Homemaking Mondays: Gleanings

 

Hello!
It's a beautiful fall day here

and the sun is shining.

It's crisp and cool

and the colours are changing quickly 

in the trees and undergrowth.

The garden flowers are now coming indoors

as we enjoy the last little touches of summer.

Above are some flowers that I gleaned from the

community garden before the frosts killed them.

Lavatera and cosmos

are such cheerful flowers.

I now have another lovely bouquet of them 

on my kitchen table.

This harvest season is a season for gleaning.

Just as Ruth and Naomi 

gleaned in the fields to provide for their needs

so can we glean from what the Lord has provided

around where we live.

Our family is blessed to be a part of our 

community garden and we've had the blessing 

of some fresh produce.

Yesterday the community harvested the potatoes

so there are some in our pantry now.

There is also the forest around us 

that has extra food that we can glean/ forage.

I have already harvested a bunch of rose hips

and as the cranberries ripen enough I'll be picking some of those.

My father mentioned that he and my mother 

were able to glean some apples from a tree

that no one wanted and were able to make applesauce with them.

Do you have those kinds of opportunities where you are?

Sometimes it just takes asking.  

With school starting

my son moved the one desk from the living room 

into his bedroom to do his lessons.

Teenagers do enjoy their own personal space.

So into it's old place I moved my yarn stash.

It's now more accessible

so I hope it will prompt me to do more.

I have been looking for sales on yarn 

which a great way to build up 

a stash so that it's ready to go if needed.

I was asked by a lovely lady to create 

a baby boy blanket for her.  

I went on Pinterest to look at ideas 

and this one jumped out at me. 

It's Cloudburst by LeeLee knits.

I had navy/white/ & flannel yarn for the colours.

So nice to grab the yarn from the stash 

and get started right away.

With the forest gleanings I have made is

this lovely bunch of rose hips.

They will go into jam with some cranberries.

I have already dried some for tea for the winter.

Sometimes I find myself just taking a basket with me into the woods

just to see what I can find.

How about you? 

Do you enjoy gleaning for your family?

If so what are some things that you have found?

I pray you have a blessed day.

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Fresh Air Through My Kitchen Window

 

Hello!

I stood at my kitchen window

and breathed in a deep breath of fresh air.

The breeze was blowing in through

the kitchen window 

bringing with it the cool scents of the forest.

The smell of the lake

and the seasons changing greenery.

Have you smelled the forest

and noticed those subtle changes in the trees?
The frost have started here 

and nature is preparing for fall to come.

Some blankets are drying on the line

and make me smile to see them fluttering

in the breeze.

It's time to start freshening up the bedding

before it's too cold to do so. 

Well...not impossible

but it's a lot more work

to dry and freshen things on the line

when the weather is cold.

I was out for a drive with my husband 

and we were noticing how the trees 

are beginning to change into

the cheerful fall colours.

Soon there will be leaves on the breeze.

This week I made some salmon patties with 

leftover salmon. 

I added some parmesan / marble cheese

along with a couple eggs.

They fried up nice and crispy and delicious.

I love how you can make these with any meat

so it can use up leftovers well.

Even though I'm not eating bread 

at this time,

my family still enjoys fresh bread.

I still love having the grain mill

to make fresh flour

and the little bowl I found is the 

perfect size for the amount of flour I need.

Interesting how this simple tool brings me 

such satisfaction.

What are some of your favourite tools

in your kitchen?

As gardening comes to an end

in my neck of the woods

the root veggies are being pulled.

True you can leave them in the ground

much longer.

Although I'm not a fan of pulling them 

with freezing fingers.

Below are the last of our carrots.

My husband took me on a nice 

day trip adventure this week 

back into the mountains.

It was such a beautiful day!

Following the good news of us being about to stay here,

I've begun unpacking. 

Not everything but just those things

that I know we shall be using through 

the winter months. 

My bookshelves are ready 

and so is my sewing/ craft room. 

My husband bought me a new ironing board

as mine was failing.

So I have a nice new surface to iron up 

fabric that I need for sewing.

There is excitement to delve into

some new projects.

I have plans for aprons and perhaps a quilt.

It's amazing how unpacking 

these things back into the same space

has made it feel all fresh and new.

I hope you are enjoying

your homemaking day.

Perhaps there is some fresh

new excitement to 

create something new for your home? 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: End of Season Delights

 

Hello! 
How have your days been going? 

Some say that summer days are slow

but I find that they go by so quickly. 

Short burst of heat surrounded by clouds and rain.

Then amazing growth followed by quick harvests and 

clouds of mosquitos and black flies. 

Some do not like the wind...but it makes being outside nice.

My garden is finishing up.

I pulled the beats, garlic, carrots, tomatoes, and greens.

Above is the sweet Candy Cane beet variety 

along with the mini carrots that are best eaten just this way.

Another aspect of the garden that is coming to a close are the flowers.

The tea garden flowers are about done and the harvests

have been stored. 

There is still quite a bit more mint that will hang around for a bit 

in the cooler weather.

My old neighbour gifted me some amazing honey from his hives.

I'm not really eating honey or sugar now...but a little snitch 

doesn't hurt too much. 

I've been bringing in flowers from the garden to enjoy on the 

kitchen windowsill. 

Snapdragons are nice and hearty

and will still keep blooming through the early frosts.

This year I let my dill go to seed for the first time. 

It is interesting to see how it has changed.

I shall be saving the seeds for fridge pickles.

See Judith ---- the pink lupin has bloomed!!

It is a beautiful addition to the flowers at the front step.

The blooms are so pretty and are lasting so long!

Now the fresh herbs are about finished for the summer as well.

It's been nice to have them to season foods and soups.

A lovely aspect of summer!

Good news is that the person that has bought the house

we are living in wants us to stay for the winter.

So....we aren't moving, just yet. 

The Lord is good and we can relax and prepare for winter.

My girls are settled into their new home 

and it was a joy to be able to visit them and have them host me.

Thanks for dropping by! 
I hope you have a lovely day keeping your home!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Summer Flowers and Time To Breath

Hello!
I love summer for the flowers.

Flowers to make you smile, to pick for tea, 

& to pick for vases through the house.

This week the roses were on the end 

so I picked a bunch to dry the petals for tea.

Then the calendula is coming

into full bloom and so I'm snitching blossoms

to dry the petals for tea.

The chamomile is still going strong as well.

I am so blessed to have been given this little

dehydrator that I sit on a stool outside.

Up next to the house I have some flowers and mint growing.

It is growing well and I'm keeping it trimmed down 

as I'm using quite a bit lately.

As the wild lupins and roses are coming to an end 

for the season

it's time for the next round of wildflowers.

Bedstraw...smells so good and it keeps for a long time

in a vase in the house.

The gentle aroma filling the cool of the house in the evening.

As we trek back and forth to the greenhouse to water

there is this special space waiting partway.

The hammock is so inviting on hot days 

as the shade from the evergreens invites us

to sit awhile and breathe

and enjoy the clear blue of the sky

through the branches.

Little breaks through the day are so important.

The mint is used for tea

and also to make mint water that is cold in the fridge.

I've put a few little shoots in some water to root

because well....can you have too much mint?

Don't answer that if you live in a warm climate! 

Here in the Yukon it'll never become invasive.

The final radishes are coming out of the garden

as the heat is sending them bolting.

The zucchini is starting to come out of the greenhouse

and that is nice to add to the menu.

Then of course....more mint. 

Thanks for dropping by! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Summer Foods and Flowers

 

Hello! 
Summer is upon us now and with it brings 

so much beauty and delicious treats.

Yesterday I picked our very first ripe strawberry 

from the greenhouse.

The chamomile and lemon balm are growing nicely.

I've started picking them for tea.

Do you have a tea garden?

This is one thing I really enjoy.

I don't have a lot of variety but each year I plant

chamomile, calendula, mint, & lemon balm.

Then there are the wonderful local tea items that can be foraged

like spruce tips, rose petals, rose hips, coltsfoot, yarrow, & horsetail.

There are more but those are the ones I usually go for.

With the lovely days I long to have meals outside.

I do love picnics, but just even taking our food out to the picnic table

is something I enjoy very much.

This year the bugs haven't been bad so it makes it even more pleasant. 

Do you have a place to eat outside in your yard...or a favourite

place to go to enjoy your summer meals?

As the garden is growing 

the calendula are erupting in blooms.

Right now the bright orange is close the bright

pink of the wild roses and it's beautiful 

to see from the kitchen window.

The chamomile brings it's cheerful little blossoms

to cheer the garden and the little bees.

With the flowers in full bloom 

I like to take my little basket out to collect

what I can find to harvest.

Right now I am enjoying adding 

roses to my grandmother's rose bowl.

They float in a little bit of water

and the beautiful scent of the roses

floats out and freshens the space about it.

This week I tried something new in the kitchen.

I've been wanting to do this for a long time 

but I've just not gotten around to doing it.

So...I made some mayo! 

Yes, it's super easy and this version is carnivore diet

compliant as I made it with melted butter instead of a plant oil.

It needed to sit for awhile before it thickened, 

but wow! It's so good!

Creamy and full of flavour 

so devilled eggs were on the menu.

I dehydrated some apples and strawberries.

At first I was going to save them for tea....but well,

the kids seemed to enjoy them so much 

it's all gone so I shall make more. 

I've been making bacon and eggs for breakfast.

I saw someone who doubled up the bacon on the pan

when cooking it in the oven and thought

I need to try that. 

I can now make so much more at the same time

and if I pour the bacon fat off partway

through the cook time it crisps up much nicer.

I'm going to be trying to cook up big batches 

that can just be stashed in the fridge for snacks

or when we go out and can't cook. 

This past weekend my children went camping all together.

It was so much fun for them and then for my husband and I it was

the first time since before we had kids we were home alone.

So it was really nice all around.

As the kids grow up and are off on their own more

it's a new time for my husband and I to re-connect 

in a new way. Another chapter in our marriage.

Thanks for dropping by!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: A New Egg Basket and Jerky Jar

 

Hello!
I hope you are having an egg-celent day!

We've been having lots of sunshine 

and then last night some rain came. 

We've been quite dry so that is a blessing.

This past weekend I scored this brand new wire basket

from the free store. It was intended for washing veggies

from the garden but it's sturdy enough for eggs.

My old basket was starting to fall apart in places so this was just right.

One part of buying farm fresh eggs is 

that they can just sit out on the counter.

They look pretty and it saves space in the fridge.

One other new thing on our counter

is that I've switched out a couple of the canisters.

I took the sugar and put that away in another cupboard

as I'm not going to be using it much for now.

I thought it would be better used for 

homemade jerky and electrolytes this summer.

The jerky jar was full...but we all knew

it wouldn't be like that for long.

Homemade jerky is so easy to make if you 

don't already make it.

Just slice up some meat thin,

put on skewers and hang in your oven on a rack

at 270F with the door ajar for a day.

(I use a wooden spoon to keep it ajar)

I turn my oven off at night and then back on in the morning

if it's still not quite ready.

Being homemade you can make it whatever flavour 

you want. I usually just at salt now.

A money saver when you eat a lot of it. 

My youngest son and I made some fun willow

supports for some of the delphiniums 

at the community garden. 

We're going to make some for ours at home as well.

With some of the sunshine we've had

the bumble bees have been coming out more.

They love the petunias up by the front step.

Below you can just see one tucked into a blossom.

I was gifted some Moroccan mint

since I'd sadly killed the plant I had before.

It smells wonderful and makes such good tea.

I have it in the house for now 

until the major risk of frost is gone.

Then I might just put it in the greenhouse. 

The pansies are growing well. 

We bought them when they were pretty tiny.

It's nice to see their cheerful little faces as we take 

the frost blankets off in the morning.

Our rosewood is blooming beautifully.

It's so hearty and doesn't mind the frosts at all.

Under a porch we have I pounded in a nail

so we could hang up the sitting hammock there.

Out of the rain but close to the flowers. 

It will make a great place to enjoy 

the shade this summer.

It's lovely to be able to enjoy being outside.

Making for days of picnics 

and dirty feet. 

We're almost finished up our yearly lessons

so summer break will be greatly enjoyed.

I hope you have a beautiful day!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Wildlife Gardening & Different Way of Eating

 

Hello! 
How is your homemaking day going?

I hope you are enjoying the day and all that is 

flowing into it.

I woke today to a very cold day

it dropped down to freezing last night 

but all seems well this morning.

Last night while I was out checking on the garden

I stopped to admire this large clump

of lupins that has erupted into bloom recently.

Soon the forest floor

will be blanketed with their beautiful blue

scented blooms.

My sons led a bee hotel activity 

this past week and it got me to thinking 

about the wildlife gardening that

to me is just as important as

planting the seeds for what we want to grow. 

Gardens are a little habitat 

that we get to play a part in. 

Thinking of the pollinators is a huge aspect

that takes some consideration.

All those bees and butterflies,

lady bugs and yes, even mosquitos. 

Is our yard/ garden space welcoming to them?

A few years ago my father gifted us a 

bumble bee house. 

It has been used, not every year but a few. 

The butterfly house also has played a part in 

sheltering butterflies during cold nights.

This year with the inspiration of my boys

I put together a new bug/bee hotel

for our yard.  
In the past our bug hotels have 

had quite the turnover

in critters finding shelter there. 

I hope this one is also enjoyed by little critters.

Speaking of little things. 

My daughter sweetly gifted me with these 

amazing beautiful stitch markers. 

Little tea cups and tea pots.  

Just adorable really! 

As for a different way of eating.

Well....my body has been telling me lately 

that something needs to change. 

I've decided to go on a no sugar diet

which is more of a lifestyle.

With that I'm learning to do some new things.

If you know me at all...then you know

I love to try new things in the kitchen.

This past weekend I made some egg waffles 

for something new.

It's eggs, a little sour cream, parmesan cheese

and then some shredded cheese over top.

Pour into the griddle and close the lid.

It's a challenge eating this way...but there 

are some fun things to.

I've already been seeing some positive 

changes getting away from the sugars. 

My husband has recently joined me in this journey. 

It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

Well, I am off to get some bread made

for my family (those that still eat it),

and then on to some spring cleaning.

It's that time of year the inside of the kitchen 

cabinets need a good scrub.

I pray you have a lovely day!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Can Others Tell You Live There?

 

Hello! 
I hope you are enjoying 

your homemaking day! 

There are so many things that make 

our homes places that reflect us.

Can others tell that you live there?

Each of us have our interests,

our cherished "stuff",

our ways of doing things,

our own styles.

I think of these things when I walk 

into another woman's home.

You can really learn a lot about a person

by just walking into their home.

That brings me to think

what do others think of my home?

Do they see what interests me?

Do they feel at home and welcome in my space?

What kinds of things are important to me?

What does the Lord think of my home?

Is it filled with things that honour Him?

or should I reconsider what I have brought into my home.

As I go through my home I am evaluating 

what needs to be here and what needs to go.

With moving in a few months and also Spring cleaning.

Part of refreshing the home is evaluating

the place everything has in our homes.

Above I found a beautiful plate at the free store.

I brought it home and will use it as a serving dish.

Something beautiful and useful.

That said I have other serving plates that will find a new home

as I no longer have a place in my home for them.

Over time I have found my home changing.

As I slowly find things that I enjoy,

that suit my personal style

and not just a specific function.

Our homes are so much more then just a place

to lay our heads at night.

What does your home say about you?

This past weekend my husband 

took us on a fun adventure.

He drove us out to a community 

not so far from home.

It has a lovely beach.

We had a little picnic in the town park.

A couple of my children went for a big walk way down the shore.

I stayed closer to the vehicle with the others.

The warm sand was lovely to walk in although

further out on the beach the wet sand turned bitter cold.

The wind was a bit brisk and I must say that I love

how it blocks out the noises around you 

blowing your hair about your face in untameable ways.

It was a lovely day to spend some time together

as a family enjoying the world God has made.

This week in the garden 

there have been some wins and losses.

The squirrels have been nibbling down my little

greens seedlings.

The tomatoes and squash are growing strong

and the herbs are enjoying the added warmth and light.

The hascaps have leaves popping out as they 

are following suit to the trees.

The brilliant green of spring is amazing...

along with the smell of sap that fills the 

afternoon air in the heat of the day.

I bought some more flowers this past week

and have planted them out in the yard.

I found a cute little basket that had the bottom

taken out of it...so I put it in my big steel pot.

The colour is starting to come out 

with the flowers and colour the yard.

Things are still covered at night and through

the morning as it's still quite cool and frosts at night.

The new glass in my butter churn I must say

works beautifully! 

My arm is definitely out of shape for this task

and it took me a long time on my first go.

The butter turned out perfect

and I shall be using this more often.

I love the smooth sound of the gears

a melodic sound in the quiet of the kitchen.

My older son and I took a detour

on the way to his music lesson this past week.

It was such a beautiful day we decided to take a bit of a climb

to see the lake above the dam.

So calm and peaceful.

I wanted to share this sweet little pillow that I found

yes...at the free store.

It's an April Cornell and I love the 

beautiful hand stitched look.

A lovely fresh pillow cover for my chair.

I also found this beautiful

little candle holder at the free store.

It was a bit dirty...

but nothing a little scrubbing couldn't fix.

I put one of my beeswax candles

on it and it's ready to go.

Plus fun fact...there was a hole

in the wall right there 

so it was like it was waiting for that

candle holder to come and cover it. :) 

Thank you for stepping into my life and home today!

I pray you enjoy your homemaking this week.

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer