Sep 11, 2015 | Family, Farm, Knitting |













Because I did my last round of canning this week, I thought I would include a photo to commemorate the moment. They are called Dilly Beans, and you can find the recipe in this book.
Well, the deadline has since passed, and I still have a sleeve and pockets to knit on my Inland but I’m glad I participated in this KAL. I finished the first sleeve and I don’t know how it happened, but my sleeve was about two inches longer than it should have been and I haven’t even made the cuff yet. I’m going to try it on tonight and see if I need to reknit the sleeves or if I can make some modifications and just continue on. Instead of facing this problem head-on, I’ve been knitting a basic pair of socks and trying to avoid looking at the half finished sweater sitting on my bookshelf. Denial is a powerful thing.
It was a beautiful day on Thursday; sunny and warm with a cool breeze. After the kids’ afternoon nap we went outside and played. The weather was so nice I let them eat on the back deck. I have to admit, I would have loved a cold rainy day just as much, if not more. I should be grateful: in two months I’m going to be craving some sun and praying for a respite from the rain. But I’m just so ready to spend the winter curled up on the couch, knitting and a watching a new season of something on Netflix. (Because in my fantasy there are no children clawing at the doors to get outside and whining for my attention…there’s that denial again.)
Gabe has the weekend off, and we are looking forward to spending some family time together. Sam was gifted a balance bike for his birthday this summer and we are going to take him to a paved trail and practice riding. Should be entertaining to say the least.
Sep 9, 2015 | DIY, Farm, Knitting, Yarn Along |







*Joining Ginny
I haven’t blogged in a week, not for lack of things to say, but mostly because I have lacked the time. Sam is going to start preschool soon and I have been chatting with other moms in the area who are also interested in homeschooling and possibly starting a co-op. We will have our first meeting next week to see if there are enough people interested and if we have enough resources (time,volunteers,space, etc.). I’m very nervous and excited.
I did my last round of canning for the year. Dilly beans. I’ve never made them or tried them for that matter but the recipe looked good and I had three pounds of green beans sitting in my fridge so that was a good enough reason for me. The rest of the beans will go in the freezer. I have to say, I’m relieved. I’m so tired of canning. It sounds ungrateful to say that. People are starving in other parts of the world and here I am lamenting that I have so much food that I don’t know what to do with it. I believe this is what my 25 year old sister would call a “first world problem.” Whatever kind if problem it may be, I’m done with it, and I’m glad. Less canning, more knitting!
I am still working on my Inland sweater but as the weather has cooled over the past week or so, Eddie has finally been able to wear her Into The Woods poncho that I knit for her last spring. It’s perfect for an active toddler. The yarn is Madeline Tosh Sport and the pattern is here.
Sep 2, 2015 | DIY, Knitting, Yarn Along |

Joining Ginny.
I’m about to start the ribbing at the bottom of Inland. I’m trying to decide if I want to omit the last buttonhole and make it shorter, or continue on and knit until it’s the pattern’s recommended length. After that, I’ll just have the sleeves and the pockets left to knit. The KAL ends on the 9th, so I might just make it after all, despite my not-so-minor setback.
Oh, the buttons. I almost forgot about the buttons. I haven’t purchased any yet. I’m no sure what I want. Wood? Horn? Round? Square? They need to be rather large and there will be eight (or nine) of them. I will have to start looking online. Does anyone have a recommendation for an online store that sells pretty buttons?
It was windy and cool all day yesterday. I wore a sweater. Granted, it’s a thin cotton sweater, and I paired it with sandals, but still, it was the first sweater I’ve worn in months, and that is quite the phenomenon in Washington state. Fall is coming. Windy nights, chilly days. Burning wood stoves and hot cups of tea. I can’t wait.