Alpaca Throw Blanket ~ Take II

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Deborah

3 years after I started spinning alpaca fibre for my very first alpaca blanket (Fert & Palladin Throw Blanket) that was finally woven in 2016, I am back for more punishment (?) to spin and weave a new one.

Why you ask when I already have this gorgeous one? Well, because after its first season at the cottage, I needed to wash it to put it away for the impending close of the cottage and it partially felted in my dumb washing machine. Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike my washing machine? Its mainly because I didn’t get … Read more...

Late Summer Woodland Sights

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Deborah

This morning I headed out on a solitary walk to view the surrounding flora and fauna as well as enjoy one of the last warm days of summer. The end of August had arrived and even though we have a very humid air mass at the moment that seems to be stuck overhead I could feel the beginning of a change of season.

The days are shorter as well as the shadows cast from the sun slanting farther afield. Some of the leaves on trees and shrubs are already starting to turn colour and the late summer flowering plants were … Read more...

Piñata Travel Bag Project

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Deborah

2 years ago I had an ambitious idea. Weave enough fabric to make a travel bag set for myself. These bags will be for weekend trips, I certainly wouldn’t allow any baggage handler near these beauties.

But before physically starting the project I had to sit down and design on paper (following up on the computer) and do all the math calculations for how much I would need for the warp and weft. For those not familiar with weaving, the warp is the “vertical” threads that are placed on the loom from front to back and the “weft” is what … Read more...

Oklahoma City Fun!

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Deborah

I had the opportunity to travel this past weekend to Oklahoma City for 4 days. Hubby is working a contract job there for a month so to break up his “30 day sentence”, we made arrangements for me to fly down and spend our 38th wedding anniversary together exploring some of the fun and exciting tourist attractions that are available in this large Midwestern city

I was able to glean some information from an Internet pal Amy in Pittsburgh who has frequented OKC on numerous occasions and she gave us brilliant suggestions on places to visit as well as which … Read more...

Smoked Gouda, Mushroom & Spinach Pizza

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Deborah

It didn’t take me long to whip up a pizza utilizing the freshly smoked gouda cheese. I kept the pizza simple with no strong ingredients to compete with the cheese and it was absolutely delicioso!

Want to make your own? Take my whole wheat pizza crust recipe here and top with a minimal amount of pizza sauce, thinly sliced red onion, tomatoes, mushrooms and baby spinach leaves. Top with grated smoked gouda and cook in a 475F oven until the edges start to crisp, flip to broil and broil until cheese is bubbly.

Enjoy!

Deborah

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Smoked Gouda ~ Cheese Heaven

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Deborah

The Homestead acquired a new appliance a few weeks ago.

An electric Smoker. We should have bought one at least 25 years ago, I probably spent as much money as a smoker on store bought smoked gouda over the years.

By now you can guess what was the first thing that went into the smoker, yup, CHEESE.

I love cheese. Who doesn’t love cheese? (If they don’t, they are weird) So I googled how to smoke cheese and its pretty darn simple; add some wood chips (we used Apple) set the temperature for NO HIGHER than 90F (32C) and leave … Read more...

Growing like….weeds

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Deborah

Yup. Growing season has commenced! Things are right on schedule in the seedling world. So much so that I had to give the pepper plants a haircut to promote bushier growth as opposed to wanting to be giant bean stalk height. They have been under a grow light since they sprouted and have just gone crazy.

The tomatoes are now well on their way. I started them a full month after the peppers because last year I experimented with starting peppers early to be immensely rewarded with fruit ready much sooner and more mature plants by the time I got … Read more...

Its almost time….

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Deborah

Time for what you say?

Seed planting time!!!!!

Seeds have been ordered and delivered, planting pots and trays are out of storage and at the ready. All I need is a bag or two of seed potting medium and I am ready to roll!

Hurry up February 15th!

That is the day I start my peppers seeds. Let year I decided to start the peppers a month earlier than the Toms as they are slower growing and I have found they take longer to mature and fruit in the shorter growing season of the Northern Homestead. Boy did it work … Read more...

Fuerig’s Offering ~ Update

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Deborah

Remember Fuerig? The black baby alpaca fibre I received back in the early Spring? Well after a couple weeks of washing, carding and spinning 2 ounces of his lusciously soft and silky fibre, it turned into a gorgeous jet black skein of yarn just begging to be petted and smooshed. Trust me, ask anyone who knits or crochets what they do when they pick up a pretty skein of soft yarn and you will understand our crazy ways.

Smooshing aside, in my minds eye, I envisioned knitting a soft and drapey shawl that would wrap around me like a warm … Read more...

Turkey Vegetable Soup

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Deborah

Last weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving, and as is the norm after cooking a 10lb bird for 3 people (actually I cooked for 4, but my daughter is a vegetarian), there are oodles of leftovers…..leftover. This soup is hearty and has a good zip to it with the addition of the canned tomatoes with chiles (ie. Rotel).

First order after removing the remaining meat from the bird was to put the carcass in a large stock pot and add about 12 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and let simmer for several hours. Remove from heat and let … Read more...