Homemaking Mondays: Freshening Up For Spring

 

Hello!
I hope you are enjoying your day

whatever it is you have found to set your hands to.

Here it is a lovely spring day 

and I have been puttering about the house. 

I find that I will go to do one thing 

and then find something else that needs doing

and before long I am way off track from where I started.

Does that happen to you?

I have been more thoughtful as of late

with knowing we are moving

to take in those little details of things I love about this place.

Like this sweet little bench 

that sits out in front of the house overlooking the lake.

Not far from it were the lovely crocus above

just starting to bring some colour to the yard.

Of the little trees that are scattered about the forest on the trails.

I love this little one that is growing out of this stump.

I first noticed it when it was super tiny and have 

enjoyed watching it grow.

I love being down on the shore of the lake.

Listening to the wind in the trees

and the frogs at this time of year

singing away in the grasses by the shore.

The clouds are beautiful

and I could stand and watch them 

for hours as they shift and change.

Reminding me that change can be beautiful.

I came across this delightful little basket with a lid

this past week at the free store.

I have brought it home to store away all our 

painting supplies.

We don't need as much space for them as 

we don't use as many as we used to with the children

growing up and finding new interests.

This past weekend I was spoiled 

by my family with some very special gifts.

One is this sweet soup tureen.

My husband saw it and thought it looked

like a giant tea cup. :)

I very much love the blue florals on it

and will be looking forward to 

putting some delicious soup in it for my family.

Also to the right in the picture shows the new glass

for my old family butter churn.

Now I can churn some butter

just like my family did for many years past.

Some delightful lavender/earl grey soap

a lovely new pink violet and picture.

Then a new dress in my favourite colours.

It's a lovely summer dress and the weather was cool

so I put a sweater over it. 

The necklace was a gift by my daughter for my birthday last.

It's a copper piece of fireweed.

I don't have much jewelry but just a few special pieces.

It is lovely to freshen things up for spring.

I've started my spring cleaning.

As the windows have been open the sounds of spring 

have come filtering through the screens.

The song birds and the little squirrels finding their voices.

The fresh air cleansing the stuffiness of winter.

All of these lovely things to bring smiles to our hearts.

Thank you for dropping by!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

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: 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: Awkward Spots

Hello! 
It's a beautiful spring morning here 

and there is some sunshine and lots of gusting winds. 

The birds are singing their cheerful tunes 

and the squirrels are running about all over searching

through the spots of ground that are showing under the trees. 

Today I wanted to share with you an awkward spot in my home. 

There is a place where there used to be a stove and so the 

built up area is still there.  

What to do with that space as you can't really put much there.

I've wondered about what to do with that space for some time. 

We can't put a stove there anymore 

so there is a cabinet where my daughter keeps her

leopard gecko mealworm farm and other supplies out of the way.

Then there is a small table added with a basket of blankets 

so they are easy to grab when one needs a bit more warmth.  
I just re-arranged some pictures and plants for the space and it seems

to be much better.  
Do you have a place in your home that kinda 

muddles you with it's awkwardness?

The geraniums in the window are starting to bloom more 

and it's lovely to see their cheerful colours.  

They will go out into the garden once it's warm enough. 

Though as you can see in the picture we still

have a lot of snow to melt away before that will be happening. 

With the cheerful spring feeling

I've been having more tea times.

I often just grab a quick cup of tea as I do things 

about the house.

Although making a small pot of tea helps

to make me sit down and enjoy it more.

I have a small camping table that is easy to set up and gives

me a place to set my tea tray.

My boys have been enjoying this new kit 

that we've gotten for homeschool.

It's helping them as they study electricity. 

It's a great kit that has lots of different components 

that are re-usable as they just click into the 

circuit boards. If they were soldered then it would 

just be a one time activity.  

Come summer we'll do some soldering outside.

It has a dreadful smell so best done outdoors if possible.

I've made a couple of cheesecakes this week for birthdays.

For some reason I've never been able to get the cakes 

not to crack.  Good thing that they are still delicious regardless. 

This week I also made up a big batch of bone broth.  

I love it when it's all nicely gelled. 

It's good to add to soup and rice. 

I know some people who just drink it straight 

but that is not for me. 

I do hope you are enjoying a beautiful day! 

Sometimes it's beautiful in the sunshine or in the fresh rain.

Each day is such a lovely gift from the Lord Jesus. 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

 

Homemaking Mondays: Pesto Cheese Buns and Sunshine Inspirations

 

Hello! 

It's been a lovely week here and I have been 

enjoying the longer daylight and the fresh air. 

It's been warm enough to open up some windows and 

air the house out. 

The air has that smell of the early days of spring.

I got a post from a site I follow 

Farmhouse on Boone. 

She posted sourdough herb buns. 

Yeah...I had to make my own version of them. 

I added pesto and aged cheddar cheese to my buns today.

With the coconut oil in the pan and the olive oil from the pesto

the bottoms were so crispy and flaky!

Then of course there needed to be some loaves

for sandwiches and toast this week.

At the free store this past weekend I found this cute candle.

It's beeswax and it was super dirty from sitting a long time.

After being washed up some

I popped it in a jar I had on the counter. 

I added some rocks to the sides to hold it in place. 

It'll be nice to light up some evening.

I do love the honeycomb design! 

From the top or the sides.

With all the beautiful sunlight these days

the violet starters are growing quickly. 

I hope to separate them out in to their own pots soon.

Then to find homes for them all.

With the extra warmth and sunshine the icicles on the house have been 

growing and falling in repetition. 

One of those interesting things the Lord has created 

that brings me to a stand still to just watch.  

Also with this beautiful sunshine the lemon oregano

has been exploding.  

At one point I thought the plant wasn't going to make it and 

I started some cuttings.  

Now it's growing well again and I have to say

it's one of my favourite plants now.  

Just brush the leaves and the aroma is enough to 

cheer you! 

Oh and we have a very friendly squirrel that has been running 

along the side of the house and windowsills. 

This morning it stopped in the kitchen window to listen to 

my daughter and I chat with it.  

How has your week been? 

Have you been baking anything someone inspired you to bake?

I hope you have a beautiful day! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Touches of Spring

Hello!

I am feeling the touches of spring, and have been finishing up some projects

 that I've been wanting to get taken care of.  

Things like making some bone broth...although I have yet

to take the step to put them through the pressure canner. 

I am working my way through the freezer so by the time we have to move it'll be empty.

Yes, we are moving at the end of May and I'm in preparation for that. 

I have added another item to my household posessions though. 

I was gifted this lovely teapot and am happy it's come to live with us. :)  

It has an amazing tight weave screen for loose tea.

I have also taken all the plastic off our windows. 

Then the next step I got to this week. 

Cleaning the screens and putting them back into the windows. 

The mosquitos and bees were wanting to come inside to visit too often for my comfort.

For those of you that think it's not important to wash screens.....have a look below!

That is just from a year of use for eight screens. 

Now you can see through them without there being dust and dirt in them. 

It didn't take long, but will let more of the fresh air in.

Also this spring my children were blessed with being able to go to a glass making class. 

They went with our little community homeschool group. 

They each were able to make an item.  The boys made bowls, and my daughter made a paperweight.

I am working on sorting through the things we have accumulated since moving here.

I have gone through clothing (regular and seasonal), books, kitchen items, fabric and crafting items.

It feels good to re-home items we no longer need or want. 

I know it's great to de-clutter as a normal part of life, but to also remember that some of the clutter we do have in our lives is necessary.  

Such as items to make great homemade foods from scratch, and preserve food for our families needs.

Perhaps I do have too many mason jars....if that is possible.

Also the sewing area I contemplated for a long time....all that extra material and sewing items are very much needed for making and fixing items we need. 

All the gardening items are needed, and the homeschool area.  Yes, there are lots of items in those areas, but when you consider the usefulness of these items they have to stay.  

One thing I have been doing is learning to let go of things that I have collected.  

Sometimes you just need to take a picture and say goodbye. 

All of this is coming about as we are enjoying the touches of spring. 

Walks in the woods as the snow is melting and the green is returning.

Oh, and I tried my hand at transferring images to towels. 

I didn't get it very dark, but the images came through well. 

The towels I did were for a birthday gift to a fishing loving man.

So, I'm sorry I've been quiet on here.

I have found that I just haven't been able to put into words what has been going on 

in our lives the last while. 

I hope you have a beautiful day!

Thanks for dropping by!

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Daffodils and Doilies

Hello! 

Today I'd love to share with you some daffodils and doilies. 

I was at the grocery store and there was a few ladies selling daffodils. 

The though of fresh flowers and colour led me to buy some.  

I'm not usually a compulsive buyer, 

so I didn't feel bad about splurging a bit.  

Then while getting treats at the Feed Store for our dog, 

we were gifted with a few more. 

How delightful they are and there is plenty to put in multiple vases to put around the house. 

Last night they were all closed up still, but upon waking this morning,

they were starting to pop open!  

What a cheerful sight!

Oh the joys of the feeling of Spring.  

Although this past little while I have been convicted about being grumpy about waiting for spring.  

I am reminded that the Lord has everything perfectly planned and I must accept that He knows best. 

May you also find joy in the in-between...in the details of each day, not always waiting for another. 

Then I've also been making doilies again.  

They are fun to make and are very versatile. 

The first one here is called Mini Cluster Doily. 

This second one is called AMI Flower Patterned Doily. 

Both doilies are about 6 inches across.  I used size 10 crochet thread and a size 7 hook from England. 

It's nice to have something quiet to keep my hands busy while I have nothing pressing to do.  

Praying you have a wonderful day! 

Jennifer

Tea and Yarn

Hello! 

I hope you are enjoying the beauty of spring...or at least dreaming of it.  

Here in the Yukon, the temps are climbing a bit above freezing at times and the melting has begun.  The snow is shrinking and you can hear dripping here and there.  

For me I felt it was time for some more fresh wash clothes in bright colours.  

I've been making some with a Robin Egg blue, and found this lovely Creamsicle and Emerald Isle.  

I thought they'd be nice to have as well. 

I find it so relaxing to crochet and have some tea at the same time. 

Do you do this? 

My son loves berry teas, and I found this one at a local store.  

It has a very rich pungent flavour and is very nice!

Thanks for dropping by!  

Praying you have a lovely day!

Jennifer