Posted in Giving, Moderation and Economy, Sewing, Uncategorized on Sep 10th, 2009
Little Hen and I finished the first scrap doll quilt in a while with more of a fall color scheme. We made it for a friend who’s daughter has a birthday coming up.
Actually, there wasn’t much to it -the four main blocks were in the middle of a big bag of fabric scraps I had [...]
Posted in Giving, Knitting, Moderation and Economy on Sep 5th, 2009
A day of sorting clothes for the change of seasons found lots and lots of dresses that are too small and will be passed down to a friend’s little girl. Some were handmade for my girls, and It was bittersweet to see how much they had outgrown and to realize how quickly they’re growing up. [...]
Posted in Crafting, Giving, Locally grown, Moderation and Economy, Sewing on Sep 2nd, 2009
Now, my sewing skills are pretty basic, (nothing like the beautiful sewing at Pleasantview Schoolhouse), but this week I tried my hand at making some farmer’s market totes. (A few more tote tutorials can also be found here, but I like how the pattern I used has the lining fabric peeking up above the edge [...]
Posted in Building Community, Giving, Locally grown, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on Aug 28th, 2009
Another day’s harvest at Penelope’s Garden. Fourteen pounds of beautiful organic produce picked and delivered to Birch Community Services!
The girls were excellent green bean harvesters. Little Hen and I may have snacked on a few while we picked.
For more bountiful harvests, visit Soule Mama, Mom in Madison, Red Dirt Mother, Old Red Barn Co., Heirloom [...]
Posted in From my kitchen, Giving, Locally grown on Aug 26th, 2009
We like to make an assortment of flavored liqueurs to enjoy on cold winter evenings (and to give as gifts). The list includes apricot or peach brandy, lemoncello, elderflower cordial, raspberry cordial (alcoholic, and non-), and cherry brandy (which makes a very special soaked-fruitcake at Christmas).
I started making apricot vodka about 15 years ago (back [...]
Posted in Building Community, Giving, Locally grown, Moderation and Economy, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on Aug 8th, 2009
Fridays are my days to volunteer at Penelope’s Garden. This week’s harvest was 29 lbs delivered to Birch Community Services!!
The raspberries are all done for the year, the mint bolted in the heat, but the tomatoes and green beans are in full production! There were even some carrots and a new patch of basil [...]
Posted in Building Community, Changing Seasons, From my kitchen, Giving, Locally grown on Jul 3rd, 2009
Another family at church has welcomed their first baby. It’s our privilege to bring them dinner tonight (and ooh and ahh over their little boy), so the girls helped me bake some Blueberry-Raspberry- Marionberry pies to take for dessert (I love living in the Northwest!).
Firecracker helped with the lattice top, and Little Hen shaped the [...]
Posted in Giving, Knitting, Locally grown on Jun 5th, 2009
My brother and his wife are getting ready to welcome their second child in the next few weeks, so of course, that meant another opportunity to knit some booties. The pattern is one I have used many many times – Ruth’s Perfect, in Cascade 220.
To go along with the booties, a locally made walnut rattle [...]
Posted in Giving, Uncategorized on Jun 3rd, 2009
A cushion handmade by my great-grandmother - wool rug-hooking on black velvet, I believe. My aunt found it in my grandmother’s house, and was set to throw it out (”it’s so kitschy, who would want it?”), but my mom immediately rescued it for me, knowing it would be right at home here . I’m in [...]
Posted in Giving, Knitting, Locally grown, Spinning on May 22nd, 2009
A lovely family from our church welcomed their second child, so the children and I took them dinner yesterday evening (well, afternoon, really…) Thought we’d include a little something for Baby Nicolas. How about ribbon-tie baby shoes? (Yes, I realize that’s a thumb in the bottom of the picture. Please just ignore it. I wasn’t [...]