tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77898836176469900962011-08-01T14:46:08.786-07:00Share in my family's journey to a self-sufficient lifestyle.Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-26116244863613771502010-09-23T17:32:00.000-07:002010-09-23T17:32:16.919-07:00

I just found a great article on using alcohol to preserve fruit in the New York Times!  They tout it as a great "entry" into food preservation, because it is hard to mess it up.  Not only does it provide links to recipes, but uses for your hard work, which is sometimes the hardest part.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-47023896078207488502010-09-22T16:40:00.000-07:002010-09-22T16:40:40.860-07:00

Food In Jars is giving away my 2 favorite canning books!  Check out their site for more information.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-37006130178191790892010-09-22T13:02:00.000-07:002010-09-22T13:02:54.354-07:00

I'm still working on a final article about food preservation.  I've been spending so much time actually doing the preserving, I'm having trouble finding time to write.  This is what I'm working on this week: Years ago, Cliff's mom planted fruit trees on her property.  She rents out that house now, but the renters don't use the apples so we were able to pick them last weekend.  I left

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-54778918042469058302010-09-16T12:19:00.000-07:002010-09-16T12:19:51.432-07:00

Today I came across a great tutorial for making your very own aromatherapy pillow.  I've done something similar in the past with a knotted sock filled with rice, but this seems so much more luxurious and is right up my alley because it uses a recycled sweater!  You can find the tutorial over at The Magic Onions.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-91479588607227254572010-09-13T17:33:00.000-07:002010-09-13T17:33:43.562-07:00

We picked up our side of beef this weekend, so I thought I'd share a peek of what our freezer looks like right now. We cannot possibly fit another thing into it at this point. Our Freezer 9/13/10  On top of the corn and berries I already blogged about, we've been freezing beans from our garden and I regularly make my own beef or chicken stock and cream of mushroom soup to freeze.  This year,

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-77763434751317727612010-09-08T22:02:00.000-07:002010-09-08T22:02:28.545-07:00

Freezing is exposing food to extreme cold, slowing the rate of decay and growth of organisms. Ideally, to make the most of freezing as a form of preservation, you would need to have a large freezer or “deep freeze” to accommodate your food. Not all foods freeze well, so it is important to do some research before buying a 25-pound box of whatever, making sure it is worth your time and effort.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-73614911286001814152010-09-05T09:38:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:49:39.811-07:00

It is Harvest time and around here and food is being put up almost daily. (For the uninitiated, “putting up” food is preserving and storing it for later use). Since it is fresh in my mind, I figured I would share some methods and tips on food preservation. There are 4 main ways to preserve food; canning, freezing, dehydrating, and cellaring. Each method has its pros and cons. I will briefly

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-53948112805311154212010-09-01T06:53:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:49:39.813-07:00

Last weekend, we went to visit some family about an hour north of home, at the base of Mount Baker.  They grow blueberries, raspberries, corn, and irises, and raise their own beef. I love going to visit them, not only because its great to see them and catch up, but because it reminds me of my goals and re-focuses my attention on what is important to me. They sent us home with literally a trunk

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-80350408997846211162010-08-22T17:55:00.001-07:002010-09-08T21:39:42.700-07:00

With a new purpose, I thought I new design was in order. I think the new design fits in better with the theme of homesteading. I'll probably continue to tweak over the next month or so, and your feedback is appreciated. I'm particularly concerned if the page is too wide or if the sidebars are readable with the white text.Enjoy!

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-47055130697110812032010-08-21T18:38:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:39:57.056-07:00

I have decided to give my blog some focus. I hope that by having a more specific subject to write about, rather than whatever “strikes my fancy,” I will feel more compelled to write and become a better writer. I love talking about our DIY projects, my knitting, gardening, canning, baking, etc., and I think I have found a way to continue that, but with more purpose.My family & I have a 5-year

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-52780377521720742962010-07-10T11:22:00.000-07:002010-07-10T11:30:35.775-07:00

I'm "officially" a pattern designer... I just listed my first design on Ravelry, a scarf I made for my son last fall. Its the Dragon Scale Scarf on Ravelry. If you aren't on Ravelry (shocking really!) Leave a comment or drop me an email and I'll send you a copy for free.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-25055969326150034642010-07-06T06:49:00.001-07:002010-09-08T21:37:18.661-07:00

Mystic Farms is having a Christmas in July sale! Now through July 15, prices are marked 20% off selected products.I hope you'll come check it out.Mystic Farms

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-66950404600308665812010-05-14T18:27:00.000-07:002010-05-14T18:31:37.233-07:00

I have taken the buy handmade pledge, have you?Please consider handmade/handcrafted goods when buying for yourself, your loved ones, and for gift giving.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-11913227058429281682010-05-08T19:39:00.001-07:002010-09-08T21:37:28.875-07:00

I've been very busy working on my new business and my new Etsy shop the last couple months. I'm very excited to announce the launch of Mystic Farms! I make all natural lotion bars, liquid soaps, and other household products.As part of my New Year's Resolution, as you may remember, I chose to no longer buy products that contained ingredients I could not pronounce. As a result, I started

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-45526913525967803942010-03-22T20:38:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:48:29.624-07:00

I just finished watching the first episode of Jamie Oliver's new show, Food Revolution. I've been following his Ministry of Food campaign for the last couple years, and watched the success he has had reforming the meals in the UK school system. This man gets it. He has such passion for what he does, and truly believes he can make a difference. I honestly hope he does. The USDA school lunch

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-31593445044109659782010-03-07T12:43:00.000-08:002010-03-07T13:00:54.118-08:00

The Olympics are over and everyone has gone home. Being relatively close to Vancouver, there was a bit Olympic Fever here and I decided to compete in the Ravelympics Sock Hockey and Single Skein Speed Skate.The Challenge: Knit a pair of socks, casting on no earlier than the opening ceremonies, and binding off no later than the end of the closing ceremonies.The pattern I chose was Twisted Tulip

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-69981402065594935042010-02-25T12:55:00.001-08:002010-02-25T12:57:23.830-08:00

Here's a quote that caught my attention yesterday. I've read it many times, but for some reason yesterday it struck a chord."I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I cam to die, discover that I had not lived." - Henry

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-30955109130479138282010-01-17T11:17:00.000-08:002010-09-08T21:48:08.591-07:00

For Christmas I received a couple of foodie-type gifts that I thought I'd share.Cliff's sister sent us a Shiitake mushroom growing kit. We started it right after Christmas and have already harvested the first flush. We got 4-5 BIG mushrooms on the first flush and they were SO good. I sauteed them in butter and served them on steaks.Here's what the kit looks like while the mushrooms are growing

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-46351395540990128872009-12-30T16:06:00.001-08:002009-12-30T16:25:19.150-08:00

Yes, it is that time again... Resolutions for the new year. Did you make any for 2009? Do you plan to make any for 2010?I went back and looked at my New Year's Eve entry from 2008. Funny, I don't remember making a resolution about exercise. However, I did conquer knitting lace with my Northern Lights Shawl:I started an adult-size sweater for me, a February Lady, but it was slow going... I'm

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-9696568012916371082009-12-27T08:41:00.000-08:002009-12-27T09:18:48.090-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and are looking forward to 2010. I've been pretty quiet this holiday season. I didn't get a chance to share any of my holiday baking experiences, mostly because I did all of my holiday baking on Christmas Eve. I was so focused on my holiday knitting/sewing/crocheting that I couldn't even think about baking until I was finished. But I did finish! My final

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-79584347769316026672009-11-17T06:49:00.000-08:002009-11-17T07:11:01.883-08:00

I've decided to occasionally share some of my favorite homeschool resources with you. Over the last year I have sifted through tons of books, websites, and blogs and now I'm going to share my favorites with you. I first thought it could be a weekly scheduled post or something like that, but I just don't have the discipline to post with that kind of regularity. So, it'll be a sporadic thing when

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-22601527918677169982009-11-07T08:45:00.000-08:002009-11-07T09:20:58.925-08:00

Holiday knitting/sewing/crocheting is in full swing. I put everything on a list in order of priority so if there is not enough time, I don't have to panic. The list includes another apron for Ethan, an afghan for Emma and her new bed, knit/crocheted ornaments for all the kids, sewn potholders to go in gift baskets of home-canned goodies, a pair of felted clogs, a pair of socks, and a sweater

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-60303197979936496312009-10-04T18:28:00.001-07:002009-10-04T18:30:12.738-07:00

I've managed to complete a couple more projects this week.#31 is "Boo" a crocheted ghost by LionBrand.#32 is my Spring Forward socks. I've been working on these for over a year now. I'm SO glad their done.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-9613171512004966352009-09-30T19:23:00.001-07:002009-09-30T19:33:49.365-07:00

I've been busy freezing, canning, and otherwise preserving the bounty of our garden. I've frozen blueberries, raspberries, corn, grated zucchini, and the baked goods that resulted of grated zucchini such as chocolate zucchini muffins and zucchini bread. I've pickled jalapenos and green beans. Now, its tomato time! I started with raw-pack tomatoes because there isn't a recipe involved and I

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-68935941099180802082009-09-28T20:21:00.000-07:002009-09-28T20:23:08.238-07:00

I pulled this tomato out of my garden today...I can't stop giggling every time I see it. Am I really that immature?

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-40359607447041378192009-09-13T10:48:00.000-07:002009-09-13T11:41:21.089-07:00

Last year I made the decision to try homeschooling my son, Ethan. Though he was only 4, I decided to start introducing kindergarten age concepts and consider it a "trial run." I didn't use a formal curriculum, just worked from various books to introduce developmentally-appropriate material to him. If our "trial" failed miserably, he was still young enough to start kindergarten in public school

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-19521779577059379922009-09-05T22:05:00.001-07:002009-09-05T22:29:30.948-07:00

For the month of September, I've been asked to be a guest artist for the Dewey Beach Artists Fall Collection. at the Depot Arts Center in Anacortes.I chose five pieces, two of which I made specifically for this show, to represent my work. At the opening last night, I got to see the very talented company I was in and felt honored to be included in this group of artists.Here are two of the pieces

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-13224460893544851532009-09-04T13:26:00.000-07:002009-09-04T13:52:49.311-07:00

I've been a scrapbooker for many years now. I really got into it when Ethan was born... I made small books for all the grandparents and great-grandparents chronicling his first year. Since then, I've done the occasional layout here and there, but found it difficult to have to put everything away half way through, just so the kid wouldn't get into it or so we could eat dinner.I finally have a

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-22923424134298094292009-07-11T08:32:00.001-07:002010-09-08T21:47:26.680-07:00

I'm quickly falling further and further behind on my 52 craft challenge, but I'm not stressing about that so much as the fact that a local artist's co-op has asked me to participate in a show that takes place in September. I have TWO months to come up with about 5 show-quality pieces of knitting. And here I thought the most exposure my knitting was going to get this year was at the Skagit County

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-89732681520634702522009-07-11T07:48:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:40:40.159-07:00

Yes, it is summer... I seem to have trouble finding time to blog in the summer and yet, there is so much to blog about! Our camping trip to Orcas Island:Orcas Island is beautiful. I love visiting the San Juan Islands, and Orcas is my favorite. I've been there 3 times now. This was my first time camping on the island. We camped in Moran State Park and though our campsite was a little closer

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-17273338344627676412009-06-27T09:34:00.000-07:002009-06-27T09:43:32.840-07:00

I've been a bit of a slacker lately when it comes to blogging and there is so much to blog about!I finished Ethan's sweater. I made the largest size (10-12) rather than his own size (6-8) because I was afraid he would be a size 10 by the time I finished it and/or I wanted him to be able to wear it more than just a few times. Of course, it is wool so it has been too warm for him to wear it yet.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-76877867486016726202009-06-14T08:12:00.000-07:002009-06-14T08:48:06.957-07:00

Summer is definitely underway in our neck of the woods. Our first camping trip of the year is planned for next weekend. I promised Ethan a ferry boat ride this summer, so we decided to combine it with camping and are headed off to Orcas Island. The weather has been warm and dry (unusually dry for June actually) and Ethan has been participating in all kinds of activities. He just finished

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-31907954964666832392009-06-07T19:54:00.001-07:002010-09-08T21:33:43.276-07:00

Friday I took Ethan on a field trip to Rosario Beach, where there are great tide pools. There we met Adam, the interpretive guide for Deception Pass State Park, who gave us a guided tour of the tide pools. Here is the pool area of Rosario Beach:We saw a lot of marine life that day, and I hope Ethan enjoyed it as well as learned from it. I'm sure we'll be back often as it is fascinating to see

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-5202985802292483172009-06-05T17:52:00.000-07:002009-06-05T18:00:40.117-07:00

I have a group of internet friends that I do a monthly knit-along or crochet-along with. Our project for May was the Booga Bag. I decided to modify mine because as the pattern was written, the finished bag is about 4 x 7 x 8 and this just seemed too small for me. So, I made it bigger. I used Plymouth Boku in color "4", which is purple, green, and orange, and just a gorgeous colorway. I had a

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-26345482042643136292009-06-03T20:33:00.000-07:002009-06-03T20:43:00.565-07:00

So my birthday is next month. About a week ago, I mentioned to Cliff that I planned on buying myself a new camera lens for my birthday and showed him which one I wanted. Well, he bought it for me! I know my birthday is still a month away, but he gave it to me now so he wouldn't forget what I wanted or get the wrong one. I got out and played with it a bit in the garden. It is a Canon EF 50

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-11394668133366797502009-05-23T18:16:00.000-07:002009-05-23T18:19:19.856-07:00

I'm still a week behind (about to be 2) but I whipped up this easy little cozy for my Zune (mp3 player). I needed something that I could wear around my neck when I'm walking or biking because the belt clip just doesn't cut it. I improvised the pattern, which I find so much easier to do with crochet than knit. The strap is just three chains braided together.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-82912699713585343482009-05-22T19:59:00.000-07:002009-05-22T20:04:52.104-07:00

I finally finished these socks. I've been working on them since February. They are a gift for Cliff's birthday next week. I'm afraid they'll be too big, but I hope he likes them and will at least wear them for house socks if they don't fit. I CO 80 stitches because that is what was recommended in Sensational Knitted Socks for the pattern I was going to do. After I finished the cuff, I

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-1939516512991320972009-05-15T19:04:00.000-07:002009-05-15T19:11:02.291-07:00

I finished project #18 for my 52 in 52 craft challenge. It is a really cute apron for Ethan. The pattern is a freebie I found at Joann.com and the fabric was from my stash. He absolutely loves it. The day I gave it to him, he put it on and wore it for about 4 hours. We've decided this one is going to grandma's pottery studio so he has one his size to use and get dirty in. I learned from my

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-29246899595463825842009-05-09T08:34:00.000-07:002009-05-09T09:15:09.405-07:00

So, Nicole over at Stash and Burn is challenging herself to do 52 craft projects in 52 weeks... not just knitting but sewing too. I've decided to do this too, hoping it will encourage me to sew and scrapbook along the way. I've created a flickr set with photos of each of my projects that I'm counting toward the 52. The trick is going to be not compromising on the projects out of a need to

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-22007545169738294572009-04-28T19:04:00.000-07:002009-04-28T19:25:43.457-07:00

Well, I knew someone would ask about photos of the lining for the bag. (Thanks Marissa!) I had trouble getting good photos, but here is what I came up with:I read a couple patterns for lined bags and improvised my own based on them. The fabric is heavier cotton I had in my fabric stash. It happens to not have a wrong side, which made it so much easier. I measured the width of the bag (at the

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-20779197887560058372009-04-28T17:56:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:48:17.586-07:00

I love my crock pot. I cook in one at least once a week. In the summer, it is particularly nice because you don't heat up the kitchen even more with the oven.This is one of my favorite crock pot recipes. I'm horrible about taking photos while I cook, so they are a bit sparse, but here is the recipe:Ingredients:1 cup dry garbanzo beans1 cup dry navy beans1 cup dry great northern beans4 cups

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-39206015067234026072009-04-26T18:20:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:38:10.040-07:00

but I'm going to brag a little. This has been a highly productive week for me and I feel like sharing. On Monday we went on a field trip to Tulip Town as part of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. We went early in the morning to avoid the crowds and had a great time. We even got our picture in the newspaper. I let Ethan use my point and shoot camera and he had a lot of fun taking pictures.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-33024090761999099452009-04-10T18:06:00.000-07:002009-04-10T18:42:08.455-07:00

That's what is commonly said, right? Spring is all about renewal and change? Well, for me there is something about spring that incites BIG change. Nope, no simple spring cleaning in this house. In the past couple weeks, we've started some big projects around here.The biggest project is the new fireplace. Here is what it looked like before: Ethan is "helping" break up the cement that was under

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-15561601769132472582009-04-05T14:22:00.001-07:002009-04-05T14:26:30.905-07:00

I can spin yarn! Well, sorta. I decided to give a drop spindle a whirl (pun intended) and really enjoyed my first attempt. Sure the yarn looks like sheep vomit, but it can only get better. The fiber is Corriedale wool.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-7732893044161354732009-04-01T19:55:00.000-07:002009-04-01T20:25:14.533-07:00

I’m an amateur photographer at best, but I think I am finally growing beyond my “kit” lenses that came with my camera. I’ve been shooting with a Canon Rebel XTi for just over 2 years now. The camera came with 2 lenses, an EF-S 18-55 mm 1:3.5-5.6 II and an EF 75-300 mm 1:4-5.6 III. Until now, they’ve both served me well and I have no doubt they are great beginner lenses. I’m sure I will

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-32410473875138543692009-03-20T08:00:00.000-07:002009-03-20T08:37:42.232-07:00

I'm sorry I've been so quiet, but I've been really sick for more than a week with a nasty cold/crud that apparently is going around. I couldn't even knit! Today I finally feel somewhat normal and I get to spend the next two days working at the yarn shop. Yes! I work a couple days a month at my LYS, Knot Just Yarn. I don't think I've actually mentioned that here before, and I don't know why,

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-31359793836384546422009-02-17T17:47:00.000-08:002010-09-08T21:48:17.587-07:00

I was making spaghetti for dinner tonight and for once actually kept track of all the stuff I was throwing into it. In the process, I think I have perfected spaghetti sauce. I LOVE this sauce. Even my picky kid likes it. It is chunky, thick, and doesn't all end up left on your plate when the noodles are gone (unless you're like me and put on WAY more sauce than necessary just so you have some

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-55082431285955060572009-02-05T16:17:00.000-08:002009-02-05T16:28:06.180-08:00

So this week I went through a rite of passage, an age-old tradition that I am told every parent is put through by each of their young children. My sweet, wonderful little boy.... gave himself a hair cut.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-12781980057759208632009-02-01T08:47:00.000-08:002009-02-01T08:58:10.085-08:00

Last year, I had a pitiful little garden with tomatoes, potatoes, and a bit of garlic. I have a tiny backyard and my usable garden space last year was about 3 x 6. Yesterday, we move 3 rose bushes, which may or may not survive at this point, and doubled our available garden space to about 3 x 12. In this space I plan to plant 2 or 3 tomato plants and attempt jalapeno and Anaheim peppers.Last

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-34996510644456897802009-01-17T17:50:00.000-08:002010-09-08T21:45:25.042-07:00

I'm an aspiring photographer, a newbie, an amateur at best, particularly when it comes to still life and portraits. I prefer landscapes and nature, as evidenced by my "portfolio." I enjoy photographing my yarn as well as my finished knits and other craft projects, but my lighting is always bad. I forget to take them when the light is best or just snap the photo to get it over with and always

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-45005864135941560142009-01-14T15:25:00.000-08:002010-09-08T21:34:33.625-07:00

In an effort to find fun ways to incorporate lessons into daily activities, I've instituted what I call a "Color Walk." Ethan gets to pick a color and then we go out for a walk at our favorite place, Washington Park (it is a 2.2 mile paved loop but we take the shortcut so its closer to 1.75 miles) and take photos of everything we find in the chosen color. This allows me to get out and get some

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-43019276445674498732008-12-31T17:04:00.000-08:002008-12-31T17:39:00.828-08:00

To wrap up 2008,here are a few random statistics from this year:I uploaded 658 photos into Flickr.I used more than 4 pounds of butter in my holiday baking.I completed 51 knit and crochet projects. This does not include completed afghan squares that are not yet an afghan but it does include:10 washcloths/dishcloths.6 pair of felted slippers.5 bracelets.4 bunny rabbits.4 scarves.3 pair of socks.2

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-74760697159148643432008-12-26T18:26:00.000-08:002008-12-26T19:03:06.865-08:00

My baking, and therefore blogging about it, came to an abrupt end early this week when Ethan came down with a nasty stomach bug. Naturally, as a thank you for cuddling him, babying him, and washing his sheets at midnight... he passed the bug on to me. He recovered for a day and then relapsed so we were miserable together, right up to Christmas Day. We were able to spend the day with family,

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-21575866421375468032008-12-20T14:42:00.000-08:002008-12-20T19:53:34.843-08:00

Blondies, adapted from Great American Home BakingThese are a dense and chewy cookie, technically a blonde-colored brownie. As far as I can tell, GAHB is out of print and I’ve been using this recipe for about 10 years now.The TOOLS:9 x 13 baking panElectric mixerSpoon/rubber spatulaToothpick/cake testerWire rackKnifeThe CAST:2-1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (yes, when it says sifted, I sift.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-54687351613681524662008-12-20T08:55:00.000-08:002008-12-20T09:44:32.859-08:00

Mint Frangos are a yummy, creamy chocolate candy that has its roots in a Frederick & Nelson's department store in downtown Seattle in 1927. The current incarnation of the original Frango is sold at Macy's Department Stores in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Macy's across the rest of the country sell a Frango made from a different recipe. This recipe is a good imitation, though not an

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-43781090918744548582008-12-19T12:01:00.000-08:002008-12-19T12:19:15.337-08:00

Aside from a pile of holiday knitting, (which is nearly done!) holiday baking is underway at our house. I am the family designated baker... a position I inherited from my mom a few years ago. Basically, this means just about everyone I know wants (and sometimes expects) me to bring an assortment of holiday favorites to just about every social occasion during the holidays. It is a good thing I

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-55668579424351798972008-12-14T11:37:00.001-08:002010-09-08T21:47:07.726-07:00

We have snow! Typically, we get one brief stint of snow in December, and it has arrived. Overnight we received about 4 inches of snow. Ethan woke up about 7:00 a.m. and immediately started bugging me to go outside and play. I managed to fend him off until about 10:00 and he lasted about 30 minutes before getting too cold. (I lasted about 5 minutes.) The snow is actually quite dry, which is

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-71362110596697936922008-12-13T09:49:00.000-08:002008-12-13T10:04:30.894-08:00

I may have gotten a handle on this Christmas knitting thing. This is my first Christmas as a knitter and naturally, I wanted to knit gifts for anyone and everyone (yeah, right!) I did manage to come up with a mostly realistic and achievable list of knitted gifts and I think I'm on track to finish in a timely manner. (I know, I'm tempting fate with that last statement.)On my list are 5 pair of

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-45645180590935239472008-11-09T20:35:00.000-08:002008-12-14T14:44:44.256-08:00

I'm a bad, bad, blogger! It has been months since I've written anything and there has been lots going on. My excuse was that it was summer and there is always just too much going on in the summer... well, it is November . I suppose that excuse won't fly anymore. In the past week I've had new insulation installed under my house, so it stays nice and toasty(er) now. To go along with that I also

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-83472755105185930122008-08-21T17:00:00.000-07:002008-08-21T17:02:23.577-07:00

Well, there are just over 2 days left of the ravelympics and I’m sorely behind. I kinda thought I would be after I added on the Clapotis at the last minute. Oh well. I did finish the baby sweater, and it’s very cute! I have the cuff done of one sock and the clapotis is about 30% done…Fortunately we leave tomorrow for 24+ hours of driving 1600 miles for our vacation. This means about half of

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-18849649968510348032008-08-07T19:05:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:41:25.907-07:00

Summer is a busy time, which apparently means little time for blogging (for me). I finally finished my Monkey socks for Summer of Socks 2008. So, what happens right smack dab in the middle of SOS? The Ravelympics*, of course! I couldn’t resist signing up. I joined Team Browncoat (if you don’t know what a Browncoat is, check out the TV series Firefly) and signed up for THREE events! I must be

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-39567053939322211372008-07-15T07:20:00.000-07:002008-07-15T07:31:27.354-07:00

Wow! It’s been weeks since I’ve written anything. It’s amazing how time flies in the summer. There is always so much to do. I’ve been feverishly knitting socks for Summer of Socks 2008 and I’ve completed…. ONE Monkey sock ok, so I’m a slow sock knitter. It looks awesome though, if I do say so myself. My brother and sister-in-law were up for a visit yesterday and my SIL dabbles in knit and

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-89674342612304473332008-06-17T12:52:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:48:17.589-07:00

I enjoy cooking and gardening quite a bit but haven’t really blogged about it. Grow Your Own is “is a monthly food blogging event that celebrates the foods we grow or raise ourselves and the dishes we make using our homegrown products.” and has inspired me to blog a bit about my cooking and gardening efforts. I’ve been following a couple of food-related blogs, including Andrea’s and A Year of

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-76779841624237441602008-06-13T21:53:00.000-07:002008-06-13T22:12:22.950-07:00

I am SO excited! One of my photos of Whidbey Island has been selected for inclusion in Schmap, an online, interactive map guide. If you click on this link: Schmap, the photo that comes up in the upper right hand corner should be mine (or scroll through until you see mine). Its pretty exciting for me! Some of my photos are starting to be recognized. Some time back, I received an e-mail that a

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-87890235871534432812008-06-07T18:17:00.000-07:002008-06-13T22:09:52.787-07:00

Who would've thought that knit or crochet could be used to explain and visualize theoretical mathematics? Thank you to TECHknitting for posting this link: Making Math with Yarn I love that these scientists are using craft and applying it to their field of study. However, if you aren't a mathematician, the article might make your brain hurt just a little.

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-29928509162087245472008-06-01T20:47:00.000-07:002008-06-01T20:54:00.522-07:00

Over the past 5 days, I had the opportunity to participate in something amazing. Our Town Our Park is a community designed and built play area at Storvik Park in Anacortes. Knowing I was able to be part of this is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Never before have I seen first hand a community of people come together for a singular purpose, to build a safe, fun place for

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-56606099167186683822008-05-19T17:03:00.000-07:002008-05-19T17:09:40.479-07:00

This past week, we’ve finally managed to put my family room walls back together. After the mishap with the paneling, it took multiple skim coats of mud, a couple coats of primer, and spraying texture to get the walls looking normal again. I expect to pain the ceiling and 2 walls next weekend and then we can get back to fixing the floors! This weekend was the 2008 LYS tour. I didn’t have a lot of

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-56085893080314533252008-05-12T16:05:00.000-07:002008-05-12T16:10:26.077-07:00

Ahhh, Mother’s Day. My son made a card for Grandma, at my suggestion, and Grandma enjoyed it very much. I was finally able to put a photo of my Needle Cozy up on Ravelry. Since it was a Mother’s Day gift for my mom and she is on Ravelry, I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. I put 2 sets of needles in it for her, and now that she is getting more into knitting I’m sure she will use them. My sister

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-11432966044267008142008-05-09T08:27:00.000-07:002008-05-09T08:30:25.133-07:00

This morning I was able to do one of my favorite things; sit outside in the early morning sunshine and drink my coffee. It is the first time it has been both sunny and warm enough early in the morning that I wouldn’t freeze to death. The marine layer was thick over the Guemes channel so I couldn’t see the water, but I could feel its presence and smell it in the air. To me, getting out on a

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-90101734833400279302008-05-05T16:45:00.000-07:002008-05-05T16:50:08.241-07:00

They’re done! I finally finished my first pair of socks! I photographed them, but now I’m putting 3D paint on the soles so I don’t slip and kill myself on my hardwood floors. The yarn is Järbo Garn Raggi Multi in a green/blue/brown and the pattern is Cable Twist Socks by Adrian Bizilia. It took a little over a month to complete them (with many other projects going on in between). It appears that

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-68774152019501969932008-05-01T15:14:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:46:45.431-07:00

Thanks to some help from Cliff, based on these instructions, I made my own yarn swift. Swifts have gotten very expensive and when I saw the instructions I knew it was something I could do myself and for little money. For the base, I used some scrap oak wood flooring my mom had in her garage. The remainder of the supplies cost less than $10. I already had all of the necessary tools in my garage,

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-68154221105724524642008-05-01T14:58:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:38:44.394-07:00

Yesterday was quite a day… I think I managed to re-injure my ankle slightly. While stretching I felt a pop and then could barely walk until I loaded up on ibuprofen. I had to call a plumber for the second time in a month, at $400 a visit, because my shower and toilets backed up. Apparently, there was a blockage in the main line… again. I do not understand where this is coming from because Ethan

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-85132342063816682882008-04-29T06:08:00.000-07:002008-04-29T06:11:30.780-07:00

Well, Saturday was a beautiful day here. Despite my sprained ankle, I did manage to get out and enjoy it a little bit. I weeded my garden, planted my zucchini, attempted to mow my lawn, and visited the Garden Art Fair at the Depot. I only managed to get through about 1/4 of my lawn before I realized that it was going to be too much for my ankle and quit. Later that afternoon, my neighbor was out

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-88610707951457305352008-04-23T08:29:00.000-07:002008-04-23T08:57:10.864-07:00

Talk about Karma, I complained that I have nothing to write about on my blog, and the world gives me something. Last night I decided to go ahead and take the wood paneling out of my family room. The pieces were not unmanageable for one person, though they were a bit big. As I was taking the paneling out to the garage, I misstepped, slipped, or something, heard a “pop,” and next thing I knew I was

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-32116691606960989202008-04-22T05:50:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:35:47.878-07:00

It has been a week since I've said anything... probably because there isn't much to say. Last week was pretty uneventful. I managed to get a little bit of knitting done on my sock (I am only 3 pattern repeats into the cuff) and finally got my second March square for the monthly CAL done.The weather last weekend was completely crazy. There was wind, rain, sleet, hail, snow, sun, thunder… You name

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-86897563604402975052008-04-13T17:57:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:47:47.451-07:00

This was a great weekend. I finished my first sock! It is a bit pointy at the toe, but it fits. Hopefully, I can learn how to fix the toe issue for the second sock, which I have to get started on right away or I'll lose interest.This weekend, Ethan was at his dad's. Saturday was a beautiful day, so Cliff & I went hiking. We hiked up Sugarloaf Mountain, only about a mile each way, but it was just

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-78019624639559352752008-04-09T16:08:00.000-07:002008-06-06T13:31:36.105-07:00

I am in awe. Ravelry, an online community for knitters and crocheters, is the brain child of a couple from Boston, funded mostly by specialized affiliates and advertising. A group of Ravelry users decided to start a fund raiser because a new server was needed to host the database... Ravelry is growing so fast! The goal was to raise $10,000 in the month of April. As of today, April 9, more than

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-61203742217939485712008-04-07T16:04:00.000-07:002008-04-17T14:02:04.091-07:00

I've been making great progress on my first sock. My only complaint is that I should have knitted them on 4s rather than 3s. They seem VERY tightly knit. They look like they are going to fit fine and make great house socks. I must remember to get some puffy paint or something similar to put on the soles so I don't slip and fall on my hardwood floors! Turning the heel on a sock is MUCH easier

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-5598599081423341882008-04-03T05:59:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:32:53.360-07:00

Last weekend, a friend of Cliff's hosted a BBQ that centered around unusual and exotic meat. He made mini burgers so people could try any of the various meat they dared. The menu included Kobe beef, buffalo, wild boar, ostrich, llama, alligator, antelope, kangaroo, and a few others that I'm sure I forgot. Buffalo and ostrich were two that I'd been curious about so I tried them along with

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-75013030553447855912008-04-02T08:45:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:34:44.845-07:00

So, I've been kind of out of commission with a cold this week, but had to share a funny from yesterday. Ethan was playing baseball on the Wii. He pushed the pause button, and the game said, "Time Out!" From my office, I heard him get upset and run out of the room. When I went to find him, he was sitting in his time out chair, very upset! I couldn't help but laugh and though I tried to explain

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-27447158407292480452008-03-27T18:03:00.000-07:002008-03-27T18:28:15.332-07:00

Now that I finally got the Easter photos off my camera, I can put them up to share. However, since I don't have permission from parents to post pics of their kids online, they will be in a private set on my Flickr page. What this means is that I have to recognize you as family or friends and grant you permission to look at them. If you have a flickr account already, please let me know! If not,

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-29433798526665237552008-03-27T16:23:00.001-07:002008-03-27T16:57:39.195-07:00

I finished my Fetching fingerless gloves finally. This was my first project knitting in the round and I learned a new cast-on for the project. I also picked up stitches for the first time, though had limited success. There are small holes where I picked them up because I picked up the wrong thread. This was a fun project and I learned a lot in the process. Today, I started my first sock! It

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-58715149782967991512008-03-23T19:17:00.001-07:002008-04-03T11:24:23.964-07:00

The bunnies are all done! It felt like a never-ending project but I finished them and was able to give them to the kids for Easter. They loved them too! The back legs came apart on Emma and Katy's... but they were the two most likely to actually play with them. Ethan gave his a hug and put it down but knows that "Mom knit them" and Layla acted a little scared of hers. I'm glad I decided to make

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-69384154841413074242008-03-22T12:17:00.000-07:002008-03-22T12:53:31.964-07:00

Usually, I save my baking energy for Christmastime, but in an effort to eat healthier and not go broke (it shouldn't have to cost more to eat better!) I have decided to make my own bread from time to time. Today it was French bread. I've made this particular recipe before; it works quite well and tastes yummy! Its actually from what should be the basic cookbook in EVERY home (IMO), the Better

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-84554844680243017592008-03-21T20:26:00.000-07:002008-03-27T17:36:34.620-07:00

Well, last weekend was Ethan's birthday and this coming weekend is Easter. Between these two events, I've practically been a knitting fool! For Ethan's birthday, I made him a washcloth with a picture of Winnie the Pooh. For Easter, I'm making knitted bunnies. Four knitted bunnies. I don't know what I was thinking. My grand idea was to give a bunny to each of the "kids"... Meaning Ethan, Katy,

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7789883617646990096.post-62502222321887530162008-03-20T16:00:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:36:03.251-07:00

Well, while attempting to sleep the other night, I suddenly felt the need to start a blog. I don't know why, really. I've never been good at keeping a diary or journal.So, I guess my goal in starting this blog is to chronicle my hobbies and activities of life in general. I'm a single mom of a 4-year-old boy. I live in a smallish town that I love, though I've only been here a year. I'm a knitter,

Wynterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620871273837941009noreply@blogger.com0