Author: Caryn

Spring rain storm

On By CarynIn Coop

Well that was a gully washer. A right spring storm (and yes, it is January). Almost three inches in about two hours. And all those fallen fall leaves ganged up with the twigs and dammed my drainage, flooding the chicken runs. My poor wet chickens were blocked out of their coop. I opened the people door and they all ran back inside. The coop stayed dry (except for beneath the window I left open, sigh).

Covered run flooded

It took about 30 minutes with a hoe and a rake to clear the ditches and let the water drain. My Fitbit says I burned 1,000 calories. Not bad for 30 minutes.

Covered run after the water drained

I cleared the drainage just in time, since the water was almost to the bottom of the feeder and rising. I found a nice sturdy rock to put outside the pop door so the chickens have a landing spot, even if it floods again, and I pushed all the detritus against the run thresholds and packed it down to help redirect water. When it dries out I’ll have to haul in some more dirt to replace what washed away.

Captures from the outside camera

The outside camera caught most of the action. I combined pictures from 5am dry, 7:48am wet, 8:05am completely flooded, and 8:39 when I had at least found land even if it was muddy. I took pity on them and strung up a feeder inside.

Temporary inside feeder while the water receeds

Oops bag

On By CarynIn Craft

This is my Oops bag because I started out making a hat, but made it too big, so just kept stitching until the skein was almost gone and finished with a row of 2dc 1ch to make holes for a ribbon to turn my failed hat into a drawstring bag.

Double crochet drawstring bag

I’m still experimenting with the two yarn spiral start, and thought it would be fun to go from both ends of a color block cake.

Crocheting from the inside and outside of a yarn cake

I chose to use a double crochet (dc) stitch because the counting is easier than a half double crochet.

Open drawstring bag showing spiral base

The holes for the drawstring are a little off set, since I was working in a spiral, but it isn’t really noticeable when the bag is closed.

To summarize my process (American notation): In a magic circle, cast on 2 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc with yarn 1. Cast on 2 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc with yarn 2 (10 stitches total). Row 1: Yarn 1: inc in each Yarn 2 stitch, Yarn 2: inc in each Yarn 1 stitch (20 stitches total). Row 3: Yarn 1: (1 dc, inc) repeat 5 times Yarn 2: (1 dc, inc) repeat 5 times (30 stitches total). Row 4: Yarn 1: (2 dc, inc) repeat 5 times Yarn 2: (2 dc, inc) repeat 5 times (40 stitches total). Continue adding dc between increases until circle is desired diameter. Then dc round, alternating yarn 1 and yarn 2 (this is more obvious than it sounds when you get going!) until you get to the desired length. To make the eye holes for the ribbon, using yarn 1 (1 dc, 1 dc, chain one and skip dc) go 1/2 way around. Do the same with yarn 2. 1 hdc, 1 sc, then single crochet (sc) around half with yarn 1 and repeat the other half with yarn 2. Fasten off and weave in ends. Weave ribbon through the holes (two strands of ribbon starting on opposite sides makes a secure drawstring).

Egg casserole

On By CarynIn Recipe, Uncategorized
Egg cassarole

We’ve been lax on egg consumption, and even though the hens aren’t laying as many eggs, the numbers are still building up. Egg casserole to the rescue!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Hot sausage (ground)
  • 12 small eggs (or 10 large eggs)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (I used a Mexican blend)
  • 3 Stoplight bell peppers (yellow, red, orange)
  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • Salt and pepper

Cook sausage on medium heat, use a spatula to break the sausage into small pieces as it cooks. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl, add milk and cheese and stir to combine. Chop the garlic and onion. Wash and chop the peppers. Cook vegetables with sausage until onions are translucent. Mix sausage, vegetables, and egg mixture. Grease a 9”x13” pan and pour in combined ingredients. Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes. Reheats well!

Note to self…

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

Note to self, don’t buy the Santa stamps next year just in case the holiday cards don’t get sent until a week after New Years. Like this year. Ah well, they did get out, and I hope they brightened a few mailboxes.

Santa stamps

I do like sending holiday cards. They are good practice designing images for cards, and this year I had my kids not only help with ideas, but actually get into Illustrator and assist with making elements. And addressing envelopes is good hand writing practice for me. Even if they go out late.

Snow!

On By CarynIn Sky

Well a tiny bit of snow, but it is more than we’ve seen here since we moved in. I yelled like a kid out of school, woke my eldest so she could see actual flakes, had everyone in the house look outside, then let the teenager go back to bed. As a teenager, she was not impressed. I’ve had to modify her request (made at 10 years old) to be woken up to see snow. Honestly, it was a tiny dusting of snow, not impressive, but I do enjoy watching the snowflakes float through the air. We usually get freezing rain, which is only pretty on the tree branches when it is over, and makes driving a bear.

Snow “accumulation” on our deck box