Sleepytime down South

On the warmest days of summer, the sheep, the llama, the alpaca boys and even the peacock spend their days dozing.  The cool of the evening is the favorite time for grazing.  Luckily for all, we finally got some rain and the grass is starting to look a little more appetizing.

Of course, even if the ewe lambs are napping, they seem to keep one eye open for any sightings of me.  They are spoiled and I can't imagine how that happened.  Any time they spy me outside they start calling to me (it actually sounds more like yelling at me!).  Every afternoon at feeding time, I try to sneak my way into the barn to quietly start the feeding routine, but nearly every day, they somehow catch me and set up a loud ruckus, until I let them inside to the feeders.

Except for feeding time chaos, it's been quiet here on the farm.  There's just not a lot to do right now because I'm not raising a garden this year.  Mainly, I'm trying to keep the grass mowed and the laundry done.  The RA issue has not gone away.  After being on steroids for 6 weeks, I managed to be off of them for almost 3 weeks and got hit with another flare.  :-(  Not happy about that.  I know that eventually things will even out.  It's just been a lot tougher than I expected getting to that point.

Besides being totally engrossed in all things "Outlander", I have managed to get a little sewing done.  I can thank Cal Patch and her classes at Squam for bringing me back to the sewing machine (and the fabric stores - oh, my!).  I've sewn up several tops and a few tunics to wear over jeans or leggings and am really enjoying making some things that actually fit me.  I've spent years being a frustrated sewist because I couldn't seem to figure out what size pattern to choose.  I'll admit that making a muslin first was not something I was ever taught, but if it's a new to me pattern, I certainly do so now.  It saves so much frustration and ruined pieces of fabric.  I'm collecting a little library of favorite patterns that I've tried and been satisfied with and finding it fun to search out the right fabric for it. We only have JoAnn's and Hancock's to pick from around here, but I'm getting more brave about ordering fabric on-line. Right now (and, truth be told, pretty much always) linen is my fabric of choice for almost anything.  I know it wrinkles and that's just fine with me.  After it's been washed a few times, it just gets better and better.

This light weight denim tunic is made from Simplicity New Look #6187.  The pattern is for a top and I simply extended the length.  I've also made this pattern in a linen short sleeved top and a cotton Julianna Horner print with 3/4 length sleeves.  I've got plans for making a black linen tunic or dress from the same pattern.  See what I mean?  I've finally found one I really like!

Remember that I mentioned letting the pokeweed grow completely out of control, just so I could harvest the berries for dyeing?  Here's proof.  This one by the back door of the studio is taking over!  There will be some natural dyeing going on around here soon.