The Happy Egg

The Happy Egg

or

You Don't Have To Be Perfect To Smile

I'm not a perfect egg,

I wasn't good enough to sell.

But I wouldn't trade my kitchen spot

To have a perfect shell.

For all my perfect brethren

Are now in cartons cold.

They'll be somebody's breakfast:

THEY never will get old!

Jewelry October 2010

 Della liked the monkey pendant which we found at Michaels; it reminded me of a story in a book I loved in childhood, Japanese Children's Tales. I just found a copy a few years ago and so now I can read these stories to the grandgirls.  The monkey was a very clever and mischievious character and I seem to remember he'd stolen the peach.
The stones were $3 from a bead show bargain rack; the metal discs were also from Michaels, clasp $1.50 from ArtBeads. Altogether, about a $10 necklace. (I usually only buy sale items at Michaels, which keeps costs down.)

The next two necklaces are what I think of as "blue jeans jewelry". Short enough that I can wear them out in the barn without catching them on a nail, or having a goat try to eat them; predominately blue with touches of other color. Even though I spend a lot of time working at rather rough projects, I like my jewelry! I experimented with using a length of chain in one. I like the look, but it doesn't want to hang right. I might have to make the chain a complete second strand to fix this.

The necklace below is my, ahem, signature autumn piece. "Harvest" is a combination of my current favorite vintage bronze metal, some beads that my clever sis Susan scavenged from her thrift store finds, two hefty bronze beads I'd taken off an old necklace, and a burnt orange turquoise donut bead (from the Auntie's Beads online bead store, about $3). I wanted to experiment with a different style of necklace, and I love sparkly seed beads, and somewhere I'd seen a necklace done this way. Oh, the red 12 mm beads are coral and the small red beads are czech glass ($4 strand). The chain was from Michaels, about $3 (on sale!), so this piece cost about $12. Of course I'm not counting the cost of the dozen or so colors of seed beads I bought Just In Case and leftover beads from The Stash really shouldn't count either, right? In fact, now that I think of it, this jewelry was practically free!! (A corollary is: the more you buy, the more leftovers you have, and since they don't count, eventually ALL your jewelry will cost NOTHING. A win-win situation.)

October 2010

This is a bit of what went on in October...
The first frost was rather late. This gave the tomatos that had survived the drought a chance to produce a couple dozen more fruits (after a 6 week hiatus). So we had a few more nice salads and a bowl of fresh salsa. The green peppers weren't as plentiful as usual, but we still froze half a winter's worth of chopped peppers. I made the pesto earlier this summer, so I didn't try to save the rest of the basil. Now I'll have to wrap up the garden-that's a nice thing to do when I have time in the afternoons. I like to get out of the house some each day, even when it's cold.
The poultry are now divided into two flocks. The specialty flock is Salmon Favarolles and Welsummers. I hope to be raising purebred Favs next spring. (The Welsummers were freebies and I'm not quite sure what I'll do with them.)  The Laying flock has 2 roosters and a nice variety of hens. 14 of them are old hens and will go later this winter; there are about 10 new hens. I had thought to have more, but a sneaky fox took 6 hens. This means I'll either have to raise some more this winter or cut back on selling eggs.
I have a dozen young roosters in the freezer now. We've also ordered a side of beef-something we only do every 3 or 4 years. We may split some of that with children. We don't have any pigs this year, and I'm dreading the moment we run out of our ground pork. Della and I like that better than the grass-fed beef, and we enjoy raising the pigs too, but we simply don't have enough fencing this year. Maybe next year.
My weekly schedule is out Monday-Wednesday-Friday: Della twice a week to class, Esther to her all-day Friday classes, both girls to social time and youth group on Wednesday night. Then I hope to have Tuesday and Thursday at home, but even one day at home gives me time to bake bread and cook some foods up for meals. I think I've finally adapted to cooking for (just) four people!
I fixed some necklaces I had made and now am finally satisfied. I worked a long time on the right blues and casual feel of what I think of as my "blue jeans jewelry". Vintage bronze is my metal of choice at the moment.
It's autumnal. I am amassing quite a collection of bronzy bits to play with. Some of the "steampunk" pieces that are trendy right now may find their way into future pieces. I also redid (for the sixth time?) my Roman glass necklace. Think I finally have all the awkward beads hung right.
So October is now done, and I'm going to try to be prepared for the holidays, i.e., give myself plenty of time for Christmas carols, baking fruitcake, and making some gifts (jewelry, of course). I have some ideas for the daughters...

The Bracelet Project

I've been making bracelets for a little girl who needs to wear a medical i.d. The most difficult part is that the length must be rather exact to fit her wrist right. Strictly decorative bracelets aren't so exacting..they can be looser or tighter depending on preference.

Alexis will have a nice variety when I'm done. It might be easier if I'd ever met her (maybe I will one day) but her Mom gave me a list of colors and combos that she would like.

Yellow glass and Blue Shell

Not sure exactly what this was.. maybe an old grain storage structure.

This was the day Della and I did our tour of the daylily farm. We found a very scenic old house by the road. Since it had a "for sale" sign, we figured we could stop and take pictures.

The Fair is Done and So Am I

It was a good fair until we packed up and headed home. One prize winning goat took it into her head to jump OVER the tailgate of the truck and I thought she'd broken her leg (this is Thelma, who has already survived one broken leg). But today she is walking. Husband Larry, in the other truck, had the wooden milking stand fly out of the truck bed as he got onto Hwy 29. Amazingly, IT survived. God was watching over us all, but by the time we had put animals and other stuff away I was past stressed.
Today we cleaned up equipment and trucks and I cleaned the worst parts of the house and made us the first homemade dinner in days. Nice.

The Fauquier Fair

Three days into the fair, one to go. The girls have won their usual assortment of ribbons, the heat and humidity have been the same as usual too. I have had fun running around with Dell's camera (only for a brief time!). It's so fast that you really feel like a photographer. I'll be interested to see if she likes any of the photos. I spent all day Thursday and Friday at the fairgrounds, leaving at 7 am and returning home at 10 pm ish, and today I just couldn't do a whole day. So Larry spent his day there and I came home at 2. I spent a couple hours helping shuck corn for the blue ribbon dinner, so I ended up with all th bits and pieces of corn that no one wanted. Esther and I blanched and froze up a lot of packages for the next low country boil.
(I don't have pictures up yet, since they are on Dells camera, but I really liked the Low Country Boil that Laura introduced us to. It's a Georgia/South Carolina tradition, kind of a shrimp boil with extras. Very easy, good for big groups, and a lot more affordable than serving straight crab or shrimp at today's prices.)
Besides doing the corn, I baked muffins, did a load of wash, ran the dishwasher, did all the animal chores, took a bath, and caught up on emails. Nice to catch up before the last day of the fair.

Death in the Garage

So, I go out to feed and water my 22 chicks in the garage, and look what I found.

 

That lump in the middle of the snake is former chick #22. I put him in an aquarium

to show the little boy coming over later!

The nuggets are light amethyst, (such a light purple that at first I thought they were pink), $5 for the whole strand. The mottled purple beads are charoite. I seem to remember that charoite was originally found in Russia near the Charo river. Really good charoite is deep purple, but this was inexpensive. I liked the way it worked with the amethyst. I used czech glass beads as spacers on the necklace and earrings, but ran out for the bracelet and had to use some round amethyst. It still works as a set, but that disqualifies it as a fair entry, because they are into "make it match" not "artistic license". I found that out last year-I was giving Hannah a necklace and earrings and thought it would be neat to give her a prize winning set. Well, I got 4th place because I was dinged for several things I did on purpose!
The Bead Warehouse in Silver Spring (run by the the personable Marvin) is the source for a lot of my beads. Accent Beads in Rockville is also good for bargains on strands.

Amethyst Necklace

I have forgotten to ask Dell to photograph the last couple creations..and now they are given away. But this time I remembered before sending this one off as a gift. I found that with such large stones, I had to use .018 wire, and that gave me trouble when I tried to double it back through the small stones. So in the end, I had a gap. Normally I'd cover that with a crimp cover but I'm out and the weekend is ahead, and we have a "low country boil" planned with the family. So, in the spirit of Amish tradition, I offer this imperfect creation.

Touring Around

Today Della and I went to a daylily farm. She took scads of pictures, which she's going to post I'm sure, and I bought 2 plants. I have never seriously thought about daylilys, but after walking up and down among hundreds of plants of many types, I am thinking about a perennial bed with lilys as the focals.
On the way home we didn't take I-95. Instead we went up Hwy. 1 and happened across Stonewall Jackson's Shrine. It's a nice little place with the actual bed that he died in, very well kept up.
We ended up by stopping at a Goodwill in Massaponax and then getting a coke and ice cream at the Sonic acrss the street. I was a little worried about the traffic on the way back, since the 4th of July weekend traffic has already started building, but we had a quick drive home. Just in time for chores and dinner!

Two days of low-humidity, 70 degree weather: what a nice break! We are starting on the job of cleaning up Seb's basement apartment after the flood. Loads and loads of mildewy clothes are being washed, and tomorrow we'll tackle organizing. After donuts.

To those who commented earlier on a necklace

Thank you for the nice feedback! As soon as Della teaches me how to reply to a comment, I will. Rosie, I did look at your blog and decided, even after wedding cake, that your baking was making me want to head to the kitchen.

JOYOUS OCCASION OCCURS IN BEALETON, VIRGINIA!
Ansil (oldest son) and his bride Danielle, married May 29, 2010.
The wedding was wonderful, and everyone seemed to enjoy the reception. Danielle's parents, Tim and Cindy Burrington, rented a wonderful white tent, her godmother and aunt did lots of beautiful flowers, and Aimee from Christ Covenant did a three tier cake.
There were chickens and baby goats for the children, and I hear every little girl went away with a bouquet.

Public Service Announcements

1. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOMMY! I'm so glad I don't have to share you with siblings anymore. You are all mine! Enjoy your day and the umbrella. :)

2.The URL for the blog has changed, so if you are viewing this post (or any posts) through a reader, please make sure to update your links.

-Mommy's Little Helper (Della)

Coral Reef Brown

This set started with a neat focal bead ( I think I begged it off my sister Susan). The brown coral is from Michael's (half price, so $2). The metal beads are copper. The other beads are dalmation jasper and some unidentified cream stones. I like the way all the subtle colors worked together, even though I wouldn't usually pair a black and white stone with browns. 

Spring is Really Here

It hit 80 yesterday. I went looking for things to make a spring bouquet with though, and there's nothing besides my daffodils, which are wilting now in the heat. So there is just going to be a small vase of daffodils on the table this weekend. Laura's are coming on Saturday, and Hannah's on Sunday (as the Mennonites used to put it).
I have made a Boston Cream Pie (first time in years) and we are going to have a cook-out tomorrow while CJ and Larry work on our inside stairs. They are rebuilding the whole stairway. We have been living with plywood stairs for quite a while, so this will be a big improvement. We also have plans to take out the carpet in the upstairs hall but that will have to wait for another day.
Oh yes, and I have chicks, another definite sign of spring. Just eight, but they are a kind I've never had before, and I enjoy trying out new types of chickens.

Notes on Roman Glass

Remember that roman glass jewelry from a couple posts back? Well, I'm going to have to restring the necklace. One bead broke just from being in my suitcase. That's when it occurred to me that these native made glass beads are not well-tempered glass (as, for instance, Czech glass usually is). They are fragile, primitively created beads. So treat yours gently!

Goodbye, Old Paint

For the last 30 years or so I've been driving big vehicles. My first family car, bought when we had 3 or 4 children, was a Suburban. No AC, no power windows...we moved on to a 15 passenger van for the years that all 7 children were at home. Then when we came back from Hawaii, I got this 4 wheel drive Suburban. This car and I survived hydroplaning off into a field of water in Morrisville. Ran over a deer a couple months ago and didn't flinch. If I had still needed the bigger vehicle I would have fixed it, but we decided to downsize. So we found a dealer who gave us $2500 in trade (quite reasonable; the other dealer had only offered $1000) and we now have a 2007 Equinox. But I felt the old Suburban deserved a goodbye!

Doughnuts on Sunday

Esther wanted to make doughnuts this weekend and so we broke out a new can of Crisco and warmed up the old frying pan.

The result-a big plate of warm doughnuts. Unfortunately, we only ate part of them. The chickens got

the rest. There just aren't enough people around here to eat up big batches!

March, Spring Winds, and Basic Black

The weather has improved tremendously, the snow piles are only small mounds here and there, and my crocuses are blooming. Even early in the morning, when I'm out fetching wood in the chill, the early birds sound different and you can tell the season has turned.
I felt like wearing brighter colors so pulled out a never-worn bright turquoise blue top. (Bought on clearance, Della). I made a necklace set from some water buffalo horn beads that I had bought online and hadn't much liked. But set with some silver spacers that Granma had given me, they turned into a nicer set than I'd imagined.
Beads $4, Spacers $0, Clasp $2. So add a little for the other supplies and the set cost about $6.25

Friday morning

The snow has receded enough that I can turn around in the driveway, instead of going to the next neighbors turn-around and backing up my drive. It's so exciting. Then I backed up a friends iced-over drive, narrowly missing a tree or two. This is not a typical Virginia winter-but in general the driving is becoming routine instead of thrilling, and I am back to the usual routine:driving Della to community college classes, Esther to youth group, Classical Conversations and ortho appointments, and the dozen weekly local errands.
This morning, between trips, I am catching up on paperwork. Have a turkey tortilla casserole all made up in the fridge (very freeing to have dinner done), and so Della and I are going to visit a couple thrift stores on the way to pick up Esther.
No new jewelry to report. I am playing around with coral beads right now. Bright colors are calling to me-all I see outside are brown trees and fences,surrounded by white and grey snow. I did buy The History of Beads (Lois Sherr Dubin)which was $100 in B&N, but I got this copy off Ebay for $27 shipping included. Which shows how bored I was while snowed in-normally I don't have the patience for auctions.
Off to Culpeper!

Valentine's Day Jewelry

This pendant is a (dyed) blister pearl, with some beautifully matched Czech glass and rose quartz beads. And a heart clasp, since I was in a Valentine's Day mood!

Ancient Roman Glass Jewelry

Last anniversary I asked for beads-these are made of Roman Empire era glass. I have been trying to find more info on these beads: supposedly they come from the Nimroz province of Afghanistan, and most if not all are made from the old glass, found as shards, and melted down and remade into beads. However, the strand I found on ebay shows surface oxidation (I think?) and I wonder how that could have survived remelting.
As someone who always enjoyed the Romans and their history I love these beads even if I can't absolutely prove their provenance. I'll let you know if I find out anything more.

The Improvised Bird Feeder

We've had so much snow that I've felt that feeding the songbirds is a necessity, like feeding the chickens.

Sarge and Mochi

Sarge is older and likes to sleep near the fire in this cold weather. Mochi, on the other hand, is quite young and active. She just likes the company. Sooner or later Sarge will sigh resignedly and move off the pillow. Then I come and take Mochi away, he moves back into his spot,and a few hours later we do it again.

5 PM Wednesday, 2/10/10

We only got about 5 inches of snow and we are very relieved it wasn't more. Larry's been shoveling and tomorrow he'll be tackling the iced over gutters. Even though the government might open tomorrow, he's not going to go in till Friday.
I'm hoping to get out, though, and make my monthly tea at Panera's. My contact with the outer world has been limited to one trip to Walmart within the last 10 days!

In the Midst of Snow, remembering last May (2009)

This was last week:
Saturday 16 May-Larry drives down to see Ansil graduate
Sunday -girls and I move furniture out of living and office rooms after church.
Monday-CJ tears up carpet (YUCKY)
Tuesday-Ansil is home and helps CJ put down laminate flooring. Wonderful.
Wednesday-last classes for girls. I will never darken GPCs doors again. Hurrah! Rush home and start tilling.
Thursday-last school related activity, a field trip and picnic. We are done except for independent studies that they can finish on their own. Back home, start planting.
Friday- all day in garden, press Ansil and Esther into helping. House doesn't have furniture back in place, but Ansil's party is the next day. Della keeps working on that.
Saturday 23rd-Ansil's going away party. Fortunately, weather is great and so people are mostly outside, since we still haven't put all the furniture back. Belle adds excitement by having 2 babies (now our total is four)
Sunday-church, home to pull the oxen out of the ditch...finish putting house back together, continue with garden since rain clouds are looming. Doesn't rain, but we fall into bed exhausted (or, besausted, as Morgan the 4 year old says).
Monday-Since it didn't rain, we rush into phase two with the garden. I make sure that things are mulched so the rain doesn't repeat the Nile Delta scenario of last year, when half my garden soil went south after torrential rains. Daughter Laura and husband CJ stop on their way home from Ohio, and as they arrive with their two tired children, Victoria the goat has three babies in the dirt in the pigpen. Filthy little goats, colostrum, and grandkids all over the place. We fall into bed exhausted (wait, did I already say use that line?)
Tuesday-the girls all want to do their delayed birthday outing. CJ agrees to stay with grandkids, Larry leaves to take Ansil off to join the Army, and I take Della, Esther, Laura, Hannah, and a friend to Unique, a big thrift store in Fairfax. We make it home before rush hour and start doing chores while grabbing bites of pizza; I have bought fresh fruit and baby carrots to go with it, since otherwise we will have all had nothing but donuts, coffee, bagels, and pizza today. Surprise! Another baby goat. That makes eight bottle babies. I lose it and announce that I am GOING TO TAKE MY BATH AND THE KITCHEN HAD BETTER BE CLEANED UP BEFORE I COME DOWN.

The only picture I can find of myself

This is a necklace I made last month, that I was very pleased with. Granma gave me the pendant and the long green stones were some I bought when I had just started beading. I bought all shapes of green stones for $2 a strand, but then I wondered if I would ever use them...well, having a good bead stash shows results. The metal spacers were Granma's leftovers too.

Total cost of this necklace (and earrings to match) was $17, and I hope to sell it for double that. I'd like to fund future purchases with an occasional sale. I looked through a upscale art and jewelry store in Fairfax back in December and their necklaces started at $65 and went up from there, and most of them were well within my expertise.

If I end up consigning my necklaces, that adds to the cost, so I'd rather sell them directly. But you know how much of a businessperson I am!