She's a Mama!

The hummingbird eggs have hatched! We noticed little pieces of shell the other night. We were worried that maybe the cat got into the nest but when we climbed up to peek in, we saw teeny tiny babes. Their bodies are much larger than their heads and they have almost no feather but seeing such new and small beings was amazing.

We must now resist the temptation to check in on the babies every day and give this new mama some space. It's been so exciting watching this process unfold and we can't wait to see these babies take flight!

Berry Bag

It was time for a new bag. My other bags have taken quite the beating and the lovely one my brother bought me for Christmas just had the bottom fall out. So Anna Maria Horner and Rae to the rescue. I used the Lickety Split Bag pattern from Made by Rae. I modified it a bit since shoulder bags are not appreciated when one is chasing down a two year old. Instead of the tie at the shoulder I just overlapped the ends and stitched them together making a small leaf pattern on the shoulder. I also added about 3 inches to the pattern at the shoulder to make it the length I was hoping for. There have been many good bags in the past but something was always lacking. Here, I was in charge! I added a key clip so no more fumbling around for keys in the bottom of my bag. There are 2 inner pockets, one fits my cellphone perfectly and the other holds my sunglasses and lip balm. My only regret is that I didn't add ties to the top but floppiness is only an issue when I'm traveling light (which I rarely am).

Although the pattern called for cotton, I needed a bag that would last. I decided to use some Anna Maria Horner velveteen. I think this is called Forest Berries or something like that but as soon as I saw it I thought of my summer's picking red huckleberries in the woods around the island. I had to have it, even before I had a pattern in mind I knew I wanted that fabric. It is soft, sturdy and so pretty. I lined the bag with a light cotton so the bag didn't end up to bulky.

I think this bag might just be as close to perfection as I can create. I might add a button to close the top if it really bothers me but at the moment I love it. It holds everything I need it to and still looks amazing. I really hope this is a bag I will be able to keep for many years.

Wild Carrot Quilt

It's been getting warmer so naturally June's arrival meant a new summer quilt was required. I had this fabric, called Wild Carrot, sitting on my shelf for a least a year. It was the perfect choice for a whole cloth quilt. I love whole cloth quilts; simple, quick and a great way to show off beautiful fabric.

Both fabrics are quilting cottons and the batting is as thin as I could find. I did a turned edge then hand tied at the flowers to secure the quilt and give it more detail. I bought myself a walking foot for my sewing machine and I had hoped that by this time I would be able to make whole cloth quilts with beautiful quilted designs. I can do it in very small scale but once I start on a whole quilt I get confused and it becomes a mess. More practice is required I guess.

This quilt went into use the very night I finished it. It is light, cozy and so pretty. We are all fans (I guess I should make a few more then?). I have been drooling over some of the quilts I see on Flickr so I'm feeling motivated to get it together and actually figure out how to quilt, you know, really quilt. I think I'll start simple but it's time. I've been admiring quilters for a very long time so it's time I stopped dreaming and started learning. Any tips you would like to share?

Chicks

We got the opportunity to marvel at new life the other day. Jon is working for a woman who had some chicks hatch last weekend. She was kind enough to let us show the chicks to our daughter. Though mama chicken didn't seem very happy about a loud toddler near her babies.

April was so gentle and loving towards the chicks. I was so proud that she just knew how to be gentle, how to softly stroke their little bodies. We all were in awe of the fact that just a few days prior these little balls of fluff we inside eggs very similar to what we collect from our own chickens. Even April was saying "they're cute". So soft and the little sound they make is so sweet.

It got us thinking about our own chickens. We never planned on keeping them for many years, we planned on them being dual purpose birds. Perhaps it is time for a few chicks, time for a rotation in birds. Maybe even try another breed. There is a worry that the new chicks would not be welcome with the old chickens or that we might not have the resolve to actually slaughter some of our birds. However, this is the life we choose. We choose to learn these lessons in the soil of our land, with the animals we raise for food. We are always learning, homesteading is always changing and always a challenge. For now these are just ideas, but it might be time to make a decision.

Paloma

I finally got around to making myself a summer shirt! I bought this kit ages ago but I've been afraid for the frustration that often accompanies sewing with knits that I never bothered to try it. While stripes are not the best print on me, I decided to use this fabric because it is so light and airy. The pattern is Sew Liberated's Paloma Top.

It was a surprisingly quick and simple pattern. the only frustration I encountered was sewing the facing on the neckline. I managed to complete this entire project in one evening and I've wanted to wear it every day since. It is officially my new favorite. I wish I could find more of this light knit fabric because I could easily stand to have at least 2 more of these in my closet. The challenge, of course, is finding knit fabric that isn't "cutesy". This shirt is definitely making me want to try more of Meg's knit patterns. I am afraid no more!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

Notes from the Garden

Things in the garden are moving along. It feels like the vegetables grow so slowly but the weeds grow mind-blowingly fast. I did a major rotation in my garden this year and everything seems to be doing well where it is. I have yet to move my tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and beans out of the greenhouse but I'm sure once the sun returns they will be happy in the soil.

We have had a rainy week around here. It's good for the garden, it needs a good soaking from time to time but with the rain comes the slugs. They ate, right to the ground, all of my chard and started in on my cabbage and beets. I sprinkled a few crushed eggshells around but I just don't have enough for the whole greens area of my garden. So I filled 6 cups with beer and sunk them in the soil around my greens. It's still raining so I'm not sure it will work, the cups may overflow but at the very least I hope it slows them down.

The fruit is now visible on the trees. Cherry, pear and apple all seem to be very happy with our busy bees. The peach and the Asian pear are not doing well this year and it's too soon to tell for the grape. Our raspberries appear well and it looks like we will have a decent harvest. We have decided that it is time to replace our blueberries. Only 1 of our 4 bushes even produced flowers this year. Our blueberries were transplants from my parents yard and it seems that they did not adjust to the change. It's been 2 years and no improvement. Sadly, it's time to move on.

The garden is certainly a busy place. We have more birds, bees and butterflies than ever before. It makes me so happy to see nature working as it should. We plant flowers like nasturtiums, sunflowers and calendula in between our vegetables so that all the insects feel welcome in our garden (or at least the beneficial ones. Slugs, that does not include you!). This is my favorite part of the coming summer season. Watching my garden blossom and change grounds me, it is a integral part of our lives now and sharing it with April makes it all the more fulfilling.