Wednesday 20 February 2019

Fun with a Hook


Hello!
I have just finished crocheting up a very fun octopus.
It is the size of a pillow with delightful tentacles. 

I have made it for a dear cousin for her son.
For the sake of mailing it, it's going without the stuffing
and with a ball of yarn to finish stitching up the tentacles afterward.


The tentacles were fun to make, and they curl all on their own. 
The eyes were fun mostly because my son had to pretend 
they were his and make funny noises. 
Lots of giggling and smiles ensued.  


I got the pattern from Mama Moseley Crochet Creations.
I looked and the huge one I have isn't available anymore?...but there is a smaller version. 


Here is an update....my cousin sent me a couple pics of 
my sweet little cousin and his new octopus. 




Praying you have a lovely day! 
Jennifer



Monday 18 February 2019

Homemaking Mondays: A Reason to Smile


Hello! 
Isn't it lovely that no matter what happens in life, that the Lord can always bring
to mind something that can give us a reason to smile. 
One thing that makes me smile are little notes just because.

 I find that in our society today that little notes give people great pleasure. 
Whether expected (as in a birthday) or just out of the blue.
It doesn't need to be handmade or fancy.
Just the knowledge that someone took time out of their life for you.

I was talking to a sweet older Christian lady that I know.  
She isn't able to get out and see people as much as she used to.
She says that just little phone calls or notes in the mail 
cheer her heart so very much. 


I got one of those sweet out of the blue cards in the mail from a friend this week.
Just to know that I was thought of and that she took the time to send me this note 
made me feel very loved and cherished.  

Do you take the time to let others know you are thinking of them? 
Perhaps it is a shut in or elderly person that you know could use the encouragement.
That they know they are not forgotten. 

Or really anyone could be blessed by the simple act of being sent a note, a phone call, a card. 
Are you willing to take the time to do that?
To add this simple act to your homemaking day?
If you do, it will be greatly treasured and appreciated. 
Just a little simple act of kindness.

Love and Prayers,
Jennifer
 

 

Monday 11 February 2019

Homemaking Mondays: A Matter of Timing


Hello!

Today I wanted to share with you a mistake that I made that turned into a blessing.

I thought...I'd try to make a new bread that rises overnight.  
I followed the recipe...but it didn't turn out as expected.
Well....I suppose I added too much water and it was kinda soupy in the morning.  
So I did what I often do...I left it.  While deciding what I was going to do with it.  
I didn't want to waste it...but if I just added flour then it wouldn't rise, so how much should I add...and of what? So in truth, it sat for a couple days, nice and warm beside my wood stove. 
Then when I picked it up to dispose of it...I smelled it.  
It was sour...but not a bad kind of sour.  
Sourdough Starter. 

Yup! 
So I used it to make some bread.  
One loaf in my dutch oven, and the rest in regular bread pans. 
It made enough for the week, and it was just what we needed.  
I only took a pic of some of the loaves.
Now...I have sourdough starter in my fridge.
Where it sits awaiting my next sourdough baking need. 

Have you ever done this? 
Perhaps not with bread dough, but with anything?
Do you just automatically toss something because it's not working at the time, or do you wait?

Sometimes in the waiting more understanding comes. 
Better ideas...or like for me this time...sourdough. 

This also made me think about waiting on the Lord as well.  
Do you just give up because the Lord doesn't answer your prayers  
in your timing? or in the way you expect? 

I have learned that the Lord's timing is not my own.
His understanding is so far above my own that I just need to 
rest...and wait...and trust in Him.

Proverbs Chapter 3: 3-6 

 "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."


Love and Prayers,
Jennifer


Tuesday 5 February 2019

Homeschool Study Snipits


Hello!  Thanks for dropping by!  

Today I'd love to share with you about a couple things 
my kids have been doing this week. 

My younger daughter decided to make some bubble solution from scratch 
and some bubble wants out of stir sticks and pipe cleaners.  
As it was so super cold up here,
she wanted to see how they froze. 

So she and her older sister went out and blew some bubbles,
and took pictures as they froze.


They would freeze and then they'd collapse on themselves.
So beautiful and interesting. 


My younger son was studying bees this past week and finished up a project today. 
 It was a part of his been report. 

He added yellow pom poms for honey and pollen. 
Then he made all the stages of life of the bees.
From egg to emerging bee. 


He used modeling clay, and then pipe cleaners for legs.
 He also cut out a bit of plastic and covered the last larva, and the pupa stage 
since they are sealed in until they are fully ready to emerge.  


It was a fun hands on exercise for him, and I hope he will remember it more 
then just reading about it. 



Monday 4 February 2019

Homemaking Mondays: Getting out of the House


Hello! 
It's been super cold here in the Yukon the last few days. 
The weather has warmed up from -40C to -16C today.
So....we decided that after morning lessons we'd go on a picnic in our yard. 

I made some hot dog buns and we tried out some new hot dogs that don't have all the same additives that most do. So a bit healthier choice for the rare occasion that we eat hot dogs.


We made hot chocolate, and pulled out some canned/boxed juice 
that had been stashed in the cupboard.
My daughter sharpened up some sticks and we were ready to roast!


Our dog is getting older and gets cold if she's not moving.  
So she found a pillow left on the ground by the fire and settled herself down. :)  
The sun had come out for a short while and that helped as well.


After a couple hours she needed a bit more help staying warm. 
We bundled her under some blankets on the pillow and she was quite happy there. 


We all enjoyed watching the slow retreat of the snow from around the fire pit.


We also had some shovelling to do.
They worked extra hard today...perhaps it was the knowledge 
that there were marshmallows to roast when they were done?


It was so nice to be out of the house...for four hours.  Just enjoying the outdoors and each other's company.  Taking care of some needs around the yard and having fun.

The Lord is so good and I thank Him for these moments He gives us together.

Love and Prayers,
Jennifer