Sunday 30 December 2018

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

Monday 17 December 2018

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

Monday 3 December 2018

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