tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4698348020814571132024-02-19T02:37:16.615-06:00Willow HomesteadBoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-5730205780156721302016-04-27T15:03:00.001-05:002016-04-27T15:03:41.102-05:00Author review :: Michael PerryWhile browsing the "Check out our new books!" rack at the library last year, I stumbled upon a local author named Michael Perry, hailing from northwest Wisconsin. I am always drawn to local writers, perhaps mostly because I like Wisconsin and have never felt ashamed of cows or cheese or the Green Bay Packers. You throw in the Violent Femmes and Harley Davidson, and you've got a BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-4132353943150866552016-04-01T11:32:00.000-05:002016-04-01T11:32:54.165-05:00My Cheshire Quilt
A few months ago, in an attempt to reduce the Stash and use up terribly out-dated fabric, I pulled together a selection of purples with a larger piece of contrasting aqua. As I was not overly concerned with size, anything from wallhanging to queen-size was fair game, I waited for the fabric speak to me, tell me what era or style to go with. Eventually an idea took shape to do a BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-90521168629120971992016-03-07T11:37:00.003-06:002016-03-07T11:37:42.014-06:00Retro Restyle: Men's Ties
It's been a couple of years now that the Little Rancher declared a moratorium on anything pink and girlie. Not only her bedroom but also her closet received a thorough going-thru. Blue and yellow were allowed to stay and anything that invoked thoughts of horses, cowgirls or Southwest Native Americans. After some thought, I decided I could work within these new parameters, and BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-85035893206691601142016-03-01T12:13:00.002-06:002016-03-07T11:37:55.215-06:00Retro Restyle: Cashmere Sweaters
I love sweaters. They are part and parcel with the whole sheep and yarn hobby. Some day maybe I will do a proper write-up on my sweater addiction, but not today. Today I have a story of two oddball sweaters that never were circulated in the daily wardrobe. One started out life as a men's XL v-neck in grey, the other was a women's L crewneck in red. They were BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-47925695885851325722016-01-19T15:04:00.002-06:002016-01-19T15:04:21.853-06:00DIY: Wooly dryer balls
I am not sure why I did not do this sooner. I have plenty of wool.
I love all-natural, diy projects. I had friends asking me about it. In any case, it has happened. I finally stopped the spinning wheel and turned my wool roving into those eco-friendly dryer balls that everyone is talking about. These are used instead of dryer sheets. They combat BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-79105619819135630502015-12-07T10:10:00.002-06:002016-01-19T14:22:16.928-06:00Small-town Christmas Bazaar
handmade notecards
There is a certain nostalgic charm to small-town Christmas Bazaars, and this past weekend I shopped one of the best in the state. One Saturday only, every December, a small-town high school in north-central Wisconsin opens its doors to nearly 80 vendors, filling the cafeteria and gymnasium with handmade crafts, and they've been doing this for thirty-seven years.
BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-12430659840280108402015-11-03T08:56:00.001-06:002015-11-03T08:56:42.683-06:00Indian Summer
It's the first week in November. I'm hanging laundry on the line, and the kids are outside in their shirtsleeves.
Hello, Indian Summer.
This has been a mild Fall here in Wisconsin, and I can't imagine that we'll see many more days that reach the 70s until next June so we are making the most of this week. And Little Rancher is enjoying some sunny pasture-time BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-15386216740259132362015-10-20T08:21:00.001-05:002015-10-20T08:21:16.064-05:00Sheep Talk: CompostingIt seems that Mother Nature has flipped her calendar, realized it's now October, and said, "Time to drop the temps by fifteen degrees!" The days are notably cooler here in Wisconsin, and the nights are down-right nippy. The Little Rancher is bundling up in her winter jacket for morning chores. I prefer to wait until the sunshine has taken the chill off a bit before heading out BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-35843785821812331372015-10-06T08:48:00.002-05:002015-10-06T09:22:28.476-05:00Derby: In Memoriam
Two Winters ago one of my favorite rams passed away. Derby. He was born on our farm in 2004, sweet and gentle from Day One. As he aged, his disposition never changed. He was top ram for a couple of years when youth and testosterone were on his side, but slipped from power pretty quickly because he just wasn't a fighter. He is the only ram we've ever had that BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-73251982146047679342015-09-30T10:13:00.001-05:002015-10-01T09:21:19.731-05:00Sheep TalkIt seems like quite a long time since I stopped to talk sheep with y'all. Way back in Spring I hurriedly posted some lamb photos, but the sheep are so self-sufficient all Summer that...hold on...I don't think I ever posted lamb photos this Spring!! What kind of shoddy shepherdess am I?! There are a few cute lamb videos on my facebook page, but I think a few introductions are in BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-44780845684178680902015-09-08T10:34:00.001-05:002015-10-07T09:31:18.842-05:00These are washdress days.
This Summer I resolved to finally be honest about my sewing projects. What did I actually need in my closet? Did I need more 1950s, fitted-bodice, full-skirted dresses? Did I need more pencil skirts? More novelty print aprons? No. I needed a dress that I could mow the lawn in. A dress that had a bit of breathing room. A dress that IBoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-49524501621598835982015-08-22T11:22:00.002-05:002015-08-22T11:22:05.112-05:00A Step Back to the Old WorldAuthor's Note: I apologize in advance because this post will undoubtedly become one of those long, rambling posts that's filled with wistful looks back on the past. One of those posts that make you, the Reader, envision a specific topic based on your interpretation of the title, but after reading a paragraph or two, realize that you're in for a whole heady trip through my BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-45093033945087323792015-06-02T08:56:00.000-05:002015-06-02T08:56:15.221-05:001930s Dressing Gown
This past month one of my good friends got married. She and her new husband were already settled in a house and didn't need the proverbial china and silver, so I decided to take a less traditional route. Using the 1930s Butterfly Blouse pattern from Decades of Style, I opted for a romantic Dressing Gown.
It's even on sale!
I had a beautiful piece of burn-out velvet. BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-26830079268029613652015-05-06T09:48:00.001-05:002015-05-06T09:48:29.647-05:00Beyond the chores
The Little Rancher has made it through her first winter.
Breaking ice, hauling buckets, pitching hay, shoveling manure, brushing, picking, none of it seemed to slow her down. But now that Misty is on pasture and has access to an artesian spring, chores have taken on a new meaning.Setting her alarm for 6:10am, the Little Rancher continues to go out. One day I asked, "Are you still BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-64762342749047824962015-03-24T08:27:00.001-05:002015-03-24T11:53:00.737-05:00Lederhosen braces
Since taking up leather tooling, my husband, Hank, has come up with more crazy unique ideas than I thought possible. It all started quite innocently with belts and can coozies that were handed out by the thousands this past Christmas. Simple keychains led to talk about cuffs, collars, corsets and wouldn't the guinea pig love some Viking-styled armor? Maybe just a helmet BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-42134302695323666732015-03-16T13:04:00.000-05:002015-03-16T13:04:11.428-05:00Quick before the snow melts
It seems that Winter in Wisconsin is finally on the wane which, honestly, couldn't have been better timing for this sewing project: a fur-trimmed vest. It's warm enough for cooler temperatures, but would be bulky and uncomfortable to layer under a coat. Here's the story...
A few months ago I had purchased a 1960s wool cloth coat primarily for this mink collar. BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-81585537748511066812015-03-06T15:51:00.001-06:002015-03-06T15:51:07.769-06:00loved to shreds
four months old
I knew my second child would be a boy. I didn't need an ultrasound to tell me that. So I chose a nice royal blue, acrylic yarn and found a knitting pattern for a baby blanket that perhaps, just maybe, I could finish in nine months time.
"What if you end up with a girl?" my mother asked. "You'll have to knit a pink one." Raising one eyebrow, I said, "BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-3783381195745259842015-02-06T08:03:00.001-06:002015-02-06T08:03:48.899-06:00Draped in plaid
Earlier this Winter I decided to take a scissors to some wool and try my hand at draping. I am confident enough to alter a pattern, sometimes quite drastically, to suit my taste, but never had I just draped the fabric off a dressform in hopes that it would magically transform in a couture garment. In my collection were three pieces of lightweight wool in coordinating colors.&BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-64664579823745998712015-01-24T15:20:00.001-06:002015-01-24T15:20:11.049-06:00The thrill hasn't worn off...We're a solid three months into the whole inevitable horse situation, and I'm happy to say that the thrill hasn't worn off. Hank, devoted as ever, continues to research proper training and
handling techniques. The Rancher is learning to use her voice and be
more assertive. For Christmas, she received a lunging rope and whip. Misty is spoiled and generally not in a mood to obeyBoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-54535749669435288532014-12-01T09:28:00.003-06:002014-12-01T13:06:38.277-06:00*k2, p2, rep from * across
They weren't kidding when they said that one good thing leads to another. Like the time I tried a new cookie recipe and before the batch was even gone, I was anxiously waiting with another new recipe in hand. Or the year my geraniums survived over the winter, and I was encouraged to purchase more. Or like my last knitting project that ever-so-slightly boosted my confidence, BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-40757812542705472272014-11-19T10:18:00.000-06:002014-11-19T10:31:35.427-06:00my beginners lace
Lace knitting is on my bucket list. More specifically a traditional Shetland Wedding Shawl is on my bucket list, and it may stay in the 'to do' column a few years longer. Reason being is that I just finished my first lace project. I'm wondering why I waited so long to do this? It was a great intro project that, mercifully, didn't require months on the needles. I BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-61924927842040607412014-11-07T09:45:00.001-06:002014-11-07T09:45:29.384-06:00The InevitableI knew it from the beginning. I did. I knew it by the steady stream of horse books coming home from the library. I knew it by looking around my daughter's bedroom. I knew it when I scanned the empty back pastures and the generous hay supply in the barn. I knew it as my husband's stoic resolve crumbled month by month. Heck, I even knew it while my son's eyes BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-91926071365691422072014-10-28T14:52:00.001-05:002014-10-28T14:52:15.707-05:00Toasted Pumpkin SeedsIt's that time of year again. Time to clear off the dining room table, cover it in newspaper and schlup out some pumpkin guts. The tradition is pretty simple at our house. My husband wields the carving knife, following closely the Sharpie lines that the kids have drawn on the outside of the pumpkin. The kids schlup the guts into a large bowl, and I sort out the seeds. BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-26648290561347901452014-10-23T09:45:00.000-05:002014-10-23T09:45:09.672-05:00Waverly upholstery samples
Recently I purchased a pack of Waverly upholstery samples from the 1960s. The line was titled "New Hope" and came still stapled to the cardboard hanger. Each smaller swatch had a label on the back, and the larger piece was almost a half yard. Hmmm, a pencil skirt? A tote bag? Throw pillows?
I finally decided on a table runner. I laid out the BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-469834802081457113.post-65715057841940261772014-10-16T19:30:00.001-05:002014-10-16T19:30:22.409-05:00gettin' witchy
Earlier this month I had the occasion to dress in my finest witch's costume and head out for a little late night shopping. One of our local antique stores was hosting their annual Witches' Night Out, an evening for ladies to shop while nibbling on cheesecakes and pumpkin spice coffee. Special sales in the store and door prizes added to the fun. But let's be honest, dressing BoPeephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07374713332198134834noreply@blogger.com4