Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Homey Stuff And Domestic Goddessing


Not sure if you can see what's going on here but that's Gracie, in a dark corner of the hen house, laying an egg, while Lucky stands right by to guard and protect her. This is so interesting to me. I've never had just one hen and a rooster and I've always been fascinated at how the roosters come to collect the hens from the hen house to take them back to the flock after they've laid an egg and called out their cackles of success, but I've never seen a rooster be so protective. I suppose since Gracie is the sole hen, he is focusing all of his rooster-ways on her. A little while after I took this picture, he was standing outside of the hen house, right by the door. I am thinking that Gracie told him she needed some space or some privacy and he acquiesced to her wishes, but did not get too far away.
Whatever, before too long they were running around the yard together again, and sure enough, there was a very fine egg in the corner. Now- why she's laying in that corner on the ground is a mystery to me. There are six laying nests, three of them semi-enclosed. But no, she chooses to lay where I have to reach down and around a little ladder which is quite inconvenient for me but of no concern to her.
I was also very surprised to find that her egg today is quite a bit darker than the first two she laid this week. 


In my experience, a hen's egg is unique unto herself to the point where you can identify which hen laid which egg even when there are several hens. I am surmising that Grace's egg-making equipment is just getting itself readjusted after her long period of fallowness. 
As it is getting dark, I just went and closed the door to their little home and here's what they look like. 



Again- they roost on a wall support and NOT in one of the nesting boxes or on the roosting branch that Mr. Moon put in there for that purpose. And they always sleep just like that. Lucky on the left, Gracie on the right. Chickens are as averse to change as I am. 

It's been a nice day. I have felt completely normal again. It rained some this morning- just a drizzle, really. I decided that this truly would be the day I would start Maggie's name blanket and I was just about to do that when I realized that dammit, I needed to wash all the material before I began the cutting and pinning and sewing. So I started that process and went outside to pick up more limbs and twigs and branches. I found this piece of mistletoe beneath a pecan tree. 


As you can see, it is making its white berries. 
I took another picture of different lichens on some of the branches I was picking up. 


Aren't they pretty? I don't think I've ever noticed the purple one although I've probably been looking at it my entire life. 

When I finally got the fabric all washed and dried I started what is for me, the hardest part of making these name blankets which is laying out the backing fabric, cutting it out to the size I want, doing the same with whatever I am using for an inner filling, which in this case is a flannel sheet of some heft, and then again with the flannel that goes atop all of that. And then I pin the backing so that it doubles over and makes a border when I sew it, and holds those three layers together too. 


It is a very simple way to form the basic blanket. It is not difficult in the least but it is also not easy for me to be on the floor on my knees anymore. It just isn't. But I got that all done and then got out the Singer and made a bobbin and threaded everything and carefully sewed it together. 


So that part is done except that I stitch the corners together by hand. Then I will add other panels of contrasting fabric with Maggie's name on the top panel. 
Here's the print I have for our girl. 



Here is what Gibson's name blanket looked like when I gave it to him. 


And here is August's. 



I sew the name letters on by embroidering around them which is quite time-consuming. And now here's the question: Do I use "Maggie" or "Magnolia"? Either way, I believe I'm going to have to get some smaller stencils. Or, just readjust my panel sizes. Which I can do, of course. 

And so that has been my day. I took the trash too, and had a pleasant conversation with a man who was also dumping his trash. We discussed rain and hurricanes. He seemed like an interesting guy. I would love to know his story. 

My G-Word Soul Boutique is still open and I noticed today that she has decorated for Christmas. I haven't been back in since the opening day and I am not sure how I feel about a revisit. If things haven't changed dramatically, I'm afraid I'll just be spreading a bunch of bad vibes around which I don't really believe in but the G-Word Lady could probably pick up my feelings, anyway. I pride myself on being a decent actor when life calls for that but I really have to care to jump into that mode. 

Oh! I got the results back from my dexa scan and although I had been afraid that my bones had the texture of cobwebs at this point, the scan came back "normal" which is a relief. When I fell several years ago and broke four ribs I wondered whether it was because it was such a hard fall or because my bones were brittle. I guess it was a hard fall. Sure felt like it. 

My husband reports that all is well in Canada and that he feels so lucky in his life and in his wife and that was exactly what I needed to hear. We will be seeing each other again soon. 

Another day in the life in Lloyd, Florida, a place I never would have dreamed I'd be living in and yet, here I am and it is pretty sweet. 

Thank you for visiting. 

Love...Ms. Moon







32 comments:

  1. Those name blankets are wonderful statements of love. Not every grandchild receives such a gift. However, I guess their are thousands of children in Somalia who would prefer nutritious belly-filling porridge before name blankets.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maybe ask Maggie what name she wants on her blanket. She might surprise you with something quite different!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The name blankets are really sweet. I so wish I had something like that from one of my grandmothers. Not sure either of them sewed? I have so little from my childhood but got the memories and they're sweet (for the most part). Soul Boutique sounds rather soul-less. Wonder how long it
    will last?
    Paranormal John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mama started doing it long before she became Mer Mer - my name blanket is all worn around the edges and tucked away in a chest now, but it lived on my bed into my 20s.

      Delete
    2. Yes- I made name blankets for all of my children too. I used to make May and Hank nightclothes for Christmas every year of cozy flannel and I decided to make blankets from the same fabric one year. One thing led to another and now I've made many of them. I'm pretty sure they all still have them.
      I don't know how long the My G-Word Soul Boutique can hang on. Depends on how much money the lady is willing to lose, I guess.

      Delete
  4. Those name blankets will be treasured always. I love Magnolia's fabric. As far as the name...well I would ask her what she likes to be called. That girl will tell you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your blankets will be loved and cherished and taken to college and beyond! Fabulous gift! Maggie is a few letters shorter than Magnolia- I would go with that! I like pets that make breakfast for you! Earning their keep and entertaining at the same time.
    You are where you belong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm thinking the same thing about the number of letters. The design is going to have to change a bit if I use "Magnolia". Just watch- she'll ask for Magnolia June. Dream on, baby girl!
      Yes. Chickens are very useful pets.
      I think you're right- I am exactly where I belong.

      Delete
  6. Those blankets are treasures. Sweet dreams.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My sister bought that same fabric to back a quilt for Caroline, years ago. Caroline was going on two. Jan showed her the fabric to get her opinion on using it as it was so different from regular. Caroline snatched it and ran out of the house and to her car and got in to go home. I wonder what became of the fabric? The quilt was backed with something else. And Caroline went to college this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! That's so funny! She probably thought the fabric WAS the quilt. Sweet Caroline.

      Delete
  8. Those blankets are lovely, something those kids will treasure their whole lives.

    You should start a youtube channel, just for your chickens. I'm pretty sure you'd get lots of people watching them. I always enjoy seeing them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, with only two chickens it might be a pretty boring Youtube channel.

      Delete
  9. I'm so glad to hear your bone density is still good. I suspect mine is too, but I'll have a scan sometime soon, next year probably.
    The name blankets are gorgeous!
    Perhaps Grace is "hiding" her eggs so that she gets enough to sit on and hatch?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad my bone density is still good too! It's nice to know.
      When a hen gets broody, she acts very different than a hen who is just laying. They generally brood in late spring around here. So I don't think she's thinking about babies right now.

      Delete
  10. I'm so relieved that your bone tests were all normal -- and I need to scroll back and re-read why you're giving out bad vibes in that dumb/silly/what? store.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Search for My Gypsy Soul Boutique on the blog. I have no idea how you've missed the biggest thing to happen in Lloyd in a decade. Well, besides the Dollar General, of course.

      Delete
  11. Gosh why didn't I think to do a name blanket like that. The HUMUNGOUS quilt that I started about five years ago is still a work in progress simply because I made it so big - bigger than a US king size. But the good news is that my sewing teacher is nagging/showing me how to cope with that size and by golly I do believe I'll get it done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You will be so proud when you get that huge quilt finished! I would be.

      Delete
  12. Princess Magnolia has a ring to it. Would that fit?
    I am so glad the chooks seem happy and eggs are on the menu again. I still hope for news of an increase in the poultry population but completely understand your reluctance. Damned effing foxes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Princess Magnolia would fit if I completely redesigned the quilt.
      Oh, you know I'll get some more chickens eventually. But yes- damn fucking foxes.

      Delete
  13. Those blankets are beautiful. Is it a common thing in Florida/USA to make them? As far as I know it isn't something Mums/Grandmas make here.
    Is there a set age when the kids get them given? I agree that you should ask Maggie what name she would like on hers.
    Good news about your bones. I had a scan a few years ago and mine were fine too. Hips of a 20 yr old she said!! I am suffering with sciatica at the moment so def. don't feel like a 20 yr old!! It bloody hurts if I don't take the painkillers a while before I get up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No. I just started making name blankets for Hank and May one Christmas to match some nightclothes I was making them. And then I made one for Lily and then Jessie and now I make them for the grandchildren. I generally give them when the child is old enough to read their name.
      Yeah- I hear you on the hips. Our bones may be great but those joints ain't what they used to be!

      Delete
  14. The name blanket is going to be amazing. Maggie's fabric is beautiful! And I love Gibson's and August's. What a terrific and useful keepsake!

    Funny about the chickens. I suspect Gracie is laying behind that ladder specifically BECAUSE she knows it's hard for anyone to reach.

    Good news about your bones!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I realized after I started putting Maggie's quilt together that I had chosen the colors of a Howard Johnson's but...oh well..
      I don't know about Gracie's egg location choice. I do know that the hens always changed up their laying places regularly and she may too.

      Delete
  15. Those blankets are sweet! What a nice treasure for them to cherish.
    Glad your chicken and rooster are safe and getting along!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the idea of my babies staying warm under something I made with love just for them.

      Delete
  16. Perhaps Gracie and Lucky have noticed that you are in need of more chickens and are trying to lay the eggs where you can't get to them.

    that lichen is gorgeous. All those colors and shapes.

    I got my new skirt fabric washed but that's all the progress I've made. Finally brought all the tenders in for the winter.

    ReplyDelete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.