Simply Scaife Family Farm

Shhhh.

2012-02-10T19:17:00.000-06:00

Looking forward to a weekend of silent sewing and gardening.

Blogger award

2012-02-09T21:14:00.001-06:00

Thank you dear blog friend Heidi from http://whitewolfsummitfarmgirl.blogspot.com/ for sending me the versatile blogger award. Such an honor it is to realize sweet people take the time to read these ramblings and reply to them.

Again, thank you, Heidi!

Here are the RULES for the Versatile Blogger Award-

1. Add the award to your blog.
2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you.
3. Mention seven random things about yourself. (see below)
4. List the rules.
5. Award to 15 bloggers.
6. Inform each of those 15 by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are SEVEN random things about me...

1. I love sewing machines..the older the better!
2. Fabric speaks to me..really..can you hear it?
3. I love antiques but not the frilly kind..the practical old fashioned work worn kind.

4. I talk to my chickens but think it is weird to talk to a bonsai tree.
5. I'd rather pile quilts on the floor with popcorn and a movie than go to a fancy restaurant.

6. Although I hold two degrees, I am self taught in most practical skills.
7. When I grow old I want to be spunky and energetic like Maude from the Waltons.

Below is my fifteen blogs nominations..these are blogs that I follow, read and often read again! Each one valuable and encouraging on this path of learning I am on. Please take the time to hop over and visit these wonderful members of our blogging community. It is never easy to make choices like this. I hope you will encourage one another and pass this award on!

http://missabigailshopechest.blogspot.com/
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/
http://homesteadingatredtailridge.blogspot.com/
http://wifelife2011.blogspot.com/
http://www.ruthsrealfood.com/

http://ajoyfulchaos.blogspot.com/
http://blackpurlsknitpickings.blogspot.com/
http://crossedarrowshomestead.blogspot.com/

http://raisingahappyfamily-momof8.blogspot.com
http://homegrownandbeeyoutiful.blogspot.com/
http://theredeemedgardener.blogspot.com/
http://quiltingreadersgarden.blogspot.com/
http://achornfarm.blogspot.com/
http://applegarthgardens.blogspot.com/
http://wonderfullifefarm.blogspot.com/

Back to the Prairie: Auction Day

2012-02-08T19:29:00.000-06:00

   In the early morning hours chores are done extra quick today; there is an auction today. We pile into various vehicles to travel over a county; estate sales are a family favorite event. I wanted to ride in the big truck, however, I ended up stuck in the car squished between my great grandmother and my aunt. Stiff while seats are extremely uncomfortable and the constant warning not to 'mess them up' doesn't help.
   After a ride that seemed to never end, we arrive at a large metal building; a sea of cars fill the parking area. I can hardly wait to roam the isles of items, but the walk from the car is endless..grandmothers do not walk as fast as a little farm girl.
   Inside my heart races at the rows and rows of amazing things. On tip-toes I peak over table tops and into boxes to spy on treasures unknown. Dishes chipped and scratched from loving use; millions of warm meals they must have held. Nick-knack's that once graced the shelves in a house now empty; was this one a gift from a grandchild? Handed down from a parent? I try to envision how this home must have looked.
   A bit farther along tools are found in buckets and boxes. Did worn weathered hands hold this plow? Maybe the boot that pushed this shovel had a hole in it like my grandpa's. Screwdrivers make me giggle..do other people use them to start trucks and tractors like we do?
   Furniture! Some simple and plain; some with fancy scroll work and jewel-toned cushions. I envision a living room filled with these things..I bet no kids got to play in this room! But the appliances are next. It is hard to enjoy washers and ovens unless they are really old and quirky looking; these are not.
   Now the fun begins as the auctioneer starts his calls and people banter back and forth over this and that's from tables and rows. The adults lean close to each other chatting over fair price and who out bid who. I struggle to see anything..grown ups are so tall.
   Standing near me a very tall woman catches my eye. Her shoes and dress are so plain; simple flats and a denim one piece dress. Her hair is shiny and soft; twirled on the back of her head like a big cinnamon roll. I love it! Draped over the top of her head, a pretty doily lacy and white. Trying to ask my grandmother about her gets me 'the look'- you know, they hush up look. Next to this beautiful lady is a set of children all lined up like ducks in a row..she's a mommy! Then and there I decide..I want to be her when I grow up. Hair down to there all twisted up on my head, long dresses and simple shoes..with a whole row of stair step babies.

   Back home that night all tucked in my bed, I don't remember if we bought anything or whether we bought lunch or had sandwiches from home. I'm not sure if we stayed to the end or left early to 'beat the traffic', but I remember her. I close my eyes and try to envision me standing there with my family; a plain and simple mother standing there with her family on just another auction day.

One Off the Table!!

2012-02-08T00:23:00.000-06:00

Today we pull one off the table! The vintage star quilt is finally complete- quilting, binding and all. Today my oldest farm girl will fold it gently and place it in her hope chest. One day this hand made treasure will grace a bed in her own home..a piece of history, a piece of her family lovingly brought to completion by both our hands.
Now....off to pull off one more!!

What's Growing On...

2012-02-06T21:55:00.003-06:00

Gardening season here in the south really never ends- it may slow a bit, but it never really ends. With no real winter weather our gardens are bursting with growth keeping greens a part of our daily diet. Rows of kale and chard, even bright head and leaf lettuces are bright and vibrant in production.

Cole crops are bountiful and heavy. Cabbage heads are swelling with growth as broccoli florets rise on their stalks; tasty, hearty ingredients for stir fry's and soups.

Beets make their beauty know alongside carrots; red radishes peak from the soil beds near rows of tall green onions.

New crops are starting to peak through: pea shoots are stretching toward the trellis as fresh greens and root crops peak through the layers of mulch. Already soil is turned and amended; just waiting to nourish new plant life.

The greenhouse holds seedlings for the upcoming season. Tomatoes, beefsteaks, cherry in yellows and red, are snug in their home.

Trays hold cell after cell of pepper sprouts, both hot and sweet. Chilies, banana and sweet green are popping through the soil and stretching toward the light.

New cole cops are getting ready for planting out: cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. Even kale is almost ready to go.

Rows are ready, greenhouse is full - seems to be a whole lot growing on these days!!

Fiber Arts Monday- WIP

2012-02-05T23:41:00.000-06:00

It has been a little while since I put up a Fiber Arts Monday; today seemed like a good day. Last week I mentioned the Vintage Star quilt came off the frame and is ready for binding. Warm brown cotton with a chocolate floral print was chosen by our oldest farm girl (owner and layout designer of the quilt); this weekend I managed to get it measured and cut.

Today the binding strips are on the table; making a continuous binding strip is on the to-do list. I lay each strip right sides together at diagonal ends (like in the picture) and stitch corner to corner. Extra end is trimmed and pressed; the diagonal joining seam is less obvious and lays better on the quilt edge.

   Next we have a new 'quick-quilt' on the frame today. Holly Hobby and I are spending time together getting a quick little panel off the pile. Marked and basted this quilt now sits on the frame for my afternoon sewing hour. A quilt just like this is already listed on our Etsy shop; this one will be as well.

   In addition to these wonderful projects I have a photo of a quilt I am trying to create a pattern for (as per a customer request). Sample blocks will be put together soon so plans and prices can be discussed. At least my hands and mind have plenty to do!

   How about you...what fiber arts are on your table today?

It Is Sunday

2012-02-05T00:17:00.000-06:00

Philippians 1:20-25 (King James Version)

²⁰According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
²²But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
²³For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
²⁴Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
²⁵And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Binding; Let's Figure

2012-02-03T21:59:00.000-06:00

   The hand quilting is finished on the vintage star quilt; the farm girl and I waded through fabric to find just the right binding fabric. Now, it's time to figure.
   When I started quilting, figuring the amount of fabric needed for binding and the length of binding I needed for my quilt was a big challenge. Over the years I read several books and blogs with tips and trends for determining binding length; taking bits and pieces here and there to make my own way.

   First let me say I generally use the continuous bias binding method; two inch cut. After piecing the fabric strips together the continuous binding strip is folded in half and pressed. Raw edges are sewn to the front edge of the quilt with mitered corners and a hidden overlap at the ends. The binding is now turned to the back and hand stitched in place. To find how much is needed a little math comes into play.

* add the measurements of all four sides of the quilt
* to that # add 15" for joining seams and finishing edges
   this # gives the length of binding needed for the quilt
* to this # multiply the width of your binding (mine is 2)
* find the square root of that # and you have the yardage needed

   Like I said, I have no idea where this formula came from but it works wonders! Also http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/bias-binding.html has excellent charts for yardage yields for bias cut bindings. I keep a copy in my binder for shopping trips; this makes remnant bin opportunities mindful purchases:)
   Now, I'm off to finish the bias binding on my daughter's hope chest quilt because so many other projects are calling my name!!!

One Off the Frame

2012-02-02T23:01:00.000-06:00

Believe it or not this quilt is finally off the frame. Millions of tiny stitches make up the sea of stars quilting as was designed my my oldest farm girl. She is very ready for this to be finished..it's for her.

Now I'm off to gather the soft brown material for binding; all this 'light activity' my doctor prescribed has given me the freedom to put some serious time on my quilting. Blessings are where we find them.

Time to get that binding on..my farm girl is ready for her new - old quilt.

Poultry Keeping....Flock Management

2012-02-01T23:10:00.000-06:00

   Poultry are one of the easiest and cost effective livestock a homesteader can raise. In addition to eggs, our poultry are also raised for meat and for garden maintenance. Our flock is maintained on a limited free range system; after several years, it works for us.
   Housed in a converted barn stall, our flock resides in a coop equip with nests, roosts and feed/water access. Near their coop/stall large feed barrels hold our mix of layer grain and scratch which is given twice a day. The small coop range door (just their size) stays closed until noon each day- this gives ample time for morning grain rations to be cleaned up and nests to be filled with eggs.
   Once the coop door opens our hens have free range of the farm for the rest of the afternoon; open access to grass and grub (bugs) until sun sets. As the sun starts to fade we give evening rations. We also give "mash" or kitchen scraps which may contain: yogurt, fruit/veg peelings, egg shells (washed and crushed), breads/pastas, etc).
   Five gallon water fountains are kept in our coop (shaded to keep cool) and are refreshed in the afternoon- in the summer shallow water pans are filled and set in the shade to help the birds cope with heat stress. In cold weather we use heat lamps hanging from the ceiling to keep the poultry warm in the evening.
   In managing our flock's health, we try to use the minimalist approach. Sick or injured birds are isolated and assessed; using medication only if necessary. I do not use electrolytes or maintenance medications for my flock. Our hens are allowed to brood and molt as their nature guides them; they also raise their own young if the successfully hatch them.
   As I have mentioned before, we keep roosters with our hens for fertility and protection- one rooster for every ten hens. Dependent upon the breeds we have, our maintenance plan is to refresh the flock every other year. Hens that go out of production are culled once new hens are ready to be brought in. When we add new layers, we try to add new roosters from their own flock- it seems to work better that way. I use a fence panel to section off part of the coop for placing the new additions (after the new birds are close in size to the existing flock). After a week we remove the fence panel to completely integrate the birds.
   There you have it; our version of poultry flock management.

So Much To Do, Yet

2012-01-31T23:30:00.000-06:00

   It's a busy time around this little farm. Seedlings need transplanted to larger pots, baby chicks need regular attention not to mention the daily doings of life...yet. Here I sit; feet propped up- doctor's orders.
   Over time a slight twinge of discomfort has visited me; this weekend it grew to an unreasonable level. Yesterday's appointment gave me mandatory rest while waiting test results. Can I say I do not 'rest' well?
   I'm a do-er. Busy and productive is how I roll so 'rest' is just not my nature. Yet, today...I will rest. Hopefully tomorrow will be a new day will less discomfort and a quick recovery. Until then..quilting, reading, planning..it needs done, too. .... yet....

Quess What!

2012-01-30T23:05:00.000-06:00

New babies on the farm!! Twenty five beautiful Australorp and Araucana chicks arrived yesterday from our favorite hatchery. They immediately settled into their warm brooder for a day of little chick business (eat, peep, poop). I love hearing their noisy chatter as I near the barn; the older hens were gathered on the fence line to check out the ruckus.
Inquisitive eyes peak at me from titled little heads. When my hand comes near they dart close to inspect..allowing a tender little strokes to their soft fluffy heads, if only for a moment. Such a joy it was to visit them throughout the day and watch their silly chirpy fun.

For information on our poultry brooder and poultry keeping habits please click the poultry keeping label on the right side of the blog page, or email/comment me with questions.