keljonma's Front Porch - Settling in and adjusting

[FarmerJamie]

Hope you folks are okay up there - the weather radio has been screeching about flood warnings the past 10 minutes - 3 inches of rain this afternoon? Wow!

More storms on the way....

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Good morning! Just wanted to say thank you for coming yesterday, and that I'm sorry I didn't get more of a chance to visit with you!

E was really pleased with the whole day. My family didn't start to leave untill 6pm and my Aunt Debbie and them stayed until past 8!! It was good, though, because they were all family that we hadn't seen in awhile.

The muscovies you brought down for me are GORGEOUS! I just love them! I have to say that white male is way prettier than my chocolate male - just don't tell Chachi I said that! LOL Since I've had a few muscovey picked off by predators this year, and Dash Jr. wandered in the road and was hit by a car I'll be keeping the new kids penned for awhile to make sure they don't have any issues with predators or kissing cars.

Again, thank you so much for bringing them down for me! Please tell C I love them!!

Hope ya'll had a safe drive home! Happy Sunday!

 

[keljonma]

16 May 2011 - Monday

Saturday morning, we picked up the white muscovy pair from friend C for QA. It was still pouring rain and everything was mud. She had tried to catch the birds the night before, but had no luck by herself in the pouring rain. So TR and I chased the birds into one section of the barn, and C was able to catch them shortly after.

While at Cs we also got to admire the baby Toggenbergs and LaManchas. C has about 20 does in milk and another 20 not. Plus about 20 more pair of white muscovies, most of the hens are setting.

We put the crate of ducks on some tarp in the backseat of the Saturn (our all-purpose farm vehicle ). The drive down to QAs was uneventful. I can say it is not fun to drive with duck poop in the back seat in a closed up car! [Where is the pinch your nose smilie?! ]

About 10 minutes from QAs place, the rain stopped and the sun made an appearance. The afternoon was just lovely!

TR and I had a great visit at QAs on Saturday. We got to visit with BeccaOH and her mom as well as QAs family. QAs mom is a beek, so we had plenty to talk about.

Heading home that night, we found the rain again and it hasnt stopped since.

Sunday TR and I were hosts for the 11am Encounter service at church. The temps were near 40, so TR and moved the container garden from the deck back into the house. We were set up in Friendship Hall, which is the front lobby of the church. It was a bit chilly as the front church doors were open. The wind chill said the temps were in the mid 30s. But I wore long sleeves and had my sweater handy. Even with the blah weather, we had a couple new folks join the service and quite a good crowd; the sanctuary was packed.

After church service was 2nd Sunday luncheon, but TR wanted to get home; so I made chili for us. I thought I had put a half pound of ground beef in the fridge to defrost, but found that it was Italian sausage instead. The chili was wonderful anyway. This is what I get for not marking the freezer bags so I can reuse them.

Im really glad we moved the garden back into the house before church, as the temperature actually hit the mid 30s last night! The furnace kicked on; after a month of not being on at all.

We are at 45 this afternoon, our high temp for the day. The seemingly endless rain and wind have been chilling to the bone. I was really hoping we were done with this kind of weather until late autumn.

A semi came this morning and the first load of the lumber was taken away. It looks like there is almost another full load ready to go again already. It must have been cold out there today, as the guys built a fire; we could see the smoke from the house.

With the orioles and the two pairs of hummers, TR is filling the feeders every day. So this morning I made another gallon of syrup.

TR got a call from his boss this morning that he is going to be on modified second shift permanently. That has its bad and good points.

Sadly, as he really loves the part-time library job, TR cannot keep trying to work both jobs at night. So today we went to the library so he could explain the situation to the director. Although TR offered to keep working until his replacement could be found, the director decided she would end his employment as of the end of May.

TR just called me from work to say he was chosen for Make a Difference recognition program at the hospital. He has won 2 tickets to the Cleveland Indians vs Cincinnati Reds game this Friday, with seating in the Cleveland Clinic loge with free food and drinks! TR told the hospital admin he couldnt make the game, because he is working nights now. She said TR HAS to attend as he is being recognized for his contributions to the program. So TR and I have a great FREE date Friday night! Checking the Indians schedule, I see it is also Frank Sinatra Fireworks night.whatever that means.


BTW the avatar shows TR, ds Jon and myself in 2008 at the Indians Championship game. The pic was taken by Erin.

 

[Denim Deb]

Wondered what the pic was. And, how about this instead of a nose pinching smilie?

 

[keljonma]

Wondered what the pic was. And, how about this instead of a nose pinching smilie?

I am the short one


That smilie is Just perfect!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Read your post outloud to E and we both enjoyed a chuckle. Sorry the rain went home with you and didn't quit, but we appreciate that bit of chuckle, because we were needing it.

Have fun on Friday! I'll be at Mt. Hope with BeccaOh selling birds. - well, not by the time you go to the game, I don't think.

 

[TanksHill]

Sounds like a nice day!!

Sorry aobut the rain and cold temps. I guess I shouldn't complain about our 60's.

g

 

[Denim Deb]

I wish we had 60s! We've been having 80s, and I don't like it when it's that hot-unless there's no humidity in the afternoon.

 

[keljonma]

The forecast for today was for a high of 52, but we never got warmer than 48, and with the wind, its 43. The sky was overcast this morning, but rain didnt start until after 1pm. Now the forecast is calling for 100% precipitation.

For the next couple days were supposed to be in the mid 60s with 90% chance of rain. Right now, Friday's forecast predicts the temps are supposed to be high of 70 with a low of 55, and as of today, only 30% chance of rain. Of course, this being NE Ohio, this *could* change. Or should I say...probably will change.

I woke up this morning with a headache almost like a migraine, but not as bad; probably caused by having the furnace on again. I kind of knew this would happen last night, because I was feeling sluggish while working on the quilt top.

TR made breakfast and lunch, filled the hummer and oriole feeders, did laundry, swept and washed the breakfast room and kitchen floors, and scraped wax from some honey frames. He also moved the container gardens from the mud room back into the sunroom. Not that we have any sun, but the mud room has no electricity, so the plants have been getting only the dim light of rainy skies. So TR turned on the lights for the plants after he moved them to the sunroom. He did all this while I slept off the headache. Thank God for TR!

His new work schedule will cause TR to miss the last 3 weeks of his Disciples Bible study. This study runs for 36 weeks, so he is kind of upset about not being able to finish it.

Today, TR works at the hospital outbuildings and the library, so won't be home until 4am. That makes a 12-hour work day for him. I think he woke up about 9am this morning, so a very long day, indeed.

Ill have to check ingredients to see what I have in the pantry but I think Ill make some scones or cookies for him to munch on when he gets home in the morning.

Since we really haven't been able to do much outdoors this spring, TR and I have been doing quite a bit of reading. All our books come from our local libraries. Here is my recommended list.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. This is the well-written, fascinating biography of Louis Zamperini, American Olympian, POW in Japan, and his life after the war.

Sheepish: Two women, Fifty sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet by Catherine Friend. She also wrote Hit by a Farm: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Barn.

The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals by Gail Damerow. This is an expanded animal guide from The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan. Both published by Storey. While I own The Backyard Homestead I have no plans to buy this new book. I found most of the information covered in other Gail Damerow books.

Americas Little Italys: Recipes and Traditions from Coast to Coast by Sheryll Bellman. Interesting read about the various Italian neighborhoods across the US. Clevelands Italian community includes Hector Boiardi, famous for his sauce. You may recognize his corporate name Chef Boyardee.

The Art of Dying and Living: Lessons from Saints of Our Time by Kerry S. Walters. Includes lives of Joseph Bernadin, Thea Bowman, Etty Hillesum, Jonathan Daniels, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John Paul II, Caryll Houselander

Some of the books from the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton. A small village police constable in Scotland solves crimes better than the big city professionals.

What I am reading now.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. The true story of Kamila Sidiqi, an entrepreneur in Afghanistan after the Taliban takes over. An unsanctioned look into the daily lives of women; a story of war, sisterhood, and resilience in the face of despair.

Treasures From The Attic: The Extraordinary Story of Anne Franks Family by Mirjam Pressler with Gerti Elias. An old woman, who has lived in her home for a lifetime, passes away, her death prompting the inevitable task of sorting through her effects by her surviving family members. Helene Frank Elias, sister of Otto Frank, died in Switzerland in 1986. And in the attic of this particular house, a treasure trove of historic importance is found over 6000 photographs, cards, letters, and official family documents.

Baltimore Beauties and Beyond: Studies in Classic Album Quilt Appliqu by Elly Sienkiewicz. I am using this book for some ideas for the family tree quilts.

The Complete Mother of the Groom: How to be Graceful, Helpful, and Happy During This Special Time by Sydell Rabin. Self-explanatory.

The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for A Beautiful, Bountiful Garden by Ivette Soler and Ann Summa. Growing ornamental edibles for curbside appeal. How to remove and reuse lawns, plants, and materials when making the change.

 

[Denim Deb]

Can I borrow TR?