If you let your kids do stuff...

If you let your kids do crafts, they will eventually start without you one morning.



If you let your kids use tools, like scissors and hole punches, they will learn to cut.



You will also sweep up a mess like this at least once or twice a day.



You will probably also end up eating breakfast mid-project.



But, they will ask you for playdoh instead of TV...



And they will amaze you with what they can do all on their own.

Ravellenic Games 2014

Tonight is the night!

I've been carding wool, and tuning up my spinning wheel in preparation for the Ravellenic Games.



This year I will be spinning (and then knitting!) approximately seven ounces of brown Corriedale wool from the fleece that I purchased last summer at the Iowa State Fair.



Participating in the games is a low key and friendly opportunity to set yourself a goal and then accomplish it during the course of the Olympic Games. I am on team Daybreak Dyeworks and team Coconut Two-Sters. The teams are mainly a place to discuss what you are working on and cheer for each other.

Last time I participated, the Summer Games I knit these Blomst mittens, my first colorwork project!



Are you participating?

How I make yogurt in my dehydrator

I used to make yogurt like this because I didn't have a dehydrator, but then my whole world changed after my sweet husband found an Excalibur Dehydrator at a Goodwill for a shocking price.

Now I make yogurt in the dehydrator! I follow the instructions at Farm Bell Recipes.

I start with a gallon of milk and a big pot.



You also need some leftover yogurt (make sure it is the kind with active cultures) and 5 quart mason jars if you are using the whole gallon of milk.



I heat the milk on the stove to 180-185F... this takes 30 minutes or so on medium. Then remove it from the heat and let it cool to 110F, which takes FOREVER, but you don't want to chance killing your yogurt making buddies with too hot milk.



I preheat my dehydrator to about 110F, Farm Bell says 105F the dehydrator says 115F - I pick the middle for no reason... The white lids are from Wal-Mart, are BPA free, and only cost a couple dollars... totally worth it!



The yogurt goes in, and we wait 8 to 10 hours before moving it to the fridge to cool.



mmmm. smoothies. A gallon of organic whole milk yogurt for $5 or $6, and lasts at least a month or so in the fridge. A delicious budget friendly treat!

Rainy Day Blues and Grays

Super Bowl Sunday... to many around the US that means a great opportunity to knit and spin for HOURS. Today is also cold and sleeting, so even more reason to stay warm and snuggled up on the couch with some yarn and needles.



I am spinning, blue and gray... chosen at the DFW Fiber Fest last spring for my husband. It is from Butterfly Girl Designs, and is 100% Ashland Bay Multicolored Merino Top in the Granite colorway.

His birthday is coming up soon... so better get busy. Especially since the socks I am knitting him are nowhere close to being done. They are just not working out, and I am so tempted to rip back and try something different. Except, there is no time! argh!



The main reason is I am running short of the main yarn color, and should have thought to knit the toe in the complimentary color in the first place... but I didn't. When projects get like this, I just don't want to work on them... and that is not good when you have a deadline. So, I guess I am feeling a little blue and gray today.

So I will spin instead, and maybe he will get a hat for his birthday.

Back to the Blog

Hi.

It is February 1st and I really haven't "blogged" in a while, but that's ok. It happens.

We have been enjoying, and sometimes not enjoying, the ups and downs of the North Texas winter. 70's one day and 30's the next will drive anyone's nose to drip at an alarming rate. We have chickens. We love them. Really, they are awesome and you should get some too.




Our girls love them. And they lay eggs... giant eggs. Did I mention that the girls love them?




We made cards for Thanksgiving.



I spun some yarn... dyed by the lovely Dawn of Daybreak Dyeworks.



The girls colored pictures of chickens.




I spun some more.... Daybreak :)



And I bought some fiber... from Daybreak Dyeworks!



I cut up a quilt.



The girls busted out their water colors.

And I spun more Daybreak - surprise!



I washed a fleece.



Crocheted one of these crazy hats.





Made Helen cry by trying to take a picture of her new sweater... a Bulle.



And some other stuff... including...

Starting to read a couple books.

The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart of Eternity by Sally Clarkson

and 

Our Lady of Fatima by William T. Walsh

Ordering a bunch of seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, so that we can pretend to be real farmers.

I also roasted a pretty darn good chicken last week (from the store, not the backyard)!

That is about it, welcome February!