Yarn Balls and Memories

I  don’t know if the rest of you have as many unfinished projects as I do, but if you do I feel your pain.  Awhile back I decided to haul out some of those projects that just never quite got done.

So far I have finished tying a piecework quilt that had been pieced together a looooong time ago……now to just finish those edges!  I also took out my boxes of yarn skeins, yarn balls, knitting needles, crochet hooks, books, and baskets with patterns.  Needless to say, I have a corner of my living room that seems to always have yarn balls rolling around.

I should probably have kept track of the yarn balls that I have already used up.  I have been making covers for wooden coat hangers, slippers, a hat (which my husband has given two thumbs down), coffee cup sweaters, and prayer squares…….and still; there are balls of yarn left.  I cannot say for sure, but I have the feeling that somehow they are multiplying during the night.

Many of the skeins and balls I have been using were given to me by my Grandma Boogerd.  She was a very thrifty woman and saved every scrap.  I am guessing it was something she learned to do from living through the Great Depression.  She lived to be 98 years old and was busy making coat hangers till her final Christmas.  As grandchildren we knew we could count on a pair of them every year.  She had macular degeneration and had to quit making them that last year, as she could no longer see what she was doing.  She felt like she was going to let us all down and that is the year I knit, crocheted and covered my first coat hangers.  When I made a set for a BINGO gift for our family Christmas this past year I just had to smile.  As much as I have fought it; I am probably turning into my grandma.  I keep telling myself that people really liked her and look how long she lived and stayed active!

I love how many things we do; that reflect those who have gone before.  Hopefully we reflect the good and deal with the rest with grace. Meanwhile,  I guess I will just keep working on those balls of yarn and maybe, just maybe someday I will finish them all.  And if not, maybe my granddaughter will inherit a box of yarn balls, skeins, books, needles, hooks, and patterns. And if I have really done it right; she will smile whenever she takes them out and she will think of me.

Psalm 119:90

In my last post I shared the link for the coffee cup “sweaters”.  Here is the link for the prayer squares I have been making:

http://thenewmanprayershawl.blogspot.com/2012/02/pattern-for-prayer-square.html

Blizzards, Baking & Bible Study

Blizzards have a way of slowing down the pace of life.  Yesterday we woke up to snow falling and the wind picking up. They had been warning us on the news that it was going to get much worse so I decided to do my chickens sooner rather than later. As I was bringing them feed and water I came to the conclusion that I probably would have really enjoyed the weather a lot more if I was in grade school.

By noon the wind was howling and all the snow was going sideways.  The windows  had so much snow stuck to them, that you couldn’t see outside.  It didn’t take long for Lar to go outside with one of those window squeegee things and clear off the patio door.  The view was still pretty small as visibility was very limited by blowing snow.

It turned out to be a great day to catch up on things “saved for later” and to sit down and do my bible study lesson.  A group of gals and I have been studying the book of James, Mercy Triumphs.  This is an excellent Beth Moore Series.

With the wind blowing so hard it was hard to keep my kitchen warm so I decided it was a good time to cook out some pie pumpkins that I had grown this past summer.  I picked out a couple from the basement and got them in the oven. With Potato Soup simmering on the woodstove and the pumpkins cooking in the oven my house smelled wonderful.  It also really took that cool edge off the kitchen…..win win!

Today, I decided I should probably make something with some of the pureed pumpkin so I made Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting…mmmmmmm.  That one is definitely a favorite at our house.  I also made Mini Pumpkin Muffins which were incredibly easy to make; a favorite when the grandkids are around.  The rest of the pumpkin puree was divided up and is in my freezer for later use.

It is always fun to use what you’ve grown.  And for some reason it is really fun to make sweet treats (and eat them).  Green Beans and carrots are great but there is nothing like bars and muffins.

You can find the recipes below for the bars and muffins.  Happy Baking!!

Pumpkin Bars
4 eggs                            2 tsp. baking powder
1 2/3 cup sugar               1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup oil                           1 tsp. salt
2 cups pumpkin              1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour

Frosting
1 (3 oz.) cream cheese        1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup oleo                       2 Tbsps. milk
3 cups pd. sugar

Beat eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin til fluffy.  add rest of ingredients. Mix well. Put into greased 10 x 15 inch pan.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  When cool, frost bars.

 

Pumpkin Muffins
1 Spice Cake Mix
2 cups pumpkin
4 oz. water

Mix together and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes – No longer or they will be dry.
Bake in small muffing tins.  Makes 5 – 6 dozen muffins.

 

For those of you who noticed the little “sweater” on my mug full of tea; I am giving you the link to the pattern that I used.  I did have to modify it to work on my straight sided mug.

Simply Notable – Button Up Your Cup

The Home Place

I thought I would share a few pictures with you so you know what winter looks like on the home place.

The picture on the left was once the summer kitchen in the middle of our yard.  We moved it to the backyard and it now doubles as my garden shed.  Eventually I hope to have a small greenhouse attached to it.  My husband purchased some really large windows at a sale just for that project.  I would also love to paint it yellow (even though my sons are not too sure about that).

The middle photo is our view down the driveway.  I love it that we don’t see anything but open space.

The last one is the reason for my blog name. It is the chicken coop where my grandson loves to gather eggs when he visits.  When it is winter, I need to scoop a path for the girls to get through the snowbanks. There is an old open front shed where they love to sit in the sun and take their dust baths.

The picture above is one I really love.  It is a view of the river  that runs past our place.

It was early morning in November when these pictures were taken.  I was outside doing my chicken chores.  As I was finishing up I took the time to look around and was stunned by the incredible quiet beauty of the morning.  It was utterly quiet, hushed……reverent was the word that came to mind.  I just stood there, not moving, taking it all in.

As I watched the steam rise off the river I realized I had been given a gift. The gift of time to just stand and enjoy.

 

“Be Still and Know

that I AM GOD”

Psalm 46:10