The Mouse Cave and some chicken talk

Hard to believe another whole year is gone, and the older I get the faster the years go! If there is a New Year's resolution made by me, it will be to really appreciate and enjoy each and every day. To live in the moment! cause once it's gone, it's gone! 

I've got pictures to show you. I know, I know, it's the mouse cave teeny tiny sewing room again. Can you see the change?

Remember the white wall behind the shelves? Well, folded neatly away right there in my stacks of fabric was the sweetest four yards of material. Look closely...

and here...

covered in tiny pink posies and roses and hearts. Actually, the fabric was printed to make a quilt top. Wouldn't that be pretty? But, for now, it's a wall covering. I've added bows and baskets. Brambly Hedge, we're on our way. and do you see "Buttons" the bunny, standing in front of the button jars. She is a very special bunny and will live with me in the teeny tiny sewing room. Thank you Deb!

So, after playing in the closet for a good two hours, I finished making this scalloped, reversible apron...

and reversed...

this was a fun apron to make. I'm not completely happy with the scallops around the bottom front. It's not a flat smooth seam and that drives me crazy. I will be more careful sewing the next scalloped apron.

It was close to 9:30 last night and I was still working around in the sewing room when I felt the vibration...good grief! it was my "Fitbit". What the heck! do these things explode! no! it was fireworks, meant for me! 10,000 steps! :) My body was kind of telling me so, before the Fitbit ever did.

and Janet, about the chickens.

Goodness, I'm no chicken expert by any means, but I can tell you which are my favorite breeds. I love the Giant Brahmas, like the white hen standing in front. These hens are gentle and quiet and look like they are shuffling around in bedroom slippers, because of the feathers on their feet. Brahmas lay in the winter months too. 

also the Buff Orpington is a favorite, and the Speckled Sussex. The Sussex is the spotted hen standing in front of the Brahma and she must be at least ten years old. Her name is Annie...the only hen we have who knows her name. She lays white eggs.

Oh, and I love the Araucana hens. Two are in the picture, one with the gold striped chest and one with the silver stripes near the tree. These are good egg layers!  and they lay the colored eggs.

Actually, I love all chickens but my least favorite is the Rhode Island Red, poor babies, and these are probably the best to have for laying large brown eggs. A Rhode Island Red will peck the living daylights out of you if you try to get an egg from under her.

We are fortunate in that friends and neighbors have given us chickens. A few years ago, our neighbors Fred and Ann, gave us their entire flock of hens. Then a nice couple gave us six young Araucanas. Poppy once traded a pair of Guineas for two Giant Brahma hens. Gosh, I could go on and on and probably haven't been any help, Janet.

Thank you for looking at my blog, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!!

and thinking about my resolution of  "living in the moment", well, that will take some thought and some getting used to. I am terrible about wishing for the past, and worrying about tomorrow. 

Love,
Henny

The usual!

Out feeding the animals early yesterday I spotted the rake that was left leaning against a tree. 

When the chickens are walking on black wet ground, it bothers me. It looks cold and uncomfortable...so I raked two more loads of leaves and dumped them inside the lot. The hens find bits of grass and moss and other stuff mixed in the leaves.

Wasn't long before the inside of the lot was covered in leaves too...

Anyhow, after lunch, Poppy got comfortable in his raggedy old chair and turned the TV channel to "Gun Smoke".

By the way, do you remember back when we first found Smokey. Back when someone threw him out on the dirt road. He was just a little kitten. Remember how Poppy put his foot firmly down and said, "no more cats in the house". "He can stay here but he has to be an outside cat".  Well, does this look like a kitty who is afraid to come inside? a kitty who remembers Poppy's words of warning?

So, the living room being occupied with sleeping folk, I decided to spend the afternoon in my very own teeny tiny mouse house, the sewing room...

I spent the afternoon cutting out another apron, an old fashioned bonnet, and a couple of plastic bag holders. Now I'm ready to sit down at the sewing machine.

There is always a kitty close by. Glad he noticed the sun shining through the window and decided to leave my fabric and patterns alone.

Better go. I've got lots to do this morning...a package to mail, prescriptions to pick up in Henderson, and a few groceries to buy. So, I hope to be back here soon.

Love,
Henny

Now that Christmas is past, can we start thinking about spring and gardening? Maybe we should wait until after next weekend?

Look! I got a rooster for Christmas! from our sweet friend Nellie. 

Hope you all had a good Christmas. It was quiet here. We had a last minute change of plans, so it was just Poppy and me. I dashed out on Christmas Eve and bought groceries.

As it turned out, we had a good Christmas, and a good dinner on Christmas day. We had turkey, broccoli casserole, collards, turnips, cranberry sauce, and hot rolls...and for desert, a big sticky pecan pie. Even without the dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and sweet potato casserole it was more than enough.

after the dishes were washed, we walked...there's Smokey, on Poppy's left.

here, near the bog.

home again, home again, jiggity-jog.  :)  little by little I'm getting the leaves raked up. We can see green again! We don't burn the leaves, we add them to the garden and to our several big compost piles.

Two aprons cut out and ready to sew. I'm getting tired of using the same pattern and need a change. The little scalloped, reversible apron is really cute.

and this one too, I hope, in the blue daisy fabric. Trouble with these styles, especially the reversible apron is the amount of fabric needed.

Sewing is more fun when you have several things cut out.

Leaf raking continues...in fact, yesterday after snacking all day, then sitting down to a big meal, I was miserable...aha! just the thing to work off that piece of pecan pie...the rake! and so I did...raked leaves for one hour and twenty minutes. Today I have raked leaves for one hour!

Can't wait to read about Christmas Day at your place. Be there shortly.

Love,
Henny

P.S. Poppy got me a "Fitbit" for Christmas. Sure wish I could have been wearing it during all that leaf raking. It will take me until next year at this time to figure out how to use it. We need to download an app! "What the heck is an app", asked Poppy,  "and you're asking me", replied Henny.

Raking leaves. That's what I've been doing these last few days before Christmas!

Just could not pass up the opportunity...two warm sunny days with highs in the 60's. Poppy walked past me all bundled up in his coat with the hood up, gloves, face mask, the works, going hunting.  "You're in a tee shirt?", he asked, "and you're sweating?"! Well, yeah. Raking leaves warms you up real quick.


Ahh, look out my window this morning...

But, you know the saying, "red sky in the morning, sailor take warning". We are supposed to get a little rain tomorrow, but today should be another good leaf raking day.

I added another apron to the little shop...

a real Henny Penny chicken apron.

and speaking of chickens, I've got to leave this computer and get my feed bucket. The hens are probably walking the floor, waiting for me. 

anyhow, here comes the sun...

...later in the day...

Friends, you're not going to believe this, well, maybe you will, knowing me... 

I did get up from this computer about 7:30 this morning and with my feed bucket on my arm, fed and watered all the animals. Oh my way back to the house, I picked up the rake, and was still raking leaves when Poppy pulled in the driveway at 11:00. Oh the yard looks wonderful. I've really made a dent in the leaves this time. 

After eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich on whole wheat bread...my favorite, with a glass of cold milk, I went straight back to my leaf raking. Now I'm done for the day. It was 3:00 when I leaned the rake against a tree and staggered inside.

Eli wanted you to know that he had to see the vet last week. Poor baby...

Don't know who needed a shave worse, Poppy or Eli.

Turns out, it was just rough spots on his elbows that were red and itching and bothering him. A little medicated cream has helped. 

Better get busy. Poppy is hunting again. He promised that we will drive to town tonight. I want to drive down Main street and see all the big beautiful older homes and their decorations. Maybe there will be some pictures for tomorrow's post.

See you soon.

Love,
Henny

Been out visiting...

Thinking I had better check in. Good gracious, go somewhere for a day and it takes a week to catch up! 

Monday, I Christmas shopped. Tuesday, I met daughter Lynn in Durham. We left my car in a grocery store parking lot, she drove, and we had a fun day together. 

Our first stop Starbucks. Best cup of coffee I've had in months, well, since my other daughter Andee and I were together and stopped for a "white mocha" at Starbucks.

Our next stop was to visit my Grandson Joseph and his wife Lori and see my Great Grandchildren Greyson and Addie...

Addie is adorable! Joseph woke her from a nap, and she came out with a smile on that sweet little face and held her arms out to me. 

I don't who was having more fun, Addie or grandma Lynn. That's Joseph on the sofa.

There are no pictures of little Greyson or Lori, and we did take some. Greyson is a cutie pie too. It's early morning so later Lynn can send me more pictures. I can post one tomorrow. Wow. Crazy me.

Addie is a sweetie pie!

Before going shopping, we stopped by Lynn's shop...

It's cozy and sweet and packed with pretty things...

 I was taking pictures and Lynn was saying, wait mom, let me get the lights turned on. 

every corner...

filled with pretty things ...

 Better get up from here and get the animals fed.

Hope to be back soon.

Love,
Henny

Little pink pigs

The "Christmas Pig" apron is finished. Poppy's response to the piggy fabric was "eeuw". 

little pigs are cute, aren't they?

anyhow, here' the finished apron...

 So, what do you think? Would you wear a pig apron in the kitchen? :)

Speaking of pigs, Poppy worked at the deer processing plant yesterday...a long work day. He was there eight and a half hours. He said a man brought in two hogs to be processed. here's the story...

These hogs broke out of their pen and had been missing for some time. The owner of the hogs and another man went deer hunting yesterday. They were sitting up in a tree stand, when the two hogs showed up. They shot the hogs and brought them in to be processed. So, instead of killing a deer, they killed two hogs.

Poor pigs. I worry about about pigs. They have a hard life, don't they? and I've read that pigs are intelligent animals. 

Gosh, it is awfully gray and dull here with all the green gone off the trees...

and around the pond too, so brown and drab...

I do love the changing seasons, but I would choose summertime, and blue skies, and sunshine, anytime! So, if we can't have green, a big snow would make these pictures pretty.

and if we can't have snow, how bout a little white Eli...

we were walking Eli and Weetie around the pond. Poppy stopped to put the game camera on a tree. Can you tell the pond is icy?

I've simply got to get started raking again...

Thank you visiting.

Love,
henny

A Christmas Apron and a Recipe

It's a little late to be sewing Christmas aprons for the shop, but since this one is done...

might as well show you...

I had planned to do the ties and pockets in red but found this beige fabric hiding in the closet.  

There will be another Christmas apron too. I'm hoping to finish it today. Last Tuesday in Henderson, I wandered through Walmart's fabric department. Most of their Christmas fabrics were gone, but rolled up there in the remnants basket was the cutest piece of "Christmas Pigs" fabric. Two yards. 

Anyhow, I was thinking this morning about those chocolate covered peanuts made in a crock pot. Oh gosh, can I make them without eating the whole crock pot full myself? Probably not!

It was just before Christmas of 2009 when I saw this recipe...so you all probably already have it. 

"CHOCOLATE PEANUT CLUSTERS"

(2) 16 oz. jars dry roasted peanuts
(1) 12 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
(1) 12 oz. bag milk chocolate chips
(8) blocks white chocolate

Pour peanuts into the crock pot
Add chocolate chips (not to touch sides of 
                                              pot)
Add white chocolate on top

Heat on low for 1 1/4 hours
Stir until mixed well
Drop by tsp. onto wax paper lined pan

These are the best chocolate covered peanuts ever!! I prefer using all milk chocolate chips. 

Better get busy.  Here's my kitty cat pictures for the day...

 somebody was sleeping really good!

Love,
Henny

A little add-on note here...two new followers! Thank you Bob Bushell and Jeri Landers I appreciate your friendship so much! 

         

a little update....

Thank you for the nice comments. 

The old male Guinea has followed me into the enclosed pen every night since that awful owl attack on Monday, which is still unbelievable to me. Guineas are good fliers and roost high up in the trees, like here, from last winter...

so, for a bird to stop flying and then simply walk into an enclosed pen...well, I'm beyond happy.

and here's an update on the baby chicks that hatched the day before Thanksgiving...

this one likes the heat lamp,

all the babies are growing and doing fine.

It is a cold 20 degrees here this morning. At daylight, I've got to bundle up and carry a bucket of warm water out. I'm sure all the drinking water is frozen hard.

Little Penny thanked me for adding hay to all the bunny boxes,

and a tarp wrapped around the north side of the 10' x 10' pen keeps that cold wind from blowing through.

How did folks manage before tarps came along! It sure pays to keep a couple on hand. We buy the dark brown or camouflage that blends in with the landscape. Nothing any uglier than those bright blue tarps that folks around here use. Seriously, it's common to see one on somebody's front porch, covering up a pile of junk. Oops!

and speaking of those high blustery winds we got all day yesterday, well, folks around here have me to thank for that! yep, remember how I raked leaves for an hour, hauled off three sheet loads, and got one tiny section of the yard clean. It never fails. I rake, the wind picks up! that big wind blew enough leaves to completely cover the clear spot. :(

and who am I to talk about ugly! This old tarp was stored in the shed but sure came in handy to make a warm spot for the newly hatched chicks. We need to put that unused doghouse on craigslist, and get rid of the barrel.

and before I go...

Poppy laughed and said, take a look in the laundry room, must have been a crumb left those kitty dishes stacked to be washed.

Hope to be back soon.

Love,
Henny