I need a chicken-sitter

I found out that we will be going on a vacation for a week in August.  Woo Hoo! A real vacation- away from home and construction and garden.
Every few years, we get together with all of V's family. Usually we go to the Outer Banks in North Carolina but this year we're doing something different.  We're going NORTH!  Way North- well, about as far north as some of you dear blog buddies live.  We're going to Northern Minnesota (Rainy Lake area and Voyageurs National Park).  This summer my MIL turns 80.  She was originally from Mn (Baudette, Bemidji and then Cloquet) and wants to show her grandchildren where she grew up.  So, we will, hopefully, be renting some cabins on the lake and having a fun time fishing, canoeing and battling mosquitos.
As usual when we travel, we will board the dog at our favorite local kennel.  The cats we can have a friend stop in and feed every day or so.  But the chickens... the chickens...  Who can I trust to make sure my babies are fed and watered and have the eggs collected.  I can't imagine that someone can come twice a day or more to let them out, close them up and check on them.  Of course, if we ever finish the top of the run and make sure it's really, really predator proof we could probably chance leaving the pop door open overnight- it will be August and most likely hotter than the dickens so that shouldn't be a problem.  But the food and water is an issue- water especially if it's really hot.  And collecting eggs when it's hot.  Hmm...  I'll have to give this some thought and see who I  can strong-arm.

Ready to go

I spent some time this afternoon sorting through and cataloging my seed collection.  This year I even took the time to record the age and, if not many, how many seeds I have of a particular variety. This last bit is important.  How else would I have known that I only have 3 Anaheim pepper seeds in that envelope?!
I made a list of what I/we want to plant in the garden this year and my list of wants/needs and dug through the catalogues.
I've discovered that Baker Creek has everything I want -plus a few extras that weren't on my list ;-)  so I only have to order from one place.  Yeah!!
I've decided that this year, I'm going to grow less variety but try to do it better.  So, instead of the 12 varieties of tomato I planted last year, this year, it will only be 6:  Amish Paste, Polish Linguisa, Amana Orange, Black Sea Man, Crimson Cushion (wasn't thrilled with it last year but it was a bad tomato year- I'll give it another chance) and a hybrid beefsteak.  I'm  growing a hybrid this year because with the garden rotation I'm back in the spot where I had terrible trouble with late blight last time I planted there (the very first gardening year here).  I'm going to try to mulch the heck out of the plants this year as soon as they're planted to avoid any soil splash.  But, this is the low end of the garden and always seems wet.  This won't be a problem if it is a dry year but if we have another wet, wet spring like we've had the past few years I could be in trouble.  I do want to eventually put in raised beds but that's not on the short list at the moment.
For peppers this year, I'll only be planting 4 hot peppers:  Anaheim, Jalapeno, Bulgarian Carrot and Hot Hungarian Wax.  And 3 sweet peppers:  Tolli's Sweet Italian, Purple Beauty (bell) and Ozark Beauty (a red bell).
As always, there will be a couple of eggplants, cucumbers, squash and all that jazz.  New for me this year in the plan are Loofa gourds, fennel and Long Island Cheese squash.  I picked up a Long Island Cheese at the farmer's market last fall and V actually liked it (he's not a big squash fan) so it's definitely one to try to grow.
Some new planting areas for the spring:  the west wall of the barn where I plan to grow the loofas, the west wall of the chicken coop where I want to plant climbing nasturtiums to provide some shade as that wall gets really hot in the summer, and just to the west of the chicken run.  That run gets an incredible amount of hot afternoon sun since it's on the west side of the shop and I'm going to try to plant some sunflowers out of reach of hungry chicken beaks to provide some shade there as well.
So, I've got my plan started.  Now I just need to map out the garden, place my order and WAIT!  With the springlike weather we've been having, that last one is the hardest!!

This year, I hope to finally construct the little greenhouse that V got me for my birthday last year.  It had been on the plan for last spring but the chicken coop took precedence.  Little greenhouse... raised beds... then maybe a hoop house and I'll be really going.

Cooking ahead for a busy week

In addition to other things, I spent some time today doing some cooking ahead for the next couple of days.  V announced this morning that he really wanted chicken enchiladas for dinner.  So I cooked up a package of chicken thighs.  Since I only needed some of the meat, I've still got some chicken and broth left over. That will be for Tuesday's chicken and rice.
I also cooked some beef bones/stock for tomorrow's vegetable soup.  So, now my fridge is full of stock for a couple of meals ahead.  I really need to get going on a couple of sewing projects so I'm hoping to streamline things.  I work 6 days in a row this week so I've got to be organized in order to get anything done at home.  The whole furnace going out and subsequent cookie baking threw off my weekend plans.
We got a small tree for the basement and decorated that this afternoon.  The cats have been having fun climbing the big tree upstairs so we haven't put any ornaments on it yet.  They seem less interested today than they did yesterday so maybe the novelty has worn off.  Last year, they got bored with it after a bit and pretty much left it alone.
J17 has been working on my new website- although I don't have any merchandise to show or a place to host it yet.  She has to do a project for her independent study computer graphics/web design class so she is using my new hopeful business.  Two birds with one stone!  She has designed a logo for me:

She also created a banner that will be used at the website and that is up at my new blog where I'll be posting about business and sewing projects.  I can't wait to get through all this holiday stuff to have more time to focus on sewing... at least before gardening season sets in!!
Now, I've got to see how J17 is doing cutting out her next sewing project and get to work on my own!

Been busy

I've been busy the last few days.  Plotting and planning and working to finish quilted pot holders for holiday gifts.  I need to do a recount but I think I finished my last one this evening.  Now, on to other giftiness for V.  Yup, tomorrow evening I'll start laying out the smoking jacket.  Not sure if I'll cut it out or not- I'll see how much time I've got.  I don't know if I'll be able to keep it a total secret but I'll do my best.
Oh, and I've got to tell you a great fabric store story.  While we were in line for the cutting table on Saturday, the woman behind us asked what we were using the velvet for. So I told her I had a historic pattern and was going to make a smoking jacket for my husband.  She gave me this look of disbelief and asked "WHY?"  Of course, I answered "Because I can".  But what was really going through my mind was "I'm so sorry that your spouse is boring." But I've got enough tact to filter that one.

For the 'big project' I still need to register my domain name and then maybe I'll be ready to unveil the new website- I've got something in the works but it's not public yet.  But, oh yeah, I've got to finish some stuff first.  Smoking jacket... smoking jacket...  wall quilt... table runner...

And don't panic... I do have a little experience with sewing. Not only have I been quilting for a while but I've been sewing since I was a child. I've even had the opportunity to sub-contract movie costumes in the past.  I once made 30 blue wool cavalry shirts for the movie The Rough Riders.  I do really love it but haven't had the time or space to really get going.  Now I've finally got my own, dedicated sewing room (Ok, it's also the guest bedroom but I can clean if we have guests) so I can accomplish more.  Using the dining room table for a work space is not conducive to getting anything done.  Now that construction has slowed, let's see what I can do....

Dreams of Empire

This morning, J17 and I ventured out to the fabric store for their big holiday weekend shopping extravaganza. Whew!  I've had my fill of crowds for the year.  Who would have thought that the fabric store would have been such a hotspot for shopping.  Of course, maybe it's a sign of the times that more people are doing handmade holidays this year.  I saw a LOT of fleece go through the cutting lines.  We stood in line for probably 35 minutes to get to the cutting table.  But we got some awesome deals.  I went today because they had quilting cottons for $1.99.  I wasn't too impressed with the selection but I got a couple for future use.  And they had $.99 patterns again so J17 picked up a few. And I got fabric for a gift for V.  I don't really have hope that I'll be able to get it done in time for the holidays but you never know.
We have had the pattern for years and years (probably 25!) but I've never made it:

 V has wanted one of these smoking jackets for years- not because he smokes- just because it would be fun and a bit pretentious.
We selected fabric:

Red velvet and a silvery/black brocade for the lapels.  The red velvet was one of only two non-sale items we purchased but since we were there in the morning, we got to use a 50% off coupon for it.  The brocade was already 40% off.  On top of the 50% off a single item, we had a coupon for 25% off the entire purchase price- INCLUDING SALE ITEMS!!  So, the brocade was already 40% off plus an additional 25%.
We came home and I spent part of the afternoon organizing the sewing room- well, at least more than it has been, considering that the room isn't even finished!

 The sewing room is also the guest bedroom.  Above, J17 sits on the futon bed by the table that holds the cutting and ironing stations. The table is sitting over the corner of the bed so I don't block access to the room from the other door.   Across the room is my antique library table that doubles as a sewing table.  V installed light under the cabinets for better lighting. And, yes, we still have stuff in boxes!  And, below, the basket you see in the corner of the photo is a market basket I made, stuffed full of patterns.

Below is the whole room from the corner/door:

Sewing table to the right, storage cabinet straight ahead, to the immediate left (barely visible), the antique dresser that holds most of my fabric.  And, yes, broom corn hanging over the bed, a stash of empty shoe boxes by the craft cabinet and quilt batting up near the ceiling.  Whew!  It's cram packed!!
But on to the dreams of empire!!  J17 and V seem to think that this is a viable idea, although I still doubt my skill to pull it off.
J17, and, to some extent, I have been fans of Steampunk- the neo-Victorian fun fashion.  To that end, we have, over time, purchased numerous dress, corset, shirt and jacket patterns.  I hope to open an Etsy shop, starting with wall art/quilts with a steampunk theme.  And a few other things thrown in as well (Maybe some Celtic knotwork pieces).  With the possibility of branching out into custom Steampunk and/or cosplay clothing.  If I can market right, I may have a side job... not that I don't like my job, I'd just like something a little different on the side.
Opinions... ideas... words of warning....?? Am I totally crazy??

Then and Now- Part 7

Looking ahead
I guess I shouldn't really call this then and now since I'm going to talk about some of my dreams for the future and some of the plans as we know it.
The big stuff in the house is mainly done.  Oh, we want to eventually replace the windows for some that are more efficient and in better shape.  Along those lines, I would like to replace the siding on the house as well but that isn't pressing.  Someday we would like to add on a solarium addition onto the southeast corner of the house. This would include a fireplace or wood stove and in my dreams, a hot tub (definitely quite, quite low on the 'green' scale but an indulgence for our mental and physical health).   This area would also allow me to have some potted citrus trees and maybe a fig.
More immediate plans call for the addition of more outdoor living spaces.  We have planned an extension of the deck that will wrap entirely around the addition.  We will replace the west window in the upstairs room in the addition with a door.  Off that deck, we will add a patio between the house and J16's goth garden.  I planted a climbing rose that will grow over an arch as the entrance of the garden.  We will also add another patio area with a fire pit near the south end of the shop, close to the herb/flower garden. We already have the pavers for both of these patios. We purchased them at the end of the summer last year when a local home store was having end of the season sales and they have been stacked until we can get them installed.
The herb/flower garden is in the process of being installed.  The backbone of this bed will be the manchurian apricots and bush cherries I planted last year.  This is also the area where the cranberries will be planted (if it ever stops raining!!)  These will be filled in with a variety of herbs/flowers and I hope to add a bird bath- not necessarily for the birds- but to provide a water source for the bees I'm planning to get. The herb spiral will be near this patio although I still plan to have a bunch of kitchen herbs right off the porch so I can reach them without getting wet if needed.
As far as homesteady additions, we've got chicks and desperately need to get the coop built.  However, it keeps raining.  AAARGH!!   On Monday I'll be attending a bee keeping class presented by none other than Zan Asha of The Renegade Farmer,  a bee keeper extraordinaire from the Bronx. We're moving slowly and deliberately and I've got a rule of only one new species a year.  So this year it is chickens and next spring I plan to add a hive of bees.  I'm hoping to get the hive this fall/winter so I have time to get everything set and learn more before spring when it is time to get bees installed.
Longer term, V hopes to convert our little barn into a passive solar guest house/studio.   He wants a place to make and record music and I would love to have a larger space for quilting.  And it would be nice to have an extra space for guests. With a composting toilet and grey water reclamation system.
My ultimate dream, which may or may not be able to become reality, is to become a small, organic market farm or possibly a small CSA.  Like I said, probably not reality, but, hey, a girl's gotta dream, right?  That would involve probably quitting my job and taking a huge leap of faith.  Oh, and conning everyone else into it as well.  But, we've got a great location and, hopefully the motivation for it.  We'll see... that is many moons down the road.
We've got to work on getting this place under better control and more able to support ourselves before we expand it.  Of course, with me working full time at the moment things are challenging, especially since V is also working, although from home.  I am hoping to be able to cut my hours down to 90%- hopefully by the end of the summer.  If it weren't for college tuition coming up in the future, I'd go to 80% but that would make things a bit more interesting than I am comfortable with at the moment.
Here's looking to the next two years and beyond.
Tomorrow, I'll announce the winners for the giveaway.  Good luck to all.

Knock me over with a feather!

My darling hubby still surprises me sometimes.  This morning was one of those.  As a background- we moved out into the country, in a large part, because I wanted to, and because he thought it would make me happy.  We went through a really rough period in our marriage a few years ago (before I started blogging) and I think he still worries that I'll leave him if I get unhappy again.  But enough of that...
This morning, before the children got up, V and I were talking over coffee.  We were discussing our weekend plans and of course, finances came up since V said he wanted to go pay off the Menard's bill this weekend (this has half of the cabinet/counter purchase on the charge card- the other half is on my MC).  He also informed me that there is some piece of electronic, sound processing equipment he wants to get (he does record some of his own music) that is $400.  OK.  So, if that's the case I guess he doesn't mind that I spent $100 on row covers and hoops for the garden....  so the conversation progressed and he said he wouldn't mind if I ordered a hoop house- um, yeah, I don't think he has a concept of how much one of those would cost....   Well, I mentioned that probably the only reason I would need a big hoop house was if we were going to go into market gardening.  He gave me an odd look so I asked him if he was planning to retire into market gardening and sell CSA shares.  He laughed and said "No, silly, we retire to market gardening and have the market here.  We could contract with other small producers as well. We've got a prime location on the highway and this area is developing fast.  We're much closer into town than many of the other small farms that market around here.  And we could own the web presence around here."

like I said.... knock me over with a feather.  Some kind of market gardening has always been a dream in the back of my head but I had no idea he was in on the idea as well...  I thought he wanted me to be happy but I have noticed that, even with all the work and chaos going on out here, he's having fun and coming up with all sorts of plans on his own...
And part of my plans to cut my work hours was to have more time to devote to the gardens.  Hmm, maybe he is on the same page??!!  

Hmmm, now I have to think......