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| Liljegren's Suncoast Bella |
Look at her face. You can see where loving in her has rubbed off black, and now her face sparkles. Old dogs are the best.
Happy birthday, beautiful Bella. We love you very much.
I've been attempting to write a blog post for today on my desktop since yesterday, and it's continuing to give me grief. I fear I'm going to have to bite down and transfer everything to Handsome's unused (newer) machine in the near future. (This post has been published through my iPhone.)
And, here I had pantry photos edited and ready to share today. So, please forgive me. I'll try again later to put up that post for tomorrow. Instead, I'm going to bake bread...or take a walk. I'll be back tomorrow - one way or another. Happy Friday!
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| Front l-r: Deb B. Lisa, Brad, Bruce and Janet. Back: John, Cal, Dan and Deb N, Donna and Handsome, and Max |
We had another classmate dinner yesterday, and this time we had three couples attending. Dan and Deb, and Janet and Max both started dating when we were all in high school (I think Janet and Max started in junior high), and got married after graduation. Of course, Handsome and I were the third couple. Two of our group are widowed, and the rest are married, too, but their spouses didn't attend.
It was pretty much guys on one end of the long table set up and gals on the other, but we chatted back and forth. As always, it was nice to see everyone and find out who's getting ready for a trip, or what else is going on. Deb and Dan will be gone for a month on vacation out West, so we'll miss them next month.
The temperature got into the mid-50s Wednesday with plenty of sun, so we all looked forward to getting out to visit. The weather won't hold like this though. After all, it is February in Wisconsin, home of the Frozen Tundra. We know that it's going to get cold - and snow at least once more. Shelly always says that the robins have to be snowed on at least five times before Spring actually arrives for real. We make the most of the good days when we can.
I'm taking the WMBBD to the vet for a diagnostic appointment today, and then I'm going in to work for a couple hours to cover for my boss who's getting ready to leave on vacation tomorrow. I've been working on a 30-minute daily purge program (getting rid of stuff), so I'll do that again for a bit when I get home from work. Then, I'm going to stitch for a while. I'll be back tomorrow to share the latest. See you then!
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| Canned Butter |
On Monday night, when Handsome was at band rehearsal, I did a thing. After a lot of research, I've learned that this process (while unapproved by FDA) is completely safe and has been safely done by the Amish and farm families for generations.
The butter is melted in a big pot while jars and lids are being heated. The melted butter is then ladled into the jars, rims cleaned (not with vinegar, which could cause the butter to curdle), rings tightly attached, and then back into the oven for another 20 minutes or so. Place the jars on the counter to cool. Once the lids have pinged, intermittently shake the jars to make sure the butter solids don't separate while they cool. Once cooled, label and store. The butter is perfectly shelf stable for at least two years.
When I purchase butter, I wait until it's on sale for less than $3/pound, and then I buy a case of it. I've always kept the extra in the freezer until I learned about this method. Now, I won't be taking up freezer space, and the butter is ready to use whenever I need it.
I used wide mouth jars, and filled them to leave 1" of headspace. Five pounds of butter yielded six pints, canned. It doesn't take that long to do either. I'd say it was a good use of an hour of the time Handsome was away, making great music.
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| January 2026 Artist Trading Cards |
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| Detail - January 2026 Artist Trading Card |
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| Two Stitched Heart Brooches |
I managed to complete the stitching on the second heart - a new Something Blue Bridal Brooch - over the weekend. I love how this one turned out! As with the Purple Heart Brooch, I can't cut it out until I complete the needlework on the third heart to maintain the integrity of the hooped ground fabric.
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| Beginning Third Heart Brooch |
I began work on the third brooch yesterday. This one incorporated a lighter, matte-finish seed bead which will really contrast with the brilliant check chipping once I start adding it. I'm hoping to do that this week, and then turn them into brooches over the weekend.
The weather was beautiful Saturday and Sunday, and we had a blissful reprieve from the constant dump truck traffic. Nothing ran after dark on Saturday and it was quiet all Sunday. We'll see if that continues through today. That would be wonderful.
I'm woefully late in getting out my January ATCs to my sister's group, so I'll probably work on those today. It's going to be a busy week. The theme is "New Year" and I already know what I'll be doing. Now to set the time aside!
Tomorrow I work; Wednesday will be another classmate dinner gathering; Bella has a vet appointment on Thursday that coincides with an appointment Handsome has on the books, so I'll take her instead this time; and then work again Friday night. I plan to set aside as much time as I'm able to get the ATCs and brooches finished.
I know I said I'd have a big sale in my Etsy shop this month, but I think I'm going to change it to a March Madness Sale instead. As soon as I get these projects finished, I'll begin work on my shop sale. Being sick in January really set me back!
I hope you have a great week ahead. I'll be looking forward to catching up with you each day. Take care!
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| LilyLouTay Homemade Stuffed Oreos |
I made Valentine cookies for Handsome yesterday, with enough extra to take to my coworkers last night. They were a first-time success, and I'll definitely make them again.
Hannah Taylor is LilyLouTay, and if you've never watched one of her videos, it's really worth the time. Everything she makes is done with love (and a little humor), and whenever I've made one of her recipes, it's been delicious. Even just watching her cook is a delight. (She's also on Facebook and Instagram as lilyloutay)
HERE is the link for these fabulously decadent cookies - Hannah's Homemade Stuffed Oreos. Mine measure about 3" across, and they're large enough to share. I got messages from neighbors, Shelly (next door) and Dawn (up the road) who I also shared with and got messages that I'd ruined their dinners when they each had one after I left.
I did double this recipe because I knew I wanted extras to give away. The doubled recipe made eighteen or twenty 3" sandwich cookies. I might try a single batch and make them smaller next time...or not. lol
Happy Valentine's Day, my friends
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| Brynwood Exclusive Something Blue Bridal Brooch WIP |
I almost finished this Bridal Brooch. I'll get this one done today, so I can do the third before cutting them out.
I have plans to bake a special Valentine's treat for Handsome and his sweet tooth. It's a new-to-me recipe, but I think he'll we'll enjoy the result. I'll show you tomorrow.
I promised the recipe for English muffins today, but I wanted to show you hearts instead. I moving that post to Monday.
Happy Friday the Thirteenth!
(Did you know that the number 13 is actually GOOD luck? Yup! I'll tell you about that some time. Have a great day!)
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| Purple Heart Brooch In Progress |
I completed all the stitching for the Purple Heart Brooch yesterday. I can't cut that one out yet, because removing two from the ground fabric would destabilize my other two brooches I still need to stitch. I'll cut them all out when those blue ones are done.
It was really lovely to sit in my favorite sunny spot to stitch. Bella was sleeping at my feet, while Handsome ran errands with Bella's kid.
I'll be working on the blue hearts today. I'll begin with the pearl purl outlines, and progress to the chippings, beads and crosses. These will be Bridal Brooches when they're finished, but the purple one is already spoken for.
I hope it's warming up with a little bonus sunshine where you live. I'm looking forward to the temperatures continuing to rise. I'm completely done with the deep freeze stuff! I know there's a cuppa with my name on it, so I'm off to start my day. See ya later, gator!
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| via Happy Gardens |
The more years I put behind me, the more meaning this verse holds for me. I love being at home, and find so much joy in homemaking...baking, canning, the little bit of gardening I actually do, and spending time with Handsome, our pets, and our family.
I love filling the bird feeders, not only because it helps sustain them during the coldest part of winter, but also because we get to watch them when they visit. I make sure there's hay, food, and water in the Compass Barn, too, just in case a cold critter is looking for a warm bed and a meal. It really costs nothing to be kind to wildlife.
Our neighborhood has been inundated with dump trucks for the past month. A well-known excavating company (at least in Wisconsin) opened up the land for a gravel pit at the south end of our two-country block road when the highway needed to be expanded from two lane to four. We thought that after the highway was completed, they'd shut down the pit. It was blissfully quiet for a while, but reopened with a vengeance this winter.
About an hour and a half away from us, a data center is being built. It's going to be huge, and takes up a sad amount of farmland. Farmland that could be used to raise animals or crops. It will be covered in concrete and buildings. I found myself wondering where all the wild creatures will be forced to move, even now as the construction begins.
Our more local concern has been 24/7 dump trucks that come in to the pit at the end of the road carrying loads of topsoil that are left here, so they can drive to another pit to pick up gravel fill for the building site. Did you see where I said "24/7"? These trucks run through the night, using vibrators to force the dirt out of the backs of their trucks. Once they're empty, they leave the pit on their way to the next load. The vibrators are noisy and sound other-worldly. Then there are the jake brakes, which I didn't think were legal to use in neighborhoods - at the very least they're inconsiderate in the middle of the night. It's loud for us living about a half mile away. I can't even imagine what it's like for our neighbors living right across from the pit. I'm not even going to mention the light standards they've brought in (and the generators to power them) that brighten the night like a Walmart parking lot. For folks like us who moved here to get away from city lights, it's a sad situation.
So, we cope. We're told that once the last of the topsoil has been trucked in, the pit will be reclaimed and closed. I'm praying that happens 'before the warm weather, because the farmhouse has no central air conditioning. We rely on the hillside breezes to cool all but the hottest of days, when we're forced to install two window units. We prefer open windows, the sound of birds, coyotes and other resident critters over dump trucks.
I have to admit that the thought of these huge complexes popping up all over the country to accommodate internet and AI are upsetting to me. I've spent more than a little time contemplating my own contribution to the industry. Truthfully, I've thought about checking out...shutting down my blog, my social media and my digital activities. Would I even make a difference?
I'm old enough to remember a world without instant
communication. Without the internet. Without portable media that went
everywhere with us and tracked our every move. Kids actually used
imaginations and played outside. They searched for answers in books. I know. Time stands still for no one. This is "progress", but is it really? Is this the price we have to pay? I'm not so sure.
So, these days, I occupy my time in the kitchen or at my needlework frame. These are the pursuits that ground me and bring happiness. Someday, everything will pass (including me), but I hope some of these things I have done will remain in the memories of my loved ones.
When I put up this image today, I really had no idea what I would write about. I guess this just all came tumbling out. I think I'd better have a quiet cup of coffee with Handsome and reset for the day. My plan is to sit and work on my goldwork hearts. No internet. I'll be back tomorrow, and hopefully I'll have completed (or nearly completed) heart brooches to share. I promise I'll avoid anything maudlin. Thanks for listening. See you then.
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| English Muffins |
Mondays are typically baking days here at the farmhouse. Yesterday was no exception. I baked four loaves of farmhouse sandwich bread (one went up the hill to Andy and Shelly), six large hamburger buns, and ten English muffins.
I hadn't made the muffins before, so I did learn a few things this time, including that once mixed they should cold proof in the refrigerator for 3-5 hours. They can be made immediately, but that wasn't the suggested method. So, after I mixed and kneaded the dough, into a covered container to spend three hours in the fridge.
After cold proofing, I cut the dough into equal pieces and formed them into balls. They were rolled in semolina and then placed on a baking sheet lined with parchment and more semolina to rise. Handsome was at band rehearsal and the muffins were ready to finish just as he walked in the door.
He usually likes to have a light meal after rehearsal, so I took out my flat cast iron pan and put three muffins on the hot pan at a time. Directions said to fry one side for 3-5 minutes, then turn it over, press into the English muffin shape and fry the second side. (I may have slightly overdone the last two).
I placed them on my cooling rack, and made Handsome's breakfast-for-dinner. As I was finishing his ham and eggs, he took a muffin out of the toaster. He declared them a roaring success, so I guess I'll be making them again in the future.
I work today, so I'll be leaving soon. Tomorrow, I'll tell you about the constant commotion inundating us at the farmhouse - along with all our neighbors who actually have it worse than we do. I think you'll be as peeved as we are. See you later!
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| Brynwood Cork Nature Journal |
No. I don't mean that good book. The last post I shared was my "practice" class piece. While this one is my completed class assignment, I can see that I still have a lot to learn and perfect.
I used a piece of my favorite wildlife printed cork fabric as the cover. The binding is called a pamphlet binding and it should be accomplished with straight rows. What I learned is that it's hard to see the punched holes for stitching in cork, because the awl-sized holes tend to try to close up. Next time, I would mark the holes with a tiny ink mark on the inside before I start stitching. Lesson learned.
The inside pages are again made from copier paper, because I didn't want to use expensive paper for a technique I'm still learning. I made five signatures (that's the term for the folded pages that make up each sewn section), and the collection of bound signatures is called a codex.
I completed the book by adding a couple stickers inside the front page of my book, and then added a Brynwood leaf tag to the spine. The final touch was to add an acorn needle keeper as the closure. I glued one magnet inside the front cover, and then attached the acorn with another magnet to the fold-over flap. I may choose to amend how it's attached at some point, but I'm sticking with that for now.
Well, I completed my class so I can say, "I've done that." Perhaps my idea for adding needlework to covers of handmade books is something that will need to percolate further. I'm sure not ready to jump into that at this point. I think I'll stick with what I know for now. I'll be doing more needlework this week.
I'll also be working in my Etsy shop this week to take my February sale live. First I want to rephotograph some of the items in my shop. Right now there are multiple items per listing, and I want to change them to one item per listing. Of course, I want to put in a site-wide sale to move some of my stock to new homes. My plan is to take the sale live by Friday. I'll be sure to announce it as soon as it's ready.
My blog is still slow on this end. How is it for you? Slow? Loading as it should? I'm genuinely curious. I haven't figured out why this is the only site that loads turtle-slow for me, but I really hope it's not hanging up on your side, too.
I'm off on an early errand today and then I'll be busy here in the studio. Now, where did I put my morning cuppa? See you tomorrow!
I'm going to make another one over the weekend, but before I do that, I'm going to spend some more time trying to figure out what the heck is going on with my blog page. Everything else seems to load fine. Ugh.
Happy Weekend!
Good morning, friends. I'm still unable to post photographs, but my page didn't take forever to load. I'm really thinking it's Google's issue and not mine. Handsome never uses his newer-than-mine desktop, so if the issue turns out to be my desktop, I can commandeer his and use that. Of course, the transfer of all my data to his will take a while (if I can even remember how to do that!).
So, I'm unable to share pictures again this morning. My apologies. My blog is looking more like a WordPress blog than a Google Blogger post. I have another bookmaking session this morning, so I'm going to get my materials ready and turn my thoughts to that.
I hope you have a great day. I'll get this figured out and corrected soon. Thanks for your patience. I'll see you tomorrow.
Well, this is awkward. I seem to be having some issues either with my desktop computer or Blogger. I'm not sure which, but I'm a bit frustrated. I'm unable to upload photos right now. ugh
I went to bed early last night because I developed an ocular migraine. They don't hurt, but I get a zigzag image that travels across my sight line. On one occasion, I also had an experience with speech aphasia, which was frightening. No lasting damage, and also no pain, but frightening nonetheless because you're trying to speak and know that it's not coming out as your brain is saying it. All anyone outside of you hears is gobblydeegook. Thankfully, that didn't happen last night. Rather than wait it out, I went to bed at 9:45 and there I remained until I got up this morning. Only to find that my computer is acting up.
This Zoom class I'm taking is to learn how to assemble and bind my own books. I've had this harebrained idea to add needlework to covers of journal-type books to share and sell. I'm not sure at this point whether or not it's a pipe dream, though.
The class is available through a website: https://handmadebookclub.com, and the instructor, Ally is very knowledgeable. I'm really enjoying the sessions, which each last about 90 minutes, and then have homework.
Yesterday was the second session of a four session class...and if I can ever get my photos to load, I'll share them here.
If you've read this far without a photograph, Thanks! Perhaps my computer is suffering from a migraine, too?
Anyway, I'll be continuing my class homework, and if my eyes are up to it today, I'll do a little more stitching. Otherwise, I'll just take it easy and do absolutely not much for a bit. I'm just hoping February doesn't turn into the dumpster first I experienced in January. So far, this year is off to a less-than-stellar start!
See you tomorrow...or later if the photos will load. (I really don't want to shop for a computer right now!)
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| Cinnamon Rolls |
As promised, today I'm going to share the recipe I use for the delicious cinnamon rolls I make here at the farmhouse. I cannot take credit for the recipe. It's the result of a post I saw from Elizabeth Lucenti on Instagram. HERE is a link to her channel (thehomemadefam), where you'll find lots of delicious things.
All you have to do is click on the image to save it to your desktop or phone, and you can print it out from there.
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| Recipe Page2 |
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| Recipe Page 2 |
If you decide to make these, PLEASE let me know what you think of them. Fair warning: They're dangerously delicious! Also, you can see from my photograph that I love lots of cream cheese frosting. I almost always make a double batch for the rolls.
Haircut this morning, and then I'm going to relax and stitch all day. I'll see you again tomorrow!
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| Liljegren's Hickory Hill Farm - Canned Carrots, Sliced Mushrooms, Alfredo Sauce and Mushroom Pieces |
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| Liljegren's Hickory Hill Farm - Beef Stew |
I also canned five quarts, plus 1 pint of beef stew. I prepared all the ingredients for this, which means nothing dehydrated or freeze dried. Everything was cut into bite-sized pieces - beef stew, potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, and tomatoes.
The beef was partially sauteed and then put into my Kilner pot with the raw vegetables, beef broth and spring water. After that was brought to a boil and cooked for five minutes, all the ingredients were jarred, sealed and then processed in my pressure canner. Actually, everything I processed Saturday was pressure canned. The recipe I used was from The Complete Guide to Pressure Cannning by Diane Devereaux that I told you about when I first started my pressure canning journey.
Have I mentioned how glad I am that I overcame my fear and got the canner and book to give me this confidence? Looking back, I ask myself, "What the heck took you so long?" Reaching for it now is nearly second nature.
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| Liljegren's Hickory Hill Farm - Pinto Beans and Ground Beef Taco Meat |
Sunday was spent with family, so I got back to my To Do list Monday. There were things I meant to do but couldn't get to on the weekend. After we got home from our son's home, I pulled out the gallon jar filled with pinto beans. I measured 110 grams and put that amount into each clean half pint jar. Then I topped them off with water to soak them overnight.
In the morning, I poured each jar (one at a time) into my strainer, rinsed off the beans and checked for any duds that I would want to remove, rinsed that jar and then filled back up with the beans. After I'd done that to each and every jar, I refilled them with spring water, wiped the rims, added lids and rings, and then into the canner. When they came out, I placed them on a towel and covered them to finish sealing.
Then, I turned my attention to taco meat! I mean, what good are the pinto beans without the taco meat to accompany them? We recently purchased the deal offered at the butcher shop about three miles from here, and there were ten pounds of ground beef, individually packed. I grabbed four of them out of the freezer Sunday night after putting beans in jars, so the meat could thaw overnight.
The ground beef is also hot packed, so I browned the meat, put 2 1/2 t. of taco seasoning in the bottom of clean jars, and then added the beef. Once all six pints were filled with meat, I topped the jars off with boiled spring water, sealed and processed them. After they were finished and the canner had depressurized, I placed those jars on a towel and covered them, too. They sat overnight with the beans to cool down and seal. Hearing the jars "ping!" is the best sound when you've just done a bunch of canning.
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| Liljegren's Hickory Hill Farm - Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce |
Last of all was a recipe I've been eyeing for a while. This is referred to as "rebel canning" because it's not an FDA-approved method. They don't like us canning dairy, but it's actually been safely done by homemakers for decades upon decades. That alone wouldn't have convinced me, but I also listened to three different, experienced canners who explained the whole "botulism" thing having done their own extensive research. They come from canning families who have also done this for decades, and they have successfully done these recipes for years, so I was convinced. (Fully disclosure - The Alfredo sauce is another rebel recipe, too.)
This recipe is done in the oven, where the cheesecake is actually baked the traditional method (jars sitting in boiled water in a pan) with the lids off. After I made the raspberry sauce, I topped the finished cheesecakes, added the lids and rings (this time really turning down the lids rather than "finger tight"), and back into the oven for ten more minutes. That was it. I had ten beautiful, wide-mouth half pints to show for it. Handsome tried one last night and gave it a big thumbs up!
I wasn't interested in making a big dinner after finishing all that so I grabbed a quart of beef stew that I'd put in the refrigerator on Saturday. That jar hadn't sealed (along with one half pint of sliced mushrooms, and one pint of mushroom pieces), so after I got that in the pan, I added half the jar of mushroom pieces to the mix. Once it was heating, I added enough of my homemade beef gravy mix (about a tablespoon) which thickened it up nicely. We enjoyed a lovely warm stew with a side of warm rolls, and declared that recipe another winner.
There is something so rewarding about doing all this work over the past three days. Seeing everything on the shelves and knowing that we don't have to leave home to do a lot of grocery shopping; knowing exactly what is in the food we're eating; and the gratitude I get from family who enjoy the fruits of my (and sometimes our) labor is just the best feeling in the world. Bonus is that I sleep like a baby on the nights after I've been in the kitchen all day! I'll share photos of the full pantry shelves later this week.
I'm off to the station for my six hour shift today. I'll be back tomorrow to share the recipe for the cinnamon rolls that I make. I'm not a recipe miser. If someone is interested, I think recipes should be shared. The more the merrier! This recipe is expecially simple and easy, and has tremendous (feedback) reward for the effort. So, you won't want to miss tomorrow's post with the recipe! Gotta run...
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| With Son #2's Family |
It's not your eyes. I didn't want to take one of those "everybody crammed together in front of someone holding the iPhone", so I set the shutter to get a "better" image. I guess it was so far away that my old iPhone 8 couldn't get a sharp image. Even so, you can tell who's who, and I love all the smiles.
We spent yesterday with Son #2 and his family finally having our Christmas celebration with them. Illness delayed us first, and then we determined waiting until the wicked cold weather broke was the safe way to go. It got up to 21º on Sunday and was wonderfully sunny.
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| Family with Grandpa |
We had a grand time sharing a meal, getting caught up, and opening the gifts that had been waiting over a month. Of course, we needed photographs before the girls had to leave for other commitments. One was heading back to her college dorm, and the other had to work her second job last night.
Grandpa and I left shortly afterward and were home before dark. All the furry girls were glad to see us, and we were happily tired from our day. I don't think there really is anything better than spending time with beloved family.
I spent Saturday canning, and I'll be doing more of the same today. I've been taking pictures, so if you want to see what I've accomplished, I'm posting about that tomorrow.
Oh, I'm also taking a Zoom class online this morning that I'll tell you about later in the week. It's not needlework-related, and there are more sessions this week. I'm pretty excited about it. It's about 90 minutes long each session, and will start at 11 am CT, so I'm going to grab a coffee, my supplies and a notebook.
I hope you'll join me again as I look forward to a fun and productive week. I'll see you again tomorrow!
