My First Time Knitting!

HI!  Today I would like to share with you that I have knit a cowl for the very first time.  A dear friend of mine suggested that we learn to knit together so I decided to take the plunge.  She shared THIS very good video with me on how to make a cowl.  I've never knit before and it was a bit of a stretch for me.  I did take the stitches out lets say....a few times. :)  I finally got the hang of it, and then it was like I just could't stop. Ha!  I used the Red Heart Stellar yarn in Comet. I love the variation that it has.  Plus, it's very soft.  One of the best things is that you can't see the imperfections very well either. :)

It's wonderful to try new things, and I've already started another knitted cowl, but with smaller yarn and needles.  It's a bit of a stretch for me..I must say that I like crocheting better, but it's a new skill I'm going to try to work on.

What about you?  Do you like to knit or crochet or both?

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Homemade Butter-mints

Hello! Do you like butter mints?  I do, and I usually buy mine, but I couldn't find any this year.  We don't participate in the winter holiday but it is a good time to find some things.  So I decided to make some and they are so very easy!!!

You just combine all the ingredients in the bowl and stir until combined.

Butter mints
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbs heavy cream
3/4 tsp peppermint extract
1 pinch of salt
1 pound of powdered sugar (about 3 3/4 cups)

I then put some extra sugar on a plate to role some of the mints in so I could handle them easier.

I then made long "snakes" and then cut them into small pieces with a butter knife.

They are so rich that you don't want them to be too big.

They are such a delightful little treat and quick to make I encourage you to try them!

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A Different Kind of Virus

Hello!  I'd love to share with you a new blanket that I've crocheted.  It was a new pattern that I tried called the Virus Blanket.  I didn't catch anything by making it...and perhaps it'll help me ward off some viruses.  :)

I used some beautiful new yarn that a friend of my gifted me with.  It's called Caron Cakes and it's just amazing in both colour and texture.  So lovely to work with and very cozy!  This colour variation is called Blueberry Cheesecake. Yum!  I love this pattern because it's like a granny square and a doily mixed together. Two things that I love.  It's just four repeating rows and is very easy.  You can find the pattern HERE!

I hung it up on my clothesline so I could get a clear picture of the whole thing.  It now sits on the back of my chair in the living room and is so cozy!

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Science Projects in Winter

Hello!  Today I would like to share with you a science project that my son is working on.  He needed to study a seed, it's parts and how it grew into a plant.  Being in the Yukon our light isn't great, but amazing things have happened with his little seeds he planted.  

First off, all of the seeds germinated!!! and started growing next to a cold window.  They grew and produced flowers, which we all oohed an awed over.  

Then these cute little beans started to grow and they they are getting bigger every day.  It is amazing to see them doing anything as we have only a very few hours of light (only about an hour of direct sunlight) and the cold window.  There is ice all along the bottom and up the edges by the leaves and they're still growing.  We hit -32C today.  They won't be the robust kind we grew in the garden, but they'll be big enough to get a nice treat.  

The best way for kids to learn is to study and investigate themselves.  Then it becomes alive and interesting for them.  Science in my house is best learned through these natural processes.  Soon we'll be studying out seeds to order for this coming growing season.  It's so exciting to see the children's interest and understanding grow.  Last year we grew fava beans, blue potatoes and a new kind of sweet pepper.  Every year I let my children choose new varieties or plants to grow just for fun and to learn about them.  What a treasure it is to be able to teach my children. The Lord is good!

Thank you for dropping by!  Praying you have a blessed day!

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A Snowy Day with Cinnamon Buns

Hello!  A snowy day in the Yukon we're having and there is so much to be thankful for!  

First, Now there is lots of snow for the kids to go sliding on, I also love walking through the soft fluffy snow.  It feels so fresh and new outside with a fresh covering of white. :)  The river is starting to close up more and more and the snow has covered over all the frozen overflow areas and it looks so bright even on our overcast days.  I love to hear it's gurgling sounds as I walk by.

 What would be better than having cinnamon buns when you come in from a long time sliding?  I was making bread and decided to make cinnamon buns as well.  One batch is just cinnamon and brown sugar of which I added an orange glaze to.  Second was a batch made with cinnamon, brown sugar and apples of which I added a regular vanilla glaze to.  Yum!

I've never been one to have perfectly portioned cinnamon buns, so I just cut straight through a section to portion it out mostly. I just use bread dough for my cinnamon buns and then they're not too sweet...I like them that way.  Plus I don't have to make a special dough either.  Adding the apples to the one makes it taste like an apple fritter.

Do you like winter?  Do you like cinnamon buns?  Do share what is your favourite kind?  

Thank you for stopping by and taking time out of your day to visit! 

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A Window in My Kitchen

Hello!  Do you spend a lot of time in your kitchen?  I do.  I love that the Lord has blessed me with a window above the one area in my kitchen that I do most of my work to prepare food.  It is a real joy to me to be able to look outside and see the birds, the sky, the snow, the squirrels and the children playing on the sliding hill.

Do you have a window in your kitchen?  What kinds of things do you notice as you're spending time there?

Today I have some pictures to share with you of a pair of Pine Grosbeaks that often come to the bird feeder we have on this side of the house.  Often there are chickadees, sparrows,  & grey jay/Whiskey Jacks. They alternate.  I just love the amazing variety of birds that God has created!

These Grosbeaks are so fun to watch, and their red colouring is so fun.  They perch up in the branches of the trees and then fly down one at a time to eat from the feeder.  The resident squirrel often comes and chases them away, but they always come back.

My children made the feeders out of recycled apple juice containers.  Some of the bird feeders in other trees around the house have to have a wire to hang them for the squirrel has chewed the ribbon off to get to the feeder.  The kids are still thinking of a way to make an obstacle course to deter the squirrels...or at least make it more fun to watch them get to the seeds.

The female Grosbeak is not so brilliant, but is so pretty still.  She flew into the window a couple weeks ago, and we're so glad that she survived and has come back to the feeder.  A little bit the wiser about glass windows I hope.

Below is some sourdough bread that I made the day that I took these pictures of the birds.  Another little detail that being home has blessed me with.  It is good for us all to pay attention to the details...in all the craziness of life they are often missed or passed over.

Thank you for dropping by!

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