Although I’ve spent more time baking this week (hooray for fresh peaches and cooler weather) than reading or knitting, I’m joining with Ginny for another week’s yarn along.
I’m still working on my raspberry puerperium and enjoying the simplicity although I did lose a little steam when I realized how large it is going to come out. I’ve started to put a lot of thought into Christmas knitting so as a start I began a headband for Sarah. It’s the calorimetry pattern and I’m using these notes to adjust it for her small head. It should be very quick and I think it will be the perfect thing to keep her hair out of her face. I just may get hooked and knit a few.
I’m also thinking about starting on the kids winter hats. Two years I knit striped hats for the kids specifically for our Christmas photos. This year I’m going to do it again using this pattern in each of their favourite colours. I figure I should get started on them sooner than later – last time I was finishing the final hat on the sidelines of the photo-shoot.
I’m still reading Better Off (slowly but surely) and enjoying it thoroughly. It sure adds fuel to my homesteading fire and has added one of these to my wish-list. I love the positive inspiration he shares. A previous read of mine, The Dirty Life, gave perhaps a more realistic view of homesteading but it felt heavy and negative at times. Although Better Off approaches the topics with a different purpose, I appreciate the balance if offers of reality and optimism.
I also have Canning & Preserving out of the library looking for some inspiring recipes to try during my canning marathons. I just peeked through it last night and while it doesn’t include very many recipes it is chock full of how-tos and advice on putting food by.
The big girls and I are also reading through Little House in the Bog Woods. I’ve been trying to sell them on the idea for a while and received copious whining about how boring it would be. When we did finally get started on it, they were surprised at how much they enjoyed it. I was quite nice to be rewarded with, “That was better than I expected!” I was very pleased.
Now I’m off to enjoy a slice of pie and a movie with the hubby as we celebrate the last minutes of our anniversary.
Happy Wednesday!
Reading list is looking intriguing! I think I have to add to my wish list “Better Off”. By the way, when I was in Sweden I saw this wood burning cook stove. Honestly speaking I can’t imagine that I can use it (cooking stove), but maybe after reading this book “Better Off” I will change my mind.
Happy anniversary! The hat pattern is great. Wish my kids would wear hats that I knit, but they always complain about them itching…
Happy anniversary and you are making me want to make some pie….any pie!!
Happy Anniversary!
Thanks for posting about the head bands, my daughter has been asking for one. I have been knitting for Christmas since last January and am still behind! I need to knit faster!
I am so glad your girl’s are enjoying the Little House book. I think they are all wonderful and am just waiting for the wee one to be old enough to enjoy them too. xx
Getting a head start sounds good to me. Each year, I say that I’m going to make it a handmade Christmas, but then I wait too late. The headband and hats looks great. My daughter likes headbands.
Happy Anniversary! That hat is too sweet! I may have to knit some for our family! So glad the girls are enjoying Little House in the Big Woods! We have read the whole series as a family a couple different times! It’s a wonderful way to snuggle on chilly winter evenings!
Happy anniversary!
I hope you’re having a lovely day.
Beautiful knitting as always – looking forward to all those little heads in their sweet winter hats!
I’m getting a canning lesson later this week. Can’t wait. Any must have recipes for tomatoes? That’s where we’re starting.
Happy Anniversary! I am very tempted by the Puerperium Cardigan. It’s such a sweet knit!
I love the raspberry color…the yarn is so pretty. I will have to look for the books you have been reading..I like to read anything about homesteading.
~~Renee
Happy anniversary! I love the puerperium and the idea of winter hats(need to start on some of those myself).
I’ve also been thinking of starting the Little House series with S. He’s only four, but so far he’s enjoyed all of Alice in Wonderland and a couple of A.A. Milne Pooh books. I keep waiting for the right time to start reading about the Ingalls.
Eric Brende’s experiment that led to his writing Better Off took place just a 15 minute drive from here and about 3 miles from where we are building our farm in KY. We get some produce, our tomato plants, our animal feed, our honey and our piglets from them. They are “Old World Mennonites”, but refer to themselves as The Plain People.
Little House in the Big Woods is my favorite of the Little House books!
Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! So many fun projects in the works. Love the hurricane hats in multiple colors idea 🙂
Ugh – don’t remind me that I have to start thinking about Christmas knitting. (OK, remind me. Otherwise I’ll never get started…) Starting on hats in advance is a good idea. They’re small & quick & easy to get out of the way. I think I’ll have to buy some yarn & get going on ours as well… xo
P.S. Happy belated anniversary!
Awww! Happy Anniversary!
I think I’m going to look into canning books and recipes for next year. That book sounds good to me.
Haha, my Boys LOVED the Little House books. I think they’ve somehow escaped the confinement of “boy books” and “girl” books…at least for now. (That will be a sad day indeed..)
I can’t wait to see your finished hats! How long does each one take…roughly?
Happy anniversary! Also thanks for the headband pattern…I just love it! It will make a perfect Christmas gift. Also, I am planning to reserve Better Off from the library..have been interested in it since I read it on your blog a couple of weeks ago!
I keep thinking I need to get started on my christmas knitting, but haven’t any ideas yet.
I remember being reluctant to read the Little House books when I was a kid, but then I adored every minute of them once I did. One of those “can’t judge a book” types of things.
enjoying knitting my very first sweater!! But going slowly so it will not have too many MAJOR mis=knits!! Cooler nights has made it eaier to knit without thinking I should be outdoors enjoying what’s left of summer…I remember reading all the Little House books as kids and none of my 4 has touched them!!
those gifts look great! i am constantly looking for stuff to make my kids this year for christmas. one of these just may make the list, lol, although i want the head scarf for ME!
🙂
jen
happy anniversary to you! and yes, little house in the big woods is a definite favorite round here – so glad yours enjoyed it.
Happy Anniversary! Hope your evening was perfect. “That was better than I expected,” always seems like the best compliment because it restores faith in choices we make as parents.
Love to you and yours.
I must say you have great tastes in patterns. I have made both the calorimetry and hurricane hat for my family. Both fabulous patterns. Love your reading list as well. We have been busy canning and baking too.
Rachel—I know what you mean about losing steam. I knit our third a pair of overalls in the spring and the same thing happened. I am curious about Better Off. I also know what you mean about The Dirty Life. I highly HIGHLY recommend This Life is in Your Hands. I think you would love it. I just got the Little House series and am heopful that it will be well-received… Happy Anniversary!!
Rachel,
I thought Canning and Preserving was the best canning book I took out the library this year and I added it to my Christmas list. Her directions and use of color photos made canning easy enough to understand. I am very much looking forward to reading Little House to he girls soon. We are working our way through A Light In the Attic right now and she has also really been liking fairy tales.
I am excited to see your puerperium. I keep seeing great ones pop up all over the place!
Your anninversary re-do sounds fantastic!
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