Adventures in sausage-making

 A week ago, or so, my hubby said to me something along the lines of "Hey, you wanna try making our own venison sticks?" 

"Sure!" I said, "That could be fun!" And we have all the equipment for making venison sticks.  

Venison sticks ... the whole family loves them.  

And, if we make them ourselves we get to control the amount of seasoning and heat in them.  

See, my boys like the venison sticks with more heat in them than I do.  I have a delicate palate and stomach.  So, not as much jalapeno's and peppers in a batch for me. 

Well, we got everything ready for making venison sticks.  The venison was mixed up with seasoning and jalapeños and peppers from our own garden. 

We made a trip up to Fleet Farm to get some casings and we were set. 

Until we discovered our meat grinder didn't have the proper plate for running meat through that doesn't need to be ground. 

Ugh! 

We made calls to all the stores we could think of that might have these plates.  No luck. 

My hubby did some research and we ordered a sausage maker off of Amazon.  Surprise, surprise, it showed up in record time and we made some sausages!  It was a smaller batch, just to get the hang of it.  

Then it was decided we needed a bigger smoker so we could smoke a larger amount of sausages at a time. 

Back to the drawing board. Sort of. 

It was decided to try a propane smoker.  

Someone has been having fun seeing all that the smoker can do. 

The results have been delicious! 

This is a portion of what we have craft (created?) so far. Yum! Gallon-sized bags with pounds and pounds of delicious venison sticks in each one. 

Wednesday works in progress update #8 for 2023

I've made some really nice progress with my crochet cardigan.  I have all five pieces complete and am now working up the muster to seam the pieces together. 

The back

The front pieces

The sleeves

I was rewatching one of the videos on the craftsy class, to see how to sew all the pieces together.  The instructor shows a method that seems a bit more involved to me.  I'm not looking forward to this part of the project.  

And then ... I have to add ribbing on the edge, collar and wrists. That part looks way more complicated.  Or, maybe my mind just couldn't wrap my mind around it because I wasn't trying to work the stitches while I was watching how to make them.  If I was any other kind of crocheter (i.e. really lazy) I'd be tempted to leave the ribbing off, but then the cardigan wouldn't look complete. 

This is what I have left for yarn. For the fronts and the sleeves, I used a fresh yarn ball. I figure I can use the leftovers for seaming everything together.  

Project Name: My first crochet cardigan

Started: Sept. 30, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Craftsy or Lionbrand. 

Yarn: Lion Brand wool ease

Colors: Grey heather

Hook Size: H 5.0 mm

Made For: myself. 

Yesterday I shared about my snowflake cross stitch.  You can click here, if you missed it. Thank you to all who complimented my progress and my fancy new bling. 

I sewed up one of the blocks I had in progress for my sandpiper quilt. 

That's five down. Seven more blocks to go. 

Project Name: Sandpiper quilt

Started: Jan. 21, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: It's Sew Emma / Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Fabric from the Solid Fat Quarter Club

Colors: A different color palette each month.

Made For: Myself

You can see all my posts for this quilt here. 

One thread before bed

The other day I was taking out a new flosstube for a spin.  Unfortunately I don't remember which channel, or her name.  

However, she said something that stuck with me.  I've heard it said other ways, but her way rhymed. 

"A thread before bed." 

And it makes total sense if you want to have some progress, but not dedicate hours a day to something. 

How do you eat an elephant? 

A bite at a time. 

Does anyone ever do just one thread when they pull their cross stitch out?  Maybe it's different if you are working on a high count linen. ... I usually end up stitching two or three threads. Tonite was three threads. 

I decided to take a break from the crochet cardigan.  I was crocheting like the wind and my hand started aching.  

I've pulled out my snowflake cross stitch project and giving it some attention. It is just over 50 percent completed, according to patternkeeper. 

Did you notice the pretties in the photo? I'm kinda matchy-matchy with this one. 

I found some snowflake scrapbook paper and made matching flossdrops and a thread charm.  Floss bling? I don't know what it's called. 

I also made a little beaded pendant to go with the charm. 

And then I decided to be *really* clever and make another scissor fob. 

The only way I could improve upon this is if I had a snowflake needleminder.

I had a LOT of fun pulling it all together. 

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. I've decided I'm keeping it for myself.  I told my husband that when it is done, I'm putting it on display year-round. 

Let me show off a finished object. 

Remember Edna? 

I finally finished her!

I'm trying out frames for her. That's why the fabric isn't trimmed or threaded.  

Isn't she beautiful? 

Project Name: Edna goes to brunch

Started: early July 2022

Finished: early September 2023

Designer/Source: Lindy Stitches

Fabric: 32 count Mint Splash Lugana by Zweigart

Floss: I'm using the called-for colors in DMC

Stitch count: 133 x 96s

Size: 8.3" x 6"

Needle Size: size 28

Lugana fabric is definitely not my first fabric of choice.  I'm a aida girl.  Definitely.  

But, ... I'll definitely give it a try on a small.

Sharing what makes you happy

 This morning I felt a burst of creative energy and decided to make myself something pretty in the small amount of time before work. 

Recently I've been itching to make something outside my wheelhouse. I don't know what I've been watching lately that caused the desire to make pretty, shiny things to go with my cross stitching. Floss drops, thread charms, floss jewelry, whatever you want to call it, I want to make it. 

Anyways, this morning I decided it was time to make myself a scissor fob with some beads I recently purchased. 

Making the scissor fob took a bit longer than I thought it would.  I kept stringing beads on the beading wire, then taking them off and trying different arrangements.  

Before I knew it, my clock was chiming (or bird calling) the hour and I was in the midst of finishing off the fob.  I was struggling to tighten the bead wire and making sure the beads were snug against each other before crimping the crimping bead.  

I was so pleased with the finished product that I immediately snapped a photo and shared it on my social media. 

Am I a beading newbie? Yes. Years back I thought I'd give beading and jewelry making a try so I could make my own pretty stitch markers. It was a fairly quick phase I went through.  At the time, I thought the stitch markers I made weren't very good in comparison to what I was seeing other people make, so I stopped making them.

Also, at that time the only place I could purchase beads from was a big box store that didn't have a very large selection of supplies.  More than a decade later this is still true. If I want anything that isn't basic I either have to drive across the bridge and go up on the hill or order something online. 

My stitch marker-making hobby was pretty much over almost as quick as it started, thanks to my lack of confidence in something brand new to me and feeling like what I was creating wasn't good enough and never would be. All I needed was some practice. On social media all I could see was that people were making beautiful things and mine just didn't compare. 

I should also mention this time period was also at the start of social media websites, and everyone was excitedly sharing things on Instagram and Facebook.

It's too bad that I didn't hear Angela Walter's words of encouragement at that time.  Granted, she's coming from a quilting background, but it applies to all sorts of things. Her list of things to stop doing, so you can enjoy the process of your creating more, and her reiteration of comparison being the thief of joy really resonated with me when I first saw her video 4 years ago, or so. 

1. Stop comparing your worst to everyone else's best. 

2. Stop pointing out your own mistakes. 

3. Don't forget the purpose of your project.

The point I'm trying to get to is this: Don't think your creation is lacking just because you are new to creating that particular thing and it doesn't look like what you see on social media. Be proud of what you have created with your own two hands. Don't be afraid to share your work and what makes you happy.  You never know who you may inspire. 

Friday works in progress update #7 for 2023

 I had intended to write a WIPs on Wednesday post.  Alas, ... it's been a bit of a week.  My close buds have heard me complaining about the rain putting me into a bit of a funk.  I like taking photos of my projects when we have decent outside light. 

There still isn't decent light because - shocker of all shocker-ey things - it's raining. Again. 

Last year I decided I was going to try making a crochet cardigan, after seeing a "My first cardigan" class on Craftsy. 

This year I finally took the plunge. 

Last night I finished the back.  

Project Name: My first crochet cardigan

Started: Sept. 30, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Craftsy or Lionbrand. 

Yarn: Lion Brand wool ease

Colors: Grey heather

Hook Size: H 5.0 mm

Made For: myself. 

I've got some mixed thoughts on this project because of the craftsy class. I haven't viewed all the videos yet.  A couple things I've had to look on the internet to figure out what I was supposed to do. Nothing personal against the instructor, but the more knowledgable I get with some of these crafts, the less impressed I am with some of the craftsy classes.  I remember when craftsy first came out and everyone thought it was the greatest thing.  I'm feeling kind of meh about it.  Definitely cancelling the subscription. 

The next part to work on will be the fronts.  I'm confident I'll be able to blaze through them.  What I'm not looking forward to is the sleeves.  I'm sure that's a universal feeling. 

Next, we have my snowflake cross stitch project. 

Project Name: #723 Snowflake

Started: Jan. 1, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Tiny Cross Stitches

Fabric: Aida cloth 14 count Hobby Lobby Zweigart. Aida has silver threads running through it. 

DMC floss in called for colors

747 ; 964 ; 995 ; 996 ; 3756 ; 3761 ; 3843 ; 3846 ; B5200

Colors: blues

Needle Size: 26

Made For: Myself. Maybe. I haven't decided yet if I want to give this away. 

I put this down a few months ago.  I got tired of working on blue.  Blue, blue and more blue.  I was pretty dedicated to it when I was working on it, and got a ton done. 

How it looked back in June: 

See, lots done since June. 

Patternkeeper is SO awesome. If it wasn't for patternkeeper I think I would have given up on this.  

I'm sure I'll make this one again, some time down the road, but I'll be using a single color rather than nine different shades of one color. 

Spinning ... 

I identify as a spinner so much, you'd be shocked at how little I actually spin fiber into yarn. It's pathetic, really. 

I've been working on the same fiber for years and years.  I bought ... two and a half pounds, maybe, years ago, with the intention of spinning enough fiber to knit a sweater for my husband.  I even picked out the pattern for an interweave knits.  Now i'm not sure I'd make that specific pattern because it's all kinds of cables and pretty bits.  

Anywho, I'm still spinning the fiber and I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with it. 

I probably haven't touched this since last year ... or maybe early this year? 

I was watching Dark Winds the last time I was spinning, and now I tie watching that show very strong with spinning.  So now I don't want to work on it unless I'm watching the show. 

The other night I pulled the spinning wheel out and got her all dusted, cleaned up and pretty. 

Now to just make the point of watching the show, right? 

Maybe when it's just a little bit more "fall" out? Sitting by the wood stove, with Dark Winds on, and spinning for like an hour at a time.  I have a goal of getting the fiber all spun up by the end of the year. 

Quilty things next ... 

I started the year with such good intentions with the Fat Quarter solids of the month club.   

And then ... nothing. 

I have four blocks done so far, and two blocks in progress. 

Project Name: Sandpiper quilt

Started: Jan. 21, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: It's Sew Emma / Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Fabric from the Solid Fat Quarter Club

Colors: A different color palette each month.

Made For: Myself

The last time I shared I had finished the blue one that is in the top photo, lower left. 

I have fabric for the next few months are all ironed and ready to go. I iron it really well and do my absolute best to keep things lined up. I figured I didn't need things to be super-duper precise, so no starching. 

Project Name: Dancing Stars

Started: 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: It's Sew Emma / Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Fabric from the Solid Fat Quarter Club

Colors: A different color palette each month.

Made For: Myself

This is the quilt pattern suggestion for the 2022 Fat Quarter Shop solid fat quarter club. I had to buy a special ruler for this one. 

The fabric is being starched.  I feel precision is really important on this one. 

It's five quilt blocks for each month, and the pattern calls for all 12 colors in the monthly bundle. 

This project has been at a bit of a standstill.  Lots of ironing and making sure none of the colors are out of place. 

A couple weeks ago I had the great idea of using the liquid starch to starch a lot of the fat quarters at once. 

I used a jug of the sta-flo liquid starch at a 50/50 mixture and used almost all of the mixture.

There was hardly any left. 

 I starched 108 fat quarters in like half an hour.  It was amazing! 

Then, it wasn't so amazing. All the time I saved on starching I'm making up for in the ironing.  The fat quarters are SO wrinkled from my squeezing out the excess starch.  It's probably taking three times as long to iron because I need to steam and spray extra water to get all the wrinkles out. Ugh! 

The project is slow going due to my desire to iron all the fat quarters before I start working on it again. 

This quilting project I started ... oh who knows ... and it stalled almost right away. 

It's a project from the January 2022 sew sampler box from, you guessed it, Fat Quarter Shop. 

I have all the pieces cut out and almost ready to sew. I wanted to make the smaller size that is a wall hanging, and make it for my bedroom.  Since there's no pressure to get it done, it hasn't been worked on. 

Oh, I take it back. I did blog a bit about this when I first started it. 

Project Name: Daydreams lap quilt

Started: Feb. 5, 2023

Finished: 

Designer/Source: Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Beautiful Day collection by Corey Yoder

Made For: Myself. 

Since I basically cut it and forgot it, I didn't remember it! Heh, funny how that works. 

*ahem*

And as I type this I remember that in the spring time I decided I wanted a pretty spring-ish project bag.  I got as far as ironing the fabric.  No cutting for pieces, though.  Would it count as a work in progress if it's only been ironed? 

Taking my finger off the pause button

 Today I was half-listening to Chris XrossStitch while I was diligently working my day job.  He is a flosstuber who announced last year that he was taking a break due to a cross country move. He posted his first video after his move back on Aug. 7. He said something about the necessity to check out for a while and hitting pause

Yup, that was me. Without realizing it, I hit the pause button on blogging and most social media things. Sorry. 

Thank you so much to those who reached out to me about Furby.  It means a lot to me that you did. 

I still miss my girl. The house is so much quieter without her and her tv habits.  In fact, I have the tv off a lot now during the daytime. I'm listening to more music, and even started listening to an audio book, at my husbands urging. 

Since July I haven't watched a Fat Quarter Shop video on purpose.  Youtube keeps auto-playing over to those channels.  I unsubbed from both their quilt channel and their flosstube channel.  Youtube doesn't care, and keeps starting those videos when I'm not actively paying attention. So, the Youtube viewing in general has gone down, too. I sometimes wonder if Fat Quarter Shop has noticed a drop in views since Furby's passing. 

Then, when I wasn't looking, Autumn hit my neck of the woods.  One day I looked up and the trees were changing. September went by in a blur.  October seems to be doing the same.  July and August each had a more sedate pace. 

I've been in my own little world the last few months. There have been some changes in the household (obviously). I've got some things I have to be more mindful of, health-wise, and I'm missing my constant little feathered companion.  My husband will probably read this and go "What about me?"  Yes, he is my companion and the love of my life.  He just wasn't with me 24/7 like Furby June was. 

Needless to say, I perk up when it gets close to that time of the day when he's supposed to be home.  How many others can say that after 25-some years?  Eh? But I digress. 

The changing of the season and listening to Chris' comments this morning was the nudge I needed to put virtual pen to paper. 

Apparently I needed a preamble to say "Yes, I'm still here!" 

I have some blog reading to catch up on.  I'm practically non-existent on the Instagram and post sporadically on the book of faces. I've been doing a tiny bit of knitting and crocheting when I'm sitting out in the hunting blind. 

Various projects have been started, paused and completed since I last wrote on blog post.  This all will have to be stretched out a bit so I'm not overwhelmed by a long post. 

In the meantime, I'll share a few photos with you that I took of the changing colors the last few weeks. 

Enjoy.