January brought some nice cool weather, and a couple of weeks of good rain! It also brought the dreaded flu to our house!!! I had a flu shot, and still got the flu. But I had heard that the flu shot this year was not going to be very effective. This was a bad bug. A bug that wanted to hang on and on. Greg is still feeling crummy, after more than two weeks since coming down with it. So most of January seems like a bit of a haze.
I did make another poncho. I added a bit of green to this one, and did a different edge.
If you are familiar with the original pattern for this poncho, you can see that I made these quite a bit larger. I wanted it to be more like a warm jacket, with better coverage. I had seen this ball fringe edging on Pinterest and loved it.
It is such a pretty edge, but my gosh, time consuming!!!!! Worth it though. This one is going to be a gift for a friend.
I wanted to go on a little walkabout in the grove today. I feel like I haven't even been outside in forever. We have had some very unseasonably warm days, and it has confused the trees. The orange trees are forming buds already. Two months ahead of schedule!!
I didn't realize that our lemon trees were loaded! I think some lemon bars are in order!
Oops, those are grapefruit. Here are the lemons.
Avocados coming out of our ears!
The oranges are beautiful, huge, and so, so sweet!
My flock has finished their molt, and are looking regal in their fresh new feathers!
They know that I often come bearing treats, and they are all gathered around for their fair share of banana.
About half of of them are back to laying. They were lining up this morning, waiting for their favorite box to lay eggs in.
They are healthy, and beautiful, and bring me so much joy!
We are once again, finding ourselves with more eggs than we can consume.
I always love seeing the different colored eggs on the kitchen counter. From olive green, to the prettiest shade of aqua. Dark brown, speckled brown, light brown, and almost pink. I have one hen that lays a small perfect white egg. When I add to my flock this Spring, I will try to select hens for their differences in plumage, as well as their egg color.
Even though, it looks very much like winter in our neck of the woods, with barren trees, and pruned down roses, Spring is peeking around the corner. We even saw Robins this past weekend!
I couldn't bring myself to prune the roses in the back yet. These were dug up from my parents home, shortly after my Dad passed. He had planted these only a few months before he got sick. I dug them up and brought them to my house. They bloom such a brilliant red and yellow. I love them in the house, and I bring them to the cemetery when I go too.
We have been promised some more rain. I so hope it comes. We need it desperately. While we here on the West Coast wait for our rain, I will be saying a prayer for all of those on the East Coast who are preparing to be hit with a record breaking storm soon. Stay safe!
XO Kris
30 comments:
Hi Kris!
Your yard makes me wish it was spring, even though I love winter, but it won't be here in Northern Arizona until around April or May. I'm so jealous of your fruit tress and roses, but most especially of your chickens! I want some too, but it's not going to happen for at least another year. I have to give them a place to live first lol
Enjoy your rain :)
xo
Kris the flu has been terrible took my house 3 weeks to knock it. Your trees look beautiful. I planted 3 apple and 1 peach last year. The apples are dead and I'm going to return them. I can't wait to add more fruit trees this year. Your poncho looks great.
Kris. Myself and my daughter are ill at the moment with the flu.
Happens every year such a pain.
Love that you brought your fathers roses to your house. That is the kind of thing I would of done.
Rosezeeta.
Sometimes I wish to pack up my bags and go somewhere, anywhere to where it is warm and sunny, where red roses are still in bloom and fruit trees are heavy with fruit. If I want to see roses I would have to go to the florist, if I want to see fruit I would have to go to the grocery, bummer. I bet when your trees are in bloom it has got to smell like a bit of heaven here on earth. I bet the bees are happy little creatures buzzing around the blossoms. Your hens are busy gals. There are people around here who have free range hens and want $3 a dozen for their eggs. Much cheaper at the store, but I'm sure they are so much better quality. Your ponchos are so colorful and I like that ball fringe. I think you did a good job choosing it for the edge. We were lucky, 3 inches of snow here in NW Ohio. I have finally gotten better at using the snow blower and not finding it as intimidating as I did last winter. My neighbor guy came over 2 times to help me get it started but today I even surprised myself and it took off first try. Needless to say I was mumbling a little prayer for my efforts have gone smoothly. So much better than having to use a snow shovel and later suffer from an aching back.
Susanne :)
I hope your husband is feeling better soon. I had read that the flu shot wasn't effective this year. My husband got one too and still got the flu, though not as bad as your husband from what it sounds like. We got a bit of snow overnight last night which really brightens up the days here. Snow has such pretty reflective qualities. I love it (just until springtime). :-) Have a nice evening, I could have used one of those lemons tonight with our tilapia! Toodles, Heather
Oh both of those ponchos are gorgeous!
I haven't crocheted a poncho in 30 years and have just made one for my grand daughter and for a great nieces.
Hi Kris! I'm glad you're feeling better and I hope Greg is on the mend too very soon. I'm terrified of catching the flu thats going around this year. I seem to catch everything and since we're flying to see Miss Piper in a few weeks the last thing I want is either me or Dennis to get the flu. I am SO jealous of your fruit. The thought of going into my backyard and picking avocadoes, lemons, grapefruit and oranges just can't wrap itself around my little brain! :-) So wonderful. Your hens look so happy. The coop is always so clean and I bet that's a lot of the reason you get so many eggs. I haven't worked on my poncho since last week. I've been busy with all of my "little" projects. Yous are both so pretty though. I"m going to make mine bigger thanthe pattern too since I want to use it as my coat at the lake. I hope all is better at your house very soon.
Blessings,
Betsy
Hey Kris.....
Thanks for the tour of your beautiful orchard...
I am always amazed at how much you grow....
Lucky friend who gets the poncho....beautiful work!
Hope your Greg feels better....
It took us a long time to feel better....
Enjoy your week...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Reading your post made me realize how much I've missed your postings! Look at all that lovely fruit. It looks so good! Your chickens are looking really good too. I know you enjoy them and they reward you with plenty of eggs. It's like a farm around your house with the gardens and orchards and chickens! Love that. Your ponchos are both so-so pretty. Can't decide which edging I like best...I love them both. Glad you are feeling better finally!
I made many of those ponchos in college. They are so warm and cozy. I love the colors of yours. It's always nice to see your fruit trees, fresh eggs, etc. It's like you live on a farm! Sorry you've been sick; we have too and it does seem to linger on for way too long.
I really like the ball fringe edge on the second poncho. It gives it a different but nice look.
You are so lucky to have all that citrus! We are in Florida and I have absolutely no talent for growing anything citrus. We had two grapefruit trees before the 2004 hurricanes but they were already here when we bought the property. They didn't survive the storms which was sad.
Those eggs look too pretty to eat!
Hope you and your hubby feel much better soon.
Yuck on the flu ! Love your ponchos ! Your trees are so loaded !
Kris, so glad you are finally feeling better! Poor Greg, it really has knocked him out. Your orchards are beautiful! I can only imagine the beautiful fragrance. Love seeing pictures of your girls, they always put a smile on my face. Your ponchos are gorgeous! You are SO talented! Sweet D is still wearing the ear warmer you made for her, I think of you every time I see it on her!
Hugs,
Deb
Kris.. I'm so sorry you both succumbed to that flu! I'm scared to death of it! I have felt a bit yucky for the last 3 days but have crocheted 3 hats for Taci to take to Brazil. I didn't know you were flying to see Piper.. how exciting! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
We have been sick here with colds since Christmas......this flu/ cold that is going around a not fun! Hope you all fare feeling better soon.
Wow you made 2 of the ponchos they both look amazing and I love the edge on the second one. I can't believe your trees lo just amazing. We have also had some warm weather which is a hit scary over here in Oregon, bcz last year after thr warm spring like weather we had a terrible storm. Hopefully it will not repeat itself. So happy that you and your husband are starting to feel better.
Looking at your beautiful yard and fruit trees makes me long for spring to be here! I have the winter blahs....happens every year at this time. I need some fresh air and sunlight to help my attitude! Your second poncho is so cute...think I like this one even more than your first one!
Glad you and your husband are feeling better. The flu is hitting our school hard this year. I never get a flu shot...I think being around the(runny nose) kids everyday has built up my immune system. (I hope I didn't just press my luck!)
I'm on an egg and avacado kick right now for breakfast....our avacados are $1.00 a piece....I can't get over your endless supply right in your own backyard!
We had that nasty bug and yes, it held on forever. Jon threw up again yesterday so I pray it hasn't returned! Glad you are all on the mend. I love those ponchos! I just need to carve out some time to get hooking. I would love to come by your house and pick fruit with you. Oh, those lemons and avocados are calling me!
How wonderful to browse your blog. Here in Ontario, Canada we are battling -18 C about 1 F. we are not getting the storm hitting eastern Canada and US but are expecting 25 cm about 10 inches of snow Thursday. So as you can imagine seeing pics of lemon and avocado trees has my mouth drooling.
Pop on over to my daughters and mine blog. We have just started and are looking for followers.
Hi Kris, I'm glad you are feeling better; I'm wondering if you had the chest cold/flu or a stomach version. Hubby and I had a chest cold and the cough lingered forever-almost three weeks; I still cough every now and again. I'm so thankful for your thoughts and prayers. Got my ctscan result back today and it looked good. Now just waiting on the Dr. to call; hoping I'll just need my ovaries out and not the whole group.
Hugs,
Noreen
Kris, it is so good to "hear from you," but I am sorry that the flu is still harassing you and Greg. I have just had a touch of both kinds that are going around here.
Your ponchos both turned out wonderfully! I especially like the bobble edge on the one.
I posted photos of our confused Camellia bush blossoms the other day. They are so pretty, but so early...I wonder if we will get another winter blast.
So good to see your pretty flock.
Wishing you and yours well!!! xxxxxxx
I hope that you are all feeling much better again very soon and that all that citrus fruit helps! The trees look amazing with all the ripe fruit don't they. Your ponchos are both lovely, but I especially like the edging that you did on the one for your friend, that is so cute!! xx
Oh man I am jealous of those avocados. We are planting a tree very soon. I think a hass cause they taste the best. Your coop is so cute and the chickens are so awesome looking and good to see our old girls in there. I am thinking of adding a buff orpington after we get back from vacay. I may try to find a pullet. Egg prices are so high that I told Dean we may want to work in at least one more. Wink wink.
What a FUN post Kris! Filled with great things! Love the poncho's you have made!!! They are incredible and beautiful! Love seeing your chickens and that they are doing well. Our little hens are doing great too! Glad you are all doing better too.
Maryjane
xox
I love the poncho!! beautiful colors!
it's so cold here in Baltimore.. ughhh. I can't wait to see blooms on the trees and color on the ground. I'm ready for summer!!!!
Lemon bars = heaven!
Sure would love to live somewhere that I could grow all those beautiful fruits. I would love to eat an avacado a day if I could pick them from my own tree. Lucky you...well, not so much with that nasty flu. I still have been able to stay well this winter...knock on wood.
Your girls look so happy with such a wonderful Mama....why wouldn't they?
Wow, Kris--I have citrus fruit and avocado fruit envy looking at your full trees, as well as egg envy! You are so fortunate to have so much wonderful abundance there!
Love your colorful shawls!
Bless your heart my friend for being so ill, and your poor husband. Loved catching up with you. Spring is on the way and soon you will be immersed in your wonderful garden.
Hugs,
Meredith
The new poncho is cute. I am sorry you got the flu. I hope you guys both feel back to normal soon.
January UGH! Just browsed through the Internet and found your picture. It looks a little bit like these Rudolf-Steiner aqua colored pictures with all of these colors of Newton’s color circle. Yellow sun reflexions, red earth, blue sky is visible, even orange, purple and green. But just be aware of these oranges. Usually you have care for the trees that all these oranges can grow probably. Parents living in Greece got a plantation, enjoyed limonade since I was a little child, but it is not easy to let grow.
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