Another Day down on the farm

                                                              The girls are back
           

  Well,  walked out for the shop this morning and scared two turkey hens right out of two years growth.  as well as myself.   A few minutes later,  the whole group walked into view and I managed to get some photos of them. The new season starts soon,  but they are not in any danger as they are all girls.   Only beards can be hunted.

       Spent the week working on quilts and actually got back to one that I had started last year and was having problems with. Took me most of the afternoon to pull all the thread out so that I could go back and fix the problem.  Might get it done soon.

   Took this really neat photo of the old barn .  thought it turned out pretty good.   Want to run around and get more photos out there. but staying inside where it is nice and warm and working.

   The area behind the house is really turning out nice.  it looks so good now that it has been cleaned up.  The wild life are loving it because now the grass will grow and they will have lots of bugs to eat.

   And the new kitten is growing up fast.  He loves chasing the older cats around the house for hours.


                              Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Making wax

                                           Azaleas in bloom on the farm

    Well,  it has been another cold week here in the sunny south.  But I decided that the way to say warm was to make some old bees wax furniture polish.  It involves standing over a hot stove.  What a better way to stay warm.  It takes a double boiler to get all the wax to melt and add the other ingredients.   So I had lots of fun making the wax.  I think that it came out a bit thick,  but I can always reheat and add more turpentine.  At least I have lots for all my wood working projects.
I have been refinishing an old desk (secretary)  and I did not want to put varnish or polyurethane on it.  I can now use the bees wax and it will come out beautiful.

                                             Lots of Beeswax all shaved for the pot.

                                           Wax applied to the drawers and polished.  the rest is waiting to be done.

                  I found a really cute critter hanging out on the trash can,  and could not resist getting his photo  so I thought I would share it with you.

                              Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Working Hard

                                             Cleared area in the west side of the farm.

          We have started clearing the west side of the farm up from the last tree harvest two years ago.  There is lots of debris left by the logging company and now that is is well rotten,  we can bring it to the burn pile and dispose of it.   Of course we have managed to mangle the big tractor a bit and are now waiting on parts.  Life on the farm.

        I got my quilting machine back today, and sat down and quilted for about three hours  got about half way through the project that I am working on.   I have also been working on another quilt, and I am slowly getting it done.

      I was working out in the citrus trees and found a new friend,  not too sure what he is,  but think that he is either a type of garter snake or a corn snake.  In any case he is one of the friendly guys so I got a few photos and left him be.

       We have definitely got the wood pile stacked up for the next year.  I am looking forward to having a good fire in the fire place  once the wood dries out a bit more.

  
  Met with the Division of Forestry today,  We walked the property and got the Five year plan sorted out.   We will have two prescribed burns in the trees during that time. and will also have another big harvest in 4-5 years.    I am happy that we are getting on board with everything that should be done to take care of the property.
 
                              Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

  

Crazy Weather

Seed pod for fern plant

 

                    We have had the crazy weather,  Cold,  very cold, warm, rainy,  overcast and cool.  I don't think that mother nature know what she is doing.  I think that most of the vegetable in the garden did not make it,  but I am giving them some time to decide, before I go pull them up.    This next month, the plots that did not get planted for winter will have cow manure added and black plastic dropped on top to help with weed control.   I did save a lot of seeds from last year.  and will start growing the tomatoes and other transplants about half way thru Feb to put out as soon as we can.

                    I have been working on the Valentines quilt from the Swap here at Mary Jane's Farm.   I really love all the cute fabrics that have come in and I have put the basics of the top together.  I am waiting on just a few more squares. and then it will be finished.

                I have also finished one of the lap quilts but since the quilting machine is still in the shop,  I can not go any further.   But I really thought that this was so cute.  Guess I am going to get a lot of tops done before I get any quilting done.

  Next week I am meeting with the division of Forestry to work on the 5 year plan for the farm.  We are also applying for stewardship of the land.  so I hope that I have everything ready.

                               Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.
 

More Cold weather in Fla.

                                                        Two huge pines in the pasture

            It has been quite cold here in the Sunshine state.  Down in the low 30's,  below freezing.  But we have been working on cleaning the west side of the planted pines and the area is beginning to really take shape.  Still tons more to clean,  but I am beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

          I have had to take my long arm quilting machine in to be worked on,  you know you are having a bad day quilting, when the thread breaks every two inches, and you are not getting anywhere fast.  Can not wait untill it is back because I have several quilt tops to do.

        With the weather this cold, I have been covering the crops left in the garden and hoping for the best.  the Citrus trees and the fig trees have not been covered and I am very worried about them.  

      Wanting something fun to do one day,  I stopped by the church and took some photos of the outside and the inside.  The church is not very big and we have a very small congregation,  but I think it is very pretty.

                        
                                Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Cold Weather

                                                           Azaleas in bloom

                   The weather this week has been very cold and not very condusive to working on the farm.   I really don't like it when it is down in the high 30's.  That is really cold for Fa.   But we have gotten the second culvert in and have started working on the west side of the property cleaning it.

                    I have also been in the shop working on some really cute quilted wall hangings and lap quilts.  Material has been on sale and I got material for a beautiful queen size quilt and for the Valentines quilt Swap here at Mary Jane's Farm.  I can not wait to get it started .  I have also pulled out a very old quilt that I started about 20 years ago and it is my intention to get that quilt done this year. 

                                         one of the quilted wall hanging that I am working on.

                        I have been walking around the farm taking photos of what needs to be done and trying to set up a schedule so that the work gets completed.   It sometimes seems to be never ending,  but that is the way life is.   I have a few projects to get done also in the shop and I am always overjoyed when I get to mark one of those off the list.

                                                     Pretty view of the farm

       Even though it was cold out I did get several good photos of the farm.  I will be posting them over the next few weeks.
 
                                Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.

Warm weather, and Cold Weather

                                                   Squash flowers in the garden

            Well,  with the warm weather that we have had for the last few weeks,  every thing in the garden has been growing great.  The squash has been flowering,  but the little squash are not staying on the vine.  The lettuce has taken off, and we have been harvesting it for dinner salads. The garlic is also growing good and the sweet potatoes are still going strong.

          The chickens are producing eggs and I collected some of the pretty feathers from when they molted.  I hope to use them in some jewelry.  The prettiest ones are from the silver and gold lace Wyandottes  and the Americana.  

         Now that the cold weather is here for a few days, I am hoping that nothing dies and that we keep the garden going.  Thank goodness the real cold weather never lasts very long and the temps should be up in the lower 70's in the few days,  with rain of course.

      I have been crocheting scarves for the church to be given to the residents of Grace Marketplace,  the homeless shelter (encampment) here in town,  I have gotten 7 done so far. and hope to do a few more.  Just using yarn that I have had sitting around after finishing other projects.  They are nice and warm and I hope the residents like them.


                               Well,  that's all the news from the south,  
                              Happy" farming" to all the farm girl sisters out there.
                               See you next week. down on the farm.