traditional homemaking: a homemade winter! - Page 4

[velochic]

I thought I'd drop in and say "hey" on this thread. I have participated in some of the older ones, but not the more recent one. I'm enjoying reading everyone's current activities. Will post more later.

[IntuitiveJamie]

I couldn't remember where I got the grazing idea from. I knew it was a thread on Mothering. Must've been from here. So thanks, because I'm employing it this year and really looking forward to it. Today I'm premaking for Xmas day/weekend:
Cinnamon rolls
Egg casserole
ham/cheese pinwheels
turkey roll ups
lightly flavored ranch chex mix
Popcorn mix with cranberries and walnuts and drizzled with maple syrup
Baked brie with crackers
cocktail wienies in bbq sauce (dh requested this, not normally something we have)
Chips and a cheese dip I make
I'm going to throw a pork roast in the crockpot and make shredded pork to be eaten on buns as wanted.

Obviously I'm not preparing it all today, but most is getting some preperation. The rest can be dumped in pans with sauce or the crockpot over the next couple of days. I'm not coooking and that's final!

Great idea on the grazing and I have a feeling I will employ this every year now. It's a lot of prep the day before, but will be well worth it come Christmas day and the next couple of days following.

Merry Christmas Y'all!

[artparent]

welcome new + old folks! lovely to see so many people here x

merry christmas, to those who celebrate! and a happy holiday to all

we celebrate a mash, like our family, of european + canadian + english, so we have santa in the evening *and* a little in the morning must go prepare some more!!

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[HeatherAtHome]

Originally Posted by HeatherAtHome

So, I'm thinking of making:

• fudge
• brownies
• sugar cookies
• snickerdoodles (like sugar cookies but rolled in sugar and cinnamon)
• jiffy cookies (cooked on stove, cocoa/oatmeal/raisins/coconut etc)
• peanut butter cookies
• some kind of quickbread

So I made them all except snickerdoodles and quick bread. 1- I ran out of eggs, 2-I ran out of energy 3-I realized I had a big enough pile of treats

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Hope everyone has a lovely evening and terrific day tomorrow.

[MamaFern]

a warm & cozy home-made Christmas to you all!

im actually home alone for a few short minutes! my little's have gone off with papa for a Christmas eve celebration to their aunties house with grama who is visting from out of town and im tidying up after a lunch party and cookie making and just the general days wear & tear. its amazing to be alone... even if just for a few minutes. once i get stuff fixed up here in off to the party, then we get home, read a few stories, put out the stocking and cookies that we have been making and off to bed. some years i dread Christmas but i sure feel in the spirit this year.

[AngeliqueW]

Merry Christmas Mamas!
Carolling at church last night was lots of fun. Having a nice quiet day today. Played in the snow. Now DS is napping on my lap. Bliss!

[IntuitiveJamie]

Well I'm ready to take down the decorations. I'm onto the next thing already. Sons birthday and party are in a week and it's not Christmas themed. We have a lot to do this week. Dh is building a new piece of furniture for Ds's room. I need to do some painting in there and decorating..finally. Then I have decorations to make for his party. Really its going to be another busy week. Then I can relax..a little, for a short time.
This weekend will be nice though. Kids playing with toys, hopefully some walks for fresh air. We have a ton of food, so I don't have to cook.
Hope you enjoy your weekend.

[jenfl]

Hi, I think I'll join in, for a while at least....

I'm a SAHM who cooks, sews a bit, knits even less, aims to garden, and generally tries to make our house a cozy and warm place to live and grow up in.

I've got about 3 months until kid #2 is born, so I'm hoping to spend this time between Christmas and his birth getting our home into the shape I'd like it to be in for the year or two until I can come out of baby-land again.

Looking to get lots of motivation and inspiration from all the other moms on here!

[1jooj]

welcome, jenfl!

I'm getting ready for dd's friend party. She is having 3 friends over (and their moms are invited too). They will be painting nails, and I assume playing horses, maybe watching a movie and doing fusible beads. Cupcakes for this one. White cupcakes with chocolate frosting, I think.

I am making a turkey soup, too...and I am looking for inspiration about what to put in for a starch. I can't decide between rice, noodles and dumplings. Wish I were a little more excited about all of this. sigh.

[jillyofthevalley]

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Ours was pretty low key. We did zero entertaining this year and it was wonderful. Very stress free. LOL After the kids opened their gifts from Santa Christmas morning we headed out to my parents house for dinner. My mom sent me home with half a ham which we ate for dinner tonight with cheesy potatoes (kind of like au gratin, so yummy!) There's enough ham and potatoes for tomorrow's dinner as well and quite possibly Monday's lunch and a nice ham bone for soup.

I'm now enjoying a quiet and calm evening. The little ones are in bed, the kitchen is clean, house is orderly and dinner is already cooked for tomorrow.

[sunnylady303]

Originally Posted by 1jooj

I am making a turkey soup, too...and I am looking for inspiration about what to put in for a starch. I can't decide between rice, noodles and dumplings.

My vote is always noodles. I love noodles!!

Whew. It's been a whirlwind week and I have been reading posts but have not had time to post myself. I hope everyone had a great holiday.

Ours was really nice. I think it was exactly how DH and I wanted it to be. Slow and mindful. I wish I had done more food prep work so we had good things to eat, but... Next year. The ideas on this thread were great.

In other news - I am still loving knitting. I am almost done with my fourth scarf and ready to branch out to hats. What I really, really want to make is this. Seriously, I am obsessed. But I don't know if I'm ready for it yet.

Also I got a sewing machine for Christmas. I so want to learn to sew and make cute little skirts for my girls and quilts and so many things. But I've never sewed a stitch or even seen a sewing machine up close. I think I'm scared of my sewing machine. vI might try to get it out of the box today. I am really intimidated. It's like when I first started making bread. I wanted to do it so much but it seemed so huge and foreign and I was scared to start. But now it's second nature. It's so silly to be scared of this - but I want it so much. I know, I'm weird.

I think we are slowly finding a rhythm. At least for now, for this time of year. I'm learning that keeping the house, making a home really is an art and I have so much to learn. We are leaving a week from today though, to travel 800 miles (to FL - yay for warmth!) to visit family. I imagine that will wreck our routine. There's a lot to do this week.

But for now, there is a quiet moment. DH left for church with the girls. I need to go get ready myself and then the rest of today will be tidying, bread baking, and chicken roasting. Our home grown potato supply is dwindling and softening and sprouting. I am so sad to see them go so we will be gobbling potatoes tonight too. The girls want to work with DH cleaning the barn and with this lovely little montessori wood working kit they got for Christmas. It should be a good day. If I can just work up the courage to open that sewing machine box...!

[jillyofthevalley]

Originally Posted by 1jooj

I am making a turkey soup, too...and I am looking for inspiration about what to put in for a starch. I can't decide between rice, noodles and dumplings. Wish I were a little more excited about all of this. sigh.

When I made our turkey soup after Thanksgiving we were out of noodles so I used brown rice. It was delicious! I don't think I'll ever use noodles again it was so good.

[jenfl]

Originally Posted by sunnylady303

Also I got a sewing machine for Christmas. I so want to learn to sew and make cute little skirts for my girls and quilts and so many things. But I've never sewed a stitch or even seen a sewing machine up close. I think I'm scared of my sewing machine. vI might try to get it out of the box today. I am really intimidated. It's like when I first started making bread. I wanted to do it so much but it seemed so huge and foreign and I was scared to start. But now it's second nature. It's so silly to be scared of this - but I want it so much. I know, I'm weird.

I was so scared of mine at first, too! I used one back in middle school, but that was it. It sat and sat and sat for so long... I finally got up the courage to make some little stuffed things for DD. It was cheap, didn't have to be precise, and I didn't have to worry about a pattern (which I'm terrible at following!). I just sketched a cute outline (I think it was a bunny), put two pieces of fabric together, sewed on the lines, stuffed it, and -- boom! my first sewing project!

I've done more toys, a couple quilts, and some clothes for DD. I'm terrible at following patterns, which limits my abilities quite a bit. But if I can get an idea in my head and work out the ins and outs, I can usually make whatever it is. I've also found that internet tutorials are MUCH easier to follow than patterns.

[1jooj]

A few years ago, my mom gave me an old machine...and took it back after I didn't touch it for a few months. So, yeah, I understand that fear. Maybe someday I will conquer it.

I ended up putting ww alphabet noodles in the soup. It is delicious. Also made another batch of liver pate. I love that I have friends who like liver.

Dd's party was nice, just girls playing, no real games or anything. They ate a little lunch, played, then sang and had cupcakes, opened gifts, played some more, ate a little more and everyone went home. (Parents visited too, as these were all family friends.) My dear friend made her a LOVELY stuffed dolly and a homemade apron in a gorgeous cow jumped over the moon pattern. I am jealous.

I am still working on my cowl and it is slow going. My arthritis seemed to flare hard yesterday, and both hands locked up on me in bed last night. I would like to get some really chunky yarns and big needles for some projects that will move faster and be lovely. I'd love to make nice things for people.

I picked up a freelance gig for the coming month, not a lot of hours, but it should be a nice shot to the savings account, which we can use. I'm just hoping to be able to do the work without dropping the ball in the house.

[artparent]

hello more new folks! we're going to have start local chapters soon

we have had a gentle christmas. we worked on our winter animations for each child, they are so great, and i finished my last knitting projects + sewing in time. my sweetheart loves his socks and wants more, so i must get to work! unfortunately my mother's pair wasn't sized properly, so i shall make her a new pair soon. i've been working on my cowl, i LOVE it so far...for those on ravelry, it is the 'luxurious cowl/hood'. very boring to knit, really. i love the yarn so much i may have to make myself another pair of mittens or gloves with it. i picked up some lovely variegated pale pink yarn to make my first cardigan, i need a pattern! something interesting...for my tall girl. it has been too cold for cotton tights with the girls dresses + boots, so i may make them wooly leg warmers next. and my little one cannot bear the seams in socks, i need to hurry up and make her at least one pair that she's willing to wear!

we went out and got snow gear today, we are heading up the mountain with family + friends in the morning . it has been exquisitely frosty + foggy, wintry without the snow.

and there is a new yoga studio opened up by my canadian home, i am so excited! i'd like to get back into my daily practice, with the new year. i'm pleased that christmas is over, and i can begin to think about our new plans for preserving, gardening, sewing, knitting, quilting, pottery. i've been thinking about doing yoga with my children, since we are such homebodies.

what are your plans + goals for traditional homemaking this new year?

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[1jooj]

artparent, do you mean the free pattern from Lion yarn? I'm basing my cowl on that, but...I am varying the pattern so the knits and purls are random widths. I'm also making it extra long with the intention of wearing as a hood often. Dd wants it already.

And I am so pleased that her favorite bday present is the homemade gift!

And my dh insisted that, for our anniversary, I get a Y membership. I am thrilled with this, as my workouts suffer terribly in the winter. I run for exercise and stress management, and running on the treadmill in my own house is just not working, especially for the stress management part. I need to get out and I need to vary my exercise, so this will be very helpful for me. I can't wait!

[artparent]

that's so funny ijooj, it really is the best pattern i saw there too. if what you really want is a hood. i can see my girls wanting them too...a thousand projects!!

the y sounds like it will be great for you! i'm finding yoga fits my temperament as long as it is fairly challenging. i know what you mean about getting out of the house! i'd like to get back into a swimming habit this coming year, i used to love swimming every week and if i can get my kids into regular lessons, that i don't need to participate in, oh, that would be dreamy. it has been nearly 10 years since i went swimming *alone*.

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[IntuitiveJamie]

I love the free patterns at Lion brand. I get their weekly newsletter in email and I always find a lot of stuff I like to make, and several things I have made. I havent paid for a crochet pattern yet.

I also need to get into my yoga practice again. I have gained almost all my weight back over the holidays, but I know that with some purposeful eating and cutting out the soda again I can drop it. And the yoga helps immensly of course. I think that's great you are getting a Y membership. I wish I could motivate to join a gym. I seriously lack the time though.

Now that Christmas is over (and I'm glad), it's time to get back to business. It's my sons 4th birthday on Friday and we are having a party on Sat. I have to make a firetruck cake and I'm trying to get my gameplan together. I just started decorating fun cakes this past year. I've done pretty well. They are certainly not professional quality, but I have been pleased. I made a great train cake for my other son back in Sept. It takes a lot of planning though before I can put it all together. It is not something I have the skill to just whip up, that's for sure.
Also, I had an idea I wanted to share. I haven't had any feedback on it so please feel free to share what you think of this. For my sons rescue vehicle party (firetrucks and police cars) I'm going to make some quality decorations. I want this to be as green of a party as possible. So I'm making stop signs, stop lights, firetrucks and police cars out of posterboard. Then I have a red felt tablecloth I'm going to sew similar things around the edges in more felt. I also have a burning building I made out of foam board and felt. Lastly, the only thing I bought was a stand up photo prop. It's got the hole that kids can put their head in and it looks like they are driving a firetruck. I will take pictures of each kid that comes and send in the Thank you card. After the party I will either save it all for my next son, or try to sell all of it as a set. Maybe try here or maybe craigslist. That way it can be used again, it will all be quality and not just paper streamers and stuff that gets thrown away. We are also using only real dishes and silverware for lunch and cake.
Anyhow, I'm interested to see what people think about making good quality decorations and then selling it as a set to be reused by someone elses family? Thanks for your thoughts.

[1jooj]

Sounds like a fun idea...what about making things that might also serve as longterm bedroom decor? If they can be dual-purpose, you may have better luck reselling.

[_ktg_]

IntuitiveJamie - That sounds like a neat idea! I could easily see this in a child's room as decoration or play room for make believe.

Happy belated holidays everyone! Good graciousness I have several posts to catch up on. The boys & my family had a wonderful holiday, full of thoughtful gifts and not a lot of clutter (hopefully!) for our house. I even ventured out of my shell and made... homemade sticky buns. THey didn't turn out how I would have liked as I didn't let the caramel on the bottom harden before putting in the buns, so the bottom was sticky gooey mush. But overall - it was a nice first attempt!

I think I'll start with goals for 2010 in terms of TH:
Winter/Spring - continue to embrace baking, maybe even grow to love it one day. Begin candlemaking as DH & I both want more candles around the house.

Spring/Summer- Canning & put in 1st ever garden

Summer - Canning, Canning & Canning (with my new pressure cooker & time coupons from my Mom to teach me how to do it properly)

Fall/Winter - Sewing & knitting, the last frontier for me! I have a machine, I just need to learn how to use it. Oh and get a bobbin case for it too.

Also to get back into the groove of my yoga & joy of reading, so learning balance in my life overall. DH has decided he wants to committ to yoga too, so every night we're going to switch between pilates or yoga since we can't afford any studio time/sitter for the kiddos.