Granny Miller

Lilla Countermarche Loom In 4 Boxes

A new loom was delivered by FedEx the other day. It’s a Oxaback countermarche loom called “Lilla”. I chose to go with a smaller footprint countermarche loom instead of a large full-size countermarche.

There are 3 basic types of floor looms – jack looms, counter balance looms and counter march looms. Not all floor looms work the same way and every type of loom…

Almost 40 years ago I was taught how to plant bedding plants by a Greek emigrant named Simon. Back in those days, I lived in a 3rd floor walk-up apartment in Boston with less than 500 square feet for a yard. The only place for any kind of “garden” was for about 6 feet along the basement wall.

Simon was my landlord and had a “green thumb”. He was a fairly recent emigrant to this country from Greece…

Black Badger Face Lamb

Spring has finally arrived here in western Pennsylvania! Daffodils are beginning to bloom and lambing season is finished. For the most part this year’s lambing season went smoothly. But there was one big surprise.

An unusual Badger Face ewe lamb was born about 10 days ago. The ewe lamb is a twin out of two registered Border Cheviot parents. Her sister is white and her mother is one of my oldest…

Farm Call - 7 Easy Things You Can Do To Make Your Vet’s Life Easier

My veterinary practice is purely mobile at this point. I travel to peoples’ homes and farms to see their animals. This can go very smoothly, or it can be an exercise in frustration depending on what is going on. Some people call me for an appointment and are prepared for my arrival. Others think they are prepared and really aren’t.

Pony Waiting For The Vet

It’s when owners aren’t prepared that…

March Means It's Time To Make An Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Pie

It’s a fact of life that nothing is so good that pure maple syrup doesn’t make better. And where I live, March is the time of the year when tree sap begins to flow and maple syrup is made. It also just happens to be the time of the year when hens start laying again and eggs are plentiful.

A Slice Of Oatmeal Pie

Oatmeal pie is an extremely sweet pie. So sweet in fact that some people can’t tolerate…

How To Store Lemons In A Crock

For long-term storage, fresh lemons keep best in a tightly sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator. But if you don’t have a refrigerator or space in the fridge is limited, there is a time-tested low tech way to store fresh lemons. Fresh lemons will store very well for a couple of months by being completely submerged in a ceramic crock of cold water.

Fresh Lemons In A Crock Of Cold Water Will Store…

Making The Best Of Wood Paneling Walls

This post is dedicated to all of you who are living with hideous wood paneling walls. I know what you’re going through and really do understand the misery involved. While I can’t do anything about your own particular wood paneling hell, I hope you will find a small measure of comfort and hope in what follows below.

This Is The Original Wood Paneling That’s In Every Room Of My House Except The New…

Be On The Lookout

Over the next couple of days weeks, Granny Miller will be moving to a new host and getting a total makeover. Most of the content will remain without any change. But some of the older content will be deleted, edited or updated.

Rat Terrier Helping To Drive A Truck

So watch for a brand new look, and don’t be alarmed or surprised if there’s a couple of bumps in the roadflat tires and a broken belt…

When I woke up this morning it was -20F°. The weather here in western Pennsylvania has been unusually cold this February. Sure seems like the hornet’s nest winter weather forecast was right on target for this year.

Today is far too cold to be outdoors. So I’m spending the day productively, knitting by a coal fire with the dogs.

Good Day To Stay Indoors and Knit

I’m an avid knitter. Most days I…

How To Start A Coal Fire - 100% American Off-Grid Heat

Coal Pile Burning

During the coldest part of winter I often burn coal instead of wood in my stoves. To my way of thinking – nothing keeps you as warm as coal.

There are two main types of coal used in the United States for energy: bituminous coal and anthracite coal. Bituminous coal is the most common form of coal. It is the type of coal that is use for electric power plants, but it is also used…

***Today’s post is authored by Dr. Risa Hanninen. Dr. Hanninen is a 2013 graduate from Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.Her practice, Northwest PA Veterinary Service, is a mobile veterinary practice that stretches across seven counties in Pennsylvania and into eastern Ohio. If you live in northwestern Pennsylvania or eastern Ohio you can contact Dr. Hanninen at (814) 573-7013

A…

Rae Breed Cattle Opportunity! 30 Units of Kerry Cattle Semen for Sale

My husband and I are transitioning from farming to simple homesteading. We have dispersed most of our Kerry cattle in the last 6 months. I will be keeping a young heifer named Mistletoe here on the farm as a family cow. Two other older cows will stay on a neighbor’s dairy farm to be run with their herd as beef cattle.

About 2 years ago, semen was drawn from our herd bull Cody –LTR – by theSwiss…

Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen in Summer 2006

My mother-in-law always hated my kitchen. She can’t understand why I would live with a low-tech make shift kitchen for 25 years. To her way of thinking, a kitchen without fitted cabinets and lots of modern small appliances and vinyl is just plain kooky. But in the middle of January my old farmhouse kitchen was completely remodeled with her full endorsement.

September 2014 –…