New from our Handwork Shop and a Giveaway

We have created a new toy - a birch branch ribbon runner and would like to share two of these with one of our blog readers. Children love to run with these watching the ribbons flow in the wind behind them. When not in use they look lovely hung on a wall.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment and I will choose a number randomly. The drawing will be Sunday evening at 7:00 pm EST.

~Abraham "helping" Mike drills holes in our ribbon runners.~

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Our Chickens

One of our homesteading goals was and continues to be to keep chickens for our eggs as well as manure.

We also hoped to have enough surplus to sell a few dozen each week to off set our cost of grain. We thought it would be wonderful if our own egg cost would be zero. Our family uses about 3 - 4dozen each week. I do lots of baking.

This weekend we sold five dozen from our little stand.

Not only would it be a good idea financially, but we would also be able to provide ourselves with healthy beautiful free range eggs.

... so orange ....

Another benefit has been the pleasure of watching the children with our chickens.

... Abraham and Sarah with two girls ~ I am sure they know their names ....

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Happy Mothers Day

Well we woke up to this again...

Which made me extra thankful my family had given me these.....

We don't have any big plans today, I simply am going to make sure to take time to think about my mother and call her to let her know how much I appreciate her. I am also going to make sure I privately tell each of my children how much I love being their Mom.

Here is a poem from a small book that a friend loaned to me on Friday. The book is titled Good Mother, Welcome and it is by Ingrid Goff-Maidoff.

As mothers

we pray

for a world of peace.

We pray for a world of joy.

We pray for the nourishment

and safety of our children.

We pray for wonder, enthusiasm,

goodness and truth,

for compassion, love and kindness...

We pray for discipline.

We pray for maturity.

We pray for courage and strength.

And we give thanks.

The way we live is the way we give thanks.

Our life is a dance of prayer and thanksgiving.

Happy Mothers Day.

Warm wishes, Tonya

Growing, Growing, Growing

Our wood pile is growing....

The radishes and lettuce are growing......

I observed our first tendril on the snap peas.....

Happy Spring Growing.

Warm wishes, Tonya

Thursday Discovering Waldorf Series

Our family is featured today in this wonderful series at The Magic Onions. If you have a moment, please visit and spend a moment exploring all of the amazing tutorials and other posts from the Thursday Discovering Waldorf Series.

Warm wishes, Tonya

Crocheted Canning Jar Cover: Tutorial

We use our canning jars to bring water with us whenever we go out. Although we are careful, there has been an occasional broken bottle. Thus, I was inspired to crochet a woolen cover with handle to make it much less likely for breaks to occur and to make them easier to carry around. The wool also absorbs condensation on really hot days.

Here is the pattern for the 1 quart canning jar -

Using a size G crochet hook and worsted weight wool yarn (I like wool because it absorbs the moisture and is easy to work with.)
* Begin with a foundation row of 2 chain stitches. \Skip over the first chain stitch next to the hook and make eight single crochets into the first chain stitch. Slip Stitch in the first chain to finish the round. Place a marker here and at the end of each round. (I just slip a piece of yarn through.) (8 stitches)
Round 1: Make 2 single crochets in each stitch around (increases) - (16 stitches)
Round 2: Single crochet in first stitch, two single crochets in next stitch (increase) - repeat around (24 stitches)
Round 3: Single crochet in first two stitches, two single crochets in next stitch (increase) - repeat around (32 stitches)
Round 4: Single crochet in first three stitches, two single crochets in next stitch (increase) - repeat around (40 stitches)
Continue crocheting around and switch colors as desired until piece measures right before the jar stars narrowing near the top of the jar. Don’t cut off yarn.
To make strap: Turn piece and single crochet across four stitches. Continue back and forth across the four stitches for until strap measures approximately six inches. Make a button hole on next row by single crocheting in first stitch, chain two, skip next two stitches and single crochet in last stitch. Turn and single crochet across all four stitches. Finish off.
Sew button on and you are all set! (I used our handmade birch buttons.)

I am making one for every family member in their requested color combinations.

Warm wishes, Tonya

The Little Things

~ robins built a nest in our barn on top of a bicycle tire hanging on the wall...

such beautiful little eggs~

Here is a sweet poem to share on this beautiful Sunday.

The Little Things

by Anne Campbell

It would be a weary world,

God knows,

Without the little things!

The little stem that holds the rose,

The little bird that sings,

The little love that grows and grows,

The little thought that wings!

It would be a dreary world,

God knows,

Without the little things!

The little joys, the little woes

That all our loving brings,

The little prayer at evening's close,

The little hand that clings!

Warm wishes, Tonya