HANDWORK

I love the art of rug hooking, especially "primitive" rug hooking. I happened to wander into our local Salvation Army Store the other day and found this hoop and piece of linen for $.99 cents, actually it was $.50 cents as everything in the store was half price that day. If you are familiar with rug hooking you know I found a deal you just cannot pass up. I'd hoped this little piece of linen would get me back into the "swing" of hooking. So many of you out in blog land find the time to become "ten minute hookers" I'd hoped your inspiration might rub off on me. I mean come on, ten minutes, anyone should be able to find ten minutes to donate to a craft they enjoy. So today I sat out in the yard and doodled a little design and began hooking. I needed a little break away from my Fall "pals".

Once upon a time I did my fair share of counted cross stitch....

I love the satisfaction of seeing something I have created hanging on the wall....

But then... I found myself wearing glasses, then bifocals, then a magnifying glass hung around my neck, and cross stitch lost it's appeal. Not helping me was the fact that I can never find my glasses when I need them most. The most famous words around our house are "honey have you seen my glasses?"

This summer I tried my hand at making a painted floor cloth. The instructor wanted me to free hand this project with a sponge paint brush. Now I have done my fair share of painting projects to know this was not going to work, not for me anyway. I returned home, sanded the floor cloth down and taped out the lines. I gave it three coats of black and robin's egg teal paint, one coat of a primitive stain and three coats of "Min Wax" waterproofing. The end result was better than I expected.

Next time, oh there will be a next time, I will know what I am doing.

And this little lady, well she is taking up so much of my time, I mean come on Lu-Lu I'm just asking for ten minutes.....

THE EGGS OF DOG TROT FARM

Eggs of the day, each perfect in it's own way. And then there is this- notice the egg in the center of the photo below, can you guess who it belongs to? Yup, my Lu-Lu. Beautiful yellow yolk, but once again Lu-Lu's egg has a" jello-like" shell, this time a membrane is attached. Now I am not complaining, I am soooooooo happy my gal is feeling better, and even happier that the egg is coming out IN ONE PIECE, I just wish I could find the cause. I do feel confident the "soft shell" is not from a lack of calcium.

So there you have it- now that you have seen the above specimen, anyone have any suggestions? I just have to state life here at Dog Trot Farm is never dull!

LU-LU

Many thanks to everyone who offered knowledge and concern in regards to Lu-Lu and her health. I do suspect she is egg bound. Today however, she appears normal- eating, drinking, scratching and bathing in the hen yard. I know diet is not an issue as my girl's are fed organic feed, corn scratch, a dish of calcium is always available. Daily the girls are also given greens, berries and yogurt. Our family vet does not attend to farm animals and a large animal vet is $100- also an additional fee is charged for the house call. I feel guilty that money is an issue when it comes to the well being of an animal, but I do need to be realistic. The "holistic" and or " old fashioned remedy" is the way I will treat her. So with that being said I am off to the grocery store to purchase all the ingredients needed for the "tonics" everyone has suggested. Once again Lu-Lu and I thank you for all the wonderful advice and wisdom. I will keep everyone updated on Lu-Lu's well being. Have a great day everyone!

AUGUST DAYS

The month of August has arrived and with it warm days and cool nights. This is the weather we here at Dog Trot Farm have been longing for. The corn is growing.... Indian corn that is. Full sunshine is at a premium here at Dog Trot so I need to be creative in my planting. Okay, I can hear ya laughing at me.

Bottle gourds are climbing....

and lookie here.... I am so excited for I have successfully grown Cinderella pumpkins! My all time favorite. (These are the beauties that are soooooo expensive to purchase. Now I need to be honest and confess my vegetable garden is nothing but a big "bust." Lots and lots of peas, lettuce, beans, but not much else. Again, a lack of full sunshine. Now Ali and Dan proprietor's of the blog Henbogle grow the most amazing prolific vegetable gardens I have ever seen. They grow lots of wonderful things with exotic names. Ali also whips up some of the most mouth watering recipes, check Henbogle out you won't be sorry!

My perennial garden has now reached it's peak performance.

and did I mention I have Cinderella pumpkins!

CHICKEN KEEPERS-HELP!

My girl Lu-Lu is ill. Her symptom's began two weeks ago when the temperature here reached 90 plus degrees accompanied with high humidity. The first time I knew something was "off" was when I collected eggs. Lu-Lu jumped out of the nesting box leaving behind a "jello-like" egg. Initially my first thought was it was heat related or stress induced. Lu-Lu appeared fine, but later in the week another "jello-like" egg and finally, I witnessed her dropping a perfect round yoke however, no shell. Be still my heart! I have read through my chicken library and visited various Internet sites and realize this is not a good situation, especially if the shell is broken inside her cavity. Lu-Lu had appeared fine- doing what chickens do, that is until this afternoon.

This morning she laid a perfect egg, hopped out of the nest and went happily into the hen yard with her sisters. Later in the afternoon, I let all the girls out for a romp and Lu-Lu (with tail feathers down) slowly wandered out, stopped and just stood still and closed her eye's. I picked her up and sat her in my lap and it was then that I noticed the white part of the egg on my jean's. I carried Lu-Lu back into the hen yard, placed her on the ground and the yoke "plopped" out. Good Lord, I feel like such an unfit chicken keeper. I offered Lu-Lu plain yogurt with blueberries and added unfiltered vinegar to her water. Lu-Lu "slurped" it right up and "presto" her tail feather's stood erect. I am not sure what else to do- carrot tonic? antibiotic? By evening she appeared to recover, back to her old self. So please, all you good and kind chicken keepers out there Lu-Lu and I need your help- we welcome any and all advice, thank you!

THE SHAKERS OF SABBATHDAY LAKE MAINE

After doing a post on the Shakers of Canterbury, I thought it only proper that I do one on the Shakers of Sabbathday Lake. The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community is located high on a hill in New Gloucester, Maine. The Community was founded in 1783 by Shaker Missionaries. In less than a year's time nearly 200 people gathered together on what was a small farm with five families. On April 19, 1794 those residing there made an oral covenant with each other to consecrate their all to God. Sabbathday Lake was referred to as "the least of Mother Ann Lee's children in the East", it was the smallest and the poorest of the Eastern Shaker Communities. Today the Community is the only active Shaker Community, with three members. The Community consists of 18 buildings located on 1,800 acres of land.

The Community maintains a tree farm, apple orchard, vegetable garden, commercial herb garden, hay fields, a flock of sheep, pigs, Scottish Highland cattle, cats and dogs can be found there. Other occupations include manufactoring of fancy goods, basket making, weaving, printing, and small woodenware.

The first Saturday in December the Shaker Community and friends hold a Holiday Fair. They offer baked goods which include Rosemary biscuits, fruit cake baked in a can (I personally am not a fan of fruit cake, however this cake is delicious.) The food goods line is usually out the door and around the corner before the fair has even opened. Knit socks, mittens, maple syrup, homemade cheese, books, herbs, rose water, wreaths and more. However, beware there are no BROOMS! You have to travel to Canterbury for a broom. This holiday season put the Shaker Holiday Fair on your list of events to attend, it is well worth it. Today, I'm off to the Island to deliver the broom!

THE SHAKERS OF CANTERBURY

On a beautiful knoll in Merrimack County New Hampshire, you will find Canterbury Shaker Village. Canterbury Village was established in 1792 when the followers of founder Mother Ann Lee formed their seventh community, which remained prominent for 200 years. The village has operated as a museum since 1992 when the last Shaker Sister in residence, Ethel Hudson passed away.
At It's height in the 1850's, 300 people lived and worked in over 100 buildings on the 3,000 acres at Canterbury Shaker Village.
The religious group known today as the Shakers was formed in 18th-century England when dissidents from various religions formed a society known as the "Shaking Quakers" or "Shakers" because of their use of "wild" dance in worship. The Shakers immigrated to the US in 1774 and eventually established 19 self contained communities from Maine to Kentucky. Canterbury is one of the oldest. No photography is allowed in the buildings at Canterbury Village however, standing in the doorway I took this photo of the Kitchen Apothecary. It is not hard to imagine the wonderful fragrance of herbs drying and the Sisters sorting, storing, and packaging seeds.
A very large airy room, with drying racks, and storage located behind the gated doorway.
Many of the herbs were stored in canning jars, pictured is the machine that gave the jars their water bath heated by the wood fired oven.

The Bee House....
The gardens...

Sister Hudson before her death had to give her permission for this barn to be rebuilt. Her one condition specified that the barn and shed be an exact replica.

DH and I took a 75 minute walking tour with a small group of people. Yesterday was overcast however, hot and humid. I spent most of my time in the gardens. Below is a photo of a vegetable garden.

Flowers....

and herbs....

and more....

This village contains the only intact, first generation Meeting House built in 1792 and the Dwelling House in 1793.

Not only are the Shaker's known for their "perfect chair", baskets, oval boxes, but the flat broom, common clothespin, first packaged garden seeds, threshing machine, pea sheller, apple parer and corer and a revolving oven. At Canterbury Village the Shakers invented a use for the stationary steam engine- that washed, spun, dried and ironed clothes. (My husband's personal favorite.)

Canterbury has a lot to offer, each time we return we learn something new. Did I mention it's the place to purchase the perfect broom? Mine has held up well for twelve years and yes, Mom I am bringing you home one. ~Hands to work hearts to God~ Mother Ann Lee.