I Saw a Rainbow.......

A few weeks ago when all the snow was flying around and  tree limbs were crashing down I saw it.  Something I have never seen before.  A rainbow around the sun.  It was the most surprising thing I have ever seen.  I wasn't even aware that it could happen.  From the research I have done, it would appear to be called a solar halo not to be confused with a sun dog.  I could however, be wrong about that.  The thing that I know for sure is that it made me stop the car, and gaze in admiration at the extraordinary things that nature can do with an ordinary day.

Hunt Season

Its once again hunting season and that means for a solid ten days I have to command the ship by myself.  Not much time for blogging and causing trouble...I just wanted to assure you things are fine, I am just lost in the everyday like everyone else! Happy hunting!

Songs of Summer

A noise I will long for come winter.

Waiting for Summer

I cannot believe it is still rainy and cool here! It is Memorial weekend you know. It should be sunny and warm. I planned to spend this weekend painting the garage and getting the rest of the garden in. The weather has been less than supportive. At least the iris are blooming. That will have to keep a smile on my face for now!

I hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day. Many Thanks to those who have served our country and lost their lives so that we can spend this day doing just about anything we desire.

Do You.....

LINE DRY?

I really want a clothes line. I tried to per sue several on craigs list but have not gotten lucky yet. Then I realized probably all I really needed was a rope and some pins. Viola! Clothes line! I love line dried clothes. Not only do they smell awesome but you don't have to pay for energy to get your clothes dry. I really don't feel like hanging them takes that much more time besides...its a good excuse to be outside! If you feel like you need something more than a rope you can check this source for just about every style imaginable! Remember, your dryer is the second or third highest energy consumer in your household!
It wouldn't hurt to at least hang the sheets out.

Rain Rain Go Away....

I don't know about where you are but here we have lots...

and lots....

and lots....

of puddles...

and rain barrels FULL of water!

Being Neighborly

About three weeks ago I drove in the driveway to find the neighbors cat. Dead. Now being the farm girl that I am, I decided the best course of action was to take said cat back to its owners. All of a sudden I find myself standing on the porch of the neighbors I have not met, daughter in one hand, dead cat in the other. I was certain that was not the way to greet the the neighbor that 1) moved in 6 months ago and I failed to introduce myself too and 2) who wants to see someone at their front door holding a dead cat? So, I gently placed the cat that I had wrapped in a towel around the side of the door and rang the bell. It was a most awkward moment. A few days later they dropped off a shamrock to say thanks but I still felt guilty about not saying "Hi" properly. I have found urban living to not be all that neighborly and only but the boldest of urban dwellers will extend themselves to you. I talk regularly with exactly one neighbor. That is a sad state of affairs.

As a result, I put together a welcome bucket for the new peeps on the block. Some wash rags, handmade cards, cookies, pencils, decorated note pads, tea and a onsie for their new baby. Just a few things to say hello, I'm a nice person. Make sure to extend yourself to someone this week. It might just make their day.

Sketchbook

Do you keep a sketchbook? Maybe you don't think of it as a sketchbook. Maybe you use something to keep notes, write lists or keep track of things in general. I would like to suggest you get a sketchbook. I use my book to write journal entries,design sewing projects,

make daily task lists, seasonal task lists, home maintenance lists,

keep track of garden ideas, paste in images that inspire,record things I come across on the internet

design decks, keep measurements from my house so I can use them when I am out. Really the options are endless. I keep a 6x8.5" bound(avoid spiral bound, they don't hold up) book with me all the time. When I am distracted by an idea or something that needs to be done, I write it down and go on. I have done this for many years to organize my life and have over the last five years really started to use it more extensively. When I flip back through these books I find something very interesting has happened. I have in essence recorded my life. Dates, times, projects, events with friends,cool places,ideas, images, planning....it goes on and on. Only recently have I started putting in the occasional journal entry so that I can record those little events in my daughters life that I am sure to forget but want to remember. I think I will keep these volumes of my life and maybe one day my daughter will read them and have a sense of the person I was, and person I became as time moved passed by.

Vintage Pearl

I have been perusing the Vintage Pearl website for a long time now. I think my husband may have noticed the browser open to the page because for my birthday I received this pretty little box:

And much to my delight, this was inside:

They specialize in custom, hand stamped jewelry and keepsakes. I have to say that this is something I will treasure for a long time. So if you are looking for a unique gift for someone you love, head on over and check it out. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Baby Its Cold Outside

It has been bitter cold here the last couple of days. I woke up to find these ice crystals on the inside of our last single pane window! While they are beautiful they sure are a testament to the need for updating this last and final window. I did a bit of research on it last year and hope to actually get to replacing it this summer. I think it is a project I can tackle on my own. For now, I'll briefly enjoy the ice crystals from the warmth of INSIDE!

Mangle

I used this intimidating machine to iron my table cloths for the holiday. It worked famously. In case you do not know what this beast is...it is called a mangle. Translation: industrial sheet iron! My grandfather worked for Hilton Hotels back in the day so that is how it came to me. Pre wrinkle free fabrics the bed sheets in hotels and all the other linens were ironed by some poor sole who had to stand over this hot, heat generating beast.

It makes me laugh that it is called a Speed Queen. I suppose it is faster than the ironing board and definitely gets hotter! This thing will burn your flesh off in a hot second. So here's a post to doing things the old way, enjoying its simplicity, and remembering those family members long past. Is there something you enjoy doing "the old way"?

New Gear

It is finally here! I am the proud owner of a Canon Rebel XS and I could not be happier about the idea of learning photography.....again! Quite a few of the photos from my senior year book are mine but that is probably the last time I took the art seriously. A point and shoot is fun but I really wanted to take it a bit further especially since I know what I am capable of! You can see that I did not have it long before fashioning a more appropriate camera strap! Now to read the manual.....

Teach Your Children Well

In my opinion one of the biggest tragedies of urban living is the distance that is put between us and our food. If you do not garden or keep small animals all your food comes from the grocery store, not the the cow, chicken, pig, stream or earth. It is a separation that I feel has caused us to become callous and removed from the cycle of life and each other. The distance fosters little appreciation for the hard work of the farmer and laborer when in fact these are the very people who are at the heart of your dinner table. Municipalities often make it difficult to even sustain for yourself through strict covenants and city rules. I would challenge you that even if you don't have the room or will to raise your own food there are plenty of ways to foster this relationship. Take your kids fishing, visit the local farmers' market and check into many of the "agritainment" opportunities out there. You never know what you will find. And above all, be sure to foster this relationship for you children. They need to know where their food comes from and they need care about it!
Oh, and congratulations A, for bringing your first meal to the table!

Rain

There is something really sublime about watching mother nature do your chores. A fabulous rain brings lots of nutrients and growth! Thank you, I needed a break from my chores! Maybe now I can spend some time on preservation of garden crops. I wish you all a very full rain barrel!

I want to ride my bicycle......

One of my favorite things about being URBAN farm girl is bike riding. This is something that I think was seriously lacking from my youth. It was not really all that fun to ride your bicycle down a gravel dirt road or around the 1/8 of a mile loop around the grain bins. If you did, you most likely had a flat tire while you were doing it. Eventually the solution was a set of solid rubber supper sucker tires. I still had no where to actually ride the bike and a horse was a better bet. Urban living provides endless bicycle opportunities and I love it. I do have to admit that I have slowed down a bit since A was born but nonetheless I am working it back in slowly. Recently my passion has been renewed by an old dusty gift from my mother in law. I already thought she was the best MIL one could have but this has stepped it up a notch! Enter one beautiful, canary yellow Schwinn Breeze! I have given it a quick spin around the block on the little bit of air the tubes will still hold. Now I must wait with baited breath for the tubes and tires to be replaced!

It has this super cool generator headlight that works from the spinning of the front wheel. I have already tested it and can see the light bulb come on from just walking the bike in the driveway!

Lastly, it has my initial on the seat! LOL! Can't beat that! I am thinking some white wall tires and a vintage basket will look superb! Thank you Connie!