Just 3 Things | #40

I know I talk about the weather here a lot and we used to joke about my Daddy being so focused on weather. I also know that farm life tends to make one focus on weather more so than other folks might focus on it. I think everybody I have come in contact with in any way has mentioned the weather lately, though.  It has been SO HOT around here! I was reading this morning in the newspaper that it is partly due to the El Nino effect that is causing temperatures to be almost two degrees hotter than normal. I also read where 2027 expected to be more than three degrees hotter than normal. Whew! As Daddy used to joke, "It sure seems like we have more weather these days than we used to."

- What I'm Loving - 

I'm a bit late on my Just 3 Things post due to being a bit out of pocket. One set of the grands has been exhibiting their livestock at the State Fair and Expo shows this past week and I've trekked over there to watch all that action. Harris earned State Junior Showmanship honors for the registered ewe show as well as for the market lamb show. Linley earned Pee Wee Showmanship honors for the Junior Commercial Ewe and Market Lamb show. Thursday was the day for the Registered Breeding Ewe Show and Harris won the class with his Dorset Advantage Ewe. His white face cross commercial ewe was champion and selected as fourth overall ewe in the show. His Hampshire ewe was Supreme Champion Breeding Ewe.

Harris and Mattie - Champion Hampshire and Supreme Champion Registered Breeding Ewe

Harris and Riley - Reserve White Face Cross and 4th Overall Ewe

Harris and Freezy - February Dorset Advantage Ewe Lamb

Friday was the day of the market lamb competition. Harris showed his natural colored lamb to the Champion honors. He won Champion with his Shropshire wether as well. His Oxford lamb was Reserve Champion.

Harris and Ozzie - Champion Natural Color Market Lamb

Harris and Austin - Champion Shropshire Market Lamb

Harris and Spencer - Reserve Champion Oxford Market Lamb

On Saturday, little sister, Linley got in on the action during the State Fair Open and Junior Show. After earning showmanship honors, she showed her lamb to the top of the class.

Linley and Freezy - Dorset Advantage February Ewe Lamb 

Then, on Saturday night, the Expo Champions were tapped. The crew was scrambling to get three big wethers ready to go all at the same time. Harris had rounded up some friends to help out, since he had three in the ring all at once. The Natural Colored Market Lamb was tapped as Reserve Grand Champion overall. It was so exciting!

l-r: Linley, Bryan, the Judge, Harris, Jessica, and Ozzie - Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb 

After the show, Bryan and Jessica, both, expressed that they were overwhelmed and surprised and humbled by the experience. Of course, at that point, it was business as usual and time to gather and pack supplies and tack, make sure the lambs were cooled down and comfortable, and load everything and every body up to head down the road toward home. I think they may have floated down the road on excitement, gratefulness, and adrenaline. I know I did. What a week!

- What I've Been Reading -

Again this week I've been reading and watching a lot of tutorials for embroidery projects. There are so many creative ideas out there and so many different methods for constructing cute zip pouches and bags. Yesterday, I finished up reading The Club by Ellery Lloyd and started reading The Letter by Kathryn Hughes. I've barely started on this one but I might get a lot of pages read if this heat continues to press down on us!

The book came out several years ago and has great reviews. I'm just at the getting to know the characters phase of reading it at this point, though. 

- What I've Been Working On -

During the first part of the week, I put together a couple of small pouches to give as Christmas gifts. I had also done lots of thinking about how I could tweak the bandana bag concept and gave some of my ideas a try. Again, I'm pleased with the outcome of the one I made.

I also still learned a lot with this one. First, black bandanas are hard to mark for stitching the quilting. I don't have a quilting arm or guide. So, I had marked the bag I made for myself with a pen that disappears when the iron is run over it. I used the white pen to mark stitch lines for this one but it was still really difficult to see the marking. 

Next, I was talking on the phone when I set up the front panel for embroidery and did not even use a stabilizer underneath. Thankfully, it stitched up well in spite of my oversite because of the thickness of the panel with the foam quilting. So, I lucked out there. 

The red bandanas that I used to line the bag were more flimsy than the navy ones I used to line my own bag. So, I sort of wish that I had backed them with some sort of interfacing or stabilizer. I used a piece of bandana as the inside zip pocket on this one instead of using gingham like I did my own. 

For this bag I wound up using a total of five bandanas. It is not quite as wide as the one I made for myself but is plenty spacious. I also did not put a recessed inside zipper in it. After using mine a time or two, I decided that it sort of gets in the way and is deep enough that items don't fall out without that zip closure. I'm still tweaking my ideas for the next one! I do love the bright red embroidery and the roses in the design of the bandana on this one. It gives such a different look to the bag. So, I think no two would be alike anyway. I'm still in love with these cute bags!

We started off the morning with no water today. Welcome to Monday! The repair was several hours in process but we did get water a short while ago. So, I'm going to sign off here and get some cleaning done. I cannot tell you how many times the Mister and I went by the sing this morning and pushed the faucet handle out of habit. Once, we were even talking about how we wondered about the water lines since we had no water but one of the neighbors did and I pushed the faucet handle on, knowing that the water was off. I guess we don't appreciate the luxuries that my grandparents didn't enjoy till later in life in the way we should. I hope your water is cool and the rest of your world is as well. We are in the dog days at this point, I think. 

Just 3 Things | #39

I know I often talk about the weather here and I guess I inherited that from my Daddy. When one lives on a farm, though, weather plays a big role in most everything that goes on. It has rained here more days during the past three weeks or more than it has been dry. Whoever heard of having green grass that begs to be mowed more than once per week in July and August!?! The rain has also stalled hay harvest. The Mister is on edge wondering just when he might get to cut and rake and bale and all the things and steps required to put hay in the barn and mow off our front field. I just looked at the weather app on my phone.

No less than 35% rain predicted in the 10-Day forecast.

- What I've Been Watching -

I've been reading and watching tutorials online like never before. I have so many ideas for using my new sewing machine and I see so many wonderful ideas. I am loving that I can find a tutorial for crafting most anything and stitching most anything up just by reading and looking at photos and watching video tutorials. 

Gone are the days when one simply looked at the diagrams that came with a package for creating or assembling something. Gone are the static tissue paper patterns that tear easily and have unclear drawings to follow for sewing. These days I just perform and online search and there are multiple tutorials right at my fingertips. I love that I can have clear photographed pictures showing me what to do, or I can watch a video, rewind, pause, and watch it again to learn how to assemble something that I am stitching up. 

For all the times that people fuss about technology, I just want to stand up and cheer that we do have such technology right at our fingertips to teach us how to do something new. Now, that doesn't mean I get things right on the first try each time. That doesn't mean I fully understand something after reading, watching, rewinding, and watching again. Yet, the opportunity that provides for me as a learner and a crafter and a sewist is absolutely fabulous! I shared a couple or three tutorials I used in making a cute tote bag this week. However, please know that I have watched and saved three or four more different ones before and during the process of me attempting to make just that tote bag. An example that I didn't share is this one where I learned to make a cool end to a zipper tab. 

- What I've Been Reading -

Besides reading tutorials, I've also been reading an interesting novel this week. It is one of Reese's Book Club Picks.

 The Club by Ellery Lloyd was advertised as, "a murder mystery set at an exclusive celebrity resort." However, as I am reading it, I can see personalities similar to folks I know or have encountered and I certainly have not been to an exclusive celebrity resort. I'm about half way through and it is really an engaging read. 

- What I've Been Working On -

I spent a couple of days working on my big project for the week - a Bandana Tote Bag. It was so rewarding to see this coming together and turning out like my vision. I learned so many different things in the process and learned about new products that I didn't know existed and techniques that I would never have dreamt of on my own. 

I already have gathered a stash of bandanas to make more bags and pouches using this inexpensive fabric. Of course, one of the things I learned is that there are bandanas that don't really look like bandanas. I had seen patriotic ones before but there are also animal prints, camo prints, cute variety prints, and traditional bandanas in a multitude of colors. So, I think I could make a different bag each week and never use the same sort of bandana even if I used one color or print for the outer side and a different one for the lining. Some of these different varieties of bandanas are more expensive than the typical one-dollar-handkerchief but I found loads available right in my price range and fully intend to create something cute and wonderful with as many as possible!

If the sun is shining where you are, I hope you are making hay in it! Have a good weekend.

Just 3 Things | #17

Happy Friday 13th! I love a good Friday 13th. After all, I was born on one. 

As one season melts into the next, we are assured that the world truly comes full circle. There are certain things one can count on to come round every so often just as scheduled. This week the warmer temperatures have returned, the Olympics are in full thrall, and I was reminded of my younger days as well. Sometimes that full circle is a good thing and sometimes not as welcomed. However, we should always hold out hope because what goes around will come around and we should just be ready and welcome it - come what may. 

- What I've Been Loving -

The warmer weather has brought out lots of smiles for us. Mike spent most of the day outside a couple of days this week. When he came inside, he was in a much better frame of mind than in days past as well. I got out and strolled in the sunshine a bit and it brought smiles to my face as well.  

I've never been a big lover of hot weather but as I've aged, I learn that I like warm weather a lot more. The cold just seems to get into my bones and I don't enjoy it as much as I once did. When we had snow and ice on the ground, I learned that our eldest grandson could spend most of the day out in it. He would take his BB gun and go out and just wander round and look for targets and investigate. I remember being a kid like that. We lived on a farm and I would just get out and go walking across the field and through the woods poking at rocks and vines and hanging limbs was sort of like a type of therapy for me. 

When I was outside yesterday, I noticed this little fellow. I'm sure there is an old wives tale about the coloring of this caterpillar. Also, I wonder, what is he doing scooting around in February?

One day this week I took my computer outside and did a little organizing and sorting of expenditures and income information as I prepped for tax filing. It made the task seem not quite so bad to me. So, I can say that I've been loving these warmer sunny days.

- What I've Been Watching -

I've watched a bit of the Winter Olympics. I'm not as big a fan of the Olympics these days as I was in the past. I really liked it most when the athletes were true amateurs. These folks are really professionals these days. They treat the sport like a job and practice it for hours every single day. They have company sponsors for which they advertise. I seem to recall the days when these were young people who spent their time before or after school working to improve their skills. I understand that the way all sports have evolved is more toward professional dedication and that is alright. I just enjoyed it a bit more when there was a fresh-faced innocence and the participants were not nearly so polished and professional.  

Many of the athletes are participating for their third or even more Olympic experience. So, that means they have been working at this sport or event for at least fifteen years. I heard one of the commentators mention something along the line that a participant was still in his teens so he had many years left and would look much different in his next Olympics. I've known folks who have had three different jobs during that timeframe. So, their dedication is admirable. Plus, how can one not be in awe of a person who straps on a pair of skis and a tight-fitting suit and slides down a mountain at more than sixty miles per hour?

via

I must say that it is enjoyable to see and hear from former Olympians who are now commentators sharing these athletes' stories and pointing out their skills and finesse. It sort of feels like these folks are old friends who have come back to visit and keep us informed about different sports that we might not be so familiar with. Scott Hamilton, who lives not far from us, is especially wonderful to hear from because he just tells these folks' stories with such humor and candor. He was talking about the world's most admired figure skater right now and chuckling about the young man's irreverent attitude and willingness to take risks and do things that are different. It is exactly the kind of thing folks like me enjoy hearing and learning about. 

via The Guardian

Plus, Snoop Dogg is there and is slipping and sliding and sharing his perspective. I loved that they showed him attempting curling and sliding down a hill on his fanny. His reactions have been about like mine would be only he is a lot more athletic than I am by far!

- What I've Been Working On -

When my son, Bryan, was a little fellow - barely starting school, we went for a parent night that must have been around Mother's Day because each child had drawn a picture of his mother and answered some questions about her. One of the questions was something along the lines of: "When does your mother get angry?" My precious child answered, "When she spills melted butter." You see, earlier in the week I had melted a stick of butter in the microwave which was at upper cabinet height and bobbled and spilled the melted butter all over myself and counter and cabinets and floor and whatever else was nearby. Of course, it was hot and burning me and I was shouting some quite colorful expletives. So, my precious child recalled that and shared it with his kindergarten or first grade teacher. 

Well, this week has been sort of a repeat of that experience - minus the precious child witness. On Tuesday evening, I was cleaning up after dinner - Taco Tuesday. From the island, I picked up an almost-full, large tub of sour cream and turned around to put it on the top shelf of the fridge. Just before I got to the shelf, my grip on the tub gave up or I bumped into something or for some reason unknown, I let go of the tub. Then, started flailing round to try to catch it, which only served to make it bounce off a lower shelf, hit the interior side of the fridge, then, hit the door and continue on to hit the top of the freezer drawer, then, the freezer handle and on down to the floor where it hit hard. The top had come off at the first bump and sour cream had plopped out in heaps all over the fridge, the island, and the floor. I can assure you that my dismay was expressed colorfully and it is really a good thing there was no precious child witness.

Then, late last night, after the Mister had gone to bed, I stirred myself up a cup of hot chocolate, placed it in the microwave to heat, and opened the door to get my cup of goodness. I picked it up and got the cup about half out of the microwave and lost my grip on the handle. Hot chocolate sloshed all over the microwave, on the cabinetry between the microwave and the oven, down the drawer below the oven, and splashed all over the floor. There was even a drip or two between the glass pieces of the oven door that will require that the door be taken apart in order to get it cleaned away. I had come full circle. Again, my frustration was expressed colorfully, if rather quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping hubby. Again, it is a really good thing there was no precious child witness.

So, this week, I feel like I have been working on cleaning up messes of my own making!

I hope you have had a good week and have made fewer messes than this old gal. Have a good weekend!

Today I noticed...The ice is melting layer by layer.

We commented yesterday about the thickness of the ice on the back porch and how the table went from being a solid, stacked sheet of ice to the grid pattern of the metal on top. Then, today we noticed that there was a layer of ice on top of that grid as well as a layer on the bottom. Plus, there is a fringe of icicles around the edge.

Partial Top Layer and Drooping Bottom Layer

The south end of the table cleared off yesterday but the ice that dropped off of it just landed in a pile underneath and it looked like we had dumped a bag of ice there. 

With the sun shining and higher temperatures today, there seems to be lots more dripping and I am seeing chunks fall off the power lines and trees. It does sort of sound like a shooting gallery when the chunks hit below.

When I looked up, I noticed that our gutter covering that keeps leaves out is also serving to keep the ice out and it is just sliding off and dripping. 

The sunshine makes it look like there are diamonds on the trees and atop the porch and all over the place. It is beautiful to look at - especially since we have suffered very little damage.

We have seen so many online posts of neighboring streets, roads, and yards where they have had damage and we've talked to several folks who lost power as well and our hearts go out to them. It was heartwarming to see where local coffee shops and restaurants took donations and provided meals, snacks, and drinks for the folks working to restore power and clear roads. When I saw those announcements, it made me want to do my part to be an unseen and unnoticed helper.

In times like these, I'm reminded of the Fred Rogers story about his mother offering reassurance and advice by telling him to Look For The Helpers.

2026 Snowmaggeddon Day #5

We are hanging in there and I am thankful to learn that many of our neighbors who were without power have now had it restored. We cannot imagine what it has been like for those power company employees. Navigating through the icy roads and walking and scotching on the ice to cut up the fallen and drooping icy trees; then, replacing broken power poles and lines. We are grateful for them and their dedication to serving others.

SOMEBODY had cabin fever a couple of days ago and just had to get out! One of the kiddos gave him a tall walking stick. So, he trekked out to the barn where he had parked the ATV buggy and truck. He motored round the ponderosa checking things out. Then, moved his truck and parked it at the basement entrance where it is close to the house with less iciness and threat for him to slip and fall.

The neighbor widow called and asked him if he would mind driving her down to the little township - about 5 miles - to work yesterday. She didn't have to be there till ten o'clock in the morning. So, he delivered her and picked her up at the end of her shortened day. 

In one of the check-in phone calls to my son who lives two hours west of us, we learned that he and his brother-in-law had trekked out to get refills of fuel for their generators. I told my daughter-in-law that I would love to have been a fly on the wall watching them. I'm sure it was about like watching two thirteen-year-old boys out on their own. They had tales to tell. One of the tales included picking up a woman and delivering her to a friend's house. 

He sent me some photos showing where they trekked and how the roads looked.

A View Through Son's Windshield

Another Windshield View

They drove under trees that were overhanging the road and saw lots of ice and snow damage.

I'm not so certain that driving under this tree was a wise move but sometimes it is better not to know what one's grown children do.

My daughter-in-law said that they are piling into one room with both children sleeping on pallets. They turned off the big generator and only ran a smaller one to keep that room warm. She said that during the night the kitchen and den area dropped about twenty degrees or more. They could see their breath! But, turning the big generator on brought the temperature back up really quickly.

One little family member got a tent for Christmas. So, she bedded down in her tent in the family bedroom and added about five coverlets to her space. She told me that she was so cozy in there that she had even sweated!

We are still lifting up grateful thoughts and hopeful thoughts for those who are still without power and are feeling stuck. We are also lifting up grateful thoughts for those folks who are out there working diligently to restore and repair damage caused by the storm. 

Stay warm and be careful out there!

2026 Snowmaggeddon Day #4

We've had sleet. 

We've had snow. 

We've had freezing rain. 

We've had more snow.

Yesterday, we had a bit of dripping off the roof that re-froze onto the handrails and porch.

I have lived through storms before that were bad. I don't know that this is any worse but, boy, it is different! I haven't seen anything quite like it.

Back Door View

Back Porch

 

Front Porch View

The sun caused some dripping off the roof yesterday. Here is a close up of how it would drip over thje edge of the gutter and freeze.

Once it dripped down onto the handrail, it would freeze and the icicle almost reached the step below.

Lights and plants at the foot of the front porch steps were encased in ice. Notice the icicle hanging off the front of the handrail.

Some of the roof icicles got really thick with the dripping. I am just amazed.

Lots of the trees are bent over. Some of them are even touching the ground. It is a pretty sight as long as I can just step out onto the porch and take a quick photo and come right back into the warm house.

The fencing is also beautiful so long as I'm just clicking a quick shot and scurrying back inside!

Our power lines are still encased in ice. We are some of those fortunate ones who have had power the entire time. The power flickered off a couple of times but it was not long.

The Mister and I have talked about this several times and how we have not seen anything like this before in our memory. 

2026 Snowmageddon Day #2

 Yesterday was quite a day. The snow started falling at about nine in the morning. We had quite a bit after an hour of solid snowfall.

Back Door View

Front Door View

This morning, at around five in the morning, rain and sleet began to fall. After about an hour, there was a slushy mess everywhere and this is how it looked:

Back Door View

Front Door View

Everything in the air like tree limbs, power lines, light strands, porch rails, etc., has a coating of ice. The ground also has about an inch and a half of slushy ice setting atop it. There is water standing in puddles and low parts of the driveway that has slushy ice and snow in it as well.

Notice the icicles on the chaise and that the pile of snow and the entire garden stool is encased in ice.

The chairs and table are completely encased in a coating of ice.

The power lines look like this line of patio lights and notice the bulbs are even encased.

The wind has picked up a bit and there is creaking and cracking and popping. My bonus son says that it sounds like gunshots in the trees at the top of the hill behind their barn where there are limbs and trees falling. When a gust of wind comes along, those icicles fall as well.

The temperature here is 33 degrees Fahrenheit and meteorologists are predicting the lows to fall into the teens tonight. Tomorrow's high is predicted to be 19 and the low will be in the single digits. 

This is quite amazing for us here in the south.

On social media posts I am seeing huge trees that have fallen across streets and roads. The local news reported that over 200,000 people were without power at around noon today. About 70,000 of those households were here in our county. Folks have lost power at the north of us as well as at the south. I'm sure those trees are playing a role in that. Power company and Public Works folks have been out working relentlessly.

We are blessed and fortunate to have power and be able to stay indoors. The bonus son checked on the Mister's animals this morning and told him to stay inside because he doesn't need to risk falling in this mess. So, the bonus son and the grands came by on their ATV and checked things out for us. They also brought us a bag of ice melt salt and left it beside the back door.

Talked on the phone to my son who lives two hours west of us in a rural area. They lost power at about five-thirty this morning. They have a whole house generator to keep their heat and power going. They also have some small generators to power their barn and shop/office. He thinks they have enough fuel to keep the small generators going for three days. He wishes he had more fuel at this point because he is not optimistic that their power will be restored by then. Right now, though, they and their animals and equipment are safe and warm.

We are lifting up grateful thoughts and hopeful thoughts for those who are without power. We are ever grateful, especially, for those who are part of the power company and public works teams working to restore power for people. I have never seen anything quite like this in my lifetime.

Stay warm and be careful out there!