Late Summer

It's late summer here in NH and the garden is doing the normal overgrowth due to neglect... at least the flowers are pretty even if I don't dare go int here due to the crazy weeds and garden snakes.

It has been insanely hot/humid here this summer for much longer stretches than is normal for us.  I appreciate the AC on these days, but it's not my favorite thing and I long for cool nights and open windows.

We have just two weeks left before college begins for both Jess & Ben.  Ben also has about 1.5 weeks left of his summer contract at Camp Spofford before he's home again permanently.  It's been a busy, good summer for both of the kids.

I've been muddling around with some sewing, we're creating a new sewing studio space for me over the garage and I'm looking forward to moving everything over there in the coming weeks.

The vegetable gardens are more manageable this year and I've even been mostly keeping up with the weeding, etc.

The new hens are all laying now and we're regularly getting 6-8 eggs a day, the sizes vary, but mostly they are figuring things out nicely. 

I'm really ready for the beginning of September this year in a way that I've not felt before.  Things will be VERY different this year for our family.  Both kids will be completely enrolled in college classes - commuting to two different schools as they pursue the interests and passions that God has put into them.
For me... I'm looking at a few new adventures of my own and am excited to see what God is going to do as the next few months/years unfold.

Blessings on the journey all,
~Deb

A Few Weeks Makes a Big Difference

Here in NH a few weeks can bring VASTLY different weather.

This entire week we've seen temperatures in the mid to high 70's and even flirting with 80.  The big flower garden has been thoroughly mulched for the first time since we've moved here (in an attempt to keep down at least some of the weeds) and lots of things are poking through and the daffodils are blooming out happily.  I've dug out a bunch of thistles - which I've decided are the garden equivalent of ticks in the bug world - just evil and nasty looking!
The chickens are getting lots of outside run-around-pecking-things-madly time and are laying bountifully. The garden seedlings I've started are all mostly sprouted and Steve is plotting to build me a few raised garden boxes along the fence line.  So much activity in springtime!

Blessings on the journey~

Snow, snow, and for a change... snow!

In the last few weeks we have had a seemingly endless series of snow-storms and blizzards.  It is winter... we live in NH... this is not horribly unusual.  However, it is a tad wearying and somewhat exhausting to be dealing with FEET of snow on the ground and a repeating cycle of snow, clean up, snow again, clean up again that happens with annoying frequency.

My dear husband has been working tirelessly after each storm to dig out our home, clear the deck and multiple staircases, make paths around the yard for the animals and us to care for them, clear up the road edges- which is private and we have to have plowed by a local farmer and his giant John Deere tractor, and help clear some for the neighbor on occasion.
This morning was a much larger snow amount than forecasted and the crazy wind and hovering-at-zero temps made for a very long day.

My chickens are surviving and thriving in spite of the weather.  Their pen is surrounded by well over knee deep bankings and even their plastic sheeting to block the wind is partially buried in snow so they are generally below wind-level if they venture out.  I've been keeping them happy with food treats at least every other day or so - growing sprouts for them and giving them veggie scraps, etc.  They are mostly all still laying every day and everyone seems pretty fluffy and happy.
The cats are keeping entertained by the birds frequenting the feeder out back and Piper (the dog) just LOVES the snow and will roll around in the drifts snowplowing with her nose any chance she gets.

I am plodding on, trying not to complain too much as I know each day and even each snowfall is a gift from God for us to enjoy.  Thankfully we have the ability to clear up, the means to pay the plow guy, and Steve working from home is a tremendous blessing!

Stay warm!
Blessings on the journey,

Random Life

There are times when my life feels sort of random and disconnected.  That there is little flow of continuity from one area or subject that requires my attention to the next.  Sometimes it is almost amusing.  This fact is clearly illustrated by these photos from my phone.

Curved quilted pillow I made testing out a new ruler & book of patterns

Buckwheat sprouts on the window sill - growing for my chickens

new quilt rack Steve found for me at a local consignment shop

my brand new quilt labels!

Books I'm reading right now - on the coffee table

My newest fur baby - Gypsy