Creating Going On...

Creating what can I say as I sit here and type, it goes on in every way. From yarn and needles to every medium one can imagine. Even those among nature whether plants, grass, trees, including animal's and insects we are on Earth always creating. This post is dedicated to Lucy, one of my girl's in the top photograph, who passed Thursday Morning. 

To those who understand an animal is a huge part of family. It's an extended family that goes beyond a closed house door. To loose one hits the heart just like family because truly that's what they are...as my heart felt the loss of Lucy Thursday morning, I sat outside much of the day and watched all my girl's, sad to see there was no Lucy. Sadness engulfed me in ways I never thought possible, after all, I raised her from a 2 day old baby. I felt the loss and so tired of it all around me.

This year has not been a good one. I do my best everyday to put the days that go by behind me. It's not as easy as most think, especially after loosing my other, Jim, on May 17, 2017. Then it was 6 baby chick's after, one everyday for six days, frantically trying to figure out what was going wrong. Then, Lucy...I have had enough of death this year...from my neighbor loosing her brother, to loosing a neighbor and other's I knew. I want to yell loudly, enough!

Then on Friday the 13th a day that everyone, everywhere, is trying to avoid superstitious Friday, I had a little miracle. I had not idea and had even examined the doe and found nothing a few weeks ago. It was and still is amazingly heartfelt how things can turn around when we least expect it. I know, I know, everyone reading is thinking, yes, that's how it works. And it's true...if one waits and just takes it day to day without expectations or answers, things do happen. And yes, on there own time. Sophie and Sammy are my two chocolate chinchilla rabbits who became parents to 8 little babies Friday afternoon. My outlook changed immediately upon finding them...everything seemed lighter and I was finding a happy heart within me. It has been quite awhile since I have felt this way it nearly seemed impossible. My Sophie, I love her just like a child...and I feel much like her...a proud mama.

To Lucy, thank you so very much, for being a part of my family outside the closed door of my house. I love you, miss you, and will keep you in heart and mind, always.

Tah Dah...say what!

It has been a weird year as far as weather is concerned, my garden didn't produce a whole lot, and, the rain has been scarce which has been a huge problem It was very welcoming to have rain this past week things have gone from dry to a beautiful green, somewhat anyway. I did manage to see a butterfly, in fact, there were many. It's almost hard to tell what time of year it truly is...most of the trees have dried yellow leaves, nothing, like what I remember last year. I suppose Mother Nature has had enough of what we as human's have done. 

With all that said, I did manage to finally finish the Fairy Dust sweater. I made it using Bernat Softee Baby yarn, actually, it was a test run before the good yarn. I can't say it wasn't a challenge for me as it was following the pattern around the collar. I am dyslexic when it comes to numbers, which when a pattern contains a design that requires concentration, it gets difficult for me. That's okay though, as every design I conquer is one more I can say, hey, I did it! And that's enough for me. I have yet to find the buttons that say...these are for this sweater. So I will go in search. Sweater is done in a size 6.

If I sound a bit down right now, as months go by, I am reminded of Jim and what we did at this time a year ago. Coming to the Holiday Season certainly isn't helping, as was Lucy's passing among my girl's. She's the one in the last photograph. I've had her since she was 2 days old. I can not express how so very tired I am of death around me. From Jim, to neighbor's, friend's, and my girl's creating is what I do to ease my mind. I found Lucy early in the morning inside the coop lying on the floor, my heart sunk. I am getting to the point where opening a coop door is a bit frightening these days, as I lost 6 babies during the summer months. I can only hope and look forward to better days ahead.

Recycle Create Crochet

It all started with those two little birds, and me, wanted to give them more room than they had. I have a soft heart for all things in this world. With that said, this whole things started on just one glance and thinking wait a minute, that would be awesome. I can't say I sketched a real plan as I didn't kinda went with the flow of idea's. I would have done a few things different in my creative ventures my first attempt is not always my best. And that's okay for me. What I would do the next time is cut out a door on the side of the shelf, (this is a Ikea white shelf) secondly, backing myself in a corner I did all the decorating after. I really believe I was keeping myself extra busy, as my friend with cancer had brain surgery Monday and all turned out well. I tend to create, eat chocolate when I am dealing with emotional times, and that's okay...I love Chocolate.

The girl's in the cage before, they really needed more room.

First I found some old molding in the garage just enough to fit the sides perfectly, of course, cutting them to size. Bought brand new silver screen cut to size stapled around the area I chose pulling tight similar to reupholstering an ottoman. After I nailed the molding down both sides, followed by furring strips for only 29 cents each to cover the stapling on top shelf and bottom. Before I stapled the bottom screen to the shelf I made a door, actually made two similar. Put one on the inside of the screen one on the outside. The first one I applied Gorilla Glue attached to the screen, then I did the same thing to the outside on, putting them together, sandwiching the screen in between. Took some wood clips pinned them around let it dry overnight. I then cut the screen out, did like the white door as it stuck out like a sore thumb, so I cut a screen to size attached it with command Velcro picture hanging stripes in white. I love it, each to take off and put back on...  

And the birds, are really enjoying the extra room. Even thinking of adding one maybe two more. Oh, and I used eyelet screws to attach swing and toys. I still have many idea's for the inside will post after changes. 

I also kept promising to photograph this sweater...I call it the Toddler Boyfriend Sweater. This is a T 2 my grand daughter Emma tried it on last year it was adorable, however her mom wanted it to cover her little bubble tush. I didn't get around to adding on to it..bad grandma LOL!

The darker blue one in the color Ocean is what I am currently working on...actually I've been working on the bird cage and chicken coop it was an old outhouse, (yes still standing) needed a small door, some roost, and getting ready to add nesting boxes. Today I am really happy it's raining which means I get a break, a long deserved one.

 

I've been letting the girl's free range and they love it...today not so much it's raining a lot.

The baby Bantam's are doing well in with the big girl's and the Cochin they think is their mother. It's  just way too cute. That's what's happening on this Empty Nester's week. Hope yours is going very well too.

New Arrivals

The girl's arrive a couple days ago and are settling in quite fine. I am taking on a new challenge, well sorta, I was actually raised on a Chicken farm but it's been a long time. I suppose it's like riding a bike one never really forgets past experiences. They are Orpington Chick's quite the cuties at this stage, as I wait, for the feathers to grow in...I am building a coop for them all. Currently they are enjoying the bath tub covered in nice chippings, a heat lamp, food and water. It's been a long time since I have been around chicken's. My parents raised them for eggs and poultry in my mind I can still see how it was back than, it's nice that we are able to store and replay memories so vividly. At time it's rings true what goes around comes back around. Thank you Mom and Dad for the education in chickens and so much more....I miss you both and love you so very much.