daily yarns 'n more

a wow moment

Thought you all would enjoy this video, watching it I had a "wow" moment.

maybe this post will help you cool off a bit...

Well it's hot and everyone knows it's hot...So, I'm playing along with Di over at The Blue Ridge Gal, trying to cool off some.  Now, I know that some of you are not wanting winter to come and I have to say I'm not either...But, I need some relief from the heat.  Maybe not to the extreme of the photo below.

Jim and I...well mostly Jim did...shoveled off our pond.  It's nice to sit and listen to the sounds of the woods no matter if it's summer or winter.

Snow shoeing is something that Jim and I enjoy doing in the winter.  I am looking forward to doing it again.

Now, didn't this give you a bit of relief from the heat or did it just make you dread the thought that winter is just around the corner?

and the answer is....

EGG

and the winner is....Ramona

and...I just couldn't give just one away so I picked a consolation winner...Beth

and...I couldn't stop at just two so I picked another winner...TexWisGirl

Congratulations ladies...I need you to email me your snail mail to...

dailyyarns(at)gmail(dot)com

I'll get your syrup out in the mail on Monday.

I'll have you know that I didn't get it right away. 

Thanks for playing along!

here's a riddle for you

Can you guess this riddle?  If you can, there is a bottle of our homemade syrup as the prize for the one who guesses it correctly...and...If there are more than one right answer, I will put them in a hat and pick one.

This will end on Saturday morning June 25th so hurry up with your guess if you want a bottle of homemade maple syrup...and yes, I will ship internationally :)))

This was written on the chalkboard in the school house at the Ingalls Homestead.

 

eta: I'm going to keep the answers private for this...So if your comment does not show up it's because I have it on approval mode.

farm friend friday

I'm joining Amy over at Verde Farm who is hosting Farm Friend Friday.

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We are getting ready for maple sugaring here at Gentle Hearth Farm.  We have never done it before so there is a lot of preparation going on right now for us. 

Yesterday we headed north, through small towns.

Down country roads that led us to....

Roth Sugar Bush, Maple Syrup and Equipment Sales.

Where we looked for some used maple sugaring equipment.

Getting used buckets can save tons of money, you just have to be picky on the shape they're in.

There were stacks and stacks of used buckets in their back warehouse, and man was it cold in there.  It was the same temp inside as it was outside.

We had to get some lids for the buckets as well.  You need those to keep debris out of the sap.

So much to do yet still.  Hopefully we'll be ready by the time the sap is running.  I can't wait to show you all that process.

random chit~chat

Good morning everyone.  Today is Saturday, what's on the agenda for you today?  I plan to start making some curtains for my bedroom.  The ones I have now just have to go.  I can't wait to start cutting and sewing.

 

Renee over at Sewn With Grace honored me with the Sunshine Award.  Thank you Renee!

Now, I know I'm supposed to pass this on but I can never pick, so to all the blogs I read this is for you.  Plus I'm going to do something different. I give this Sunshine Award to all who read my blog.  Whether you comment or not you all bring sunshine to my life.  Thank You!

Renee also asked a question on the post Menu Plan Monday, which was this:

Hi Judy! Ok, I'm curious what you will do with the pork neck bones...

This is what I did. 

I took the frozen neck bones and thawed them out.

 

I browned them in a cast iron dutch oven.

 

Don't you just love green onions?  I do, and was too pumped when this recipe called for them.

After adding the onions and seasonings, you simmer it.

 

So, I simmered it and simmered it.

I know you're not supposed to take the meat off the bone but I did to stretch it out.  I also thickened the juices and added rice to it.  I have to say I wasn't overly fond of this dish.  Maybe next time I won't add the rice but just have it as a side dish or maybe serve the neck bones over the rice.  Or better yet I'll just find another way to prepare neck bones.

 

Jim's been having a hard time getting used to his new grain mill.  His other two mills ground the flour so differently.  They almost heated the flour up so the rising process was very short.  This mill grinds the wheat in a much different way.  So right now it's trial and error with each batch. 

This last batch the breads split on top,

and also developed a funny looking top.  But I have to say, despite how the tops looked this had to have been the best bread so far.

It's Valentines Day tomorrow.

Happy Valentines Day!

I titled this post "random chit~chat" because that's what this ended up being.  Just random stuff all put down.

You all have a wonderful weekend.

menu plan monday

I haven't done this in a while.

I'm cleaning out the freezer of all the leftover meat that just doesn't seem to be the first ones used.  Especially the neck bones.  I had to search online for a recipe.

• Monday-Pork Neck-bones
  
• Tuesday- Chili w/ French Bread
• Wednesday- Coconut Chicken Tenders w/ Salsa, Green Bean Casserole
• Thursday-Barbecue Round Steak over rice.
• Friday-Ribs, Baked Potatoes and Orange Sherbet Jello.
• Saturday-Herbed Shepherd's Pie.
• Sunday-OFF-We're going to see our son and dil.
  

Head on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie to see more menu plans.

my vintage tree top

I just love the star that sits on top of our tree.  My parents have over the years have bought and sold vintage items.  I also have a love for anything vintage.  They gave this to me a few years ago and Lauren wanted to put it on the tree this year...hmmmm....Maybe she has a secret liking to vintage things?

I've only just found this blog this morning and she's doing a Christmas Vintage Monday.  Check out the links on her blog to see some really cute Christmas vintage items.

 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend?

come on and help out Suzanne from Chickens in the Road she needs your VOTE

Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

I love this blog...It's one I go to everyday.  Suzanne McMinn from Chickens in the Road.  This blog is one of the few blogs that really got me to think that I could have chickens.  So, I'm posting about this little contest she's in.  I'm leaving the badge on my sidebar where you can vote from now until December 7th.  You can vote everyday.  So why don't you help Suzanne out and vote.

I started reading her blog awhile back and have been hooked ever since.  She has really good recipes like this one here that Jim and I made awhile back.

So come on and help her out.

a fun knitting meme to try

I found a really fun knitting meme over at Thimbleanna's.  Let me know if you do it so I can come and check it out.

Bold for things you have done, italics for those you want to do, and normal for ones you don’t plan on doing. I put those in light blue.  

• Afghan
• I-cord
• Garter stitch
• Knitting with metal wire
• Shawl
• Stockinette stitch
• Socks: top-down
• Socks: toe-up
• Knitting with camel yarn
• Mittens:Cuff-up
• Mittens: Tip-down
• Hat
• Knitting with silk
• Moebius band knitting
• Participating in a KAL
• Sweater
• Drop stitch patterns
• Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
• Slip stitch patterns
• Knitting with banana fiber yarn
• Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
• Twisted stitch patterns
• Knitting with bamboo yarn
• Two end knitting
• Charity knitting
• Knitting with soy yarn
• Cardigan
• Toy/doll clothing
• Knitting with circular needles
• Baby items
• Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
• Slippers
• Graffiti knitting: knitting items on, or to be left on the street
• Continental knitting
• Designing knitted garments
  
• Cable Stitch pattens
• Lace patterns
• Publishing a knitting book
• Scarf
  
• Teaching a child to knit
  
• Knitting to make money
• Button holes
• Knitting with alpaca
• Fair Isle knitting
• Norwegian knitting
• Household items: dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…
• knitting socks- or other small tubular items- on two circulars
• Dying with plant colors
• Knitting items for a wedding
• Olympic knitting
• Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
• Knitting with dpns
• Holiday related knitting
• Teaching a male how to knit
• Bobbles
• Knitting for a living
• Knitting with cotton
• Knitting smocking
• Dying yarn
• Steeks
• Knitting art
• Fulling/Felting
• Knitting with wool
• Textured Knitting
• Kitchener BO
• Purses/Bags
• Knitting with Beads
• Swatching-(I know I should be doing this)
• Long Tail CO
• Entrelac Knitting and purling backwards
• Machine knitting
• Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
• Stuffed toys
• Knitting with cashmere
• Darning
• Jewelry
• Knitting with synthetic yarn
• Writing a pattern Gloves
• Intarsia
• Knitting with linen
• Knitting for preemies
• Tubular CO
• Free-form knitting
• Short rows
• Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
• Pillows
• Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
• Rug Knitting on a loom
• Thrummed knitting
• Knitting a gift
• Knitting for pets
• Shrug/bolero/poncho
• Knitting with dog/cat hair
• Hair accessories
• Knitting in public

Knit on!!!