Miss me?

I know I have missed writing this blog!  Roger and I have both been so busy that we haven't had time to work at the farm the past two weeks.  I'm just going out to water a few times a week.  We haven't even walked as often as we like!

So -- that means no changes at the farm....unless you count the fact that I have FIVE apricots on my little tree!!! Except for the poor excuse for tomatoes I tried to grow in a trash can last summer, these little apricots are the first fruit from the farm - yeah!  I have two little citrus trees up on the hill where we live right now but the damn wind blew all my blossoms off.  Fear not - I think I have three Cara Cara oranges (about the size of my thumb nail right now) and maybe 20 MEYER lemons (pinky nail size).  I will be exceedingly happy if they grow up and become edible.  Meyer lemons are one of my new obsessions.  Deuce gave me the trees earlier this year and I planted them in pots so I can move then under shelter when it freezes next winter.  Mom says I absolutely cannot grow citrus here.  I plan to prove her wrong.

Are you positively bored yet?  (I'm filling space again.)  If not - read on.  If so - I will try my best to make the next post more substantial!

Something about living here has awakened a culinary spirit in me.  I seem to have a NEED to cook or bake.  I just love it - and nothing from mixes!  I'm making pizza from scratch (including the sauce), tons of different pies and desserts, some really good green chili and eating lots of fresh stuff from Barbara & Jay's and Mom & John's gardens and farm.  Asparagus, beets, broccoli and fresh eggs - to name a few.  I'm growing my own spices and have become quite enamored with basil.  I planted lavender and chocolate mint.  MMMM.  If you've ever rubbed lavender flowers in your hands to release the scent - you know what I'm talking about.

I have one more story to share and it does tie to the farmhouse.  When we owned Artistry and we were in the old location on Rural, a woman brought in a stained glass lamp wrapped in a hand pieced quilt, circa 1933 (educated guess).  The lamp and it's protective packing (the quilt) had been rolling around in her trunk for a few months.  That did neither item any good.  The quilt was filthy and the lamp was just in too many pieces to repair.  The only story I remember is that the lamp belonged to a relative that had died that year (father in law?).  The lamp was his and clearly she wasn't attached to it but had promised to check into getting it repaired.  I explained to her it was just too far gone, but gave her a bid anyway (to rebuild it).  Predictably, she was horrified and declined.  I asked her about the quilt.  She said she didn't know anything about it except that it "had come from the house" and had been used to wrap stuff in for years.  It made me heart sick.  To me, it was the most beautiful quilt I had ever seen.  I asked her if she would consider selling it to me.  She looked shocked (again) and said something to the effect of "It's a filthy rag!".  I explained I was a quilter and it really spoke to me.  She said to throw the lamp away and I could keep the quilt if I wanted.  So I took the quilt home and put it in my washer and let it soak for a few days, agitating it every once and a while by hand.  It washed beautifully.  It is one of my favorite things. When I look at it, I think of the months and months of some woman's life it represented while she was making it.  There's lots of love in that quilt.

No worries - there is a point to this.  The quilt is all hand pieced and hand quilted with 30's fabrics and lots of white.  It has a few wear spots and the binding has separated on one edge.  Other than that, it's in great shape for it's age.  At almost 80 years old, the threads have begun to get brittle.  It needs to be handled with love but it makes me so happy to look at it.  I decided to make one just like it so I can throw it on a bed or curl up in it or cuddle with a kid in it.  That's my project at the farm these days when I go out in the evening to water.  I have never seen the pattern before so I'm really winging it.  Deuce is going out in her RV later this month and I'm sending fabric swatches with her in the hopes that she can be on the lookout for more 30's retros to add to my quilt (although she doesn't know yet).  The fabrics need to be just right.  To maintain the joy the original quilt has - it really does have to be just right.

Famous last words:  The picture just doesn't do her justice.

I'm looking forward to Memorial Day weekend.  I heard a rumor that part of the Posse may ride in.  It's always a good time.  If you're not doing anything - come join us.  There's plenty to get in to at the farm!