I'm still here

I see that 'nobody' has been coming to read my blog.
I know 'you'll' be back when I get back to posting.
Been very busy with lots of 'people' coming and going for over a week.

One thing I'm sad for is that the fence around our house is only 3ft. tall.

So what's the deal with that?--you ask...

My goater friend has a little doe that will not stop nursing, she is over 4 months old, and the momma goat won't push her away. So... the little doe needs to be away from the momma for about 3 weeks. I offered to keep her, but did not 'pass inspection' The young doe is 'my best jumper' my friend said, and needs at least 6ft. of fencing or she'll be out in the neighbourhood bleeting up a storm...sigh...it would have been my opportunity to 'play at being a goater'...oh, well.

Got a yogurt start from my goater friend, it is delicious. As we speak the milk is getting ready to be 'yogged' {my very own term, I feel free to use the noun yogurt as a verb, hope you don't mind}

This is the yogurt starter, blurry, but you've seen yogurt before.
I had to stop the kefir making, long story short (yeah, sure) it was not coming out of hibernation--or whatever it's called when the kefir grains slooooowww doooowwwn production.

These are the kefir grains. In all fairness, they--the grains--have been in non-stop production for over 5 years...time for a winter vacation, guys!
I had to rinse the grains very thoroughly in water; now they are hibernating in water in the refrigerator, until I'm ready for kefir again. So there!



I have a 'ton' of knitting to do. My blue sweater that I started last winter...I don't know where I was at the time I casted on the stitches...but...I have to take it apart, and do the fronts again.

DH has asked that I 'redo' his 'sleeping cap' He would like it to be less, showy and more practical. I'll show you before and after pictures...



One DD sent me a link to a baby round yoke sweater, and I'll go with that one, since the Brazilian Tesituras lady never got back to me. Oh, sigh...this baby is due in about a month, have to get the sweater done!

I'll leave you with this,

"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." Pro 15:13

In His hands, ^__^

Ponderings...(wassat?)

Lately, and since it is Autumn, many are saying colder weather phrases.
For example,
'We got a cold snap'
'It has been sunshiny and crisp, this week'
'Snuggly, frosty weather today'
'Crunched together on the couch to watch a video'
'The cold wind cut to the bone, during our walk'
'Definitely got a break from the heat!'
...and many other that you may want to add to this list.

The blogs are showing favourite cold weather foods, such as Thick Soups, Stews, Watery Soups, Biscuits and Gravy...for desserts we see, Double Chocolate Turtle Cake, Oozie-Goopie Caramel Torte, Sour Cream Apple Pie...and on the list goes.

Now, stand back and really observe [I may be the only one who has noticed this phenomenon...nooot!]

Let me help you...snap, crisp, crunch, toast, and break, are onomatopoeic words which describe hardness to some degree or another. When the weather is this way, we want soft, smooth, mooshy, liquidy--thick or thin, foods.

When the weather is hot, and humid, and thick, then we like to eat Crispy Potato Chips, Crispy Nachos, Crunchy Pretzels, Crispy-Crunchy Salads, Snapple...and other foods which imply hardness.

Well, what does that say about us? It seems that food companies have, already, banked on this peculiar human condition and made barrels of money (would that be hard money or soft money...you decide)

You may profit by doing a word study in your Bible about hardness, hardship, and see what the Lord shows you.
When my heart is hard, what do I want to hear?
When my heart is soft, what then?

I'll leave you with this:


"That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits" Isa 30:9-10

In His hands, ^__^

Tea For Lunch

This is my lunch.

A cup of Detox A.M. from Celestial Seasonings, and a meat turnover.

Turnovers are such a portable meal. They are made in all parts of the world that use wheat flour. They are known by many different names. They come in many different shapes, and are filled with different meats, cheeses, vegetables, jams, assorted creams, etc., etc.

They can be fried--as mine is--or boiled, or baked.
Pirogies, Empanadas, Spring Rolls, Samosas, Bunhuelinos, Raviolis, Rangoons, and Blintzs; just to name a few.

I think they are all fun to make and even funner to eat.

You can make them for snacks, appetizers or meals--even deserts. It all depends what the filling is, and how you top them or not top them. They can be dipped in a myriad of sauces, or covered with them.

You can make them very bland, or very spicy, and anywhere in between.

Try them as a side dish, or as a main course.

Make a whooooole bunch and bring them to your family or church get-together. Or, call the girls and have a 'Tea'

I think this is the ORIGINAL Humble Pie, but I may be wrong.

The Humble Turnover--whatever you call it--is among the most versatile foods.

I'll leave you with this:


"He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit." Pro 17:27

In His hands, ^__^

Whaaaat??? a spiiiiiider webbbbb? on my keyboard!!

Can you seeee it?! It goes from the end of the keys, across the whole table. It is very dense.
Maybe you can see it in the 2nd picture, it sort of has an ethereal and undulating glow. Now it's gone!
I did not use this computer since Sunday night, and today is Wednesday...fast little varmint!

Once, last winter, had a tiny spider that made a web in the triangle from the cabinet, to the window, to the sink, in the kitchen--at least two times a day for more than a week. I never saw the spider until its last day...tiny little thing, was not catching anything, so I put it out of its misery. What was it eating? something I left behind? some minute bugs that could not be seen with the naked eye? I dread to think about it. My kitchen! how dare they?!!

I'll find this computer spider yet...and will give it a techy kind of send off.



Now...on to the baking.

A little yeast and warm water, and the flour I hand milled in my French Hand Mill,

Voila! a peasant loaf, very, very yummy with butter dripping off the first warm slice.

Yummm!

I like to sprinkle flour on top and bottom of the loaf, so it looks like the $9.00 loaves of 'artisan bread' at the 'whoop-tee-do' market.These are my regular loaves. Rather shiny this time.

Then, after taking some knitting apart--rip, rip thank you Susan for the definition--I decided to make this pink ball of yarn into a narrow scarf. Brainless sort of knitting, chevron-like stitch which does not use a lot of yarn.

And, the 'hello kitty' purse-in-progress for the next little girl (#2c) shhh, don't tell her.

Almost forgot, here is this Cuisinart [I'm all French this month] mini processor. Always wanted one, but...too expensive and I have knives that work just fine, thank you.

One of the garage sales [saw it on our way to dinner, it was almost 5pm so I could bargain] had it for $5.00, but due to the late hour she gave it to me for $2.00. You can plainly see that it was used very little. The previous owner got an upgrade which does all sorts of things. Again: good for me!

I made my pizza sauce in it, and it did not turn the garlic to paste, like the blender does, but it minced it very small. I really like this little thing. Now I can give my knives a rest.

After the rain stopped, and the cold front came through, the temp dropped to 43F in the late afternoon, then, the sun was shining, which made the sky that bright, indigo blue--typical of fall in the Midwest. How beautiful!

I'll leave you with this:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2Ti 3:16-17

In His hands, ^__^

Rainy, 48F...let's make bread!

Yup, another batch of wonderful bread. The house smells so yummy.

Have not posted for a few days because I have a life outside the blog, really?! As much as I would like to spend time with you, others require my presence...I mean besides all the actual house work...yawn...

I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed! Have a wonderful family, beyond most people's dreams. My people love me--and I am not even running for anything...and I love my people. How cool is that?!

I could go on and on, about each one of my many blessings, but...have to go punch the dough...sigh...

If the bread comes out nice, I'll show you, but then, you have seen my bread before. I don't want to bore you, especially since I like it when you come to visit...

Finished another sweater and did not take a picture of it...it is gone to #4b.
Got a handknitted wool sweater at a yard sale, for .50c. I will take it apart, make skeins and wash it at that point. I'll show you later.
Some call this unknitting 'frogging' What does a frog have to do with raveling a knitted piece???? If anybody knows the etymology of this term, please share it with me.

The walnut tree has lost most of its leaves, and all the other trees are dropping their leaves also. Except for the oak and the pecan, they seem to be the last trees--in our yard--to drop their leaves.

To be continued...

Actual triumph at memorizing

I may be the only one--or one of a few, to whom memorizing does not come easily.

Tried as I may, this verse has been very slippery for me, for some reason...until last night...I was asking the Lord why is this particular verse sooooo....well, by now it was one of those: I-will-get-this-I-will-get-this-I-will-get-this! ! !

It seems that the Lord said: Remember that 'truth' is first, then honest...sort of 'th' from the. [never mind] then, remember the quaint expression: 'just puuure lovely!' and you've got it!

Sure enough,
I will quote it for you, then I'll go find it and paste it...here it goes: Finally, bretheren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Whew!

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
WoooooHoooooo! I even got the punctuation.

Been trying to get this one for years. Thank you Lord!

I'll leave you with this:


"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Php 4:8

In His hands, ^__^

Crocheted hot pad and more garage sale finds

I got my hair highlighted today--DH loves it!

So I crocheted this hot pad/pot holder for my 'hair lady'. She is really sweet.
I had just learned this 'bullion' crochet stitch and wanted to practice it. It is a fun stitch to make. It was going to be a circle, but ended up being...a...whatever-you-call-it shape. My 'hair lady' was very pleased with it since she recently redid her kitchen to all-white.

The hanging loop is made of Romanian Cord--thanks for the applause.

Next, is the beady garage sale find.

Several bags of patriotic beads, and many tubes of more beads. Plus a Strong's Dictionary (not the concordance) brand new, never used [they got it as a gift, and were not interested in it] all for $10.00--If I'd had to buy them at the store: the book is $19.99, the tubes of beads are about $2.00 each. And the bagged beads about $5.00...all in all, about $60.00. I never figure retail prices of stuff from garage sales, but these were all brand new/never used/never opened.

Loooooove red, white and blue.

I found this stiffened, crocheted bowl at another sale, with more odd balls of yarn--all synthetic, good for something I have not thought of yet.

It holds all the beads until I find a more permanent place for them.

Now THE FIND of the month. (with the long re-enactment)

Mrs. #5 called me to alert me about a garage sale in their neighbourhood. I went right away and found some canning jars, yarn, zippers (no picture of those) and...

this beauty...

I saw it, when I was there, but did not think I needed to get it since I have an electric mill that I use all the time.

While driving away I thought that Mrs. #2 would like to have it since she is always experimenting with different grains (her mill does not have a size dial)

I was sharing this information with Mrs. #5, later when I saw her.

When #5 and Mrs. #5 came by later: #5 had the hand mill in his hand (she had told him). He had gone to the garage sale, and found a bunch of 'guy stuff' i.e., tools, iron pipes, sheet metal, what...ever guys like. He did not tell me if he paid the full price or not. But it was a huge blessing that they got it for 'me' (meaning our family...whoever needs it)

It is a French-made Samap brand (Mouline Cereal Manuel--Hand Grain Mill)

After taking it apart and thoroughly scrubbing and washing, it looked very nice.

It clamps on a table or counter

Then you pour the 'most wonderfullest' wheat...and crank away...

And crank...and on, and on...

It took about 7 minutes to mill one cup of flour. Since it did not come with instructions, I had to wing it. Got very coarse cracked wheat, until I figured that the top beige 'bolt' is the regulator.

The flour is just as fine as my electric mill (Magic Mill Plus III) or any store-bought WW flour.

I'm thinking I'll make some white bread--oh no!--and add this to it. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Here is a new one, if you want to see.

I'll leave you with this:

"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." Pro 10:22

In His hands, ^__^

Sunny Sunday

I wanted to wish you happy Sunday, restful, peaceable, full of enjoyable activities.

We are doing just that.

By the way, and while I'm here: I just took apart 1/2 of a sweater I was crocheting...the directions are all wrong. They want you to make this for a child who looks like spongebob squarepants.

I do a lot better knitting sweaters, and crocheting 'things' like square thing, afghans, hot pads, table mats; and circular things like doilies, rugs, chair mats, etc.

Back to knitting sweaters. Ok, ok, I thought I try...maybe during a snow storm.

'Talk' to you later.

I'll leave you with this:

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." Isa 54:14

In His hands, ^__^

Finished a couple of things

Surprise baby sweater--all done, and pretty cute--ready for coolish weather.
A sort-of tote bag tutorial.

Did not take pictures of every step. However, I started with some pre-quilted remnants. The pocket is made of a left over piece from the Thomas the Train bag that I made for #5c.
The bias, I had a huge roll of that yellow bias.

The yellow and the very dark green are the inside. Did not have enough fabric to make the tote the size that I wanted, so I added the green as sides.

Here it is sew together. When I had assembled the main part and the 2 sides, I serged all the seams to tidy them up.

This is the inside of the bag with a skein of yarn and a tube of crochet thread. [still learning to take pictures with good lighting...bear with me]

The outside of the tote, posing outdoors in the cool sunshine--63F yay! with some tree shadows.

Here is a better--not great--view.

I had the strapping which looks exactly the same color as the fabric, in person--how do professionals take pictures...oh, I see...air brush, you say? reflectors? sure, sure. Maybe I'll try that in my next photo session...mm, hm!

You can see a tiny glimpse of the green side. Very 'primary colors' (sort of KUish)

It'll work great for me. I'll take it with me with my current knitting project. I'm leaving in a few minutes to meet with a friend, so I'll knit while I wait for her--Then I'll show it off.

I'll leave you with this:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Psa 1:1

In His hands, ^__^