Welcome to Thistle Cove Farm; Thanks for Stopping By...

~ Welcome! ~

Some folks go to the florist or grocery store; I drive down the road, Mason jar and scissors in hand and pick a bouquet for the gate.

As Susan Branch says, here's a little musica to set the mood. This week has been grand; lots of sunshine, lots of warm weather, 

~ do you see the sheet of rain in the middle? ~ 

some rain to help things grow,

~ double rainbows, ending in my pasture! ~

animals (domestic and wild) and friends FRIENDS!

~ deer and two red wing blackbirds ~

Early in the week, a deer was spotted in the side pasture. Apparently, s/he was a little too close to someone's nest because they started dive bombing. First one, then the other, would swoop in about the ears and, eventually, the deer scampered.

~ so graceful ~

~ Do you know these women? ~

One of the best gifts I've ever received was a visit this week from Vicki of 2 Bags Full. Vicki and I have known each other for years and it was at her Florida property Dave and I had a respite just days before he unexpectedly died. This week, Vicki and I met for the first time and, truly, it was like being, again, with a friend of decades whom I'd not seen in a long while. Vicki is everything one could ask for in a house guest; she loves cats, loves the dogs, loves the horses, loves me, smile

AND SHE AND MARSHA WEEDED THE VEG GARDEN!!!! No one was threatened or harmed, it was an act of LOVE and words fail me at saying how greatly appreciated. Now I can get in a few more tomato plants, herbs and maybe a squash or three. In true Vicki fashion, "no big deal" but, yes, it was, and is, a Big Deal. It would have taken me all day if not two and they did it in a couple of hours. THANK YOU!

They left, all too soon, and missed the black bear heading home this morning.

They also missed learning how to drive the tractor; several times a week, early morning after dew is off the ground, I mow thistles in an attempt to keep them under control. I dislike using chemicals and weed control is by tractor and old fashioned swing blade.

Walking on sunshine...another beautiful day on Thistle Cove Farm and tomorrow is sure to be perfect.

Mercy! My cup overflows!

Blessings ~ Vicki ~ Marsha ~ wildlife ~ beautiful weather ~ Thistle Cove Farm where I've spent the BEST one-third of my entire life! ~

Grow Your Blog Party!

Remember Vicki at 2 Bags Full? Earlier this year she had a Grow Your Blog Party and invited everyone! It was a ton of fun, especially at a time of year, January, that was fairly dismal, weather wise, for a lot of us. More than 400 international bloggers participated and yes, you do have to have a blog...it's called a Grow Your Blog Party smile.

She's doing it again...January 25 so to sign up, click here then carefully read the rules. You must go to this page and sign up; if you comment on any other post, it's not counted as signing up. It's nice of you to comment but in order to participate, you must sign up here.

~ Rules ~

~ You must have a blog and the party is open to all bloggers, around the world.
~ Share the badge on your blog. You'll find the html code on a sidebar here.
~ To give...or not to give...prizes. It's your choice...perhaps overseas prizes (no matter which direction they're going) could be magazines or other flat items while domestic prizes could be something a tad more elaborate. It's your choice.
~ If you do give prizes, please mail them by 15 February.
~ The evening of 24 January, put up your GROW YOUR BLOG post and focus on who you are as a blogger. If you're an artist, talk about your art and show pictures but this is not an opportunity to boost sales so let that be on your side bar. You must have a GYB post in order to participate; if you don't have a GYB post, your name/blog will be deleted from Vicki's participant's list.
~ Give your name, have a picture of yourself...hard one for me, I usually don't have photos of myself...but I will for Vicki!

Vicki has more information listed, click here, and please, if you're able, participate. It's tons of fun and yes, I'm participating and will give away prizes...to be listed on my GYB post on 24 January.

Blessings ~ Vicki ~ Grow Your Blog Party ~ Karen Valentine, Vicki's go to blog mensa ~ 

Grow Your Blog Party

Vicki, 2 Bags Full, has opened up the sign-up for her Grow Your Blog Party. The party is January 19, 2013 and sign up is here. I'm joining in and will give away three gifts...to be announced later.
Just thought you'd like to know -smile-!

Blessings ~ Vicki ~ Grow Your Blog Party ~ gifts ~ 

The Pink Scarf Project

Vicki, at 2 Bags Full, is hosting The Pink Scarf Project, about which she says, "To bring a smile to the face of a woman who is fighting her own battle with breast cancer."  Vicki asks us to either make or buy a scarf for donation. The scarf should be mailed to:

"Pink Scarf Project"

311 West Main Street

Grayson, KY 41143

Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for a beautiful, hand crafted wrap on October 1, 2013.

The thing I like best about Vicki's Pink Scarf Project is it helps the women who have battled, or are battling, breast cancer. It's about the women!

Blessings ~ The Pink Scarf Project ~ 

Instant Knitification

It's that time of year, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere to cozy up to something warm. I've a hankering to learn how to rug felt and would love to take a class from Nicole Chazaud Telaar at Festive Fibers...that woman rocks! One little big problem... she's in New Hampshire, I'm in southwest Virginia and there's a lotta asphalt in between. Her class schedule is here and, like I said, I'd love to make a felted rug or an ottoman. Taking one of her classes is on my "goals and dreams" list; does anyone know of a similar teacher in the south, preferably VA, NC, WV or SC? 

All year long, I knit, but this time of year, I'm churning out hats like heads depend upon my needles to keep warm this winter. By the way, is it just me or just anyone else find it mildly amusing that needles is spelled need les. So does that mean if one has knitting, one has enough? Or, one doesn't need to knit...nope, cannot mean that! Perhaps Maslow had it correct...food, shelter, clothing and knitting...ya think?! Hmmm, I look for hidden meanings far too much! smile

In process of going through the house and labeling things to sell, give away and keep, I've found several knitting projects that need some serious attention; as in, finish me now or frog me now or pay someone to finish me now. And, frog means to ripit, ripit, ripit...rip out the knitting...get it? No? Oh well, it's knitting lingo and a lot of knitters find it wildly amusing. 

These knitted and purchased goods were supposed to go to those folks taking shelter in the National Forest. That was last year and my intentions were good but the grief felled me so I just kept knitting and now have even more goodies to give away. I've asked a neighbor preacher to help find a contact person who takes supplies to those forest folks; hopefully, that will happen soon. If not, there are a lot of people locally for whom finances are tough and a small "God loves you" gift will warm them twice. No, I won't wait for Christmas, it's chilly now, especially for those living in their cars or tents.

These huge balls of wool yarn are going to be knitted into a shoulder cowl for me and I'll dye in a jewel color either before, or after, knitting; I'm not sure when. I rarely knit something for myself and have determined to change that. Each year, I'm going to knit something for me; this year it's going to be this cowl and I'll finish the scarf I started while Dave was in cancer treatment. Even though I've been knitting for donkey's years, I'm not an accomplished knitter, perhaps a middling one, at best. The nearest yarn shop  is more than fifty miles away and at the price of gasoline, I just don't jump in the car and go. With not much band width, the i-net is, for the most part, a foreign land to me as well. Pretty much, I'm a self-taught knitter and keep to the simple patterns. Simple patterns are best because I have to steal time from the farm, Dave's estate...still haven't finished that!..., the house and the community. We're all busy, crazy busy, and in order to get my knit fix, I keep it simple, sweetie.

Having said I rarely knit for myself, this mobieus was knit with acrylic wool yarn purchased in Budapest. Dave sent me to Eastern Europe the summer before he died in November, 2011. He wanted me to grow my wings, batten down the fear and not forget how to LIVE just because he wouldn't be around to catch me should I fall. Dave, I'm in process, Beloved and thank you.

Thus, the "instant knitifcation"...cute, eh? Yeah, I like quick, simple, easy projects that I can churn out in a day or even a few hours. Hats, scarves, hand arm warmers, throat cozies, shawls and socks fit that bill, although, I'm still...still...trying to learn how to turn a heel! It's insane! I'm relatively smart, have taught at University and lower levels, taught in Russia and Eastern Europe, navigated this first year without Dave, traveled by myself to foreign climes and I still cannot turn a heel. I'm flummoxed! If I had more time, I'd send out invitations to my pity party. Would you come? Note to self...change your self-talk...begin saying, "I knit wonderful, fabulous, fantastic socks with beautiful heels!"

This yarn needs to be dyed purple...fast! Again, last year, I gave the kit to Millie for a Christmas gift and told her I'd dye it for her. Good intentions...good grief...it's time to DYE! Perhaps I'll dye my white cowl yarn purple at the same time and use one dye pot; come on, good weather! Do you think purple and gold yarn might be nice together?

There's a fine line to walk when I visit knitting blogs of Very Accomplished Knitters. I want to ooohh and aahhh but not compare myself with folks like Vicki at 2 Bags Full. Vicki is one of those Very Accomplished Knitters who has a huge heart as well; visit her Sacred Yarn Room and then, sign up for her Grow Your Blog Party coming mid-January. 

The gas logs are lit, chairs and side table pulled front and center, cozy on a full tea pot, mug waiting, lamp at the ready. Now all that's needed is me and the knitting bag; there's a spare chair, care to join me?

Blessings ~ Dave ~ knitting ~ Millie ~ gas logs ~ Vicki ~ tea ~ good light ~ instant knitification ~

Vicki's Grow Your Blog Party

Vicki, 2 Bags Full, is having a Grow Your Blog party and wants you to come but only if you want your blog to gain more visitors and followers. Vicki is an amazing woman...kind, generous and talented; if she weren't so nice, she'd be intimidating as all get out! 
She has a Sacred Yarn Room...love it!...and makes these amazing, beautiful, wonderful nests she sells on etsy. 
She's also featured in Romantic Country Fall 2012 magazine; well deserved too! Fifi O'Neill is the editor of Romantic Country, as well as a slew of other eye candy publications, and a visit to her site is time well spent. Whenever I visit a big box book store, I can spend a few hours dreaming deep into her publications.
Vicki is a travel writer published in Living Better at 50. Her article, Tips for Cruising , is the best I've ever read and can be used for non-cruise travel as well. 
While you're visiting Vicki's article at Living Better at 50, plan on spending additional time perusing this fabulous e-mag site. 
I believe Vicki is taking some time off from her blog but plans the Grow Your Blog Party for January 2013. She has room for bloggers with fewer than 200 followers and more than 200 followers...Vicki's made room for everyone!
Thistle Cove Farm is included; how about you?

Blessings ~ Vicki ~ Grow Your Blog Party ~ participants ~ encouragement ~ encouragers ~