happy to see them up and moving around!

It is so cold that everything in town is pretty much closed down or opened late and will close early. The postal service has shut down for the day. That has never happened before that I can remember but I was so glad to hear their decision yesterday. And Monday they announced that school would be canceled for yesterday and today. School was canceled four days last week due to snow, blowing wind and cold. Looks like we will be going to school longer this spring but that’s okay – better that than putting anybody’s life in danger trying to get to school. I have always loved winter. I find a good snowstorm to be exhilarating! There’s nothing prettier than a snow covered landscape! But these temps – I must say I’m not a fan. It’s been a winter to remember that’s for sure!

So after braving the temps this morning to take care of the girls I sat down with a couple of warm cranberry muffins, a cup of coffee and my new MaryJane’s farm magazine and enjoyed a few minutes of perusing. I ordered this magazine sight unseen when they sent me a flier and I am so glad I did. It is filled with fun, informative articles on everything farmgirl related. I can see I’m going to really enjoy it. I’m trying to get back to simple. Less electronics more hands on. Less time spent on blogs and Pinterest and Facebook, more time spent reading a book or magazine and just slowing down and enjoying my family and my home. As much as I enjoy having the internet at my fingertips, I enjoy a hot cup of coffee, a homemade treat and a good magazine so much more. It’s the little things for me!