The night time fright...

I have a story to share about a night time visit from a pet. Not just any pet, but Panda's.

It began one night while all were fast asleep. Me being the light sleeper was awoke to a sound I have never heard before.

Scratch. scratch. flop hop.

then again. Scratch.Scratch.Flop. Hop.

For the life of me I could not figure out what it was. My mind starts creating images to rationalize the sound. A field mouse caught in a trap trying to escape? No. The Captain took care of that situation. A chipmunk trying to climb up a dresser? No. Now that is just silly. But what could it be?

So as any wife would do, I tried to wake The Captain who was deep in dream land. I whisper with a nudge, "Honey, do you her that?". No response.

Then I start recalling images from the movie pet cemetery and my sleepy imaginative mind wanders to entertain the notion of Zombie rabbits coming to haunt me.

I was not about to step foot on that floor. What ever it could be was getting closer to our bed. So I stood up and pulled a gymnastics feat to turn on the light.

I saw nothing.

Then I heard it again but it was coming from behind the bed table.

I "womaned up" and went to go peek.

It jumped right at me! I of course jump back to only discover it is Fuji.

Panda's frog out for a midnight stroll.

Daddy bought her that frog about a year ago when it was the size of a golf ball. Now it is a large lemon. Apparently life in the pond has become a tad boring with the large gold fish and bluegill.

I tried to catch it. I really did. But that slimy thing would jump at the slightest touch and hence it's name "African Clawed frog", I was hesitant to find out what it could do with the claws.

So as any good mother would do, I woke Panda up.

"Baby, you need to come catch your frog".

"Where is she mom?"

"In my room sweetie".

"How did she get in there"?

"By hopping and scratching her way from the living room into mine".

She giggles and gets up to do the scary work for me.

After we finally catch her and put Fuji back into the pond, Panda laughed her way back to bed. Shaking her head.."Oh Mom, your so funny. She's just a little frog". I mutter, "A frog with big claws attached".

So Fuji had her first romp in the house and had to be contained for a few days before I let her have her freedom.

2 weeks later I am awoken to a familiar sound.

This time, I do not wake Panda- since I need to retain some super power fearless front with my oldest child. And I use a bath towel to throw over her and grab the slimy body.

Now Fuji is going into her own aquarium..with a lid. And in Panda's room.

Maybe I can sleep now without the fear of zombie rabbits coming back to chew off my toes.

I have to admit, I am glad daddy did not buy her a spider or snake instead.

Just thinking about waking to those in my room gives me the spine shakes.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

To market and back with new goals for the profits

This is an awful picture but is the only one which shows the lake our township Farmer's market is held in front of. I cringe at the fact my mommy arm bulge is showing but I will sacrifice my vanity for your veiwing. Those are also the aprons I made up for us to wear at our table. Mine is from a thrift find pillow case- which Panda designed and her apron is from fabric she fell in love with plus a vintage tea towel sewn onto the front for a pocket. The picture cuts off the pretty embroidery matching her apron colors.

And this is our "not overflowing with produce thanks to the cooler weather" set up:

I made up some universal muffin basic mix and graham griddle cake mix to sell as an "add on" to the market. I found this great recipe on grouprecipes.com which Smurfeete shared from her time working at a bakery. If you click the picture, you can see how I packaged them adding ribbon behind the sticker labels. I thought it added a more personal and endearing touch to draw the eye. We printed out papers with alist of possible "flavorings" to add to the mix so that is how I came up with their name "Universal Desire Muffin mix". Below them are the Black Raspberry jam and Blueberry spread/syrup we canned up. I had blueberries left over from last week's market and what better way to utilize them as not to waste potential profit.

We also had my Rustic Villa Italian bread loaves which sold quickly. We made 1 loaf into samples and made up some of the muffin mix utilizing some left over Black raspberry and blueberries for the people to taste while they consider a purchase.

Not many people came again and we walked away with around the same as last week. BUT they are moving us more to one side so the street traffic can see the market and stop in.

I am looking into having a sign made up to put out by the main road on our side of the township. They own the property at the end of our road which is being made into a small park with walking trails so I know there would be no problem having the sign up there.

A newspaper guy came out and was taking pictures. He chatted with me for 1/2 an hour- I was the only one he chatted with. I told him about our local Homesteading group and about how it was a group of locals who are trying to do as much as possible on what land we have. He was so funny. he responded "Your not going to tell me you have a bus buried in your backyard, are you?" I responded "does a Solar pit qualify?". He laughed and then inquired more about it. We spoke of heirloom seeds and how more people need to be aware of what they are in comparison to hybrids plus why it is important togrow & save seed from OP and heirlooms. How it is more then just history of a variety, its about home grown veggies that taste superb in comparison to store varieties and brings community to people who trade and share their saved seed with others.

I know he does not read my blog, but I must say my seed saving, trading and sharing comes from a great man On Homesteading today. I am ever so Thankful we have crossed paths and am indebted to his kindness. Martin was the first person I have ever recieved seed from and that one packet of seed has given 30 some others seed to grow over the years. He is the reason behind my giving seed away here localy. To give forward and back what was given to me. I can only hope what seed I have given will continue the circle of kindness I was shown.

I have a chicken pen to rake and a baby bunny who likes to hide under the woodpile to collect. Uno never strays far, just seems to like hiding out every few days over there. Soon her chubby behind will not allow her escapes through the fence.

Sweet dreams,

~Tammie

Camping with my people & my 1st Farmer market

Last Friday was the first Farmers market. It rained before hand and delayed the set up. Not many people showed up but I still walked away with $30. And if you could have seen how dead it was, you would know that was good money for that day.
No, I did not take any pictures of the set up. The ground was so wet next to the lake we had to set up by the service road. I decided to just go with an umbrella and table stand for ease in set up/break down since my canopy I had made up takes about 10 minutes more then my current set up.
Panda had her camp out Birthday with her friends that same night (Friday) since we canceled the last weekend due to rain. And of course it was cold and rainy anyway. They still had a blast.
So after all that busy stuff, I woke up early Saturday to meet up with "my people" over in the Allegheny Forest for some Rustic camping. And once again no pictures since I was so tired and forgot my camera. My girl "White willow" brought hers and of course she can not upload the pics due to an AWOL USB cord. So I found this one online to show you how perfect the scenery was. It still does not do justice to the logging trail camping we did.( which by the way is FREE and the nearest people were a good 10-15 minute walk away). You could hear the river rushing just 10 feet from your tent and the dark green fauna was breath taking.

The river was cold so when we brought our chairs into the river with the cooler, my feet were the only things I wanted wet. After a bit, all of us women tried walking out and a few fell... Of course White Willow's husband could not let me go without some water splashed on me and my shorts were hung by the fire to dry as I walked around in my Boxer briefs. (perfect camping underwear due to their utilitarian uses. From shorts,swim wear, sleep wear to hiking shorts in my case.LOL.
I always have such a great time with them and look forward to our next trip which is in the plans for the end of August. I will be taking all 3 of my children and of course The Captain. It will be his "Birthday getaway".
I am going to Southern Ohio the first weekend in August with White Willow. We are going down to her mom's and helping out with an Amber alert Fund raiser the town holds. Her mom makes up pies to sell in front of their business and offered for me to sell my produce next to her.
I may help Bartending in the Family bar at night if they need an extra hand. Working for tips of course.
I have tomatoes which ripened this weekend to pick and a few other things in the garden need tending. The neighbors gave us sand from their play set area so it needs loading up and brought over for the chicken pen area. I promise I will start keeping the camera at my hip and no more forgetting. I am still knocking myself for not bringing it.
Sweet dreams,
~Tammie

New things showing up on the urban farm...

We picked up a new rooster. A silver laced Wyandotte who has tentatively been named Mon Senior. He is such a good guy. He Eats from my hand plus is kind to Ray Ray the silkie roo and the ladies of the pen including the rabbits. Looks like he will fit in just fine here.

As I did my weeding check, after The Captain banished the ground hive of Bee's, I stumbled upon this shallow nest:

My first thought was that Chubs was playing in the garden between the sunflowers and Delicata squash during her escape of the rabbit tractor. (The Captain has a few kinks to work out with his wheel placement method, but she is tame enough to come to me after a bit of freedom in the yard and chase of Grizzle sniffing her out of the wood pile).
So as I moved the fur, much to my shock, I found a nest of these:

On the subject of the Hops, they seem to have put out some nice hop fruits this year:


As to the vegetables, I have something I do not remember planting. I know I seeded Jarrahdale pumpkins and patty pan squash in the same flat with my long pie pumpkins, but these are white large squash and not grey like the Jarrahdale...

Anyone want to throw out some guesses? I am stumped on this one, especially since it was from my own saved seed.
The San Marzano (sun dried tomato/paste variety) which are drastically behind the tomatoes I started inside, while we still had a blanket of snow on the ground:

Here are some other garden firsts of the season-
The first sunflower which has been enjoyed by a few bugs:

Some of the Purple green beans which name escapes me at the moment-something violete'..

We have been harvesting the Triumph De Farcey green beans for a week now. I should have enough for a few bags at the Market.
A black cherry tomato soon to be ripe enough for a salad:

And Romaine lettuce in one of the raised beds for Market sales. Notice the eggplant leaves? Yep, Never fails that my eggplants here always end up like this.

I also have about 8 cups of wild Black Raspberries picked and will be taking Panda in the morning to get more. Making up some wild Blackberry jam for the Market and have Fresh organic Blueberries to pick Wednesday and Thursday for Market, too.
It is suppose to Rain Wednesday, so I hope to get my July sewing project done. If you could not tell by the clues and pictures, it is a throw rug made from Thick upholstery fabric I picked up from the clearance aisle for $3 a yard, normally $22 a yard. I have a trick to share on keeping the edges flat and not "kick up" with use.
I have bread to get in the oven and more Biga starter to ready for Bread.The plan is to bake up 8 loaves Thursday before the Farmers market. I am lacking in some of the items I had hoped to be ready by then so the extras I am making should help out.
The Captain is on Vacation this week so I hope to get us away from here at least 1 night for some camping with the kids. Can't go too far due to the animals but I was thing maybe down by New Philadelphia, where his dad grew up.
I guess we will see.
Sweet dreams,
~Tammie

So much to do, so much has been done and so much yet to be...

Our Farmers market sign is done. I put the final clear coat on it after deciding I would just leave at is:

1 1/2 more weeks until the first one and looks like I will have a bit of all my tomato varieties to sell.The puppies are growing quick and this particular one (the only boy) which Panda has named Bones, may be a keeper. And yes, I am STILL harvesting from the mesculan patch by the tomatoes. There is also an underground wasp nest which has kept me away from the background fence area to weed. Got to brave it and set that hive on fire before this weekend.

The garden jungle with panda playing with Grizzle's cub's:

Panda's 10th Birthday was back on the 4th and we spent the day in Pj's.
Making bread, tending the animals, playing in the garden...

She thought it was great to stay in pajama's all day with me until it was time to go to a friends place for a BBQ- which she so enjoyed since their was a girl her age to play with. I need to take a pic of the messenger bag "adventure kit" I made for her. She told me one morning while we were in the garden how she wanted an adventure kit to explore the woods across from us with. So I made one up for her birthday as one of her gifts. An owl caller, a compass, a nice pair of binoculars, a journal, an Ohio plant & wild life ID book and a pink water bottle. I am sure there is more but I can not recall at this time.
I had a heart breaking clay moment this week. I put the clay "tile" backing on the green man fountain face as you see below. While it was drying, it cracked in sporadic spots of the background.

As I tried to think of what went wrong, it hit me. I never cut the clay away from the ceramic tile I use as a base for my clay work. While drying, clay shrinks. So as it shrunk it pulled away and cracked. So what do I do? Work with it of course! I will gently cut it away and place it on another layer of background. The cracks will just add more character to the final kilned item, adding an old Tuscany feel to it.
I have been working on herb pots for the last week. Each one gets better and better. I will only glaze the insides to keep the herbs from drying out while being stored. The exterior will remain au natural with a nice terra cotta look thanks to the clay I am working with.
I have been working from sun up to sun down on replacing all the old wood window trimming on the outside of the house. Between measuring, cutting and painting the wood...I am whooped.
I did put up 2 window box's for the top floor windows above the garage. I amazed how such a small detail adds a nice appeal to the house front. It was so plain and uninviting before.
I have party stuff to tend to for Panda's Camp out birthday bash this weekend. I still have the pink and brown paper circles to finish for her party garlands and a scavenger hunt map/clues to finish.
Oh! and I hopefully will have a silver laced wyandotte rooster (5 1/2 months old) to add to the ladies pen. I added 6 cochn chicks a week ago and a hawk has got to 2 of them. I saw my favorite grey one in its clutches as it flew 15 feet from our bay window. Whole 'nother crazy hawk chasing story..I will just add I scared the crap out of it and dropped that chick. My intention? to not let it have a meal despite knowing the chick was already dead from it's prey.
All chicks are now in the rabbit hutch with uno, the lone baby who survived the sibling escape.
2 more weeks and we should have another litter of Californians from Chubs. Gotta get momma over to the 1 acre homestead for her breeding. Hopefully the recent cool summer days will make both a success.
Sweet dreams,
~Tammie