Crafts

All the crafts!  Weaving on a rectangular cardboard loom we made with a strip of fabric.  Maybe we'll get bigger and make a rug next. Below, a yarn on a circle loom that we made (that's a Yoda t-shirt someone gave him):

I remember making these with 2 popsicle sticks when I was about this age.  When I showed him this, he wanted to make one with tassels, too.  

Maybe you can tell by his eyes, he was feeling poorly and running a low grade fever that day, but needed something to do.  He's better now.

A book about the Kursk icon, which he bound himself!  He's into any craft he can try right now.  It's good to have indoor projects when it's been SO cold outside.

Olivia gave Paul a pottery wheel and he thinks it's pretty great!  Here's a video of him using it: https://youtube.com/shorts/culw_Df0GaA?feature=share

She gave George a geology kit with stones embedded in a clay brick for him to chisel out, a bag with sand to pan for gold and a mini magnifying glass which he thinks is the BEST.

We got a wooden frame loom with heddle to move every other cord on the warp up and down, so one can pass a shuttle through easily without having to go over-under each one!  Weaving is fun!!

I am crocheting something wonderful, and not exactly sure what it is, just nice to create something, probably will add a zipper for a knitting pouch!  Have you ever done mosaic crochet?  I saw some cool projects and want to try it out!

Thrive market

It's a time of baking and drinking tea.

We got so much snow!  And icicles.  More is expected this weekend!  I've been making candied nuts, too, for our neighbors and other friends, writing out cards, and tidying up the house.  My sister and her family will be coming to visit.

I took George in for a dermatology appointment, to take care of the warts and molluscum, which were many!

The boys each got a pocket knife!  Below, I bought this book Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins written by Jim Forest, illustrated by Vladislav Andrejev after Liutrgy at the monastery book store.  The illustrations are so beautifully done.  We actually have it somewhere, but I haven't unpacked it.  It's been 15 months since we moved to upstate New York.  

I joined Thrive Market 6 months ago, after a friend recommended it to me.  Every month since I've been getting a box.  It's nice to put together a gift to send to someone as a gift! I miss living near Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.  I used to get seaweed snacks for the kids, red lentils, quinoa, vitamins, rosehip oil, grass-fed beef gelatin, sardines, gluten-free crackers, coconut sugar, fine chocolate and now use Thrive to get those items.

http://thrv.me/X39Xqm

If you're interested, click the link above.  You'll get 40% off your 1st order and I'll get $40 off my next order. 

Snowy cows

They seem to like the snow.  I thought it was neat how the snow fell and gently lay on the cows.

Sunday afternoon, George fell asleep on the sheepskin by the woodstove, and the snow kept falling.

I've embroidered phrases on 4 cotton towels so far.  This one will say:  people who love to eat are always the best kind of people, from Julia Child.

Rob's sister Lucy sent gifts and we decided to open these LED lights that change color.  There's a remote that it came with and 15 different colors to choose from!

Tonight, the boys and I put cranberries and popcorn on a needle and thread.  Both poked their fingers with the needle and I explained the purpose of a thimble.  

Homemade gifts

It's already December!  We have been doing daily Old Testament stories with Welcoming the Christ Child and the 40 day garland made of red and green circles, behind here, on the bedposts.This is on the other side of kitchen in our cozy 2 room home.  

We made vegan and gluten free gingerbread, and decorated them with icing made of powdered sugar and lemon juice! I plan to make another batch and give them to our neighbors.

George cut out a bell shape and is making the sound of the bell ringing.

The three little kittens that were born Oct. 5th are 2 months old today!

We had some limbs fall off our trees with the strong winds we had this past week.  I clipped off the greenery and brought it indoors.

I'm doing a bit of cross stitch on the woven cotton towels we got in October when we toured the Bootd cotton mill with my Aunt Ellen and Uncle Jim.  These will be Christmas gifts!

If you're looking for a nice tutorial on how to make a graham cracker gingerbread house, we used this one: https://youtu.be/gt7cBo9VdhQ

We made several quart jars filled with:

1 1/2 c. flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 c. granulated sugar cane

1/3 c. coconut sugar

1 c. rolled oats

Fill to top of jar with chopped walnuts

Add a gift tag for "Cowboy cookies" with these instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 c. melted butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in the entire contents of the jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut-sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes.

Collecting sticks

We collect sticks every few days to use as kindling.  Our woodshed is full of logs.  This is how we keep warm when it's cold outside.  The 3 little kittens are playful and adventurous.  They're 7 weeks old now.

One of the two babies was born this week, on Wednesday.  Rob, the boys and I went to meet her today.  I held her first.  These friends are Amish and the mother asked me to take a few photos to print off and mail out to family that lives in another state.  We got the photos printed at a store nearby and picked them up already.  

A few more carrots harvested. Pumpkin cake.  Below, the Litia at the nearby convent one day this week.  Thanksgiving day was a warm and beautiful day! The boys peeled and cut potatoes, my husband always does the mashing.  He likes it smooth.  We went to eat turkey with friends who live just 2 miles away and brought an apple pie, pecan tart and pumpkin pie.  The hostess made a lovely cranberry tart with hazelnut crust! 

We're cooking venison on the woodstove.  I'm shaking a jar of cream skimmed from the top of a jar of raw milk from Bella.  Hopefully we'll have butter to go with dinner tonight.  The Nativity fast starts Monday!

I've drawn quite a few of these family patron saint drawings this fall.  This is the 7th one a woman ordered from me, she's giving them as gifts to various friends!  I charge $20 each.

I hope you have a nice weekend!