Very VICKI

Summer’s Winding Down

Noble Homestead3 Comments

Finally, I am getting a minute to post a “Hello!”  Summer has been a little hectic with some health issues and new puppies!  We will catch you up with a puppy vid soon.  In the meantime, here’s a picture of “Demmy,” our 5 1/2 month old “Dark Chocolate” lab: IMG_20180827_114358843.jpg

He’s my new best buddy 🙂  We had gotten him and his sister, but had lots of trouble with Littermate Syndrome.  We are so thrilled that we found “Josey” (her new name) a new, fantastic home and great humans!

I am finally starting to list my many summertime creations on our Etsy Store, as well. I know I am a little behind, but better late than never! Here’s a little hand painted Unicorn Seahorse pillow I made with a secret pocket in the back:

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I have a few rag rugs, some smudge sticks, and a bunch of masks to list. They’ll be up soon!

The fields are getting hayed, and I have been gathering plantain and jewel weed the past few days to make healing balm.

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A local farmer mows our fields and we split the yield.
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Broadleaf and lanceleaf plantain.

Sorry we’ve been lax on our YouTube videos.  We had to lessen our workload a bit this summer, but I’m starting to feel better, so LOOK OUT! tee hee….

Peace, Vicki

New Items in our Etsy Store

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I sent my friend Suzanne of WTFarmGirl a couple treats and her reaction has inspired me to sell them on our Etsy store.

I had made these reusable cotton face masks to help me with the dust when I am working in the barn or woodshed.  They help keep the dust out.  You can wear them either way, whatever suits your fancy, as they are curved to fit your face and the straps are a soft, round elastic.

SUPER hot-off-the-presses-I’m-listing-stuff-right-NOW!

I have no packaging or labels ready yet, but up it goes! I made some awesome apple butter with orange and clove that I call “Sunshine Butter” and also some “Salve So Good!” that has Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive oil infused with plantain, Grapeseed Oil infused with Jewelweed, Carrotseed, Cedarwood, Lavender, Red Raspberry Seed, Clove, Calendula, Geranium, Vitamin E, and Rosemary oils.  You see many salves with some ingredients, but mine will rock your socks!  While you’re at it, slather some on dry heels and cover with cotton socks for a mini spa treatment!

Heatwave, Hens, Hay & Harmonica

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Our poor chickens don’t like cold toes, so I shlep out some hay out to carpet their yards.  It warmed up enough for them to want to come out.  I play you some Happy New Year song 😉

Baby Chickens, Christmas Crafts, and a Confession

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It’s hard to explain this video… It’s me, for sure!  You’ll see our new baby Ayam Cemani chicks, some things I’ve made for Christmas, and I confess about a problem I’ve had for a little over two years and show some progress!

Painting My Grow Room “Door”

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I have started gardening my 1800 square foot basement.  This is easier said than done.  Over the summer, when we were still financially flush, I ordered some LED grow lights and Happy Frog potting soil and a bunch of seeds, planning to plant them in the Spring.

Well, I couldn’t wait, and now there’s stuff growing in my basement.  Strawberries, Mint, Calendula, Marigolds, Begonias, and now I’ve planted spinach, carrots and peppers and am awaiting their germination 🙂

I hung a canvas cloth 2/3 of the way into the basement (which has been likened by a friend to a bowling alley!) to help retain heat on that end, since it contains a huge old radiator, which is heated by our outdoor wood furnace.

Happy Holidays & Vick Plays Harmonica

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When it first became apparent to me that our kids were with us to stay, I decided I was going to afford them every possible opportunity to teach them all I could so they could be the most awesome humans possible.  Unfortunately, I lack knowledge in the music category.  I decided it would be best if I learned how to play something.  I fired up Amazon and looked around and settled on the harmonica.  I knew a little bit about them, and knew the name Hohner, a German manufacturer.  Much to my surprise, I found one for under $10. For a beginner instrument, it was all I needed.  Although, I would also recommend a case.  I have taped the box many times over, and finally got myself a little case. It pays to keep it clean. After all, you do put it in your mouth!

I then proceeded to watch YouTube videos.  It certainly is harder than it looks to blow in one of those ten tiny holes! Watch me below 🙂  I really Do try, though!  I’m hoping that in a year my playing will be much better and it will be fun to look back on this.

I decided to teach the kids how to play and I bought a DVD instructional by Hal Leonard to teach us all. It even comes with a Hohner harmonica.  I highly recommend this little set.  However, while it is good for me to learn, that doesn’t work for the kids.  SO instead, I have been teaching them how the tablature works.  I go to Harptabs.com and we pick songs and try them from there.

I never knew I would enjoy it as much as I do!  At 48, any sense of accomplishment is fuel for more progress.  I suggest that you give it a try.  Just get the cheap little harmonica and pull up some Youtube vids.  It could be fun 🙂