tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11426771248941499942024-03-05T06:15:53.807-05:00Blessed Acre Farm and RabbitryGoings-on at a specialty microfarm raising heritage breed rabbits, laying hens, and dairy goats in Western Massachusetts, with a single-Mom, Veteran, medievalist farmer, four children, three dogs, and four cats. Visit often - there's always something fun happening here!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-32906981879889641042014-03-19T09:54:00.002-04:002014-03-19T09:54:49.515-04:00First garden seeds sown indoors!Why is it that the blog always falls by the wayside? There are always so many ideas in my head. Oh well.<br />
<br />
I started the first garden seeds yesterday, which are now setting on the heat mats in the basement. I sowed artichokes, broccoli (Diplomat, as recommended by my CSA farmer, and De Cicco), cauliflower (Vitaverde), kale, and lettuce (Flashy Troutback). I really wanted to start my tomatoes, but it's too early. Really. I try to go by the fabulous text from local gardeners Jennifer and Ron Kujowski, "Gardening Week by Week." I'm still too far from my last frost date (not to mention all the snow and ice still in my yard) for starting tomatoes.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-66311945568527142842013-01-27T10:01:00.001-05:002013-01-27T10:01:22.631-05:00the Gardening badgeSuch post as I will make on the livestock will have to wait. I want to set down what we did yesterday for the Girl Scouts' Gardening badge before I forget!<br />
<br />
Here's the description of the learning objective and the requirements for the badge, and an image of the badge (pretty!):<br />
<br />
<a href="http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/junior_gardener_large.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/junior_gardener_large.png" /></a>"Creating a bright bouquet of fresh flowers, making a dish with
garden-fresh herbs, growing a little green cheer inside with
houseplants—these are all things a gardener gets to do. In this badge,
dig your hands into the earth and spend time with soil, water, and
sunlight to find out how to help life grow from a tiny seed. You can
make your own garden—no matter where you live.<br /><br />1. Visit a garden<br />2. Explore garden design<br />3. Learn how to choose garden plants<br />4. Experiment with seeds<br />5. Grow your own garden<br /><br />When I've earned this badge, I'll know how to help plants and flowers grow." <br />
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We will be visiting one of the greenhouses at the University at our next meeting, and that will have to suffice for 'visit a garden.' It's January in Massachusetts.<br />
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I've asked the horticulturist who'll be hosting us to discuss garden design and choosing plants. We also spent some time talking about how to choose plants at the meeting yesterday. The girls were great about coming up with questions we should ask when planning a garden - what do we want to grow? Do we want flowers or edibles? Can we do both? How big will the plants grow, and will they fit in the space we have available? How long do they take to grow? How long until we should expect to see them come up? We learned how to read the planting guidelines on the back of a seed packet - how deep to plant the seed, how far apart seeds should be planted (and whether to overseed and thin), how long the seed should take to germinate, how long until it's mature, how big it should get, and when we should sow it outside (if we were direct-sowing).<br />
<br />
As a craft, I had the girls decorate some white contact paper with which to cover 2-pound yogurt containers, which they used as their seed-starting pots. I didn't get the shape of the contact paper quite right, so all of the pots had crinkly coverings, but the girls didn't seem to mind. We moistened the seed-starting mix, as it had been in my basement, open, and was completely dry. I held up packets of various seeds - giant sunflowers, carrots (and "Tiny Fingers" carrots), basil, oregano, marigolds, spinach, lettuce, bush beans, pole beans, sweet alyssum, and maybe some others. We talked about which seeds would and would not be suitable for planting in our containers. For example, a giant sunflower would NOT be suitable, since it would tip the pot over - and the pot probably wouldn't have enough space for a good root system. We decided that full-size carrots would not be suitable, but that the little carrots would be ok. Each girl decided what she wanted to plant. Then we opened the seed packets, and compared seed sizes. The sweet alyssum seeds were tiny, like grains of sand. One girl chose spinach and lettuce, and we compared the sizes of those seeds. We marveled over the size and shape of the marigold seeds - which look kind of like a miniature carrot. That covered both choosing garden plants and experimenting with seeds. Then the girls put their seeds into the potting soil, covered them at the appropriate depth, and we put the lids of the yogurt containers on for safe transport home. I asked each of the parents to punch some drain holes in the bottom of the containers when they got home, and suggested they could invert the lids as saucers.<br />
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We had a really good time, and there was only a tiny bit of seed-starting mix that got onto the table!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-59342596724248578012013-01-26T09:24:00.001-05:002013-01-26T09:24:11.421-05:00Hurray! Hurray!After complaining all week about being hungry all the time and not seeing the needle on the scale budge, I had to triple-check my eyes this morning when the needle rested firmly on<br />
<br />
180!!!<br />
<br />
Not only is that progress, but I have had in the back of my mind that I'd really, really like to see the needle UNDER 180 - even if only by a hair's breadth - by my birthday, which is on Tuesday next week. Suddenly that seems like something I can achieve.<br />
<br />
Additionally, I had decided that as an incentive to myself, when I hit 180, I'd treat myself to a haircut at a hairdresser's. I've been using the corner barbershop since 2008, and that's been fine, but it's growing out right now and I'd like an actual style.<br />
<br />
And in yet more awesome news, Mom, Andy, and I went out to dinner last night at my new favorite restaurant, <a href="http://vivafreshpasta.com/" target="_blank">Viva Fresh Pasta</a> in Northampton. All day yesterday as my stomach growled, I counted the hours until we would be going. I calculated the points in advance. And when we got there, it was even better than I remembered. I had salmon, broiled (I think?) with butter and salt, artichoke ravioli (sublime!) with just a little bit of Alfredo sauce (yum...) and when I was finished, I FELT FULL. I was SO happy. And then, my Mom, who was facing out into the rest of the restaurant, while I was facing her, noticed a dessert being delivered to another table, and ordered one for the three of us.<br />
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OH MY GOODNESS. A flourless chocolate tort with just a bit of whipped cream, with a semi-sweet outer shell and a fudge-like interior... it was exquisite. Even shared among the three of us, it was enough.<br />
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I'll save farm news for another post.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-58717866518722448412013-01-25T09:40:00.001-05:002013-01-25T09:40:53.469-05:00Oh, the difference ten degrees make!I am kitted out the same today for animal chores as I was yesterday:<br />
<br />
Cotton socks, cotton leggings, sweat pants, wool socks, boots. Turtleneck, wool vest, wool cardigan, long heavy bathrobe, winter jacket, down vest, fleece-lined wool hat, insulated deerskin gloves.<br />
<br />
The difference is that today I broke a sweat!<br />
<br />
Yesterday the temperature was hovering at zero; today it's all of 10*F. Still stinking cold, but better!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-15515226654879825042013-01-24T08:03:00.001-05:002013-01-24T08:03:06.050-05:00Colder yet, and crankyLily the Golden Retriever is 8. It's been years - YEARS - since she's needed to go out in the middle of the night. However, last night she needed to go out. At quarter to two. It was -0.5* out. I was not happy.<br />
<br />
This morning, it was -5*. Imagine my delight when the school bus driver didn't even stop long enough at the foot of our driveway for us to hear the engine. Now, it's her position that she HAS to adhere to the published schedule, which has our stop at 6:55. This regardless of the fact that she gets them to the schools so early that there aren't even any teachers in the buildings yet. It has been the position of EVERY OTHER DRIVER WE'VE EVER HAD that getting the children to school is the top priority. This woman expects my children to be waiting at the foot of the driveway in BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES for her to show up. Sorry, that's not ok. The driveway just isn't that long, and the time it takes them to get from garage door to bus door is, oh, maybe 15 seconds. I had to get into the car and head almost a mile into the back neighborhood to catch up to the bus. And oh, by the way? The driver she's replacing realized within a week that the schedule got her to the schools too early and started showing up between 7 and 7:05. Nobody was late to school. And even in bitter cold, when my children stood at the door into the garage, watching for the bus, she gave them enough time to get down the driveway to the road. Is not the purpose of public school busing to provide the children safe and reliable transportation to school, and relieve the parents of having to drive them? Why should there need to be private vehicles spewing more carbon exhaust to get children to school???<br />
<br />
This morning marks the first time, in the ten years I've had children riding school buses, that I have called to complain.<br />
<br />
In other news:<br />
<br />
I got in for my allergy shots yesterday. My left arm is kind of stinging and a bit achy today. It's a series of 30 injections, once to twice weekly depending on my schedule, to retrain my immune system not to react to the allergens. I started the series in September. The first ten shots come from the 'green' row, the next ten from the 'blue' row, and the last ten (plus maintenance) from the 'red' row. I'm into the red row now for everything! So - five or fewer weeks from now I can go from weekly/twice a week trips to less and less frequent trips. In case you're curious, I tested allergic to the following:<br />
<br />
Dog (problematic!)<br />
Cat (wasn't a problem until I got suckered into a house cat, and had a barn cat hurt who is in the house until spring, and likes to sleep on my chest)<br />
Feathers (less of a problem before the dairy goats arrived, causing me to spend more time in the barn with the hens)<br />
Mold<br />
Mites<br />
Trees (their designation, not mine. No idea which trees)<br />
Ragweed<br />
Grass and plants (their designation, not mine) <br />
<br />
Looking forward to not needing daily allergy tablets - and even more, to being able to breathe through my nose reliably!<br />
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-51984265358851634492013-01-23T08:34:00.001-05:002013-01-23T08:34:42.979-05:00Too doggone coldIt was 5 degrees (F) when I got up this morning. I wish to file a formal complaint!<br />
<br />
I have mounds of laundry waiting to be washed.<br />
<br />
WW is going well - last week only showed a 1-pound loss, but that still brings me down to 184. I started in September at 196, so HURRAY! My jeans are so loose now that I can pull them down without unfastening them. Last night I finally found my belt, which made my jeans feel much more comfortable. I have a box full of various smaller sizes, which I'll pull out when I hit 180. My Mom has already plundered the box, but she's 60 pounds lighter than I am, so I don't think I'll have to duke it out with her for jeans that fit. The two pairs that do fit right now are both 14s, but are pretty stretchy. I tried on two other 14s last night, but they were too snug. Oh well, it's coming. Slow and easy wins the race!<br />
<br />
Back to the cold - I have various sets of clothing I wear out to do chores. There's the wool sweater, which has been a standard piece of gear since early December. Some days I top it with a down vest. Other days I wear a winter jacket over it. Then there are days like today, when I'll wear the jacket AND the vest. And a fleece-lined wool hat. And still be cold. I already have cotton leggings on under my sweat pants, and a turtleneck, wool vest, and wool sweater on here in the house, and I'm cold. My fingers are clumsy and slow. It's 54 degrees here at my desk, though the fire's been going for more than two hours. *sigh* I'm going to remind myself of the AWFUL flea problems we had last summer due to last winter not being cold and snowy enough to kill them off well. But really, fleas are pretty far from my radar right now. *sigh*Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-80749502858247394072013-01-11T20:40:00.001-05:002013-01-11T20:40:09.137-05:00a happy, but caloric, dayIt's raining. It's JANUARY. I wish to protest that rain, not snow, is falling. I like snow. I like the ground to be frozen. It means no mud. *sigh* There is still snow, but it's icy on top.<br />
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WW has been going well, for the most part. I was hungry today, though. I'm allotted 27 points per day. Today was a 44 point day. For the week, it has looked like this:<br />
<br />
Monday: 31 points (27 daily, 4 [of 35] weekly)<br />
Tuesday: 38 points (27 daily, 11 [of 35] weekly)<br />
Wednesday: 30 points (27 daily, 3 [of 35] weekly)<br />
Thursday: 33 points (27 daily, 6 [of 35] weekly)<br />
Friday: 44 points (27 daily, 17 [of 35] weekly)<br />
<br />
I have 8 weekly points left for Saturday and Sunday. And, I have to say, I feel pretty icky tonight. Bleah.<br />
<br />
I started in September at 196. I lost 7 of those during December due to cold -> flu -> sinus infection. Not a fun way to lose weight, but it was my lemonade from all the lemons. I started WW at 189 on January 1st. I've seen 184 one morning this week - but Monday is my weigh-in day, so we'll see how the weekend goes. For reference, my goal is to lose 25% of my body weight. From the 196 figure that'd be 147; from the 189 figure it'd be 142.5. I figure 145 is a reasonable goal. I was 135 pre-children, but I don't think I could get there and stay there AND be healthy.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-26815271157612915232013-01-05T23:22:00.001-05:002013-01-05T23:22:47.012-05:00progress indoors and outThe weather was milder today - quite a bit of snow melted off the roof into the rain barrels. I'm very happy that my new submersible stock tank heaters have come. Two of my rain barrels were empty and are refilling; the third has ice on the top too thick for me to break through it (yet). Still, enough melt water got in around that ice that I was able to fill a couple of buckets from the spigot. I'm looking forward to being able to put a heater into all three barrels and all three galvanized tubs, so that the water in them will be accessible all winter. (No, I won't have them plugged in all the time!)<br />
<br />
I scored six more Christmas trees for the goats today, too. Two from friends, one from a friend's next-door neighbor (who had seen the spot on the news about Hope's goats and their fondness for pine trees - AND who'd heard the spot on NPR about various ways to re-use Christmas trees, which did not include 'feeding them to ruminants') and three others from the side of the road, set out for the trash companies to take to mulching facilities. The first tree my goats had is now more akin to toothpicks. They were very happy to see a new one.<br />
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Inside, Eli came over to visit, and after plying him with hot chocolate, we moved some furniture. The work table is out of the kitchen, the butcher block is moved to behind the gas stove, the desk is in from the living room, and we moved the poster-sized photo I took in 1988 in the Bavarian Alps to the living room, and moved the children's art bulletin boards into the hall, where they are actually visible. There's still ever so much more tidying, chucking, and cleaning to do, but progress is good.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-42608903326216463072013-01-04T20:13:00.002-05:002013-01-04T20:13:53.025-05:00WW updateI had a 29 point day planned yesterday, but got the munchies mid-afternoon, so ended up with a 34 point day. Well within plan limits, though!<br />
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I was at 11 points after lunch today, but I was invited to have dinner with Mom tonight - I was glad I had a bunch of points available! It was a 19 point dinner, but SO worth it. 30 points for the day... I can live with that!<br />
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I'm not logging any exercise, though I know I'm getting some. Coming in from feeding/watering/milking in a sweat in 15* weather is a pretty sure sign of physical exertion, from slogging through the snow, carrying 5-gallon buckets of hot water around, etc. I am content so far.<br />
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I had my allergy shots yesterday. It had been 29 days since I last went in for them. I made note that last night I had a nasty headache, right above my left eye, but that could be PMS. Unfortunately, it woke me up at 2 AM and kept me up until 3 AM, so I was pretty much useless this morning. I hate that. I got up at 2:30 AM, had a handful of almonds, and some Motrins. The headache did go away, eventually. Haven't done any cleaning today, but tomorrow is another day, and the children are away, so my time is (alas) my own. Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-82855990351668273082013-01-04T10:48:00.001-05:002013-01-04T10:48:09.644-05:00Better weather, and hungryLow sometime yesterday was 9.7*F. That's a huge improvement over anything below zero! My indoor-outdoor thermometer had to be replaced yesterday, though - the wire leading to the outdoor sensor broke in several places. It was at least 7 years old, though, so I don't begrudge it. I got a new one at Radio Shack for $17, and this one also reports indoor humidity. That's useful when heating with a wood stove, as it's easy for the air to get way too dry. I'd rather find out about it by looking at a gauge than by raising sparks off of the dogs or cats. I suspect they'd prefer that, too. I do always keep a kettle on the stove, though.<br />
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Day 4 on WW. Doing fine, points-wise, but dang! I am HUNGRY this morning. I had the 5-point cold breakfast around 8:30, and by 10:30 after chores I was starving. I had a clementine orange and an apple. Should hold me until lunch. I weigh in again on Monday... I'd like to see the south side of 180 by my birthday on the 29th.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-80023628331391598652013-01-03T08:41:00.002-05:002013-01-03T08:41:37.757-05:00choices in the coldNothing earth-shattering or deep here. It was -2.2* this morning when I got up. I turned on the heat upstairs last night, and could smell that it was on when I went up to wake my children. I lit off the fire first thing, too.<br />
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I chose a 9-point hot breakfast instead of a 5-point cold breakfast this morning. It's just too damn cold to contemplate Cheerios and milk. I can warm my hands and my insides with a hot bowl!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-6687937452164142402013-01-02T09:58:00.004-05:002013-01-02T09:58:51.937-05:00New Year's DayHigh of 36.5*, low of 2.7*. Eep.<br />
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6.6* at 8 AM on the 2nd; bedrooms at 49*. Fire is lit already! Must do better tonight, since we have to be up at 6 AM tomorrow.<br />
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New Year's Day was nice and quiet here. I didn't go any further than the barn all day. I'm working (perpetually, it seems) on reducing the volume of STUFF in my house. FlyLady tells us that we can't organize clutter. So - first, I want to get rid of the clutter. But how do I define 'clutter'? Dictionary.com isn't very helpful: <span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">disorderly</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">heap</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">assemblage;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">litter.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">I think there are at least the 'unneeded paper,' 'outgrown children's clothing and toys,' 'unused kitchen paraphernalia,' and 'out of season things that belong in the attic' categories. The first is probably the easiest. Children's things I vet into three sections - chuck, donate, sell. The kitchen stuff probably only falls into the donate and sell piles. Out of season things that belong in the attic is fairly simple, too, except when it's 10* outside and frigid in the attic and I don't want to drop the stairs.</span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">Anyway, yesterday I washed some laundry and hung it in the basement, and brought up the dry clothes. I pulled tonight's dinner out of the freezer (three small rabbits, which will become rabbit and dumplings). I took a BUNCH of stuff up to the attic. I made more fudge - not only a maternal obligation, but it also yielded several containers for recycling. I baked the quiche in the cookstove oven. I washed the bathroom floor, and the floor in the hall. (didn't go further because I hadn't vacuumed anywhere else yet)</span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default;">Today's to-do: mammogram at 10:30, must take knitting along; quick grocery store run; move work table at least into sunroom; move butcher block and desk in the kitchen; vacuum; scrub countertops. Maybe more as time permits, but Andy and Amy Charlotte are out of school at 1:20 today, and are bring home three extra children with them, so that might limit my cleaning. Or it might not. Anyway, off to change clothes and head to the medical center. </span> </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-20505447579547113812013-01-01T15:19:00.001-05:002013-01-01T15:19:28.931-05:00Crustless quiche<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHhKYqwRNVJixCbW4tiGi3bwWYeCrw0KwmSjbO7f6wenBhdPNX0t81_LeXlbgThd5XiwNtdjPn1UdH8RWFvuLjQod3PZOVblHjkwI14CGbBcQ2S1bQ4MU55QN89_epcBiOYUel82lt3s/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHhKYqwRNVJixCbW4tiGi3bwWYeCrw0KwmSjbO7f6wenBhdPNX0t81_LeXlbgThd5XiwNtdjPn1UdH8RWFvuLjQod3PZOVblHjkwI14CGbBcQ2S1bQ4MU55QN89_epcBiOYUel82lt3s/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Oh, I wish you could smell it....<br /><br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-76622509717769727732013-01-01T14:27:00.002-05:002013-01-01T14:27:59.919-05:00Speaking of cold...I have a thermometer in the kitchen that has a sensor that goes out under one of the windows; it reports both indoor and outdoor temperatures. It also has a memory. It's pretty spiffy.<br />
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Two nights ago, the lowest outdoor temperature it had recorded was 17.5*.<br />
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Last night, before I reset it for 2013, it showed its low at 10.9*. That was in the wee hours coming into New Year's Eve. Brrr.<br />
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The high for the year? 95.7*. Definitely not the hottest summer I've seen, though there was an awfully long stretch with no rain.<br />
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It was 34* outside when I got up this morning. It was 51* inside. I started the fire before I fed the animals. I'm just sayin'....Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-79809110411991009892013-01-01T14:20:00.001-05:002013-01-01T14:20:45.574-05:00Cooking in the cold!The cookstove oven was up to 300* or so. Can't waste an opportunity like that! So...<br />
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15 egg whites<br />
1 can asparagus pieces (fresh would be better, of course, but it's under a foot of snow and out of season)<br />
1 C milk<br />
1 oz shaved Gruyere cheese<br />
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When I put it in the oven, it was up to 350*. Should cook up pretty fast!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-89056252357171437462012-12-31T21:18:00.000-05:002012-12-31T21:18:59.149-05:00What I *did* accomplish in 2012Huh. Where to start? <br />
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I milked goats once or twice a day most of this year, except for a short period when the does were pregnant and dried off. Bast gave us triplet daughters, who are the cutest things EVER to arrive at Blessed Acre Farm.<br />
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I used the wood-burning cookstove more and more, both for heat and for cooking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-6k5-yyOlntGMLXhn_TnkdH3vymdpEwLBwTr6VQAqJCMPOCVJT70PNIrxrIhRjd2QhJ4eawe82IezwN52lCCSBWwczSC0tnlMAyALDtDRROkHWzRqMcmayjFQKJvZpJOm6TFgV_uY6o/s1600/100_5322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-6k5-yyOlntGMLXhn_TnkdH3vymdpEwLBwTr6VQAqJCMPOCVJT70PNIrxrIhRjd2QhJ4eawe82IezwN52lCCSBWwczSC0tnlMAyALDtDRROkHWzRqMcmayjFQKJvZpJOm6TFgV_uY6o/s200/100_5322.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lydia with Lily, ten weeks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lydia, ten weeks</td></tr>
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I accomplished another of my long-term farm goals by acquiring an English Shepherd puppy to be my farm partner. Lydia is gorgeous, very smart, and my darling. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily and Lydia wrestling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVmQqvIezdC7mhTXKPWlQwxGIV4O08MYdZOI8N-fff-FfPg_T9NTzn-UWzGKC2n0UDGnOOsUDqEOZ746Mqa1-farnRpyYHTOyiAaIdG48cofHgvG_lXNNrP4qp1EuqhEAR4u6yOJVYKw/s1600/100_5359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVmQqvIezdC7mhTXKPWlQwxGIV4O08MYdZOI8N-fff-FfPg_T9NTzn-UWzGKC2n0UDGnOOsUDqEOZ746Mqa1-farnRpyYHTOyiAaIdG48cofHgvG_lXNNrP4qp1EuqhEAR4u6yOJVYKw/s200/100_5359.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lydia and Lily playing tug-o-war</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGPOyeHIj_OX8BerUbeKeiL80I6bOt-WQQhkK0msY56Mv0EW5cYkhMxC2Fgm4KIV2ve_CozLEcB0AZC4N8JjFaQLuA4z6u0X0hfgu85CvP0Uy-VE6h5Ot7XKgIhJs-_k3CKgdgbmHN4Q/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGPOyeHIj_OX8BerUbeKeiL80I6bOt-WQQhkK0msY56Mv0EW5cYkhMxC2Fgm4KIV2ve_CozLEcB0AZC4N8JjFaQLuA4z6u0X0hfgu85CvP0Uy-VE6h5Ot7XKgIhJs-_k3CKgdgbmHN4Q/s200/151.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCiz8wR6e_kP2hRV0TT1o1kCcZwWjxbuz_i8zox6ii2Y0kfh2mgS3eO5zMXBDn6V5mhPvgKqexJI38VyUHv7-8Mfc1Lanfi-O-2TSUm9u-0PZSPm-GFxatBBRT40oX9OzmavOsF1Ru1c/s1600/100_5375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCiz8wR6e_kP2hRV0TT1o1kCcZwWjxbuz_i8zox6ii2Y0kfh2mgS3eO5zMXBDn6V5mhPvgKqexJI38VyUHv7-8Mfc1Lanfi-O-2TSUm9u-0PZSPm-GFxatBBRT40oX9OzmavOsF1Ru1c/s200/100_5375.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheba</td></tr>
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I nursed Sheba and Decker through their last days, and grieved their passing long and hard.<br />
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I taught several sessions of after-school "Wednesday Club" knitting classes to older elementary school students, and was delighted to have both boys and girls in my classes. I went on several field trips with my children. I raised 25 meat-breed chickens for the freezer, and partnered up with Christina for butchering. My brother went on a big field trip in my place with Andy, bless him. Amanda had the lead in the school play as "Harriet the Spy," and she was amazing. I did not get to visit my brother and his family at the Cape this summer due to scheduling hassles from my former spouse. I had my stovepipe cleaned by a genuine chimney sweep. I had the central vacuum serviced/repaired. Adam went to Boy Scout camp, had a great time, and inspired all of his siblings to become Scouts, too. I was chairwoman of the Board of Trustees for my church for a while, though I was happy to hand it over to someone else. I was part of the fledgling Grow Food Amherst program and helped organize a gleaning event in the fall. I learned more than I really want to know about climate change/'chaos' and have become more committed than ever to minimizing our footstep in this household. I replaced the switch on the whole-house attic exhaust fan - successfully - all by myself! Adam started high school. I took Amanda for an eye exam and learned that she needs glasses to see at distance. This was important, as she started middle school this year! I relied on friends when I needed help, and I helped friends when they needed extra hands. Amanda played volleyball for the middle school team, and had a great time. We found a new piano teacher for Andy. Amy Charlotte took up playing the cello. I had the opportunity to serve as a mentor for several folks starting out in homesteading-type activities. I survived more legal harassment from my former spouse, who just won't give it up. I started a series of allergy shots, after thinking about it for a solid year. (I'm allergic to way too many things... dog, cat, feathers, mites, tree pollen, etc.) Andy joined Adam's Boy Scout troop. We found a 7th grade Cadette troop for Amanda, and I agreed to co-lead a 4th-5th grade Junior troop for Amy Charlotte.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dyHoWJnUOwa05-WgsYSgp4SxVotoWPQ0Ry3AlChfmDKQg9XhyphenhyphenkYGft6pVF4dhyZ-dF5vm464xkyvMcCoc7zNkbwK5zlY7-3URKeN-2hXZeClAkZ0aJ7Sf0kdAPDUYwbzXk7EPIzy9jI/s1600/100_5332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dyHoWJnUOwa05-WgsYSgp4SxVotoWPQ0Ry3AlChfmDKQg9XhyphenhyphenkYGft6pVF4dhyZ-dF5vm464xkyvMcCoc7zNkbwK5zlY7-3URKeN-2hXZeClAkZ0aJ7Sf0kdAPDUYwbzXk7EPIzy9jI/s200/100_5332.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jade, indoor cat until spring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-YlMHKWkOvZOlS3zxFWQyPZdeOtcV3krIiMnqKq-ZPmelTbegoeIuAYzLPmLGyDCtdtUrWYVT39i6tBdu83HXtdlx3K9YBAthTIQRmtcAe2Q4BbB-CBO6OgmDyCC4DUwktOLJqoXP8Q/s1600/Harry+on+washer+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-YlMHKWkOvZOlS3zxFWQyPZdeOtcV3krIiMnqKq-ZPmelTbegoeIuAYzLPmLGyDCtdtUrWYVT39i6tBdu83HXtdlx3K9YBAthTIQRmtcAe2Q4BbB-CBO6OgmDyCC4DUwktOLJqoXP8Q/s200/Harry+on+washer+003.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry, king of all he surveys</td></tr>
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We adopted four cats, one of whom is an indoor cat, and another of whom was injured and has become an indoor cat until spring. I hate litter boxes. There's a reason I self-identify as a dog person.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lPl_LqB1TlLq4bl76RtKqqyQYQhHUQKd0VvTDxQX7CJ0SRdfmmp6GH6EQkaSvPQbbuuweVujGW6wQDd6vmgFlTBWVgSx5jGTIa7hlfIOwruVCh0INjmeYDhj7o9HBKMZGKDYiAR7lAA/s1600/100_5340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lPl_LqB1TlLq4bl76RtKqqyQYQhHUQKd0VvTDxQX7CJ0SRdfmmp6GH6EQkaSvPQbbuuweVujGW6wQDd6vmgFlTBWVgSx5jGTIa7hlfIOwruVCh0INjmeYDhj7o9HBKMZGKDYiAR7lAA/s200/100_5340.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot - good outdoor cat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ow5tAYlFrjCSszT0fJUTjLSINbF_N389zgYDofq7Rw72EnC4N9CxLyBtMOLWvctmVLT885p2OrCP4KOyDGRXQ17_P15zG5yi5p2z7dIZV5XIVfYFsYfy7p7SXpNdO1Q79TSE7yw7Iu4/s1600/284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ow5tAYlFrjCSszT0fJUTjLSINbF_N389zgYDofq7Rw72EnC4N9CxLyBtMOLWvctmVLT885p2OrCP4KOyDGRXQ17_P15zG5yi5p2z7dIZV5XIVfYFsYfy7p7SXpNdO1Q79TSE7yw7Iu4/s200/284.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lydia, 11 months</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAx8dVB-NibcEW5PsLR7s3xM4dHvjd1DEkntVE7YgvSxdwvvar6DS9AfvlrpTO4M5amJem9IV3tPBXtlBUEzjafDszH4Yv7gZIDWmslN1oxHCkIXR2lSWyfEOlF0d_wkQpQEGNV2cE8Q/s1600/286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAx8dVB-NibcEW5PsLR7s3xM4dHvjd1DEkntVE7YgvSxdwvvar6DS9AfvlrpTO4M5amJem9IV3tPBXtlBUEzjafDszH4Yv7gZIDWmslN1oxHCkIXR2lSWyfEOlF0d_wkQpQEGNV2cE8Q/s200/286.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheyenne - see her collie face!</td></tr>
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We also adopted a cousin of Lydia's, Cheyenne. Chey is 7, and is half English Shepherd and half some kind of collie. Both dogs are considered "Farm Collies," though. So now we have Lily (8), Cheyenne (7), and Lydia (almost a year). We still miss Sheba and Decker.<br />
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Current count of hens is ~150, and they are laying like crazy. I have 50 rabbits out of nest boxes, and a few babies too young to count yet. The current spread of breeds are American Blue, Cinnamon, Creme d'Argent, Palomino, and New Zealand. The Cremes and Palominos are on probation at the moment; the Cremes are fussy to breed and not fabulous mothers, and the Palomino does won't breed. If they haven't accepted the buck by May 1st, they're outta here.<br />
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That mostly sums up 2012. I'm sure I've forgotten more than I've remembered, but that's par for the course.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-1565455007333874442012-12-31T20:21:00.004-05:002012-12-31T20:21:43.666-05:00And now to begin to wrap things up...I see that I didn't do a wrap-up post last year. I'm not surprised; I was pretty damn sick all year. Here's what I hoped to do in 2011:<br />
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Follow the plan with spreadsheet and tame the beast that is a house with too much stuff in it.<br />
Verdict: FAIL. It was May 2011 before I really got over September 2010's illness.<br />
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Get moving parts working properly, and keep them that way. PT and home exercise are essential to this goal.<br />
Verdict: Partial Success. My back has been behaving moderately better, and it's been almost a year since my last cortisone injection.<br />
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Manage weight. Yup, need to do that.<br />
Verdict: FAIL. Huge fail. Working on it again/still.<br />
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Continue to breed for show, meat, and breed preservation. Select for excellent growth on pasture.<br />
Verdict: Moderate success. I did breed, and added some new breeds to the farm. I did NOT pasture any rabbits last spring; the weather was too dodgy.<br />
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Show the rabbits - it's good for the breeds, and it's good for sales of brood stock.<br />
Verdict: FAIL. We showed at Cummington only.<br />
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As mentioned above, put up fencing, get dairy goats and beef cow.<br />
Verdict: SUCCESS! The fencing went up between May and October 2011, and we brought in four Nigerian Dwarf goats in October. I lost one in January 2012 to bloat (it was horrible to witness and I felt like a really bad farmer) and successfully bred one, who gave me triplet daughters. Had to give up the dream of a beef cow, though, due to conservation restrictions.<br />
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Contact
the local Adult Ed folks and set up to teach some classes - I'm
thinking knitting, mending, cooking, menu-planning, gardening,
sustainable living, food preservation (canning, both methods; freezing),
life skills for children. Suggestions are welcome!<br />
Verdict: Partial Success. I did offer classes. Only one ended up happening, 'how to turn strawberries into jam.'<br />
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Pursue
licensure to sell rabbit to the public. Nobody is quite sure whose
purview this is - I've talked to town hall, state ag folks, and federal
ag folks. Everyone thinks it's a great idea; nobody knows who's on
first. *sigh* Well, it's not the first time I will have blazed a trail,
right?<br />
Verdict: Still in progress. Humbling, isn't it?<br />
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Get back on my bike/drive less. This is good for health, thrift, and the planet.<br />
Verdict: Mostly fail. I didn't get on my bike at ALL in 2011, though I did ride some in September and October 2012. Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-61769362882001589802012-12-31T20:11:00.001-05:002012-12-31T20:11:19.236-05:00Inadvertent progressDoes losing five pounds because you're sick count? I'm saying heck yeah... being that miserable has to be worth something.<br />
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189/145.<br />
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Am joining Weight Watchers for the New Year. I've had good success in the past using their online service.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-64395840938826722292012-09-27T09:19:00.000-04:002012-09-27T09:19:08.749-04:00Lydia wins!As of 9:15 this morning, Lydia has recaptured all of the escaped rabbits. Well done, Lydia!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-87525649106602155892012-09-25T07:06:00.002-04:002012-09-25T07:06:12.114-04:00Mass breakout at Azkaban... er, back of the yardLydia, the farm collie, was just chasing something in the back yard. I went out to see what she had... if it was vermin, then "Good dog!" And if it was a rabbit, then "Good dog!" and catch the rabbit.<br />
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It was a rabbit, a baby Cinnamon. Hm. There shouldn't be any way for a baby Cinnamon to get out of its cage. The cages are all fairly new, solid, and without any holes in the wires.<br />
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Except... where the feeder goes. Ah. It was the cage with the doe who keeps chucking all her food out of the feeder, and she managed to dislodge the feeder itself, and she and her entire litter escaped through the hole. Swell.<br />
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6:35: Lydia catches the first of the babies.<br />
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6:50: Lydia catches the mother rabbit.<br />
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Oddly, I'm not stressed out at all, as I would formerly have been at the notion of an entire litter being out of its cage. I have every confidence that by sundown, Lydia will have recaptured every last rabbit. At the moment, she seems to have them all trapped under the shed. They'll come out eventually, though, and she's got nothing but time!<br />
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Three more babies to find....Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-18810515642525168342012-09-24T15:17:00.000-04:002012-09-24T15:17:14.883-04:00Cummington Fair, 2012, junior division<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadIj1YeMUgr_l4ObqCNtc1sQhHfRtB3fYWw4f8ImCKbXHjJELC9yxVwUR48OOwMvWe2Y-WjyKX4vwzyXO_8xBhjf_lNr5miWc52MkYdlm-1HYUB2cS-3lGOfPTxc7Rk6I9tgKpFNmYlo/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadIj1YeMUgr_l4ObqCNtc1sQhHfRtB3fYWw4f8ImCKbXHjJELC9yxVwUR48OOwMvWe2Y-WjyKX4vwzyXO_8xBhjf_lNr5miWc52MkYdlm-1HYUB2cS-3lGOfPTxc7Rk6I9tgKpFNmYlo/s200/102.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Eyed Susans</td></tr>
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Yes, this will involve bragging. No, I won't apologize. Would you?<br />
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Amanda entered some Black-Eyed Susans. They grow like crazy in front of our house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFyGsP6unwbl3trz6l-tW4Yu9p2_9zXNqMO_8WPgahe2ywy_PAYWX2mLYUDMadFiZeZOemGASl4fnoadfqaLSXvE79CXOy-HJDrWNulfDVm-zmaWf-_9EdciThobVrr0_1N94SPee77U/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFyGsP6unwbl3trz6l-tW4Yu9p2_9zXNqMO_8WPgahe2ywy_PAYWX2mLYUDMadFiZeZOemGASl4fnoadfqaLSXvE79CXOy-HJDrWNulfDVm-zmaWf-_9EdciThobVrr0_1N94SPee77U/s200/103.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda's knitted scarf</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkvue1V70boHnsSB1xXbYIWNe9nOhpeC0f1hgPfa9LuOrDMqyLCgPYbVuFeIAWrmVFoAlOpmNhUI_WOyJCwC-EM9Cx7LxRmJgz2pqVmFCxLQsla5yv3xWTMKrcVHHaa-4tkenL6uxAY4/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkvue1V70boHnsSB1xXbYIWNe9nOhpeC0f1hgPfa9LuOrDMqyLCgPYbVuFeIAWrmVFoAlOpmNhUI_WOyJCwC-EM9Cx7LxRmJgz2pqVmFCxLQsla5yv3xWTMKrcVHHaa-4tkenL6uxAY4/s200/104.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSgGQMRfkOuxIr4oaHcV6M-Ti1tAK8EUQ5UFsBGO7D1HVTRMMwmMPZG3r2vPJPRNzorih13UBAQjnhLYPpD-4d154CbPXJzK8f8zeq3aTAxZwokmjO-ci7W17cRY2t50hlv4qvTsYqec/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSgGQMRfkOuxIr4oaHcV6M-Ti1tAK8EUQ5UFsBGO7D1HVTRMMwmMPZG3r2vPJPRNzorih13UBAQjnhLYPpD-4d154CbPXJzK8f8zeq3aTAxZwokmjO-ci7W17cRY2t50hlv4qvTsYqec/s200/105.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shorts</td></tr>
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Her sewn goods were really impressive, though! I don't have a photo, but she won a plaque for Best Sewing Display. Not bad for twelve years old!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0BdekBM12hquoLVl2jUCWbKW_geSvNDdQoypZ52gQxnuEPWPl9Gqts66IL43OII5bdqYXEyOctQMuWccU3Wt_VvK6WjBKOx2ydtN4zFExtf0xjAkwobNZ85oEaJH5IXEMJqs_zIwGsc/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0BdekBM12hquoLVl2jUCWbKW_geSvNDdQoypZ52gQxnuEPWPl9Gqts66IL43OII5bdqYXEyOctQMuWccU3Wt_VvK6WjBKOx2ydtN4zFExtf0xjAkwobNZ85oEaJH5IXEMJqs_zIwGsc/s200/106.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-NzI-omZbtPikwoBphvrBrfpDXhtsmDJ9pBhTBaLBFDMP0CHL2lJo4Qx78Q8DNj_w83FEKj06cSiHwDV2mMegTLMyjF-qk65MME7QNmSU1KKGuJZyZtX1RYcnIsaoaDd2Kx1lKMMHAA/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-NzI-omZbtPikwoBphvrBrfpDXhtsmDJ9pBhTBaLBFDMP0CHL2lJo4Qx78Q8DNj_w83FEKj06cSiHwDV2mMegTLMyjF-qk65MME7QNmSU1KKGuJZyZtX1RYcnIsaoaDd2Kx1lKMMHAA/s200/107.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTxGWNkS4U3LHhG-ymV617g1JuMMsjWtC_jkMmsKlet7E5ptdgflWCFzpfXhN-zgltzns7Vb9LdDla8H0sIqmUr-K1YQX8iIhs1YjQ4Ps1xVtg8mVc7h4oxAc6Q5lm2xc8gHXWJdFJIk/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTxGWNkS4U3LHhG-ymV617g1JuMMsjWtC_jkMmsKlet7E5ptdgflWCFzpfXhN-zgltzns7Vb9LdDla8H0sIqmUr-K1YQX8iIhs1YjQ4Ps1xVtg8mVc7h4oxAc6Q5lm2xc8gHXWJdFJIk/s200/109.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumper</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH4wbrZ2wkQNcnjKyP_is7UHvD9cUqgzp6ZTbbJPgWZjqh3y9QhlZmy0qXedxUW1QOjUseZA7VFAQToaGUeX3t15iHBafgt0LuQhMx69b-8dgTCsC5wAkc4c8ULrEyu7mStGbofwKULc/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH4wbrZ2wkQNcnjKyP_is7UHvD9cUqgzp6ZTbbJPgWZjqh3y9QhlZmy0qXedxUW1QOjUseZA7VFAQToaGUeX3t15iHBafgt0LuQhMx69b-8dgTCsC5wAkc4c8ULrEyu7mStGbofwKULc/s200/111.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did well in cherry tomatoes...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlFF-1UBe7-8NyhlO7En6mjDjXQTC_28W06MNtiNO7Nw81DjUnFJsibkkwvNDWyhEH9h0CedF1O3nRcKYdqusCj-miqhePmgbzMNH9zfF2B0wJ4vzr1fL33qKSOU8ARBpJa_Pn9FtfbU/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlFF-1UBe7-8NyhlO7En6mjDjXQTC_28W06MNtiNO7Nw81DjUnFJsibkkwvNDWyhEH9h0CedF1O3nRcKYdqusCj-miqhePmgbzMNH9zfF2B0wJ4vzr1fL33qKSOU8ARBpJa_Pn9FtfbU/s200/112.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did very well with paste tomatoes...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvoWxFBuyo1eXtt9Tua-cgElbE8_DDYGEJdrx3FyAM-lOPXvWr6o5ra4O53HG9ClglUyszr3SwFZuX9sFenAazVkHN8MaIo_a8AVnrKhflawYCcmolqBefq6-7qejInvl5kNRWfEzZuE/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvoWxFBuyo1eXtt9Tua-cgElbE8_DDYGEJdrx3FyAM-lOPXvWr6o5ra4O53HG9ClglUyszr3SwFZuX9sFenAazVkHN8MaIo_a8AVnrKhflawYCcmolqBefq6-7qejInvl5kNRWfEzZuE/s200/108.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pillow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztviEZQocA1ZXrH7ewIC-fk0gMpd6l6qc5oMuuYLdTRXImB3Zm7Mjt2CkhSEF158ZKMkxgpKuQOeGAScmwn_lsouEbVxax0fDWEfvN_aOkMPb99HF-V5koq304ghkJcU3dGCotFA9mYY/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztviEZQocA1ZXrH7ewIC-fk0gMpd6l6qc5oMuuYLdTRXImB3Zm7Mjt2CkhSEF158ZKMkxgpKuQOeGAScmwn_lsouEbVxax0fDWEfvN_aOkMPb99HF-V5koq304ghkJcU3dGCotFA9mYY/s200/110.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We swept the Green Beans...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fJQywv2cnEJD5LIPnp4BRkPLFCwG32l9gXCVH70U6X04DiKNHOMGwWd4GLdUgW6vanIGVrgx0UjjhGIYpMHAL46pt7ti-QI3pzcKHMx525-IzsdYGcaCT5mLxYl_n5T24qKLYXphBP0/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fJQywv2cnEJD5LIPnp4BRkPLFCwG32l9gXCVH70U6X04DiKNHOMGwWd4GLdUgW6vanIGVrgx0UjjhGIYpMHAL46pt7ti-QI3pzcKHMx525-IzsdYGcaCT5mLxYl_n5T24qKLYXphBP0/s200/114.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also swept the grapes...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9ptcGxkMuREDOx_7BOHyU1qpYcwv_fLF21_1tuUtNpMufK5hseKKkgncVW66CJaORQTwXZDD_RbKdChitnClN7GHS5XY9tCGXs76e_NcletBnpQTRzO7hednoyns1TAfXZ0KSlcJ0Uw/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9ptcGxkMuREDOx_7BOHyU1qpYcwv_fLF21_1tuUtNpMufK5hseKKkgncVW66CJaORQTwXZDD_RbKdChitnClN7GHS5XY9tCGXs76e_NcletBnpQTRzO7hednoyns1TAfXZ0KSlcJ0Uw/s200/121.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not bad in bread-and-butter pickles, either!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8Rwaozl8m7eIB-eK4MWZm-Oylt_kwguRFRECpw6Nwq1dtNtyt2CkFgb1vE9yqK_yApYSBwJRrD6UpTyvdd-wyIHyzGNLWtrPx3NJXFQ7tDtadl9tX921fyj7BKLQ91Bpj9V6DrN_oxA/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8Rwaozl8m7eIB-eK4MWZm-Oylt_kwguRFRECpw6Nwq1dtNtyt2CkFgb1vE9yqK_yApYSBwJRrD6UpTyvdd-wyIHyzGNLWtrPx3NJXFQ7tDtadl9tX921fyj7BKLQ91Bpj9V6DrN_oxA/s200/124.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birdhouse Adam made in wood shop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmADoy-lFZfRDvEr1HHXmwQe7L8Hv_N3YSkqidicY3vgVydkDvQ5hAU8kiZXSSJa0K96ToHvPvuJVQlaw8QdbAxfDzP8lSZw7yMWlUYzh-xDqXvbfd5EjlEcrAirNh7KvOjby966bRwM0/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmADoy-lFZfRDvEr1HHXmwQe7L8Hv_N3YSkqidicY3vgVydkDvQ5hAU8kiZXSSJa0K96ToHvPvuJVQlaw8QdbAxfDzP8lSZw7yMWlUYzh-xDqXvbfd5EjlEcrAirNh7KvOjby966bRwM0/s200/120.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the canned green beans...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ33_kDLjVgFzHjFj487UPNn-PVV9h0APPoEvRHPn9My94pBFbC4kwFXxlRJ-o4P-ASC97CENObt8vsgAK7xtBtm2NAVRoMBqLaybuge0SmfJgje_Xj3F-Z2bi-XB2fbcBBwvqSxariU8/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ33_kDLjVgFzHjFj487UPNn-PVV9h0APPoEvRHPn9My94pBFbC4kwFXxlRJ-o4P-ASC97CENObt8vsgAK7xtBtm2NAVRoMBqLaybuge0SmfJgje_Xj3F-Z2bi-XB2fbcBBwvqSxariU8/s200/126.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda's painted rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQoCV_cuQ428GPkCn4UX3UWFFL-DXmRiAjcXHjyOTHUAW4STnv0m18dx0285Q6XOn3RWeIORomNex7EmueUguWXNhQGr9x-CubC8rUQ1CJaO7HdqsOir2gQi8ubFmZo5ZUlIvRhG0PPI/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQoCV_cuQ428GPkCn4UX3UWFFL-DXmRiAjcXHjyOTHUAW4STnv0m18dx0285Q6XOn3RWeIORomNex7EmueUguWXNhQGr9x-CubC8rUQ1CJaO7HdqsOir2gQi8ubFmZo5ZUlIvRhG0PPI/s200/123.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy Charlotte's dolphin watercolor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_3zD1MiPaIxteywsG3MIe212h1Bq-YLeXBJSfwCYtLya1ujUI-6-WpcxMv1zDHvb7cOA1KD4MjkDYl-jQ-RTybQr_cYPtWYlhS8-UeHEJeRRb9gnCjONpa3ZRkd8VVW2K7zVudc3150/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_3zD1MiPaIxteywsG3MIe212h1Bq-YLeXBJSfwCYtLya1ujUI-6-WpcxMv1zDHvb7cOA1KD4MjkDYl-jQ-RTybQr_cYPtWYlhS8-UeHEJeRRb9gnCjONpa3ZRkd8VVW2K7zVudc3150/s200/127.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda's Four Seasons painting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy's pencil drawing of a Halloween train</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlMtRQ7YtdDRm07kpKxB7WLJnjK1yjnTOCx2CUGttfa7mCxmvXHt9FV97XxLowN5U97rcbV9jP69sciP669bQyTkYgJkXAd0cbcNoehtoZXPe9PK2pf_nKc4EMxyqAs8xRgL9ntZY5JI/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlMtRQ7YtdDRm07kpKxB7WLJnjK1yjnTOCx2CUGttfa7mCxmvXHt9FV97XxLowN5U97rcbV9jP69sciP669bQyTkYgJkXAd0cbcNoehtoZXPe9PK2pf_nKc4EMxyqAs8xRgL9ntZY5JI/s200/128.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda's marker drawing of a horse</td></tr>
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I gave up on trying to make these photos go where I wanted them. And the egg photos - while repetitive - just wouldn't format at ALL. Take my word that we won half a dozen ribbons for eggs, please.<br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-18440905403297550582012-09-24T14:36:00.001-04:002012-09-24T14:36:59.722-04:00Cummington Fair, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My children and I always look forward to the Cummington Fair. Of all the agricultural fairs around here, it's my favorite. It's big enough to be fun and exciting, and small enough to be manageable and not intimidating. We were introduced to the Fair in 2008 by a friend, who invited us to enter Peanut Butter, our first Cinnamon buck, in the rabbit competition. He won a blue ribbon - that he was the only one of his breed entered didn't really matter to us. Since then, we've expanded our entries. Here are photos of (most of) my ribbons. (The baked goods' photos came out poorly, because they were all inside glass cases. You'll just have to take my word for them.)<br />
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I entered eggs in five categories - medium and large, white and brown, and "any other" eggs. I won a red ribbon (2nd place), two white ribbons (3rd place), and a yellow ribbon (4th place). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3_YmXf1rLxW6Lgw47xG_fw7w04OwSdhhdEHbOFjxHHEEjn2iAe8a_0gZgHIVGRRREvjQOYooIjIPObeYiJCnE6cgbpjhE4oyodWmUNuIFTaDFa6K5feEOgx5lbKs-nqkbYL5k8MDhlM/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3_YmXf1rLxW6Lgw47xG_fw7w04OwSdhhdEHbOFjxHHEEjn2iAe8a_0gZgHIVGRRREvjQOYooIjIPObeYiJCnE6cgbpjhE4oyodWmUNuIFTaDFa6K5feEOgx5lbKs-nqkbYL5k8MDhlM/s200/072.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKq5kHoESx8i_3zBZ3iJatnbKqjrbGreTEIS0Q5P4IV6KzUJA31LyzIgE9PlvFpw3gB9MqU_LTlM55wWWJfZHlCrdseoYu7NyZJsjolEEG3wG22-4uy_7v0GxykeSkL_88gyiv4PaZzU/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKq5kHoESx8i_3zBZ3iJatnbKqjrbGreTEIS0Q5P4IV6KzUJA31LyzIgE9PlvFpw3gB9MqU_LTlM55wWWJfZHlCrdseoYu7NyZJsjolEEG3wG22-4uy_7v0GxykeSkL_88gyiv4PaZzU/s200/073.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEDnMsWpIDwJplHc9sZYPybbqCc-IUsdb-F9rBfpnPyaxTYg1KYSWpvNoUvsgVHS7Ngqz4_Pmz_CHkq6cQrBBxppkyI25ks7tNL_VMb1wXANsaZbPIEwbjm74BzV-1ovCi5pRJHsGOuw/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEDnMsWpIDwJplHc9sZYPybbqCc-IUsdb-F9rBfpnPyaxTYg1KYSWpvNoUvsgVHS7Ngqz4_Pmz_CHkq6cQrBBxppkyI25ks7tNL_VMb1wXANsaZbPIEwbjm74BzV-1ovCi5pRJHsGOuw/s200/070.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PAeN613-90lYahnghOe1WDDdWjOZ80SHb2o9Z1YAXSIxTOjhNgiJ1S4UingVHViC4j-rBASXCDJ1MQortJaMG-xatmm-abNNr7mFZt_vJo8ecm89AGHfQAGMiRPS4rErEWlHJa7yOk8/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PAeN613-90lYahnghOe1WDDdWjOZ80SHb2o9Z1YAXSIxTOjhNgiJ1S4UingVHViC4j-rBASXCDJ1MQortJaMG-xatmm-abNNr7mFZt_vJo8ecm89AGHfQAGMiRPS4rErEWlHJa7yOk8/s200/071.JPG" width="200" /></a> Apparently the brown eggs were supposed to be all the same shade of brown - but where's the fun in that?<br />
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I entered three tomato categories - heirloom, paste, and yellow cherry. My heirloom "Brandywine" tomatoes won a red ribbon - yes, I know they're cracked, but the first-place plate were only slightly less cracked. My paste tomatoes did much better - a blue ribbon! The yellow cherry tomatoes also won a blue ribbon, but honesty compels me to acknowledge that they were the only entry in the category.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBF0fRR0_KghSNw06O8ynRIr3_Inbl8tLWG7Euj7vzmAPGvCxoFYP6mqklVXTkMEXsaHfKlElnYuq6WfK74u-9l9l0mVqnuzvnA4k4z6AqXFKQ4pSstoWHOgGp8gKhbLYvw6TJ9qH6Vk/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBF0fRR0_KghSNw06O8ynRIr3_Inbl8tLWG7Euj7vzmAPGvCxoFYP6mqklVXTkMEXsaHfKlElnYuq6WfK74u-9l9l0mVqnuzvnA4k4z6AqXFKQ4pSstoWHOgGp8gKhbLYvw6TJ9qH6Vk/s200/078.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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For "exotic vegetable" I entered an artichoke, which also won a blue ribbon. There were other entries in the category, but I don't remember now what they were. And my green Concord-type "Niagara" grapes also won a blue ribbon! There were some purple grapes entered in that class, as I recall.<br />
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In the upstairs hall, I entered baked goods, canned goods, and knitted items. My white bread won a white ribbon, the 'marble square' bar cookies likewise won a white ribbon, the brownies won a red ribbon, and the banana chocolate-chip muffins won a white ribbon. My multi-grain bread didn't place, though.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZh1lZlSZssFO_CbIyQ5g3BqKjBIFL1wFttu0bhlaKVYuxGa0NRBhxbKVFY-hyReQl0WsPtJfdWrOv3JoyuUsYtmdRRSwHEj-_dhW605wQeVn6hkIxn89dvY4fxleVF1n80iL4S9NVnpI/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZh1lZlSZssFO_CbIyQ5g3BqKjBIFL1wFttu0bhlaKVYuxGa0NRBhxbKVFY-hyReQl0WsPtJfdWrOv3JoyuUsYtmdRRSwHEj-_dhW605wQeVn6hkIxn89dvY4fxleVF1n80iL4S9NVnpI/s200/082.JPG" width="200" /></a>I entered a bunch of canned goods - grape jelly, diced tomatoes, green beans, bread-and-butter pickles, all of which failed to place. What did win a blue ribbon, though, was the grape jam, made from the Niagara grapes... and it's the MOST DISGUSTING shade of olive I've ever seen. I was quite bewildered!<br />
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The fingerless gloves I entered as 'knitted novelties' didn't place.<br />
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However, the baby blanket won a white ribbon. The bed blanket won a red ribbon.<br />
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And - finally! - after three years of entering sweaters made from the same Icelandic pattern, I won a blue ribbon!!!<br />
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I'll show the children's accomplishments in a separate post.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-83449597120327128312012-09-19T14:07:00.001-04:002012-09-19T14:09:18.286-04:00Progress!I joined Planet Fitness on September 1st. Naturally, my children had three sick days within the first week of my membership. I made my first trip on Tuesday, September 11th. I biked there (1.6 miles each way) and did no more than the PT exercises for my back before heading home. I thought my legs would fall off.<br />
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I went again on Saturday, September 15th. Unless I specify differently, assume I biked there, which I did on Saturday. I did my PT exercises, followed by a very modest tour of the machines. I focused mostly on my arms, since biking is as much as my legs can manage yet.<br />
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Next visit was on Monday, September 17th. Again I started with my back exercises, then did a slightly more ambitious round of machines. So far so good - I have really been careful about starting slow, lest I utterly cripple myself.<br />
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My fourth visit was today, Wednesday, September 19th. After my back exercises, I added a little bit more weight to the machines I have been using.<br />
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I have noticed that my legs are strengthening a bit - biking there didn't leave me sucking wind today (despite a stiff breeze in my face) like it did the first day.<br />
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And - best of all - 1 pound gone! 193/145... 48 to go.<br />
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EDIT: Whoa - I just looked at that first day's post, and the news is even better - THREE pounds gone! (still have 48 to go, though) Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-59007365117860438892012-09-11T14:04:00.000-04:002012-09-11T14:04:15.397-04:00New beginningI have a plan. I'm doing pretty well sticking to it so far!<br />
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196/145.<br />
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More to come.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1142677124894149994.post-58603588121933743232012-09-05T12:30:00.001-04:002012-09-05T12:32:34.154-04:00August 2, 2012 - RIP Decker<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP6kNDqElJ_RaYBL-a4p-_Wt7XFaQKfhcNXJqERjwge11Y55FkXdoUXOuTrOOmGvmvqhOXGSNdk-mLwtvpNgfwMGulcMil9MhmB0WBLnfiOiS-lx4N895sZraL0i36hkvTxNqqCAqjWY/s1600/-+867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP6kNDqElJ_RaYBL-a4p-_Wt7XFaQKfhcNXJqERjwge11Y55FkXdoUXOuTrOOmGvmvqhOXGSNdk-mLwtvpNgfwMGulcMil9MhmB0WBLnfiOiS-lx4N895sZraL0i36hkvTxNqqCAqjWY/s320/-+867.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decker and Sheba, 2001</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oh, what a sad day here at the Acre. Our beloved Decker went to the Rainbow Bridge to join Sheba and Mickey (and Draco and Amber, barn cats). The vet came to the farm to give the goatlings their vaccines, and helped us say goodbye to Decker. I wept and wept. It's awful to say goodbye to one dog, but to lose two in one summer was almost unbearable. Bless Lily and Lydia for keeping us company still.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14894152513746944497noreply@blogger.com0