A Backyard Mystery

A few evenings ago, Adam and I walked out on the back porch only to be greeted by an eager Rooster that equates the sound of the screen door to food. We noticed as he got closer that his beak was covered in smatterings of dark red. We got worried. What in the world could he have attacked in the back yard? He's always been pretty docile, if not down right lazy. We're used to this sort of thing from the backyard cat and I've accepted that it's her nature, that there's a whole web of life and death in our small urban backyard that I couldn't interfere with. Although I was slightly embarrassed the night we had company for dinner in the backyard and she decided to entertain us by juggling a still squeaking mole (the couple with us had boasted saving several birds from the cat they were looking after while house sitting that summer), I was always glad that she killed the mice outside before the indoor cats killed them inside. But I never thought of the young rooster as a hunter. Adam and I searched the yard for clues, for feathers (they really don't like the robins in the yard) or fur or signs of a struggle. We found nothing. I wandered to the very back of the yard finally and stopped at the blackberries to check on their progress. At the foot of the canes and bird netting was fresh chicken droppings. Mystery solved. We should have known it wouldn't be anything that would put up a fight.
I think the blackberry canes have been the most rewarding fruit we've planted. We may never get more than a few blueberries while we live here and I doubt we'll ever see the apple trees produce but the blackberries have surprised us with how much they have grown in the year since we planted them. And they are loaded!! This bowl full is just the first picking and there's still tons of berries ripening. We can't wait to see what they do their second year. And while Adam has been complaining about the shoots they are now sending up in the middle of the yard, he has forgot all that with every berry he's stolen out of the bowl. I think I'll pick one more time and leave the rest to the birds in the yard, least of which are the chickens.

Collage or Quilt?

Is there a difference? It's not all neatly pieced like a quilt but the pieces are sewn together. This was my first attempt at art quilting. I saw an art quilting magazine at Mama's house and I needed something fun to get inspired. Once I got started I couldn't stop! Mama has since sent me home with a stack of quilting books. She's determined to make a quilter out of me! Of course, I do have a huge stash of fabric for someone who doesn't sew much. Maybe this will be a good way to use some of it. I'm interested in incorporating some other media into the quilts now like paper, ephemera, etc. We'll see where it goes!

What's Bloomin'

Mama brought me this day lily last fall and we've watched the flower buds anxiously wondering what the flowers would look like. The variety is called 'Pink Ruffles' I believe, but I'm happy with the more peachy color it actually has. It's a very large flower and more fragrant than I've ever noticed day lilies to be.
I'm trying to make myself work inside the art room today (it needs cleaned up!) but it's so hard when the weather is so pretty. This is going to be a balancing act this time of year I'm afraid. Our etsy team, NC Triad Etsians is working on getting a craft show (or a few) this fall and I'd like not to wait until the last minute!
A couple of people have asked about "the grandchicks" and I'd like to let y'all know they are doing fine. We've ended up with one rooster that we're going to have to decide what to do with. He's not crowing but he's growing fast (he seems to be the lazy over eater of the three and if anyone's familiar with our cats, you might agree that we somehow do this to animals). I'm waiting for Adam to expand the run and then I think I might get another hen or two. They are SO much fun to have in the yard!

First Steps

I've had this blog set up for a couple of weeks but I admit that the blank page intimidated me a little. I've wanted to start a blog for awhile but now that it comes to it I think, "What would I write about?". It's always that first step that's the hardest.
So here's what I decided to post about - jam! I'm wanting to learn how to can this summer so I thought I would start with something simple, something I could do in a hot water bath. First steps! So I had pots all over the stove, red strawberry specks all over the kitchen (thank goodness hubby was at work - the kitchen is his room), and two books in front of me. And it worked!!! I never thought I'd be so giddy to hear the hissing of a lid sealing. Every can. And then as they cooled I tried the little jam that didn't fit in a jar and it was good! I thought I'd have to try a few recipes to find the good one. The recipe is for Strawberry-Honey Jam in Preserving Summer's Bounty edited by Susan McClure & The Rodale Food Center. I can't wait to try it on Mama's homemade ice cream!