Yay!!!

Things here on the farm are getting more productive. One of the younger chickens laid an egg today. Unfortunately though, the egg broke...my hubby thinks that it took her by surprise and she was standing and it fell out. That means it's time to watch closer. That's pretty exciting though. He said it was pink...the egg shell.  Tomorrow though I need to clean the coops out and put some nice fresh bedding in. I'm hoping that will make for some softer landings.

Our garden is growing pretty slowly. So out came the dehydrator...we are going to start dehydrating stuff to put up.

Just some pictures

Just a few random pictures. As you can see my chickens have grown. My nephew spent some time with us  and the dogs are living the good life.

Bread

Sorry for my lack of posting. Its been a bit busy lately. I'm not complaining though, summer is a great time.

I've been making bread for us rather than buying it. I like knowing what's in our food.

This recipe makes for a tasty bread...it also makes 4 loaves of bread.

1 cup warm water
3 pks dry yeast or 1 large yeast cake
2 tbsp. Sugar

Combine and stir until dissolved, and set aside.

In another bowl combine
2 cups boiling water
2/3 cup oil
1/3 cup sugar
4 tsp. Salt
Stir until melted

Next add 2 & 1/2 cups cold water. When mixture is lukewarm, add yeast mixture.

Once yeast mixture is combined, add 6 cups of flour, beat well with an electric mixer. Let rise 1/2 hour.

One that had risen, add 6 & 1/2 to 7 & 1/2 cups more of flour. Add and knead until smooth and elastic.

Place in greased pan, grease on top, and then cover. Let rise until double, approximately 1 hour. Then divide into 4 portions, shape into loaves, and place in 4 greased pans. Grease tops with oil. Let rise until double again.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Brush tops with butter while hot.

Enjoy!!!

Patriotic Week

Well, its July, and here in the United States that means Summer fun, BBQ's picnics, and The 4th of July, independence day.  I thought that I would scour the web, and find something fun to share with you all, so I came up with a crochet pattern for an American Flag Afghan. Its not my pattern, so I cannot take claim to it, but I can certainly share the link with you guys.


http://www.allfreecrafts.com/crochet/afghans/american-flag.shtml

I hope you all enjoy this pattern, and I also hope you all have a safe, and happy Independence day, and if you have to drink, please don't drive!!!

Berries and beans

We got our first picking of green beans and a handful of jalapeno peppers from the garden. We also got some gooseberrys and a few more black raspberries today as well. Our garden isn't doing as well as it usually does, but I suppose it probably has to do with the crazy weather we are having.

Free Summer Granny Throw pattern

As promised, I have a free pattern written for you all, by me this week!!! YAY!!! I can get a little off track sometimes, and forget what I'm doing or where I'm going But fear not...I totally did it!!!

Materials:

2 skeins Red Heart ww Coffee

2 skeins Red Heart ww Gold

2 skeins Red Heart ww Frosty Green

I hook

Yarn needle

Gage Squares are 10 inch x 10 inch

 

Notes

Ch 2 at beg of each round counts as the first DC or HDC

Special Stitches

Reverse SC

Working left to right, insert hook in next st to the right, complete as sc

R 1-  With coffee, ch 3, join w/ a sl st to make a ring. Ch 2, 2 dc in ring, *ch 2, 3 dc in ring* repeat 2 more times for a total of 4, 3 dc clusters, and 2 ch 2 spaces, join w/ sl st to beg Ch 2 sp

 

R 2-  Sl st to next ch 2 corner, ch 2, 2 dc in ch 2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same ch 2 sp* Ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 2 sp, ch 2, 3 dc in same sp* repeat around, join with a sl st to beg ch 2 sp, for a total of 4 ch 2 spaces, and 4 ch 1 spaces Finish off Coffee

 

R 3-  Join gold w/ a sl st in any ch 2 corner. Ch 2, 2 dc in same space, ch 2, 3 dc in same space * ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in next corner space * repeat from * to * around, ch 1, join w/ sl to to beg ch 2.

R 4- Sl st to next ch 2 corner, ch 2, 2 dc ch 2 3 dc in corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in each ch 1 space, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in each corner space ch 1 around, join w/ a sl st to beg ch 2 space

R 5- Repeat round 4

R 6- Repeat round 4, finish off gold

R 7- Join  Frosty green in any corner space, repeat round 4

R 8-  Repeat round 4 Finish off

 

Whipstitch squares together, 3 squares wide, by 4 squares long

 

Edging

R 1- Join coffee w/ sl st in any corner, ch 2, 2 hdc in corner space, hdc in each dc and ch space around to next corner, 3 hdc in next corner, repeat around, join w/ sl st to beg ch 2.

R 2- Ch 1 Reverse sc around, join w/ sl st to beg ch 1. Finish off

 

The finished blanket will be 44 inches long by 23 inches wide

 

To download the free pdf file here is the link

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/home-decor/summer-granny-throw-/59567

 

and while your there, check out the other patterns that I have for sale on Craftsy

http://www.craftsy.com/user/681928/pattern-store?_ct=fhevybu-ikrdql-fqjjuhdijehu That's the link to my store

 

Enjoy, and happy hooking!!!

Sneak Peak

Just thought I would give you all a little sneak peak of the throw I'm designing to share with all of you. Like I said, it's simple, but it works up fast, it's summery, and reminds me of my favorite flower!!!