Moving Account

Since my last post I have relocated to a friend's garage apartment on her 5 acre sanctuary. Still coming back to get my internet connection and water my plants, and working on my sewing projects there. I'll be there for a few weeks and then will move next door to housesit for the next 4 months while the owner goes to work in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. There are 18 cats and several goats to take care of there, along with the house and yard. It will take a little to get into that routine! I am working on using up 1.5 inch strips to make strip lap quilts for the Pine Ridge Reservation, and I'm going to keep at it till it's completed. And I mean it!

Update

Very foggy here this morning which is good for all the trees and plants since we're still in a so-called drought. This week I saw two white tailed deer while on my morning walk...we thought there weren't any here.. just the smaller mule deer. And this morning I came across a little turtle on Whidden Rd. He had burrowed down a little in the dirt road. So, I wrapped him in a clean tissue and carried him along till I got back here and placed him at the edge of the pond. That may have been my good deed for the day! Yesterday I came across several treasures on my "treasure hunt"...two antique side chairs, both need reupholstering. Annnnd! I found a Kenmore sewing machine for a $1.00. Yes, that's right... one dollar! It has more fancy stitches than mine so I need to play around with that to see if I want to keep it or pass it on to a little girl I know who wants to learn how to sew. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23460606 This listing is for a beautiful piece of fabric. have a peek!

Cards by Angie

You HAVE to see this listing for a card by Angie! Angie is a sweet little lady who makes the dearest and adorable cards. We met at the recent arts and crafts show last Saturday. All the vendors just loved her! I offered to sell a few of her cards on eclecticarmadillo.etsy.com on a trial basis. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23466047 The weather has gotten a bit on the coolish side the last few nights. We've been keeping the fireplace lit, and are almost out of cut wood, now. This evening I want to attend a folk music concert by Jim Glover at Mother's Musical Bakery. I like Jim and his music, but mostly I want to go check out the venue. OK! Time for a little nap then maybe a bit of sewing before it's time to go!

April 4th Craft Sale

About a month ago a local acquaintance contacted me about having a booth at a craft sale featuring handmade items. Since this craft sale was the first in what we hope becomes a regular event featuring handmade items, I decided to not have my expectations too high as far as sales go, but rather focus on developing friendships and having a good social time. I had a good time, did lay the groundwork for possibly continuing friendships, and made a number of smaller sales. And of course, bought irresistible stuff, too!

I'm happy to say that one of my Cathedral Windows potholders sets that I had on etsy sold, a set of 8 table napkins sold, as well, as several pints of Calamondin Marmalade (made from calamondin fruit picked from a tree on Whidden Rd.), several pints of Pomegranate and Red Wine Jelly, a number of purses fat quarters, 5 potted everbearing strawberry plants, 2 potted Friendship plants, and last but not least, one potted Jade plant.

The vendors agreed to a second sale on the last saturday in September. Now we're going to have to focus on preparing our flyers and business cards and getting the word out , and getting some of these vendors set up with etsy accounts so that we can form a local etsy street team.

And one of our little brown hens is officially sitting on a nest full of eggs! I have never been first hand witness to this occurrence. Luckily, her nest is in the hen house where she's safe at night from raccoons and other predators. And with food readily available.

Tiger's Eye Bracelet purchase

See http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=14816982 for a recent purchase. This piece of jewelry is well made, was shipped quickly, was wrapped very attractively...this was a quality transaction all the way. I hope this etsy seller does very well! And I love the bracelet...have wanted something made with a tiger's eye gem, and something made using copper for a long time now, and then I spotted both in one interesting piece!

Busy Month!

I see my last post was early this month....time flies when you're having fun! Or as the frog so aptly put it... time's fun when you're having flies! So, I've been busy with sewing, treasure hunting in town, one of the adult female goats became developed paralysis and was unable to use her legs (ultimately we had to say goodbye), my computer developed a motherboard malfunction and I was reduced to using an older laptop for days (as hardships go that wasn't on the top of the list, but it did really cramp my style until the new computer got here and was set up...I could not access my favorites or get to my photos), doing a bit of gardening here and there. Now, there are LOTS of pix to take of items that I plan to get into my etsy store/s. And Saturday is the upcoming handmade craft sale here in town where I'll be having my first etsy booth. if that is a positive experience we may be having it on a monthly basis...time will tell! Gotta go and convert some of those creative ideas into real objects! See you!

What's for Dinner Tonight?

We had a guest from St. Louis over the weekend, and consequently some leftover food. Sooo...it seemed like the perfect time for a casserole! First, I lined the dish with filling made using Pepperidge whole wheat bread he brought along, using eggs from my very own free range chickens, then layered corn, peas, two containers of mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin, grilled chicken, and last but not least chicken gravy... and then at the last minute topped it off with onion slices. As the saying goes...the proof is in the pudding! The cake is a chocolate lavender cake (that was an experiment that will require some more trials), and my favorite color roses. And the cake saver was a yard sale discovery!

Snug as a Bug in a Wicker Chair

This little wicker chair has become one of our tiger's favorite curling up spots. When he adopted us last year he was thin, with very sparse hair, and still had a kitten face. He's full grown now and has thick fur...and knows how to yank my chain, although I am learning just how and when he does that!

Lavender Pound Cake recipe

This cake cake recipe has become a favorite with me! Lavender Pound Cake: 2 and 1/4 cup sifted all purpose flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 3 eggs, 1 cup room temperature butter, 8 0z. lemon yogurt (I use plain yogurt and add lemon zest), 2 TBLPS. lavender buds Combine: Place all ingredients into a large bowl, blend at low speed, then beat 3 minutes at med. speed. Pour into a bundt pan and bake at 325* 50-60 minutes. Check for doneness, then remove from oven and let sit for 5 min., then invert onto plate. Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar 1 TBLPS melted butter 3-4 tsp. lemon juice

My Crush on Fabric!

I am lovin' on this 3 yard remnant of Concord Fabrics by the Kesslers!...also from yesterday's trip to the "big city".

In the Bag!

This piece of fabric "In the Bag" by Alexander Henry was the most exciting find on today's foray into the "big city". I listed six fat quarters on both my etsy stores. I'm going to have a lot of fun opening the goodie bag that looks as if it came from the very back corners of someone's sewing room. I do see a number of wooden thread spools, for starters!

Pygmy Goats

Here's a pic of the twin pygmy goats, Roger and Heather, and their mother Nellie. They are several weeks old here, maybe even a month already. Goats are very nimble. The baby goats were already gamboling on the sloped banks of the pond on their first day!

Follow up on the miniature egg...

That little egg was so adorable I really meant to keep it around for a few days in a saucer on the kitchen counter top as minimalist art. One of the cats had a completely different idea about that! Last evening I found it broken on the floor, and Jimmy the dog happily scarfed it down. I did see that it had a tiny little yolk proportionate to the size of the egg. Aren't digital cameras great, though, for saving memories!

AH! A reading nook of one's very own!

Here's my very own reading nook! The chair is a yard sale find. Someday, I may find an irresistible piece of fabric and decide to take the leap back into time and reupholster the chair, but for now I find it very loveable, soiled and worn as it is!

Miniature Chicken Egg!

This afternoon I went out to the chicken house to check for eggs, and feed and water the chickens, and discovered the little egg! Fred tells me it has no yolk. I think it is just too cute!

Folk figures collection

I fell in love with these folk figures last year. One by one the collection is accumulating. These are yard sale finds, and that is how I hope to continue with the additions.

Good day at Walmart!

Bought the heart print at Walmart for a very good price! It's 12 yards altogether, and I'll make table napkins with some of it. It is happy looking fabric! I glued decorative card stock to these two box tops and it adds something, imo. Now, it is time to get some floors cleaned around here!

"Rhapsody in Red!"

Rhapsody in Red! That's how I decided to name this wallhanging! Hope it finds a good home soon. Click on the enclosed etsy link for more information.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21603946

Springtime!!!

This afternoon I sowed corn and sugar peas seeds in starter pots. Yippee!

Whidden Road farm

For the time being I live and have my being on a 5 acre farm on Whidden Road east of town. Having grown up on a working farm as well as having spent most of my adult life on a farm or in a rural setting, I feel very comfortable here in this little spot of paradise in Florida. There are 4 adult Pygmy goats, one of which had a set of twins two weeks ago. I was granted the honor of naming them. The girl is Heather and the boy is named Roger. Since the mother had not yet been named I gave her the name of Nellie. I have 4 chickens and a rooster here. Two of the chickens are brown and two are white. One of the chickens has commenced laying an egg , after a winter hiatus. The rooster is a very colorful creature. Yesterday he escaped from the pasture into the main yard. Jimmy, the dog gave chase, until the rooster in desperation finally took flight across the pond. Alas, he had miscalculated his flying abilities and landed in the water a few feet off shore. I now know that roosters CAN swim, having personally witnessed this feat firsthand! Then there are also the 3 indoor/outdoor cats. The senior of the lot is white, stone deaf, and blind in one eye. He likes to nap all day on the barn roof. The other two are an orange tabby, and a totally black cat. The fun they can have with a simple brown paper grocery bag is amazing! Yesterday I spent more time in my garden, weeding and maintenance. I transplanted 24 strawberry plants into a rectangular bed. They look happy! Over the weekend I spent time in the sewing room taking a number of projects to another level, so that they would be easy to pick up at any time this week and move right along. I've had a number of sales on eclecticarmadillo. Getting a better sense of what to list for future sales. Very soon I will have a half a dozen Cathedral Window wallhangings ready to list on sarahsquiltsncrafts. Time to go make a pot of lentil and carrot stew for lunch! Enjoy the day! Sarah