Homemaking Mondays: In Progress

 

Hello!

Thanks for dropping by! 

We have been enjoying some lovely warmer weather here in the Yukon. 

It's been up close to and then over the freezing point.  

It has been so nice to sit out on our bench under the trees by our home 

watching the birds at the feeder nearby. 

We have also been blessed with some more snow! 

Not a lot, about four-five inches.

 Then the wind came and it was like avalanches coming off of the trees.

It was quite moist snow and so it was a bit of a work out to shovel.

 

  Today I have some in progress items to share with you. 

I rescued an old birdhouse from the dump and added some wood 

we had to the roof as it was missing. 

It is now slated to be re-painted before spring 

when I hope it will be used once again.

I absolutely love the gift of having birds around my home. 

It always makes me think of God's great care and provision for all 

of His precious creation, even me.  

Our lives and very souls are in the hands of the Lord when we have been saved

by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through repentance and faith in the Jesus of the Bible.

Luke 12:6-7

 "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."

 

Then I have some socks that are partially finished.

Still learning how to do the different stages.

I'm trying to still learn some practical skills.

There are always things to learn...but I am seeking 

to learn things that have more value then just for looks.

Lastly I have a crochet project on the go as well.  

It is of an octopus pillow. 

It will be a gift for a special little someone that enjoys octopus.  

The pattern can be purchased HERE if you're interested.

 

Thank you for dropping in.  

Do you have some in progress things to share?

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays:

 

Well, the morning dawned bright and beautiful here in the Yukon. 

The clouds were stunning and gave me pause...my camera couldn't capture the splendor.  

There is much of winter that many do not enjoy, but winter is another of the wonderful seasons the Lord has created.  

I think we need to look at the details of it...and find things to be thankful for.  

My children and I went snowshoeing this past week.

It was a beautiful day and the temperature not to frigid.  

I love to hear the crunch of the snow underfoot. 

We are very dry in the Yukon so the snow has turned into crystals with a bit of a harder crust.  

Not good for snow forts, but great for walking in. 

 

We didn't venture too far from home, but meandered through the forest. 

 

My youngest son has taken naturally to knitting 

and has just finished himself a new cowl to wear outside.   

Perfect to try out today as we are going skating.

 

Praying you all have found some lovely thing to occupy 

yourself on this winter's day. 

^{Genesis 8:22} 

 "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest,

 and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Family Recipes

 

Hello! 

Today I'd love to share with you a family recipe that I have for mincemeat cookies. 

It's from my Grandmother Pettit.  

I dearly miss this lady and since my family is far between, it's like having the comfort of family.  

I'm not into family secrets... I think that special food should be shared. 

One thing that makes this batch special that I made is that it includes some homemade 

green tomato mincemeat my mother made from my grandmother's (her mother's) recipe.  

These cookies are moist and chewy. 

Mincemeat Cookies

1 Pint mincemeat (2 cups)

1 cup shortening (I use olive oil)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 egg

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 1/2 cups flour

*Mix together and spoon onto cookie sheets

Bake at 350F for about 12 minutes 

 

One of the special parts of homemaking to me are the little things that we pass down to our children.  

Those times of sharing food that has been shared for generations in the family....but mostly it's the moments we share while we enjoy this food.  

Around the table...thanking the Lord Jesus for His Word and opportunity to be together. 

There are many blessings the Lord gives.  

As we perform hospitality in our homes...and that also includes our own family... we have wonderful opportunities to speak the words of Life (The Bible) to each other. 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

For the Card Box

 

Hi!  Just wanted to share with you some cards that will be for my card box.  

I have people in mind for most of them 

but also have been trying to make up a few cards 

so that I can grab them for unforeseen needs.   

January 1st my third came down with the flu...and then it was like 

dominoes for the rest of the children and myself.  

It's been so long since we had the flu, and it was a hard one. 

There were a couple days that I don't even know if it was day or night. 

We all lost a lot of weight and are still trying to get ourselves back to eating. 

I am trying to pace myself to get back into the swing of things.  

It's a challenge when even small tasks take all the energy you had.  

We are all getting stronger again....the Lord is good!

 

I have just been using up some odds and ends of paper and ribbon that have ended up on my desk. 

I love the combined patterns and colours. 

 

I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Crafting and Tea

 

Hello!  Welcome to Homemaking Mondays.
As this year comes to a close...I reflect on the past year.  

There has been much crafting and tea in the last year.  

Learning new skills and also learning limitations that I have. 

It has been a year of the Lord working in my life and in my home for His glory. 

I really enjoyed doing the Biblical studies about homemaking as it gives

a firmer understanding of my role in the home.

This year for Homemaking Mondays, I'm going to be sharing about things 

the Lord is doing in my home each week. 

While looking for a gift for my daughter's birthday this past month I found these cute little tins that are good for storing stitch markers, darning needles and special buttons.  

One was for her, the other for my older daughter, and one for me. :) 

The special scissors were for her. 

Every sewing/ needle-working basket needs a good pair of scissors...

being very pretty helps to. 

As my kids get older...my goal is to slowly help them build up their own 

"toolboxes" for when they have homes of their own. 

 

I have a lot of tea and I must say that my tea shelves had become quite an embarrassing mess.  

That said...it needed some attention. 

My daughter and I took everything out, sorted it and put it back in. 

A bit more organized now and easier to get to. 

It's right beside my kitchen sink.

 

With all that tea arranging a cup of tea was in order! 

I actually grabbed the sugar bowl of my blue country set...so I could have a bigger cup. 

 

Last January I embarked on making a temperature shawl. 

You can read about it HERE!
I must say that it was very tedious to remember each week to check and average the temperatures...and must say that I won't be doing this again.  

But for the record....it is an interesting way to keep track of the general 

temperature pattern of the year. 

My shawl wasn't quite long enough for my shoulders....

so I put a border on it and it can be for a baby blanket.

 

The temperatures this year...especially this winter have been very different then past years. 

This winter we've had so many Chinooks and melting periods.  

We don't have as much snow as usual and it's all covering lots of ice. 

With the warmer weather there has been a lot less sunshine as well.  

So when there have been days where the sun shone, and the sky was a powdery blue....

it gave me pause to just stand and gaze out the windows.  

At our place, the direct sunlight only comes in the window for a few minutes each day. 

The sun will start to climb higher in the sky now and that time will grow. 

Then will be time to start planting seeds!!! 

 

Thank you for joining me today! 

Praying the next year brings lots of growth in the LORD,

and blessings in all of your homes as in mine! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Yarn Between My Fingers

 

Hello! 
I know I've been kind of quiet on here as of late.  

The year is coming to a close and there has been yarn between my fingers. 

As the world outside is reveling in idolatry, I like to stay out of it as much as possible. 

My children are taking a bit of a winter's break.

Snuggled into our warm home we are finding things to keep ourselves busy with. 

So...I've been doing some new  yarn things.  

Above I learned to knit a cowl.  I love the stockinette stitch. 

I used a set of circular needles for this and put a rib of knit/pearl rows on each end.  

I used some soft Bernat yarn and it will be cozy for someone.

 

This set of scarves that I crocheted were very quick and easy.  

I looked all over for patterns and let me tell you...there is no end of them!  

I finally decided to just choose a couple different stitches.  

So each scarf has a set repeating rows.  

One row half double crochet, then one row of half double crochet cross stitches.  

I didn't add any fringes since I'm not very competent at that...and they are still nice. 

 

 Lastly, I made this double v-stitch crocheted scarf. 

I used up the last of three balls of purple yarn I had. 

Now...what will be next?  

Do you have yarn between your fingers?  

What are you making? 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Winter Is Settling In

 

Winter is settling in at last.  It's been so unseasonably warm that it's been quite the adjustment.  

Now it's sitting around -10C.  

There is not a lot of snow, but the trees are all frosty with some snow and look amazing!  

The wood stove is piping hot with a kettle of hot water on top for tea at a moments notice. 

I have taken on the challenge of learning to knit socks, and thus far it's going well.  

I have yet to make it to the heel yet...I might need lots of help with that. :)

 

We had a little birdie friend join us for a few hours as she recuperated from  hitting one of our windows.  We named her Ladybird. 

The first time we tried to let her go, she wouldn't leave my hand...so back in the cage she went. 

The next time she was happy to be free again. Joined by her friends, they left for the night.

The sun came out for a visit this past Friday.  It was a stunning day as the sunlight glinted off the snow and the blue sky was immense. 

 

The grasses were adorned with lovely frosty snow.

 

My children joined some other homeschoolers for a try at kick sledding. 

They had a wonderful time.  They stuck closely to the trail that had been laid out for them. 

Not a lot of snow, but they still did well.

All until the last round around through the trees.  

My older son was pushing my younger daughter and they went off the trail.

She bailed, and he hit the stump and somersaulted kicking her in the face.

She had to be taken to the hospital to make sure her nose wasn't broken. 

It wasn't, but she is sporting a nice bruise. 

 

 Winter is such a nice time to snuggle down in the darker light and enjoy the warmth of home. 

I hope you are enjoying your winter time! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer