December 17th

Today we took a drive to a Christmas tree farm (not to cut a tree).

This is the farm where my husband lived when he was young.

They had 30,000 turkeys in this barn that his father built.

Now it is a 'Christmas Wonderland".

A Christmas village.

The place is for sale now and you can see more photos here.

All the best!♥︎

December 16th

I said a few days ago that I thought my sourdough journey would be coming to an end, but today I had a success! I decided to trust my instincts and make an easier to handle dough (about 70% hydration) - it came out nice and moist, and so tasty. This one is made with freshly milled hard white wheat, with some spelt and rye.

While working in the kitchen this morning I thought this Christmas stained glass looked so nice against the frosty, white backdrop. This is one of my favourite pieces - I made it about 25 years ago.

Another beautiful frosty day.

Miss Molly on her spot.

I try to take pictures of Miss Maggie's eyes regularly to record any more changes in her eye colour (she also has a big dark spot on the top of her right eye). She can be hard to photograph up close, but today she cooperated.

All the best!♥︎

December 15th

I finished sewing a long sleeve t-shirt. The pattern is better than the last one I made for the sleeves, but the neck is too big. Next time I'll try mixing the two patterns together.

Today was a day for seeing coyotes! All hard to see, but they are the dark blobs in the photos.

On our morning walk one came out from the yard and met up with another one in the field.

This was the closest we have been to a coyote, even Molly was a bit surprised and didn't chase it (she usually chases everything) or even bark.

We went out later in the morning and one ran across the highway in front of the car into the field around our house.

15 minutes later on the drive we saw another pair in a field.

Maybe it is the unusually warm weather.

All the best!♥︎

December 14th

I am trying out a new t-shirt pattern. This one is from Craftsy (Essential T-Shirt for Knit Fabric by Meg McElwee).

I recently learned when sewing with "difficult" knits (this is some type of lightweight rayon knit), to use spray starch on the hems. Today I watched another Craftsy class on sewing knits and the teacher suggested pressing the hems before any sewing - that made pressing the sleeve hems much easier.

 

Windy, blowing snow, sunrise.

All the best!♥︎

December 13th

I finished the skirt. This pattern is from Lutterloh Supplement 319, pattern #225 in stretch fabric. The more clothes I sew, the more I learn and hopefully I am getting better, in the meantime it sure is interesting.

Miss Maggie at sunrise.

Country drive during the day.

Miss Molly at sunset.

All the best!♥︎

December 12th

Working on the waist band of the skirt.

This one might be a fail, but it is fun to sew and try new things.

Molly sniffing just about every rabbit track on the morning walk.

All the best!♥︎

December 11th

Cooking today!

I recently started milling flour, it is amazingly delicious, but I am struggling with sourdough bread (today's loaf). It tastes good, but it is hard to get just right. I think I will give sourdough bread one more try, but my sourdough journey might be coming to an end. Yeast bread is no problem (and half of my family prefer it).

Macaroni and cheese with fresh milled flour pasta was delicious.

Khorassan/Kamut wheat pasta from the Sue Becker book.

Good exercise for the cat!

All the best!♥︎

December 10th

Sewing on the skirt. Lutterloh patterns have no sewing instructions, so it is lots of fun figuring out how to sew something.

Sleepy pets!

 All the best!♥︎

December 9th

I started working on sewing a skirt. The pattern is from the Lutterloh system.

The back of every pattern has small drawings with measurements on them. Using a special ruler, each piece is drafted out for an individual's measurements (this is the pocket for the skirt).

I think the little birds outside the window just like to torment Miss Maggie. They fly at the window and sit on the ledge. Maggie had her ears back, flicking her tail and chattering. I am sure she wishes it wasn't cold and snowy, and she could be outside.

All the best!♥︎

December 8th

This morning Molly was really tracking something (no snow).

We have had record breaking high temperatures lately.

We had to go out and this was how things looked on the way home.

Back to the snow!

My take along knitting is really making progress with all the outings this week.

All the best!♥︎

December 7th

In my quest to be more self sufficient I have gone down a rabbit hole of bread making - sourdough, milling flour, ancient grains... Lots to learn, all delicious.

Today's loaves are an oatmeal, molasses yeast bread with hard red and hard white wheat (the recipe is from The Essential Home-Ground Flour Book by Sue Becker).

There was a beautiful sunrise this morning.

We often see hawks in the area (lots of voles for them too).

All the best!♥︎

December 6th

Went to see a play this afternoon.

The Sound of Music.

It was excellent.

Since my knitting projects are getting too big to be take along projects, I started a new cowl with some handspun.

All the best!♥︎

December 5th

Some days not much crafting gets done - like today (we had company which is more important).

This fall I made quite a bit of fermented garlic (in honey) - it is now ready.

Another beautiful frosty day, a bit foggy too.

All the best!♥︎

December 4th

I feel like I have been knitting of the sleeves of this sweater for ages.

There was amazing rime (maybe hoar) frost today.

 All the best!♥︎

December 3rd

This is the sewing I have been doing the past few days - tiny blankets for still born babies (a local hospital requested them).

All the best!♥︎