Homemaking Mondays: Organizing Projects and a Pile of Yarn

 

Hello!
I hope you are having a lovely

homemaking day.

It's still a bit dark out here and we're waiting 

for the sun to come up over the mountain.

It's an interesting thing to wake with the stars shining bright.

As the light fills the sky I start

to ponder on the needs of the day.

One thing on my mind today is all the projects 

that I have ideas for.

Things I've gathered together to begin 

or have perhaps started already.

Do you do one project at a time?

or do you have multiple ones on the go 

at any given time? 
I am the multiple projects kinda person.

These are the projects 

on top of the regular homemaking needs you 

need to accomplish.

A lady I know brought up an idea to me

where she had heard of some people

organizing their days 

according to their projects.

She mentioned that some organized their time 

by hours...if of course you had no other commitments.

It made me wonder if this would be 

a beneficial habit for me to try.

To organize the day in such a way

as to give attention to each project. 

Perhaps that would enable me to accomplish more?

So I have decided that it would be good to 

take the spare time I have in the morning 

between working with my homeschool boys lessons

for yarn work.

I already to this most days.

At the moment I have a pair of socks I'm knitting,

some darning to do and a new blanket I've begun.

I could do some on each if it suited me that day.

That will be morning work.

Then in the afternoon if I find spare time I 

will go to the sewing room and work on the next 

needed sewing project.

I've a quilt that I'm starting.

I have a stack of sewing projects

that I have ideas for.

One thing at a time.

So not a detailed plan, but a more focused one.

I have decided to write in my planner 

what projects I need to focus on in order.

So I hope to be able to accomplish more.

There are always other projects,

like shovelling snow, making jerky, baking bread,

organizing books, planning lessons and appointments

that will always just be thrown in 

wherever they are needed. 

For me the idea of some of the other creative things

I should be more intentional about.

So...after I get the jerky in the oven I'll sit myself down 

and play with some yarn.

This past week I walked into the yarn section 

of Walmart to be surprised by 

a fully stocked light blue (storm blue) yarn.

Most of the yarn was cleaned out due to 

the season of making gifts.

So I quickly scooped up a few balls.

I've been looking for this shade of blue for a long time.

I'm going to make a throw blanket for my bedroom to match 

my blue and white quilt. 

I've picked a beautiful shell pattern that has a bit 

of a lacy feel to it.

It's a simple pattern as it's just two alternating rows.

So a peaceful relaxing project.

I have looked at some of the other amazing patterns

out there...but honestly it would take so much more effort

to make something intricate.

So simple does the job for me.

Also for me I've decided to simplify my work baskets.

To just having what I'm actually doing 

and not all the ones I want to do as it makes me a bit overwhelmed.

Sometimes it's nice to exchange a crochet hook from knitting needles.

SO just a few thoughts today.

How do you get through projects?

Do you just take them as they come or do you plan them out?

I hope you have a wonderful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer 

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: Hope for What is to Come

Hello!
I hope you are having a beautiful day!

There are so many little things that have been 

coming into my days this week to make me smile.

Like pulling out the last of the garlic from the pantry

to tuck up with the ginger and onions by the stove. 

I also decided to hang up my ladle measuring spoons.

Convenient and pretty as well.

With the spring has brought bouts of snow and rain.

Oh I do love the sound of the rain on the metal roof

as I go to sleep at night.

The plants are doing well and I look forward to planting 

them out in another month or so.

I've had some computer issues this past week

and I'm so thankful that I have a husband and son 

that are skilled at getting me what I need to be 

back online again.

I've opened up my greenhouse again for the season.

I've been arranging pots to organize them 

for the plants I'll be growing in them.

Even with all the snow outside it's quite nice in there.

I plucked off my boots and went barefoot.

Hung up my coat and enjoyed the warmth

and cooling as the clouds passed over the sun.

I started my first greens out there:

Spinach, lettuce, kale, & swiss chard.

It's not a heated greenhouse so I've put on some frost protection.

Some plastic and then a couple layers of row covers.

I'm starting small.

Trying not to get too ahead of myself. 

It's hard when you have the itch to grow things again.

I will be planting my carrots in pots today.

Just one more little step.

I took my seeds out to the greenhouse

and the sticks to mark things

but then had to go back to the house for a marker.

One can never seem to remember everything on the 

first trip out there.

I also got the staple gun and patched up a spot in the plastic

that had come apart with all the snow on the roof.

So...it's all good now for the season.

I also would like to share with you the pillow cover 

I crocheted. 

I had started it as a blanket but found

that it was just too heavy and dense.

I loved the pattern so I finished it off into

a pillow.

It's so soft and beautiful.

The colour was called night sky.

Here is a little touch of green for you.

I love how in the spring 

the first signs of colour come

from the mosses.  

Some tucked in the garden as this is,

some amongst the rocks in sunny patches of the yard.

Little bits of hope for what is to come.

Thanks for dropping by! 
I pray you have a delightful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Time for Homemaking

 

Hello!
Time for Homemaking.

All of our homemaking days look different

and then each home is different. 

Today I want to just share a few aspects 

of homemaking in my home. 

Above I found this cute little clock 

to sit on the bookshelf in the living room.

It helps me to keep track of where I am in the day.

From my chair in the living room I can no longer see 

the clock in the kitchen as my pothos plants have grown too big.

Now I have no excuses. 

I love to be in the kitchen making and creating

healthy from scratch things for my family. 

That said, not all the from scratch things are healthy.

Sweets are just that.

Below I was making cinnamon coffee cake.

It was a recipe that used sour cream 

and I had to sub some yogurt as I was short on the cream.

Yes, I do know how to make both the sour cream

and the yogurt but didn't have any at this time. 

I also grind grain for baking but not this day.

The eggs are local and that makes 

me smile as I am not able to have chickens of my own.

Sometimes homemaking means grabbing an omelette 

and a store-bought croissant with tea for breakfast. 

I am enjoying Earl Grey Vanilla.

I find that in the cooler times of year I enjoy 

black teas but in the summer I'll be turning more

to the herbal teas. 

In the not too distant future there will be wonderful

things to harvest for tea in nature and in the garden.

There is homeschooling.

Today we were working on poetry.

The Mountain - by Robert Frost

We're working at kinda picking apart the poem

and pointing out things that we notice

and defining words.
It will get more detailed as we go.

I started it off to show what I meant and then 

my son was taking over.

Then there is gardening. 

I am enjoying growing starters for our gardens.

As the light come around the house they are bathed 

in a lovely glow. 

These are snapdragons and chamomile in the background.

I planted comfrey seeds today that I had 

put in my freezer to give them their "winter time".

Squash and cucumbers will be planted in a little bit.

The snow outside is melting but still has a long way to go.

I have been enjoying trying this new herringbone crochet stitch.

I was first of all thinking of making a blanket

but that is not going to happen.

It's just too heavy and even though I love the stitch

it's going to be made into a pillow cover instead.

The flowers are blooming!
There are shamrock, geranium, violet, and narcissus 

blossoms cheering our home.

This is a part of homemaking that I believe is important.

It gives colour and life. 

Real plants and flowers also make me think of 

the fact that someone needs to be around and attentive

to them for them to exist. 

Yes, there are fake flowers and plants that are looking 

quite real but it's not quite the same.

Like keeping the home fires burning, one must 

be home to water the plants.

Then baking bread is one of my 

most favourite aspects of homemaking.

With calls out there to go keto or grain free

I just cannot give up the beauty of homemade bread.

"Give us this day our daily bread"

It is still food and can still be nourishing.

I just made some sourdough bread.

It does take a bit more time then the regular 

sandwich loaves but I think it's worth it.

Making time for all the things that are needful

and then taking time for those extras

that make our homes inviting.

Cleaning is an important aspect of homemaking. 

Everything from dusting shelves to washing floors.

All has it's place and we need to make time for it.

I hope you have a wonderful day 

keeping your home! 
Thanks for dropping by to see some of mine. 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: I Love Fall

 

Hello! 
I know I've said this before

but I love fall.

I love when the colours change and set the world aglow.

 I also love it when the leaves have all fallen

leaving the world in shades of brown.

The forest darkens and as you watch the wildlife 

are preparing to bed down for the winter. 

The sunshine is more slanted and shines deeper into our rooms.

There is a coziness to it all.

In the kitchen there are also fall preparations.

Canning beef stew for quick easy meals.

Delicious apple sheet pie

enough to share.

Today there will be mincemeat cookies 

after the bread comes out of the oven.

I've finished up the cowl I was knitting.

First time knitting in the round and with the seed stitch.

It's not perfect but it's warm and comfortable.

Along with the knitting I bought some fun

crochet cotton to work practice some crochet stitches 

with another lady I met.

Easy projects to add some colour inside our homes.

The snow has come down the mountains this week.

No...it's not staying.

We have had lots of rain and some warmer temps so it's all but gone.

It's like a wake up call to all....Are you ready for winter?

Then we get a little break to get those last fall projects 

taken care of before the snow comes for good.  

For me I had forgotten to tuck up the canoes 

against the house so that will happen today.

Then I need to finish tucking steel wool into the mouse holes 

that have been created in the porch. 

The first snow is always good for snowmen or snowball fights.

This time round there was a layer of frozen rain on top

so with the crust it was best used for first sledding trips. 

This past week at the free store I found this 

beautiful crocheted afghan and I washed it up and 

it's now adorning my bed and is so cozy!

It's lovely to snuggle under for quick naps to.

Do you find you are more tired during season changes?

I sure do and take time for little rests.

I also found a couple lovely sweaters that I can wear.

It's still warm enough (just above freezing) that you can wear

just a heavy sweater over a long sleeved shirt. 

The cozy fall attire that will soon turn to winter coats. 

For now I love the benefit of layers.

Whether you are at the end of fall or just beginning 

depending on where you are.

I do hope you are enjoying the beauty 

and special moments that come with fall.

Through it all may you see the Lord's handiwork 

in all the details.

Thanks for dropping by!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Dehydrating and Winter Prep

 

Hello! 
How is your week going? 

It's been a mix of cloud and rain here

with glorious sunshine and then bouts of frost.

A couple nights ago we got a beautiful show 

of northern lights and it was lovely

to stand out in the cold 

with a blanket wrapped around the shoulders 

 bare feet in the sand

watching the lights dance and swirl and change colours. 

A beauty of having darkness at night again.

As fall is full upon us I'm working to get 

food squirrelled away here and there.

We've been lent a couple dehydrators with 9 shelves.

I've been doing bits of this and that. 

Herbs from the garden, rose hips, flower petals.

Then I did a big batch of onions and carrots.

It was recommended to grate the carrots first 

and they dried very nicely and will be perfect for soups.

I haven't gotten to making fruit leather... but it's on my list.

I have done banana chips and apple slices to....

but they are all gone already.

I finished the cowl I was making as a set to match my new hat.

I just did a half double crochet in the front loop

instead of following the other pattern. 

It's nice and thick and warm.

With the bits of rain and freezing temps at night

I'm thinking it won't be long till there is snow on the mountains.

I was coming inside a couple days ago and thought how nice 

the flowers have been at the top of the stairs.

The snapdragons and lobelia have done so well

the stocks not so well.

It's nicely sheltered up against the house and have faired better 

on our cold nights then the flowers out in the garden.

After freshening up the storm entry with some paint 

this summer I thought it needed 

some new hooks as well. 

They were just cheep ones from the dollar store

but they'll hold the ice pick 

and the dustpan nicely behind the outside door.

I went ahead and picked all the rest of the bigger green 

tomatoes and a nice bunch of the cherry ones.

They're inside and starting to ripen 

with light from the window.

There wasn't a lot of big green ones left. 

A successful year for ripening tomatoes! 

I've been able to stash some away in the freezer 

for soups this winter.

All the yellow and orange cherry tomatoes we've had

have been enjoyed fresh.

I saw on a post someone made that marigolds were eatable.

I'm sure I've heard it before 

but it just struck me this time and I thought

I had to do something about that before the frost took them all.

I went out and picked a bunch of them 

and dehydrated the petals. 

They are supposed to be great in tea

so knowing me that is what perked my interest. 

They have lots of benefits I guess...and I'll be learning 

about them as time goes by.

They do have a very distinct smell

one that makes me smile as my mother always had them growing

all along the house to keep the ants out.

One of the only flowers we had growing up.

Outside the squirrels are storing up for the winter to.

They are tossing down spruce cones from the trees

and if you're not careful you'll get brained! 

It is incredible the aim they have when they want to hit a target!

The mushrooms are layered in amongst branches drying

and they have been visiting the feeder for sunflower seeds often.

Not just the squirrel that is closest to the feeder either...

they all are at separate times of the day. 

They are very entertaining from the kitchen window. 

My daughter and I picked our first cranberries this week.

We were down by the lake and saw a couple of otters swim by.

They seemed very interested in us as we were in them.

I need to make more room in the freezer for cranberries so

I'll need to be canning up some more things.

Rhubarb syrup is on my list of things to do first.

I hope you are having a beautiful day! 
Thanks for dropping by! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Colours are a Changing!

 

Hello! 
The colours are changing as fall is creeping in.

The rain has come cool and soaking.

The winds have picked up strong and brisk.

Summer is ending and fall is taking over.

I love this time of year as the smell in the forest

changes and the cranberries are ripening.

It's nice to do some things inside during the cooler parts 

of the days and when it's soaking rain.

I have been picking the last of the flowers in the garden that 

I don't want to loose to the frosts.  

I picked a couple sunflowers that sprouted from seeds

the squirrels planted for me in the garden.

They were just starting to open and so I brought them in to enjoy.

Amazingly snapdragons are great in the cold and ours are blooming 

so well in the cooler temps.

I also did something with the items that I've been finding.

I decided that the slate was perfect for the table and I added

a couple candles on either side of our basket.

Then I made a doily this week and added it to the arrangement.

The doily is just from a pattern that I found off of Pinterest.

It worked up in a morning and even with cramped 

fingers from not working something so small in some time,

it was very refreshing to try a different project.

If you are interested in my Pinterest account you can find it 

HERE!

I was in the kitchen the other morning.

Making tea and getting ready to bake some sourdough bread.

I had pulled out my homemaking binder

to have a look for cracker recipes.

The title on the binder caught my eye again.

Cooking Traditions

My binder is full of recipes from people I have known and loved.

Some are gone and some are still with us.

Making recipes from others we've known brings

more then just good food that we enjoy

but also the memories we have of being with those

that have shared with us.

It leaves me to ponder...what is coming from my kitchen?

My younger daughter, at work offered to make some 

homemade biscuits instead of them using canned ones.

It was a special thing for her to share what she knows

and I'm so pleased that she is also sharing 

what she has learned in our own kitchen.

What kitchen traditions are we making?

I ended up making some sourdough crackers from a recipe

that came from the Prairie Homestead Cookbook

although it's tweaked a bit.

I used fresh ground barely flour and then mixed in 

some grated cheese to part of the dough.

They make for a great snack.

Plus also helps to use up some discard.

Fresh bread is so much a special part 

of my homemade kitchen.

I find it's not hard, or time consuming.

It is delicious and saves our family money.

For saving on the grocery budget this is one very

simple step that I encourage anyone to do.

There are so many varieties of bread

and all of them add a richness 

that money cannot buy to our tables.

As the cooler weather 

is creeping into the environment around us.

I have been spurred to create yet another warm item.

I was gifted some gorgeous yarn 

so part has become this new hat 

and the rest is being worked into a cowl to go with it.

I took the fur pom pom from my old hat and added to this one.

I will be looking for another fur pom pom to replace it.

I must say that I prefer the real fur to yarn as it 

looks lovely all the time and doesn't wear out the same.

Thank you for dropping by! 

What have you been up to in your 

homemaking days?

Oh, and also regarding the question about the pesto buns,

yes I make them up like cinnamon buns

adding the pesto and cheese instead.

I hope you have a beautiful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: And Now It's Fall

 

Hello! 
Summer was lovely....

and now it's fall. 

It's been so beautiful out even with the 

frequent rainy days. 

The colours are changing and the smells in the forest

have a new heavy scent as the leaves fall

and the berries ripen. 

My family has been enjoying some time with 

family visiting.

Also spending time with friends out at their cabin. 

This is a "road" we enjoyed 

navigating to get there. 

They gave me the chance to try kayaking 

for the very first time. 

As we paddled across the lake I thought of my 

friend Ingrid and how delighted she'd 

be that I finally gave it a try. 

We had a lovely bbq and ate out at our picnic table

even though it was quite cool. 

Of course the hot coals were perfect for 

roasting marshmallows. 

I'd made potato salad and it is still 

one of my favourite dishes for picnics. 

The colours have changed and the leaves are falling. 

I love the red/orange colours the scrub birch changes to.

It follows the shoreline around our little lake. 

We enjoyed some great canoeing in the evenings. 

The lake this one night was so calm and serene. 

I've also begun a new scarf for the winter. 

It is coming along nicely and will be welcome with the 

chill that is now in the air. 

The garden is about finished..just some kale hanging on. 

I've been slowly moving things to the compost pile. 

The freezer is bursting from the garden storage and it's a great feeling.

I hope your fall has been full of treasures as well. 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer