Tunic pattern, bread recipes and other Thursday happening

I got up very early (okay, I couldn't sleep) and cut out a top for gardening. I don't want working in the garden or with the chickens an easy out for looking frumpy.  I have definitely been failing in the later category. It is a simple tunic with two pockets on the front. The shirt will be powder blue and pockets are yellow with different phrases about bees , such as  - Let it Bee, My Queen Bee, etc. Can't wait to stitch it up. Hope it doesn't end up looking like a house coat!

Dude surprised me with a yellow (Grandiflora) rose plant. I want to start a rose garden again. The old one was destroyed while the roof was going on last year.

New packets of bread for the bread machine arrived in the mail.  The first one I tried is a New York Dill Rye from Prepared Pantry.  When I opened it, it was like Pandora's Box. The smell of dill and wheat flew out of the bag.  I couldn't wait to get it in the machine. I followed the directions exactly, including the use of a thermometer for the water to be a perfect 80*.

Turned out beautiful. 

I did get another tray of flower seeds planted. I would like to be able to sell mini- bouquets.  I buy one from a grocer near work every week for $10.  I could do that (says my inner dreamer) and I am going to give it a try.  Let's see if I can make it work.

My mom called. She said she had old family recipes for Easter breads for me . She would gladly trade for a bottle of wine to go with her Holy Thursday meal. I don't drink but I do collect wine for cooking and trade... plus I just like the bottles.  Sounds strange, I know, but true. My kids tease me about it.  I found a Cabernet Sauvignon to give to her.
  (yes, mom requires a deposit of my first born at times ...smile)

There is a lot of work in these recipes but when you have family and ancestors right here you need to honor them and take full advantage of the gifts they have to offer. 

Thank goodness I wrote all this this morning.  Exhausted and need to go to bed early. It's an 8pm retire night. 

We won't be on tomorrow. We have a tradition on Good Friday of no electronics, television, or radio from 3pm until Easter Sunday.  It is a time of quiet and prayer. 

peace

The weekend, family, crafts and relaxing

Happy Second Sunday of Advent. 

Prepare the Way!

Second Sunday of Advent ! Mark 1-8. We are making our way to Bethlehem!
Gospel
Mk 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
"Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths."

This morning... ahhhhhh. 

The weather continues to be  very warm. 

Yesterday was go...go ... go! 

First a grandson's concert... small towns pack these events. He couldn't see us but we were there. 

Then babysit grandson #7.

and late - work Christmas party. 

Today we began to get out Christmas stuff. 

These are some decoupage glass cups we did last year - Christmas fabric on glass. 

Some sock snowmen.

Holiday scenes glued to candlesticks ...all from the thrift store. 

We  celebrated one of my son's birthday. We printed pictures of him and handed them out at his party asking people to put them on their refrigerators and every time you pass them to send him positive thoughts. 

It was a great day of family and so happy to have all my sons and their families with us.  Young grandson helping the "great" Grandma. 

Recycle , reuse.  Cookie jars from the thrift store. 

A make and take from a store we visited.

Christmas Spirit for the air - orange, cinnamon and spruce with a pinch of salt and distilled water. 

Pup got an early present... a new bed.

Relaxing evening by the fire, finishing a project (cutting out the "horse" for the cowboy) and a book. Tomorrow it's back to business and homesteading. 

 Looks like I need to bring in firewood. 

peace

Epiphany on the Homestead

Finally got the computer back up and running. We did have our Epiphany celebration this past weekend, homestead style. 
Ever since I was a kid we celebrated Epiphany. It was always a big party with many traditions. We would put on skits, play musical instruments and singing.  Well, my sons don't do all that but they do arrive and carry-on any silly thing I have going on.  

First there is always food. For us, I had two crock-pots going - one for pulled pork and with chicken. 
A big kale/cabbage salad with nuts, seeds and dried berries.  We had rolls, homemade cookies, cheeses, crackers, summer sausages, sweet peppers ... oh, a wonderful spread and a big huge chocolate cake . 

Since it is a celebration is of the Wise Men following a star  to a small manager with gifts, we had chocolate gold coins and clams. (Having a homestead with animals and managers we know how amazing this was!) Joke food to represent living off the land too. We used to give gold flakes and essential oils but the kids just looked at it like.... what's this. 

We enjoyed grape juice we had jarred up over the summer.  At first, my grandson only wanted lemonade until he tried the juice. 

We had everyone who was there trace their hands for a quilt I will tackle later. I am hoping it will be an Epiphany Tree with everyone's hands in the branches and children's hands as the flowers.

Many generations were there. Here is Great Grandma with the newest addition to the family, our grandson.

It's all about family and laughter.

...And tractor rides. (yes, that's snow beyond the porch)

We light our candles to signify Christ is the Light of the World and reminds us of the star the Wise Men followed. When I was a kid my mom would say we could stay up until the candles all burned out.  Of course, she lit them in the morning and we never lasted past midnight.

We blessed the house.

The markings include letters, numbers, and crosses in a pattern like this: 20 † C † M † B † 12. The numbers correspond to the calendar year (20 and 12, for instance, for the year 2012); the crosses stand for Christ; and the letters have a two-fold significance: C, M, and B are the initials for the traditional names of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), but they are also an abbreviation of the Latin blessing Christus mansionem benedicat, which means, “May Christ bless this house.” - Baylor edu 

My oldest did the blessing ... oh we are not a holier-than-thou family there were jokes in the background of spells and incantations happening but we take our faith serious and family traditions, just not ourselves. 

We are ready for the year.  Plans this year include work on the remodel. We bought the homestead with an idea and at a very low price due to it's condition. We bought it for the land - the house was a mess and no outbuildings or the greenhouse yet. Time to get back to work on the buildings and a barn. We are hoping for new babies - goat and lamb. Much canning to be done, learning more about spinning wool, quilting, sewing, and growing food, all on a shoestring budget. Stick around and join us for the journey.

Here's to a peaceful year.