She Does a Little Dance...She Got Her Box!

I was down in the barn milking the dairy goats when I happened to peek out and guess what I saw! The box! The box was sitting precariously on top of the mailbox! Whoo Hoo the phatfairies had found me! For those that aren't in the know http://phatfiber.com/ is a group of indie fiber artisans, which I have belonged to since February of 2009, that gather samples of their work on a monthly basis and then they are sold on http://etsy.com/ to the fiber loving public! When you as a contributor send in at least 50 samples you also receive at no extra charge your own box to keep!

Every month their is a different theme and August of 2010 was Africa! First in the box their was a gold envelope with contributors buisness cards in them with all kinds of coupons and discounts on them! Their was a lovely note card from winemakers sister   she always has very unique items! Love your stuff Heather!

This month their were three patterns and two samples of upcycled yarn!

For the Love of Fluff!

Oh the fluff...how lovely! The colors were just wonderful! Loved the crab fiber from http://stores.ebay.com/Plum-Crazy-Llama-Ranch-Fiber-Arts she always has very unique and unusual fibers! A spinners delight and this box is all for me!

The whole shebang!

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For the Love of Fluff! This is everything! A wonderful array of fiber, yarns and patterns from many talented artisans! The box enables you to sample the work of individual artists before making a decision to purchase a full size quantity from them!

Yeah Phatfiber!

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The whole shebang!

Chicky Momma!

We keep our chickens enclosed in a very large 60'x120' fenced enclosure with a 6ft. tall fence. We want them to be as free range as possible but we don't want them to be fox bait! Well about a year ago one one of our Rhode Island Reds figured out how to escape! Well we told this escapee that she would be fox food if she didn't go back in at night. One day I was working in the barn and I heard a peep peep peep...what could that be and lo and behold there in one of the kidding pens was Momma Rhode Island Red and her new chicks!

Well Momma Red hatched several clutches of chicks and these chicks grew up! One is currently the second fiddle white rooster and the others grew up into nice hens...guess what these hens can do!

You guessed it! Fly over the fence and what are they doing...hatching clutches of eggs! Well thats all fine and dandy but in April we purchased 100 pullet chicks to replace the hens we had that had stopped laying...if we only had known! With the hens hatching their own that means we get the roosters as well. The roosters will start to fight and then we will have a mess...need to find an Amish farmer in search of chicken dinner!

Another problem is that they aren't protected by the fence because they like to hatch their clutch in a quiet spot in the barn! I have lost several new chicks to nocturnal creatures! I also have a problem feeding the new chicks and giving them water. If I don't fence the Momma and chicks off from the goats and sheep they usually end up eating the chicken feed!

Pictured above is my laborious efforts to keep the crew at the end of the hall, the goats and sheep, from eating the chicken feed.

Then I have to stop Momma black hen from knocking the waterer over, all the while wearing heavy gloves and holding a scoop in my hand to ward her off! She will fly at you if you get too close!

I have Julia hollering to me from outside the pen, Momma are you alright "Why did you scream!"

Its hot, the sheep and goats are hollering! I'm trying to help this chicken and she keeps attacking me! I wonder why on earth  I am doing this...they very well could end up as fox food!

I guess its because I love being a farmgirl. I love having a connection to my animals and being able to help them when they can't always help themselves. Some wouldn't go to such extreme lenghts, but I will know that I tried.

Assateague Island Vacation

The week of the 26th of July Meghan, Julia and I ventured down to the beach to...huge gulp...camp with our friends Karen, her husband Kim and their daughter Kathlyn. Well truth be told I have never camped other than Echo Hill in 5th grade and Girl Scout camp!
It was fun...loved the fact that the horses were so close, although maybe not the 5 yr. old.

Just couldn't get over the fact that they were so tame. Our horses here at home would spook if you clapped your hands at them...not these.

This paint above is stallion...kinda made you a little leary. They had just decided about 7 of them that this was were they were goint to have their supper!

Julia loved the beach once she got used to the water...she said to me Mom...take a picture of me surfing...LOL

The girls both had a blast looking for seashells...their was an amazing amount of them. In fact the first day the girls collected so many I bet they had 25lbs. in a blanket.

Julia now surfing on the boogie board!


On Tuesday the water was so calm, that Kathlyn taught Meghan how to surf the waves using a boogie board! She felt so special! I was really proud of her!

The girls digging their way to China!


The campground and our little pup tent, thanks to my girlfriend Carol!

Julia hanging out and having some quiet time!


Julia, Kathlyn and Meghan hanging out one evening! I am grateful to Kathlyn for being such a super "big girl girlfriend" to the girls!
They played hard and were tired!

On Wednesday we left Assateague and went into West Ocean City to stay at a hotel where they had a "splashground"! The girls had fun and then we went to the pool and swam for a while. We had dinner with my brother Brian, his wife and their toddler that evening.

It was so nice to get away and relax...!

I borrowed a tent from a neighbor.