Episode 15 - The sun is shining

Welcome back! Thanks for visiting with me today. Grab your favorite drink or grab a WIP, and join me. 

To listen to the audio version go here, or click play below. 


The audio-only version is also available on Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocketcasts, RadioPublic, and Spotify

Finished Object

Grey C.C. Copycat hat

Started: February 9, 2020
Finished: February 15, 2020 - or there abouts. 
Needle size: U.S. 7, 4.5 mm
Yarn: Hobby Lobby soft and sleek yarn
Color: Grey with sparkles

Crochet dishcloths based on a sunflower coaster pattern. It is here.

Started: February 15, 2020
Finished: February 15, 2020
Yarn: Dishcloth cotton
Hook size: G, 4.0 mm

Spinning

I have some progress on the fiber I've had sitting on the wheel.  This is fiber that I purchased from Paradise Fibers.

Corriedale spinning fiber to be spun for a sweater I'm making for my husband.

My fancy new tool

Future projects

I chatter a bit out the February Lady Sweater pattern.  I pulled out the yarn I am going to use. 

Kitchen adventures

I've still been busy in the kitchen.  I can't recall all the lovely things I've made.  

Here's a few of them

Low carb bread pudding. - My husband LOVED it.  It smelled divine while it was baking. Super easy to throw together.  I didn't take any photos. 

Cream puffs - I used the video tutorial from In the Kitchen with Matt. 

Choux pastry is magic!

It goes from this blob of paste

to this, in such a quick amount of time. 

Book I'm listening to

I'm currently listening to "Feed" by Mira Grant

I've enjoyed the story, so far. The book was written at least 10 years ago.  I've gotten a lot of amusement from what's being told.  Some things never change and the bloggers of the world are the heroes.  There's more to it than that, but I don't think I could adequately explain it all.  Sort of predictable in terms of who the villain is. 

There was one kill-off that tee-ed me off.  And if you know me really well, you will know when it happens.  I think I sat with a scowl on my face for at least 15 minutes. 

I also rambled on about a few other of Mira Grant's books. 

Gardening

Update on the indoor seedlings.

I'm still watching gardeners on YouTube. Where were all these folks when I was just starting out? They are wonderful. 

Homesteading

I tell a quick story about Shadow, Feffer and Thor. 

Even bigger news: Chick incubation will commence. I can't wait for baby chicks! Estimated hatch date is  March 13.

Episode 14 - A dry spell

Welcome back! Thanks for visiting with me today. Grab your favorite drink or grab a WIP, and join me. 

To listen to an audio-only version go here, or click play below.  


The audio-only version is also available on Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocketcasts, RadioPublic, and Spotify

FOs

Vanilla sock
Started: Let's say ... November 2019
Finished: January 26, 2020
Needle size: U.S. 1, 2.5 mm
Yarn: Nashua handknit socks yarn
Colorway: 7335
Dye Lot: 3555

I'm really pleased with how they turned out. 

Crochet-topped dishtowels for my mother-in-law
Started: February 5, 2020
Finished: February 5, 2020
Hook size: H, 5 mm
Yarn: Hobby Lobby soft and sleek yarn
Color: red

CC Copycat hat
Started: December 2019
Finished: January 2020
Needle size: U.S. 7, 4.5 mm
Yarn: Hobby Lobby soft and sleek yarn
Color: red

In Stitches

Love cross stitch pattern by Tiny Modernist.

Started in January 2020. 
14 count Aida cloth
Used all the called for colors. 

Happily Ever After cross stitch pattern

This is what the finished pattern looks like. I purchased the kit and am using all the called for colors and recommended fabric. 

Quilting 

Friendship star quilt

Project piece for my Bluprint Dot to Dot class. 

Pulled from the closet and not ironed.  I'm happy with how the piecing turned out.  Now, to actually work on it.
Other things going on

Spinning was discussed. I have spinning projects on my spinning wheel, the beautiful drop spindle from Blue Moon Alpaca and my turkish spindle from Scott Snyder.

I chatted about a weaving project I'd like to start, along with a couple other projects I'd like to do this year. 

I bought myself a fun "Ultimate Spinner's Multi-tool" from The Fiber Sprite.   

A needle punch project was discussed.  What should I do with it? 

Homesteading 

All the critters are doing wonderfully.  Here I am with Feffer, who wanted all my attention, recently. 

I discuss the amount of snow that has hit our area. 

Touched on some of the house projects we did. 

I'm starting a couple garden projects.  I'm so excited! 

Baking and cooking projects have been going on, too.  I've really been on a tear. The Great British Bake-off is my newest obsession. 

Grey Sunday morning

The end of the weekend, or the start of the new week?  I've never been sure which end of the week Sunday falls on. 

When I finally dragged myself out of bed this morning it was grey and not very inviting-looking outside. Earlier this week there was glorious sunshine. 

What *is* that bright orb in the sky?

Otherwise, I don't think there was anything very exciting going on. 

I've officially started daydreaming about spring and gardening. I've been watching a few videos on Youtube and gardening classes on Bluprint. If you can believe it, I'm still learning things.  There also has been a few things that I'm surprised I haven't thought of already, like using an upside down clear tote as a cold frame. 

This is what the garden looks like now.  Feet and feet of snow.  We left the door open so we could easily go in and dump wood ashes, bunny litter and anything else that we wanted to go into the garden soil next year.  Apparently deer like something we've been throwing in.  There are deer tracks in and around the garden and you can see all where the deer have been rooting around. 

Other things going on around the homestead: Not much.  The snow is still too deep to do anything.  It is also a bit more solid now, thanks to the warm temps last weekend. 

My husband is doing some car maintenance on his vehicle.  His car is getting older and things are starting to wear out.  We got a quote for a couple things and he decided to try replacing the items himself.  Yesterday he and our son replaced the back shocks and it went very well.  This morning he's out in the garage working on the front struts. When all is said and done, it will be like driving a new car, and he will have saved us a load of money. 

Last week I recorded a podcast episode. It will go up sometime next week.  I lost a couple files that I usually include in the video. They will need to be recreated before I can pull everything together and load up to Youtube. 

A few words on a Tuesday evening

Right now it seems my weeks are fairly quiet and it's the weekends that anything interesting happens. 

That's all right. I think. 

We have definitely hit the lull of winter time. 

The past couple weekends were quite nice, temperature-wise.  This past weekend was gorgeous. Temperatures hit a high in the 40s and snow started melting. My husband went to work on the roof, clearing off an ice dam. 

Pretty decently sized chunks of ice.  

My son cleaned it all up. No complains.  Isn't that great? 

Speaking of my son.  We celebrated his birthday this weekend.  I probably said this last year: I still remember bringing him home from the hospital like it was yesterday.  Now he's taller than me, all boy, and still loves his mama. 

Oh, yeah ... we got a new microwave. The microwave was acting up and then eventually gave up.  I tried fixing it.  Yeah, this girl.  It was not to be. This is the first time in a very long time, maybe decades, since we had an appliance die on us. 

What else is going on?  Not much. I'm still thinking it is January.