Welcome to Derbyshire Frugality Maggie, Sally, Alison and Christine on Blog Lovin and Helen and Simple Living on the follower bar.
It is the time of year to plan, plan and then plan.
We've been perusing the seed catalogues and checking the seed we already have. I've just about got my seed order ready now and am pleased to say that we need to buy very few. I'm looking forward to the possibility of Kev (An English Homestead) organising a seed swap as I have quite a few to throw into the mix.
We have decided to buy up to six lambs this year as we ended up cutting the grass last year, with two lambs making little impact on the grass. I'd rather like to get store lambs (i.e already reared and off the bottle) I shall keep an eye out for some.
Probably the most exciting plan (to me anyway!) is that we are considering having pigs!! it's years since we kept pigs so I am very excited, I do hope we can. Our Godson would like to join us in this venture, which should be fun. We will look to altering and adapting the inside of the barn to house them.
Reference the chickens we have the use of a new Buff Orpington cockerel, unrelated to our hens. We have put him and a couple of good BO hens in a separate run, When they start to lay we will hatch some BO chicks out. We are often asked for this breed of hen so hopefully we will be able to sell some.
YGD (and her black lab, Jed) came for the afternoon a few days ago and asked if she could sew something using my new machine. She has never used a machine before, so we were able to start from the beginning with some good sewing habits. She said that she would like to make another kerchief for her dog.
For Christmas I had made kerchiefs, that slot into their collars, for the six dogs that are connected to our family in one way or another. I made them from a pile of scrap dog paw print material, bought from a fabric shop for 50 pence. There was enough for them all with contrasting backing.
Here is Jed and Sammie on Christmas day having a power nap and wearing their kerchiefs.
Back to YGD - she cut out two squares of fabric from the stash - this was material sent by Weaver for our young quilters and now an even younger sewer was using the fabric. After tacking the squares together (right side facing) she machine sewed around the squares, leaving a couple of inches unsewn,
The dog collar then slips into the opening and Voila! it's done. She is very proud of the result and so she should be. Not a very good pic of Jed I'm afraid.
I have been watching the news today. The news of the shootings in Paris is so upsetting. Where will all this conflict and hate end I wonder. I want to "pull up the drawbridge" but know that that is pathetic and cowardly.
Back soon
Gillx
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Bacon!
ReplyDeleteLast time we raised a couple of pigs all the meat was stolen from the butchers the day before we were due to pick it up!
I know what you mean about pulling up the drawbridge, I'd be off to a remote Scottish Island given half a chance! ( although it's a bit dark and windy up north at the moment)
Crikey that was no small loss re. the pork theft.
DeleteLovely to see your YGD taking an interest in sewing, and I love the photo of the dogs.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to keep her interest with small achievable projects. I have quite a lot of material to play with.
DeleteJed and Sammie are both 11 - 12 years old and lovely natured dogs
How lovely passing on a skill to a younger family member, a skill that will grow with her. I might have to make one of those for Kara :-)
ReplyDeleteShe already has plans to do some sewing with her older cousin, which will be nice.
DeleteAll the dogs have been happy to wear their kerchiefs, so they must be comfortable. In fact four of them have not had theirs off, apart from for a quick wash since Christmas. We think they must make their collars more comfortable and keep their necks warm.!
What a clever girl, Jed and Sammie look very smart. The events in Paris today are simply dreadful.
ReplyDeleteTwiggy
They do look smart don't they!
DeleteAs I write this the news in on and it looks as though they have found the 2 guys and a hostage may be involved. I do hope they can end this with a minimum of casualties.
My thoughts immediately turn to my grandchildren when I hear about these terrible atrocities. What sort of world are we living in? Love the doggie kerchiefs, I think you could have a little cottage industry there.
ReplyDeleteMine do too. What sort of a world will they inherit. I remember my grandmother saying the same to me though!
DeleteThey certainly are an easy make, If I was making one with no help(!) half an hour would see one done. Maybe I should do a few spares just in case their is an interest.
I've already bought my red onion sets, 2 years ago I was too late and had to grow white ones. I'm not making that mistake again.
ReplyDeleteI noticed some neighbouring children playing with a baby wild boar (marcassin) yesterday. Goodness knows where they'd got it from; I'll have to ask.
Oh No! we couldn't be without red onions either. David has half a red onion just about every time he has a sandwich. I grow from seed and set. One or the other works well dependent on the weather.
DeleteI'm glad it was a baby boar as I understand adult ones can be quite dangerous (or is that an urban myth?)
What a lovely time you must have had with your grandaughter, she has done a fabulous job, it's definitely something I should do with my grandaughter and the dog kerchief is a perfect project. I can see all your family dogs will be having matching ones :-)
ReplyDeleteTerrible news from Paris. These shootings are happening far too often :-( xx
I think we all thought we had taken a photo of all the dogs in their kerchiefs, but nobody did! Four of them were together here on Christmas day, kitted out.
DeleteI made three large ones for the three labs and three smaller ones for the springer, patterdale and lancashire healer.
Glad to hear my bits of material are being put to good use rather than languishing in my sewing room drawer.
ReplyDeleteooh yes! I gave her the choice of any material on my shelves and she homed straight onto that patterned fabric. Her cousin is okay with her using it!
DeleteWondering what will happen to the lambs and pigs, Your freezer? or do you sell them?
ReplyDeleteWell done to YGD looks like she's done a great job of her sewing.
Carolx
If we manage to get six lambs we will keep four for ourselves and family and sell the other two, which will offset the cost. We are always being asked if we have lamb for sale,
DeleteRe. the pork, as we will probably only have two and as our godson will be sharing, there will just be enough for us.
I loooove the look of concentration as she turned the fabric right side out! It's great to see young people developing skills!
ReplyDelete