A lovely fall chit chat

Hello Happy Homebuddies!

No particular list of to do today, although I am moving about smartly.

The usual morning chores are completed, putting away clean dishes, making the bed, having the coffee all the things.

I've fed the sourdough, the birds, and myself. 

Do any of you use Kefir? I am making this now and including it my daily nutritional rotation.

I have made 3 cornhusk dolls, very prim in nature, and somewhere between now and the weekend I will make more, they don't take long and perhaps they will be fashioned into a fall garland.

They are very simple and each one is a little different. I think this will make a beautiful garland, or maybe a fall wreath? I have purchased a fall rag wreath and burlap garland from Hobby Lobby, and I might repurpose that or attach the dolls to it. 

                                                             

A little playing around is necessary.

If you would like to see a nice tutorial how to do these and other beautiful wreaths with natural objects may I suggest

HopalongHollow

I rather like cornhusk dolls, I don't think I've ever made one previous. The older I get the more things I realize I never had the opportunity to do. Simple joys are always the order of the day.

I've got the sourdough warming in oven with the light on, it's been fed and this evening we will have pancakes for supper, a favorite around here. I have 4 pears in the freezer I think I'll take them out and they can go atop the pancakes. Warm & cozy comfort food.

This wraps up yet another amazing chit chat over the clothesline! 🥱 

ok kiddos, I'm off to finish my coffee and play with my dolls!

Be of Good cheer!

Faith

 

Chit chat across the clothesline

The fall is lingering ever so lovely here, the colors are changing slowly, bright blue skies, no wind, sunshine=a perfect day.

                                                              Hello Happy Homebuddies!

Pretty soon Mother Natures vacuum will turn on, and this beauty will be all over the place. 

Maples are the prettiest, I think.

I did finish the heart blanket the other day, the last row same color as the first, and out of yarn. I played yarn chicken and found a motif I had made and frogged it for the yarn to finish. I didn't want to purchase another 1 lb of yarn. I like how it turned out, and my attention is to thread at the moment, smaller and lighter. 

Heart Filet Crochet blanket post

I will at some point will add a border. 

We were out and about yesterday I spotted this beauty. Morning Glory so pretty.

Be of good cheet!

Chit chat over the clothesline

Welcome in Happy Homebuddies!

October already, or should I say finally! Weather has been beautiful and fall is settling in nicely.

The cornstalk is up in the front yard, some beautiful mums and a lovely purple Aster we picked up recently on a trip.

Pumpkins are arriving soon, we have a day where we go as family choose pumpkins for carving, I usually make pumpkin shaped cookies, and we have cider and carve them. A family favorite.

I did pick up 2 small pumpkins which are pie pumpkins. I cannot recall if I've ever done this before and am not sure how to proceed. Bake or boil? How have you done it?

Garden was cleaned up, after the frost the Garlic and Egyptian Walking Onions will go in. Overwintering the geraniums we got from Amish, I also took cuttings in the summer for next year. I had one this year I started that way it did nicely. We have very good luck with the flowers we purchase from there I believe it is the soil. Hyacinths kept in the garage are peaking above the soil, I may bring them out, and I hope they will flourish in the spring. 

No blooms yet on the Thanksgiving cactus.

I did have a posting about this which you will find 

here

I found the sheet for it the other day, it was not kept dry in September because I am a doofus. So I will keep it dry in October. Oh bother!  Mine usually bloom at some point, whether I water it in the fall or not. Nature is nature. But it is worth a look see on the sheet to see what "they" reccomend.

Working on a filet crochet panel, it isn't huge, but it is giving me some grief, I went down a hook size, it looks better. 79 rows I believe. 

Have a blessed week, be of good cheer, give thanks.

Faith

 

A short over the clothesline today

Hello all of you beautiful Homebuddies!

I'm taking a coffee break, and we will sit & have a chit chat, won't that be ever so lovely?

I mentioned in a previous posting about screen time on my phone, I am down 50% from last week when I began. I am getting alot done around the house first making a huge difference, & as an added value sleeping better most nights.

I'm cleaning the spare room today, dusting, vacuuming and re arranging. My guys do not understand the moving & re arranging of things. I rather like a good change up and good dusting/decluttering as I go, my Goodwill bag is full now. 

I've been working some squares for a coverlet I "hope" to finish. Making the squares are easy I do one per night whilst I listen to a favored YouTube poster. Joining another matter.

This pattern is called Victorian Lattice Square by Destiny Wymore. I'm using Lion Brand one pound of yarn color Quartz. I'm going to join them with Sugar Cookie by Lion Brand, ( if I make it that far). I am really diligent about making this coverlet, it is such a pretty pattern. 

This is one from a few years back I crocheted. Not in the quartz colorway 

I have also started in thread, a filet crochet project for a small panel. 

Chicken soup again for supper, it was so good yesterday, warming for those who were out in the damp fall air. I do love to make chicken soup, it smelled so cozy yesterday. 

That is my story, I'm stickin to it!

Be of Good cheer 

    

Chit chat over the clothesline

Dreamy clothesline  ( internet photo)

 I would love to have one like this.

Hello Happy Homebuddies!

I'm typing this on the fly today, as I did not have a Monday post prepared, I "thought" I did. 

It is a beautiful late summer/early fall day here, with cool & freshness, just enough to enliven the spirit to do things which during the summer didn't seem necessary. 

I am preparing for decorating for my favorite season, but before I do that there must be decluttering, organizing & what is already out. I'm feeling cluttered. 

I've made a command decision that I have to much for my space available. 

My DH put assembled a nice shelf in the basement which has really helped, afforded me to put things there organized, and that opened up closet space and things piling up. Going up/down the stairs is a ongoing pain. 

I personally would prefer a single floor layout, in a more rural area, with more available space and access. AH...the stuff dreams are made of. So until of it that happens I need to make the space I have work for me.      

THE RULE!

I make an effort when something new comes in something old/not used or seen goes out.

Watering my plants well today, my African Violets are not thriving, I gave them a good bottom watering, they have fresh dirt. I've never had a batch like these. I cannot even recall what the flowers look like it's been so long. 

My break is almost over and back to cleaning up the mess I made while decluttering, re arranging and re assigning. 

I look forward to opening up the fall tub to find what is in there, it always brings joy.

Be of Good Cheer, do something good!

Faith

 

 

 

Chit Chat over the clothesline

Well Hello Happy Homebuddies!

How are all of you? 

I am doing ok, just have not posted anything since I think June. 

Time has just flown by & I'll lost track of it. 

It has been a very hot summer, looking very much forward to the fall. 

We took a quick trip to Amish yesterday, stopping at the bulk store for some baking supplies as I continue to prep for wintertime. Cornstarch, BakingPowder, beeswax for candles next year. I've already made candles for this year. 

Now is a good time to begin preparation for the winter season. Anticipating and preparing for any unplanned event going forward, weather, supply chain etc. I like to shop bulk and store things in glass jars I save to keep them fresh, plus at a glance you know exactly how much you have.  

We did stop at the antique shop, I've put myself on a self-imposed spending ban, after this trip and I have decided that until I can find more room/space. I should not purchase anything else.     

Here is what I purchased yesterday. 

Electric Skillet (Hoover) stainless steel

2 swan pots

I've crochet a little bit, made another stove apron for the fall. 

I will be posting again with pictures, just wanted to get this video up to catch up.

Be of Good Cheer!

Chit Chat over the clothesline

Hello Happy Homebuddies!

Wednesday already? The holiday threw me off. 

Today doing some dusting, well actually alot of dusting, as I cannot recall when I did it last, oh dear. 

Full disclosure! I am not dressed in heels, a skirt & apron, nor do I have my pearls on. Am I a bad housekeeper? I won't be allowed into the Donna Reed Fan girl club!

There she is in all her glory!  

Everything looks a little brighter & fresher. Yesterday washed floors. 

After this taking room by room, I like to hang the curtains outside too to blow the dust out of them, no rain in the forecast, possible tomorrow.   Just needs a general tidy up, I did make it to Goodwill with the yarn.

I am rather interested in the wool balls, how they are made and what you need to make them, I suppose fleece? Please do tell. 

Well life is happening, a son with a car in the shop, a cut finger, and that's 2 one more! He's having a bad week. Fortunately, we live close and can help.  

That's it for today, it's my story & I'm sticking to it.

 

  

 

  

Chit chat over the clothesline

Hello Happy Home Buddies!

It is a cool breezy sunny day, I've washed the Easter tablecloths, and I've hung them out on the line to flap in the breeze. I get such joy at hanging a few things on the line. 

I've pulled out some vegetable scraps out of the freezer, and they are in the soup pot making broth. This opens up some freezer space, and in the event, we need some quick, healthy broth it is at the ready. I've got some beef bones thawing, and I'll do those tomorrow. Going into the growing season, I'm attempting to empty out so I can start anew. 

I don't have my canning jars yet or I would put them in jars, for now they will go into freezer containers which I purchased for this purpose.

I'm crocheting another market bag and am about 1/2 finished with it. Keeps my hands and mind on something productive. The first was the same pattern, I like hearts, but a different colorway.

I planted some Zinnia seeds outside, I don't expect anything of it until it gets a bit warmer. Those I always start early as they take some time to get started, but they are beautiful and last well into the fall.

LionBrand 24/7 Cotton Colorway Lilac

This is called the Sweetheart Market Bag. I'm almost done with heart shape. 

you can find this pattern & more. These are not my designs.  

Here

Be of Good Cheer!

A little Across the Clothesline chit chat

Hello Happy Homebody!

Internet Photo
But...I would love to have a clothesline pole just like this one. 💖

Is it spring in your neck of the woods or fall? Both are my favorite. 

I am in the springtime here where I live. Perennials are coming up, Oh I don't doubt they won't have one or two dusts of snow, but they'll be ok they always are.

It's bread making day.

. Fermenting started for some red onions I want to try. I used some raisins and apple peels. Always in a learning curve here. The ferment will be used in a few days for red onions. 

Speaking of fermentation

Sourdough!

As of this posting, the sourdough starter looked just like it did yesterday, no change 11 days have passed, and it should be ready to bake. I thought perhaps it was the freshy milled flour. It was bubbly and I messed with it. Shouldn't have. I did misread the directions and tried to correct, shouldn't have done that either. It was not the flour; I'll chalk this one up to user error.  😲

This isn't my first sourdough; it is a learning curve all the way around. Once it is established it flourishes with minimal care.

If you don't try, you have 100% of failure, 50/50 if you give it a go.  

 I've made a command decision, starting fresh with non-bleached, organic King Arthur flour, buttermilk just as before following the specific instructions. I did not put it in the oven to keep warm; it is setting on the counter, I've got it covered with a coffee filter, loosely not affixed with a rubberband. 

 Bound and determined!

I've got a few more things I'd like to learn and be just that more self-sustainable. 

I am at some point going to try my hand at butter. We don't live near any cows unfortunately, so I cannot get milk from the farm, I'm still looking into this. I'm going to invest in a butter churn. 

I've always said skill sets are important, and now more than ever.  It is my intention do everything I am able to do to advance self-sufficiency as much as can be expected, for such as the times we are in.  

Today I received this by delivery, I do love when something fun is delivered.

Thank you man in the brown truck.

 I've had 2 of these over the years, and they both went to Goodwill for someone else to love. 

This one is smaller, should be easier to manage.

 I'm not going crazy with it. We grow tomatoes in the summer and some sauce over the winter would be nice. The price of spaghetti sauce is off the hook. Maybe applesauce

It is a good skill set to learn. Stocking, and preparing for lean times. which are coming sooner than later. I stocked up on some dry beans & topped off my jars. 

I don't have the jars yet, I had a difficult time locating a smaller canner, now that I have that the jars won't be a problem. I live in the "hood" and people here don't do anything but wait in line for coffee and fast food. There won't be any run for canning jars. Lucky for me.

I'm always into something, I'm not a spring chicken, but I've always said I've lived my life backwards. 

The candle tin arrived after a short tour of our local post offices.  

Townsends 

It is beautiful, handmade.

I have one and it makes 6 tapers at a time, so now I can make 12. I've got plenty of the beeswax rosettes left, and we picked up 1 lb block at a bulk store in Amish.

The taper mold is made in USA by hand, makes beautiful short tapers. I'll be doing that later this month. 

Be of good cheer!