Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 186

Happy Farmgirl Friday y'all! Welcome to the farm, the virtual farm that is. Your place to play farmgirl with your best gal pals from all over the web! There's never any shortage of FARMGIRL inspiration in the posts you share here each week which is why we can't imagine Friday's with out YOU!

Here at Dandelion House we are slowly making our way out of the two plus feet of snow that fell in the Blizzard we had earlier this week. We lost the greenhouse in the high winds and our garden gazebo that covers the deck, but the good news is the chickens are fine! I did have to do a little coaxing to get them to come out of the coop though! Have a listen!
BEWARE! I am no Hollywood producer!

 Despite the damages I'm excited about a new growing season that grows nearer with each falling snowflake. Get the full storm report here! Here's hoping my New England friends survived the storm with minimul damages.

Let's get hoppin'!

You don't have to live on a farm to join this hop!

 Farmgirl is a Condition of the Heart~ MaryJaneButters

Brag a little ( or a lot ) about your farmgirl talents! Include links of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects, thrifty make overs, gardens, chicken coops, recipes, studios and workshops. 
You get the idea! Link back here in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends! 

 Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed  ( my co- hostess and farmgirl in crime )  and I are looking forward to watching your year unfold and we've got some great FARMGIRL GIVEAWAYS planned for you too!
Have a great week and we'll see you on the hop! 

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 185

Yahoo! It's time for another fantastic round up of Farmgirl Friday Posts! 

Last week farmgirls covered the gamete with posts from how to make wool dryer balls by Our Life Out There to how to re-make a 

   Vintage-Look Raggedy Ann Doll  created by Dori over at The Red Feedsack! 

 Farmgirls are so clever and talented! 

Let's get hoppin'!

You don't have to live on a farm to join this hop!

 Farmgirl is a Condition of the Heart~ MaryJaneButters

Brag a little ( or a lot ) about your farmgirl talents! Include links of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects, thrifty make overs, gardens, chicken coops, recipes, studios and workshops. 
You get the idea! Link back here in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends! 

 Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed  ( my co- hostess and farmgirl in crime )  and I are looking forward to watching your year unfold and we've got some great FARMGIRL GIVEAWAYS planned for you too!
Have a great week and we'll see you on the hop! 

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 183 PLUS a Farmgirl Outing to The Northeastern Poultry Congress

Woot! Woot! Happy Farmgirl Friday on Sunday! I hope you're getting some fun in this weekend along with your daily rounds. I was able to sneak away to the Northeaster Poultry Congress  (from Chicks to Champs ) in Springfield, MA yesterday with my friend Melissa from Tilly's Nest. Here's a great post she wrote for Community Chickens you might like to check out if you've ever thought about going to a Poultry show.

We had a blast looking at all the different breeds of chickens and listening to the roosters crow and the geese honk all day long. Plus we got to meet some of our blogging friends in person too! That's always a treat!


 Imagine about 50 or more rows just like this one filled with all sizes, colors and breeds of poultry! You might think that it would be pretty smelly inside but I learned that the chickens don't get fed prior to judging. They get water but no food until they've been judged. Afterwards they can eat their little chicken hearts out.

There was so much going on I had a hard time deciding where to point my camera. But then I spotted this little gal giving her pet chicken a work out on the obstacle course and I had to get a closer look. Adults, juniors and children alike enter their birds in various categories in hopes of placing high or even winning a championship.

  It was so heartwarming to watch the youngster with their birds. They were so passionate and knowledgeable about their hobby and showed such poise and maturity, especially while under the judges watchful eye like this group of juniors in the showmanship class below.

 This pretty girl is a Blue Orpington. 

This Barred Rock Cockerel ( a domestic bird under a year old ) was quite the handsome fella!
It's a lot to take in in one day, but so worth going ( at least once ) if you're a backyard chicken keeper or maybe you and your children are looking for a way to add some competitive fun to an already enjoyable hobby.

 
 So, that was my chick-filled farmgirl outing this weekend!

Before you get hopping be sure to check out the latest Giveaway! Carole West of Garden Up Green is giving away one download of her new eBook Quail, Getting Started. One more day to enter here!

 Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed  ( my co- hostess and farmgirl in crime )  and I are looking forward to watching your year unfold and we've got  more great  FARMGIRL GIVEAWAYS planned for you too!

 Time to link-up and play some Farmgirl Show and Tell with us!

eBook GIVEAWAY Quail Getting Started by Author Carole West

 

Happy Monday everyone! I've got a fun and very unique giveaway for you today sponsored by  talented Texas blogger, Carole West of Garden Up Green. I just love her blog and all of the amazing wood projects she designs and builds in her workshop but I bet you didn't know she also raises Quail on her homestead and today she's offering a copy of her eBook to one lucky Dandelion House reader! As if it isn't enough to be a power tool prowess she also rocks hat-wear. I have hat envy. I can't wear hats. My head is flat and my forehead is to short. I just CAN'T wear hats. Now Carole. SHE can wear hats! Cute hats! Hats that make her look cuter than she already is. It's just not fair! Whew. I feel better. Okay. Let's get on with the giveaway! 

 

In my five years of blogging and hanging out in online sustainable living communities I don't think I've ever seen a book written on raising Quail for the backyard farmer/homesteader. If you've ever wondered how to go about getting started in the business of raising a few backyard quail look no further. 

 Carole West has done all the work for you in her latest eBook 

Quail ~ Getting Started! 

She recently sent me a copy of her 42 page book to review and I'm telling you she's gotcha covered! 

 Carole begins by telling her story of how she first fell for quail as a young girl and how after moving to the country years later with her growing family she set out to bring some to her homestead only to find little information about breeds and breeders, bird care and proper housing. She learned the hard way but has made it her mission to make it easy for you by sharing all the important things you need to know about raising Quail. If you've been thinking about expanding your homestead in 2015 Getting Started with Quail just might be the new homesteading adventure you've been looking for! 

Enter below for a chance to win your eBook copy of 

Quail, Getting Started by Carole West 

Like Carole on Facebook for one entry.

Leave a comment for a second entry.

Answer this question. Does the idea of raising quail fluff your feathers? If so, tell us why in the comments below!

                                       
                                                           GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 182 and Winter Beds

Now that the holiday season has come and gone the reality of winter setting in has arrived. And that's okay by me! It's not that I love the cold. I would much rather be outside in my backyard flower patch playing in the dirt under sunny warm skies but I relish the down time winter gives us to dream and plan wonderful flowery lusciousness for the upcoming growing season! 

 

  I'm anxious to expand the varieties of annuals I grow and fiddle with different foliage plants and woody shrubs to use as filler in my backyard bouquets!

 Unfortunately, the 10x10 greenhouse we bought a couple of years ago must come down. The winter winds and nor' Easters of 2013 broke the metal frame on all four sides right at the elbows and ripped the cover so now it leaks too! That's okay. I'm considering a Polly Tunnel for that spot instead.

The raised beds look as though they're tucked in with fluffy white goose down comforters keeping the soil all snugly and warm underneath.

 Terracotta pots wait for spring annuals!

Max is daydreaming about nosing his way into my tomato patch no doubt! 

How are you expanding your homesteads in 2015? Will you be adding babies, bees, chickens, flowers, goats, herbs, or more veggies to your plot?

 Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed  ( my co- hostess and farmgirl in crime )  and I are looking forward to watching your year unfold and we've got some great FARMGIRL GIVEAWAYS planned for you too!

 Time to link-up and play some Farmgirl Show and Tell with us!

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Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop 2015

 

Howdy everyone! Happy New Year and welcome back to the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop!

With the December rush officially over the anticipation of a fresh new year awaits. Are you feeling it too? I'm dreaming up new garden ideas and planting spaces for Dandelion House 2015.

Their will be plenty of flowers, you can be sure of that! Plus my hubby and I have been gathering discarded windows to add to our new/old garden room/ greenhouse we plan to build this spring.

But I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. Old Man winter arrived in New England this week bringing temps below freezing. I intend to embrace the next 12 weeks of winter with a healthy balance of work, play and planning for the next growing season.

 Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed  ( my co- hostess and farmgirl in crime )  and I are looking forward to watching your year unfold and we've got some great FARMGIRL GIVEAWAYS planned for you too!

Plus, we want to know how long you've been linking up to the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop.

One, two, or three years?

 Brag a little ( or a lot ) about your farmgirl talents! Include links of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects, thrifty make overs, gardens, chicken coops, recipes, studios and workshops. 
You get the idea! Link back here in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends! 

 You don't have to live on a farm to join this hop!

 Farmgirl is a Condition of the Heart~ MaryJaneButters

We wish you a Happy Homesteading New Year!