A Few of This Week's Feathered Friends

Glenn saw this Kestrel sitting on a front fence post and called me over just in time to get a quick photo.
I think she was eyeing the smaller birds feasting at my feeder, but flew off before taking any prey.

 

 

in our yard....

 

My Newest Hobby

Throughout my life, I have always kept busy with one hobby or another.  I keep a list of hobbies/crafts I want to revisit and a list of new ones I want to learn. In addition, I remain engaged with current hobbies that keep me busy beyond my available free time.

 

I know I do not have enough time left in my life to do all the things I have planned, on my ‘to do list’, so I just slowly move along as the clock ticks enjoying each and every moment.  Bored…never, tired…all the time.  Yet, I have fun; so I continue along my chosen course.

 

This past summer,  I took a jewelry-making class, which has been on my ‘to do list’ for years, to learn the very basics of beading.  (see blog post 6-3-12, Check One Off from My ‘New To Do’ To Do List) I made one necklace and one bracelet during class.  I was hooked.

 

My goal was to make enough necklaces to give as Christmas gifts to family members and friends; female, of course, this year.  Oops…I let the secret out!

 

 Well, I passed that goal and just kept beading.  Every necklace is different; I planned it that way. I want each necklace to be a one-of-a kind creation.

 

So, what do I do with my overstock?  I decided to try to sell it on the Internet site, Etsy.  I am not making any money; I am just trying to recoup the cost of my supplies.  As for my time...I chalk that up to personal enjoyment.

 

I currently have my extra necklaces on site ready to sell; competing with about 1,084,468 (I just verified) other necklaces - no exaggeration.

 

I did sell one necklace to date; giving me a bit of a delight.  I guess I should consider myself lucky that I was able to sell one item considering the exorbitant number available.

 

In any case, take a look at my inventory to date.  I will probably keep adding as I keep creating.  To save you the time of scrolling through over a million necklaces, you can find my work at www.etsy.com/shop/MtnGlen or you can go to esty.com, choose shop search, and search MtnGlen and let me know what you think.

 

Here is a small sampling....

 

FYI - Etsy is quite an interesting site for a multitude of merchandise.  Beware...looking can become addictive!

 

Happy Days Are Here Again

 

Today, our two Katahdin rams were let out of confinement to join the ewes. It is mating season for our sheep.

 

 

Of course, Glenn had to walk the rams through the yard, unhaltered and unhampered, to the pasture.  He had total confidence that the both would follow him without incident, without running off.

 

 

Winky and Curious George behaved and followed Glenn nicely; of course, Glenn was carrying a bucket of grain.  I followed behind to cut off any hints of an inclination to move in a different direction or to dine on my pampered perennials.  

'Want to make a run for it? I see some tender strawberry plants over there!' 
(look closely at both rams looking off to the right)

 

Once through the gate into the pasture where the flerd was grazing, the rams ran to the ewes and went right to work; no wasting time here - gotta love 'em (no pun intended).

 

And, I could relax.

 

Come April, our lambing will begin again.  I hope we learned something about raising sheep during the past year; our first year with sheep.

 

Only time will tell….

Scatter, Squirrel...Scatter

While sitting in the office this morning, I heard quite a raucous on the back (front) entry deck.  I took a quick, few steps and looked out the sidelight window.  I saw all three cats (Cricket, Onnie and Missy) acting very energized and anxiously looking up at the wall next to the door. 

 

Since I could not see a thing from my vantage point, I opened the door to take a gander…immediately a small, grey squirrel jumped over my head, over the cats and into the yard.  Within a split second, the cats were off.  The squirrel got as far as the young dogwood only feet away.

 

The cats circled the base of the tree as the squirrel scurried from limb, to branch, to twig. 

 

Cricket at bottom, squirrel directly above

Cricket decided to be a major player in the hunt and followed into the dogwood.  The small squirrel swiftly moved to the adjacent crepe myrtle. 

 

 

Suddenly, a mockingbird was on scene dive-bombing the squirrel. (Note: I think the mockingbird thought the squirrel was stealing his red dogwood berries - see November 5, 2012 blog.)

 

What excitement!

 

 

 

Finally, after many minutes, the squirrel realized a break in attention from bird and cats to hastily flee the scene.

 

I think the squirrel escaped unscathed…I have not yet heard  a cat screeching  nor seen a headless cadaver with bushy  lying next to the door - thank goodness!

Got It !

I was at the kitchen sink filling a liter plastic bottle (recycled soda bottle) full of water.  I use this bottle to water my upstairs houseplants.

 

As I was filling, I was also looking out the window where I saw a perfect photo op…a mockingbird eating the red dogwood berries in the shine of the lowering sun of late afternoon.

 

I hurriedly placed the half-filled bottle down on the counter and ran to get my camera.  I did not release my hold quickly enough; the bottle tipped over and unleashed water onto my counter, down and inside the three underlying drawers, and finally coming to rest in quite a puddle on the floor.

 

But…I got my photo!

 

 

 

And, another feathered friend in my autumn yard...

 

 

 



Country-fried or Chicken-fried Steak?

On a daily basis, I receive a new group of recipes on my e-mail.  I must have signed up for this regular mailing, but I do not recall.  Usually, I just delete that particular e-mail.  I already have plenty of recipes from which to choose.

 

Yesterday, the grouping was for Southern-Style Dinners.  I decided to take a look.  Along the side, not the featured dinners, was a recipe for Country-Fried Steak.  Hmmm…I occasionally order this meal when Glenn and I go out for a ‘better than Burger King’ night-on-the-town dinner.  I really do enjoy Country-fried Steak covered with thick, creamy gravy.

 

I decided to try the recipe.

 

First, I made a potful of mashed potatoes from the potatoes that are still located under the ground in the garden.  Glenn was nice enough to dig me up a pail.  He knew the effort was worth a home cooked dinner.

 

As I prepared, battered and fried, the cubed steaks, Glenn heated a packet of green beans that I had put up (frozen) during the summer harvest.  After the quick frying, I added both chicken broth and milk to make the gravy. And, you gotta add that pepper!

 

Oh, did I mention… since we recently had one of our South Poll beeves butchered, I naturally used our home-raised beef, cubed steak in particular - that is some terrific beef.

 

Well, it was a good thing that neither of the kids was home…Glenn and I polished off a dinner for four in one seating. 

I barely had time to get a photo....gulp...yummy!

 

Unfortunately, the leftovers were mere hopes that I would not have to cook the next evening.

 

Country-fried or chicken-fried?...Does not matter as this recipe is a definite keeper!

Moving On Into November

November…the days and nights are colder from just a few days ago.

 

Glenn finally started up the wood furnace for the season; smoke gently flows from the chimney. There is a new, yet familiar aroma in the air.

 

 

A few perennials put their energy into one last display, diminutive as it is, before giving in to the natural cycle; the seasonal ‘sleep’ as expected.

 

 

Buddy allows himself an afternoon nap smack dab in the crunchy, fallen leaves of my sugar maple. 

 

He has a great idea…but, I think I will do my napping in the warmth of the inside of my home.  I look out onto the changing horizon of the farm as I slowly doze off.

 

Sweet dreams!