Jack Frost and A Walk In The Woods

Jack Frost hit the windows on the cabin tis morn'n and altho its warm and toasty with the woodstove going I wanted to get out in the woods and see if we could find any deer antlers and check out the creek.  Oh was it cold yet the woods is so pretty with the frozen creek with spots of water flowing.

I didn't fall on the ice but my hubby almost did.  Need to work on falling skills!   We didn't find any antlers. Tracks along the creek was the only signs of critters, the woods was silent.

Ok I'm a tree hugger, who wouldn't want to tap some energy from this massive oak.  In the spring I like to sit under this big old tree.  Thoughts of its beauty and a big tree house but it will be left alone to just hug and read a book under, maybe a nap to ; ).

It was a nice walk on this cold day and really nice to get back to the heat of the woodstove and a pot of coffee.

This weekend I canned a few cranberries, I bought lots of bags after the holidays ,bags were 50 cents each.  Not only for eating but I am dyeing some wool spun with alum mordant hoping for a nice cranberry color.  I have blackberries, blueberries and elder berries in the freezer to can up and use for dyeing. I hope to blog a pretty page of natural dyed yarns someday.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week
linda

Hats Off The Needles

 

I've been working on hats in the last few days, knit up fast and fun to do.  The sheep hat I have had in my queue for some time.  With Wool of the Andes and the Short Interchangeable circular needles from Knit Picks, I did it and was it a great pattern to follow.  I will do a couple of more I'm sure. 

The bunny hat is half wool and an unknown yarn (white),  

                                    

I'm hitting my stash of unknown yarns to use on these other hats

I 

The last two projects was a fun hat and super fast to make.  The red headband was crochet.  

 Right now on the woodstove I have some wool yarn I spun dyeing in cranberries.  Mordant with alum with a bit of cream of tartar.  I hope I get a pretty color

I'm excited about natural dyeing and all the experiments that happen from using forage materials from the gardens and woods.  I plan to keep journal of all the recipes and the finished yarns.   From sheep to socks (hats) and all the colors that can be achieved, I hope! 

Take good care

linda

Wild Birds

The wild birds leave the chicken feed alone when they get their own scratch. Birds are happy, chickens are happier!   Need to pick up more wild bird seed but today they get chicken scratch.

Their dinner table is right outside the window for photo shoots and I got to be so slow not to scare them away.  They take turns from the different types of birds.  First these Tufted Titmouse is first shift with Bluejays, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Blackeyed Juncos, and others waiting either with patience or intimidation.

I'm on the lookout for Eagles in our area.

Winter time is great to get out and observe nature from tracks in the snow to seeing animals and birds through the bare cold woods.

Old Fashion Christmas

Its been a whole year that I haven't posted.  Life Happens!   Gardens did real well, still need to collect seeds for next season.  Lots of leaves to rake up, compost and bag for the chicken cabin.  Getting ready for Christmas, lots of decorating using some foraging from the woods.
Been knitting and spinning.
Ordered some roving from Knit Picks , 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, Red, green and its spinning up so Christmasy.  I might felt a project with this yarn.
I carded the roving and made rolag bundles.  Heres a few pics of the process with the spinning single ply on top picture.

Wool Blankets

I love old wool blankets.  They make the cabin feel warm and great to use for those really cold days and nights.  Perfect for Quenzee's (snow forts).  I have had these for many years and still as good as the day I got them and not sure how old they were then.

I felt that wool blankets deserve a  poem so I did a Google , sure enough there are poems on wool blankets. Who knew : ).   So I thought I would do a little Haiku poem for my wool blankets.

Old wool blankets you warm my heart
When snow is flying and temperature drops
The joy you bring it never stops

Well, I better keep my day job :-/


Knitting-

I've been working on socks and headbands for Christmas gifts.  The headbands are fast and easy,the girls love 'em.  I use the left over yarn from the knitted socks.

 Some like the flowers and some not.  I'll be knitting past Christmas for all the request for socks and headbands. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.   As rough as life can get sometimes we all have a lot to be thankful for.  From the really big to macro happenings in our lives. 

This is a beautiful Poinsettia I picked up at Hen House.  I love the reds and pinks and this is so Autumn, called Nutmeg.    I plan to keep inside and plant in the garden this spring.   I have had good results with other Poinsettias , they would grow but I would forget to get them back in before a cold snap.   I'm going to be on the ball with this one : )

Take good care
linda

Warm'n Up in the Cast Iron Kitchen

Yes its rough look'n but oh is it warm.  This Woodland woodstove has made our winters not so bad.  Even helped when the power is down and dinner needs cooked.   I've read, knitted and warmed frozen hands after morning chores by this woodstove along with a cup of coffee for a few years now.   Yesterday was beautiful fall weather and today its winter.   This pic was taken a couple of years ago but it stills looks the same today.   Wonderful warmth!   We use hedge wood, it crackles and pops , heats up really hot , so gets dampered down alot.  Along with this type of heat the smell of hedge is so good.   Great for using on the grill to.  It's my favorite wood to burn.  

I give the stove a cleaning with stove paint to blacken it up and almost looks new.  My cabin kitchen is turning into cast iron.  Guess its like potato chips for me, "can't have just one". 

The really big skillet has been in our family for many years.   Used on many a fishing/camping trips.  Fried bacon and eggs in the mornings and fried fish after a good days catch in the evenings.  One time I made a pancake for my uncle in that pan, it was the size of the pan.  The outsides measure 16" so maybe a 12" or 13" pancake.  He was surprised I could flip it, so was I. 

 Theres just not enough room in the kitchen for pots and pans so the wall makes a good spot for the cast iron.  It gets pretty worn so springtime after using the woodstove then a nice clean up will happen. I plan to use stone behind the stove for a more outdoorsy look. Get rid of that metal piece.

Theres a wok hanging on that metal , its well season altho I have not used it for awhile.   My first meal I made in the wok was chile, lol.   It makes wonderful Asian dishes : ) 

  I use my skillets all year, inside and outside by the Outpost.   Food taste so good cooked in these skillets and good for ya too!

My new buy is a couple of Lodge flat skillets , the kind that some restaurants will bring out steaks/chicken w onions and peppers, oh my!    I have not use them yet but look forward to some good eats using the woodstove.

My other find a couple of years ago was this Dutch oven with a pretty dome lid.  Not sure if I shared this before but thought I'd share if not.  It has dried beans stored in it now ready for a bean and cornbread dinner.                                                                                                       

My outside cooking I use the three legged camp Dutch Ovens.  The kind you put coals under and on top of the flat lid.   I love those and have made some good eats, esp the peach cobblers , yummmmmm

Yep its hard for me to past up a good buy on cast iron.  It cooks our food and warms my heart.

Oh I need to put another log on the fire!

Thanks for dropping by, Holidays are around the corner ; )
linda