one of my favorite actors...

by now just about everyone in the US has heard the news that Patrick Swazye lost his battle with cancer and passed away yesterday at the VERY young age of 57. I have to say, he was probably one of my favorite actors and I greatly enjoyed many of his movies. Of course, the most popular movie must have been "Dirty Dancing"... but I remember him more in the TV mini series "North and South"... either way, the world was given a gift thru his acting and dancing talent. Of course, I didn't "know" him, but he seemed to be a gentlemen and certainly did not appear in the news due to his rude behavior (as so many "popular people" do these days!!!) He was married to his wife Lisa for many years, and I can only imagine her grief at this time.

so, goodbye to Patrick Swazye, husband, horseman and actor... God speed.....

apple picking 101

This weekend, our little town hosts it's annual "Apple Fest" event.. a fun weekend that kicks off with a pancake breakfast, craft fair, bake sale and the orchards will all be open for apple picking, hay rides and the like. Our church plays a big part in the bake sale, and the goal of the ladies this year is to be able to sell 50 apple pies!! Which means, that 50 pies need to be made. So, several of us have volunteered to bake a pie or two... Sadie signed us up for two pies.

This morning, one of the orchards graciously offered to let the church ladies in and pick the apples needed for our 50 pies, they asked us to take as many of the "drops" as we could, but a bit of picking was Ok too. It was a beautiful morning, we went fairly early which put us ahead of the bees and other "bugs" and the picking was great fun. I have never been to this particular orchard and had as much fun enjoying the views as I did the picking and fellowship.

The apples this year are beautiful!! I thought that we had an awfully wet spring and summer, but from what the apple trees are looking like, I am guessing it's just the kind of weather that they like.

The apples are huge!!

And the trees are loaded... it's almost like picking grapes. I am surprised that the limbs don't break under the weight of them, and if this good weather keeps up (which it's suppose to do) I bet the orchards will be quite busy over the weekends. I do know that "they" worry about any big storms coming thru right now, because that would cause the trees to drop the apples...

Needless to say, it didn't take us anytime to pick all the apples (and probably a bit more) needed for the pies--oh and the home made applesauce that will be served at the breakfast!!!! (this photo makes me think of the line from the movie Baby Boom... where she had picked baskets and baskets of apples and quotes..."this must be enough for a pie!!!!")


We divided them up and brought home a bucket to do our pies with. So, Friday morning, we'll get ours baked up and drop them off at the church.

And to my "dear readers" if you want a fun fall activity this weekend, head to Apple Fest, fill up at the pancake breakfast, buy a pie to take home.... and pick yourself a nice bag of sweet Maine apples!!!! Sadly, the season doesn't last long, and when the winter winds are knocking at the door, you will be glad that you got out.........

more on turkey manor

The turkeys did well last night, the first night in Turkey Manor. And when I arrived at the farm this morning, they were all huddled inside, even though the door was open to the outside. Since they have only been "inside" they were a bit fearful of that outside world. Sadie and I tried to shoo a couple of them out, but it only created panic in the flock, so we gave up. We wanted to get the stall cleaned out and ready for the other birds to move in.





Early in the afternoon, just as the rain began, we looked out and saw that some of the turkeys had indeed, found their way outside. I thought that the rain might send them back in... but no, they seemed to be enjoying the "water falling from the sky" and goodness knows they could use the "shower". By the end of the day, all the turkeys had found the way out, and seem to really be enjoying the pen and the room to move about.... course this evening... Ed had to wrangle them all back inside.. no one wanted in!!! We didn't dare leave them out, we don't know what "wildlife" might be lurking around the barn at night, so everyone had to be locked in. I think once they figure out that the can go "in and out" and that the food is "inside", they'll be running back and forth. I am much happier to see them in a "better spot" and to have the younger birds now in the big stall with more room.

Dear Nate was back again today to help with sheet rocking. We can't tell him enough how much we appreciate his help!!! and Kas as well, because it means she gives up a day with Nate!!! (thank you ..thank you both!!!) Ed had to get some more sheet rock, so that took sometime from the morning, but they still got the sewing room done, and some of the walls in the pantry.

It makes a big difference quickly to see "real walls" in place. And really, there isn't much left to do except for some smaller pieces, which Ed can basically do himself.

Once he has the chance to "mud and tape", then I can take over and begin to get the walls primed, and think about what colors the rooms will be.

Every project done is one step closer to moving in... even though right now, it is still quite a way from happening. But I certainly appreciate what has been done thus far. Looking thru old blogs tonite (and crying my eyes out anytime I found a Moxie photo!!!) ... I saw that last year at this time, only the foundation was in place... the building hadn't even been started.. so really, we have come a long way in a short time.....and I need to "not be so anxious".. we will get into this house

odds and ends

It seems as though there is just "so much" happening right now...first off, my Dad was in the hospital. The day after our cookout, his heart went "out of beat"... he has dealt with this in past, but over the last ten years, thru good care, careful watch of himself and meds, it hasn't given him any trouble. And then, for no reason, it was acting up again. He spent the better part of the week there, and he did have to be cardio verted, but this evening he is home and feeling so much better!!! Hey Dad... so glad you are home once again......

And we are seriously beginning to get ready for baby Abbie. She will be here in just about a month, so Sadie is working on getting organized and trying to think ahead as much as she can. "We" have been EXTREMELY blessed. People hearing that she is expecting have given Sadie so many wonderful things... and there isn't much that she will need to get started. Just look at the clothes she has to sort thru!!! We have also decided that we will have an "after baby.. baby shower"... that way, Sadie will be able to show baby Abbie to everyone, and then she will also know what she might really need and be able to let folks know. It's pretty obvious that we won't be in the house before baby Abbie, so the three of us are trying to decide if we should move back into the big camp for the time being. It would certainly give us more room.. especially with another little person arriving... but we also "hate" to go to all the bother and not need it for very long... so that remains to be seen at the moment.. (though, I think we will end up moving once again.... )

The turkeys are getting huge and I can't believe how quickly they can go thru a bag of grain. As of this evening, they now live in Turkey Manor.. and if you read onto the next blog, you will know all about that.

No, we don't "spoil" our chickens or consider them "pets"... well, maybe we do, and Sadie thought that "miss Chicken" would appreciate a daisy necklace.. she did... as she ate it off herself.

And we now have "matching buildings"



"Sweetgrass barn"












"the Electric company"

and "Turkey Manor"

On thing for certain.. I can't say that life is dull

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I also don't want this important date to be overlooked. Eight years ago, we lost thousands of people when our country was attacked... may God send his blessings on the families who lost their dear loved ones... 9-11-01....................

"Turkey Manor"

For the past week, Sadie and I have been working as much as we could on the turkey building and if I do say so myself, with a bit of paint, it has spruced up rather well. In fact, we have fondly named it "Turkey Manor". It took two coats of stain and three coats of red on the doors, and will still need another white coat on the trim, but all in all.. the little old building has come back to life.

Then at the end of the day, Ed has come to finish the rest of this project (after working on the house!!!)






He cut a door way in the side so the turkeys will be able to come and go during the day. We will definitely lock them in at night, due to the predators!!! And he made a sliding door so we can close them in...

Sadie put a nice red paint on the turkey door... to match all the other color schemes.















We had a number of ideas with regards to the pen itself. I have seen all kinds of turkey pens and everyone seems to have their own ideas. We were looking for something strong, quick to put and cheap. Turns out that a dog kennel seem to fit the bill the best. Home Depot had a 10x10 dog pen for under 300.00.. and with the house being one end, and taking a panel from our real dog pen... we ended up having a penned area that is 12x20, (roughly) which should be plenty of space for the outside.

Now, turkeys can fly, to some extent..and they certainly would be able to get over the top of the dog kennel. Some folks suggested that we clip their wings, which isn't a bad idea except we really don't know how to do that, and secondly, they're pretty big now, and we weren't too excited about handling them that much.... so, it was just as easy to put a top on the kennel. Ed made a big wood frame, and we got some "bird wire" and simply stapled it to the top. We still have enough head room that we can walk around the inside of the pen (for cleaning and the like).. and the wire is open enough that we don't have to worry about a snow load next winter. The birds won't be able to fly thru the top.


By the time we got all this done this evening, we had just enough time to move the birds in. They haven't had the chance to try going outside, that will for tomorrow. Moving them was an adventure!!! They're getting quite big... Sadie was in charge of the door of the shed, Ed handled the birds, and I kept track of the door in the barn. Ed was pretty great with the birds, he wrapped them in a towel and one by one carried them out to their new house.

So, this evening we left them to settle in and the last I saw was everyone chowing down on supper and getting use to their new surroundings.

I can't wait to turn them out tomorrow.. I am sure they will appreciate the extra space and the chance to poke around like birds.

And now we will have Turkey Manor already for raising future generations of birds. I can't say that raising our own turkeys has saved us any money, especially this year. But I like the idea of raising some of our own food, and knowing that these animals have been raised well, and treated kindly during their lives. I not so sure we will raise anything "bigger" than turkeys, but I have come to know... never say never....

the LAST piece....

THIS is the piece that we have been looking for... the last piece of vinyl!!!! It was actually a "race to the finish", because at one point, Ed wasn't sure if we had enough of the house color to finish....

but they did!!!!

Now, it's back to the very top to finish up the trim.. and the outside house work is totally done!!!

Sheet rock and landscaping take the next order of business.... hope to have some grass started before the snow.....

treasurers!!

This will be one of the FIRST projects that will go into Ed's wood working shop, once he sets it up!!! Is this a sweet little sleigh or what.. I think it would look pretty grand behind a big black horse!!!



We actually have "owned" it for sometime now, it's been tucked away in the back shed at our "old" house, and Ed dug it out this weekend and brought it "home". This little sleigh belonged to his grandparents (they lived in Canada) and his Mom could remember hitching their horse and going to town in this little sleigh.









It's in pretty rough shape right now but it's a diamond in the rough. All the "bones" of it are good, and I think it will be a great restoration project. It's all "there".. including a holder for the whip, and some of the original pin stripping can still be seen!!! It has the original set of shafts, which will probably not be safe to use, but they are there...

And the runner's look decent.

So maybe some winter day, we will pull it out and take it for a spin....definitely something to look forward to....



Our next "treasure" will be used much sooner. As you know, the design of the garage is to look like a barn attached to the house. So, we made the "false" front door and have been looking around for hinges that would go on the doors, appearing to make them look like they could open.

A friend of Ed's, Al, is quite the blacksmith, and we ran into him not too long ago and asked him if he might be able to forge us a set of hinges.

But, he had "one better" than that! He had a complete set of hinges that had come off an old barn. He thinks they were forged in the late 1700's and they were just sitting around his shop. He GAVE them to us to use on our "barn" door.

Ed cleaned them up and we'll put a coat of black paint on them to keep them protected, and then, they'll go into place. That might happen over the next couple of days, so stay tuned for an update!!!

big doings on the farm

labor day weekend... day 3

On "day 3" of Labor Day weekend there was "no labor" at the house. Ed, Nate and John had done so much with the sheet rock, and Ed has been siding the whole week before, that he decided it was time to "take some time"... good for him!! So, instead we went down to my parents house for a fun cookout and a day just to catch our breaths. I actually had woken up with a sore throat and the start of a cold, so, I was just as happy to lay low myself.









Along with good food, good friends and conversations, we were entertained with great art work on the driveway.

How many pregnant ladies can sit on the ground just weeks before delivery... Sadie has done such a good job taking care of herself, "baby Abbie" will certainly have a good start in life!!!

We were glad to be traveling "north" instead of "south".. we Mainers know that on Labor weekend, you stay OFF the turnpike !!!! There certainly were plenty of folks visiting the grand state over the weekend....

And now onto the fall season which is already looking as busy as the summer ever was.....

labor day weekend.. day two

I simply can not get over at how much was accomplished today!! Yesterday, Nate and Ed finished the "master room and bath"... and it looks just grand.... (and suddenly small)...

Today,they were right back at it. Nate gave up another day of his "three day" weekend to come and give Ed a hand. Plus, my brother in law, John (Rachel's hubby, Naomi's Dad) came for the day. Between the three guys, the work seem to go lightening quick....

Working in Sadie's room...

And in "baby Abbie's" room

and then they moved to downstairs... this will be about the last time of "see thru" walls down here

A wall in the downstairs bathroom

Baby Abbie's room..... all done except for the closet .. this is such a nice bright room with the afternoon sun!!!

And Sadie's room which will get "sun" in the morning, but still nice and bright during the afternoon....

I am so excited and pleased that with "walls" the house still has a nice open, airy, bright look. Sadie and I are talking "paint colors" already, and I can almost see "my things" in it. I can tell you all for certain, I love this house and when we are finally settled, I can't imagine one day when I won't appreciate it and feel so very blessed....