Diary of the Woods

Apples and Pears Oh My!

2011-09-27T14:10:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday we all had a Harvesting good time picking a Bushel of Apples and a Bushel of Pears. The weather was perfect and so was every ones mood! We really are an Agri-tainment loving family. Now that was the fun part.

Moms fun…..

I’ve got thru Half a bushel of Apples to freeze in slices for pies, Tomorrow will use up another couple dozen apples for the apple butter to be canned. I haven’t made apple butter before so we’ll see…

We’re on our way to having lots of pre-peeled, pre- sliced frozen apples and pears for pies and cobblers.

So convenient to have on hand. And easy to do. Wash, peel, core slice and pop into a freezer bag. I find that a quart bag full is just right for a nine inch pie pan or an 8x8 crumble. you could get all fancy and dip them in a little lemon juice mixture but since they will be baked anyways I usually don’t bother. Besides I still have all this to put away…

Swiss Chard Trial

2011-09-24T08:05:00.001-07:00

Well this morning the swiss chard met my snippers. Chopped it up and added it to some scrambled eggs. It was a bit strong but I think I’d better learn to do something yummy with it cause it LOVES it on our property. I could easily get a bumper crop. Time for some recipe research. And its packed with awesome vitamins.

Tomato Tumble!

2011-09-23T10:39:00.001-07:00

Well this hard rain has knocked off a few of the remaining tomatoes. Guess it’s time to call those done anyhow and prepare those beds for winter.

Now they sit on the windowsill awaiting ripening yummy-ness. Whenever this rain finally lets up I’ll have to yank out those plants. Just might be enough time left in the year for some greens to take their spot……hmm….

Play Pants on A Rainy Day

2011-09-21T09:12:00.001-07:00

Todays Project, Repurposing! I’m digging through those bags of clothes I’ve been saving and FINALLY turning them into some Play Pants for fall. I have some “Old Lady” style linen pants that are gonna be great! My super fancy Pattern? Turn a well fitting (non stretchy) pair of pants inside out. Lay on a piece of newspaper, and trace giving a 1/2 inch seam allowance on the sides. also give an inch on the bottom for a hem and two on the top for the elastic casing. Ta Da fancy pattern. Don’t forget to write the “size” on the pattern if your like me and actually save them. Prob cause I’m too lazy to do it again for the next child. I mean thrifty….Whichever.

Cloth Pull-ups/ Training panties

2011-02-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

So This started with a trip to the local wal mart where i decided I was NOT giving 10 bucks for 3 pairs of training panties. What a Rip!! So i went home , dug through the sewing stash and all i had to pick up was a 2 dollar pack of Velcro for the sides, just in case i like the option of opening from the sides but you could just sew up the sides. . Much better! I think i might Make some out of old T shirts too. There was enough Velcro for about 6 pairs with a teensy bit left over. I'll make a tutorial if i can figure it out but really just trace your disposable pull-up of choice, and i folded an old washcloth in thirds and sewed it sandwiched Inside . i also added some elastic to the leg area and the back. Ta da!

Yup, I'm still Alive.

2011-02-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

Well I've not Been Posting Anything in a while thanks to just being super busy . But yeay once again there's time in the day!!Todays Project .... Some 3t Capris....Hopefully.. So far I've made one of those High quality old newspaper patterns from a pair we have. I'll post how it comes out. Also theres a pattern for a Housecoat in 3t floating around in my head that's just got to get to paper before it gets lost!

Baby- Toddler Fingerless Mitts Pattern

2010-01-30T09:50:00.000-08:00

So I was working on the whole "Bikini" Thing when Wham We are hit with the Biggest snow I've seen in a Very long time. Irony is a..... Anywho.So I placed that project to the side and Made a cozy pair of Fingerless mitts for myself. Well you KNOW kids NEED whatever you have so I wrote this tiny version. Picture was Taken Before weaving in my ends just in case i had to adjust anything :)

You will need :

J hook(mabye one smaller for you i always have to go up 1 size on patterns)

I used some bernat softee chunky from my stash which was Not full( still plenty left over)

Any chunky would do nicely.

CH20. SlSt together to form a ring. NO TWISTING :)~

Row 1-5: Ch 2 DC in same St, Dc in ea st across slst to beginning ch2.

Row 6: Ch 2 Dc in same st and each st across, Do not join.turn

Row 7: Ch 2 Dc in each st across. Join With Sl st.

Row 8: Ch 2 , Dc in same st and Each st across. Slst to join.

Weave in ends to finish . Don't forget to make another :)

Valentine's Crochet

2010-01-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

Valentines is coming up so it thought Why Not, Lets crochet something a bit risque. :) Seemed natural with crochet having that "peek a boo" quality. And POO There's practically NOTHING out there for Patterns. Well guess that means I'll just have to Make one up! So I'm practicing the Makings of a "cup" with a bikini pattern and we'll see where we go with it.

Crochet Girls Skirt

2010-01-26T07:22:00.000-08:00

Well this is my first time trying to crochet an article of clothing. And I am SOOOO Happy with the way it came out. In the original pattern it should have been a skort. But the shorts underneath didn't fit my daughter so I had to pull it out and just Make more of an underskirt since the outside has big-ish holes. The lady that wrote the pattern has a bunch and I now have quite a few of them on my crochet-to-do list. This is the pattern link for the one I made if you want to give it a shot. : http://www.christinascrochethaven.me/girl_clothing/earth_and_sky_skort.htm

I have a really tight stitch so next time I think Ill bump up the size hook I use cause her's seems more "flowey".

Toddler Bedspread Progress

2010-01-21T09:43:00.000-08:00

So I thought of a fun way to use up a bunch of the red heart balls I have coming out my ears. A ainbow Toddler Bed spread. Basically A Ginormus Granny square Using The Biggest hook I own. I only Have 2 Evenings invested in it and its coming right along. Kinda more of a "show" Lacey top cover but hey Little girls LOVE pretty things. It looks a little delicate but as with everything in the house my youngest has dragged it around as a work in progress and no damage. This would be a GREAT beginner project.

Baby Powder Cover

2010-01-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

Well Here we are My first pattern I've made myself. Or at least i think i have there's only a bajillion patterns out there. This Is for a Baby Powder Cover. It goes over one of the regular size bottles. Uses a draw string top.

You will need: Size I Needle, Red heart super saver yarn of your color choice(way less than a full skein). And a Bit of ribbon for the draw string. About a foot. yarn needle and stitch marker.

Here goes:

Ch. 2

Rnd1:12 Hdc in 2nd ch from hook, join with sl st in top of 2nd chain (you should have 12 hdc)

Rnd2: ch2, Hdc in ssame st. Then do 2 Hdc in each st around, join (24 stitches)

Rnd 3-21 +/-: Ch2, hdc in each st around. Dont join just keep working in the round using a stitch marker to count the rows.

Finishing: Use a yarn needle to thred the ribbon through the top row of stitches weaving in and out every 2 stitches. Tie off in a bow. Ta Da!

My Crochet Kitties

2010-01-17T10:35:00.001-08:00

So here they are. Kitty one and kitty 2 I thought since i have mentioned them they aught to make an apperance. Truthfully if you can make a ball and a couple different size "tubes" you can make alot of amimals. Just got to get creative for the ears and suchI might shorten the tail and add a "tube" for a snout and make a couple piggies. Or mabye some long ears and a cottonball for a tail for a little easter basket surprise. Definetly gonna have to shorten the legs for that one.

My Sock Fail

2010-01-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

So I've spent the last 2 Days attampting to make a pair of those crochet slipper socks for the kiddos. Fail. Just can't get the Heel. Bad pattern mabye? I've Made amigurumi cats, Cats! and I just can't make a heel. But after some creative modifying we now have sippy cup coozies.

The Sage Is Alive!

2010-01-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

Well I went outside and under all that Frost i dug out My sage Plant And Wow it was still kinda green. So I brought it inside, Gave it a warm water soak in the sink and put it near the fireplace. That was last week. By today I have almost 2 inches of new growth and baby light green leaves coming on the tips of the branches. Time to go find another i Guess.