KEEPER OF THE FARMHOUSE

Monday, July 18, 2011

Hot Hot Hot!!!

  It's getting near midnight and I am sitting on my deck listening to the many different summer bugs and noises that happen this time in July.  The air is stagnent and my skin is sticky from the humidity but I still love being outside at night in the summer!  I can see some distant flashes of lightning and according to the weather, a stray strom or two may make it this far south sometime tonight but even if it does, I don't think it is going to take any of the heat away, as we have advisories for the next several days!

Poison Sumac
    This past week has been a hard one for me!  I have an unbearable case of poison Sumac, something that before this, I never even knew existed!  I sure do now!  I've been taking steroids for the last week and also a couple shots over the weekend and maybe, just maybe, don't really want to say it yet, but hopefully it's getting a little better!  I'm afraid that a couple places are going to scar.  Wow, I will never cut a vine or weed again without protection!  This has been horrid!!!  Along with all the itching and with it being all over me from my face to my feet, I had to work two 12 hour shifts over the weekend!  I am posting a pic of Sumac for those that aren't sure what it looks like!  Please, look carefully and don't touch! lol
                                        
                                                                    Sweet Annie



  With all of that said, I am excited that it's almost time to start harvesting Sweet Annie and although, I never have really found any before, and knew what it was, I am going to be looking  for it this year and hoping that I can find some!  This is some pics that I have foud of it on various places of the internet and I have been reading about places where it grows and  what it looks like!  Sure wish I had someone close to my farm in Ohio that knew alot about herbs and plants to teach me things!  I so want to learn!
   
   Trying to be more diligent in my posts now, so hopefully will be talking to you again soon but have to close on this one!  Hope everyone is staying cool and still somehow managing to enjoy your summers!
       

Monday, July 11, 2011

Wow, what a busy week!!!

   This has probably been the busiest week that I have had so far this summer!!  I worked 12 hour shifts last Friday and Saturday nights and when I got off on Sunday morning, I left the hospital and drove the hour and a half to Caldwell, Ohio to be with the rest of my family that were already there for the 4th.  Had a great couple of day, but by Monday evening everyone had left to go back to their lives and I was there alone for a couple of days.  Made some signs for the upcoming fairs and did some landscaping and grooming  to the old farm.






                       I love that I don't have to do anything to my pictures from Ohio to make them look beautiful! They do that all on their own!


                                     

                   Spent one whole day making signs!  It felt really good to work on them again! Can't wait to have a booth and sell some of them now!  The rest of this past week was busy as well.  Had my moms family reunion in Kentucky this past Saturday and this week I am trying to catch up on housework and oh yes, stitching!!  Will post some pics of my latest project soon!!