Thursday, December 31, 2009

Last post of 2009!

It has been one of those years and I am glad to see it end on one hand, melancholy on the other… I learned a lot this year and I am thankful for the memories.

DSC_0079

I learned how to make cheese this year as you know, and I learned the joys and difficulties of owning a cow.   (We get about a gallon and a half a day, so I have been making and unfortunately ruining lots of cheese!)   Right now I have cottage cheese sitting for the required 16 hours on the stove.  

DSC_0052

I also learned how to make soap and found it to be less daunting than I expected!  (In fact I loved it!)

DSC_0065

What was daunting was setting up the Farm Store (whose idea was that anyway??)!  But it is done, albeit with a few kinks and wrinkles, and is shoppable!  Here’s a peak at the last update before 2010!

DSC_0054

DSC_0068

DSC_0072

If you happen to be interested there is a storewide sale!  20% off when you enter the code “LC2009”

Happy New Year!!!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Phatfiber Samples

DSC_0070

The Emerald City Batts: Wool, Firestar and Glitz

DSC_0071

The White Witch Batts: Romney, Silk and Firestar

They will be listed in the Farm Store soon.

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Other Side of Christmas

Finally we are done with all of our Christmas planning, events, and to do’s.  That means that I can do some relaxing this week.  I think I have earned it!

DSC_0118

It is cold here in Michigan and we surrounded by snow.  I envy those who love this weather, especially since it lasts much longer than summer!   I find the dreary cold days very depressing…

icicles

and I look forward to the sun!   Mama Cow doesn’t seem to mind the cold though.  She much prefers being outside in the pasture to being left in her nice warm stall.

DSC_0115

I will be spending the day inside updating the Farm Store a bitDSC_0073 (today’s update is yarn!) and then a rousing game of War of the Ring with my kids.  

Monday, December 21, 2009

At the last minute…

I love Christmas but boy do I feel like I am behind the eight ball this year!   I am spending today cleaning the house and preparing the menu for our Christmas Eve party.    I love to go all out and generally buy a magazine with Christmas recipes but this year I decided to see if Allrecipes.com had what I needed.

image

They did!  We are having lots of yummy stuff including brie cheese (although I am sad to say that my cheesemaking skills haven’t been perfected enough to make my own).   Although, I will have to buy the brie, I do have Pepper Jack and Cheddar Cheese aging in the basement just waiting for the festive day!

Hand Dyed Bamboo

I did take a bit to update the store for the last time before Christmas.   I can’t believe 2009 is almost over!!

Merry Christmas!!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

The year in review…

It’s been a long, hard year (for more than just me I am afraid).   But…we made it!  And no worse for the wear!   Here are some highlights from the year:

 

It was a year of firsts…

My first chickens

DSC_0024

My first cow

DSC_0021

My first parrot (which turned into eight!)

DSC_0007

and it was a year of learning….

I learned how to make cheese.

image

I learned the value of slow food.

image

I learned that now matter how much you want to give in, give up, or give out…you still have to do chores in the morning…and it’s worth it.

image

Thursday, December 17, 2009

If there were words…

 

DSC_0050

to adequately describe how fabulous my secret santa package from Marilla of Moonlight and Laughter was, I’d use them. 

I hope by now you have heard of Phatfiber.  I wonder if you know what a great group of women it is…

Thank you Marilla for the time you put into this package!

DSC_0051

Dark chocolate is my favorite…

DSC_0052

BFL in her Fire on the Mountain Colorway and it is stunning!

DSC_0053

Milk Fiber in another beautiful colorway! 

DSC_0054

How did she know my son broke my favorite mug?

DSC_0056

Isn’t this a cute notepad?

DSC_0058

oooh…..what’s this?

DSC_0059

DSC_0060

…salt and pepper shakers!!!

DSC_0061

Aunt Dimity!!!  I LOVE Aunt Dimity!!!!

DSC_0062

Handmade soap :)

DSC_0063

and finally some pretty beads!

DSC_0064

Wow, huh?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Milking time….

The Resident 9 year old has decided that she can milk the cow all by herself, thank you very much!

She gets the cow from the pasture, locks her the stanchion and finishes the milking in about 20 minutes.   She is very proud to be doing this all on her own! DSC_0060

 

 

 

 

DSC_0059

When she finishes milking she is also in charge of straining the milk and cleaning up.   What a wonderful 9 year old!

DSC_0062 

Don’t worry, the barn cats are always there to supervise (and so is mom!)

Friday, December 11, 2009

I am a Secret Santa!! (among other things….)

First up (a day late!  Sorry we are buried under snow.)…

My Secret Santa package for the Phatfiber group:

DSC_0051

Here’s what I included:

There’s the cookbook pictured above…

DSC_0052

A Charlie Brown Christmas Coffee Mug…

 

 

 

DSC_0053

A leaf tape measure (you really can’t have enough…I hope)..

 

 

DSC_0054

A bag full of batt bits, there is Tussah Silk, Firestar and Merino…

 

 

 

DSC_0055

And finally, in the corner a ball of soysilk.

 

 

 

The work on the online store is harder than I expected but I am getting there.   Soon you will be able to shop directly from www.countingsheepfarm.com.  Here is a sneak peak of some of the goodies going in the store:

DSC_0050

DSC_0015

DSC_0016

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Do ya want to wave?

image

I got in to google wave as I mentioned on my last post and I have two (just two …) invites left.   So…if you would like one just leave a comment and I will randomly select winners from those who leave a comment.   Winners will be chosen tomorrow!  Remember I need a way to contact you…

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Google Wave…

What is it?   Well, I am not really sure…but I am on it!   Now if only I knew how to use it…DSC_0004 At any rate how do you like my profile pic?

Old Man Winter

Mama Cow and the sheep in the snow...

It wasn’t all that realistic I know, but…I really did hope you weren’t coming.  It is odd because my husband loves you with your blustery mornings and tempestuous snow storms.   My kids seem to enjoy you too.  In fact they are outside now, celebrating your return.  They happily donned all the required winter equipment and will probably be outside for hours.  Not me.  I will hide in the house.

DSC_0045

I will hide in the house and occasionally glower out the window, wishing you had waited just a bit longer.  Eventually duty will call and I will trudge outside and begrudgingly acknowledge your stunning beauty.  I am sorry to be such a sourpuss but it just seemed fair that since summer never really came this year, you shouldn’t either…

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...