Knitted Dishcloth/Washcloth Pattern

I have had a few requests for the knitted dishcloth pattern.  I sell these at the Farmer's Market and our family store site (new site under construction).

I've adjusted it to the size that I like, but you can do the same as well.

Note: for dishcloth I knit to 52 on my needle, for a larger dishcloth or washcloth, knit 72

Homemade Thousand Island Dressing ~ Utilizing Home Canned Ingredients

The next time you mix up a big salad, consider this homemade dressing recipe:

It Begins ~ Rhubarb ~ Recycled Vintage Coffee Filter

Canning season started early for me this year (giddy excitement).  I canned jelly yesterday.  

This was the first time canning with my new stove.  It heats up much faster.  I wanted to get a feel for it, before I start canning fruit jams, which tend to be the beginning of my yearly canning.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Sunday we got "Big Red" fired up.  Here's hoping she'll keep starting now.  It (the truck) could need a few parts yet.

We drove "Big Red" to the "Big City" and delivered a gift and Christmas cookies, picked up load of straw and headed back home.  I forgot to renew my library books, but it looks like only a few are late (this time).

On the breakfast plate . . . 
Homemade breakfast burrito and coffee


The weather outside is . . .
Rain is on the way, with a high of 56°F, but will quickly go back to the low 20's at night for the next week.


As I look out my window . . .
It's still dark out.


On the to-do list . . .
-take care of the chickens
-feed barn cats (Leo still comes once every often)
-put away clean dishes
-vacuum
-empty ash pan (depends on the rain today)
-start another tincture
-knock down some cobwebs
-put a few Christmas decorations away
-put a Christmas tablecloth away
-re-file all of the recipes I got out over the holidays
-take down the snowman shower curtain and put it away
-sweep kitchen
-measure out dry ingredients for homemade biscuits



Currently reading . . .
Nothing

On the TV . . .
A netflix series called The Ranch, and another called Rain.  not sure if we'll finish the Rain series.  It's getting weird like the Walking Dead got weird.  I don't enjoy movies where they eat people.  Yuck.


On the menu this week . . .
I'm about to go check my pantry.  Possibly homemade stove top tuna and noodle with some veggie sides.  I'm taking meals much easier this week. 


What I'm creating . . .

More sunflower keyfobs

Sorry for the dark photos.  I took the rest of them very early in the morning this morning.

Started a granny square winter scarf

Working on some mini crocheted hearts

Knitted dishcloth, another scrap lapghan, and more crocheted headbands.

Finished some spring cup coasters

Finished a few knitted dishcloths

Finished a few heart dishcloths

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .
Nothing this week.  


Favorite photo . . .

I haven't been taking a lot of photos lately.  This one makes me smile.  It's always a good day when laundry can dry outside.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I'm am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

We have a pretty nice weekend, yet cold.  We had a family wedding to attend, which was held outdoors (yes we froze our bums off, but the sun was out too), cut up more barn wood,  and Hubby got up Sunday morning and cooked me breakfast (even though he had to work nights starting last night).   We actually have started putting wood up (cut and ready) for this next winter.  It's a small start, but a start, and it makes me feel so relieved.  Say a prayer Hubby sticks with it this spring, summer and fall.  He's notorious for putting it off. 

We finally picked up our seed potatoes, although it was "slim pickin's."  No red potatoes this year, just white.  Red hasn't been that great with lasting long without a root cellar or basement, and white does better in my kitchen bin.  We'll see how it goes this year.

My routine will be discombobulated this week. I need to do things backwards, like make a pot of coffee at dinner, which we never do.  I need to make sure something else is leftover for Hubby's lunch too, or more like breakfast.  It's gonna be a crazy week for us.


On the breakfast table . . .

Land of the Unfinished and other closet finds....

 I do not have a craft room in my house.  A few years ago, I started to move totes of yarn upstairs, on shelves on one wall of the "gym" room.  I have always used our walk-in closet for such items, along with shelves in my utility room.

I have started the process of cleaning it all out of the closet, and oh my word, did things get buried in there.  I have used a  bookshelf full of crafting items.  I am attempting to empty it, come up with an organized storage upstairs, and move the bookshelf to the "guest" bedroom or spare room.

Unfinished Christmas ornaments in a kitchen soup bowl.  Gulp!  I started these in 2017!!!!  That was six years ago.  I was making them for the kids for Christmas, and even wrote a blog post for making them on my other blog:  HERE

Under those above ornaments a pair of unfinished candy corn earrings.  Have no idea why that tiny spool was in there.

Unfinished granny square scarf, and one water balloon.

Unfinished set of pot holders, because I could not get yarn that matched to make the second one.

Unfinished cover top for one of the girls.

Unfinished camper Christmas ornaments.

Unfinished flip flop key chain.

Unfinished thin dishcloth.

Unfinished Christmas ornament project.

Unfinished set of pot holders.

Unfinished knitted dishcloth.

These are the current "finds" in the closet

My first, ever pair of crocheted baby booties.  They ended up too big.

A pair of thick socks we bought for one of the kids for Christmas last year.

More lip balm and salve containers I didn't know I had.

Six hand sewn apron bottle drink covers with straw slot on the front.  I put a pencil in the top one to show you.  I bought these so, so, so many years ago from a friend.  I have a women's group at that time, and I wanted to gift them.  I guess that never got done, ha ha! 

I found a dime while cleaning.  Smiling here.

Oh, we have only just begun.  However, I have finished painting one entire doorway trim in the hallway.

Sharing another gift....and a Sunday Ramble

I can finally share two starfish dishcloths I gifted to my mother.  She received these yesterday.  They are thick enough to be table top/counter hot pads as well.  The pattern is free on-line.  I'll post the link as soon as I locate it again.

Camping Prep ~ Crochet Projects

Remember all those English Walnuts we bartered for?  I was still cracking them this month.  Apparently, the kids have lost their mojo with helping me.

The shells are always saved from these walnuts.  My older brother and his wife gift me their cardboard egg cartons.  

Four dozen campfire starters are in the making today, and I have more shells.

Handiwork Developments

The cat blanket is finally finished.  I got the ends sewn in, and it's on the couch....out of the closet and into good use.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Although I posted today already, I decided to join the Happy Homemaker Monday today.  I have a few minutes before the laundry needs to go out on the line.

Handiwork Hustle ~ Extreme Holiday Clean

Despite deep cleaning, I've managed to sign up for not one, but two craft shows in December.  And even though I've been doing so much organizing, purging and cleaning, I've managed to whip up these cuties . . .

Scrap yarn Christmas ornaments.   I believe I got the pattern from a library book.  I'll post it if I can locate the book.  I apologize for the bad photo, it was pretty dark out and I turned on a pretty bright light.

I'm also putting the finishing touches on the Starbucks ornaments, and wine cork keychains.  

I've finished another washcloth and scrubbie set, and have another knitted dishcloth almost finished.  I would like to get a few more ornaments made before the shows too.

Hubby is tickled pink to see the deep cleaning getting done.  I'm hoping it will motivate him to get started on other bigger projects that need done here too.  I finally got my antique rug beaters up on the wall.  We've actually used them, but they had been tucked here and there, and while cleaning, I just thought what the heck.  Up they went.

The hefty armoire was moved, carpet cleaned, wall trim wiped clean and whatnot.  We bought "sliders" for this heavy job, as well as for moving he bedroom furniture (which is getting done after Thanksgiving).

The hutch was emptied on the lower end, wiped and cleaned up.  The top (sigh) will have to wait.  I'm getting close to running out of time.  I actually found a cookbook I forgot about, and excited to flip through it later.

I had a visit from Oldest Daughter, and her dog Mia.  Tiger was enjoying his sleep in a kitchen chair, when Mia went nose to nose.  Tiger finally figure out how to hold his ground.  He gave Mia the meanest glare and loudest hiss.  Poof.  Mia backed off.  She'll chase if Tiger runs.

Saturday we had a ton, and I mean a ton, of errands to do.  Our youngest joined, and when we returned said, "Man, I love to shop, but I can honestly say I am worn out!"  We were too.  We were all in PJ's, in bed, watching movies and football by 3pm.

Sunday we were up at 5:00am, and went right to work.  By 1pm, we were thoroughly pleased with progress and hung up the broom and cleaning rags for another day.  PJ's went back on for a well deserved rest of the day off.  It was cold, cloudy, and uninviting outdoors anyway.  

We have set a day to cut wood, so cross your fingers the weather cooperates too.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
My kitchen has been pretty busy lately.   Hubby had to work 10 hours on Saturday and 12 hours on Father's Day, so his "dinner" was made Saturday night for him.  The kids seriously need to learn to cook.  

I made homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes.  English muffins on the side with home canned strawberry margarita jam.  Already sold 2 jars of the jam too, although selling any more is halted.  The rain is halting u-pick farms from operating.  Unless I can get another flat of strawberries, the remaining will be for just us.

I also made whiskey butterscotch sauce and a half batch of flourless brownies - Family Circle, recipe is also online (we still have strawberry pie to eat).  I was in my pj's by 5pm.  I was just whipped from canning, baking and cooking.



The weather outside is . . .

(view off the porch on Sunday)

Foggy, 61°F, humidity 91%, dreary, cloudy, and only a 25% chance of rain today.


On my reading pile . . .

Movies or shows I watched over the weekend . . .

On the menu for this week . . .
Tequila-Lime and onion sandwiches, fireball grilled pineapple
Pulled pork sandwiches, steamed broccoli and corn on the cob
Pesto pasta, beets
Fried chicken, mac n' cheese, mashed tades
Leftovers
Flourless brownies, whiskey butterscotch sauce
Make pie crust crumbles for the freezer


On the to-do list . . .
Laundry
Master bath
Sweep and mop kitchen
Can more reduced sugar strawberry jam
Freeze strawberries
Muck coop
Scrub chicken's watering unit
Cut garlic scapes (hoping for some Garlic scape-Radish Spread soon)
Trip to the library
Make Doc appt. for Youngest (school required vaccine - ugh)


What I am creating . . .
Christmas ornaments, embroidered towel, scrubbies, a knitted dishcloth and more.  More photos to come soon.



Looking forward to . . . 
A dry day and a long motorcycle ride.  A camping trip.  An island trip.  


Looking around the house . . .
I have drying racks everywhere.  Darn rain.



From the camera . . .

I canned more strawberry jam - reduced sugar. Definitely not my favorite jam to can - so much chopping and crushing involved.


One of my simple pleasures . . .
Camping.  Another one of our "sanity savers" and we haven't had one trip this year due to Hubby's long work hours and heavy rainfall.



Prayers . . .
Our entire state, where rain has devastated growing season, personal requests

. . . from the handiwork journal ~ Random Tidbits

. . . finished the last two cup coasters for one of the kitchen tables.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining Sandra today at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

I'm so glad I am taking advantage of every "good weather" day this spring.  I expected snow, and it can all the way into May.  Saturday we had our "Christmas" gathering with my family.  I gifted wild violet jelly and corn relish.  Not sure what'll come up with next holiday.   My oldest brother gifted us more MI salmon - yum!   Sunday Hubby and I went to the range to get some target practice in with friends from his work.  I met a new friend and we'll make plans again.  We had a really good time.


On the breakfast plate . . .
Eggs, toast with plum jam and coffee


The weather outside is . . .

We woke up to this on Sunday.  It's to be a high of 44°F today and up to 58° by Wed.


On the to do list . . .
For the week and in no particular order
-work out
-master bathroom
-dishes
-bake a frittata with beet greens
-laundry
-make homemade sausage
-call propane
-dig septic cap
-take stuff to the thrift
-make granola bars
-make a trip to the grocery store
-make a trip to recycling
-weed/clean up flower beds
-take trash out (Oldest daughter filled it to the brim)
-water plants



On the TV. . .
Whatever looks good on Amazon


On the menu . . .
Ham/pea pasta, asparagus
Flounder, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli
Sweet and Sour chicken, wild rice, corn
Salmon Romanoff, glazed root veggies or pickled beets
Leftovers



What I am creating. . .
Just working on a knitted dishcloth.  Not much time right now for handiwork.


Looking forward to . . .
Two trips to Amish country this month for restocking health store goods, a trip to TN, our party in May, another short trip in May, Bike Week, gardening....getting the bathroom remodel done.


Looking around the house . . .
I see remnants from our oldest daughter.  She came out to go through totes in the garage and left things here and there she didn't want.  Grr.  Hence the trip to the thrift store.  She has more to clean out of the garage, and we are making progress on the clean up, but it's when we have time.


From the camera . . .
Nothing.  Ha.  I've been busy lately.


Praying . . .
No special requests at this time, us, the kids