"Clean up, clean up, everybody has to clean up" is a little song that C. sings with T. when it is time to clean up his toys - I am applying it to my fall work in the garden.
To take advantage of the beautiful afternoon yesterday I went to the veggie garden and started to rip out the various dead and dying plants. This is a "fun" exercise and doesn't require very much "carefulness or skill". Just remember to leave behind the plants that look like they might still produce a little more if the frost holds off.
In my garden there is still one very healthy looking tomato plant with the very tiny tomatoes that has a lot of green fruit and it looks like they will ripen up if we have a few more warm days. The carrots are still doing quite nicely down in the ground (I hope it is a long time yet until the ground freezes. I only have a short row of the little root veggies with lots of vitamin A. Then I have several new parsley plants that I will leave over the winter as they will grow up from the roots next spring. I'll probably pot one of them for an indoor plant that I can occasionally get a sprig from to garnish some dull plate of food.
There is still plenty of "clean up, clean up" to be done but today is rainy and not very inviting to get out there and work. Perhaps the moisture will soften up the hard ground.
Also yesterday, my dear Husband suggested a trip to the park to enjoy the view of the colorful trees. So we had our walk there and also watched the geese and ducks who have come for a temporary sojourn on the pond.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Tid Bits
Is it fall or is it summer? Whatever the day brings we will be happy or at least we should not be effected by the weather.
Last week was rather chilly most of the days and all of the nights - we just missed having frost by one degree I am sure.
Since we were invited to a lawn wedding on Sat. we were hoping it wouldn't be too cold - the Lord was very good to give us a beautiful sunny afternoon. Light wraps or coats were necessary.
Sunday and today have been very balmy and warm in the afternoons just like summer.
It is time now to start cleaning up the gardens - the veggies are done even though no frost has arrived to totally kill the plants. I still have a few carrots in the ground which would be OK even with a little frost. I likely will have them used up before the real freeze comes. I tidied up the rose bed and gave it a good drink the other day but that is about all that has been accomplished so far.
We had a little rain the other day but not enough to make up for the lack of the stuff the last several weeks. There are big cracks in the ground and the grass is turning brown already.
All in all it is a beautiful time of the year for going on walks or just sitting out. Hardly a mosquito in sight and the other pests "wasps" that usually come at this time were hardly noticeable this year.
The ash trees are letting their leaves "fall " already - they seem to be the first. Almost all the larger deciduous trees turn yellow in our area, some small trees and shrubs turn red. the overall look in the early fall is yellow and green with red at the base in some spots. Then of course there are the beautiful yellow to brown harvested fields and some slightly green pastures or hay fields to contrast. All set against the shinning blue sky with a fluffy white could or two. GREAT Scenery. Too bad the camera is still in the repair shop. the sun is set by now and it was quite cloudy by 6pm anyway.
Last week was rather chilly most of the days and all of the nights - we just missed having frost by one degree I am sure.
Since we were invited to a lawn wedding on Sat. we were hoping it wouldn't be too cold - the Lord was very good to give us a beautiful sunny afternoon. Light wraps or coats were necessary.
Sunday and today have been very balmy and warm in the afternoons just like summer.
It is time now to start cleaning up the gardens - the veggies are done even though no frost has arrived to totally kill the plants. I still have a few carrots in the ground which would be OK even with a little frost. I likely will have them used up before the real freeze comes. I tidied up the rose bed and gave it a good drink the other day but that is about all that has been accomplished so far.
We had a little rain the other day but not enough to make up for the lack of the stuff the last several weeks. There are big cracks in the ground and the grass is turning brown already.
All in all it is a beautiful time of the year for going on walks or just sitting out. Hardly a mosquito in sight and the other pests "wasps" that usually come at this time were hardly noticeable this year.
The ash trees are letting their leaves "fall " already - they seem to be the first. Almost all the larger deciduous trees turn yellow in our area, some small trees and shrubs turn red. the overall look in the early fall is yellow and green with red at the base in some spots. Then of course there are the beautiful yellow to brown harvested fields and some slightly green pastures or hay fields to contrast. All set against the shinning blue sky with a fluffy white could or two. GREAT Scenery. Too bad the camera is still in the repair shop. the sun is set by now and it was quite cloudy by 6pm anyway.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Sewing Machine Upkeep
Keep your sewing machine in good working order. It will run so much smoother and make better quality seems.
1. Regularly clean it up by dusting it, removing all the lint from under the throat plate and
between the tension disks and everywhere else you can get to.
2. Oil it according to the directions in the manuel - if you don't have such a thing - oil the
moving parts underneath, those at the top of the machine and those where the thread
take up and needle bar are.
3. Some machines require light grease on the gear wheels if you can see that area.
4. Don't forget to look underneath the whole head and oil those movable joints that you see.
5. Now turn it on and run it a while without any thread in it.
6. Wipe up any excess oil that may be dripping off of anything.
7. Thread and sew on something that can be discarded to take up any excess oil.
Well, Sis, perhaps that old machine in your attic could have another lease on "life" with a little attention. Now if you don't get at it before I can come for a visit perhaps we could do it together. If it gets some TLC and won't work then it will be time for the more knowledgeable to work on it.
Children of eight or nine can probably start to lean the basics of sewing on a machine. I think it must have been at about that stage that I got my start with Mom as the instructor.
1. Regularly clean it up by dusting it, removing all the lint from under the throat plate and
between the tension disks and everywhere else you can get to.
2. Oil it according to the directions in the manuel - if you don't have such a thing - oil the
moving parts underneath, those at the top of the machine and those where the thread
take up and needle bar are.
3. Some machines require light grease on the gear wheels if you can see that area.
4. Don't forget to look underneath the whole head and oil those movable joints that you see.
5. Now turn it on and run it a while without any thread in it.
6. Wipe up any excess oil that may be dripping off of anything.
7. Thread and sew on something that can be discarded to take up any excess oil.
Well, Sis, perhaps that old machine in your attic could have another lease on "life" with a little attention. Now if you don't get at it before I can come for a visit perhaps we could do it together. If it gets some TLC and won't work then it will be time for the more knowledgeable to work on it.
Children of eight or nine can probably start to lean the basics of sewing on a machine. I think it must have been at about that stage that I got my start with Mom as the instructor.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Sewing verses buying ready-made
Comparing the cost of making clothing to buying it ready-made is tricky.
The person asking the question sighted a certain retail store in CA known for its reasonable prices. My considerations on the subject goes like this:
1. Availability of proper size at the reasonable cost store
2. Availability of reasonably priced fabric and notions
3. Value of time spent sewing verses time spent shopping
4. Many times fabrics have been given to me by others who cannot or will not be using them.
This is particularly related to sewing items for missionaries to distribute to needy people in
other countries.
The person asking the question sighted a certain retail store in CA known for its reasonable prices. My considerations on the subject goes like this:
1. Availability of proper size at the reasonable cost store
2. Availability of reasonably priced fabric and notions
3. Value of time spent sewing verses time spent shopping
4. Many times fabrics have been given to me by others who cannot or will not be using them.
This is particularly related to sewing items for missionaries to distribute to needy people in
other countries.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Sewing the Old Fashoned Way
How did our Grandmothers or Great-Grandmothers do their sewing? With a needle and thread and perhaps a thimble, you will say. Many of them may have also had a sewing machine manufactured in the early part of the 20th. century. Such machines are now considered antique - (those manufactured around about 1950 are called vintage).
We acquired a Singer Sewing machine made in 1915 according to its serial number. It is not electric - obvious, ha! It is powered by a foot treadle. It sews straight stitches in a forward direction - that is it.
Mission accomplished - after oiling up all the movable parts, joints and gadgets on this old relic it runs as smoothly as I can treadle. This technique takes some practice to get it down pat and keep the machine going without breaking threads or otherwise mangling up the goods. I used a modern sewing machine needle in it and it works just fine. It is a good thing that it came with the original style bobbins as they are quite different from any of the modern ones.
I found a web site where one may purchase just about any part to go with these old machines. (I don't think we will need to get anything for this machine but for the other one that is also about the same age we might have to get a new belt and some bobbins.)
Yesterday, I sewed up a tote bag with the antique method and it turned out OK. It would have been faster working on my 1967 model Singer.
The whole purpose of acquiring this old machine is to send it to Zambia where someone with out electric power available may be able to put it to use. It will be my husband's job to figure out how to pack this rather large item so that it can be safely shipped in the container.
We acquired a Singer Sewing machine made in 1915 according to its serial number. It is not electric - obvious, ha! It is powered by a foot treadle. It sews straight stitches in a forward direction - that is it.
Mission accomplished - after oiling up all the movable parts, joints and gadgets on this old relic it runs as smoothly as I can treadle. This technique takes some practice to get it down pat and keep the machine going without breaking threads or otherwise mangling up the goods. I used a modern sewing machine needle in it and it works just fine. It is a good thing that it came with the original style bobbins as they are quite different from any of the modern ones.
I found a web site where one may purchase just about any part to go with these old machines. (I don't think we will need to get anything for this machine but for the other one that is also about the same age we might have to get a new belt and some bobbins.)
Yesterday, I sewed up a tote bag with the antique method and it turned out OK. It would have been faster working on my 1967 model Singer.
The whole purpose of acquiring this old machine is to send it to Zambia where someone with out electric power available may be able to put it to use. It will be my husband's job to figure out how to pack this rather large item so that it can be safely shipped in the container.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Labor Day Activities
That was great to see so many readers making comments on my last posting. Hooray!
Yes, Ruth knows how to play the piano - just maybe we should have it tuned before Christmas then she could treat us to a tune or two. Having it tuned up might lead to another activity that we have often considered - a sing song.
Now about today's activities - Since it is a little rainy and damp I don't think we will do any major outdoor fun unless it should clear up later on. After I finish communicating here I plan to can about 12 - 14 quarts of apple juice that Helmut made last week and it is just occupying space in the fridge.
Our assembly had a very nice pot luck supper last evening. Most of us had more than we needed to eat - everything tasted soooo good. The fellowship time was great - the only sad thing was that we said farewell to a family that are moving to Portage La Prairie, MB. A family of 5 is a pretty large gap in our small group - we will really miss them.
Yesterday, we were exhorted at the end of the meeting regarding the Lord washing the disciples feet and that we should wash one another's feet (in a spiritual since we were reminded that this could be sharing the Word of God with one another). With that in mind I want to share what I was reading this morning. Rom. 13
Verse 14 is my verse of the day -
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
Preceding this in verse 10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbour. Verse 13 - Let us walk honestly...
One of the cross references is Jas. 3:14 but as I read further to verse 18 I was really impressed with it "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
Yes, Ruth knows how to play the piano - just maybe we should have it tuned before Christmas then she could treat us to a tune or two. Having it tuned up might lead to another activity that we have often considered - a sing song.
Now about today's activities - Since it is a little rainy and damp I don't think we will do any major outdoor fun unless it should clear up later on. After I finish communicating here I plan to can about 12 - 14 quarts of apple juice that Helmut made last week and it is just occupying space in the fridge.
Our assembly had a very nice pot luck supper last evening. Most of us had more than we needed to eat - everything tasted soooo good. The fellowship time was great - the only sad thing was that we said farewell to a family that are moving to Portage La Prairie, MB. A family of 5 is a pretty large gap in our small group - we will really miss them.
Yesterday, we were exhorted at the end of the meeting regarding the Lord washing the disciples feet and that we should wash one another's feet (in a spiritual since we were reminded that this could be sharing the Word of God with one another). With that in mind I want to share what I was reading this morning. Rom. 13
Verse 14 is my verse of the day -
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
Preceding this in verse 10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbour. Verse 13 - Let us walk honestly...
One of the cross references is Jas. 3:14 but as I read further to verse 18 I was really impressed with it "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
Saturday, September 1, 2007
More Mini Vacations
At close to midnight Fri. Aug. 31 my dear husband suggested that we should get out and away from home on Sat. So while we had our bedtime snack we did some brain storming and got out some maps to do a little planning. Then we went to the modern equipment (computer) to investigate our ideas. We found that it is possible to rent canoes at the Green Bay Resort on Caddy Lake in the Whiteshell Prov. Park - rates seemed reasonable. We went to bed with our plans in our heads and tried to get some decent sleep.
We were on our way to Caddy lake by around 10:00 in the morning. Caddy lake is very near to the ON border and several km north of highway #1. It takes a little over two hours to get there.
The resort is on the south east side of the lake. they had a canoe available so we did all the necessary paper work and money handover to have a canoe for the rest of the day. We decided that we could go paddling for a while before we stopped to have our picnic lunch. so I just fortified my energy level with a granola bar before we set out.
At the north end of the lake there is a tunnel through the rock where the water flows into the next lake - South Cross Lake. Getting through the tunnel and into SCL was our goal before having lunch. When I was about "starved" we found a rocky point on SCL with a tiny place where we could beach the canoe so we headed in. The paddling seemed to take a lot of energy today (more than in Hanna's canoe) - we had the wind behind us most of the time before lunch.
Our picnic spot was a sunny rock point but had a place where I could sit and hang my feet down to a lower level which was more comfortable than sitting on a flat surface with the legs extended straight out. We stayed on our on private point for about an hour, eating, resting and basking in the sun and breeze. We explored a little ways around the point with the canoe and discovered a couple of other people on the far side.
The return voyage required paddling against the wind so was even more work than before lunch. At the end of the canoe trip we at least feel like we have accomplished something. Only one life jacket blew off our picnic point into the lake and got wet before H. could rescue it. Nobody fell in the lake today but the sweat shirt got plenty wet lying in the bottom of the canoe - I guess one or both of us were splashing quite a bit.
Upon our return to the resort we thought we would like to take a swim at the beach. H. took a plunge into the lake and found it to be chilly with a mucky bottom. I did a little wadding and gave up on the whole idea. We are just a little spoiled by the beautiful sandy beaches at Lake Winnipeg.
We headed home a little before sunset time - stopped at an A&W a little ways east of the city for our supper.
We found Abby very contentedly sleeping on our bedroom floor. I guess she went looking for us and didn't have the energy to return to her own bed in the kitchen. We really didn't think it a good idea to take her on a canoe trip.
We were on our way to Caddy lake by around 10:00 in the morning. Caddy lake is very near to the ON border and several km north of highway #1. It takes a little over two hours to get there.
The resort is on the south east side of the lake. they had a canoe available so we did all the necessary paper work and money handover to have a canoe for the rest of the day. We decided that we could go paddling for a while before we stopped to have our picnic lunch. so I just fortified my energy level with a granola bar before we set out.
At the north end of the lake there is a tunnel through the rock where the water flows into the next lake - South Cross Lake. Getting through the tunnel and into SCL was our goal before having lunch. When I was about "starved" we found a rocky point on SCL with a tiny place where we could beach the canoe so we headed in. The paddling seemed to take a lot of energy today (more than in Hanna's canoe) - we had the wind behind us most of the time before lunch.
Our picnic spot was a sunny rock point but had a place where I could sit and hang my feet down to a lower level which was more comfortable than sitting on a flat surface with the legs extended straight out. We stayed on our on private point for about an hour, eating, resting and basking in the sun and breeze. We explored a little ways around the point with the canoe and discovered a couple of other people on the far side.
The return voyage required paddling against the wind so was even more work than before lunch. At the end of the canoe trip we at least feel like we have accomplished something. Only one life jacket blew off our picnic point into the lake and got wet before H. could rescue it. Nobody fell in the lake today but the sweat shirt got plenty wet lying in the bottom of the canoe - I guess one or both of us were splashing quite a bit.
Upon our return to the resort we thought we would like to take a swim at the beach. H. took a plunge into the lake and found it to be chilly with a mucky bottom. I did a little wadding and gave up on the whole idea. We are just a little spoiled by the beautiful sandy beaches at Lake Winnipeg.
We headed home a little before sunset time - stopped at an A&W a little ways east of the city for our supper.
We found Abby very contentedly sleeping on our bedroom floor. I guess she went looking for us and didn't have the energy to return to her own bed in the kitchen. We really didn't think it a good idea to take her on a canoe trip.
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