Merry & Mod at home

Thanksgiving gratitude

 

My favorite holiday - feasting and giving thanks with those I love.  There is always a reason to be grateful and here are just a few:  happy, healthy children, loving parents, a devoted and supportive husband, homemade marshmallows, gravy.
 

On preserving

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[I drafted this post several months ago; it became lost for a while.  But the photos are so lovely, and I am still enjoying the bounty of this valley harvest - it seems a shame not to share, even if it's rather tardy.]

The boys and I  took a quick trip over the mountains to visit my mom and forage for blackberries.  We had a mission and we did not disappoint.  I returned to Bend with two very tired boys and a trunk full of produce.  To wit: a lug of peaches, eight pints of blueberries, ten cups of blackberries, a gallon-sized zip lock bag full of cracked filberts (non- native Oregonians call them hazelnuts), two acorn squash, twenty-eight pounds of tomatoes and at least thirty-five pounds of pears. 

Lofty intentions are a thing of mine - I had visions of sauces, chutneys, jams, and preserved fruit.  I very nearly started a fruit fly farm in my kitchen instead.  During this economic downturn, there has been a lot of talk about preserving and canning (certainly I've done my fair share of squawking here and here) as a means to stretch your dollar.  If you do a lot of canning and are able to get good prices on your produce, or better yet, grow your own, I believe you can save money.  But you are going to spend a decent amount getting all the necessary supplies first. 

Then, you begin the task.  For me, the process of peeling, packing, covering the fruit with a light syrup, then processing them in the canner was overwhelming.  And that was just the peaches.  It was far too much pressure to be under and I had to have a good cry before I could find some perspective.  First, save the canning until the small children are sleeping.  What one needs is focus and peace during this time.  Second, peeling and stuffing tomatoes into quart jars is immensely satisfying.  They went directly into our new freezer.  As did the blueberries and blackberries.  The acorn squash was roasted and eaten for dinner.  Finally, every peach you eat is a peach you don't have to can - and nothing is more perfect than a peach eaten out of hand. 

The pears remain an issue.  After a huge batch of pear butter, three pear crisps (one cooked immediately, two frozen), a pear and chocolate upside down cake for friends with a new baby, and a too-plain custard pie, we still have a few left in the fridge.  To be eaten out of hand, with the juice dripping down your arm.  Which is really no issue at all.   

 

 

 

 

winter hats, part I

You wouldn't know it to look at this picture, but getting my oldest into warm layers is a challenge.  The weather has steadily been getting colder and I've realized anew that just because I would prefer to sit on the couch reading and sipping tea, my children, just like puppies, need fresh air and exercise or they'll start climbing the walls.  Walking around the block, expeditions to the mailbox, digging in the dirt, biking to the park.  All these activities must continue despite the chilling temperatures. 

Last fall, I resolved to crochet cozy hats for my boys as a means to warm up to winter.  It helped. 

This year, I bought considerably cheaper yarn, knowing it may never be worn for more than ten minutes, may very well be lost, and that my children are unlikely to appreciate the care and time spent creating the garment.  Just as much (excessive) thought went into the pattern choice*.  I love the ear flaps and the extended back neck.  I figure if layers are going to be an issue, the ones he wears are going to count. 

And the colors?  They make me happy.  Standing in the yarn aisle of the big box craft store, I played with various combinations until I found something I liked.  The green and the orange in particular seemed a good contrast for the warmer brown and the jewel toned blue and purple. 

*  I found the pattern on Ravelry, of course.  It's free from Lion Brand Yarn:  Ear flap Hat 70318AD. 
 
 

future endeavors

 

When I first saw the Babette blanket crochet pattern, I immediately wanted to make it.  All those lovely colors and various sized granny squares so wonderfully, randomly patched together are an ingenious play on the traditional designs displayed on so many grandmothers' sofas.  Sitting in front of the fire one afternoon, daydreaming, I discovered the color palette for my very own Babette right under my feet.  I'll get to it.  From where I sit right now, on the brink of some serious holiday cooking, baking and making, it looks like a good New Year's project.  Though I don't think I can justify investing in new yarn until I finish my giant granny square, patiently waiting for me tucked in a canvas bag in my closet.