Hollyhocks

have always been one of my favorite flowers, but I've never had very good luck in growing them.  The seeds usually germinate quickly, then the weather turns dry and the seedlings perish.  And if they do live, whenever their long stems are heavy with blooms, and a strong wind and rain comes, they fall over and are ruined.  It seems they do best growing up next to something, like an old shed or fence, anything to give them a little protection.  This year I had a clump growing in a corner between a chimney and a wall.  As you can see they grew really tall and we tied a cord to support them.

These were a beautiful, dark red; definitely going to save seeds from them.  I just knew from the shapes of the flowers and leaves that they were a kinfolk of the okra plant, and after a search on Wikipedia, found I was right; they are both members of the Mallow family, as is the hibiscus.

 

Perhaps the most common pest to a hollyhock is the leaf miner, which is the larva of an insect, such as a moth.  The larva lives in and eats the tissue of the plant.  They're protected from predators since they feed inside the leaves.  I had a choice between dusting the leaves, making them white and possibly killing bees, or leaving them as is; I chose the second.

 

 

Speaking of bees, hollyhocks are known for attracting bumble bees.  The farmer has told me this quick story many times:  He had a city cousin who knew how to fold the petals of a bloom around a visiting bumble bee, catching it inside.  The country cousin wasn't so lucky; the bee put out a powerful sting, right through the petals!

 

Have you had luck growing hollyhocks?  Have you ever tried to catch a bumble bee inside a bloom?

 

Charlotte

 

A little note added this Monday morning:  Judy left a comment referring us to "hollyhock dolls" on Google.  What a cute thing to do with a child!  So easy, and a lot of memories to be made.  BUT watch out for the bumblies!

 

The View From My Office....

the office being the cab of a tractor.  Our weather has been hot and dry this past week, perfect haying weather.  So, as the old saying goes, "We made hay while the sun was shining."

Thick swathes of dried grass spread out in front of me,

and behind me the rake rolls two of them into a large mound, ready to be picked up by the baler and turned into big round bales for next winter's feeding.

This isn't a very large field but we made over 100 bales from it;  so thankful for each bale!  And since the hay was dry, we didn't have to wrap the bales in plastic, only with a netting material which holds the bales tight enough to shed water when stored outside.

 

I had lunch in the office since we left to get an early start.  Actually I didn't have time to eat much of mine: potato chips, ham and cheese sandwich, pear halves, fig newtons, and of course, two miniature Hershey bars.  We baled until around 6:00 p.m. and then there were chores to do before supper, so I was beginning to feel light-headed and unsure on my feet.  I usually carry peppermint candies with me to ward off the effects of low blood sugar, but forgot them.

 

Baby chickens will come next week so we won't bale more until they're settled in.

 

And that's a day from my office; hope you enjoyed the visit.

 

Charlotte

More Kitchen Quilts

Another set of kitchen quilts: Little Aster (upper left) and Bow Tie (lower right) made from orphaned quilt blocks, one paper pieced crazy patch, and one courthouse steps pattern.  Two of these have a product called Insul-Bright and a layer of cotton batting inside, making them suitable for use as a potholder.  The Insul-Bright is a needled insulated lining recommended for hot pads, oven mitts, tea cozies, etc.  These are a cute addition to a country table.

 

Charlotte

June Apron

 

The June apron is another one from my Denise Clason book, Sewing Vintage Aprons.  It is a "full" apron made in a blue cotton print, trimmed with black bias tape.  There are ties, sewn into a side dart above the pocket, to fasten the apron around the waist and the neck straps fasten with buttons; it will give good coverage.

 

Somehow this apron, and the print,  make me think of the farmer's grandmother;  I seem to remember she usually had on an apron when we would visit her.

 

To quote Ms Clason, "Sew an apron for yourself...bring back the nostalgia of the past...bring out the inner chef in you as you make your own memories..."

 

Charlotte

Spring Farm Update

Spring here on the farm has gone so fast!  We had cool weather for a long time and good rains; in fact, it still isn't really hot yet. 

Last fall, when our hay supply was short, the farmer planted grass seeds in the hay meadows and pastures.  When the hay was almost gone, the grass came up and gave the cattle a little extra to eat.  They didn't leave much sign of that grass, but in the meadows it was a different story.

 

This was a variety of grass called "rye", and as you can see it grew to almost six feet tall.  We think this hay will make good feed for the cattle when it is put through the grinder/mixer next winter.

 

 

Arrow leaf clover was mixed with the rye.

 

 

These rows of stubble make the field look like there wouldn't be any more grass all summer, but with a few good showers, new grass will make the field green again.

 

We have had rain in the forecast several times in the past few weeks, making a time to cut the grass uncertain.  But if we can get two - three days in a row without rain, the farmer cuts and we bale the next day.  Of course the grass isn't completely dry; therefore, we use this machine to wrap the bales in plastic.

 

 

The damp hay has to be wrapped the same day it's baled, otherwise it will rot; the plastic seals out air, turning the grass into a type of silage.  As the bales are put onto the machine, they're pushed forward into a chamber where the plastic wraps around the bales as they move.  The long rows are sort of an outdoor barn.  Having to haul and wrap the bales as soon as they are baled, makes for a long day of work.  We can haul as many as fifteen bales at a time from the field, taking about an hour for the road trip and the wrapping.  Some nights we aren't finished until eleven or twelve p.m.; long hours for old people.

 

We've put up almost 450 bales so far, as compared to a total of 501 in last summer's drought. We are so thankful for every bale!

 

On top of working in the hay, our chickens are in their last week on the farm, which means "there's work on every hand!"  I keep wondering, how many more years will we be able to work?

 

Charlotte 

 

 

 

29 Days Between Posts

What a thrill to know I've been missed!  Some have asked if I'm o.k.; I am ~ just a little weary and wondering if I should continue blogging.   My daughter started this blog site and asked if I would like to contribute a story now and then and show some of my quilts.

 

It was fun and exciting to read comments about my work and soon, every stitch I made was examined and carefully done so I could write about the quilt.  That was the way it was for all the years I entered quilts in the county fair: what will the judges think of this or that, and soon it almost became a chore, rather than an enjoyment, trying to be perfect.  Now I almost feel burned out with quilting, because the last one I put up stayed on the frames for about six months, just sitting there, covered up to keep it from fading.  Yesterday I took it off the frames, folded it up with its batting and lining, and put it in the cupboard.

 

Does this make me a failure?  I don't think so; I feel relief that it's out of sight, and now my frames are open for baby quilts and doll quilts, and I can still piece tops when I want to. 

 

Many hours were put into paper piecing the top.  I just didn't feel up to trying to hand quilt through all those seams and didn't want to take a chance of ruining it by machine quilting it, because it is a pretty top.

 

The pattern is a Marcia Hohn design from the Spring 2003 edition of the Quilt magazine, called Flowers of Friendship. 

 

Now of course, this set-back in my creative spirit isn't the reason I haven't blogged.  I'll try to find time to post that story tomorrow.  I have tried to find time each day to read your words and look at the beautiful pictures you post. So, let me thank each of you who looked for my words and wondered about me; makes me feel special...

 

Charlotte

May Apron

Can you believe it's time for the May apron, the fifth one! 

 

This apron gives good coverage: crossed in back, buttoned forward shoulder line, and a big, generous pocket.  It is made in a soft green and pink cotton print, with edges bound in pink homemade bias tape.

 

The copyright date on the pattern envelope is 1971.  It appears to have been used more than once.

 

 

Only two pattern pieces are needed to make this one, so it might be an easy "first" apron for someone to make.

 

Charlotte