Broom Sweep in – I went to a broom sweep in and learned a lot about making different kinds of  handmade brooms.  It was a wonderful time and I made kitchen brooms, wisk brooms and for all you turkey hunters a turkey wing broom.  I have been wanting to work with my antique broom equiptment but it had a few issues.  I was able to figure out the problems and I can now make Wonderful  broom corn brooms.  Let me know if you would LOVE to have one.

I planted seed yesterday.  I planted the broom corn and pop corn.  I planted a pop corn that says it is Black not sure how that will work out but, no matter I have some regular popcorn and my cotton seed yet to sew.  It is so fun to watch all the vegetables and plants grow.  We are eating the leaf lettuce, redishes, asparagus and onions.  The potatoes are starting to sprout along with the squashes.

Taught a spinning class to Terry Lynn.  Don’t  know why she thought she needed a class she can spin very well.  I was so pleased to meet her we have a lot in common.  She also plays, banjo, and other instruments I love and can’t play.   So perhaps in my near future I can get a lesson or two from her.

I went to the Emmaus House to look at a loom they have.  It sure looks like it could be weaving in no time.  They are having a craft event May 20th in Marthasville.  You might want to go to that It is crafts made by the residents there and I here some other beautiful craft items.

4H classes are starting up.  I will be teaching the kids place mat twining for there first class here.  This Friday they will be making Corn Husk dolls with my daughter and I.  They make some of the nicest crafts I have ever encountered.

I am working on a white sweater from my angora goat it such beautiful fiber.  I finished FINALLY by squirrel hooking.  I made it into a pillow and put sheep wool around the outside.  This is going to be given to my Grandson Augustus.

Today I will be mowing grass, going to spinning with the Franklin County Fiber Guild girls.  I also will need to make bread, and some favorite foods of my son Don’s he is coming up to go fishing with my husband.  They are fishing in a tournament.  My  son Don is a great fisherman he is going for a big title this year and seems like he is headed in the right direction.

My Granddaughter Emma one First place in the State Horse Bowl Competition, the team she was on one first place and the other team mate one 2nd and 4th.  They did AWESOME.  They are on their way to the nationals in Kentucky.  They had to know all kinds of illness, blood system functioning, bones, feet, circular system, saddles, bits I don’t know what all else but, seems they are ready to be vets.

I know there are things I am forgetting to mention but, I will blog again.  Remember to vist my site there just might be something you can’t live without.  I am always making new things.

Gotta go been fun sittin and chattin with ya.

Linda

Easter was wonderful.  We went to my oldest daughter Sharon’s house for dinner.  We had fried fish and we made home made pies from scratch.  None of that cheating box stuff.  We also had morel mushrooms that my youngest son Aaron found and brought.  We had a good time just visiting and talking and playing games.  Always good to get the family together.  All four of my perfect grandschildren were there.

I made a alpaca roving rug on my rug loom since we last talked.  I plan to teach the class  as soon as I get some more people signed up for it.  I will be making rag place mats with the 4H children in May.  I am almost finished with my rug hooking squirel (FINALLY).

I am off to a Broom sweep in tomarrow through Sunday.  We will be making the corn broom  – brooms.  I think i mentioned to you that I have an 1800′s broom equiptment so we will be working on that type of equiptment.  Can’t wait to learn more about it.  Will report back as soon as I can on the results.

I went to a circular sock knit in held in Cape Gerardeau, MO.  It was a wonderful time.  Worked on my second sock machine that I own it is a Gearhardt It now is working pretty darn good.  Will be making more socks and put them for sale on my sight.

It has been awhile since I blogged but, my computer was inaded with spam from blogging so Mindy Rreid with MJ Creatice Group helped fix it and I hope I won’t get any more SPAM.  Thanks Mindy.

I have a Franklin County Fiber Guild Meeting tonight.  We will be making quilted table runners.  I hope some new members come and join us.  Our guild is 11 years old and growing.

I must say see ya later now I have a lot to do before leaving in the morning at 6am. and a lot before tonights meeting.

Keep on keeping in touch and let me know what you want to learn or want to talk about.

THANK Ya Kindly for dropping by.

Linda

I used my circular sock knitting machine today and am making a scarve.  Hopefully, it turns out will put a picture on the site when I am done.  It is amazing what you can do with that machine that was made in the 1800′s.

I decided today that my steps down to the shop need fixing.  They have carpet on them so I decided I would dye the carpet.  Lot better then replacing the darn stuff.  Turned out right nice.  What a little thinking can save you sometime.  I am always looking for ways to fix at the least cost.

I still have NO baby goats. Hmmmmm!

I am making some great home made bread it smells SOOOO good. Can’t you just smell it cooking (think real hard you will smell it).  Rainy overcast today so home made soup.  It is getting time for the garden so have to make use of the veggie still in the freezer.

My son Don and his Wife Cindy are coming up tomarrow from Kentucky for a visit.  Looking forward to the fun time.  They always bring my Grand dog to visit he is a lovable Golden Retriever named IKE.

Well couldn’t plant the flax today to muddy.  Hopefully will be able to do it soon.

I did a little spinning. LOVE to spin fiber and turn it into something wonderful.

Well I better be feeding the animals. Got 9 eggs today gonna have to make a cake I guess.

I’ll get back with you real soon.

Later

Linda

I have been teaching spinning and weaving a lot lately.  I love that so many people have taken and interest in the traditional crafts.

I still have no baby goats.  She is definitely FAT.  Will let you know and send pictures as soon as they come.

A friend of mine gave me some shelves (Sue Vunesky ) What a great thing I now can organize the yarn and stuff much better.  I really am busy so adding the shelves and reorganizing into a day as been difficult.  I worked in my lavendar garden today before organizing.  Hopefully, I can get the flax in this week it needs to be planted now.  I also need to get my cotton seed and broom corn seeds ordered.

One day I spent making brooms with Sue.  She is good at about everything she does.

I have been getting ready for next week it is a Circular Sock Knitting gathering in Cape Girardeau.  I have been dying yarn and getting things ready to go.  I also made a couple of pairs of socks.

Tonight is a meeting on Pond care. .  Scum on the pond got to figure how to get rid of it.

Had a meeting with Missouri Sportman Association the other night and learned a lot about wild hogs.  The conservation is trying to keep them under control.  In Texas they have just about destroyed most of the farm areas.  We don’t want that happening here.

Well got to tell you this I Sure hope Santorum wins today.  Everyone things Mit Should win but, he would be to much like the stuff that is already been in office we need a change.  We need our country back.  Hope I didn’t offend you but, it is the truth.  Rick has no money to  defend himself against Mit ‘s remarks.  Mit has a lot of money and can put out a lot of false advertising and people seem to believe him.  Rick is in my prayers.  GOOD LUCK.

Time to do the chores and head out.  I will try to keep up with the bloggen  hope your enjoying it.  Let me know.

Later Linda at the

Yarn Farm

Had to do some more dying of yarn today and spun just a tiny while.  Never enough spinning time.

Tonight is my knitting sweater class I think I might have a mistake and will get to do some ripping.

As promised awhile back here is my corn bread receipe:

1 cup Quaker Yellow Corn Meal

1 cup Sifted enriched flour

1/4 cup sugar ( or just a touch more)

3 tsp baking powder

1 egg ( of course from my chickens).

1 cup milk ( I have goats milk from my nubien)  you can use the cow kind

1/4 cup shortening

Heat your Cast Iron skille,t  has to be oiled and hot to use.

Sift together dry ingredients add egg milk and shortening

Beat with wooden spoon (takes a little while)  but for all you whimps you can use a beater just a little while.(do not overbeat).

Bake in oven 425 degreees 20 to 25 minutes test with a broom straw to see if done (pick a clean straw off your broom).

(important shortening must be at room temperature.)

When done smear some home made butter and honey and you will think you died and went to heaven.

Well time to chore and run,  stay in touch.

signing off, talk back at you soon.

Linda

Tomarrow I am having a couple of ladies over for a basket making class.  They will make baskets while I knit on my sweater.  I plan on making Chicken salad, fresh fruit, oatmeal cookies and pumpkin bread.  Guess that ought to holdem til they get home.

Awhile back I left the door to the bunny cage open and the bunnies all hopped out over night the next morning there were no bunnies but I think I told you this story earlier but, today we had a GREAT surprise. One of the bunnies that was missing came back.  Well almost back it is hanging out at the barn and we can’t catch it.  We will keep trying.  All the bunnies I have are boys I am hoping I catch this one and it is a girl (d0e).

I just got through doing the chores and I got eight eggs.  The baby bunnies are really big almost look grown up.  I am anxious for spring to start working with my llamas more.  Of course, I am anxious for the milk goat (Emma) to have her baby/babies.

Time to sign off get supper going and make my yarn,

See ya back at the farm real soon.

Linda

This is Shawna – German Angora bunny with a coat on.  She just got a shearing.

This is a picture of Shawn.  He is also a German Angora

Can’t wait for the fiber to spin.  His fiber is beautiful.  Her’s is really pretty also.  She is not leopard colored she has a coat on because she was just sheared.

Got eleven eggs from eleven chickens  They must be happy today.  Made french toast with some of the eggs this morning.

My sweater I am knitting is moving right along.  I have learned many new ways to do things.  I will post a picture , if I ever get it done.

Off  to wind yarn and make a home made cake today.  I need to look for my corn bread in a cast iron skillet recipe for a friend of mine.  I will try to get back with that soon.

Well I better HOP back to work.

Yarn Farm Signing off.

I was asked how to make the mother for bread.  This is sorted like the amish bread where you keep the mother and give it to friends.  Here goes :

Mother –  2 cups unbleached white organic flour

1 1/2 cups purified water.

stir with wooden spoon.  Cover with wet dishtowel.  Now every morning thereafter, Monday-Friday, you are going to stir in 1/3 cup flour and 1/4 cup water   then on the seventh day  Saturday, your mother will be ready it should have bubles and smell pleasantly sour.  in the morning spoon 2 cups of your mother into a mixing bowl – then cover your mother don’t add anything set aside until Sunday when you start adding 1/3 cup flour and 1/4 cup water.

Basic White Farmhouse Bread   2 cups you removed add  3/4 tsp salt 1 T of honey.  Stir add  1  1/2 cups more white flour stir with a wooden spoon a couple of minutes.  You do not knead the bread. You can bake this on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.   I like to cook mine in a cast iron pot (heat the pot before you put the bread in).  Spoon your sticky dough in to pot put lid on your pot (tilt lid to let a little air in).  wait 6 to 8 hours.  After dough has risen preheat oven 425 degrees.   put water in oven in a muffin tin. lets center stay moist.  baking time varies by what you use check for doneness in twenty minues (closer to 30  to 35 with cast iron).  ( internal temperature 195 to 200 F.  EAT AND ENJOY.

Got to go knitting tonight working on my sweater.  Did some hooking today.  Made a new type of bread recipe that should be ready in about an hour.  I also made some delicious home made vegetable soup.

Well time has run out again here at the Yarn Farm  be back soon

Linda

I must say it was a very nice event.  About 80-100 people came.  There was a great band and LOTS of food.

I figure maybe tomarrow I can clean and work on some must do projects.  I need to do some weaving and sock making this week.

I am going to give you my Chicken and Dumpling recipe hope you enjoy it.

2 cups of flour

4 to 6 eggs

salt and pepper.

I don’t mix around on them to much they get a little tuff if you do that.

I roll the dough out on a piece of parchment paper until as flat as i can get it.

slice the dough in little square about 1 1/2 inches
I boil my chicken until it starts to fall off the bone and then I take it out of the water and remove all the bones .  I keep the water from the chicken and add different spices of your choice.

I like green onions (3)

cut up, parsley, salt, pepper, curry  powder   1/2 tsp of each spice

I put the chicken back in the water, make sure it is boiling good when you put your dumplings in to it.

I cook my dumplings until they float . Test one to see if it is done enough for you.

I also save the backs and parts that I don’t use for fried chicken and boil them and freeze the broth.  Then when I am ready for chicken and dumplings  I can use it to make more juice in them.

Well I better get to answering my emails and doing a little knitting before it gets to late.

Yarn Farm Closing for now will be back soon with more ramblin.

Linda

This week has been filled with election events.  I worked  the polls so I had to go and set up Monday at East Central College.   Tuesday, it was poll time and I had to be there at 5a.m.  Living on a farm and animals to feed means you get up at 3:30am.  I worked until about 8:30pm this made for a long day but, the election turned out the way I had hoped.  I was so excited when Santorum won Missouri, Colorado and Minnesota.

It snowed a little last night so things sure look pretty today.  Took my puppies Chloe and Spinner to get their grooming.  Made chocolate chip cookies and finished warping a loom.  Tonight the President of our Franklin County Fiber Guild can’t make it so I will take over.  Our group is great.  We have a program at our meeting and we show and tell what we made recently.  I started this group about 11 years ago and it is so much fun and we learn so much from each other.  We do all types of fiber related crafts and art.

I guess I better go pick up puppies, get ready for meeting, cook supper and the feed animals.

Meet you back here at the farm again soon.

Linda