Catch Up and don't forget the giveaway

 

A bit of a busy week to-ing and fro-ing. I managed to do some  Christmas shopping on Thursday and donate blood as well. Then it has been farm work which was made a little less pleasant by the heat. We have had temperatures in the high 30 deg C and have been told to expect the low 40s by the end of this week. I'm not looking forward to that. Although I like to embrace the seasons as they come, I really don't like excess heat and if it is coupled with humidity then it is not for me.

 



Heads down enjoying their hay

 This week we marked the lambs. That is tail docking and castration of males which aren't suitable for breeding. Our lambs are ear tagged when they are younger to enable us to keep track of their pedigree which is important when dealing with registered pure bred animals. It really isn't a pleasant task for farmer or animal but necessary for longterm animal welfare. Sheep with tails are prone to flystrike which can be deadly quite quickly. I know in some cooler climates where flies aren't the problem that they are in Australia, sheep can keep their tails but not here. Anyway, we carry out the procedure quickly and with care and with the animals' best interests at heart.

 We had a red bellied black snake make a visit on Thursday afternoon. I had  been over to the turkey house to visit mother turkey and her new chicks and all was well. Forty-five minutes later there was much ado in the house. Our male turkey, the other female and mother were flapping and carrying on a treat. I initially thought they were attacking the newly hatched chicks (although they have never done anything like that before) but no, the three were teaming up against the above snake. I know they are defensive but I had no idea that they would fight off a snake in defense of their young. The good news is that no birds were harmed though the snake didn't fair as well.

After a lot of craft and sewing being done recently, I haven't even toched any fabric until tonight. My mother gave me a bag of squares which came through the op shop she volunteers at. They are gaudy and bright, 1970s looking and not my style but they apparently belonged to someone who cared about them so I'm not letting them go to waste. I do need a bit of inspiration working with bright fabrics and there is plenty to be found here. I hope to have this little project finished by Tuesday night because come Wednesday, I am heading off on a big train trip to Sydney for Tom's birthday and also to bring him back home next weekend. I lose my sewing zone then because he will want his room all to himself I'm sure.

Don't forget the giveaway. It is only small but good things come in small packages. Right?
Tracy

More of the same

Marie

 More baby ducks. There has been quite a hatching over the past two days. I'm not entirely sure how many ducklings are over in the poultry yard (duck mothers are being quite secretive) but I do know a couple of them will be a little confused. Their mother is Marie, who is very much a  chook and has already been busily scratching up morsels for them to show them how it is done. They are ducks and really don't do the scratching thing but not to worry, neither party cares whether they are the same species or not. They just know that Marie is the mother and they are the babies. And a very proud mother she is.

Crocheted Christmas baubles

More Christmas ornaments. These are the crocheted baubles I made lsat night. They are super quick and easy to make and although they are not really my style, I am happy enough with them. They are for Christina's ornament swap so I had to make something to my swap partner's tastes which hopefully these are. And that will be it for ornaments for now unless I see something that I really must make.

Big day in the garden tomorrow so an early night for me.
Tracy

Sewing time

Dolly in bits and pieces.

I have really been making an extra effort to spend time doing things that I like to do, not just the chores that have to be done. Even just a few minutes a day adds up to a project completed. I used to make quite a few dolls but haven't done it for a while so I thought why not (and in the process, I have realise dhow much I have missed it). This one might not stay here on the farm but I am enjoying the process of making her for someone special and I am inspired to make a few more things for Christmas and birthday gifts.

I have always just used the dining table as my sewing area but now I am set  up in Tom's room. It has taken me eight months to claim his desk as my sewing table(and to claim his empty book shelves as well).

The sewing zone with assistant.

And guess what? In two weeks time, I will have to relinquish this space because he will be home for the summer. Hooray. When he returns to university next year, I won't delay in setting up shop again, it's great to have a place where the maching can be set up ready for those spare moments when a seam or two can come together.

No sewing tomorrow. It's a shepherding kind of day planned. Marking lambs and a spot of fencing.
Tracy

Sweet afternoon

                                 

The strawberries are coming in in enough numbers for a batch of jam even if it is a small one. Our jam supplies are down to a jar of unopened plum jam which is almost two years old. It will be fine to eat but that freshness of the strawberries will beat it hands down. I am waiting on a lemon which will come home from work with Tim and then they can bubble away and I can bottle them up. I think scones will be on the morning tea tray on Wednesday when Tim is on his days off from work.

I had a sweet time this afternoon finishing off a few ornaments for the swap I joined on Christina's blog.

Ornaments on Westringia.

I'm glad I joined because I have found quite a few new to me blogs which are offering up some wonderful craft inspiration. It's great to see different ideas and perspectives from others who it seems might mostly be a bit younger than me (though I am just as young at heart).Edited to add that I meant to say I am older than my two recipients and at a different life stage, not that I'm an old biddy (that I will never be). Besides that, I just love Christmas and have been watching my very favourite Christmas show as I stitch.

It has been a very sweet afternoon indeed. I also made honey joys and a chocolate slice for lunchboxes.
Tracy

Croceting and Knitting

 During the cooler months yarn craft always comes to the fore. The granny squares I am working on now are for a swap of squares in black, grey and white. They have a more masculine appeal I think which is a nice change from the brights and pastels and I might even give this blanket to one of the men in my life. They aren't often recipients of my crafting endeavours but everyone likes to snuggle up under a warm rug in the winter so I'm sure it will be appreciated.

I also spent a few minutes making a Mother's Day card for my mother in-law yesterday. I used the same pattern back in February to make a card and thought it would be a nice touch at this time too. It really takes next to no time and I am hoping she likes the homemade touch to her card this year. The pattern is here for anyone who might be interested.

As for other knitting and crochet projects, I could get lost on Ravelry. It is such a wealth of inspiration and instructions. The more you look, the more you want to make. Grace is hooked on crochet too and made a gift card wallet last night from a free Ravelry pattern although she usually prefers amigarumi.

This afternoon it is a trip to town. There is a second hand book sale on and we need a few things from the store too. Having only one car (and living 50km from town) means trips have to be planned and lists made because I won't be able to go back for a while. I am actually enjoying the feeling of not being able to go. It just feels so good to be at home.
Tracy