A trip to the Yarn Shop and Finally! I'm weaving!

It's been a struggle, but finally, the antique barn loom is up and running! I actually really like the motion of this loom, no clickity, clack, just smooth motion. I also ordered some boat shuttles off etsy and love, love, love them: No threading through holes, just guiding the yarn around what looks like a claw. They have a really nice weight to them too. I figure I can have a messenger bag out in no time, but with the trouble I had, I may weave a couple of them before cutting anything off the loom.







Wayne and I went to the yarn shop last week and I forgot that I told Mom I'd post pics of it on my blog. (Find out you're pregnant, and everything flies out the window. Sorry Mom!)






There was one chair in the yarn shop that I thought completely represented my mom. Let's see if she likes it.

What an amazing day

This morning, I passed by the tomato box and saw that the big one was ready to pick and I knew exactly where it would be going, to someone who would really appreciate its size. She's the most adorable little farm lady I know and love. Her name is Donna, and yes, she's my dear sweetheart of a mother-in-law. I absolutely love her! She instantly posed after apologizing for the pins in her hair. What a lady!

My babies!

Mom is not having a good year for tomatoes and she gets a kick out of what I've been able to grow in my raised bed. As promised to her, Here's a picture of my Mortgage Lifter Heirloom tomatoes. They have a nice mellow taste and get rather large. The on on the bottom is actually larger than my hand, but I couldn't get the camera in there at the right angle without fear of knocking some of my babies off. I'm protective too. Daily I check for pests. I can't believe inside the city limits, I've found 3 huge horn worms! Little suckers! They met the bottom of my shoe rather quickly!

Doing my best to capture the beauty

Due to the fact that my backyard space is limited, I had to get creative this year. I've eaten my last store bought rubber tomato! No more!!!
This year, I constructed a system of planter boxes in my yard. It's really proving to be a success providing not only fresh produce, but beauty and functionality while serving as a base for the fence to keep my cherished boys in the yard. (I have 3 wonderful rescue dogs.) We were able to harvest many strawberries already. They actually just finished putting off. Now, my black-eyed susan vine has really taken off. I just love the pop of unexpected color it gives! My tomato plants are no disappointment either. They now have towered over me and are abundant with fruit. My mouth waters while waiting for them to turn red.







Although I've really enjoyed the planter boxes, I'm thinking of adding something new next year. I've been reading up on strawbale gardening and just might give it a shot along another fence in the far corner of the yard. Until then, I'll be researching!
Oh, and how could I ever forget the beautiful Rose of Sharon bushes that line the property. Aren't they gorgeous?

And yet again...

More pictures!


This is the potbelly stove used to heat the front of the apple storage for an office



1926 Chevrolet truck used for deliveries of the apples to local markets









And finally, LOOK AT ALL THAT GREEN PASTURE!!!!

As promised....

Finally getting around to adding more pictures of the treasures of the farm.



cattle tank in barn



old michigan apple ad (very old)



old cookstove



Antique apple picking bags

It's been awhile but....

I haven't posted anything for quite sometime, but recently on a visit to my mother-in-law's farm, I came across so many things that just have to be shared.

The woman of which I speak is a 4' 10 and 3 quarter inch stick of dynamite. One might ask why even bother adding the 3 quarter inch. Well....Because if I didn't she'd give me a piece of her mind and anything else she had left over. She has lived on her family farm all of her life and so have the many things the family used and collected. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say those two gents from "American Pickers" would love to get their hands on much of her stuff. I'd truthfully pity them if they tried. I'm willing to bet that they'd soon be looking down the barrel of a shotgun! Yep, she's that determined to hang on to each and every precious belonging. She's an amazement.

My recent stay with her was to simply tidy the kitchen and prepare it to install all new appliances. What I found was much deeper than that. I found a rich history that I may never know the whole truth of. She suffers from Alzheimer's and the great stories like to run together. If only I could turn back the pages of time and catch a small glimpse of what she's experienced in her lifetime.

The farm she holds so dear was the first settlement of her county and the original barn still stands tall and proud, bursting with history itself.

Here are some of the many treasures I had the priviledge of seeing:

The one horse buggy



















The one horse open sleigh




The 2 seater buggy buried under who knows what




Antique icebox with cobbled wagon on top made from apple crates




The hay loft with hay hoist still intact



I'll go through some more pictures and add more tomorrow.