With Gratitude

::  all going well when our oldest son was home over his winter break

:: getting to know his girlfriend better as she came to spend several days with us

:: the beautiful morning when I went out to do the animal chores

:: the amazing change of weather within minutes

::  Abby's baking

:: one organized craft basket 

:: our business picking up again so that we can pay the bills 

:: the hope that God gives me - knowing that He knows the desires of my heart

:: for my friend that asked me if we bought plastic bags (as she was sure we did not) and then inquired what we do instead 

:: other friends asking about how we eat and wanting to learn more about nutrition (it is so neat to let how we live speak for itself)

:: a sweet one year old

Joining in with Taryn today.

Moments from the Week

Thomas turned 19 on Tuesday.  (I seem to be finally adjusting to being a mom of an adult and it really is quite nice.)

It was nice that he was home on college break.

The chicken enjoying a warm day early in the week.

Winter brings out all of the indoor activities - lately dominoes have been popular.

Building a cedar wall on either side of the stairway - we were able to get the wood for free from a log cabin kit company that has "seconds".

Eating breakfast this very cold morning near the wood stove.

Busyness on the floor.

Sharing some special moments from the week along with Jules and others.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Tonya

This Morning

I sit this morning in the quiet, amazed that it is already 7:15 and all the children are still sleeping.  The day is slowly awakening outside and I can now see that it is lightly snowing.

My coffee is almost gone and the knitting must be put down to begin our day.  But just to enjoy a couple more minutes of quiet; a gift.

Enjoy the many gifts that you are given today.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Yarn Along

This week I am still reading Minister's Wooing by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I am enjoying the language - even reading aloud to myself, but I haven't found the story all that engaging.  I am not sure if I will finish it or not.

But, I have been really enjoying reading Wandering Through Winter by Edwin Way Teale - He wrote four books (one for each season) back in the 60's or - each about travelling across the country during each season.  It is fun to learn geography and also about nature and animals, etc.

For knitting, Abraham has requested some purple mittens for his birthday next week.  I just decided to add a brown stripe.  

Looking forward to sharing all of the reading and knitting today at Ginny's Yarn Along.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Moments from the Week

We get outside every day, even if just for a  little bit.

This chicken, appropriately named, Snowflake, ventured out of the chicken coop area and found some shelter in the dog house.

Abby's head shot for her theater resume and audition.   She tried out for this summer's QNEK production of Annie - and found out she has the part of an orphan, Pepper.

I thought I would share the recipe for these Cranberry Walnut cookies - 

1/2 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oats

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

Combine all ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for 13 minutes.

Hand Knit Simple Baby Doll

I have been knitting a little woolen doll and plan to knit more and make the pattern available soon.  It is so simple!  

I also have been making some little Valentine Gnomes by adding a hand stitched heart on their chests.

So glad to have found this gem of a book on one of our shelves.  The previous owner of our home left many books behind and this was one of them - Minister's Wooing by Harriet Beecher Stowe.  The language is delightful and holding the antique book in my hands as I read just feels so good.

Looking forward  to catching up with everyone at today's Yarn Along at Small Things.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Sunday - Rest :: Monday - Baking

Monday tends to be the bulk baking day for me.  While I do bake bread and an occasional dessert most days, Monday is generally a day where we are out of all baked goods.

(In the picture is my simple daily bread, a new for me brownie recipe that I came across here, and some almost healthy cranberry walnut oat cookies.)

A newer routine for our family is to make Sundays truly a day of rest - we had not set aside a day for this in the past.  Of course, with a large family and animals there are chores that need to be done, but we have come up with ways to lessen the load.

I don't bake in the morning before going to church.  However, we usually do have a special breakfast, either eggs and bacon or pancakes with maple syrup.

After church we go to the general store and pick up a loaf of bread (yes! store bought), some deli meat and a bag of chips.

Usually we arrive home around 1:00 or so and have a simple late lunch.

Food for the rest of the day is simply help-yourself, finish up left overs, or snacks.

On a special occasion or if we have company over, this would change, but this has become our family's new routine - inspired by some friends that do the same.

What are your Sundays like?

Warm wishes,

Tonya

An Orange Olive Oil Candle

Did you know about this?  Isaac (our 14 year old) showed me the other night.  You clean out an orange and then pull a "wick" from the stringy white stuff near the rind by rubbing it between your fingers.

Fill the orange with olive oil and then light the "wick".  This lighting part can take awhile - but once it is lit, it stays lit.  It gives off a beautiful orange aroma as well.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes Falling

(author unknown)

Snowflakes falling soft and light,

Snowflakes falling in the night,

Soft and light, pure and white.

When the sun shines out so bright

All the earth is dressed in white.

Knitting and Reading

I am knitting the other half of this simple scarf.  I figured out that in order for the scarf to work, I needed to knit two separate halves and then sew them together.

Here is the simple pattern - 

Cast on 28 stitches.

Knit 2 rows.

Then repeat this simple sequence -

Row 1:  Knit

Row 2:  Purl

Row 3:  Knit 2, Knit 2 together (4 times), YO, Knit 1 (8 times), Knit 2 together (4 times), Knit 2

Row 4:  Knit

I am enjoying the essays from Wendell Berry's, Home Economics.  Here is an excerpt from A Defense of the Family Farm.

"We can say without exaggeration that the present national ambition of the United States is unemployment.  People living for quitting time, for weekends, for vacations, and for retirement; moreover, this ambition seems to be classless, as true in the executive suites as on the assembly lines.......  This is explained, of course, by the dullness of the work, by the loss of responsibility for, or credit for, or knowledge of the thing made.  

But there is an even more important consequence:  By the dismemberment of work, by the degradation of our minds as workers, we are denied our highest calling, for, as Gills says, 'every man is called to give love to the work of his hands.  Every man is called to be an artist.'"

Joining in with Ginny for the Yarn Along today.

I thought this appropriate as we begin a new year, filled with 365 new beginnings.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Happy New Year

As the snow piles up outside, we wonder at its beauty.

The stark coldness reminds us to be thankful for the warmth inside.

As I venture into this new year, 2013, I feel so much stirring deep within myself.  Perhaps it is because I have reached some sort of middle age condition or maybe God is nudging me forward to be stronger in my faith - I am not sure yet.   I look forward to this new year - to experience the joys and sorrows, ups and downs, growths and milestones that are sure to occur.   

While I do wish you a Happy New Year I also wish that you find joy in your daily life no matter where you are in your journey.

Warm wishes,

Tonya