Knitting Woolly Socks

I have been busy busting my yarn stash this fall and winter and felt what a great thing to share on FFG@H. This year my MIL only suggested a few things for a gift ideas for her and one of them was a pair of my hand knitted socks. *grin* I was so thankful I had some sock yarn in my stash and I got busy.

I have been knitting for ohhh what seems like forever. I learned from my mom in mid to late elementary. And then became a avid knitter in junior high. But in all honesty I didn't take the leap to learn socks till about 6 or 7 years ago. I was scared of the heel. Now I feel silly but it did help to see someone knit the heel. I am a visual learner. And now I LOVE knitting socks and it is very therapeutic knitting in the round. I am hoping this up coming year to try some fancy lace knitted ones. Up until now I have enjoyed using smart yarn which is computerized striped dyed yarn. It makes the stripes and I don't have to think about it. *grin*

I have found these socks amazing. They are not too thick and they are very long lasting. My family loves them and I have a list of orders from them now that they see me knitting them again.

This years knitting goals are..... I want to make a drop spindle with two CD's and I want to learn how to knit two socks at the same time on two circular needles. If you want to learn how go....

HERE.

Lesson 1 - Getting Started

Lesson 2- Lets Knit !

Lesson 3- Time For the Heel

Lesson 4 - The Toe

If you want to find all kinds of neat patterns.( a lot for free) I suggest to join http://www.ravelry.com/ a online knitters and crocheters community. I have had so much fun there. If you do join look for me Canadagirl. And befriend me too, *grin*.

( to join in on the fun click the graphic and visit my sweet friend Lori)

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Weekly Wrap Up~December 18th

On The Heart and Mind:

I am thinking ...what is on my heart and mind. Hmmmm my thoughts are thinking of the things I need to do. We are hosting meals before family leave on trips. I am hosting the big family dinner. I have been asked by friends if I got all my shopping done. Well, I have been quiet but I don't play up Christmas any more. I do believe in the miracle of Christ's birth but I don't feel comfortable to celebrate it the way most do. I prefer to celebrate Hanukkah and know that Jesus is the true light of the world and our Savior. But I will be hosting the big family dinner as usual but that is it. We are going to be busy bees getting ready for the New Years celebration. We have a games night with all kinds of food and fun. We are really looking forward to that.

On The Home Front:

We are going to be doing a lot of cleaning and prepping for the family get to-gethers. I need to still make more rose hip syrup.(recipe HERE) The picture is of Noah picking from the rose hip bush. I didn't get any done this last week because it was still raining too much. It has turned cold again and I should be able to pick them. It has been getting down to -8C* which I think is 20F* and that will make picking them easier than in rain.

Learning and Life:

I plan to keep reading to the boys from Proverbs and our Canadian historical novel during our winter break. Plus, I want the boys to keep reading to me from their books that they read a loud from.

My Craft Corner:

I have been trying to bust my yarn stash and making things that are useful for our family. For example the red squares are felted hot pads that I just LOVE. ( those are crocheted) Or I can make and give to those who are in real need of a hat or scarf to keep warm this winter. Plus, I am working hard at finishing UFO's ( un finished objects). I have a pair of fingerless gloves that I just need to finish a thumb hole on. I have started the sleeves on my Shalom cardigan and then I just need to sew in the ends and sew the button on. ((yipppeee)) Now on the bottom left is a triangle scarf I am knitting and next to the fingerless gloves is a headband I need to finish. And ....then I hope to one day get back to my hexagons for Essie and Philip's laptop blanket.

Being Frugal:

I have discovered a really neat site called " America's Cheapest Family". I thought I would pass this onto you all. *grin*

In The Kitchen:

There will be a lot of cookies and candies being made in getting ready for New Year's Eve games night. I will be making in the next week or two... ginger bread snowflake cookies, short bread cookies, sugar cookies, Mama Mia's date fudge, Grandma's fudge, milk chocolate fudge, and mint choc. fudge, after dinner mints, and homemade marshmallows, and maybe some thumb print cookies. I know that sounds like a lot but thank goodness my boys will hopefully help. ((hopeful thinking))

On The Healthy Side:

I am sooooooooo glad to say that I can report that my back is out of pain. (((HAPPY DANCE)))

On My Night Stand:

• " The Prayer That Changes Everything...The Hidden Power of Praising" by Stormie Ortaman
• " Those Who Trust in the Lord Will Not Be Disappointed" by Peggy Ruth

A Time To Be Thankful:

I am thankful for fun times with my family. And a two week period that I hope to get some lesson plans done. ((hopeful thinking))

If you would like to join me in this meme, just write up your weekly summery , using mine or your own catogories. Then sign the Mr. Linky below I'd love to ready your Weekly Wrap Up summaries too. I hope to post mine each Saturday. This meme is a great way to be encouraged and encourage others in our journey of homeschooling.

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Making Rose Hip Syrup

I am really enjoying making Rose Hip Syrup and It is a wonderful way to be frugal too. I love that it is organic and I know there is no chemicals and additives in it. It is wholesome goodness.

Update:

I forgot to mention that rose hip syrup is a real good source for vitamin C. It has a lot more vitamin C than a orange.

Making Rose Hip Syurp

Ingredients

• 7 cups of water
• 1-2 cups of sugar
• 4 cups of rose hips topped and tailed

Method

- Semi-Roughly chop rose hips in food processor

- Bring 6 cups of water to boils

-put chopped rose hips into boiling water

-bring back to boil and then take off burner

-let it steep for 15 minutes

-strain through a cheese cloth or sterilized jelly bag or what I use is a sterilized curtain sheer

- Then boil the last cup and a half and put the rose hip paste back into water

-bring back to boil and take off burner again and let it steep for 15 minutes

-Pour back into clean pan add sugar and boil rapidly for 5 minutes

-Pour into sterilized bottles or jars and seal

-give it a hot water bath for 5 minutes in canner

Things I learned making it...

1. Pick rose hips after first heavy frost and don't wait for it to snow.
2. cut rose hips off the rose bush with rubberized garden gloves and scissors
3. add sugar to taste...try half a cup of sugar till you like the taste. After the first hard frost it makes the rose hips sweeter and you may not need as much sugar or at all. ( depends on taste)

I hope if you try this you will let me know how it went for you. I would love to know. Ohhh I almost forgot to say that you take a Tablespoon a day for good health.

( to join in on the fun click the graphic and visit my sweet friend Lori)

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Weekly Wrap Up

On The Heart and Mind:

Have you ever had a book that you had to read slowly and to digest what it was saying. I have been doing just that this week. The book is " The Prayer That Changes Everything...The Hidden Power of Praising". There has been things that I have been disappointed in in my current life and I am learning how to praise the Lord and not dwell on it. And to let myself not be discouraged and TRUST in the Lord in everything. The book I am also reading... " Those Who Trust in the Lord Will Not Be Disappointed" by Peggy Ruth is working along side the other book. The verse this book zones in on is Romans 9:33 ..." Just as it is written, behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, and He who believes ( trusts) in Him will not be disappointed. I am learning to not just look at my current situations and learn to trust that the Lord is in control. ( which He is.... if I acknowledge it or not) And IF I keep trusting Him and His leadings in all things then I will not be disappointed. I have to seek His face and trust and obey.

On The Home Front:

Well, this week I have continued to plug away at making rose hip syrup around teaching lessons, feeding my family and keeping up with the house. I still have some more to make this week. It is a somewhat slow process and I am trying to make enough for at least Luke and I for on year. If I can make extra for the rest of the family...bonus. Luke and I are allergic to a lot of fruits and can't take vit. C vitamins from the store. It is a bit more challenging to pick the rose hips the last week because it has been raining. I hope to pick more on this coming week.

Learning and Life:

We are plugging away at our writing lessons and I am feeling very encouraged at how the boys are doing. I am trying to get Luke to feel comfortable in reading out loud from the Bible so I am having him read aloud to me a chapter a day from the gospel of Luke. I am really enjoying this time together. Also, I am having Noah read from the Little House On The Prairie books to build his fluency and Nic is reading Mike Mulligan and His Steam Engine to me. One thing that we are learning a ton from and really enjoying quite a bit is reading a loud a double page (each school day) from " Unlocking The Mysteries of Creation".

Then for Bible study we are reading a chapter a day from Proverbs and discussing it. I highly recommend doing that with your family. Lots of things to take about from it.

My Craft Corner:

In this department it has been dormant. I have been busy with lessons and making the rose hip syrup. And my back has been out so I haven't been stitching. I am hoping to start again this week end sense I have been feeling better after my chiropractor appointments this week.

Being Frugal:

When I went in on Friday for my second chiropractor appointment I had time to burn while I waited between coming in on the bus and my appointment time. I went to the Sally Ann and I was very happy to find what I was looking for. I was on the hunt for gloves ( for me) and snow pants for my two youngest boys. It was a success and now the boys won't be wet and cold while playing in the snow.

In The Kitchen:

This week we made a lot of fried foods for Hanukkah ( which I almost never do). We made french fries, cake doughnuts, latkas. On Friday when I had a long day in town I pre made pizzas so when we got home I only had to pop it in the oven and bake. Ohhh that was a GOOD idea. I will have to remember that for the future. I am looking into pre making some dinners and freeze them for when we need a easy dinner. That sounds so good to me right now.

On The Healthy Side:

I am learning how to take better care of my back and trying to apply the stretches and exercises that I was given by my chiropractor. I am really hoping to get a DVD player so I can get back to walking away the pounds with Leslie Sansone soon.

On My Night Stand:

• " The Prayer That Changes Everything...The Hidden Power of Praising" by Stormie Ortaman
• " Those Who Trust in the Lord Will Not Be Disappointed" by Peggy Ruth

A Time To Be Thankful:

I am thankful that the Lord put it on my friends heart (and the Lord confirmed it by pressing it on her husbands heart too) to drive me to the chiropractor this week. Otherwise I would have put off going in and would have still been in great pain. What a amazing loving God we have.

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Weekly Wrap Up ~ December 4th

On the Heart and Mind:

I am feeling like I am being led out in the wilderness spiritually. I guess I need to learn to lean on the Lord extra hard. I have felt this before and ran from it but this time I think I will follow and grow where the Lord wants me to grow. I have said this before but I will say it again...I am thankful for my like minded SS'sIC for my support in this journey. It makes the road seem a little less hard.


On another note I am letting you all know that I am now going to be blogging here from now on. It has been something that I have been flip flopping back and forth on for a long time now. And I have now decided I need to be here. I hope you like my new template that my friend Tamara made. I know I need to update the pictures on the header but that will come when my DIL ( daughter in love) Essie helps me take some new ones. She is a AMAZING photographer. I am also hoping to get 2 to 3 posts a week. I am trying to get out of my blogging slump.


On the Home Front:

This week we have been doing a lot of just settling into our lessons and having fun in the snow. The boys have there tobogganing run made and Luke has gone on his first day of snowboarding today. I got my laptop back when my brother and mom visited. But the two other computers are down. ((sigh)) So that makes computer time a bit more challenging. Oh, Philip and Essie started work up at the ski hill today and that we are thankful for.


Learning and Life:

This year we are spending a lot of time in Language Arts. We have started using "Writing Strands" along with our other lessons. So far so good. I a hoping once we are done with book 2 and 3 then I will have Noah use "Wordsmith Apprentice". We are just loving the book " A Circle of Silver" by Maxine Trottier.


Plus this last week we are reading out loud from "A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays" by Robin Sampson and Linda Pierce while we light the Hanukkah candles


. I learned a lot about Hanukkah and the history. It was very enriching. We enjoyed jelly doughnuts during our readings. (deep fried foods is a connection to the oil that burned for the 8 days. Soon we will be making latkas one night and rosette cookies another night. *grin*)

My Craft Corner:

I haven't been knitting as much this week but I am knitting a scarf for the local charity. I am hoping to finish my Shalom cardigan maybe this week. ((happy dance)). My goal this winter i s to bust my stash. I am finding ways to use up all the odds and ends I have plus I found some yarn I bought to make me a sweater and I hope to start tackling that soon. I still need to tie in the loose strands ( my least favorite job.) So I am going to post pics here this week.

In The Kitchen:

Last week I made rosehip syrup for the first time and I hope to make more this week end. Plus last night for the first time I made cake doughnuts. My kids loved them so I think that means they were a winner recipe. Nicolas my youngest pulled out my purple cookbook that I hand write all our favorite recipes in and wants me to add it. That must mean it is a two thumbs up recipe. I am hoping to share both of these on the Friday Farmgirls meme.


On My Night Stand:

I feel at this time I am to put aside my other books (other than the Bible) to read ...

-"The Prayer That Changes Everything...The Hidden Power Of Praising God" by... Stormie Omartian

-"Those Who Trust The Lord Shall Not Be Disappointed " by... Peggy Joyce Ruth.


If you would like to join me in this meme, just write up your weekly summery , using mine or your own catogories. Then sign the Mr. Linky below I'd love to ready your Weekly Wrap Up summaries too. I hope to post mine each Saturday. This meme is a great way to be encouraged and encourage others in our journey of homeschooling.

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Monthly Mosaics ~ July 2010

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Weekly Wrap Up - July 16th

On the Heart and Mind:

I am hoping the books I ordered will come soon. That way I can get my head wrapped around this coming year before it starts. I am thinking that we will start school a couple of weeks early this August so that way when the things come up ( like a wedding ) then the time that is distracted won’t be lost. Other than that I am in craft mode getting ready for craft fairs this fall.

On the Home-front:

Last week when I went MIA this is the major project I was working on….painting my trim.

Here are some snap shots of the week…

When my brother, sister, and her family came to visit we went on a neat historical field trip to Sandon, B.C. . We visited the ghost town and museum of Sandon.

Nicolas and my sister Lois.

My Nephew Ben

Silver Rush, Train Sequence VIDEO

Sandon British Columbia a real Ghost Town, Gold Rush VIDEO

Then we went to the Sandon Museum

We all wandered around finding sooooo many interesting things.

My BIL Doug

I loved getting to see all the antiques. This pineapple pattern triggered good memories of my grandmother. She use to crochet it quite a bit. I remember ohhhh and awwwing over the huge table clothes she made with this pattern.

I had a lot of fun looking at all the homemaking antiques. I tried to picture how they did ALL they had to do back then. I have to admit as much as I love the simple life I really would miss my KitchenAide and washing machine. [0=

Washing Machine

Cherry pitters and apple peeler

I have used similar contraptions as these. [0=

Living Is Learning:

As we went through the ghost town and museum of Sandon we got to see all kind of things that showed us how people lived in the early days of Sandon, British Columbia. There is sooo much interesting history in this town. There was a lot of history on the silver and gold mining during that time. And they have a great replica of a miners shanty.

Plus we got to see very unusual things that we never dreamed of….

Plus a bit of humorous history too…

Our Family Read Aloud:

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Red Wall’s ” The Long Patrol” by Brian Jacques

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My Craft Corner:

Works in progress….

In my corner I am finishing up some fingerless gloves and then I can get back to my hexagons. But that will be slow moving because I have started pouring and dipping beeswax candles to sell in the fall craft fairs. My kitchen is now a mini candle factory.

I am knitting hexagons (for a afghan to give to my ds and future daughter in love. I am up to 25 hexagons now.

My Goal: to make a afghan size. If you want to see what they look like go HERE.

In the Kitchen:

As I said before I am in the midst of candle making.

Mother Culture ( for definition go HERE )

.On my nightstand are….

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I haven’t had much time for reading but these books are waiting when I have time. But the bible reading I am going to have to schedule a time to make sure it happens.

Reading from the Bible

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“ A Biblical Home Education …Building Your Homeschool on the Foundation of God’s Word” by Ruth Beechick.

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“The Nature Study Idea Book …Ideas For All Ages…Even Your Highschooler” by …Mary E. Woodis

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Simply Charlotte Mason’s “Laying Down The Rails” a Charlotte Mason Habits Handbook and Sue Patricks’s “Workbox System“.

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If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories. Then sign the MckLinky below. I’d love to read your weekly summaries too! I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday. If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox or comments from the week before. Be sure and check last week’s Mr. Linky for any new ones who posted before I did! It is a great way to meet new people.

Picture Thought I am leaving with you…

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