New Year 2017

Happy New year sweet friends! I was is bed last night at 8 pm and feeling very old.  We all felt rotten for not seeing in the New Year with family and friends as we had planned but we are jet lagged after returning home from the UK on the 30th.  So this morning I woke up feeling hung over without any of the celebration to warrant it! I’ve decided not to make resolutions in the traditional sense… I seldom do but when I do they just stress me out. Instead I have a manifesto. Just for fun and hopefully to focus myself on getting stuff done:

A Knitter’s Manifesto!

In no particular order (and with every intention of changing the pattern and or yarn involved if I wish to) my manifesto is full of patterns I already have yarn for.  This year I intend to work down my stash… no new yarn. Sadly this meant giving up my Space Cadet Club membership which was a bit of a tough decision to make because I so enjoy getting the surprise!

1. Silk-Cotton Jacket.. I’ve already gone off this pattern since choosing it a few days ago soooo… you know… knitter’s prerogative right?

2. Magic Treetop Tote as a project bag and just because its so dang delicious.

3. Summer’s Linen Emerald

4. Hey Teach!

5. Fairy Castles (my needles are an utter mess)

6. My Seashore– I’ve already cast this one on. It is a delightful pattern!

7. Loose Ends multi-layer Use up Spare Yarn Cowl

8. Hitofude… I’ve been thinking about this one for a long time.

9. Gnome Homes– again messy needles seeking a good home.

10. This one is a toss up between either Winter Moss or Lusekofte both are daunting as it would be my first color work attempt.

11. Beekeeping all year.

12. Again another toss up between Owls or Eased Bulky. I want both but only have yarn for one… decisions decisions.

13. Moonkoosas . I was gifted a gorgeous pair this winter and intend to knit a pair for my girls however they are all clamoring for Hopsalots now so we shall see what comes when I get to them.

14. Pumpkins… just because they are gorgeous!

Happy 2017!

xx Joanna

Happy New Year Friends!

Happy 2016!

My Woodland Hoodlet by Tiny Owl Knits gifted to me from the sweetest internet friend!

I just realized last night as the count down approached that next year I will be 40!

Better enjoy my 30’s while they last!

xx

J’s Cardi F.O.- Yarn Along

J.’s Pumpkin Cardi was FAST- for me at least. One week!  I have never in my life knitted any item of clothing in a week.  J’s Cardi was based on Katrina Ballerina and is knit in one piece which I lengthened into another LCOEP and I changed the bottom pattern a little because I didn’t like the chunky looking bottom edging.  I used Berroco Vintage which for me was a bit of a gamble: acrylic yarn &possible squeakiness.  **Shudder**  Fortunately it was fine and as I said really really fast.

However I had a full two months before I could give it to J for her birthday, and I had grand plans for the dress I  wanted to make her to go with it so I procrastinated on finding buttons for it and I just hung it in the closet to wait for the right time.  It did finally get it’s moment in the light: she loves it and it looks sooo cute with her classy little Autumn Jersey Dress.

J’s pumpkin Cardi and Autumn dress.

I have been re-reading Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv.  Previously when I read this book it was as a mother of young children living in a village community with easily accessible and kindly woodlands and moors that my children were able to have some measure of freedom to explore.  Meanwhile they had friends who were never allowed to play outside a yard and then were never allowed to get dirty even in the yard: so they played video games and watched TV of course.  Now my kids are older our surroundings have changed as have their needs… I was hoping the second reading would be as inspirational to my as the first time but sadly it has just felt rambly and a desperately narrow-minded.  Part of the problem is mine: I have been learning more about food insecurity in America for a future home-school subject and when you know more about hunger in food deserts it makes “nature deficiency” sound like a first world problem.

I’m joining up with Ginny for a Yarn Along.

xx

Jo

Happy Birthday to Me… Almost: Yarn Along

Still… Going… On… And…. On… And…. On…  I had intended to have it done by my birthday this weekend but… uhhhh, no.  Not happening.

It is partly my fault, or rather: it is all my fault.  I decided to lengthen my Meritance from the sensible hip length cardi it is patterned as into a Long-Cardigan-of-Epic-Proportions (LCOEP).  This thing reaches almost my knees. At 5’9″ that is no mean feat.  Naturally I got bored half way through and finished two other knitted projects I have yet to share.  Then on top of all that 99% of my day is spent multi tasking.  That makes making real daily progress on a LCOEP difficult.  But now I am about 10 cast off stitches and some finishing away from it still being too hot to wear till winter!

I am currently reading Al Capone Does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.  It is a fabulous book intended for younger children perhaps 3-5th grade but J. and I are using this semester as a platform for creative writing and critical thinking in her 7th grade home-school lessons.  As reading material it is far too young for J. but the quality of the writing makes it great for a learning spring board.  So after a trip to Alcatraz (which we frequently call Azkaban my mistake) we have started our school year with a bang!

Linking up with Ginny today for a Yarn Along.

xx Jo

All Change

The armies of changes seldom lay siege to the bulwarks of Peace without first preparing a sizable force to form battalions.

Such is my life.

Sadly I am both the Offence and Defense in this war and my Offence is stronger over all.  So I prepare an army and attack the only things I really really wish to preserve: daily peace and quiet.

This is just to explain my months of absence… I have had a lovely summer but I was so busy throughout that it feels as if it never properly got going.  Things are still crazy and will certainly not stop being crazy for the foreseeable future but at least for now I can see my way to blogging a bit again.  So hello lovelies!  How nice to be back.

xx

Jo

The Empty Week- Yarn Along

Welcome to my wonderful, glorious, shiny, happy, no obligations, totally, completely and unexpectedly free week. This is the thing I wait and long for… always.  A week with nothing in it.  This is a close as I get to vacation.  I am a stay at home mom, and I home-school.  Any holidays we have as a family include being a stay-at-home Mom so vacations are just every day life but with the added stress of keeping everyone entertained including a husband.

This NEVER happens!

Never.  Ever. Ever.

Of course my kids are here working on their education and I naturally have a list of things to catch up on… all of which I am studiously ignoring as I relax in the sanctuary of my home office in my Grammie’s old chair knitting Meritance and reading a load of total trash.  As befitss a do-nothing week I am joining up with Ginny  rather late in the day for a Yarn Along.

Happy.

xx Joanna

Olive and Pit

Olive and Pit

Living in the sticks is challenging.  We have no cell reception. If the power goes out it can stay off for days and days while PG&E search the hills for the fault.  Our cars need new tires… a lot.

BUT we also have found ourselves in an amazing community.  We know every one of our neighbors and if we need some support (or they do) then there is always someone who has the knowledge or time that can help.  One of our neighbors used his tractor to plow our field the first year we were here; in turn when they were away and a tree fell on their drive M. went up and cut it up and moved it off the drive so when they got home late they would come home to a clear road.  We Llama-sit occasionally for another neighbor and in turn they chicken-sit for us. Equally one of our neighbors give E. a lift to her volunteer program in Boonville and we have yet to find something that can repay that generosity.

The Chicks: Stupid, Dash, Newsa, and Nutmeg

So last week when we got the call from  one neighbor about another who had been bereaved in January and just desperately needed to be rid of a Bantam hen and her chick to ease her worries: of course we said yes.  We really aren’t Bantam people (useless pet chicken anyone?) but the need was there and we had the space and time to help.

Olive and Pit

So it is that Olive and little Pit joined our farm.  She is a masterful escape artist and a little firecracker with other chickens but she is sweet and placid with us.  We are having to keep her in a separate enclosure as one of the white Delaware took an instant dislike to Olive and while she has that little chick Olive has no intention of making peace.  The younger chickens are still in the broody-hen hutch so Olive and Pit are in a rabbit cage adapted slightly for her needs.

The Chicks: Pigwidgen, Baby, Stupid, Dash, and Nutmeg

I know she adds to our daily chore list but really that’s what living in the country is about: we look after each-other and in the end our lives are all the richer for it.

xx Jo

Meritence- Yarn Along

I did decide to cast on Meritence for myself, but I am probably going to have to start the other project before I get too far done with My Meritence.  Oh my Giddy Aunt is this pattern a headache!  Its all correct and it works just fine but the way it’s written requires so much mental gymnastics I dread picking it up and figuring out where I’m at!  I’m sure it will all get easier once I’m past the armpits and onto the looong stockinette section.

I have just finished reading  The Forgotten Sister: Mary Bennet’s Pride and Prejudice.  For years I have been avoiding Jane Austen spin offs after an unfortunate run in with Pride, Prejudice and Zombies (followed by a sad encounter with Death Comes to Pemberly) but I actually really enjoyed The Forgotten Sister!  It is a first person narrative but set against the back drop of Pride and Prejudice it feels much broader because you already know what was happening the room next door!  I actually didn’t believe the love story but the rest of it was magnificent!

I’m linking up with Ginny for a Yarn Along.

xx Joanna

Les Trois Soeurs on Etsy

Les Trois Soeurs by Sweet Little Wood are in my Etsy shop.

Les Trois Soeurs are beautiful and elegant earrings designed to look like glass but with a light and easy feel in your ears.

They are designed and handmade in Northern California by my whole family using quality materials and an eye for precision using a unique process and finished with crystal beads. High quality silver-filled hooks ensure a beautiful but affordable finish without the risk of allergic reactions to metal.  The resin finish allows light opaquely through the jewelry like stained glass.  They are always more beautiful in person!

I also want to say congratulations to Donna of Knit1Spin2 (the recipient of a free pair of Les Trois Soeurs earrings) and thank you for the plug for my Etsy shop on your blog!

xx Joanna

Bread Part 4: Soft Cinnamon Rolls

This is the post K. E. and J. have been looking forward to all week… Cinnamon Rolls.

If you follow the recipe your rolls will be fluffy with a light sweetness but you can adapt the recipe for super sticky sugary rolls too.  I like to top them with butter frosting rather than the usual drizzled water based icing which means my kids and M. can have heaps of icing to increase the sweetness and I can have less and enjoy the lighter less extreme version!

———————–

Start with 2 Hour Homemade Bread dough allowed to raise for one hour.

Lightly spread butter in a large dish and sprinkle with flour, ensure all the inner surface is coated and then shake out any excess flour.  Gather soft butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Mix  3 Tbs cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg and 1/2 tsp cloves.

Roll your dough on a floured surface in a rough rectangle till it is about 1/4 inch thick: It should measure about 2 foot by 1 foot .  Spread the soft butter onto the surface of the dough ensuring you have a fairly good coating of butter to every edge. Sprinkle the surface with the spice mixture and about 3/4 cup sugar.

If you like your rolls super sticky and sweet double the sugar sprinkled over the top.   If you are a fan of pumpkin pie try mixing a 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree with your sugar, spices and butter and spread that over your dough (my personal favorite).

Slice the dough into strips about 2 inches wide.  I use a pizza slice which makes the process so easy and tidy.

Pumpkin Spice Rolls

Roll each strip into a tight spiral and settle them into your dish with about 1/2 an inch between each roll.  Its okay to squeeze them a little closer or a little farther apart if you need to to fit them to your dish.

Set the rolls aside for 1/2 and hour to puff up and heat your oven to 350 F.  Bake your rolls for about 30-35 minutes.  Your rolls will take less time to cook if they are more widely spaced.

Top with your preferred icing.  I mix about 3/8 cup of butter with a 1/4 cup of cream cheese, 1 Tbs milk and a dash of vanilla and enough icing sugar to create a thick creamy paste.  If you over shoot with the icing sugar and it gets a little too thick add a tiny bit more milk.

I really hope you have enjoyed the 2 Hour Homemade Bread and this week’s tumble down recipes (here and here)!

Have a wonderful weekend darlings! xx Jo