Pickled Garlic ~ Mullein ~ Supplies ~ More Repairs

I strained the pickled garlic, and a jar of infusing mullein.  I totally forgot to check the calendar, but I was only a few days late on both jars.  I can't wait to taste the garlic.  It's the first time for me to pickle garlic.  I've made mullein tincture for a few years now, so that's not new, but needed.  Just in case.

So far, we are staying rather healthy, and keeping germs away (using homemade "lysol" wipes, a diffuser in my

Homemade Reusable "Cotton Balls"

I'm on a roll with posts this new 2018 year.  I'm also on a roll in getting things done and lists crossed off.  I literally have a list that I never finished from bike week, and one to do after the last craft show.  

Well?  They are both getting crossed off. It was actually fun doing something different than crocheting or knitting.

I have been wanting to make reusable "cotton balls" for years, and just haven't found the time into making them.  I decided to hand sew them, but I'll be getting the sewing machine out soon. I needed my hand sewing skills renewed anyway.

I apply apple cider vinegar toner to my face daily, so we were going through a lot of cotton balls.

If you are not aware, I also have a blog, where I post recycled, up-cycled or scrap type projects/crafts/handiwork.  

The DIY "cotton balls" are eco-friendly, and help keep our homestead on the path to a deeper self-sufficiency.  

How I made my reusable pads:  S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot

I made them using scrap fabric and old flannel twin bed sheets.  The flannel bed sheets had been used on my bed as a child, then passed down to my own kids. The elastic is worn out on the bottom sheet, and I had kept them to use in one way or another.

Now if I can just carve out a day to dig out my sewing machine, I'll be heading into new learning territories.    I love receiving scrap fabric from those who sew, and can't use the scraps (or have too many of them).  The fabric I used to make my cotton pads with was gifted to me.  I am so ever grateful for that.

Happy New Year! Random Tidbits ~ Handiwork Updates

Happy New Year!  Did you stay up until midnight and watch the ball drop?  We did not, ha ha!  We were fast asleep watching "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."  We'll have to back up the next time we watch it, ha ha!  Hubby fell asleep way before me. 

The deconstruction process of the Christmas decor has already started.  We'll have to bring in the totes and take them back out in one trip.  It's cold.  I do not make "resolutions" for the new year, I simply keep on, keeping on (but better).


I made my first cup of hot basil tea.  Not "Holy Basil" but regular, good ol' herb garden basil.  I keep a fresh pot growing indoors during winter.  I ran out of dandelion root, then ran out of dandelion teabags, so I made basil tea for a "detox" tea.  

It is said to help fight off illnesses and infections, clean the kidneys, builds the blood (purifying it), and kills bacteria. It's also said to be a circulatory stimulant.  My brain could use a boost of oxygen, so I made the tea.  It was pleasantly delicious.  I could also simply eat the basil in a meal too.  It's good for preventing tension headaches, as it strengthens the nervous system as well.

Finished!

One more double wrap infinity scarf with a matching slouchy hat.  The slouchy hats are selling quickly, so I hope January goes slow.  Really slow.  I need to restock items.

....this will become another scarf soon.
   

Here was my dilemma.  The one on the left was the yarn color I could not locate.  I was one granny square from re-creating a scarf I made back in 2010.  I made one for a daughter and it came up missing.  I even have a matching hat before I realized I needed more yarn.  Hence why I bought yarn keys.

The colors are so nice together, so I have kept the two granny squares in case I do find it.  It's like a cranberry color, but with orange in it.  I can't remember if it's Red Heart or Bernat.  I want to say Red Heart. So, hence the burgundy squares for the scarf this time.  It's not even close to the color.  I found one similar (Lion Brand), but the skein was small, and the price was twice what the other brands are.

I also crocheted myself a "messy bun" hat using the free pattern on Ravelry, but skipped rows 9-11.  It's still not as tight as I'd like, so I'm making it again with a smaller hook to try and get a better fit.  That's the problem with free patterns.  I get better luck using patterns from books. 

I got a few more heart keychains crocheted.

I'm back to finishing this baby blanket now too.

It's a whopping 3°F here this morning, and Hubby said, "it's actually warm in here today."  Ha ha!  It's dipping back down again before it warms up.  The sun is shining, so that is good.

New Year's Eve Traditions

I can't say we area carrying on my childhood traditions, but I wanted to write today and share them.  My kids are older now, and well, I can't really stay up that late (ha ha ha!).

As a child, Mom would fill the kitchen table with leftover Christmas cookies, chips and dips, cheese ball and crackers, and punch. Lights would be off and candles would be lit.

The real Christmas tree would still be up, covered with that thin, silver tinsel, homemade ornaments and blinking lights.  There was a star light on the top.

Christmas Traditions - Hot Cranberry Punch (family recipe) ~ Messy Bun Hat

Friday was like my typical Monday - busy, busy, busy.  I removed everything from kitchen counters, sorted, washed, washed and dried and put away, washed some more and scrubbed and .....reclaiming my kitchen.   I set the rules straight with the girls, but this morning I woke up to dishes drying on a towel.  Sigh.  I had high hopes they'd get the message when I told them the kitchen was closed until they finished their "to-do" list I gave them.  I want to wake up to a clean kitchen every morning now.  That is the goal anyway.

I posted a few days ago, that I made our traditional Hot Cranberry Punch on Christmas this year.   I guess over the years I have forgotten to share the recipe.   Although it's a Christmas/New Year's tradition,  I have made this punch throughout winter.  Just be sure to stock up your fresh cranberries while they are in season in the fall first.  I freeze mine, and they work just fine for this recipe.  In our area, after the season is over, you can't find them anywhere.

The recipe comes from our family recipe book.  Back in the day, I collected family recipes and typed up a recipe book and gave each family one.  Each page was computer printed, and placed in a plastic page protector, and into a 3 ring binder.  My kids drew the photos for each category.  A cover was made, glossary and even family stories.  Now-a-days, you can just send recipes off to companies and have them printed for a price.  Which reminds me, there are a few kids that moved out that do not have one of the "family" cookbooks.  Hm.  I may have to work on that as a gift next year, but one for the vegetarian with just our family vegetarian recipes.

Anyway....

You can use any brand of these ingredients, but I do use organic for ours.  Organic cranberries are now found in most grocery stores, as well as organic orange juice and lemon juice (and organic whole cloves).

I typically double this recipe, because it's enjoyed so much and goes fast.  Any leftovers can be cooled and placed in the refrigerator, reheating as necessary.

Hot Cranberry Punch
(organic ingredients)
2 quarts water
1 lb. fresh organic cranberries (or frozen)
2 Tbsp. grated organic orange peel
12 whole organic cloves
6 cinnamon sticks

Combine in large pan, and gently gook until cranberries are soft and have "popped."

Strain.  I simply place a strainer on another large pot, lined to help strain out the cranberry seeds.

To the strained liquid, add 1 1/2 cups organic sugar, 4 cups organic orange juice, and 1 cup of organic lemon juice. Heat until sugar is dissolved, and serve warm.  

Note:  If you'd like to use the cranberries, after straining them, for another use (bread perhaps?) put your cloves in  cheesecloth and tie it up before tossing in.  The cinnamon sticks are large enough to just pick out.


It's snowing here again.  We've heated up to a whopping 15°F outside this morning.  Hubby and I both slept in and boy if felt great.  We needed the rest, as we plan to cut barn wood again today.

Oh, I crocheted my first messy bun hat too.  I used a free pattern on Ravelry. 

It was "It's all about the messy bun" pattern by June Nemeth, but I was disappointed in the final results.  However, one daughter was absolutely happy with it.  The photo on the pattern shows the hat with a flat brim.  The final hat ended up so long it has to be folded up to fit correctly.  To make the brim flat I will have to leave 3 rows of DC out before the brim.

Either way, I now have a pattern to work with.  I had yarn that matched a color in my daughter's double wrap scarf, and she is a happy, happy gal.  She now has a matching set and she says she always has a messy bun, and loves it.  I may have to give her and my other daughters business cards to had out when someone asks where they got it.  My one daughter wearing her "Harry Potter" scarf gets compliments all the time too.  

I do believe I'll be crocheting myself a "messy bun" hat.  I would like to have one for outdoor work, barn work days.  For now I simply do a side braid to get my hat to stay down.  I do not function with work very well, with my long hair straight down.

Now that all of my crochet orders are finished, I need to spend time and clean up all my yarn today, ha ha!  It's been crazy, busy and good.  

Ham Soup ~ Yarn Keys

These cold frigid days remind me why I stocked up.  No one needs to be out in these temperatures.  

Our leftovers are dwindling down to a few pieces of pie, ham, BBQ green beans, etc.  I whipped up a crock pot of ham soup, using celery cubes I froze, onion, home canned tomato soup (vs. tomato juice), some frozen garden tomatoes, carrots, dehydrated mushrooms, chili powder, fire powder etc.  It's deliciously spicy and just what will warm me up even today.  

I never had time to try both roll recipes, so I may take some time in the next few weeks to try them.  Maybe today, if I get done with chores early.  

Yesterday I had a good amount of chores and made homemade yogurt.

My main barn door is froze shut, but I can gain access to my ladies and gent via another door.  I am rotating a watering unit daily as it freezes solid at night.  I know they make electric ones, but I prefer this way.  Our electric is the highest in the area.

I finally broke down and purchased some yarn keys.  After trying to find the same color of a yarn (to duplicate a scarf), I decided I better start keeping track of brand/color better.  I have yet to find the yarn I want, but I am now more organized.  This brand is made in America.

You clip your yarn label in the slot, and hook it to your yarn.  Knit Picks has them, called "Yarn Valet Keys."  I will probably need a few more.

Speaking of organized, I have purged a few tops that are too big and I started purging costume jewelry.  One daughter is delighted to gain new clothing and accessories.

I'll be back soon with the punch recipe.  Stay warm!

Welcome Back! Grab a cup of Java!

We got through the holidays, birthday, and anniversary craziness.  We had a few hiccups, but managed to get through it all.  It has really slowed down, despite not yet the New Year, so I am at the computer this morning.

It's been bone-chilling weather here.  One night down to as low as -5°F.  So far, we are keeping warm.  Hubby and I fired up the wood splitter.  It coughed and sputtered, but eventually started, and together we cut wood Christmas day for several hours.  We cut up a few more barn beams (had to shovel them out, ha ha!)

The holiday leftovers were a blessing too.  At Christmas Eve dinner, ha ha, we never even cut into one pie.  Seriously, we were so stuffed, those two pies lasted for days here.  

(our sweet potatoes continue to supply us)

I had a bit if a hiccup making my sweet potato pie too.  Did anyone notice on my recipe post I left out the temperature to bake it?  Ha!  I had to figure that out considering I didn't follow one specific recipe.  Anyway, in the process of being rushed I added 2 lbs. of sweet potatoes vs. 1 lb.  In the end, it still tasted good.

Christmas day all three of my older kids showed up, including my son.  My step-daughter didn't show up, but otherwise, we had a nice visit enjoying leftovers (the kids stuffed themselves so full, they too did not want pie).  I offered take-home leftovers, including cookies and pie, and after saying no, the next day I got messages they wished they had (ha ha!). 

It was the first Christmas to "fully" enjoy my own family (husband and kids) by ourselves, without expectations of being elsewhere.

Hot cranberry punch was made, which my oldest daughter loves.  We all like it, but it's a family tradition, and a favorite.  Luckily, I had stashed organic cranberries in the freezer.

At Christmas I discovered our oldest two daughters have the same likes.  As one saw the other get a Harry Potter scarf, the other sat wide-eyed and dismayed she didn't get one.  She'll get it on her birthday come February.  While the kids visited, I crocheted grand-pup Mia her doggie scarf - sporting Honolulu Pink, just like Zuri's.

As for our anniversary, we had a few hiccups in just getting out to dinner.  Our "Grad" daughter gifted us a gift card to eat at a steak house that we really like.  First up, from early morning to 1pm, we lost out due to one cat needing to visit the vet (Jasper - had a bladder infection).  I piddled around and picked through yarn stash while waiting.

Next, as Hubby pulled in the driveway from the vet, a friend of the family pulled in.  He came in had coffee, cookies, wanted barn wood (really? when it's -1°out?), and wanted our snowmobile (that has sat un-used for years).  

You can imagine my frustration as I was dressed up and ready to go out.  Hubby and both wanted to eat early and get home early, considering the frijid temperatures. 

Long story short, our guest finally leaves, we head to the steak house but find out it's not open for another hour.  We decided to use my birthday gift card and eat at another restaurant.  It was the worst, awful, terrible food you could eat.  We'll never go back.  We only went due to the gift card. We came home and hunkered down to movies, more Christmas cookies and eventually more leftovers (including pie).


What's on the hook(s)?

I received one order for a slouchy hat, so that's what is on my hook currently.  

On a smaller crochet hook - handmade cute-ness.  I did not have one specific pattern.  I used yarn stash of a crochet thread I have.  I am very impressed with the way they turned out too.  I wanted to have something "heart" at the upcoming craft show (if they still hold the show). I'll be picking through more yarn stash and making a few more in different colors.

I have another double wrap scarf in the making too (light blue and soft white), and I hope to make a matching slouchy hat (to sell).  I had a quick chat with Hubby on opening an Etsy store, and we'll probably talk again. It will cost me to list items ($.20/each item for 3 months, plus a 3.5% transaction fee from the price the item sells at.  And if they don't sell at all in the time period offered, I lose money.  So...most likely another talk.  Quite possibly a trial period.  

I need to research the tax laws as well. I have located the "vendor's license" application ($25.00).  So, the numbers to open an Etsy are increasing already.  I'd have to sell some high priced items to make it work.  There are no consignment stores in the area anymore.  All closed.

Normalcy has returned here at the homestead.  It's back to the organizing, purging and making necessities from scratch. I'm glad our anniversary trip was canceled for a later day.  I don't think we'd be enjoying ourselves in these temperatures.