Fall At The Home Farm

By the banks of Dingman Creek

Happy fall, everyone, and greetings from the “home farm.” I’ve been living by the banks of the Dingman Creek for the better part of the year and it’s been a big change from the life we led in good ‘ole Strathroy where we lived for 28 years, and where ABQ Sewing Studio is located.

The home farm is my Mom and Dad’s place. They are both gone now and Rob and I find ourselves the caretakers of this 50 acre property until it is sold sometime in the future.

It’s a pretty spot with very old and very large Sugar Maple trees surrounding the house, a flood plain at the front of the property is home to lots of deer, turkey, rabbits, a plethora of skunks!

• 

• 

The bird population is a lot of fun to watch in all seasons. We had scores of Red Wing Blackbirds recently getting ready to migrate south. You could hardly hear yourself think outside when they roosted overnight, with a new batch arriving every afternoon for this week long event. There was no point in hanging clothes on the line that weekend as it would have been directly below our feathered friends.

Wood-burning stoves sometimes hold surprises

It’ll soon be time to stack some wood closer to the house to feed the two wood stoves that help to heat the place. We built a fire upstairs in the living room insert this past Sunday, only to find that the cluster flies had decided the chimney was an excellent spot to overwinter.

When the smoke of the fire started to rise they decided to come down the chimney, filling the living room with hundreds of stunned buzzing flies. I’m sure our guests were mightily impressed with our welcoming committee of insects. All hands to the vacuum cleaner!

A large sewing space

I do have a very large sewing space at the Home Farm and have almost gotten myself set up now. I’m looking forward to the day when, along with my sewing machine and serger, I can add a small free motion quilting machine. But that will be sometime in the future.

With fall comes leaves

We are not sure what to do with all the leaves that are beginning to fall from the maples, oaks, and birch trees. I think another get-together with family is in order. Bring your rakes, gang!