The Homestead Zoo Update

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Deborah

Everyday here on the Homestead is an opportunity to see some very different critters than what are usually seen within city limits.

There have been some additions to the cast of ‘regulars’ that roam the Homestead….

Frank the Fox recently moved into the area. He is a single guy looking to pick up pretty chicks..but he’ll settle for my ducks. He lopes through daily looking for the perfect opportunity to snag a tasty duck confit…. I have not seen him successfully nab one yet, but he has made off with something smaller a while back, most likely a squirrel.

Harry … Read more...

And the winner is….

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Deborah

Congrats to Chris from Saskatchewan!!! She is the lucky winner of the random draw of correct answers for the La Gitana Creations Microsuede Handbag.

She correctly identified the mystery critter below, which is a North American Freshwater Leach. Fish, Loons and Diving Ducks think they are pretty darn tasty…and Fishermen swear by them as bait (as one of our contest entries mentioned).

Hubby fished the critter out of the lake a few weeks ago, so of course, I took it as a great photo op moment.

Thanks to all who entered! Chris, I will get your new handbag packaged up … Read more...

Contest Closes Tonight at midnight (PT) – Hurry!

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Deborah

Hop on over and get your entry in to win a custom La Gitana Creations Handbag! http://www.thehomesteadingrealtor.com/do-you-know-what-this-is/… Read more...

Tile Backplash Project – Part TWO

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Deborah

Where did I leave off…..oh yeah…drywall done, taped, primed and painted. After arriving at the Homestead Friday and even though he had just spent 3 ½ hours in a car, hubby got to work hanging the upper cabinets back up on the wall. He really is a hard worker, I am totally blessed to have him as my hubby.

It took just over an hour to get the cabinets back up, which went off without a hitch. I then rewashed the glassware and dishes that I had wrapped in newspaper as they were packed them away until we could get … Read more...

Do You Know What This Is?

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Deborah

It is contest time!

Want to win this as a prize?

If you can correctly identify the mystery critter below, leave your answer in the comments section and a winner will be drawn at random from correct answers given. Draw will be held next Tuesday, October 30th.

Kudos to those that immediately know what this is…

Family Members are excluded from this contest, one entry per person, comments will not be shown until Tuesday morning.

Homestead Halloween

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Deborah

Next door to the Homestead is a recreational Cottage Camp, a small, 5 cottage operation run by a lovely couple that took it over late last year. They also have 4 lovely little girls….Melanie, Annie, Piper and Mira. Melanie is the oldest at 7 and Mira the youngest who is getting close to 3. They are well-behaved kids who absolutely adore fishing as much as their parents do. Watching them charge out onto the dock with their miniature fishing poles in hand, and seeing their excited, happy faces when they ‘land the big one’ (usually a 3″ bluegill or rockbass) … Read more...

Replacing a Tile Backplash-Part ONE

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Deborah

Sounds fairly simple doesn’t it? But sometimes the easiest of plans often go awry….

Awry…what an interesting word too, and the best one that describes our *minor* kitchen reno as the definition of Awry is: ‘Away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course’…clearly, that was happening here.

When we bought the Homestead a year ago, the previous owner ‘prettied’ up the place to sell. We knew this going into it as it was obvious from the first look at it. So we were going to live with the little odd things for the time being until we got the major … Read more...

Bushels of Bulbs

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Deborah

It is that time of year again. After the garden beds have been pulled of the weeds and annuals and the perennials have been cut back, it is time to plant bulbs in the ground so your gardens ‘makeup face’ is fresh and new come early Spring.

Walk into any grocery store, hardware store, or big box store right now and you are guaranteed to see bushels of bulbs in hundreds of varieties.

Daffodils come in a myriad of bloom types, Tulips from Holland show off their vibrant colours, and Crocus’s and Snowdrops offer the first glimpses of green, often … Read more...

Knuts for Knitting

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Deborah

Ever get the bug for something and you can’t stop?

That is me lately… I have not been able to put down the knitting needles since mid-August. The cooler weather of Fall that arrived has prodded me further into action.

I just finished a beautiful, hooded cowl for my daughter (below), that was made using an Alpaca blended yarn. First time ever working with Alpaca….man, talk about a hairy yarn. I felt like I had 5 cats sleeping on my lap whenever I was working on it. Definitely a ‘messy’ yarn, but extremely warm and works up beautifully. My best … Read more...

DIY Drink Coasters

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Deborah

If you are a knitter or a crochet person (like me), then you will definitely see the benefits to these simple drink coasters.

I always have tons of leftover wool from projects. Never enough to DO anything with as you typically just buy the amount you need for any given project. Patterns always give you leeway and there is always some leftover.

I came upon this idea long, long ago…so long I forgot about it until I sat at the Homestead over the weekend knitting mittens (which would lead to more scrap wool) and surveyed how many of these things … Read more...