It's all about warmth!

Isn't this a beautiful sight?
We have finally come to the time of year I love best.
Warm fires, candle light, lamp light and togetherness.

There is something about a fire that invites people to share a space together, either doing things together such as playing cards, board games, or just chatting and crafts. Often you will find us just being together in our own little worlds reading books, but being open to each other during this time of rest and relaxation, a place of sanctuary.
So much can happen here in this space while really doing nothing more than being in the company of those you love and love you back.

Did I mention I love fires and all that they bring to mind? Oh, yes I have I am sure!
I am also thankful for the strong young men in our family who chop this for us. Of course our girls can and do chop wood too, but essentially it is the guys job on a regular basis.

As we lit our fire the other day it was amazing to see the return of the 'knitting' phase that was very evident in our home last year.

Our younger children started 'spider knitting' again which is really French knitting but on these cool, yes cool,   knitting nancy things. I know they are plastic  but seriously they make it so easy for younger children to get started with. By the way the children call them spider knitting because it looks like a huge spider web as it grows.
Last year Corbyn did not have the ability or the patience to really do his, but boy has he make a long 'spider web' now. He is so proud of his achievements, being able to do what the others have been doing and so is a very happy little camper

Of course as the cooler weather draws in we can now legitimately enjoy a cup of warm cocoa.
This one is one of my speciality ones that we save for not every day.
For this very large cup take:
2  slightly heaped teaspoons of cocoa
2 teaspoons of coconut sugar
4 heaped teaspoons of milk powder (full cream is our preference)
Mix thoroughly and pour on boiling water till about 3/4 full
Then top with pouring cream to desired height (use milk for a not so rich version if you like, but cream makes it oh, just so very very nice, really it does....go on try it)
Mix well again.

For even added specialness add whipped cream on top of this again.

How do you like that little cupcake on the side?
Well let me tell you it is grain free and I have to admit THE most delicious chocolate cupcake we have tried so far. The frosting on top.....mmm yummy too.

Oh you want to know all about it?
Well look for a post soon on our baking successes and failures and how we rate all the ones we have tried since going  Grain 'n' Sugar FREE!

In the meantime enjoy your seasons where ever you are! I am so delighted with ours!

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

Yarn Along- 19th January

I have finally made it back to a Yarn Along with Ginny, hooray!!

It has been ages since I have done much Yarn work, in fact I have spent most of my time reading.
One of the books I am reading at the moment is Dragon Slippers, which is a book I previewed for Vellvin. In fact most of the books I have been reading are ones I am previewing for our Vellvin or ones she has found in the past.

My Yarn Along is one of the finished Dishcloths I have completed. This was the second one I did and I like the fact that it is in 4ply cotton with size 4 needles. It is just the right size and weight for washing up with. I like it so much better than the 8ply one I did that was a larger square too.

Anyway I hope to be contributing more this year with the Yarn Along. Looking forward to seeing what everyone has been up to lately over at Ginny's.

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

Yarn Along: 29th October

Finally I am joining in  Ginny's Yarn Along again after a few weeks break having had our holiday and after finishing Autumn's Deb Dress (photos of the Deb coming soon)

While on holidays I worked on my knitted dishcloths  from Joy at the Artful Homemaking blog I started some weeks ago. I am on the decreasing side now and have used two lots of 4ply wool for this. but frankly I think my next one will be just with the 4ply as Vellvin is knitting hers in 4 ply and I think they are more pliable this way.

I also while driving to some of our day spots to enjoy new experiences I added the next row around my Granny Squares that was supposed to have been Trahaearn's baby blanket, well perhaps not now.
I discovered after finishing a whole group of them (some pictured above) that I had crocheted on the wrong colour in the sequence and so now have to undo them and crochet the right colour.

As some of the holiday reading I have been enjoying a new series that I will review soon but at the moment but am enjoying the latest in one of our favourite series
Ranger's Apprentice: The Lost Stories
We just love these stories and there is a huge family line up always to read the book. I am number 4 in the queue !

So hope you enjoy this weeks edition of Yarn Along!

Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 21st September

This week has been a very busy sewing week for me. I will be posting photos of the Debut Dress very soon.
Therefore I really did not get much reading or knitting done but when I had a few minutes I smatched little bit of reading from Rosemary Sutcliffe's The Rider of the White Horse. I am unsure I like this as much as her Roman Britain novels, but will continue for a while yet.

For knitting I have started some knitted dishcloths  from Joy at the Artful Homemaking blog.
I am using two different 4ply organic cotton together to create the 8ply required and am loving the way they are turning out. I think I will make them larger than the pattern though.

Off to finish my sewing so enjoy the other ladies 'yarning' over at Ginny's this week

 Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 14th September

This week as I join Ginny and the other Yarn Along girls. I really have only a small contribution to share.

I have been enjoying knitting these slippers from: Moonbeams and Applesauce: Rainbow Wool Elf Slipper Tutorial. 
Even though I have not made as much progress as I wanted they are super easy to knit. I love that I can pick them up and down at will as I do other things with the children, they don't require lots of thought and I am enjoying the texture of the wool.
My other poor little  gnomes are still awaiting completion in my work basket and I am sure feel quite neglected. Mossy Atlas is anxious for their company but is waiting patiently.

I have been using bamboo needles for my projects lately and LOVE the feel and texture as I knit with them. Has anyone else had this same experience with bamboo needles.

My reading this week is very sporadic. Picking up bits and pieces but I am loving the small bits and pieces from  The Rhythm of Family: Discovering a Sense of Wonder through the Seasons.

My knitting and reading are hampered by my sewing of Autumn's  Deb dress still but I am making slow but steady progress on it.

Hoping to stop by and see many of your projects this week!!


Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 7th September

I have finally completed project to share for Yarn Along this week. I am joining Ginny and others sharing what I have been creating.
Yes I have sewn up on of my gnomes that have been in my last few yarn along posts.
I am so pleased to have this done for our little dumpling.

 We have called him Mossy Atlas, Autumn came up with this very cute name.

Isn't this a very cute picture of Trahaearn with his Mossy Atlas.

Anyway the reading I have been doing this week is from the books
A Little Way of Homeschooling and Homeschooling with Gentleness: A Catholic Discovers Unschooling,that have been loaned to me by the lovely Sue .

They really have helped me in my thinking process of where we are at and how we educate our children, this has led to my reviewing and looking at the education of our children and how it suits us NOW. I have started a series on this that I will be adding to over the next few weeks The Gentle Art of Home Schooling

I have thoroughly enjoyed this project: Knitted and Felted Elf Slippers. The wool is big and chunky and it is fast to knit. I would have made more progress except I have been working on Autumn's Deb Dress.

I expect to make quite fast progress over the next week though. 
So have a great  week with your own Yarn projects.


Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 31st August

Do you see my growing collection of unfinished Gnomes?
Why are they not sewn up you ask and why do you keep knitting them and not finishing them?

Well frankly I am pattern challenged. I have difficulty reading even simple patterns like this one of Tonya's.

So I am waiting for my dear daughter Autumn to help we work out how to sew them up.
Once I have done this once I will be right but I NEED to actually do this with someone first to make sense of the written pattern.

So hopefully I will have some finished Gnomes nest week to share. I really an so keen for Trahaearn and Arwen to have these to play with as they look so sweet.

 I am so enjoying the Rosemary Sutcliff books this week I managed to read
Dawn Wind  as well as read a little of  Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children
and will add to my growing collection:
A Little Way of Homeschooling and Homeschooling with Gentleness: A Catholic Discovers Unschooling,
these have been loaned to me by the lovely Sue

I am joining again with the other ladies over at Ginny's for this week's Yarn Along  for some knitting fun.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 24th August

This week I am again  joining  Ginny and the other ladies with my book reading and knitting projects
I have been so enjoying knitting these little Gnomes that Tonya designed from her blog  Plain and Joyful Living . I have yet to make them up but have thoroughly enjoyed the knitting of them. I especially can't wait to see how the bright rainbow colours one comes out.

I have not made much progress from last week with Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children, as I have been reading this great book by Rosemary Sutcliffe: The Shield Ring. 
I really do recommend most of her books and all the ones we own are fantastic for a history of Britain during and after the Roman times.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 17th August

I was a little discouraged last week if you read my post about not being able to get much crafting time into my daily life. I am hoping with Trahaearn's medication for reflux and my avoiding the dairy I will get more time with a more happy baby and therefore a little more wiggle room in our family life and some craft time for mummy.

I did finally remember I had an easy pattern I had been savng for a long time.
Tonya from  Plain and Joyful Living has a sweet little gnome pattern for free that I have started. Since taking this picture last night I have also knitted an arm. It really easy easy knitting and I love the wool I am using. I am not sure what it is as the little children have taken the wrapper.

AS part of our book order we had earlier i the month I had recieved Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children, 
so now I am slowly working my way throught this one.Once again it jsut emphasises the need for rhythm in the home and a childhood filled with wonder and joy, which I totally agree with.

This week I   am joining  Ginny and the other ladies with a much more joyful heart for Yarn Along.
I hope to see you there.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 10th August

As I received a message from Adrienne the other day asking how I was going with the beret I am crocheting I thought it was time to  once again join in with Ginny  for the Yarn Along series.

My photo is a not really very good as I couldn't get everything to show equally.

I am reading amongst other things this Rosemary Sutcliffe book ~  Mark of the Horse Lord from our State Library, I don't think it is still in print.
I have really enjoyed this book as I have all the others I have of hers. I think we put holds on every single one of hers we don't own from the library last week. As usual when we love an author we read everything we can get and have a 'party' with the books until we are sated

Here is the Amazon review:
Phaedrus, an enslaved gladiator in northern Britain in the first century, earns his freedom by killing his best friend, a fellow gladiator, in a final fight to the death. Within days of leaving the arena he is recruited by leaders of a tribe from the far north to impersonate Prince Midir, who has been robbed of his right to kingship in a brutal attack by followers of the current ruler, Queen Liadhan. As Midir, Phaedrus is charged with reestablishing his kingship and the tribe's rule in the land. In this world of superstition and ancient ritual, of fierce loyalties and intertribal rivalry, Phaedrus finds companionship and love, and something more - a purpose and a meaning for his life as he comes to fully understand the significance of the Mark of the Horse Lord.

As for knitting I am still working on my Tasha Tudor shawl (bottom left of photo) and am wanting to start some socks (the yarn is the bottom right corner). I am looking for a quick knitting project to do, one I can finish quickly as the shawl is a long term project and I NEED something I can see the results of quickly. Does anyone have any ideas for me?

In the back left is the beret that Adrienne gave me the pattern for and I am working on this a bit at a time too.
In the back right corner are the granny squares I am crocheting for a baby rug, I think by the time it is finished Trahaearn will be bigger than I was anticipating when I started it.

I really don't know how you other knitters/crocheters with babies manage to accomplish so much each week. Frankly I am a little intimidated by the amount of things completed by many of the Yarn Along gals. I do know I have a high needs baby with reflux, and I am able to get some reading in too. But to actually get time for  any craft or 'yarny' time to complete items is beyond me at the moment. Hence my looking for a small project to work on remembering I am a novice in both these areas.
The small amount of blogging, reading and then homeschooling along with real life stuff just about takes up all the time I have. SO if you have any great ideas on how you manage to squeeze in time for knitting etc I would welcome them very much.

So enjoy your 'Yarning Along' to all the wonderful ideas that are available in this weeks Yarn Along.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 22nd June

Once again I am joining in with Ginny with Yarn Along this week.

I am crocheting a beret after dear Adrienne sent me a pattern to do this. I am making it for Vellvin in this lovely soft pink wool that I just love.

I am also attempting to sew up the knitted lamb I knitted for Trahaearn a while ago. I must admit the instructions for knitting up are a little hard for me to interpret, hence my ending up with a two legged lamb to start with and my having to un-sew it and start it again. The book I use for this is Toymaking with Children

I am continuing to read in bits and pieces the books still from last  week's Yarn Along. 
However I am starting The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosmary Sutcliffe. I have read this before many years ago and we as a whole family love the  series of these books BUT as we are eagerly awaiting the release of The Eagle on DVD  and I am just giving myself a reminder of the plot.

So once again I hope you enjoy seeing what we are creating in our home and visit the other interesting Yarn Along entries.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 15th June

Today I wanted to join in with Ginny again for a Yarn Along.

I am finally making some progress on my granny squares for my crochet blanket but only after having learnt how to crochet while holding our precious Trahaearn in my arms. This has been a learning curve for me and I have crocheted about eight center pieces (hard to see in the photo- they are in the middle) as I find these the hardest to do and now will just work on theme one at a time.
I have yet to try knitting with the baby and so will try that soon.

The books, yes books as I tend to like to read more than one at a time I am reading are
You Are your Child's First Teacher
Simplicity Parenting and
Parenting with Grace

Frankly I think these are probably the best books on Parenting I have read in all our years and collections of parenting books. They cover such  a wide variety of subjects but with a very gentle and loving approach that I admire.

I hope you are able to pop over to Ginny's blog Small Things and have a look at all the great books and projects happening.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along :13th April

I am joining in Ginny's Yarn Along this week again, now that I actually have something to contribute.

I really am happy with both my crochet and knitting project at the moment.
I am continuing on with knitting my Tasha Tudor shawl and am crocheting granny squares  (little video instructions) for a baby blanket.

I am soooo loving this new skill I have and am also loving sharing the time with our girls together doing handcraft.

I am currently reading a few books but this book -  Eldest is the one I look for when I am putting babies and small children to sleep and don't want to fall asleep myself.

I am hoping to stop by and visit other creative knitters and crochet ladies for inspiration this week too.

Blessings to you and your homes,

Yarn Along: 2nd February

Well I have finished sweet Arwen's cross stitich and am now hoping to be able to participate more in Ginny's Yarn Along.
I have trying to find a project that is good for  my beginner skills and with Valentines Day coming up I am busily trying to create heart projects.

So I have started and nearly completed my first knitted heart. I used this pattern from on line, but I had a very  frustrating day yesterday with Autumn and resorted to my lovley FB friends for help. I am going to make a mix, well that is the plan to knit some and crochet some using this pattern and dear Eden's talents this time to create a heart garland to hang.

The books I have been reading this week are:
The Hollow Kingdom: Book I -- The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy  because Vellvin has asked me to read this and I am reading for spiritual growth, a bit at at time,  Having A Mary Heart in a Martha World.

So I hope to see what all you other talented ladies are creating this week as well.


Blessings to you and your homes,