Homestead Update: Aesthetics in Progress

Somehow i’ve made some time (thank you long Summer days!) to work on some aesthetics around the farm! That’s all about to change as we hit ‘crunch time’ to prep the house for an upcoming visit from the in -laws. I’m fine with showing them our place as a ‘before’ and show off the ‘afters’ over the next few years, but seriously: the house is a pigsty. Time to clean!

Here are some “in progress” shots of some fun projects i’ve been working on to beautify our farm:

New walkway! This project is actually finished, including the gate my husband built, along with a latch! But i haven’t had a chance to properly tidy the area and get a good after shot.

Some lovely planters filled with zinnias, torch tithonia sunflowers and other goodies for the hummers and butterflies. No good photos of this yet.

Mowing! That may seem like an obvious chore, but that backyard just about took a year off my life! Now that it’s mowed, the next mowing shouldn’t be such an expedition. I’m happy to see lots of good clover, grasses, vetches and native wildflowers coming up back there, despite the compaction. Now if only the pasture could show such signs of promise AND if only we could get the tractor to run reliably and get the brush hog functional – those daisies are pretty but the other weeds need mowing down before they go to seed!

So many sunflowers! I’ve planted sunflowers along almost all our fence lines, plus other lovely flowers between the shrubs in my hedgerow. If they all actually grow and bloom without being nibbled by rabbits or deer – our property will be truly epic. EPIC! I can’t wait to post photos of them.

Welcome to Birdsong Farm, y’all!

Have you been working on any projects “just for fun?”

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Fiber Friday: Bogart!

I have said it before, and i’m saying it again: i think this Friend may be my favorite so far. Bogart’s mommy was the first to request a running pose for her Fiber Friend (the first non-mobile runner, that is) and i wasn’t certain i could get him balanced perfectly – but i did! I just LOVE this action pose, and it totally fits the real Bogart’s personality. Among the photos i received to use as reference was an image of Bogart proudly carrying a squirrel he CAUGHT! He’s clearly an active boy, and another Cardigan trying to steal my heart from the Pemmies.

Good boy, Bogart. I can tell you wanted to “play” with your new Friend, but you did a great job posing and keeping your smiling teeth off!

Next dog on deck: Owen, a very sweet looking Pembroke. My waiting list is filling up all the time, so send in your order for a Fiber Friend of your very own today! You can read more about how to order by clicking the Fiber Friends tab at the top of this site and can contact me directly with the form at the bottom of that page. Have a great weekend filled with ball and squirrel chasing, everyone!

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Weekend Project: Replacing our Frost Free Yard Hydrant

Watering my wonderful hedgerow has been quite the chore – until last weekend! Our only functional faucets were at the back of the house. The hedgerow (and animals and most other things needing water) are in the front. Many hoses and a lot of bucket shlepping is not what i call convenient. The cause of this calamity? An old and broken frost free yard hydrant. Well, my friends – thanks to my (getting more handy all the time) husband, we’ve got ourselves a brand spankin’ new hydrant!

 

The process for this repair was fairly simple. First off: turn off the water to the house! Then:

1. dig around old hydrant until the attachment to the house pipes is exposed. 2. Disattach hydrant from its support (in this case the house) and carefully unscrew from main pipe (being careful not to break the main pipe. 3. Allow water to flush the main pipe. 4. Dry the main pipe threads and wrap new teflon (plumbers) tape around threads. 5. Screw on new hydrant! Wife assistance required for this portion. Being careful not to over tighten or shear off the main pipe, screw on the new hydrant until it’s tight enough and is facing the direction you want it to face. 6. Test – turn water back on to check for leaks. No leaks? Great! Back fill the hole with very course gravel to allow the drain hole to drain without getting clogged. Ta da! Revel in the glory that is your brand new Yard Hydrant!

We were rather daunted by this task and thus felt pretty awesome having completed it without breaking anything! Thank you, husband for taking control of this project and letting me work on my awesome new walkway (post to come!)

What home repair most daunts you? Plumbing? Electrical?

 

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Wordless Wednesday: And Growing Some More!

These kits are about 10-11 days old in these photos and just opening their eyes. They’re growing so fast and are getting cuter and chubbier/fluffier every day! I’m having such fun watching their colors develop. Most of these are slated to be sold as breeders, but a few will be grown out past the uber cute phase and into the juicey and delicious phase. If that sounds callous at all or you think it impossible to eat something that could be this cute – think of what you had for dinner last night…. it was probably really cute when it was a baby.

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