Homemaking Mondays: Breath of Fresh Air

 

Hello! 
The first tastes of spring

are like a breath of fresh air.

When the wind blows hard from the south

and the sun shines bright and warm.

It is just the time to take blankets out to the clothesline

to air and refresh after winter's chill.

I like to do this with all our blankets 

as time and the weather permit.

There is still snow in the forecast

so we take these bright warm days

with pleasure as they come.

This week I have also been 

working to re-fresh the freezer.

It's time to dig deep and get all the older food

out and used up.

One of those foods was some blueberries.

Blueberry buckle is one of my families favourites

so I made up a big batch of it.

I am pondering some more canning to use up some 

of the meat that is in the bottom.

With all the fresh air I have enjoyed a couple days 

of just sitting in the hammock and listening

to the music of the birds and squirrels and the wind chimes.

So refreshing!

With the feelings of spring

I've started making veggie platters again.

It's so nice to have fresh veggies with dip to add

to any meal.

It's also a fun time to try out new types of dips/dressings.

With lots of fresh cucumbers coming through 

the grocery store, I've grabbed a couple extra packages

to make fridge pickles.

I love how they are so easy and add a 

lovely fresh crunch to snacks and meals.

Now to just wait a couple weeks to try them out.

I use the Prairie Homestead recipe from her cookbook.

That said it's fun to add other veggies to add variety.

This past March break my boys have been participating

in a Youth Cafe learning experience at our 

local community centre. 

Learning to cook and prepare commercial 

meals in the commercial kitchen.

The finale was yesterday as the youth put on 

a special dinner for the seniors in our community.

Everything went very well and it was a delight to see

people come out and visit over good food.

I hope that you are enjoying some 

aspects of springtime where you live...or fall if you're 

on the other side of the world.

Sometimes change is beautiful.

Thank you for dropping by!
Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

 

Homemaking Mondays: A Touch of Green and a Butter Keeper

 

Hello! 

How does your spring grow?

It's been so warm here the last couple days that there is a 

symphony of dripping water 

that delights the ears.

The smell of spring is in the air!

Inside the seedlings are coming and the 

bright green enlists admiration

and frequent checks to make sure all is well.

I always plant more then I need.

For two reasons: 

One is that I love to plant seeds,

and the other is that Lord willing I will

be able to sell the extras to cover the price

of the seeds and soil I need to purchase

to get things going.

The tomatoes when they get their true leaves will be 

separated out and up potted into bigger containers

with real soil.  That happens soon.

Then I have lots of other lovely seedlings

that will be moved into other containers to give their 

roots lots of room to grow.

That will be a bit as they have to have their true leaves as well.

I find the tomatoes grow their true leaves faster then the herbs.

On the kitchen windowsill I have 

leeks and onions growing. 

This is my first year growing onions from seed

so we shall see how this adventure turns out.

With all the herbs starting I look forward to using

fresh herbs in my cooking again.

I think that if someone wants to just grow

a few little things for their kitchen

that herbs should be high on the list. 

They just make for delicious meals.

This week I've also been working on my newest knitting project.

It's called a Birch stitch and I really love it.

It's simple, just four repeating rows.

I find it relaxing and easy to leave off when I 

have other pressing needs to attend to.  

Then when I come back it's clear where to pick up from.

This weeks score at the free store

was this butter keeper!

I have seen them online and when I saw it on the shelf

I was absolutely delighted to see it in person.

So of course I brought it home to try.

I really love the colours of it as well. 

I tucked a bunch of butter up under the lid

which I had softened to room temp first so it would

stick to the container.

Then I added a bit of water to the bottom and put the lid on.

I am interested to see how much better this old fashioned 

method works in comparison to my other covered

butter dishes.

Do you have one of these? 

If so how do you find using it?

Fun new things for the kitchen.

Today I'll be preparing some leek/potato/bacon soup.

I'm going to be making more soups in the next little bit

before the real warmth comes 

and no one will be interested in soups.

Yesterday I checked on my greenhouse

and even though I got a lot more snow 

off the roof there is still a lot up there....melting.

I pushed the excess off the roof and will need to remember 

to continue doing that till it's all gone.  

I haven't set up the rain barrel

to catch the water yet.  It's buried under too much snow.

That will be something to do in a week or so.

How is your week looking?

What kind of homemaking are you up to?

Thanks for dropping by!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Washing Woollens and Greenhouse Maintenance

 

Hello! 
With the ups and downs of March

bring us the hope of spring and the still reality

of winter in all it's glory.

The need for our warm clothes 

but also the transitional time of layering.

This week I tried a new thing. 

I found this delightful wool sweater at our free store.

It needed a good wash but I've not ever washed anything 

quite like it. Our wool socks 

have some nylon so they just go in the washer

and then are hung to dry.

So my daughter picked up this SOAK from the yarn store.

I was so incredibly amazed at how it cleaned out 

so much dirt and smell without scrubbing.

It's almost dry enough for her to wear now.

I have found I do need to get a special dryer

that I can lay things flat on.

With the ups and downs of March 

the sunlight has started to become warmer

and last longer.

So...seeds are now planted in their trays,

set out in front of the windows to catch the warm rays.

I have a hard time waiting for germination

and the Lord is gracious and gives me a few little seedlings 

that pop up within a day or two to ease my tension. :) 

There are little chamomile, calendula, and comfrey seedlings.

The tomatoes and herbs will take a bit longer. 

This year I discovered some lovely new tomato seeds!

Sunrise Bumble Bee

Who could resist planting some of these?

Yes, I also bought a bunch more seeds. 

We'll have four different varieties of kale

and some more beans this year. 

I'm also trying to start some onions from seed

just to see how that goes.

So like every year--- some old, some new.

I discovered this beautiful painting by Chuck Black 

on his Facebook page.

He is one of my favourite artists 

and this painting reminds me of our little lake.

Serene and vibrant.

Dreaming of spring when the wildflowers

come out in full bloom and the water shimmers in the sunlight.

Well...because by that time there will be no moonlight.

I've been doing a bit of greenhouse maintenance.

There is a ton of snow on the roof.

The support beams we put up last fall are doing a good job

and I don't think we have anything to fear.

I still wanted to get a bit of the snow load off so that it'll melt faster 

and allow more light in so that I can start 

some gardening projects earlier.

This year I want to try growing peas and spinach in the greenhouse.

I saw in a gardening video where someone 

used bubble wrap to help insulate the plants from the cold

in little hoops. That I'd like to try.

For now there are millions of little frozen water droplets

that glisten on the ceiling. 

There is now less snow on the roof...

and I'll be getting a longer shovel handle to get more off.

Spring outdoor jobs.  

Soon snow needs to be moved away from the house 

to protect foundations as well.

Snow amazes me in how it can accumulate from such 

small perches. 

The little puff ball on the greenhouse door had

just a half inch of space from the door being just a tad ajar.

Then the moose antlers had it stretching out beyond the eves

as iff it was reaching for the light.

There are always good treats to eat

when coming in from the cold.

This past week there were carrot cake muffins.

SO yummy with or without icing.

So what keeps you busy in March? 

What kinds of things do you as we come to  this transition period?

I pray you have a blessed day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Getting the Gardening Itch

 

Hello! 
The days are getting longer

and the sun is getting warmer.

Time to start gardening again.

I've gone through my seeds and figured out what

I need to buy new. 

I also have decided what I'd like to grow that is new.

This year I'm going to try growing tarragon,

then I also want to see about growing

some new squash and some comfrey.

Of course not all the seeds can be started early.

I just put my garlic into the fridge along with my comfrey

seeds to get their "winter" time. 

I have to get a bit more soil to start my seeds

and then we'll get those going.

I love having this gardening activity 

in this later part of the winter.

I do enjoy winter...but I'm starting to dream of spring.

As you can see below...we have a lot of snow.

Our squirrel in the feeder seems to like

having the feeder to hang out in.

Sitting in the warm sun munching on sunflower seeds.

I finished another project to keep warm.

I now have a new pair of lighter wool socks. 

This was fun yarn and I have a bit left over

that I may make some ankle socks with at some point.

The self striping yarn keeps it interesting as you go along.

I have a knitted scarf that I'm working on now.

It's always nice to have a yarn project on the go.

The fresh tomato soup was such a hit that when I found 

tomatoes on sale at the store again I made another batch. 

I do love this little tool my friend gave me.

It makes coring and taking tops off tomatoes 

and strawberries so easy.

It's been a nice week with homeschooling as well.

My boys started a cooking program at our local community centre.

I love that there is so many opportunities there for youth.

Even for the drop in times, my sons often get to help with odd jobs

learning new skills and being able to volunteer.

I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: A Pretty Tea Cup and Lemon Basil Cookies

 

Hello! 
It's a beautiful cold morning here today.

Last night the sky cleared and 

the northern lights were dancing. 

Today we are to be getting more snow. 

All of this makes me enjoy the warmth inside all the more.

This week I was gifted this beautiful tea cup set

by a dear friend.

I love the blue flowers and it's a really nice size.

Also like you see below

there are the ridges on the plate that help to keep 

the cup in place.

This is so helpful as I do carry my cups about the house. 

I shall really enjoy using this set and thinking of her.

This past week my daughter's boss made some 

delicious cookies and shared some with our family.

They were lemon basil cookies.

You can find the recipe HERE! 

I was sceptical at first, but oh wow are they good.

They are particularly good with Earl Grey vanilla tea. 

This week I've made butter again out of some 

cream I've had in the freezer for awhile.

I absolutely love how it changes to yellow as it forms.

I also like to use old tea towels or sheets instead of cheesecloth

as the butter seems to hold together better.

I washed the butter first and then

 I form it into blocks and wrap in parchment paper.

Some for the freezer and some to use right away.

I read this tip for washing butter 

and it was after the butter has formed in your mixer

just drain the buttermilk out and then switch

the attachment from whisks to paddles or bread kneader

and then add ice cold water 

and it washes the butter for you.  

I shall try that next time.

I used some of the butter

to make grilled sourdough & cheese sandwiches.

These went perfectly with the 

homemade tomato soup with a dollop of sour cream.

For days that are cold and often snowy.

Soup is a perfect meal to serve our families.

Warm, hearty, & filling.

This past week we also had bacon mushroom soup.

Then three of my kids and I went to help at our community centre

for a ski event and there was chilli there. 

Thanks for dropping by!

I hope you have a great homemaking week!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Waffles and Breadcrumbs

 

Hello! 
I hope you are enjoying your day. 

My family has a tradition of pancakes on Sunday mornings.

This week I decided I'd try something new.

I did make the usual pancakes but then took

some batter and added cocoa to it for the waffles.

I know there are tons of waffle recipes...but hey 

pancake batter works great as well.

I didn't have whipping cream so I beat up some cream cheese

added a bit of milk and icing sugar to it and yum! 

I splurged this week and bought strawberries and blackberries.

Sometimes it's nice to spend money on these little treats.

Then drizzled some maple syrup over top 

and wow it was delicious! 

I'm like most people, I want to be wise with my money

and to make wise choices at the store. 

Food is getting more expensive all the time 

and so thinking about how to save money is important.

For me I think of how to use things up or make things stretch.

I think it's important to be prudent, but also to remember

that splurging here or there is important as well.

To do this I find ways to counteract the extra expenses.

One way is to make simple ingredients at home so that they don't 

need to be bought at the store.

One easy one is breadcrumbs.

We all have those ends of bread that no one is ever going to eat.

I save them, chop them up, bake them, and then crush them.

They can now be made into breading for meat. 

Or instead of crushing them they can be used as croutons, or 

made into stuffing.

Making your own dairy products like yogurt, kefir, sour cream, or buttermilk 

is also helpful as those items cost quite a bit more then homemade.

I know it's not for everyone and shopping sales can contribute 

the same benefit as homemade.

For me it's about being thoughtful of things.

Not shopping mindlessly but purposefully.

If you want to make something for your family that cost more

what can you do to save that same amount in other ways.

There is a balance.

Sometimes the balance comes in you spending more of your time

to save in finances.

Your time is worth it! 

Some may feel it makes you a slave to your kitchen.

To me it's a joy to be able to spend my time

making sure that everyone eats well

and for a cost we can manage.

For me the kitchen seems to be the heart of the home

in that it is a place we all gather.

Where we eat and share time with each other.

It is a wonderful place to be.

Is your kitchen a happy place to be? 

If not, I encourage you to create 

an inviting atmosphere there.

Either by decorating it in a more pleasant way,

making it more accessible to get something to eat,

or have more delicious smells coming from it.

Having your family welcome to join in with kitchen activities

is also a wonderful way to make it inviting.

If you are going to spend lots of time there,

it needs to be a pleasant place to be.

Thank you for dropping by! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Tea with Shortbreads

 

Hello! 
As most of you that have been with me for awhile

know that I love tea...and cookies. 

It's nice to have tea

in it's many forms and flavours

tailored to each day.

Then there are the cookies-

this week I baked some shortbreads.

I used the Scottish Shortbread recipe in the 

Joy of Cooking cookbook.

I used my fancy rolling pin to add some detail to the tops 

and the bottoms turned out a lovely golden colour.

Melt in your mouth.

Perfect to enjoy with tea time,

and perfect to share with others.

I have these little blue papers that I like to use

to quickly wrap up treats for others.

Below I tucked up a few cookies to go to the couple 

that bring us eggs every week.

Just a little thank you for their free delivery they do for us.

Do you have little papers or containers 

that you use to be able to quickly 

put together treats for those that stop by?

I enjoy salami and this past week 

at the store they had German salami on sale.

It's delicious on crackers with cheese

or on sandwiches.

I love the "floral" design it has when you slice it.

I had found some Swiss cheese on sale as well so 

thought I'd try it with the salami on grilled sandwiches. 

Well that is now a new favourite lunch of mine.

Do you like grilled sandwiches?

I love collecting some little 

delightful tea things.

One of my favourites that I know 

I've shared before is this little tea spoon.

I just love the delicate stitching that went into it.

Then I acquired this beautiful pansy tea cup and saucer. 

It has a lovely handle and there are

little scalloped edging details on the top of the cup.

I had found this beautiful little sugar bowl at the free store

but didn't use it much as there was no lid.

Now...you know I love the free store. 

I went there this past weekend and voila 

there was this sweet glass lid sitting all by itself.

It fits the sugar bowl perfectly! 

Now I know that sugar bowls don't need lids per se.

I find that it's just nice to keep out some sugar without

getting dust and other "floaties" in it.  

It's snowing outside today 

and is just a bit below freezing.

Shovelling will be on our homeschool

schedule for today.

Thank you for dropping by! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer