Monday, October 27, 2008

so......these are my chickens.

We raised them from day old chicks (aka bitty's, incase you did know that one :)). They are silkies ,2 White hens ,2 Partridge;1hen and 1 roo, and 1 Buff hen. Aren't they just the fluffiest little fluffy things you ever saw. they have black skin under their feathers, and are said to be medicinal to eat.(not that we plan on it or anything, but it seems to be a favorite bit of information to Justin when he speaks of them.he always gives his cute little "wouldn't that be good to eat,because i'm a cook and i would like to cook it." face that he gets about that kind of thing. )
and these are my other chicken that went to live on the farm with maw maw (I'll tell that story tomorrow, we have a lot to catch up on.) minus one that "went to the stockpot" (saw this saying somewhere and now its my favorite.) for crowing allllllllldaaaaaaaaylooooonnnnngggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!@#$%*@#$%*@#$%*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Justin just lost his poor little mind that day and bud the rooster had to go. but after the best chicken and rice I've ever had, he decided he did not really like that part and we would just take them to maw maws if we can.
Anyway, back to the silkies. they live in our garden. it is a quit suitable arrangement,Justin built us a 8x8x4 foot pen and we bought a pre-fab dog house from Lowe's and converted it into a chicken coup. (it was to flipp'n perfect the roof even lifts up for cleaning and/or egg gathering.) we move it over a patch at a time ever few weeks or so, and plant up a new patch of garden, and in turn they peck up the ground and eat up all the bugs and weeds and fertilize the soil for the next time we move them.
they like to spend there free time out of the pin under my Turks cap bush. they roll around in the dust under neither and they hide deep in the middle when that darn orange cat comes plotting on them. I'll have to get some better pictures for you some time.
my puffy white silkie would just like to say "you should of listened to Dr.Paul. but no, now we're all going to shit. thanks a lot wall street."
my dear miss puff silkie, i dare say i agree with you for the most. I'm terribly conflicted about what I'm going to do come election day. maybe I'll decide when i get in there.

Mabel, the buff silkie thinks we can't see her behind the grass because she's a ninja chicken. we like to let her believe that. keeps up the moral in the pen. we're hoping for eggs anyday now.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

today is a special day...................................

Today our bees came you can read all about it here on my new blog just for all things bee related. and in honor of my bees, my little mind has been crawling with crafty bee ideas. I'm hard at work here on the homestead and feeling great about all my projects. so be on the look out for some shop news soon .
later alligators,
heather

Thursday, April 03, 2008

hello, hello dear readers

It's been awhile, aye! We have been very busy here at the Southwell homestead as of late. Dwight, has had us lots of landscape business,so I've spent the better part of the last two weeks at my in-laws helping out with all the work {which I love doing, don't take that as a complaint ,it's just a description.} And on Sunday, Dwight came to help me pick up our new-to-us beekeeping equipment! So Justin and I have been tying to figure out what else we need to start and cleaning up the hives we have. I think we got it all figured out and ordered today.{I really hope so because the bee's have been ordered, too!} We are gonna start with two hives in our yard so we can learn our self on the subject, but Justin would eventually like to make it another service of lavenders' blue, by setting our hives up in peoples yards as a pollination service, then we would take care of the hive(s) and your flowers will be the bomb:) and when we harvest the hive you get some of the honey for free. We have not even gotten our hives set up ,heck I've only had the stuff for a week!, and we already have people asking us about it. {Just goes to prove how blessed we are.} Here's to a good thing!(i really hope!)
Oh here's a new picture of my hand. Sorry it's so blurry I wanted to retake it but my digi-cam keeps wanting to die on me. I'm afraid it's time for a new one, but it's gonna have to wait awhile. I'm looking nice and pink these days just a little scabbed bit left now. My index finger is still a bit stiff, but I'm working on that. I'm back to doing most things with this hand but some things are still awkward, like my writing is really messy right now and I'm still not hand sewing very well, oh and my grip is weak and a bit awkward with my right hand (mostly because I can't bend my index finger all the way.)
Oh! Have you seen this movie? It's my new favorite! I have been so inspired from this movie I have a few things in mind for the shop after seeing it! i don't want to tell you what but be looking :)
Do you looooooooooove radishes? Cause I do! So I'm growing some in these pots. Justin had to thin them out today so I ate them:) dirt and all! they were just barely out of the seedling stage but tasted very radish-y still. Yummy! yum! yum! yum!:) This Kind is called the french dressing radish and it's supposed to grow a long root. I'm so excited for them !
Oh! Made this the other day! My very first pork butt! Justin put it on for me before he left for work, but I took care of it all day long all by my self. I think he was quit proud of me for it, he made the comment that I was trying to steel his place in the BBQ contest! I told him I was just trying not to mess it up!, but I was glad it liked it so much. {as I believe all chefs are, Justin, is quit the food Nazi and if I had messed this up I would have never heard the end of it. :( }
I was really excited the other day when I went to the quilt store and found pink flat pins. I'm sure lots of people already have these . But for me they where such a treat to find! I had never seen them before and I could hardly contain my excitement as I took them to the register. Especially since I had actually needing another box of pins anyway!well, I guess that's all I have to say today. I'll leave you with some pretty spring cards I've been making.
later alligators,
heather


Thursday, March 20, 2008

3 years and still going strong...........................

You know, Justin really is the love of my life. No matter what we fight about, we always makeup. He always has my back no matter how much of an idiot I am sometimes.
He always surprises me, when I'm sure I've really messed up, he stays by me.
My mom was a single parent so I never saw that kind of love and forgiveness between a husband and wife when I was growing up, so for him to just give me that kind of love ....well it makes me cry......a happy cry , but the tears roll down just the same.
He is so amazing to me and it makes me love him more.
He makes me want to be stronger and smarter and better just so I can show him his love is not wasted on me. My heart beats faster when he's around, still!, even after 5 years together.
so this post is for you babe! I love you and happy anniversary!

This is the layout I did for the junk challenge at poppy ink. Since yesterday was our anniversary,I decided it was the perfect time to pull out some of my wedding picture and have a go at the challenge with them . Also decided that it should center around my sweet husband !
my challenge was to:
*have at least 5 words in my title
*use at least 3 photos
*use 5 different ribbons
This is the aftermath of my little scrap session. See my soda ! Justin can't drink the stuff so we don't keep it in the house , but there is a corner store a block away so I often get one when I'm "working". I know it's bad for me but , Dr pepper is so good and tasty.In other anniversary news............ Justin got a box from Zappo's this morning , but he was out working with daddy . So I called him to let him know it was here ,and you know what he said ....."Oh that's for you .It's your anniversary present. Something leather" so I said "Oh really do you want me to open it now with you on the phone, or wait till you get home tonight?" Justin: "you can open it now." me: "OK, let me get a knife"........."i see a Birki's box, Justin what is this? what did you get? " Justin: "something leather, just open it and see?" .................................... me:"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!! (I know this is bad to say but I always do when I'm really really excited) These are my new favorite shoes. Oh and look they make a heart when you put your feet together, these are so perfect. Olivia (my sister in law that's 17) will be so jealous (I say this when ever I get cool new shoes). Oh babe thank you so much I love them!"
He told me he only ordered them yesterday, and they came with free shipping so hey Zappo's really lived up to there promise
here's something funny , this was the Woot! shirt of the day
about a week or so ago and we just thought it was way to perfect!
Justin ,who is very Irish/Scottish, is also a self proclaimed pirate! but so is everyone else from Fernandina beach(the island has a history of being a pirate hideaway) . we were hoping it would get here for st. patty's but it got here the day after. oh well there's always next year! but it's super cute!right? love this little pirate running away!look at that bottle of rum! he he! i love pirates ! especially my pirate husband! Oh! here is a before and after of my duvet . I got it dyed the other day and I'm super happy with the results! I just love that shade of aqua. And here is something pretty to look at my vintage button collection . Most of these came from Maw maw's when we were visiting last week but, a few I had found at the antique shop for a reasonable price. Anyway I had better get a move on it. The day is getting away from me very quickly and there is always something to do around the Southwell house.
later alligators,
heather

Monday, March 17, 2008

Spring is here in Georgia.................

and I'm so excited to see my trees blooming again. This red bud tree had been bush hogged before we bought the house. In just 3 years it has come back and I have to say it's one of my favorites ,especially in the spring.Time to plant my vegetables and herbs. really excited about the radishes! Justin told me I could do them in pots so I'm really excited to see them turn out. Justin has beans and squash to plant in the patch also.
along with the eggplant and tomatoes we seeded today. I've also got some zinnias seeded in there. I just love these jiffy seed starter trays. We have used them for the past few years and we always have good luck with them.

here's my pretty yellow pot that i painted yesterday. I just love the pop of color I get with my little orange tree and lovely lamp as soon as i walk in the door.

my poppy kit came today. hurrah! also finally got a pic of my junk challenge kit. i think I'm gonna do a layout about Justin for the challenge since our anniversary is Wednesday.

these little prettys are for my cj group. got to get them shipped off to des soon!
well i guess I'd better go for today. Winnie looks like she's not so happy i woke her up for a picture. i better go snuggle up to her so she'll forgive me. ha!
later alligators,
heather

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Day 5 burn update, plus some random loveliness....

Millie says "it's a beautiful day to take a nap on momma and daddy's bed!"

Anyway back to what I'm really supposed to be talking about. I'm at day 5 from burning myself . The large blister that was on my index finger has busted just today. I'm not surprised , it had been getting bigger by the day and the skin had been looking thinner in the spot it opened at. I had so much fluid in that one blister that it soaked my bandages through.
That blister on the top of my thumb is getting pretty big now . My hand is sore, but not painful and my motion is less restricted since the swelling subsided. My thumb is still a bit throby due to a 1st degree burn on the tip.
And here is what my leg looks like. A few of the burns have been opened my dogs jumping on my leg. all of these are 1st degree, but they are very sore and makes standing and walking in shoes some what painful but nothing I can't handle.
I got a good pair of kitchen gloves today, in pink! Really happy about getting the dishes done with out worrying about my bandages getting wet.
and really excited that I'll be able to dye my duvet cover I got from Mawmaw tomorrow. I also plan to add some pretty doilies and applique and make it very Dottie angel-esk
Got this little project started today. The pot is for my little fake orange tree and the frames will hang under my crafts sign. I have not decided what will go in them pictures or pattern paper , maybe both. I found them in the barn at Mawmaws and asked if she cared if i painted them . see said no and now they are sporting a nice shade of sun yellow from Krylon. i think this will look much better against my parrot green walls than the antique gold they used to sport. I was totally inspired by some frames I'd seen at urban outfitters a few months ago as soon as i say them in the barn.
oh no! a wild mongrel is going to get me and eat me!
oh wait that's only the "partially trained mongrel" Rocco. He's only charging to investigate mommas camera! then he checks his back to make sure that cats not next door to ruin the pet fest he's about to get.
Well I guess thats all for today. I need to go put those new gloves to work and then get some dinner going. Justin may not get home till late, but he's always hungry.
later alligators,
heather

Friday, March 14, 2008

why you should never ever leave hot oil unattended.....

***6 hours after burn accident.(pictures in previous post, 20 minutes after burn accident.) I tried to take some of the area today (day 3) but my camera was not cooperating so I'll have to try again tomorrow before re bandaging . It looks quite a bit different today than it looked then and it will be therapeutic to keep a record of it's progression.



The Story:
So, I had gotten home from grocery shopping and was going through my routine; take the dogs out, put up the groceries,pick up around the house, get dinner started,check my email, read some blogs........................that's what got me. In the end that's what got me................ I had started to heat some oil, because I wanted to make sweet potato fries with dinner and while it was heating up I went to look on the Internet and had got my self wrapped up in reading the lovely tiff's
blog and her story of Gladys coming to stay. Once I was done, I went back to my oil and saw that it had just started to smoke. Justin told me when that happens I need to take it off the burner for a minute to let it cool down, which I immediately went to do, but I forgot to do one other thing he told me to do first, have a plan on where to put it! So I'm standing there with a pan of hot oil and starting to panic on where to put it down because all the burners are full (one had the dogs dinner cooking, one had the tea kettle set on it, and one was to hard to reach and then there was the one I had just pulled the pan off of) and I didn't want to mess up the counters. In my fine little frenzy for a place to put my very hot pan , I must have tipped it back and got hot oil all over my index finger , thump, and the palm of my right hand which then made me drop the hot pan of oil, which then splashed me on my right leg (Winnie and I now have matching spots, needless to say) and caught my kitchen rugs on fire . So instead of worrying about my hand like I needed to, I had to worry about my house first and make sure all flames where out before I could get to the sink and run it under cold water which in turn made the burns worse than they had to be.
I saw a doctor yesterday and luckily all burns are second and first degree. My mother-in-law was worried that I may have some full thickness burns since fingers are so close to the bone and Justin was worried I may need skin graphs.
The doctor gave me a prescription for Silvadene and told me to keep it wrapped for the next two weeks, watching for infection this week especially.(if a burn gets infected you run the risk of getting septic blood, septic blood can kill you.) On the plus side all my skin ,while cooked well done, is still in tack with no open areas and my blister's are growing daily (as gross as that sounds it's a good thing to have blisters on burns, the fluid inside is your white blood cells at work). The motion in my right hand is quite a bit restricted right now and makes a lot of everyday things much harder for me(e.i.:going to the bathroom,changing my clothes,putting my hair up)and some things are simply out of the question until my hand is healed(e.i.:washing the dishes,sewing,writing), but I'm managing with a little help here and there from Justin. And the last two mornings I've woke up feeling a little ill to my stomach,which Justin said is normal. He gives me a glass of ice water in the morning and that seems to clear it right up.
Justin told me yesterday, he feels bad because he thinks it's his fault for not teaching me better in the kitchen. I told him he should not at all. It's mine for letting my self panic even for that one second. I'm smarter than this most of the time, but sometimes it seems my brain floats away from me and I have very bad things happen to me like this. While I hope to grow out of this "accident prone" behavior some day , it has stuck with me for the last 23year ,and I fear it may be here to stay. My saving grace is my family and the care and support they give me when ever I do have these things happen and my inner peace with the fact that I'm the one that did it to myself and I've never let a bad thing happen twice (lesson learned).

To My Mom: I did not mean to scare you this afternoon with my email. I really, really am OK. I've even figured out how to wash the dishes(rubber gloves,duh!, over my bandages) since talking to you this afternoon, and I've already thought of a few other ways the rubber gloves can improve my Independence during my temporary handicap. Remember mother, I am your 25 year old daughter that still needs your hand when I cross the road, due to my "head in the clouds" syndrome, but I am also resilient and resourceful just like you. These things, they happen to me, all I can do is not freak out when the worst happens so I don't die. It hurt more than iodine and I didn't even cry. You are the one person I worried the most about telling because, well your my mom and you worry even when I tell you not to.

xoxo
heather