Wonderling

Best Sewing Machine?

I'm in the market for a new sewing machine. The one I have is a very basic one...I think it has 10 stitches and that's it. But at the time that's all I wanted. Now I'm finding that I want more! 

So I'm stuck. There are three machines that all have great reviews, similar functions and are all in the price range that I am looking to spend. 

So if anyone has any experience with these machines and would like to offer some adivice I would greatly appreciate it.

The Singer 7442. There are several Singer machines that I like. This is the one I would most likely buy. It has all the stitches I'm looking for, drop in bobbin, and really good reviews. It runs about 180.00

The Brother CS6000. I'm leaning more toward this one. It has all the stitches, drop in bobbin, comes with lots of extra presser feet and a hard case. This one is also 180.00. 

Lastly, the Brother CE5000. This is a "project runway" machine. It has really good reviews and seems to do most of what the above Brother machine does and also comes with extra presser feet (although I can't seem to find a site/review that says exactly which feet those might be). I'm not exactly sure what the difference is between this one and the CS6000 other than the price. This one is only 100.00.

The snow is finally melting!!

I never thought I would be happy to see snow in Portland melt, but I've never been happier. The last two nights I've taken my chances with the slippery, icy sludge that was still piled up on side streets just to get to the grocery store and christmas dinner. 

I think that next time it decides to snow here there should be a rule that the snow can only accumulate very very slowly so the main roads can be completely cleared every day. 

cabin fever!

It wont stop snowing. I've been confined to my house for the last 3 days. Nothing in my neighborhood is open.  I'm thankful I have power and don't have to go to work. A lot of the busses aren't even running. 

I now know how the kitties feel, being stuck here all the time. No wonder they do naughty things. 

Here are some really pretty pictures

Biting the hand that feeds them.

originally uploaded by kozyndan

The snow and cold this week has taught me a lot about raising chickens. A LOT! From coop construction to heat lamps, I've worried several days away over the health and well being of my chickens in cold weather. 

So after a whole day of fretting that they were roasting in the tiny coop with the heat lamp blasting them all day, I got home and immediately let them out of the coop and checked on their food/water. Because my coop is so small, putting their food and water inside of it along with the three of them is a tight squeeze (not to mention that they have no qualms about pooping in their own water). When I looked the water had been knocked over and absorbed into the cedar shavings on the floor of the coop. I was relieved that they were all in tact, not roasted and seemed perky, so I took the waterer into the house to fill it up. 

What happened next only goes to show you how strong animal instincts are. 

As I was walking into the outdoor run attached to the coop, before I even had both feet in the door, one of the chickens leaped from the door of the coop and flew across the run to attack me! Well...not me, but the waterer. She was right on target, not a feather touched me. The waterer flew out of my hands, broke apart and splashed all over the frozen ground. I'm guessing they hadn't had water all day. 

So I learned my lesson for chickens in winter. I need a bigger coop. One that will accommodate a feeder, waterer and 3 hens with plenty of room. 

Snow! in December! In Portland!!

This never happens! 

Chicken soup is scientifically proven to help cure your cold!

I haven't been sick for a long time. I've felt ill, but not actually been full-blown achy sick. But, just in time for the weekend an achy-sore throat-congested cold hit me. It's killing me to sit around the house looking at how cluttered and in need of thorough cleaning it is. However, my body is telling me to be lazy and sleep, so that's what I've been doing (I'm a firm believer in listening to what your body tells you...it usually knows best). 

There are two things that I've enjoyed during my 'confinement' (which isn't over yet), snuggling with the kitties and finishing some half-done projects. I was also excited that my BHG came in the mail today..something new to read!

So while I wallow in my lazy, gross, sick state head over to Ten Second Buzz for an interview with Paper Brain. I'm going to make myself some much needed chicken soup!

Link Dump!

Through the magic of IM several friends and I pass around links to fun stuff, blogs, articles that we find during the day. I figured I would post some of those links here...since there are a lot of good ones lately. 

 usb heated 'typing' gloves. I need these Santa, I NEED these :)

  teeny tile. make your own tiles! kind of spendy, but fun. 

 dogwoods. awesome picture!

 bubble wrap calendar. theraputically pass the days.

Wikipedia entry: Supercede. Bet you didn't know it was spelled 'supersede'. crazy!

Water balloons in space! what isn't cool in zero gravity??

H.M., world's most famous amnesiac. Interesting NY times post. 

world's oldest cat! Well, until Bear is 50 and breaks that record.....

Someecards.com. These are the only e-cards I will send to people. 

Chicken Talk

So now that I finally have the coop done and the whole chicken area is set for the winter I'm finding out about some other aspects of raising chickens. Mice and rats. I've now seen mice running from the coop area and into the neighbor's yard. The cats have also caught a mouse that came out of a door that opens to the inside of the wall (I knew it was only a matter of time before the mice came in since I live in the basement and next to the garage). A rat has also been digging under the coop, trying to get at the food. Thankfully I put chicken wire on the bottom of the coop too. 

I spent this morning working on "rodent proofing" the coop as best I could with what I had on hand. I hung the food bucket so it's off the ground and cleaned everything. I think the chickens will eat any mice that they can catch, so I'm not too worried about them. I also put boards down on half of the floor in the outside area where the rat has been digging. Hopefully that will help, but I am going to have to get some rat poison. 

I've also noticed some fun things about the chickens. When I walk into the coop the chickens will squat down and puff out their wings. I had no idea why they would do this. I thought they were scared and were squatting down in a defensive position. Then my friend who raises chickens told me that was their way of asking for some petting. It's the cutest thing! When I pet them they coo. 

They also make this super loud sqwaking sound right before and after they lay an egg. It's as if they're announcing it to everyone, "I'm gonna lay an egg! I'm gonna do it! I did it! I laid an egg!!". There's a video below that is pretty much what my girls do. It's cute

where have I been?

I haven't been posting much lately, but I have been up to a lot. The colder weather has caused my mind to obsess with knitting (is that a bad thing??):

not done yet, but this will be a pair of gloves. yay!

The band has also been busy. We've been working on a lot of new songs and even bought an awesome camping van for touring. One of these old Toyota vans:

We broke it in by taking a band trip to Red Robin yesterday. 

So now that I've finally posted again I solemnly swear to post on a regular basis. Even if I'm feverishly knitting 12 things at once.