September 27, 2009 by Debbie.

The meat chicks are growing nicely and should be ready to butcher next Sat with possibly keeping some for the following week so we have some big roasters. It will depend on our energy level as we go along as doing two batches means doing twice the set up and clean up - sometimes not worth it.

We only grew out 35 chickens this year and last. We usually go for 50 and once was stupid enough to go for 75. Don’t ask me why cause right now I don’t know other than insanity. We never sold enough to really make a big enough profit to justify the work and mess.

Some new, wonderful friends gave us a new chicken tractor that helped tremendously. It is so much lighter than the monster I made and I’ve been able to drag it along in the yard by myself. The only problem with moving it has been the un-levelness (is that a word?) of our yard and avoiding ant mounds. The week+ of rain was an interesting adventure, but all survived, even me. These meat chickens are more aggressive than ones in the past. I have to protect my hands when I reach in for the water as they peck at anything at their eye level.

I’ve been thinking of things to do different next year.  First of all, I’m going to move the chicken tractor in the east garden area. Which means that area fencing will have to be redone. Right now one side is electric fencing to keep the goats out. That side will need redone in cattle panels to keep the meat chickens in the garden area. We’ll have to double fence the bottom part of the cattle panel to keep both chickens in and rabbits out but cattle panels are good sturdy fencing. Expensive, but sturdy. We’re also thinking of duplicating the chicken tractor so we can have two, moving one ahead of the other and shooing the chickens into the lead tractor to move them. Kind of like chicken tractor leap frog. Right now I drag the coop with the chickens in it and have caught a foot or two as they get excited. No one is hurt but it makes for a nervous move - for me anyway, it doesn’t bother the chickens at all - they just want to eat. I guess there is a benefit of having a dime sized brain - no long term memory. Uh, this time I’m referring to the chickens.

Speaking, or writing, of frogs, this little guy decided to peep into our living room window. The courtyard outside is surrounded by a brick wall so it’s one of the safe places for him to hang out where the guinea can’t eat him.

I’ve been busy trying to wrap up my summer deadlines despite the calendar saying we’ve enter fall already. Here’s a pink & brown quilt I finally finished. I’m not a pink fan at all so this one was hard for me to really like enough to hand quilt. I  finally took it to Jean’s Silver Threads & Golden Needles quilting shop in Bonham, Tx for her to machine quilt it. Only twice have I done that with quilts.  Even though these aren’t my favorite colors the quilt matches the guest room nicely. And it’s name - what else but Sweet Dreams?! Can’t you just hear Patsy Cline crooning away?

This is Amy wrapped up in her graduation quilt. She doesn’t graduate til spring 2010 but she was too excited about it to wait. It’s called “Friends” and has hearts and other decoration appliqued on the basic patchwork design.

Last quilt picture for now - an ongoing project of repairing this quilt made in 1930-50s. Don Samuelson gave it to me over a year ago, asking only to see it after I repaired it IF he was still around. Did he know he would have to watch from heaven’s guard rail as I repair it now?

There’s something about repairing this quilt that ties me back to the women who made it. I can tell at least two different stitching in the quilt and I wonder what their lives were like, how they survived the Depression of their day and how they rebuild in the following years. The fabric in this quilt reflects the clothing they wore or the feed sacks they used. There are such small pieces in each diamond piece, done in this string piecing method. They sure must have lived the Waste not, Want not lifestyle enough to create beauty and warm in this quilt for their family. I wish I knew who they were but maybe Don’s up there talking with them for me. Someday I hope I may know.

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September 12, 2009 by Debbie.

The Amish Auction in Clarita OK was fantastic! We went mostly to see the quilts (me) and the food (both) and farm equipment (John). This was a combination - a John Deere pop engine powered ice cream churn!!

Even the Amish were admiring the quilts.

I wish I could have brought all of the quilts home but since I couldn’t John took some pictures for me. The Monterrey Quilt - Red & Blue Star framed by the Log Cabin quilt (middle below) - is one I plan on making this next year so I was excited to see it in ‘real life’ here.

I really liked the green and red Sampler quilt on the left below.

And the Savannah Medallion

Well, sometimes it was just hard to pick a favorite!

Wish I could say we brought home a couple of the quilts but we left before the quilt auction started at 12:30. We’d gotten up at 3:00 am to be able to go early and leave early to juggle the farm chores here. Betsy was not amused her milking was four hours late today but she’ll survive. If she had seen these quilts she’d have known the sacrifice was worth it. Or if she had tasted the homemade breads, cinnamon rolls, blackberry pie and/or noodles we did bring home with us. Poor Betsy all she got was milked late.

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September 7, 2009 by Debbie.

I don’t know what Labor Day is like for anyone else, but for us, it is a labor day. We got several small jobs done today and crossed off the list. The baby meat chicks spent their first morning free ranging in the yard in a safe fenced area, protected from the dogs, but not the guinea who tormented them for the feed. John stood guard while the chicks ate their breakfast. They eat a little feed and then move on to grazing, eating grass and bugs.

Hard to believe these chickens will be ready to butcher in 4 or 5 weeks. The tarp on the pasture coop was to protect them from the rain we were SUPPOSE to get today. Later in the morning we also added some shade cloth to protect them from the blazing Texas sun.

And ta-da! after 2+ years I finished the Compass Quilt except for the label.

All that detailed hand quilting paid off. When I started the feather border I thought I’d never do one again, but after seeing the finished quilt now I’m excited about the ‘next one’. Kind of like a fisherman, always ready to go back for the next BIG catch.

After these years of calling this the Compass Quilt I read something last week that changed it’s name.  It will be called The TouchStone quilt.

I devoured another book, Dogwood by Chris Fabry. It’s a definite gotta read. That’s all I’m going to say, except, wow! was it good.

Labor Day is about to come to a close. We’re still laboring away. Well, more like John is. I’m sitting here typing away. John is watching The Rookie video and sorting through a bunch of paper work from the den.

I can’t watch all of The Rookie so I  took the computer out on the porch swing til darkness drove me back inside to finish this up. I like the movie, but it is so loud in spots that my ears hurt. I do like the beginning where the two nuns bless the oil field with yellow rose petals and petition Saint Rita for help. Since seeing that I’ve been known to pull rose petals from the bushes and petition God to bless Beulah Land. And especially the air conditioning as the compressor went out on Sat. Bless the air conditioning warranty guys and get them out here fast. For all of you  - as Numbers 6 says, “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and give you peace. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and be gracious unto you.”

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September 1, 2009 by Debbie.

Got a couple of comments about the last posting. John commented, “You ARE nuts!”  Like he KNEW the perfume wouldn’t work without even having to think about it, huh! Didn’t that sweet little skunk, Peppi-Le’Pu, in the old time cartons win everyone’s heart? So, maybe, just maybe, compost - I mean Homestead - perfume could work….

As always, my Faithful Friend can put a positive spin on anything! So you don’t have to go back to the last posting to read the comment, here’s her comment -

“I do so love it when I check your blog and find a new entry! One of the reasons you are my friend, Debbie Joy, is because you tell me what’s on your mind. Your joy and eye for the things most of us miss in daily life never ceases to amaze me! ” That’s because I halucenate!!!

Which is the perfect lead in to the newest book I’m reading - Seeing Things by Patti Hill. First of all, if you’ve never read Patti Hill’s books you’re missing a delightful author who is amazingly real. She even shared her coconut cake recipe with me for Thanksgiving a few years ago. Can you imagine, an author taking time to email me a recipe, especially during the holidays? She did.

The book cover is enough to sell me. It has a Yellow Lab on it. I’m a sucker for anything that has a Lab on it. I once even bought a book I didn’t want just cause it had two dogs on it, not even Labs, but almost as awesome. Just so you don’t get stuck at the cover, here’s an excerpt from the book -

“I’m not so sure about this,” said Suzanne, creasing the newspaper sharply in half. “I’d hate to see Fletcher caught up in something that would compromise him intellectually. What’s the point (of going to church- added for clarificatin)?” 

Andy took a breath, but I beat him at the conversational draw. Let the record show I spoke matter-of-factly, although my heart raced feverishly. “I go to church because I’m dumb as an ox, charging through life angry and scared. Church is the place where my heart gets back on track. I’m reminded what’s important about life and eternity. I arrive feeling like the world is crumbling under my feet and leave knowing I stand on a Rock.” You can bet I was glad I’d read Psalm 73 that morning. Pg.64

I’m not even half way through the book and already am mourning the thought of turning the last page.

I just read through a series published by Guide Posts Publishers called Chapel Inn Tales. I forget how many books were in the series - 8 or 9?? I read all our little library had. They are light reading with some really good zingers in them. Psalm 130:5 was renewed to me from that series.

I finished the third in the Beach House series by Trisha Perry, Beach Dreams. It was good but not as deep as the first two in the series by Sally John. That book left me with the question of when I pray for God’s will in my life am I praying to accept whatever His will is or am I praying, hoping/trying to change His will? That tied in with the scripture I’ve had on my fridge for close to 10 years - Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you…” I read that every day and not once did I think to ask if my plans for my life match His plans??? and since God has plans for my life, are my plans redundant? I’m not saying I haven’t been trying to live a God-lead life, but I just never asked the specific question ‘what is your plan for my life?’ Kind of like the man who acted on his love for his wife all his life, but just never SAID the words. (maybe John is right; maybe I am nuts to even think all this stuff.) On that statement I’ll fast forward again.

I can’t believe it’s already Sept. 1 - I am so grateful July and Aug. are over and the heat has broken for awhile. I hope for good, but it’s not unusual to have a hot Sept. here in Tx. We’ll see what pans out but for right now it’s perfect weather to curl up on the porch swing (after checking for snakes) with a good book …. need any suggestions?

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