Farming in the shade

Not a lot of time to blog, but I am very concerned about the proposed changes to the child labor laws having to do with farms. As I understand it, if these changes are made, we would not be able to employ our own children on our farm, much less any other teens. Younger kids will not be able to help run the sheep into the chute for sorting, worming or shearing. Nor will they even be allowed to be involved with 4H, as it puts them in contact with animals. Too dangerous, I guess, to show a lamb at the county fair. Here's a link to another blog post on the topic. And here you can read about and comment on these proposed changes. The comment deadline has been extended to December 1. Back to the sweatshop (where we regularly ask our kids to use dangerous tools like felting needles and sewing machines)...

Did you know? Wool absorbs moisture. Although the outside of the wool fiber repels moisture, the inside of each fiber can absorb a lot of moisture. Wool can absorb as much as 30% of its weight without feeling wet to the touch (compared to only 8% for cotton and less than 5% for synthetics). Thus an inner wool garment can absorb perspiration without feeling clammy--the wearer feels less chilled in winter and more comfortable in summer. A very interesting characteritic of wool is that it actually liberates heat as it absorbs moisture. A single gram of wool gives off 27 calories of heat every time it goes from dry to wet. Wool actually helps to warm its wearer!

This has been the year from Murphy in many ways, as just about everything that can have gone wrong, has. Maybe you've had a year like that. Downsized? Medical issues? Relationships strained or broken? Gratitude is a decision. Habakkuk, an ancient prophet, had some nasty circumstances, too. Here's what he wrote: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Join me as I give thanks, will you? Sometimes it helps to say (or type) it out loud. I am thankful for... ...food in the cupboards ...farmers' markets and the new friends we've made there ...freedom to worship as we choose ...family, near and far ...forgiveness offered and received ...farming What are you thankful for?

We've only seen a few flakes of snow so far this year. That's okay--I'm willing to wait until closer to Christmas for the stuff that sticks. In the meantime, can you guess what these snowballs really are? Last Saturday we sold out of wool dryer balls at the Kerstmarkt. We've been scrambling to make more for today's West Michigan Co-op drop off (had orders for them, and can bring extras for impulse buyers). And of course we'll need more for Friday and Saturday's Kerstmarkt. So we've been working on dryer balls. What did you guess?

I know. It's Sunday, and I'm a day late. Better late than never. Here are more of my favorite etsy sellers from West Michigan: Sara of BySaraLynn offers handmade accessories and home decor, including this cute embroidered perpetual calendar, kanzashi fabric flower magnets, and picnic placemat sets. Sally of SallyManke offers amazing art quilts, table runners, coiled rope tote bags, and flower pins made from zippers. Jennifer of OneHauteHostess offers handmade wirewrapped coffee scoops, cake servers, letter openers and more. Maria of MomNMiaQuilts makes more than just quilts. Keyfobs, carseat strap protectors, burp cloths, totes, hair accessories and art buckets are just some of the items in her etsy shop.

Cranberries are grown on 280 acres throughout Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula, the nothern part of the lower Peninsula, and Southwest Michigan. Michigan chestnuts are sold fresh, peeled, frozen, sliced, or as flour. Chestnut flour is a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour.

I know I'm neglecting my little blog. Please forgive me. Here's a run down of our recent activities. Signed up for West Michigan Coop (our first food drop off date is next Tuesday) Wove a couple of rugs for an upcoming wedding Wove more rugs for the Kerstmarkt Took a kazillion photos of socks and mittens to list on the etsy shop Did some shopping for our family's upcoming Thanksmas holiday Bundled, tagged, labeled and prepped items for the Kerstmarkt Sold yarn and roving at a little knitting retreat in the next town over Checked out FarmLink Had a great day at the Sweetwater Local Foods Market on Saturday--Best Day Ever Put the rams in with the Polypay ewes Set up booths for the Kerstmarkt (sensing a theme yet?) Picked up new yarn and socks from Zeilinger Wool Co. , our favorite wool mill Put out fires at my day job The Kerstmarkt starts this Saturday, and the blog may continue to be a little neglected. If you're in the West Michigan area, please come out and see us ...