Week 48 of 2025

I needed a change of pace this week and made a few small things-

A little cross stitch using some leftover linen - a Christmas decoration tag for an old key (Santa has a magical key for homes that don't have chimneys). It's my own design - the patterns for the S and K are from the book 'Sajou: Passion des Alphabets Anciens' by Veronique Maillard.

Some quick knit projects using scraps of handspun yarn - the pattern is Peapod Marble Fidget Toy by Shana S. Cohen.

My husband made a frame for the cross stitch I finished last week. The oak was from a couple of old drawer fronts from somewhere, and the glass was leftover from the last cross stitch I framed at the beginning of the year from a thrifted frame - it was good to be able to use what we have.

Photos from Around -

The youngest hens experienced snow for the first time this week.

Ten hens laid eggs one day this week - the most ever in one day (the dark ones are from the three youngest) we had been getting about 5 eggs a day before (the older hens were molting and egg production slowed).

All the best!♥︎

Week 47 of 2025

This week was all about cross stitch - 

I finished my cross stitch project for this year. I hadn't worked on it much recently but once I got going again I really enjoyed it. The pattern is Mighty Acorns by Blackbird Designs, from the book Winds of Autumn. I stitched it on 40ct linen that I dyed, using floss that I had over-dyed, stitched one strand over two fabric threads. It is about 6"x9".

Photos from Around-

Best friends playing their favourite game.

The three youngest hens are so curious about everything - here they all followed Molly.

We are so pleased that the Miss Maggie is tolerating GingerSnap! more these days.

Sunrise.

All the best!♥︎

 

Week 46 of 2025

This week I have been knitting a new sweater-

The pattern is the Hanstholm Sweater by PetiteKnit. 

I am knitting it with some wool that I spun years ago.

Photos from Around -

The chickens now have a roof on their run - the roof is permanent but the side panels are just for the winter (made from off-cuts of tinted greenhouse panels that were destined for the garbage).

Egg production is going well because all the young hens have started laying! First time we had 6 eggs in a day in quite a while. The three small, dark red/brown eggs are from the young ones.

Here is Miss Maggie keeping an eye on the young ones - they still stick together and like to stay close.

Molly was a bit worried about GingerSnap! up in the tree (especially when he almost fell down!).

We were treated to another amazing few evenings of northern lights this week (a huge solar storm early in the week).

All the best!♥︎

Week 45 of 2025

This week I finished crocheting a cardigan -

I am so happy with how it turned out (my first crochet garment!).

In the end I can't really say I followed a pattern, but it was supposed to be the Good Vintage Cardigan pattern by Fran Morgan (I learned I can't follow a crochet pattern, but it didn't matter).

The yarn is all handspun from fibre I dyed - different yarn weights, different fibres, scraps, reclaimed yarn....

Photos from Around -

The chicken run has been winterized (remnant tinted green house panels), and it is getting a permanent roof.

The youngest hens have started laying - darker, reddish brown eggs (the smaller one on the bottom).

Waiting for a treat (and why they are so close without Miss Maggie complaining).

Molly is happy to play with GingerSnap!.

We had an amazing display of northern lights this week (full moon too).

Finished preserving the last of the bounty of the garden - garlic! Lots to have fresh in the winter, but lots more freeze dried (some of it roasted before, then powdered after freeze drying), some dehydrated, and some still fermenting.

All the best!♥︎

Week 44 of 2025

This week I have been working on the sleeves of the crochet cardigan -

I am crocheting them concurrently with the same colours.

Since I am no longer following a pattern I am using a sewing pattern to shape the sleeves.

This is an idea from Lutterloh patterns.

Photos from Around -

Some of the older hens have started moulting (they are about 18 months old now), and egg production has dropped (12 chickens and only 2 or 3 eggs a day - we don't think the young ones have started laying yet).

Frosty morning.

GingerSnap! found something new to try out.

Last week he got a cut in the cornea of his left eye (we think from Miss Maggie, he couldn't open his eye for a day), now the cut casts a shadow on his iris (near the outer edge of the eye on the right in the above photo), hopefully it will heal.

Molly and Miss Maggie.

All the best!♥︎

Week 43 of 2025

This week was all about stained glass -

I was recently given some pieces of glass and wanted to see how the new colours looked in the window, so I made a few small pieces.

This one is snow drifts with the sunshine.

This blue/grey background looks different in different lights (the background for the moon and clouds is all the same, just looks different with what is outside).

This one has a test tube that fits in wire rings, for starting cuttings.

All the patterns were inspired by patterns I saw online, there were so many I couldn't just make one.

Photos from Around -

We think one of the young chicks laid an egg this week (they still hang out together).

GingerSnap! was fascinated by the cat on a YouTube show (the cat from 10 Downing Street), and watched for quite a while (he doesn't usually pay attention to the TV).

We planted the garlic this weekend - the garden is still flooded and 30-50mm of rain forecast for the next two days, so we had to get it in - we are hoping for the best for next year. We are also still hoping to be able to clean up the garden before it snows, it has been flooded since August!

Miss Maggie is pretty agile.

GingerSnap! and Molly enjoying the fall colours (Amur Maples).

All the best!♥︎

Week 42 of 2025

This week I finished the body of the crochet cardigan I am making -

I am not really following the pattern now, so if the sleeves don't work it could be a vest.

We finished harvesting the garden this week -

Here are the beets - trays ready for the freeze dryer and jars of pickled beets.

We had so many carrots this year, more than we could store in the fridge, so I tried some new ways of preserving them. Freeze dried, pickled, and pressure canned slices - 1L & 500ml (quarts and pints) jars (plus lots more to eat fresh).

Tried out a new hot sauce recipe this year too - it is tasty, and such a nice colour (I used three different types of peppers - cayenne, red jalapeño and Aleppo).

The three baby chicks are so curious - they were following GingerSnap!, and one bit him!

He wasn't too impressed.

All the best!♥︎

Week 41 of 2025

No time for crafting this week!

It was a week of canning and preserving garden vegetables - the shelves are filling up and canning should be finished soon (it is a lot of work, but I am glad during the winter).

Also a week of cleaning (living on a dusty gravel road has taught me to have a major fall clean when the weather turns cold and we don't open the windows anymore). GingerSnap! was so helpful when I was cleaning the windows.

The harvest moon this week.

All the best!♥︎