tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74060816796407350072012-02-20T08:33:12.230-05:00in pursuit of a simple life....Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.comBlogger3491100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-71944130905613070452012-02-20T07:28:00.004-05:002012-02-20T08:33:12.240-05:00

Our spring chores have begun early this year. It is still winter by the calendar but thelight has change, the days grow a little longer and it just feels like an early spring. A sign of the strange winter we have had here in Maine. Winter was late to arrive, barely sat down for a cuppa tea before it decided to leave.Temperatures have been warm and the snow fall has been scant. It is always

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-47447920126298013962012-02-18T07:36:00.003-05:002012-02-18T07:51:49.540-05:00

Well, I am finally connected to the internet at home! To Celebrate the revival of this blog I have some big plans for the following week. Some giveaways, some show and tell of all we have been doing since our old computer crashed, and some new recipes we have introduced to our table.To kick off this celebration I would like to share this recipe for what I would like to call a winter salad.Winter

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-54499701375506306662012-01-04T10:50:00.003-05:002012-01-04T10:54:08.232-05:00

Small WorldsThese building block wallsbuilt by small hands,A temple to the imaginaltion,sits forsaken on the livingroom floor.That cat, queen of her own empire,preens her lush coat,just inches from the ruins.With one paw she knocks,down a wall,before turning to scratcha flea.

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-31953098397693858462011-12-30T10:42:00.004-05:002011-12-30T11:15:37.840-05:00

This time of year begs for inner reflection for me. Perhaps it happens as a result of life slowing down to a pace that allows for some thinking. No more holiday rush. No significant outside work calling to me. Instead, I spend quiet mornings browsing through seed catalogs. I finish abandoned handwork. I take long brisk walks. I project a little further into the future but this is mearly dreaming

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-64695743081187541822011-12-22T11:54:00.002-05:002011-12-22T12:09:57.084-05:00

Well, alas, the computer has really gone caput! We hope to have a working replacement soon, we hope. But while the computer has been dead the homesteading and living lightly is still taking place. I thought I would jut catch up on all that we have been doing since the last time I posted.We grew and harvested 14 broiler chicks. It was the first time we did chicks like this. I think we still have a

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-83956858622895860562011-09-20T16:29:00.001-04:002011-09-20T16:30:43.186-04:00

Returns! Covered in burs, hungry but in true feline fashion ...not too humble. Thankyou for all your good wishes!

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-14700543400119413142011-09-15T10:25:00.002-04:002011-09-15T10:34:39.810-04:00

Many members of my family have enjoyed the summer. Evan has enjoyed learning how to fish, Tristan has enjoyed working on a local organic farm and the many blacksmithing opportunities he has been presented with. Mark has had plenty of opportunities to perform music this summer. I have enjoyed quiet mornings in the garden and busy days with the canners. Cheddar dog has enjoyed having all the

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-67777989543100367632011-08-16T10:33:00.002-04:002011-08-16T11:07:22.657-04:00

So even though I have not been blogging here regularly I have been very busy on the homestead. Our computer is still on the fritz so it will be a while longer before I can be in this space on a regular basis. But while I have the time now I will let you know the many things we have been working on here. Most recent and most exciting is the open house and lacto -fermenting workshop I participated

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-20612455659070541552011-07-29T10:56:00.003-04:002011-07-29T11:07:49.876-04:00

So, our hard drive on our laptop crashed which is why this space has been so silent. We are still trying to retrieve and recover. In the meantime, I have been very busy in the homestead. I hope to have and Independence Days Challenge update soon.I don't delve into politics much on this blog. I know that I have readers with many different points of view here which is why I love that we can meet on

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-3765514307948464802011-07-11T09:00:00.000-04:002011-07-07T11:08:08.237-04:00

The days grow short. Outside chores still beckon but so do inside diversions. I will have to finalize the list of items that will make-up this year's handmade holidays. But in the meantime, materials need to be organized.So I set to work, on a rainy day, on this seasonal chore. Knitting needles are scattered throughout the house. They do not always find there way into their needle case after use.

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-19112986310592956582011-07-07T11:04:00.001-04:002011-07-07T11:06:02.192-04:00

It seems our computer has picked up a virus. We are in the process of repairing it but I do not know when we will be back. In the meanwhile I will post repeats of some of my favorite posts.Enjoy the day!

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-61314860275662291112011-07-04T08:38:00.005-04:002011-07-04T09:19:16.238-04:00

Each morning I take a walk outside before the sun rises too high in the sky. I look to see if the peas have plumped in their pods. I count the little yellow flowers forming on the tomato plants. I harvest herbs before their oils are diminished in the heat of the day. My path to the garden is surrounded by red clover. These small red flowers also find their way into my harvest basket.Red clover

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-12973602007361258812011-07-01T08:30:00.002-04:002011-07-01T08:57:47.399-04:00

Life has settled into a nice summer pace. Mark is home from school. He is tackling several projects. Most noteworthy is he is replacing the transmission in our VW micro bus. At this point all major systems will have been replaced. So, fingers crossed, it will not be just a lawn ornament but a vehicle that transports people and hay:)Tristan has started a new job this week. He is 18 and would like

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-13152396307975783142011-06-30T08:04:00.002-04:002011-06-30T09:13:42.758-04:00

Caring for sheep was never on our radar when we thought about homesteading. We were excited to just have chickens. Mark was a paid solo singer for a Christian Scientist church. One Sunday, Evan and I were waiting for him in the nursery with another parent. I was knitting. The other parent said," So you like to knit, do you spin?" I said "Yes I spin but I am still a novice." "Would you like

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-90923963641561340302011-06-27T15:11:00.006-04:002011-06-27T18:09:03.114-04:00

Lovely Gwen enjoying a summer salad:)A new Friend has come to live with us. His name is Wilbur. He is a geriatric old boy enjoying his retirement:)Happy Wilbur sitting in a sunny window.A big harvest of Garlic Scapes. I think these will make a nice pesto. Perhaps a few small jars or should I freeze it? Decisions. Decisions.

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-28648119790659397562011-06-25T10:38:00.002-04:002011-06-25T10:42:22.864-04:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-36042644861841419722011-06-21T08:32:00.002-04:002011-06-21T09:12:11.745-04:00

I finished planting the garden this past weekend. This is always a sort of a transient notion because as some crops are harvest others are planted. But for now, it is time to watch stuff grow.The garlic scapes have escaped from their green garlic shoots. It has been a while since we have had anything that taste like garlic. I hope to make a big batch of garlic scape pesto this year. I will

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-38051979642344071802011-06-20T17:39:00.004-04:002011-06-20T18:02:28.978-04:00

So Mark and Evan went fishing the other day. There is a nice little fishing hole around the corner. This is Evan's first year fishing and it is something they enjoy. The anticipation and disappointment that Evan feels about fishing is tempered by Mark's wise statement, " They call it fishing, not catching."Well the last time they went out Mark caught something...poison ivy. Jewel weed is a wild

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-78263063650775343682011-06-18T20:05:00.007-04:002011-06-18T20:28:33.650-04:00

The last day of Mark's school year was yesterday. This was a tough school year for us. Our family was in transition as we adjusted to our recent move and new community. The demands of his job are more than any other school district that he has worked for and it has been difficult to manage the balance between home and work. Now we move into summer mode. The last two years our summers have been

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-13895289910952478892011-06-14T07:53:00.005-04:002011-06-14T09:19:29.342-04:00

We have had a few days of rain here after a bit of a hot spell. It has been a good time to catch up on the work that should be done on the inside of the house; stuff like housework. In the meanwhile the weeds have had the opportunity to take over. Dust bunnies and weeds. This time of year it is hard to keep a balance between the two.Life is pretty good right now. Mark finishes the school year

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-82748511786733238772011-06-13T07:44:00.005-04:002011-06-13T14:23:43.924-04:00

This is the first post, of an occasional series of posts, on closing the loop on systems within our homestead. By closing the loop I mean to explore ways to develop systems on our homestead that reduces our reliance on outside inputs. The loop is the cycle of the use of resources that exist on our homestead. Sometimes this will mean making an investment in infrastructure that is the final piece

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-40203484786481187012011-06-12T09:33:00.005-04:002011-06-12T12:01:53.930-04:00

There is a book that has been sitting on our night stands, Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs, by Wendy Brown. Wendy blogs at Surviving the Suburbs. She lives in southern Maine. Most book reviewers are able to approach their book reviews with an unbiased opinion. I, actually, have met Wendy. I have also been to her home. This being stated, however, also means that I have a perspective that

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-6889262368642299522011-06-09T08:41:00.003-04:002011-06-09T09:13:18.929-04:00

The brown spaces in the garden are quickly being filled in. In my old garden there was always this spot that was troublesome. We had used the garden that was started before we moved in to the house. By the time we moved in; however, the garden had overgrown with witch grass. witch grass that had gone to seed. This part of the garden was hard to keep the weeds down. Lotsa seed in the soil. I had

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-68729696866086924842011-06-07T07:29:00.003-04:002011-06-07T08:17:47.626-04:00

I had the most amazing experience last night! Our local herb shop offered a class called Wild Herbs for Health. It was part wild foods class and part herbal medicine class. I was the only student who showed up so I had my own private tutorial! It was taught by the owner of the shop; a simply amazing woman with so much knowledge and very interesting perspective on the state of our current affairs

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-5283108774395699812011-06-01T07:26:00.003-04:002011-06-01T07:55:08.626-04:00

We have been blessed with some really nice weather! Life is full of busy-ness in a good way. Many seeds are sprouting and growing. The sheep are mowing and fertilizing the orchard. Small little projects are taking shape while others remain on the to- do list. I have been taking a lot of pictures of the doings around here and hope to have a post rich in photographic content when I have some time

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-2605862791277124502011-05-28T11:44:00.001-04:002011-05-28T11:45:59.433-04:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-86983296456900397862011-05-22T13:05:00.003-04:002011-05-22T13:39:44.529-04:00

After a week of rain it is a difficult task to ward off the man of the house and his lawn mower. Fortunately, the mower did not start today and he had to resort to scything some grass for the goat and ram. We set up the netted electric fence to move the ewes into the orchard to start fertilizing some of the trees. They enjoy the fresh green of pasture and after a week of rain they are grateful

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-35323842181681039642011-05-18T08:23:00.002-04:002011-05-18T08:55:43.553-04:00

We are in the middle of a wet spell here. WE have not seen the sun since last Friday and will not see it till this coming Sunday. Springs like this can make for frustrated gardeners. Fortunately, I put most of my cold crops in the ground. Our last frost date is after the full moon in May, this coming weekend, so I will consider this rainy week a respite from the dirt. At least from the outside

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-90997778479836808052011-05-15T12:28:00.005-04:002011-05-15T13:17:31.575-04:00

Is there really any other flower more sublime than the dandelion? Oh, sure, there is the bold rose with its lovely fragrance. A vast array of perennial flowers bless my garden; echinacea, peony and bee balm. Their wild sisters; Daisy, Indian paint brush and Black Eyed Susans, are great for gathering into summer bouquets. Sun flowers are truly wonderful. But I have thing for dandelions.When I

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-78472065046991172642011-05-11T10:31:00.004-04:002011-05-11T10:43:25.590-04:00

On the needles, Cobblestone, for Tristan in Peace Fleece. On the nightstand, Princess Bride, a great funny read. Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs by my friend and fellow Blogger Wendy

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-48439604044264428542011-05-10T09:41:00.002-04:002011-05-10T10:32:22.351-04:00

Our life, family life, couple life has been busy. But not in a good way. I think there is a "good busy" and a "bad busy". A "good busy" is filled with things you want to do. It is filled with time in the garden, time together as a family, time completing long dreamed of projects. A "good busy" moves your life forward, brings your family together, invests in projects or activities that make your

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-78481347548585223812011-05-07T16:29:00.002-04:002011-05-07T17:01:54.006-04:00

My ambitious afternoon plans to work in the garden and build fences were rescheduled due to a thunderstorm that came through. Which in the broader scheme is fine. Because the blackflies have hatched right on schedule for the Mother's day weekend. After it passed I took my wild food guide outside to see if we had any wild leek along the small stream. I did not find any wild leek but I did find

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-76701185307095138212011-05-03T08:00:00.004-04:002011-05-03T08:27:08.855-04:00

Sorry for the silence in this space. Life got a little crazy around here but hopefully it will return to it usual pace soon. April's plant-a-row challenge was to make some decisions about what crops you would like to plant. Our local cooperative extension suggested that growers plant crops that would not perish quickly. Good keepers in other words. Crops such as onions, winter squashes, potatoes

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-36704643184033678712011-04-26T07:42:00.005-04:002011-04-26T08:14:13.846-04:00

It has been a bit of a wet spring. April Showers and all that. Still, there is snow on the ground. It is supposed to rain for the next three days so perhaps the snow will finally be washed away. Because we have had some rainy weather, the sunny days demand great bursts of energy be given to the outdoors. The garden beds are beginning to take shape. The seedlings on the windowsill are reaching

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-25160163659087707552011-04-19T13:03:00.003-04:002011-04-19T13:06:35.863-04:00

hanging out the laundrythe slow march of winter's snow off of the gardenmy neighbor who showed me how to change the drill bit.the guy at Hammond lumber who helped me pick out the right sort of caulking for the kitchen sinkMy son, Tristan, who has embraced added responsibilities of this year with maturity and commitment.Sprouting tomato seedsWhat are you grateful for today?

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-10773279356258735862011-04-18T18:37:00.003-04:002011-04-18T18:48:27.135-04:00

So , I have been absent from this space for a while. I am dealing with some life struggles right now that I am not prepared to share. I hope to have an Anyway project update, Independence update and A plant-A-Row update soon. For now, I just need to focus on what is good. I think the best way to do this is to count my blessings.So, everyday I hope to post a blessing. Some day it will be

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-25676894796745936522011-04-10T16:35:00.003-04:002011-04-10T17:03:42.431-04:00

I sit at the table on the front porch of my friend's home. This is truly the first spring like weather we have had for a while. For a little while my attention has been alternating between my knitting needles and tea and the small crab apple tree across the street. The tree is still heavy with last year's fruit, now shriveled.Perched in the tree are cedar waxwings, newly arrived. They sit on the

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-24544069153885779332011-04-06T19:15:00.003-04:002011-04-06T19:53:08.062-04:00

I woke this morning to a small body snuggled up to me. His small hands search for warmth under my arms. From the the other room I hear Mark start his bath, I hear the dog's tags jingle as he wanders around the house trying to find a sunny spot on the floor to settle. Evan rouses a bit more, leaves the bed and returns with a book for me to read. I fumble for my glasses as I begin reading a story

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-86346650422564083932011-04-04T07:57:00.004-04:002011-04-04T08:46:05.142-04:00

So yup...it is April 4th and if feels like it is March 4th. It is a chilly morning. Friday, we had nearly a foot and a half of snow. But this past weekend was gloriously warm. Rain is predicted for this week, so, fingers-crossed, the garden should be revealed. With the lingering winter it has been hard to even think about the lists of things we need to do this year. However, in the hope of spring

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-79816243356111145102011-03-30T14:58:00.009-04:002011-03-30T21:52:48.181-04:00

I have been teaching knitting to a group of 5th and 6th graders at Mark's school since just after Christmas break. We have had a slow start and there were a few weeks this past month when I could not make it because of colds, a car in disrepair, etc. The students come into the school library for their 20 minute recess. There are two sessions. During that time I have had them share their work

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-33460698512494353962011-03-26T10:14:00.003-04:002011-03-26T11:16:29.744-04:00

This is a question I have been asking myself this week. Life has been busy. Sometimes too busy. So when I log on to this blog and I see my little tag up above "in pursuit of a simple life" I really have to ask myself ...are we there yet? If pursuing a simple life is an active exercise, have I reached it yet?This week did not feel very true to those words. Last week was busy but in a home bound

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-42079624797357375502011-03-21T08:39:00.004-04:002011-03-21T09:12:00.334-04:00

Welcome Spring! Well, sorta...we are supposed to get 6 inches of snow today. Oh fickle weather!Anyway, we are at the middle, or just past the middle, of March. Time to check in with our progress with the Plant-A-Row Challenge. A month ago when I started this challenge, I was pushed to action by the increasing news about the food crisis. In the month since the challenge began food prices has

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-25030343329019299892011-03-18T14:35:00.005-04:002011-03-18T15:00:51.694-04:00

I was downtown this morning, wearing only a sweater and feeling ....warm? The temperature on the clock read 59 glorious degrees.Evan and I have had this ongoing discussion about the change of the seasons. He has been lamenting that the snow disappears in the spring and he does not want to see the snow disappear. I have been trying to convince him that each season offers some new pleasure. Winter

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-12428441112456782262011-03-15T15:45:00.002-04:002011-03-15T15:47:38.180-04:00

PRESERVATION 2010Apple Dehydrated 2 quartsApple sauce 10 quartsBeans frozen, 9 quartsBeans, Dilly 14 quarts 2 pintsBlackberries, wild, frozen 1 quartBlueberries frozen 7 quartsBlueberry syrup 6 half pintsBroccoli frozen 36 quartsCarrots Pickled 4 quartschive blossom vinegar 4 pintCorn frozen 3 quartsDandelion greens dehydrated 1 pintDandelion/Peach wine 1 gallonGarlic Heads 84Garlic Scapes

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-13335352620015040962011-03-15T08:56:00.002-04:002011-03-15T09:01:58.577-04:00

I am posting an a repeat post today. We are inundated with maple sap today, apple trees need to be pruned and there are more seeds to be potted. Once I get some of this sap boiled down I will share with you our rather primitive sapping set up. Enjoy the day!Traveling Through Space and TimeSome days I feel like a visitor from another planet.I come to this strange place from the planet

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-55184133122031716022011-03-13T14:35:00.003-04:002011-03-13T15:20:19.139-04:00

Mark and I celebrated the meeting of a goal yesterday. For about, just under a year we have been purchasing many of our hardware needs from The Farmington Farmers Union. It is a local hardware, farm supply store. Each time we made a purchase we diligently saved our receipts. Small purchases, like the denatured alcohol for a our little camp stove when we first moved in, and larger purchases, like

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-5972809312164584612011-03-10T08:15:00.005-05:002011-03-10T09:26:06.776-05:00

I am a bit of an autodidact. I think if I was not one, I probably would not be living the lifestyle that I live. I have taught myself to use my treadle sewing machine, knit, preserve food, garden, make sourdough, make yogurt. Each year I learn something new. Not always intentionally. There was the year when the lamb came head first when it should have come out hooves first. Mark's hand would

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-6943473080889209092011-03-07T11:12:00.008-05:002011-03-07T12:12:02.021-05:00

Life has put the brakes on our family. My recent injury is just one of the few things that has had us rearrange schedules. Mark, who never admits to being sick enough to stay home from work. came home early last Thursday with a nasty bug. I was next inline to share this wonder of biology. Tristan seems to be a little under the weather today. More than likely Evan's immune system will benefit from

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-23495427761360256632011-03-04T11:03:00.002-05:002011-03-04T11:04:48.685-05:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-30971386998131216492011-03-02T17:27:00.003-05:002011-03-02T18:07:55.652-05:00

I am sitting in a comfortable chair and enjoying a warm cuppa mint tea. I need a quiet moment with my feet up. Today is the first day that I have been out of the house this week and I am pooped.Last week I slipped on the ice, landed on the edge of a step. The result was a pulled muscle in my lower back that pulled a small piece of bone from a lumbar vertebrae. Ouch.Most of the inflammation of the

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-80203832340899220882011-02-28T18:15:00.005-05:002011-02-28T19:26:54.533-05:00

There is a really good supply of frozen rhubarb in my freezer; one nearly empty quart bag of blueberries; plenty of strawberries I plan to make some fruit leather with; and an abundance of shredded zucchini.Each summer I find overly large zukes in the garden and at the farmstand for a steal.Sometimes they are abandoned like babies on my door step. Each summer I shred these zukes. It is a

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-40326536676584189022011-02-27T12:08:00.002-05:002011-02-27T12:34:19.977-05:00

A few more inches of snow have fallen. An ice storm is promised for tomorrow. But a new season is promised soon. The end of our winter hibernation comes with the first few chores of the season: tapping trees, starting seed. So in this spirit it is time for me to think about the Independence Days Challenge.This will be my fourth year of participating in this challenge. By now, most of what the

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-62807395407079707102011-02-23T15:37:00.003-05:002011-02-23T16:21:19.969-05:00

Here we go again. The price of oil has climbed over 100.00 a barrel in response to the instability in North Africa and the Middle East. This is the bumpy plateau of Mr. Hubbert's peak. In a matter of a couple of weeks we should see gas prices leap, heating oil prices skyrocket and food prices, already at highs, will become even more expensive. Takes a lot of diesel to move the food from

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-49476000410474855622011-02-22T08:01:00.007-05:002011-02-22T10:53:01.808-05:00

We live in a passive solar berm house. It was built as an off-grid home in the 70's during a time when back- to-the land-homesteaders inhabited the back roads and hollows of Maine. Driving around in the more remote parts of the state we have found many alternatively built homes from that time. We feel fortunate to live in one ourselves.Because of the oil shocks of the 70's, building for energy

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-84042843757153178972011-02-21T08:34:00.004-05:002011-02-21T09:55:44.074-05:00

I am a rural homesteader. I grow my own food, I raise livestock, I hang my laundry out to dry, I collect rain water, I bake bread, I knit and make things by hand instead of buying them, I use wood to heat my home,I forage wild food, I preserve food. But this is where I am now. My journey to homesteading began in Portland Maine. In my 3rd floor apartment on Munjoy Hill.I started as an Urban

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-32602554881195431102011-02-17T08:43:00.002-05:002011-02-17T09:47:33.166-05:00

This post and challenge is inspired by this post over at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op. The food crisis never really went away but because of political, environmental and financial factors the cost of food is nearly at the same levels as 2008. Remember 2008? I do. I bought a 25lb bag of King Arthur Four for 11.oo in January of that year, by the end of February the same bag was 21.00. Oil would

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-23941184850007132572011-02-13T16:12:00.002-05:002011-02-13T17:24:05.122-05:00

I am a pretty fortunate locavore. I live in a state, Maine, where the amount of food that is produced in this state will feed 40% of its population. Ideally it would be great if we could have that number grow. But it is pretty good.I can buy locally grown and milled wheat, locally grown and processed canola oil. I can buy mustard milled at a mustard mill in Eastport, Maine. There are farmer's

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-48256235508169129582011-02-11T11:12:00.002-05:002011-02-11T11:13:28.751-05:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-18489930150009171522011-02-10T08:36:00.002-05:002011-02-10T09:43:08.377-05:00

Yesterday I shared my goals for my garden and some of my seed list for this coming growing season. Jennie asked about the list of herbs I plan to start growing this year. I thought I would share with you a little bit about these herbs and why I have chosen them for my garden.Elecampane is an herb that relaxes the lungs and helps to clear mucus. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-18576096579113053872011-02-09T15:50:00.005-05:002011-02-09T16:41:24.971-05:00

It can be a long walk to the mailbox when it is a cool zero degrees outside. But the walk back indoors is always warmer when there is a seed catalog to browse. The other day the Pinetree Garden Seed catalog arrived. The cover is a delightful mix of reds and greens like a good greens salad. But my go-to catalogue is Fedco with its standard black and white print, witty drawings and thoughtful wise

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-20682974206603896382011-02-06T14:37:00.003-05:002011-02-06T15:25:50.581-05:00

I like the simplicity of walking. This time of year there are so many outdoor activities that require equipment. Snowshoes, cross-country skis, ice skates. Don't get me wrong. These are all great activities and we partake of them all. But this winter we have had a lot of snow. Each snow requires the breaking of new trails: the trail to the compost bin, the trail to the sheep shed, the trail to

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-39387225879632498252011-02-04T11:17:00.004-05:002011-02-04T11:22:04.321-05:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-48386602250751636192011-02-02T09:30:00.004-05:002011-02-02T10:37:22.630-05:00

January has passed. Today is Ground Hog day and it is snowing heavily. Mark has a snow day from school. The house is clean and mostly tidy. How this happened, I have no idea;) So perhaps a snowshoe and some serious knitting to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader audio book. Gotta love a snow day.As I post about my second full month of participating in the Anyway Project, I realized that having these

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-77767146529041186972011-01-29T10:25:00.004-05:002011-01-29T10:43:24.716-05:00

There is a slight etch of snow on the limbs of the trees surrounding our home. The winter light is diffused by an incoming storm. This is the calm.A few weeks ago I commented to Mark that our winter had been mild. Warm sunny days. A little snow painted the landscape; more like water color than oil paint. Now the brush strokes of winter are bolder, colder. Winter can be hard. Snow banks get

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-56986420118414458232011-01-28T07:30:00.000-05:002011-01-28T07:34:30.761-05:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-28028695768382065882011-01-25T16:39:00.007-05:002011-01-26T11:29:07.631-05:00

In the previous post, I posted a tutorial on making a simple fireless cooker. Today I would like to share how to use the cooker.At 10:00 am this morning I put two cups of water in my pot. I placed the pot on our woodstove to warm the water. We have had quite a cold spell so our woodstove has been pretty warm. My intention was to use the cookstove as little as possible, so if I put warm or hot

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-65311244740406279762011-01-24T13:53:00.011-05:002011-01-26T11:19:19.152-05:00

Our lovely new home is at the end of a very long dirt road. Given our last home this has provided a measure of peace, quiet and solitude that we appreciate greatly. But there are also some challenges that we have found that we need to adapt to. The town maintained part of the road ends about a quarter mile before our drive. Our drive is also a bit long. We have decided not to plow the drive and

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-21223111257838971622011-01-22T10:32:00.004-05:002011-01-22T11:12:31.220-05:00

Tristan turns 18 today. 18! How does something like this happen?Today he is spending the first of what he hopes to be many weekends at the New England School of Metal work. He is taking a blacksmithing class to make some of the tools he will need to use while smithing. He has been busy writing an essay and filling out scholarship applications to the school so he can perfect his skills. He is

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-63962579170477340842011-01-16T10:34:00.002-05:002011-01-16T11:21:22.950-05:00

Today is my birthday. I am now officially 44...says so on my drivers license. Sure would be easy to stand in front of the mirror today and count the gray hairs and weep over the new saggy bits and pieces. But no, time waits for no middle aged woman. Over the last few years I have set myself some new years resolutions, birthday goals. Some were wildly overly ambitious and fell far short and others

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-29094150646012233252011-01-10T09:02:00.003-05:002011-01-10T15:30:50.829-05:00

Well, one month into the Anyway project and I think that we are doing pretty good. There are some areas where we haven't reached the goal we set ourselves for the month but other areas where we have gone far beyond what we planned to do All in all pretty good.So lets see...Domestic Infrastructure: Well, nope not much got done on this. We got the roof on the shed but we still have to add more

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-52342272750557267502011-01-07T18:14:00.003-05:002011-01-07T18:16:49.341-05:00

Well, the New Year is starting off with a completion of one of last years goals! The shop is open. No easy feat for this technophobic knitter. I am still working out some of the kinks and there is still much more to be posted. So please stop by. Oh and any suggestions are welcome!

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-79684342080950253972011-01-04T10:47:00.002-05:002011-01-04T11:12:05.821-05:00

Mum and Tad were busy getting ready for the storm. Wood needed to be brought in, extra water put up if the power should go out, a soup pulled together to simmer on the woodstove, a few loads of laundry. Tad was busy digging out snowshoes, cross country skis and shovels from the crawl space. Evan would tag along, carry wood, give hay to the sheep, hand laundry to Mum as she hung it up to dry. This

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-82488042527896321482011-01-03T11:28:00.004-05:002011-01-03T11:34:33.403-05:00

The winner of the hat is ...InnStitches... Please leave your address in my comments. They are moderated so I will not post it. and the size hat you would like. A small hat fits a large child or small adult. Medium or Large..which fits a pretty large head.Congratulations! Thanks to everyone from commenting and all your kind compliments! The current plan is to have the shop up and running by next

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-4515878715053683202010-12-30T10:43:00.003-05:002010-12-30T10:52:50.140-05:00

Well, opening an etsy shop is a lot harder with dial-up and I am still trying to figure out all the technical computer stuff. But I thought I would give you a taste of what will be in the shop. All the garments are knitted on a Singer 360 knitting machine in sport weight yarn. The designs are original.As a celebration of the season and an opening of the shop I am offering a hat. They are made

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-86421455814535780792010-12-30T10:42:00.002-05:002010-12-30T10:43:37.174-05:00

Can you guess what Evan got for Christmans...yes..a ukelele:)

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-80797980366728468472010-12-23T19:52:00.005-05:002010-12-23T20:41:12.425-05:00

Such a fickle time of year...it is a struggle between the Currier and Ives version of the holidays and the reality that we are able to create. Over the years, I have learned that one does not equate to the other but that does not mean that I don't try. And even though over the last few years I have had moment of brilliance; last year was a homemade Christmas for those near and dear and those

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-22265133970553832402010-12-19T19:43:00.004-05:002010-12-19T20:27:39.806-05:00

We began our morning with a walk in the woods. We have been following the ongoing drama, told in foot prints, of the struggle between the pack of coyotes that inhabit the woods around our home and the snowshoe hair that sustain them. We find small mouse prints in the snow. They seem to bear witness to the primal struggle between predator and prey without necessarily participating in the tangle

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-70003277014152750802010-12-18T11:44:00.003-05:002010-12-18T11:50:01.736-05:00

Keep your eye on this space. The photos are taken, the paypal account is awaiting confirmation, and I am just waiting for the library to be open until I can upload the photos to my etsy store.But for now I leave you with this peaceful moment!

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-28052679839241126772010-12-08T10:44:00.005-05:002010-12-09T12:48:48.816-05:00

The other day Mark, Sploge and I took a ride out to a farm. Sploge is our Black Romney/ Dorset ram and his "services" are required for a flock of ewes in Farmington. It was quite an adventure! There was no problem getting him into the back of the car. He sorta surfed in the hatchback all the way without a baa to be heard. When we arrived we put his harness on and lead him into the barn where the

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-45566479581142523852010-12-03T13:42:00.006-05:002010-12-03T14:34:04.550-05:00

Since deciding to participate in the Anyway project begun by Sharon Astyk, I have been thinking that I should take some time to really reflect on the different catagories that the project asks the participants to consider. We are asked to consider what we should (or in my case would) be doing anyway; regardless of external forces such as resource depletion, economic disruption, climate change.

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-78040281684830565302010-12-02T08:44:00.003-05:002010-12-02T10:09:35.899-05:00

SPOILER ALERT!!! If you are a member of my family please find another web page to read. I suggest something like this website for its informative content:)We are busy busy planning and making our homemade gifts for this holiday season. While my knitting needles are busy with small wooly projects for those near and dear, we are also busy making small gifts that the kids can have a hand in. Here

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-50336581765097519622010-11-30T08:23:00.005-05:002010-11-30T09:24:38.238-05:00

If you have been following this blog for a while you know that I have participated in the Independence Days Challenge(IDC) started by that very smart woman, Sharon Asytk. The basic premise of this challenge was to follow the wise words of Carla Emery;from her book Encyclopedia of Country Living, every day during planting season, plant something, and then every day put something up. Sharon

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-85885952098974358382010-11-25T18:52:00.004-05:002010-11-25T20:31:12.054-05:00

My preparations for our Thanksgiving meal began this morning with the music from our local public radio station. The classical music program began with the Shaker Hymn "Simple Gifts" while I was helping Evan prepare his part of our meal; deviled egg boats. I love this hymn. I love this holiday. It is our feast day to celebrate a good meal with close friends and family. It is a holiday to give

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-54364295262651211612010-11-19T11:30:00.002-05:002010-11-19T11:32:21.952-05:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-16094417097117697542010-11-19T11:08:00.004-05:002010-11-19T11:29:01.836-05:00

Late autumn days. I drive my car down back country roads. The leaves have fallen from the trees which has allowed the landscape to open up and reveal small cabins tucked away in the woods. The grass has faded from the vibrant green created by heavy rains to the dormant fade of green and brown. But still there are cows grazing on pasture on these last few blessedwarm, sunny days.This road rises

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-12169074355332306942010-11-17T13:48:00.000-05:002010-11-17T13:50:22.663-05:00

We have been having conversations over the kitchen table these days. These conversations are inspired by warm sunny days in November when we finish up chores before the snow falls. Some of these conversations project into the future what plans should be made if Mark is not rehired for next school year. Some of these conversations stem from the excitement of projects we are in the middle of right

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-11582285959270507182010-11-17T13:46:00.002-05:002010-11-17T13:48:32.176-05:00

I just want to thank everyone for their kind comments! I am feeling much better. ThankYou!I am also without internet at home again. We are trying to get dial-up but parts and computers are having a difficult time interfacing. I hope to have this resolved soon and will be able to have my etsy shop up at that time. Again, thankyou all!

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-20495248942384639382010-11-06T12:39:00.001-04:002010-11-06T12:42:36.422-04:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-75319413754432717132010-11-06T11:49:00.003-04:002010-11-06T12:39:38.849-04:00

This is where the writing is today; lost in my head and not on the page. My mind is clear but my body is rebelling against me. So please indulge me...Each day that goes by in this little life of mine has a small reminder that; even though, I may walk with a normal gait, use my hands to grow food, craft and cook, fill some days with the to-do list of super-mom, I am a person with Multiple

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-81122590998538122512010-10-28T20:05:00.003-04:002010-10-28T20:17:17.952-04:00

Well we are going to be without internet again. We will be exploring other options. The toggle from the Cell Phone Company was really slow and not worth the money it cost. I am going to try to write several posts and post them a couple times a week at library until we find...sigh.. a dial-up service. Such is the life at the end of a dirt road. I would not trade it for anything though:)Also, keep

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-87966708440944186952010-10-25T10:42:00.006-04:002010-10-25T12:04:40.832-04:00

I woke this morning to the song of Evan's voice as he sought the warmth of my bed. A quick, blurred check of the sky out the window informs me that it will be a cold, gray day. I lovely day to be at home. Mark left for work early this morning and I have no place to be....Already, my mind goes to that forever to-do list. This may a good day to finish preserving those apples. I should probably

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-47810726234696122532010-10-22T10:45:00.003-04:002010-10-22T15:49:47.060-04:00

Tristan is in his final year of homeschooling. For me this has been a time of reflection. The time where I find out if the rubber meets the road or hydroplanes into a ditch. Oye!I began homeschooling Tristan when he finished kindergarten. The year of Kindergarten was not bad, but it wasn't ideal. He went to a public school, a block from our house, for 1/2 a day. A couple of afternoons a week he

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-70032205509156527822010-10-22T07:55:00.004-04:002010-10-22T08:29:04.340-04:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-2108536663906888692010-10-17T17:59:00.005-04:002010-10-17T18:14:13.530-04:00

Craving:the company of womena chance to sing a knitting pattern that is challenging but not intimidatingmore time to writeDoing:Reading lots of picture booksmaking applesauceplaying taxi for a teenknitting simple quick patterns for Christmas and BirthdaysGratefulMy good kidscool fall daysmy new peaceful homethe good food that has graced our tableI am passing this on from Wendy...I hope you can

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These are days are full. A small voice wakens me while I burrow deeper in the blankets hoping; if not a few more minutes of sleep, at least, a few minutes of quiet, still, cuddles.The house is chilly and a cuppa tea is my first priority of the day. We have given up the favored daughter, coffee, and settled for its stepsister tea. Warm and milky is the bottom line in our home and it is good enough

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-59305616541618738192010-10-11T07:49:00.003-04:002010-10-11T08:16:50.663-04:00

The nights are chilly and the house is chilly too. We are trying to hold off as long as possible before starting a fire in the stove. We've had several storms come through that have stripped many of the leaves off the trees in our yard. It is October and chores tend to preparing for winter.Plant: nothingHarvest: Kale, Apples, tomatoes, acorn squash Preserve: NothingLocal Food: Farmer's Market,

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-35872343571592523432010-10-08T08:02:00.002-04:002010-10-08T08:14:33.289-04:00

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-80400483351971119412010-10-06T08:55:00.006-04:002010-10-06T10:44:52.066-04:00

We are discovering the region we live in. Technically, our home is in the foothills of the western Maine Mountains; which, in practical terms, means we are close to the state's skiing region and great hiking. This past weekend we took a drive to Mt. Blue state park to hike Mt. Blue. This was Evan's first big hike. He made it up the mountain mostly on his own. Which is quite an impressive feat (

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This morning Evan and I took a small walk up to our mailbox. On our way we slowed our steps so we could shush our shoes through fallen leaves. We heard Canada Geese over head honking their farewell until spring. I love the changing pace of this time of year. Gears shift from busy summer to a more routine pace. Some chores take on an urgency as the days grow shorter, the harvest wanes and the

Fleecenik Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08106921810537649303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7406081679640735007.post-62023271087870421902010-10-01T08:07:00.003-04:002010-10-01T08:20:24.347-04:00

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