Fundraiser Basket

I often get requests for donations for baskets for charity groups to auction off for fundraisers.  I have supplied blue ribbon cakes and delicacies for food auctions, jewelry for black tie events, and other things.  I get a lot of requests, so I put a cap for each annual quarter on donations, but recently I had two very special requests in just about a week.  I got both of the baskets out this week, though they are for separate occasions and groups, and the events are a little apart.  I hope to share their information through the Facebook and google plus pages, too, as they are certainly worthy of everyone's support!

This basket left Thursday for a 60's themed dinner dance at Dove Mountain, where they are auctioning off these baskets during the evening, with all of the proceeds going to the Marana Community Food Bank.  The economy has been very tough for many folks who never would have otherwise been at risk, and with the belts already tightening, the sequester is right around the corner.  

The food bank is able to purchase six times more food with every dollar than we can, so your dollars go farther than your cans, even though we really love our canned food drives.  No matter how you do it, please do remember your local food banks.

Anyhow, I hope the basket, with its bath salts and soaps, lotion bar, etched glass and lip balms will bring in something good to help the food bank.I know you are seeing a lot of ways to support altruism and community activism on the blog these days, with more to come this week.  So please share your favorites.  How do you like to help out the world around you?

The Up-cycled Coop- Part Four...

This is the first time in days I have felt well enough to take on the coop project again, so last night, when I got home from work, we got busy!

Fot the first time ever, Shadow was too preoccupied with a log, and didn't properly greet Wyatt Clay.  It took several minutes to get Wyatt on track after that, he was really sad.  But Vegas had taught her to chase lizards into the log, and she was busy being Vegas' little buddy.  Poor Wyatt.  But she loves her Wyatt like no one else.  Wyatt just isn't used to playing second fiddle to a log. (Haha, Mama couldn't resist!)

I got the second door put together while Wyatt filled feeders and Charlie worked on organizing his camping stuff.  It sure gets dark fast!

Wyatt got the feeders and waters all ready for the new pens as Charlie helped me try to put the doors on.  Just when we thought one side was set to go, it wasn't.  I need to go buy different hinges, these don't hold in the door edges properly.  

So the project isn't quite complete.  Hopefully I can find them on the way home form the farmers market today, and Wyatt's d'Uccles can move tot their new home tonight!

I couldn't help myself while cleaning up from the project, and took a few photos of the beautiful moon through the trees by the front gate.  I was thinking it looked more like a fall evening in the photo, but I guess you really can see the buds of springtime in the tree branches.

Well, off to the market.  Lots to do to get caught up from being sick.  I sure hope to knock a couple more things off the list today!  What projects are on your Thursday list? 

The Egg Pyramid...

I have been sick since last Thursday, so a little off in doing much around here.  To help me out, Charlie brought home dinner on Friday, and cooked dinner on the grill (dessert, too) Sunday.  Bailey took over a number of other things for me, like watering and egg packaging.

We sell the large and jumbo sized eggs, packaged in cartons as "nest run", in accordance with the USDA policies.  The smaller eggs, or those that look funny or don't fit into cartons, stay with us for our farm and family use.  So the other night, as Bailey was cleaning them and separating them into piles as I lay around sick, she happily stacked them into pyramids around the kitchen.  This is one of those pyramids. 

I just thought I would share.  I am slowly improving and getting back on my feet.  I made it through teaching Monday, and running around, and back to the farmers markets and some chores yesterday.  I am still pretty behind, though, and have quite a list for today.  Slowly but surely, right?  Thank you all for your patience!  If I forget something momentarily, don't hesitate to remind me so it doesn't sit on my desk in the juggling.

Hope you all have a great week!

The Up-cycled Coop- Part Three

OK, so I was home sick today, which meant that as slow as I was, Wyatt and I got back to work on our up-cycled chicken  coop project.  I have to admit, I have no idea what the black metal is in the foreground, I will have to go outside and look at it tomorrow.  But anyway, we got the back on it yesterday.  Wyatt wasn't sure about just using chicken wire between these coops and the bantam pen, but we agreed about the need for natural light! (We have some interesting debates at our little farm.)

The first we did today was get the windows on in between and on the West side.  The debate on this one was that we were of greater concern here about something pushing in on the windows that something peeling the window off, so we mounted them from the outside.

 

Here is Wyatt cutting the metal mesh for the windows, square by square...

The next step was putting in the bases for the nesting boxes (Wyatt has a special design for these we haven't finished yet), the roosting poles, and then start on the front doors...

If you look closely in the photo above, you can see the porcelain d'Uccle checking out the pen.  I wonder if he has any idea he will be moving into these digs!

Wyatt and I pieced the first door together, and set up the first part of the second.  I was coughing a lot and really tired, so Charlie finished off several screw for us.  At one point, the safety glasses kept sliding down my nose, prompting Wyatt to begin calling me granny...

I am actually pretty happy with the first door.  It isn't perfect, but for an up-cycled coop with all leftover and reused materials, it is looking pretty stylish!  Wyatt was saying he has a painting plan for it, too...

We started work on the hinges for that door, but by that time it was dark enough that I wasn't getting hte screws straight.  Since I had already had an issue with my hand and the drill today, we decided to call it a night and finish up after I am off work tomorrow. 

I will share more photos and the move in as it happens!  Hope you all are having a great night, and that all of you and your animals are safe, and happy!  All the best to you!  Please share your comments, ideas, and your coops photos with us!  We would love to share them here or on the Facebook page!

Hugs to all,

the Patriot's Dream Farm gang

Farmer's Market Sunset

You just have to admit Arizona has some incredible sunsets!

I figure folks get tired of seeing my sunsets from the farm, and this was the view as I was packing up from the farmers market on Tuesday night, so...

It's funny, really, sometimes these look eerie or ominous...

And I love the way the colors develop, and the way they look different as the light fades.

Even with the power line, I like the light and dark and difference in the depth.  It makes the sky feel like it goes on forever!  This is looking West to the Tohono O'odham Nation.

I had to include these two anyway, just because of the red on the right.

I pulled over on the way down Sandario for these.  There was a field up close where there are usually sheep grazing, the same mountains in the distance from a different angle.

And, of course, that orange fissure opening up in the sky.  OK, enough sunsets for now.  Back to work!  Have a great day!

Tuesday's Walk

With Wyatt on Spring Break, we get in a lot more walks with the three of us.  Tuesday, we were enjoying a partly cloudy 80 degree day here in the outskirts of Tucson, and got a later start than we had originally wanted with our silly Shadow.  

Wyatt and Shadow did most of the five miles, but we did have them sit in the shade for a couple minutes half way through.  She gets so excited about the other dogs that we worried about her overheating.

I had to take this photo!  When the tumbleweeds grow up and around your for sale sign, it just begs for a short story in horror format.  It was a dark and stormy night...

I love these signs of Spring here at home.  Purple lantanas blooming at the base of the cactus I planted last summer.

After an exciting walk, Shadow passes out happily.  Goofy mutt!  I wish we were home enough for far more of these walks!!!

Late at night... on the farm

I was up last night, coughing and listening to the noises.  This came to mind, so I decided to share...


Late at night,
You lie awake, listening to the roosters, to the goats,
To all the animals talking back and forth.sometimes going outside to check on them
Over and over.

Late at night,
Every sound near the incubator sounds like babies hatching,
Every dog outside sounds like
Coyotes coming to take the animals you are devoted to.

Late at night,
Every cough down the hall brings you to your feet to check,
The little one's puppy nestling closer,
The big one pulls more blankets to her chin.

Late at night,
Every movement I make leads the old dog to wander the halls,
Not settling in
Unless he can see me.

Late at night,
You redesign pens and think about who needs what,
You wonder if you could possibly
Do enough for your animals, children, home.
-me