Episode 07 - The one with no intro

Welcome back! This week something wonky was going on with the software I use for putting the intro and outro on my videos.  I decided it was best to simply load the video. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments. Thanks for visiting with me today!

 WIPs
Crochet blanket
Started: Oct. 25, 2018
Hook size: 9 m.m.
Yarn: Red Heart
Colorway: Black and the "Favorite Stripes" colorway.

Crocheting two strands together. 

 

Vanilla Socks
Started: Around Oct. 22, 2018
Needle: US 1, 2.5 mm
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici
Colorway: Lost Lakes

 

Yarn chat
I'm watching two new-to-me YouTube channels. They are Jayda InStitches and The Crochet Crowd. 

Nature notes
Deer hunting update - My son filled his deer tags!  
Snow finally happened.
Sun!

Homstead
Harvesting trees project.  

Books
I gave up on "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." It's just not the season for that heavy tome.  

I'm waiting for "Ender in Exile" to be come available again. The library audiobook expired when it was getting *really* interesting.

Currently listening to "The Rosie Project."  If you like screwball comedies and romance, go get this book!  The voice actor is Aussie, and he does a wonderful job. It's been a while since I laughed so much listening to a book.

Coop news
I found a second secret nest, and the babies have moved themselves into the big coop.

Barefoot in the kitchen
Making venison summer sausage and venison jerky. We had to buy a second smoker. 

 

Coffee talk
Thanksgiving is just around the corner.
Christmas is happening too soon in the stores. I'm not the only one tired of this.

 

Episode 06 - The last hurrah

Welcome back!  If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments. Thanks for visiting with me today!

 WIPs
A modified umbilical cord hat

Needles: U.S. 2
Yarn: Knitpicks Felici

Colorway: "Teaparty" maybe?
Started: October 17, 2018
Finished: October 19, 2018

 

Finished objects
Pumpking dishcloth pattern
Needles: U.S. 5 - 3.75 mm

Book chat
Have not touched "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," by Betty Smith.
Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card has not been listened to.

From the coop
I found a secret nest!

From the hutch
Getting the bunnies all set up for winter.

In the kitchen
Carmel apples
Lamb roast in the Instant Pot
Banana bread

Banana bread recipe
1 - 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup stick margerine or butter, softened
2 eggs
1 - 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 - 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottoms only of 2 regular loaf pans.

2. Mix sugar and margarine (or butter) in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stire in the nuts. Pour batter into pans.

3. Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour, 9-inch loaf about 1/14 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pans on wire rack. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

Nature notes
The last of the nice weather.


From the homestead
Outdoor clean up has started

Coffee talk
No episode next week.
Halloween
Faster internet
More about the weather

My happiness this week
Music - Music is an important part of my life.

Songs I mentioned:

The song that I couldn't remember the singer

Episode 05 - Frozen

Welcome back!  If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments. Thanks for visiting with me today!

 

Finished objects

Vanilla socks on two circs

Needles: U.S. 1 (2.5 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks Felici

Colorway: The Countess
Started: To be filled in
Finished: To be filled in

 

Baby Surprise Jacket

Needles: U.S. 5 (3.75 mm)

Yarn: Lion Brand Mandala

Colorway:  Gnome
Started Sept. 21, 2018
Finished Oct. 6, 2018

 

 

Baby hat - A modified umbilical cord hat

Needles: U.S. 2
Yarn: Knitpicks Felici

Colorway: The Countess
Started Oct. 7, 2018
Finished Oct. 11, 2018

 

Book chat

I am *DONE* Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. 

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," by Betty Smith has been started.  

From the Coop
Mama and babies update.
Update on the main flock.

From the Hutch
Hoss, why you pout so much?

Nature notes
Gales of November have arrived early.
Frost last night.

In the Kitchen
It's soup for all the lunches time!

Made my first quiche in ages. 

Coffee talk
Travel for work
Sabbath
Hunting update

My happiness this week
Nature - more specifically: Lake Superior.  I put a couple vids up at the end of the video. 

Episode 04 - Fall is here

Welcome back! Thanks for visiting and letting me chat at you today. Grab your favorite drink, and come sit a spell.

Works In Progress

Vanilla socks on two circs

Needles: U.S. 1 (2.5 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks Felici

Colorway: The Countess

 

Needles: U.S. 5 (3.75 mm)

Yarn: Lion Brand Mandala

Colorway:  Gnome
Started Sept. 21, 2018

 

Finished Object
I have an FO!

Lake shore scarf by Mara Jessup. Pattern available on the Knit Picks website.

Needles U.S. 3 (3.25 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks Stroll fingering weight hand painted.

Colorway: Great Lakes
Started: Aug. 25, 2018
Completed: Sept. 30, 2018

 

I placed an order to Knit Picks and chat about the purchases and the patterns I've got picked out for them.  Next on the to do list includes the Lia pullover pattern, and the Mosey legwarmers pattern.

Spinning

No spinning this week. 

From the coop

I give an update on Mama Brahma and the babies. I think Mama is ready to call it quits on motherhood.

I chat a little bit about the roosters and *finally* share the size difference in the eggs from the older girls and the ones who are just starting to lay.

From the hutch 

I introduce this sweet little girl.  My son is fairly confident she's a girl.  Say hello to Shadow.

Barefoot in the kitchen

I tried two new recipes this week.  One was a bit of a zonker. The other was a winner!

Creamy chicken soup. I didn't follow the recipe exactly.  We also added a cream of mushroom or cream of chicken to the soup and it added that little extra something.  No flour since we try to keep carbs to a minimum.  You could use a little bit of guar gum for thickening. The soup smelled divine as it was cooking. 

The zonker was the recipe for roasted Brussel spouts.  This was also my first time cooking Brussel sprouts. I didn't roast with the Parmesan, but added it after the fact.  I don't think anyone was keen on Parmesan on the sprouts. 

The tried and true recipe for chili is at the Top Secret Recipes website. 

Book chat

Book - I'm still plugging away with Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner.  I'm on page 280-something of 341.

Audiobook -  Ender in Exile became available from the library. I am on part six of 12.

Kindle book - Cat Trick (A Magical Cats Mystery, book 4).  I haven't touched it yet.

Next on the list is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. 

Nature notes

I chat about the fall colors, the desire to start fall clean up but it's raining, and the photos I took this week.

 

From the homestead

Carrots still need to be pulled out of the garden. 

Gardening plans for 2019

Hunting update

Coffee talk

I chat about the Oulu Corn Maze.

My happiness this week

Soup. It's so comforting during the cooler days. There are endless varieties of soup and many ways to make it.

Episode 03 - Chatterbox

Give me time to speak uninterrupted and I will take advantage of it, apparently.  It didn't take long for me to go from deer in the headlights to chatterbox.

Thank you for joining me this week. Grab your favorite beverage and join me and I speak a little bit about everything.

Works In Progress

Lake shore scarf by Mara Jessup. Pattern available on the Knit Picks website.

Needles U.S. 3 (3.25 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks Stroll fingering weight hand painted.

Colorway: Great Lakes

 

Vanilla socks on two circs

Needles: U.S. 1 (2.5 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks Felici

Colorway: The Countess

 

I cast on something new: A baby surprise jacket.

Needles: U.S. 5 (3.75 mm)

Yarn: Lion Brand Mandala

Colorway:  Gnome

 

This is the YouTube series I used to guide me for the decreases. 

Spinning

No spinning this week

From the coop

I give an update on Mama Brahma and the babies.  I also answer a few questions about chickens.  

I finally got a decent video of Mama and the babies. Friday, Sept. 28 I let them expand their horizons and they are having fun. 

From the hutch 

A little bit of chatting about Hoss and Feffer. Their winter coats are growing in. We won't be able to bring them into the house many more times.

Barefoot in the kitchen

I tried a new recipe for cauliflower mac and cheese. Recipe turned out well, though I didn't follow it exactly.  I didn't include the Dijon mustard. 

The seasoning process for the new skillet has been started. 

Cinnamon rolls in the freezer and a tip about small batches of frosting.

Book chat

Book - I'm still plugging away with Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner.  I'm on page 66 of 341.

Audiobook -  Ender in Exile became available from the library. I'm eager to start listening to it. 

 

Kindle book - Cat Trick (A Magical Cats Mystery, book 4) became available from the library, as well.  

Nature notes

Expecting the first hard frost on Friday, Sept. 28. I'm pulling out the last of the tomatoes from the garden, and a few other things. 

Fall colors are *so* beautiful. Pictures aren't doing them justice. 

 

From the homestead

Watermelon was picked last weekend. 

Hunting update

Coffee talk

New TV shows. What do you watch?

My happiness this week

Rice packs.  A few minutes in the microwave and you have hours of warmth.  

Episode 02 - Up North, eh?

I'm back! I also have plenty to chatter about.  Grab your favorite beverage and come visit with me!

Works in progress

Lake shore scarf by Mara Jessup. Pattern available on the Knit Picks website.

Needles U.S. 3 (3.25 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks. I think it might be stroll hand painted sock yarn.

Colorway: Great Lakes

Vanilla socks on two circs

Needles: U.S. 1 (2.5 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks Felici

Colorway: The Countess

 Books

Audiobook - Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. I have really enjoyed this story.  The book had a variety of voice actors.  All did a phenomenal job.

Book - Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. Having a hard time getting into it.  It's a slow start. I'm on page 14 so far. The name of the podcast I mentioned is "Close Reads."

In the kitchen

I made salsa and canned for the first time in a while. I forgot how much I enjoy the canning process.  We have had a bounty of tomatoes this year. This is my private stock.

I've also been using up the zucchini.  I made a zucchini cake, using a Betty Crocker recipe out of the cookbook my sister-in-law gave me many years ago.

 The recipe for this cake is:

Zuchinni cake

It is recommended to mix without an electric mixer.

1 - 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 cups flour
1 - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 cups shredded zuchinni
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (optional)

Cream cheese frosting

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of rectangular pan, 13 x 9 x 2 inches, or 2 round pans, 8 x 1 - 1/2 or 9 by 9 x 1 - 1/2 inches, with shortening; lightly flour.

2. Mix sugar, oil and eggs in large bowl until blended; beat 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients except zuchinni, nuts and cream cheese frosting; beat 1 minute. Stir in carrots and nuts. Pour into pan.

3. Bake rectangle 40-45 minutes, rounds 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

4. Frost rectangle or fill and frost layers with cream cheese frosting.

Enjoy!

Nature notes

Mother nature did not want to cooperate with me.  After recording it started raining.  It's still gloomy as can be.

What makes me happy this week are Thermacells.  This gadget is awesome! Would not have been able to sit out in the deer blind without it.

Thanks for watching!

Brace yourself ... Fall is coming

 

Summer is slowly coming to an end. My son started school after Labor Day. This summer seems to have gone by especially fast.  I have been looking forward to getting him and myself back into some sort of routine.  Much of this summer I feel as if I've been flying by the seat of my pants.

I'm still following the weight loss program I started last year.  I've lost about eight more pounds over the summer.  I'm hitting more plateaus this weight-loss time around.  That's all right with me, however. To-date I've lost 35-plus pounds. Slow and steady.

The entire family is getting ready for hunting season.  I bought my man a new crossbow for his birthday.  He is stoked and can't wait to use it.  He's been spending a lot of time with it, sighting it in and making sure everything is perfect on it.

My son and husband have been setting up the deer stands too, and making sure everything they need is ready.

My hunting prep is a bit easier than theirs. I was going to sit in the same shed as I did last year.  But then a certain someone had their eyes open for a portable hunting blind for me, since I don't go up in the tree stands.  It's a fear of heights.  You understand.

 You can't see me!  I'm so totally hidden!

Hopefully I will have a successful archery opener this weekend.

I think I'm ready to go.

Some humor.

Episode 01 - Hello world!

Hello!  I'm glad you stopped by to watch my first video.  I'll be honest, I'm not sure what to call this yet.  Vidcast, vlod, podcast, video podcast. For sure, this is me, being adorably awkward on camera.

I've been wanting to create videos for about two years. I practiced in front of the camera and I was either like a deer in the headlights, or my mind went blank. Does anyone remember Brenda Dayne's comment about just going for it and making a podcast? I decided to just go for it, and I hit the record button.

I'm playing this by ear, and learning as I go. No set schedule yet.

Enjoy!

Works in progress

Lake shore scarf by Mara Jessup. Pattern available on the Knit Picks website.

Needles U.S. 3 (3.25 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks. I think it might be stroll hand painted sock yarn. I can’t believe I lost the ballband.

Colorway: Great Lakes

 

 

Vanilla socks on two circs

Needles: U.S. 1 (2.5 mm)

Yarn: Knitpicks Felici

Colorway: The Countess

 

Book I mentioned

Fablehaven

 

Good story for the entire family.

Books I've been reading ...

My reading was on fire this spring and summer.  At least it seems that way ...

In the car I listened to "The Trumpet of the Swan,"

 

and "The Outsiders" with my son.

 

Both books were enjoyed.  I think "The Outsiders" resonated with my son.  He LOVED "The Trumpet of the Swan." The Trumpet was narrated by the author and he did a lovely job.  I thought it was perfect, really.

Both stories are classics and I'm glad I chose these stories to listen to with him.  I'm trying to get him to read "Fablehaven" right now.  It's not working. I've got "Fablehaven" on my kindle but I'm not sure I'll get it finished by the time it expires. Last night I put a request in at the library for the audiobook.

Currently on the nightstand are "Crossing to Safety" and "An American Childhood." I haven't made it very far in either book.  I do need to get cracking on "An American Childhood" because it's an Inter-library loan and I can't renew it.

Over the summer I read a bunch of short stories and a couple short books.

"Atticus" - It was all right. Beautiful writing. I still haven't decided if I would recommend it.  I wrote a review on GoodReads.

"Desiree's Baby" - Deep. Really deep.

"A Rose for Emily" - There was so much going on, theme-wise, that I really struggled with it the first time around. A story set in the south.  Since I'm a "northerner" I couldn't really connect.

"The Lottery" - I can't believe I haven't read this one before. Tough.  A good reminder that just because we've always done something doesn't make it right.

"We Have Always Lived In The Castle" - Book was sort of intense. Knowing the author's history, I understand why she wrote it.  I'm not a fan of sympathetic magic.

"The All Of It" - I didn't like this story.  So many things I didn't care for. The fishing story line didn't really add much. I thought it was ridiculous that the priest wanted to hear all these details but at the same time insisting that the woman go to confession.  It was like he was titillated by being scandalized.  The ending sort of had me going "ummmmm."

"Rip Van Winkle" - First time reading this.  One of those stories you hear all about so much that you feel like you've read it.

"Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome" - Recommended by my friend E. Good book. I liked the Urban Monk.  I felt like one line said it all: "My only job is to walk my path."

"Summer" - I struggled with this short story.  Why? Because I could not stand the main character. She thought she was better than the village girls who got themselves in trouble with the boys.  She thought she was special because she "came down from the mountain."  Yes, I was a little creeped out by her "step-dad" asking her to marry him.  I'm was annoyed that she let herself get in trouble.  Like, what did she really expect was going to happen.  Actions have consequences.  Then, to let the boy off the hook.  Yes, I just did a spoiler.  This is how annoyed I am by the main character.

I read a bunch of Mattie Winston series books, and "Magical Cat Mysteries." I LOVE both series. Both for different reasons.  The Mattie Winston books are flat out funny.  The Magical Cat series because, well, because: cats.

I listened to bits and pieces of "The Passage" with my husband.  The parts I've listened to had my attention so well that I will have to request the book from the library this fall or winter.

I read "Twelfth Night." I should say I struggled through it.

Speaking of Shakespeare, I listened to "Tales from Shakespeare," by Charles and Mary Lamb. I'm not sure I like what they did to the plays.  I will say they made the plays really understandable, but I could tell stuff was missing. The book was geared toward kids, so its understandable.  

I haven't decided if I like Shakespeare. So, to add to the punishment, I'll be reading another play soon. ...

I decided to not sign up for the Well-Read Mom club this year.  I realized I wasn't using the materials.  Also, I wasn't keeping up with the books in a timely fashion.  It's that whole putting something on a schedule that cools my interest. Maybe next year. I wrote down the list of books for this year and will read them at my own pace. I think the first thing on the list is a poem. It seems that since I didn't sign up this year, they are doing all kinds of fun things. Oh well. Maybe next year.

Okay ... Yeah ... That's a whole lot of stuff I read.  I'm sure I missed something or two, as well. 

Current WIPs and FOs

So I sort of feel off the knitting and spinning wagon the last few months.  Is that even the proper way to describe it?  Knitting and spinning block?

I tried my hand at Tour de Fleece ... and failed. I have about a bobbin and a half of spun yarn. Any time I've put my crafting on any kind of schedule, you might as well count on my not doing it. Seriously.

Fiber is corriedale. Feels really nice in the hand. 

I never started the "next project" I wanted to do, which was to make a shawl out of that lovely yarn I wound into a cake back in March, or so.

I have, however, finished the pair of socks I was working on. They are full of technical errors, thanks to my taking *so* long to work on them in between socks.  I'll be keeping them.

Vanilla socks
Started - Don't remember because I can't find my project book.
Completed: August 19, 2018, or there abouts
Needle: US 1, 2.5 mm
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici yarn
Colorway: Tea Party
Colors: Pinks, purples and blues

 

A few dishcloths have been cranked out.  Two standby patterns.

Granny square dishcloth. Made with leftover dishcloth yarn.

 

 Celtic cables dishcloth. Made using leftover dishcloth yarn. I love this pattern and I don't think I will ever tire of it. This time around I cabled without a cable needle -- the entire thing. I'm so pleased to finally be able to do that. It just clicked this time around.

 

After the cables I decided I needed something fairly easy again.  I didn't want to start another pair of socks at the time.  I found a baby hat pattern.  Very easy and super quick. It's someone's version of the umbilical hat pattern.  I printed this one out but I forgot to include the designer's name or web address. Sorry.

Both hats were made with leftover KP felici sock yarn. One for a girl ...

And one for a boy ...

 

Both need to be blocked, so the curling will stop.

I have cast on a new pair of socks

Another pair of Vanilla socks
Needle: US 1, 2.25 mm for the cuff, 2.5 for the rest.
Yarn: KP Flelici
Colorway: Countess
Colors:  Purples

I have a mild itch to try another Baby Surprise Jacket.  Too bad I don't know anyone expecting. I'm not sure what I will do with the baby hats I knit. If I get enough together maybe I'll check around and see if an organizations collect them, or see if the hospitals collect them.