Tuesday.....December 9, 2014....

Just a bunch of pics from the day here at the farmstead

Craving these the last few days.....

Some knitting and sewing...

And holiday decorating.

Be well,

Lisa

Monday.....December 8, 2014....

Let the evening begin!!  Cleaned some of the cottage this morning as well as worked in the to be garden area.  Barn chores were done early as well.  I had plans for an early dinner date with a friend at a local Indian restaurant so an early start was definately best.  I did however have time before to finish a project I started a few days ago.  I have been pinning blanket scarves like crazy and decided to make one of my own.  Well....im hooked!!  Now two more are in the making.  Dinner and a few things picked up from the store and we are tucked in ready for a little snow that is coming our way this evening.
Be well,
Lisa

The Simple Womans Daybook....

http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com

                                                                     For Today:
                                                             December 8, 2014

Outside my window.......Woke to a very heavy frost on the ground.  Now heavy grey skies and a crisp air.  Snow is to be coming overnight!

I am thinking.....How the balance between joyful events outside of the home balances so well with those days snuggled up by the fire this time of year.

I am thankful for......To have been giving life to celebrate another year.  I LOVE birthdays!!!  Getting older is such a huge blessing and I dont want to take one day of it for granted ever.

I am wearing.....Jeans, grey tee, blue jacket, a new aztec print blanket scarf and black boots, and a wristful of bangles

I am creating......Finished the azetc blanket scarf and starting on a grogeous red plaid, finished the sleeve to the navy cardy, finishing touches on the dress, and just starting on the birthday banner.

I am going.....To be preparing for the holidays like crazy this week.  We never rush into Christmas always wait until it gets closer to decorate and wrap.

I am wondering....Just what book we may read aloud next.  This is something new to us but we love that little bit of time together sipping on a drink be it hot or cold and immersing ourselves in a book together.

I am reading.....The harbinger.

I am hoping.....To have many more years of blessings as this last one has been.

I am learning......Where to start......

Around the house.....Laundry, cleaning, barn chores, finishing the living room floor, and decorating and wrapping for Christmas.

In the kitchen......So many yummys.  Starting with a smoothie a day as I have been craving them. Finding more uses for that amazing Hickory Syrup.

I am pondering......Rabbits on the farmstead.  With knowing someone who will butcher they may be a possibility.  And adding hickory trees to make our own Hickory Syrup!

A favorite quote for the day......"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees"  ~Henry David Thoreau

One of my favorite things.....The crazy little things Firefly comes up with.  Just like her momma and aunt...she can spit out movie lines like no one I have known.  Yesterday....As I was saying something about her new baby on the way....she looks at me and says "Zip it Happy Meal"...a line from a movie of course!

A few plans for the rest of the week......Dinner date this evening at a local real Indian Restaurant with a friend, Coffee date tomorrow weather depending with my birthday sister (we share a birthday and have been friends for quite awhile)  errands for some baking and decorating needs, Dinner and shopping Friday with Firefly and PaPa, Bluegrass christmas music and some Dickens of a Christmas event in our little town, and a holiday dinner party for Larrys work.  When I look at this it seems overwhelming but really it is all so enjoyable and as I said balances out so well for us.

A peek into one of my days from the past week.....Ok so not really this past week lol.  But this past summer...as I am ready to soak up and enjoy every bit of what old man winter has to offer, yesterdays bright sunshine made me long for the trail.  And we are so very blessed to have the most amazing rails and trails only a few miles from our home.

December 7, 2014....

Its been a busy couple of days here at home.  Lots of knitting and sewing being worked on.  Larry worked a little more on the living room floor.  Hoping to finish it next Saturday before we put up the tree.  Today the Sun was out and it was AMAZING....made you feel alive again after DAYS of rain and clouds.  We worked in the garden area some more before getting cleaned up to go to town.  I woke with a terrible sinus headache...not really sure I can say I slept actually.  Took something around two am then my brother showed up bright and early to work on the plumbing some more.  He gave me something to take...all on an empty stomach as I had made some delicious broiled pears with hickory syrup, honey and sucanant.  But the pain was so bad I couldn't eat them.  Needless to say while we were driving to my sisters house the empty tummy and meds were NOT agreeing with me at all!!  A hot shower at her house definately helped.  Then dinner at Red Robin.  Larry gave me a new Alex and Ani bracelet for my birthday.  The peacock feather!!!  Stopped to see the inlaws where the oldest daughter and her family were as well.  Then met the youngest and her husband at the Charlie Brown Christmas event.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Cold and crisp outside but so warm and bright inside.  The girls and their families also gave me a gift card for the jewelry store for another bracelet!  A stop for hot chocolate for all and headed home.  The fire has been stoked and we are settling in for an evening of movies on the sofa.
Be well,
Lisa

Thursday....December 4, 2014...

Things have been a little wonky here the last couple of days.  Just so much to do and little time with the holidays to do it all.  The floor still needs finished, the grout still needs done, trim around the tile in the living room, ceiling in the living room and the wooden beams in the living room.  Im not complaining.  Just sitting here wondering how were to get it all done and then add to that ALL of the outdoor barns and fencing and garden before spring!  It will come together of that im sure.  Laundry had been a little of an issue the last couple of weeks as it has been way too cold to be outside doing it.  So the drying rack came to the living room to dry the laundry by the woodstove and this little baby finally made its way out of the box.

Dont know what took me so long to pull her out but WOW im glad I did.  Knitting has taken first place from morning to evening here at home.  I managed to finish a purple scarf with a grey trim.  Oh and the ONE sleeve on the cardigan has been finished as well.  Need to get more wool to finish the other and the button holes.  Hoping to cut down one of the very tall pine trees from the garden area next week and top for our holiday Christmas tree this year.  It certainly will NOT look like a lot chosen tree but it will be special for sure!  Hoping to get the dress I have been wanting to make finished today...all but the button holes anyways.  Then of course I had to buy some material at Joann fabrics with the amazing coupons to make a new blanket scarf!!  Ugh when will I learn not to tread into that store when I already have so many projects!  Came home from errands yesterday to find the new Sundance catalog in the mail.  Made myself a hot drink and plopped right down on the sofa and enjoyed it from cover to cover.  Well better get to those projects...wait....barn chores...yes must do the barn chores FIRST.
Be well.
Lisa

The Daybook....

http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

                                                                 For Today

                                                          December 2, 2014

Outside my window.......Grey heavy skies.  Calling for some freezing rain.

I am thinking......About a Christmas Surprise!

I am thankful for......My husbands job and the flexability it offers.  And the five full days we had together over the Holiday.

I am wearing.....Dark skinny jeans, Navy and white striped tunic sweater that has large buttons down the back, brown cowl and boots.  Up early and ready for the day.

I am creating.....Oh if only I could just stick to one and finish!  The dress WILL be done this week, almost finished the first sleeve on the navy cardy, just cast on another knitting project...a shrug in a plum color (pic below of pattern), and another just cast on as well...a dark purple cowl that will go rather quickly.

I am going.....To be working very hard to finish at least one of the creations from above by the end of the week! Stay tuned next week to see...

I am wondering.....The heart and what Yaweh is placing on it.

I am reading......The harbinger.  We read a chapter aloud every evening.  I have read this onced myself and Larry was very curious to it but does not like to "read" but listen.

I am hoping.....Praying really.  That our children are greatly blessed with the desire of their hearts.  It is a burden I carry but am laying at "his" feet daily.

I am learning.....That my form of art may very well be in my own private kitchen.  The colors, smells, textures...the way they all work together!

Around the house.....Bread to be baked, a few new recipes to be tried, floors to clean, laundry to wash, barn chores to tend to.

In the kitchen.....Still using the many organic veg from last months co-op order.  Stir fries, casseroles to fill the bellies on cold nights, chickens to be roasted for sunday dinners, Grains to be ground for bread,

I am pondering.....The idea of rabbits for the freezer to add to the many other meats we harvest.

A favorite quote for the day.....

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One of my favorite things......Hardwood floors.....oh how easy they are to clean with winter melting snow and mud!

A few plans for this week.....Errands, fabric shopping for the perfect blanket scarf, a coffee date with a dear friend, lunch date with husband, yoga classes onced again, and a special holiday/birthday outing with the family.

A peek into one of my days this past week....

The anual Thanksgiving wish bone!

Monday....December 1, 2014....

The gift of a good day.  Thats what today felt like.  Woke to sun but it quickly turned to grey skies.  Left the fire go out as it warmed up nicely and had the windows open most of the day.  Took three very good walks through the property one with each pup.  Knitted a bunch!  Enjoyed some River Cottage.  Washed three loads of laundry that are hanging nicely by the fire that Larry has rekindled for the evening.  Dinner and dishes are done and the wood is in for the evening.  Barn chores are finished and we are ready to settle in with some reading and a Holiday Movie.  Im finding one of my favorite parts of the day are the dinner preps.  Thinking its my "art".  The love of good food!  We are blessed with a freezer full of meats from the land here and add that to fresh fruits and veg and its all good!
Be well,
Lisa