October Already With A Story!!

 It's October and it feels like it's on a witches broom flying through!

This is a long read, get a cuppa & settle in! 

I didn't look forward to October as I knew my husband, Bill, would be away more than he would be home. I miss his day to day company and helping me with daily chores that now I would do solo.

An eventfully day happened on the 18th when an eagle would swoop in & attack one of my hens!I was in the laundry room when I heard what I thought to be a kitten crying. I opened the door to hear better and the adrenaline kicked in and I ran, slippers flying over the asphalt parking, gravel, over the bridge yelling, no screaming, 'Leave her alone!' and the huge 2yr old eagle flew upwards, with me still screaming at it. It flew high on a branch and watched me as I yelled until it left. The hens were scared into a corner of the fence in the wooded area. OMG I ran around the fencing doing a head count, two were gone! The feathers, so many red feathers, but where was the carcass, or the feet? Just feathers. 

I got the hens over the bridge and they all clustered together in the coop. Then I saw that Reba had been attacked and all her neck, back, and tail-feathers, were gone! she had been the one crying as it had its feathers plucked out, one by one. Oh Reba, my heart went out to her and the trauma that the others had gone through listening to her screams.

Going back to them several times, going into there run and talking to them I look to the gate that goes over their bridge and there was the rogue hen wanting to be with the flock. It must've flew over the fence during the commotion. She had survived this horrid ordeal and I had lost one hen to the eagle.  

Bill arrived home from the airport hours after and we took inventory and tended to Reba with antibiotic spray and Peck Off spray when they were all quiet on the roost that night. If she made it through the night, I knew she was going to be OK. And by morning she was! However she was quite the sight for sore eyes!! 

This is Reba 6 days after the attack, she looks like a porcupine with quills!

She's one of the original chicks that Jocelyne and I picked up a couple of years ago. She a hardy bird and is getting all her feathers back!

And the hen story continues!

A few days ago our neighbour two doors over, came over to tell us that a hen was loose in her yard. 

The young, escaping, rouge hen never ventured away from the fence.

We went over and it looked like one of the original Reba's! We tried to capture it but it was hard and after many attempts gave up. The next day Bill left for Rhode Island's Elevator Code Meetings and I saw the hen again. I was determined to get her with our flock and coached her with meal worms to our property. When she saw the flock she ran to the fence to see them. The injured hen wanted nothing to do with her and pecked through the fence at her.

It was dusk now and the hens went to the coop, she flew up onto the open fence & looked int the coop, she wanted in. I coached to into one run, then the closed run with the hen door to the coop.She shot into the coop! This is the time to introduce a new chicken to a flock, at night in the coop. The hens would not allow her on the roost, so she went into the nesting box. After watching them, we have a camera in the coop and on both runs to view them from the house. I let the girls settle then went out and tried to move her out, she flew onto the roost. I left turned the light out quickly and went to the house to watch from the camera. 

Mission accomplished! All ten hens were settling in for the night. 

I was so excited that I had told Bill, Nick, & Leslie about my evening adventure. Leslie put the thought in my head, was it the missing hen? There never was a carcass left, only feathers...

In the morning, it hit me! It was the missing hen!! There was Henny, the three original Reba's, and the six new hens!! The flock was complete again, all ten present & accounted for!

Now that quite the true, October story, don't you think? One with a happy ending.

With the first frost comes the picking of rose-hips for our winter evening tea. Rose-hips are loaded with vitamins & high in vitamin C to help support the immune system. Bill helped me pick one day & then he was gone the next so the morning was filled with getting these ready for the freezer.

The first task after picking is the cleaning of stems and leaves. I listened to the radio whilst doing that chore.

Then I washed them in cold water with lemon juice, everything tastes fresh with lemon juice. :)

Cookie sheets and large tray's were lined with clean tea towels as I rocked them back & forth to dry them. I used paper towels to roll them around to help with the drying.

The I relined them with clean dry tea towels to finish the drying. They were then put into empty containers & froze for this winters enjoyment.

October is canning time for me.

Red Pepper Jelly for gifting and winter enjoyment.

Lady Ashburn Mustard Pickles, one of Bill's favourite!

I stumbled upon this recipe trying to use up zucchini and however I do not grate them, I cut everything into small pieces. And the 'regular mustard' I use mustard powder. It's a yummy relish!

Such a wonderful flavour year round with meat,fish, or poultry(not my hens!)

With the canning shelves filling up and the weather changing, the winds are getting colder now with the water cooling down.

This coleslaw is a staple in our fridge and great along side a meal or sandwich at lunch. 
 

The lens on my phone wasn't clean. This is a door hanging I made for my girlfriend Dorice. Everyone at the apartment has something hung on their door year round. I thought this was beautiful when I saw one that Seraphie had made at our sewing group in Baie-Ste-Anne. She let me take hers home to make a pattern from it and here it is!

The back is as beautiful as the front! Dorice liked hers, I gifted it to her and Seraphie showed it to her the day before from her phone pictures. She a big grin and her eyes were shining telling me about the sneak preview! 

You know the saying 'What's old is new again' well, that's what I did with some paint to giving back colour that the sun has faded with this pumpkin outfit. It just took $2 craft paint and some time & effort!

TaDa! Next year this goose is going to have some painting done to her! She wears the crochet turtleneck to cover the duct tape holding her cement rod. I pulled the hose on year & tripped her, braking her neck! Cosmetic cement surgery from Bill will be on the agenda too!

Bill has made the fence for my Halloween Vignette. 

How whimsical is this?!

I used Rexton's real whiskers on this kitty!

The days are getting shorter and the winds produce white caps on the water, Baxter stays warm & cozy.

 

Rexton's ready to bewitch those dogs!

The sun porch is now closed, her tree tower is now in the great room & she's delighted!

Bridget has so much love in her and soon she'll be 10 years old!

Baxter loves to be cozy and has claimed this bench as his own. He loves watching out the window to the backyard.

I'm doing my first sewing retreat here in New Brunswick Nov 6th-8th. This is the sewing I hope to accomplish. I've had this quilt kit for years!

All cut, labelled, and ready to sew!

 I love a woodland scene, it will finish at 71"x78". Photos to follow.

Well, if you've stayed till the end, thank you for visiting. It has been eventful for sure. With the turn of events, this happy ending has me so happy and grateful.

Wishing you a Spectacular Halloween with health & happiness!

Cynthia xXx 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Has Officially Arrived At Beaver Moon!

 Autumn has officially arrived, with mornings and evenings cooler; it's sweater weather!

This is my favourite season, the one I was introduced to 69 years ago when I was born, wearing sweaters, bonnets, and booties lovingly made by family and friends. Such a cozy, fresh season.

This sweet little squirrel was a birthday gift from my girlfriend Sandy, who knows me so well! I just love this little red squirrel character!

I've finished the Art East quilt called Night Flutter - A Moth Quilt Pattern, featuring Tim Holtz fabric.

My finished quilt measuring 70x70, I want to use a minky on the back so that is the task at hand finding such a backing. I've had luck at Winners purchasing throw/blankets in the past and the colour is that of Autumn that I'm looking for, luck should be on my side. lol

This quilt was a long-anticipated quilt kit that was a prepaid with a fat quarter bundle of Tim Holtz fabric last March. Five months later, I received it in late August! I was feeling like a Pay-Day Loan Company putting out several hundred dollars quickly taken, and then the wait...

Only to procrastinate over cutting 712 pieces of the quilt before I could start sewing.

For me, this is when the nightmare quilt continued!

The picture on the left is the one I made, the one on the right held all the 'colourway' of that quilt.

I'm visual and cut fabric of the background fabric with the wing fabric instruction and the wing fabric instruction in the back ground fabric!! 

Oh my goodness what a horrid mistake that was and then I had to re-cut all those pieces again to make the proper changes. I cut over a thousand pieces at that point! It wasn't until the middle of making this quilt that everything made sense to me. 

I was getting somewhere and proudly showed Leslie (DIL to be 2028!) my work, when she asked if I noticed the skull's nose was upside down?! OMG I looked at the photo again and yes, it was upside down! Thank heavens Leslie noticed it before it was quilted!

I do like how this quilt turned out, so glad this quilt is in the review mirror now!

I celebrated my 69th birthday this month with Bill, Nicholas, and Leslie, with many well wishes from friends and family.

The Dairy Queen ice-cream log is one of my favourites! And I wore my birthday shirt, the one I wear every birthday since I turned 40 years old.

Thank you for a wonderful roast chicken meal with this yummy birthday dessert!

Bill and I on my 40th birthday, he made me a Gluten Free cake!

And Bill & I this month on my 69th birthday, where does the time go? I want it to slow down but each day moves so fast! And now with the days moving closer to the winter solstice in 88 days!

I couldn't help but make an Autumn bow for the office door at the apartment!

I loved the Fall Barns Quilts from Tara Reed designs 2022, I'll hang it on the office door this afternoon!
 

It's such a joy to be outside in this weather and Bill's been busy outside.

He finished framing and hanging the stained glass rooster I made this year.

We were going for an English style hanging sign, I think he nailed it, right down to the chain at the bottom, securing it from the harsh winds off the water!

Here it is from the other side!

The Chicken Chalet is getting ready for its third winter with the hens.

Nicholas gifted his father these bronze pieces to put into his handy woodwork, he always finds the most unique personalized gifts, thank you Nicholas! Beaver Moon is what we call our property as it was a November full moon when it became ours in 2012.

 This is a photo gifted to us from Nicholas, taken by Nicholas with the Beaver Moon of November!

The wooden logo, which Bill has designed was cut & painted by him. I find it suiting to name this property from the time of possession of stewardship for it. So much has changed in the soon to be 14 years of living here.

Bill has already laid out the foundation in the east side yard for a 13' x 20' greenhouse in the spring of 2027. The harsh winds & salt water spray is hard on a garden, the growing season in 4b is short too.

Here's the area that has been prepared for the spring installation of the greenhouse.

The greenhouse will be a welcomed addition to the property! It's in the open spot next to the generator's propane tanks, next to Namama's cupola tree.

The little raised bed garden has given us zucchini and cherry tomatoes, the beans did well at the beginning of the season then died out. The cucumber were zucchini plants! We like them just the same. lol Hopefully I can start early in the greenhouse and have a head start next year.

I have found I am a sewer not a sower, so much to learn in this half of my life!

Missy Crow has on her vegetable pinafore! lol

Baxter took my vest & has his head in the armhole, taking in the warm morning sun this September morning! Baxter & Bridget will be turning 10 years old in a few months. Where does the time go?!!

Thank you for stopping by for a visit to Beaver Moon. I do hope you return again as I bring out fall decor, Thanksgiving, and Halloween decor to share with you!

Wishing you health and happiness until then!

Hugs,

Cynthia xXx 

 

 

 

I Heard The Cicada Bug!

 I heard the cicada bug this week and Grandpa Haynes taught me years ago in SW Ontario it means first frost in about 8 weeks. I've used that theory here in NE New Brunswick and it's 10 weeks. I think because I live next to a large body of water on the Northumberland Strait, in fact it's my backyard. It takes a longer time for the water to cool than land and the reverse is true come spring, it's always warmer in town on those days. 

Bows seem to be all the rage these days, such a flashback to the nineties! lol

I saw  an add pop up on Facebook for a quilted bow for Christmas in July. Not quiet there but loving the look, I found a tutorial on YouTube and made two from a layer cake (10" squares). 

I used scrap batting put together by zigzagging the pieces, then quilted the 3" squares together on the batting-not using the back fabric until it was finished. Then with right sides together I sewed the upper bow, then the lower ribbon(it's one piece folded)

The formula was 3 1/2" cut squares, three squares across- 16 squares down for the bow ends and for the bow top 3 1/2" cut squares, - 3 down and 14 or 15 across, depending on how big you want your bow, I did 14 squares across. Then a 1 1/2" strip to hold it together, I used a cable tie first to tighten the bow and ties, then covered it with the strip. The tutorial will show you how if you're a visual learner.

But wait there's more from the J. Wecker Frisch stacker!

I made a table runner for the dining room table and a small runner for the sideboard from the leftovers.

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. A saying I'm trying to live by these days.

I made the back from the yardage from her collection, I've had this in my stash for a couple of years and just love her unique, creative, styling design.

 I was first introduced to her from a gifted calendar from my girlfriend Sandy, who always sends a new calendar each Christmas. I always hang it in my sewing room that at my machine I can glace at the calendar to know what the date is. Time just fly's by for me!

See how time fly's, this is a 2020 calendar! I had her designs in my head for 12 months and when the Halloween fabric went on sale, I got it a few years back. Thank you Sandy, for introducing me to a new designer!

 This vignette is called 'Scary Cat' from the Simply Vintage - Autumn 2019 magazine. The Chatham kids, Nick & Leslie had gifted it to me for my birthday. I've not purchased a magazine in a very long time, the price has gone through the roof! On special occasions like my birthday or Christmas I can always count on these two for the newest magazine, I may not make things right away as I do a 'round to it'. This one is so cute!

I'll add more real cat whiskers to the cat, scrap wool  and felt were used, I love autumn, it's my favourite season of the big four! Just what comes after makes me savour it more. I heard the cicada, it's time to slow down and savour what is left of summer. And what a wonderful summer we have this year!

I was having tea with my neighbourhood girlfriend Deb, and she too is excited about sewing these days & showed me her sewing machine and with it was a piece of umbra fabric from drapes she made years back. She gave me this piece of fabric and I saw it as an elegant pumpkin, sew I made it for her & re-gifted it back to her! I used Scary Cat's pattern modified for the piece of fabric I had & voila! Added a real dried stem to the top and she can make a vignette of her own!

Deb and her husband Terry took our Alberta kids, Mitch, Nicole, and little Liam on their boat last month. They all had a wonderful time. Those that truly know me, know I'm hydrophobic, so I watched & waved from the breaker-wall.

It was a beautiful summer day and they went over to the sandy edge island (Bay du Vin Island is 5 miles from our shore) On the way home Liam fell fast a sleep and stayed asleep on the ride back to the house, staying asleep in mom's arms for another 1/2 hour. A busy day for a little guy on the water.

After waving to everyone on the boat, Bridget, Baxter, and I settled ourselves on the deck. I started ripping a flat sheet into the 2 1/2" squares needed for the jellyroll rug.

I divided them into length of the sheet - 5 pcs, again and again. Ripping outside meant the dust  fibres stayed outside.

You can see the pilling but underfoot you don't feel it!  I had some fun making Jelly Roll rugs from that old flannel sheet set that the Chatham kids gave me to use in whatever manner I wanted. Since it had pilling from years of use, I torn it into 2 1/2" strips and cut scraps of batting into 2 1/4" pieces and zigzagged those together but did the 45 degree sewing method(same as bind) on the flannel. 

Here's the round one from the sheet, I always was given a pilling green fitted sheet that I used as an accent colour within the design. This is in the laundry room and the dogs just love sunbathing on it when the door is open and flooded with the morning sunlight.

I'm now finishing with the flat sheet pieces trying out an oval rug with the same design elements as the round one. The real game changer is the Clover Jelly Roll clips that are used to hold the fabric/batting together as bias tape. A great Face Book/You Tube  is Clara's Creations, she explains and shows the technique beautifully, she has been my go to for this.

I've been busy cleaning and re arranging the sun porch for our annual tenant get together this weekend, rain or shine. If it rains everyone will be indoors and this offers another room to flow into.

Our Ontario, Kennon Place 1910 window glass has found its home in the sun porch. Bill has framed it permanently in place, catching the afternoon and sunset light.

With the bookcase moved out of the corner area, it created a larger sitting area around the corner(shown in first photo) This has always been my favourite three season room!

The mischief Gnomes are all located above the mirror now opening up the side board top.

And the Gnome Home has new bunting coming down and around it! I've also added many hen & chick plants that survived the winter and I'll add more as we change out the front garden with the birdbath. The solar light bulbs glow beautifully in the dark, bringing to life this vignette. 

Well, That's All Folks! Those of my age will remember Porky Pig lol

Thank you for dropping in for a visit and I hope you too savour the last of summer, the fastest season of the big four for me!

Wishing you health and happiness!

Hugs, 

Cynthia xXx