Not Done

We never actually seem to finish projects, but we have made some major decisions, I think, about how to inhabit our space in a little more sane way. Of course, implementation will be off in the future.

When we haven't been planning, I have been finding lots of inspiration from Collette Patterns spring wardrobe challenge. Check it out. I am in awe of the energy.

The weather promises to be fantastic this weekend. I may even put some seeds out since my early starting has been foiled by a malfunctioning heating mat and a confounding timer. The best laid plans, no?

It is time to feed the bees. I am looking forward to checking in on them....

What I love about winter

As you know, winter arrived with a bang this year which included a total eclipse of the moon in the wee hours of the AM. I am lucky enough to have the SB up at wee hours so he woke me when the time was right for me to see the most in the shortest amount of time. And I didn't even have to get out of bed. THAT is my idea of stargazing. The only disappointment about the arrival of winter was that it had felt for at least a month or so like it already was winter. The Season of Smartwool started a while back. I rejoice now if we get above 40 during the day.

So in the spirit of embracing the uncomfortable and demoralizing things you cannot change, I will make a list (for SHG) about the things that I really love about winter. It will be short but heart felt.

1. I can use the back porch as an auxiliary freezer.
2. I get to wear my favorite winter hat.
3. Give me a minute, I'm thinkin' I'm thinkin'......
4. No mosquitoes.
5. Time for indoor work (at least in theory). (I have made a few stabs at a garden apron for myself made from a linen dress that was falling apart. So far so good)

I hope you have planned a lovely holiday with family and friends and lots of time for the things that make you happy. Here at the Future Urban Farm, we will fill our days much as we always do with planning.

Happy vacation to those of you lucky enough to have it.

Slacker

Wow, I have totally been slacking off in the blog department. So, let's catch up with a list shall we?

1. Went to Reedville for a long weekend with some girlfriends and their small children at the end of September. It was lovely. The children were lovely. We had much fun with small children in the water, which is one of my favorite things. Children are exhausting, how does anyone have them 24/7?
2. It went from summer (90+ the weekend we were in Reedville) to in the span of about 14 days.
3. It went straight from socks required in the AM, to really-I-should-be-wearing-my-woolie- slippers-if-I-only-knew-where-to-find-them.
4. I have a wedding to go to today and nothing to wear. Shocking.
5. I am back to making cornbread every week and still searching for the perfect recipe. Feel free to hook me up if you have one that is not too dry and not too sweet.
6. We went to the urban goat keeping workshop. Wow. Those goats got some cute goin' on. We didn't get to stay for a lot of the hands on stuff b/c things started late and the SB and I both had evening obligations. Maybe spring on the goats.
7. The SB has taken on putting up the ducks at night most times. He volunteers as he is up much later than I and the ducks like to be out as much as possible. And we like that too as it makes for a less messy duck house.
8. The ducks are molting, and the production seems to be 1 or 3 eggs a day. Interestingly, rarely 2.
9. Work is busy.
10. Dark evenings mean that before long, we won't be working outside much in the evenings and I can start sewing again. Woot!
11. We have tons of spinach, chard, carrots, Chinese cabbage and very spicy arugula in the garden.
12. We will be planting the garlic soon.
13. An interesting article about Colony Collapse Disorder in bee populations.
14. A couple weeks ago something knocked my hive over. The SB called at work to give me the heads up. The bees were actually pretty cool about me coming to pick things up. It didn't look like anything had been rummaging around in the hive. I suspect it was a deer that crashed into it in the middle of the night. Those things are clumsy and their startle response is way over developed. I am just hoping the queen didn't get killed in the jostling and repositioning. I didn't look through the hive for her, I am not that good at finding queens as they pretty much look like every other freakin' bee in the place. Though my bee mentor (who rocks) would totally disagree.
15. I am finally coming to terms with the fact that I am well on my way to being "that crazy lady down the street". I just came in from letting the ducks out and I realize that I went outside (that would be appearing IN PUBLIC) in capri length yoga pants (grey), blue socks, black clogs, a maroon shirt and a purple and green anorak. Right. I would much prefer to be the crazy lady down the street in vintage patched Chanel jacket and 19th century granny boots with blue jeans. Maybe that is what I can aspire to for my golden years. So if anyone finds some old totally too far gone Chanel, send it my way, K?

Refresher Course

Check this out. Cuz some of us could use some remediation.

And while you are there, see some of the fabulous vintage stuff. Pure inspiration. Smashing.

That coat reminds me of the sew along going on over here. Had I more time and a functional sewing room, I would be AT IT. You go girls.

Pull up a chair

And check 'em out.

Makes me wanna run out to the thrift store.

Whirlwind

Things have been busy despite the fact that there isn't really anything going on. The grass is growing like crazy with the rain and cool nights. The seedlings are growing like crazy with the fertilizer and heating pads and 18 hours of light a day (we are working on hardening them off now). The first wave of tomatillos are in, with more to come. I have ripped out a bunch that reseeded from last year in the wrong place. The garlic is growing along. The strawberries are bursting out of their beds. The ducks are laying 9 eggs a day. I pulled out the bolting kale and rutabaga. We still have chard from last year. The potatoes are growing great guns. I can't wait to figure out what the hell I am gonna do with all the tomato seedlings that I have.

I had a jet set little trip to NYC, up on the train Saturday and back on the plane on Sunday. Less than 24 hours. Went up to fly back with a sick friend. All is well. My friend was staying in Chelsea and the train dropped me off mere blocks from the fabric district, so of course I had to shop. The big stores are totally overwhelming and a little too spendy for me. Who wants to ruin $120 worth of beautiful fabric? I found this great little hole in the wall shop where the China silk is $4/yard and the 60 inch linen? $5. I restrained myself but will be keeping that one on the books.

With the unexpected trip, I didn't get to do as much this weekend as I had planned, but I did get some delightful empanadas and Murray's bagels to bring home. New York.... so much food, so little time. Walking down 8th Ave, I was tempted by an Italian deli with Zagut signs outside boasting of their home made sausages. I ducked in thinking I would bring some for the SB, but then realized that if you can't get on a plane with shampoo, they probably wouldn't let me on with fresh sausages and a bag of ice. And to throw away lamb sausage would be a SERIOUS crime.

The SB took care of the ducks for me while I was gone. They seem none the worse for wear.

It is amazing to see the changes in the garden in such a short time. ' Tis the season I suppose. NEXT weekend is bee weekend and the planting of some warm season things. And rearranging the bees.

I also picked up some raspberry plants from the garden swap list serve and promised to trade tomato plants... They weren't ready when the raspberries were, so I need to take them over. And I need to plant those raspberries. Cuz you can't have enough of those. I think we have figured out where to put them... up by the orchard, which, BTW, looks like hell. Two of our new trees didn't make it over the winter. $60? Bu Bye! GAH.

Oh, and look at this stunner of a dress I saw over on Sew Retro.

The Good Stuff

I was inspired by all the vintage sewing blogs I have been reading lately. That inspiration combined with a weekend full of sunshine meant that I actually dragged out some of my fun vintage things and took some photos. Here we go.

First, but not vintage... The sock I have started ....
And the yarn, beautiful to behold....
Some buttons, still on the card, from my great aunt Marge's attic....
An old bone crochet hook, also from Marge's attic. Have I told you about the attic? Oh my, well that is another story entirely.....
Snaps on an old card... I love this stuff. Also, most likely from The Attic.... (doesn't her outfit remind you of Wonder Woman?)
Here is a quilt top from a yard sale I bought for $2. What to do with it?
Some old weaving bobbins from a flea market...purely decorative....
This FANTASTIC piece of hand work given to me by the SB many years ago and STILL wanting to be framed and hung, but how? It really is delightful.... Entirely of satin stitches. The most fantastical birds and flowers....
One of the few Vogue patterns I have, my tastes and budget run more to Advance Patterns... More on those after another sunny weekend.... Check out that saucy blond!
One of my favorite children's patterns.... I just love this coat! (And I also love how the older girl is gettin' all bossy.)
Finally, one of my favorite pattern envelopes... So cute. I can't believe the price on it though... I wonder what else 35 cents would have bought during that time period!
OK, that is all for now. This should get me off the hook for a few days in the posting pictures department.

Again

Snowing again here at the Urban Farm and, of course, on the entire mid Atlantic. I am hoping for the lower end of the predictions, only 12-20 inches rather than the upper (around 40). The ducks are having their outing early so as to get a little exercise before the worst of it hits. Poor critters didn't get out much this week with the SB in NYC doing some work. I just hope I don't lose them in it... But that won't happen for another 20 inches or so.

I stocked up on milk (new farm, have I told you? So reliable. Milk is so ridiculously sweet and creamy - criminal really - there is plenty for hot chocolate), beef for stew (first time in months I have bought beef as I have been eating the cow my Dad raised and had butchered, but I couldn't get out there before the snow), wine (from my favorite wine shop) and I finally used my gift certificate from my local yarn store to score some new projects (needed like a hole in the head). And the pantry is full to bursting, so we should survive for the next 48 hours at least.

They closed the U last evening. I don't ever remember them doing that in advance of a storm. But I guess we were all very sure. Of course, even now the roads in town appear quite passable, but probably not so in the hinterlands.

I found this article in the NYT the other day. I thought you might enjoy reading about a psychic in Hell's kitchen who is giving shoe making lessons. As devastating at the recession is, it seems to be encouraging a creativity that I think our culture has been lacking for many a year. The innovation is inspirational. And I especially love that she has only two students at a time.

Thanks to another blogger, I found Kiva, which I love. Waiting for them to find partners in Haiti to continue the support there. Kiva lets you loan more or less directly to projects. And the money comes back to you (unless there is a default) with interest and then you can re-loan it. It is nice to know what you are supporting and you can make $25 go a really long way if you leap frog it from loan to loan.

I haven't even placed my seed order yet. Theoretically, we are 10 weeks from our last frost date, but is sure doesn't seem like it today. I think we are probably 10 weeks from seeing the dirt again, and who knows when things will dry out enough to plant, much less to dig the new beds we were hoping to put in.... Sigh.

I have resorted to sewing more summer outfits for the tiny ones.

For your enjoyment

The ducks came close for a bite of kale that had been left on the back porch and frozen.
Then they headed to the creek for a swim, despite the below freezing temperatures.
This is our preserved pork jowls drying. It is packed away in the fridge now. Very salty but delicious.
This is one of the sun dresses for my wee friend. It reverses to a solid purple. She likes purple.

Pride Goeth Before the Fall

So our planned meat preservation experiment was on track and ready. We had made a list and checked it, did some errands, and checked it again. Salt, yup. Sugar, two kinds. Fresh thyme, lots. Bay, juniper berries, fresh nutmeg. Right on. Plastic bags, uh huh. Lots of storage space, done. Clean counter tops, recipe book, note taking equipment. All there.

The only problem was that our hog jowls were sliced and not whole. DAMMIT. But we went on anyway and figured we would just be flavoring the jowls and not trying to air dry the bastards.

Needless to say I have requested whole jowls from my pig farming friend. Along with some pork belly. We remain undaunted. The SB fried up some jowl samples last night and was so excited he had to bring them upstairs with him when he came to wake me up and tell me how yummy they were. We chatted some about what the other 8.75 pounds of them might be good in and he trundled off to his basement lair to dream of hog jowl flavored pasta, etc. Some of this is most definitely going back in the freezer.

In other projects this weekend, I was working on another sun dress for a small friend (one really has to get through the winter some how and this is my chosen method for this year apparently.... cheaper than ordering seeds and plants from every catalog that arrives in the mail box....) The fabric has an embroidered pattern on it. I realized that one of the front side bodice pieces didn't have embroidery on it. After I stitched it into the bodice. So in a rare showing of concern for this sort of thing, I ripped the piece out and re-cut it. Backwards. CRAP. Then had to re-cut it AGAIN. Then I put the whole thing together realizing that I should have put the zipper in the back panel before I sewed it to the front. I didn't have to tear it apart, but it was considerably more tricky while it was attached. This is why you really should make multiples of any given pattern. It takes the first 2 or 3 to work out all the kinks. We'll see if there are any more sun dresses of this nature to be seen before the spring sets in. I am actually planning winter coats for some of the little ones. Though I find it significantly less exciting to sew wool in summer than I do to sew linen in winter....

Because I don't want to blow all the suspense of my new year's resolutions in one go, I decided to do a little blogging with each one as the subject arises.... And on the sewing scene, I have decided to sew some things for myself. They are simple but I know the pattern will require some alterations because my figure is, um, let's call it non standard. Anywhoo.... I want to make a few things that actually go together. No really. Things that MATCH. Here is the pattern I have selected.... Probably something linen-y for summer. It should be fun. Then I hope to work up to things a little more complicated. So you see, the real reason for the sun dresses, besides getting me through the winter by planning wardrobes for small children, is revving up the sewing skills for a bigger project.... you notice I say this like I planned it this way? HA!

So. There is resolution number 1. Now you gotta hold my feet to the fire.

Misc.

I have about 8 posts floating around in my head, all with themes, none of them written. I will abbreviate them with a list (for SHG) so as to get them down and free up some brain space. Heaven knows I need it.

1. Today the SB and I will head to a secret spot to purchase hog jowls for 99 cents a pound. Why secret? Because I don't want everyone and their brother muscling in on "our" cheap hog jowls. What are we going to do with 15# of hog jowls? Make guanciale, of course! We were going to start with pancetta but apparently jowls are cheaper and easier to come by than pork belly. One step at a time. Actually the place we are going is no secret, they are a regular business, just out of town a bit. They pasture raise their meats without genetically modified grain and without antibiotics. Technically, I guess it is "natural" though I expect it is closer to organic than some of the organic stuff from the grocery. I'll tell you where if you want but you have to beg.

2. I have made two small adorable sun dresses which I will post pictures of soon. No. Not for me.

3. I am making 2 loaves of bread a week these days. Time allows because I am on vacation. I yearn to be a housewife.

4. I am making a list of projects for the new year. Inspired by, but not as motived, as some other folks.

5. I just sorted through the seed packets. I am simultaneously pleased and disappointed that I won't have to order too much this year. This of course, won't keep me from ordering too many seeds, but I don't have to.... It is always nice to have choices.

6. The days are getting longer. Whee FREAKIN' ha.

7. Regardless of the weather and the dark, I love duck tending in all weather. I feel fortunate to be up at a time when you can see the sun rise. There is something about the sunrise, brief and indescribable that makes it precious.

8. I made this kick ass pork and beans thing the other night. Soaked dried limas cooked with some bacon and a onion/carrot/celery mix with a couple of pork shanks and a few bay leaves and some black pepper.... Some broth but mostly water. In the dutch oven in the oven at 375 (after heating it all to boiling on the stove). It totally rocks. Been eating it with some fresh corn tortillas from La Michoacana. Dee lish.

9. The SB and I saw the bees out a few days ago doing short flights. It seemed too cold, but I guess they know what they are doing...

OK - that is the current round up. Now I can start over on filling up the brain with loose items.

The Season

The SB and I enjoyed our nice quiet holiday with the family on Christmas Eve. My family has a way of overlapping gifts. It is nice to all be on the same page. There was much exchange of food and food related items. Many donations to our local causes. Many of those also food related.

Christmas Day, the SB installed our dishwasher. We have always had a dishwasher in this house (except during the first 18 months we were living here and working on the house and we didn't have water in the "kitchen" at all, which made a dishwasher somewhat obsolete). He INSTALLED it yesterday, meaning the bottom panel was attached and the thing got screwed to the floor. Which now means that when you pull out the slides, the whole thing no longer tips forward. It really is amazing what small changes like that do to make you feel just a teeny bit more civilized. Mostly, it made me realize that I haven't cleaned around the edges of the dishwasher in a really long time, so that has to be on the list for the holiday week. This was one of my Christmas presents from the SB. The other, a book called Charcuterie. This is definitely going to have to contribute to the goals list.

I was inspired to do a list of goals by Kate's list. More on that soon. I have been compiling a list. Starting a fig is on my list too. I am still looking for a place to grow it, but I think it can safely be started in a pot.

I am hoping over the next day or so to get out and dig out the garden. I am hoping there are some delightful green greens in there, just waiting for a big pot of beans and bacon (one of the SB's gifts from the Cho fam, and totally spot on. I mean, how can you go wrong with bacon?)

The duck egg production has gone WAY down. 3-4 eggs a day, and today, only one, though I may fine another one or two if I go out later. Slackers. We have been letting them out for long periods despite the snow. They have found the waterways in the yard and spend lots of time making mud pies and eating anything green or that may have at one time in the past been green. They are very happy to get out. When it started raining yesterday, I had the irrational urge to put them back in their pen. But, of course, they LOVE the rain. It was just me that would have been miserable with the 38 degree downpour. More power to 'em....

And to ward off the cold and damp of winter, I started a tiny sun dress for one of my tiny friends. It rocks.

Recovery

We seem to have weathered the storm despite having lost power for several hours and losing several ducks in the creek. We left the pen door open for them yesterday and when they got up enough nerve to leave the cage they went straight for the creek and jumped in. No small feat as it was 2 feet of additional drop from the top of the snow banks. Of course, they didn't plan on how they would get out... ducks being notoriously poor climbers given their lack of arms. Some of them did manage to get out. The others we had to dig an exit for... After that adventure they decided to stay in the pen for the rest of they day.

This morning I pulled some of the old straw out of the house and spread it around the duck run, but I think they prefer to sit in the snow. No accounting for tastes.

I have been working on some projects. Going through the bales of recipe clippings I have stowed away. I figure if I eat something new every meal for the next 18 or 20 years, I should be able to get through them.

I was making some new years resolutions (more on that later) and sorting out some of my unfinished projects both knitted and sewn.

I was trying to clean up the sewing room. Oi. Pick something up, put it down in another pile. Clear one pile into three other piles. Repeat for several house, throw up your hands and have a drink.

I watched our neighbor bring one of his twin sons down to see the ducks. That is about 100 yards in 2 feet of snow, carrying a toddler. It must be getting a little crazy over there with everyone snowed in. The snow is about shoulder level on the children. They seem to be enjoying being toted and pulled around in it though. It is pretty cute.

The SB spent the big part of his day shoveling snow. He did our front walk, a path to the duck yard, the creek escape route, then the front walks of two neighbors. When his is good, he is very, very good. Etc.


We walked up to Beer Run last night which was open. Lots of folks hanging out and drinking beer. Just sorry we missed the nachos, but they were low on supplies with the snow. Except beer. They had plenty of that. This may be a new hang out for us. So walkable.

I am currently scanning seed sources and dreaming of planting. The fall garden is under 2 feet of snow and I have no idea what that means for the fate of our produce. I guess we find out after then next warm snap.

When?

When, dear friend(s), do you find time for:
1. dusting the baseboards
2. cleaning under the furniture
3. organizing the basement
4. putting the second coat of paint on the entry hall (the first coat went on 4 years ago)
5. filing all those papers
6. trying the recipes that you have cut out of magazines
7. knitting those patterns that you found on the internets
8. exercise
9. writing notes to your elderly relatives
10. finishing the above on the off chance that they have been started

I must say that I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the prospect of spring cleaning.

And I am getting the sneaking suspicion that I have too many projects. How do you choose from the list of totally cool stuff? The bees vs. the garden, the chick collective from the NeighborWoods tree planting, the lovely green mohair yarn vs. the delicious rose wool fabric, the pasta with peas and parm vs. the pumpkin ravioli with sage brown butter? How o how can you choose?

Sigh

So, when the SB is here, I have no time to post. When he isn't I am so boring it is hardly worth it. The weather has been faboo, so I moved more black-eyed Susans around. Started this bread which comes highly recommended from Cho-girl by way of Starr Hill Girl. The dough is not shaggy though. It is more like a sponge. I guess I can always add more flour later. And because I cannot leave a recipe alone? I used one cup wheat, one cup white and one cup spelt flour. More later on this.

Yesterday I traced out a pattern that I got on ebay. I am having a hard time deciding what to make it out of. Everything that is light enough is too see through. I could make a slip to go with it, but....

Here it is, isn't it cute?



And guess what I just did? Made button holes. First time. Really. Carpe diem.

C's New Dress

And speaking of not sewing for myself - My wee friend C, who lives much too far north in NYC, is my sewing muse. It is for her that I stitch.

The trim for this was lovingly rescued from some garment belonging to one of my mother's cousins. Rescued by my great aunt who lived through the Depression and kept everything forever more stashed in her attic in the event that those dark days might return. Freezers full of food, a pantry full of labeled canned goods, basement full of old and broken appliances, attics full of tiny clothes taken apart and kept for the fabric that might one day have been unavailable. Marge passed away many years ago. Her husband later, but not so recently. Now her children are cleaning the attic. There are some gems, though not so many as you might think.

I was so pleased to be able to find a new home for this vintage trim that has been so long at the ready.

Old Dogs

So I learned something today. It seems rare that I actually ever learn anything that changes my day to day life, but today, I did. Actually, perhaps it was just today that I internalized it. I had learned of it more than ten years ago. I had just never tried it.

What is it? Beeswax on sewing thread to keep it from tangling. I even had the beeswax from a million years ago but had never pulled it out. Today was the day. What a difference. No tangled thread. No accidental knotting. Um, remind me why I ignore all this advice from people who sew much more than I do... I think it is because I am an idiot.

I think how much pain and suffering this could have saved on the Stinking Dress Project. I weep to think of it.

For Me.

Because I usually sew for other people, I decided I should do something for myself. So, for the office holiday party this year, I tarted up my "little black dress" with some fun trim from my stash. Saved myself a little $$ with the renovation - which you have to appreciate at Christmastime. Here are some photos. I wore the dress with my favorite black Anne Klein shoes. The ones that make my ankles look super. I love them and they cripple me. Normally, I am a strictly Dansko girl. For these, I make an exception.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

So, I completed exactly one of the three assignments I have to do for my class, all of which are due Monday. Remarkably, I am feeling pretty chippr about it even though I know that tomorrow is going to be miserable. Just knowing there is an end is remarkably freeing. Sort of like opening night at the theater. Ready or not, it arrives and you go on stage, or cower backstage like me.

And speaking of theater, the dress debuted last night in a Little Night Music. I can't wait to see it in action. Here is a poor photo. It is darned cute on the little cutie that wears it. And she likes it, which is nice. Not everyone loves their costumes in a show. I know that probably comes as a shocker to you ....


And in celebration of finishing one of my papers and having successfully finished the Stinking Dress Project (as it became to be know wen it ran over schedule by more than a week) I made Pumpkin Bread out of an old and familiar and wonderful book called World of Breads. Of course I have modified it some, so here is my version....

Mix 1/2 c. of melted butter with 1 1/2 cups of brown and white sugar and 1 3/4 cup of mashed cooked pumpkin. Add three eggs, a teaspoon of cinnamon, a teaspoon of salt. Add the finely grated rind of one lemon and some shredded fresh ginger (about 1.5 inches) Sift together 3.5 cups of all purpose flour and 1.5 cups of fine cornmeal and 2 tablespoons of baking powder. Mix it together with the wet ingredients, adding milk or condensed milk if it is too dry. Pour it into two loaf pans, let it sit for 20 minutes then bake at 350 until done. It is pretty tasty. It would likely have been puffier if I had left out the cornmeal, but I thought corn and pumpkin would be a nice American bread.

Learning a Few Things

So I started this project to challenge myself and to increase my skill level. The dress was supposed to be done last Sunday. I am REALLY hoping to be done tomorrow night sometime. I am hoping before the crack of dawn. I have class Monday and work the rest of the week and 2 papers to write and blah blah blah.

Of course, I began in the typical fashion by procrastinating. Getting scared that I couldn't do it and procrastinating more. Then I proceeded to dive in with an unrealistic expectation of the amount of time it would take. And with out the skills necessary (this was accompanied by shamefully frequent trips to the fridge to distract myself from the horror of my situation). I contemplated leaving a bag of half stitched crap-ola on the doorstep of the costume shop, ringing the doorbell (figuratively) and running. (Of course this was a VERY fleeting thought, bred of panic and despair)

Finally I showed up at the theatre where people assured me I was well on my way. They had faith that I could pull this off. Perhaps the sensed my willingness to bolt and were covering their own butts so that they didn't have to pick up the pieces. Whatever was happening, they managed to smoothly draw me back into the fold. Not by lying and telling me that that the was beautiful, but simply showing faith. You'll figure out how to make the seams lay flat on that cheap bridal satin. You'll figure out how to make it look like an elegant turn of the century party dress despite the flaws. You will figure it out. There was a lot of expertise. Some solid suggestions, some shaking of heads.... Yeah, that fabric looks great but it really sucks to work with (no, it wasn't solely my incompetence.

I don't believe that I will actually clear all the hurdles, but I do believe that I will be done at some point in the very near future and that the dress will appear in the show and that I will see more of the flaws than 90% of the audience. I will post pictures soon.