What Did She Do Today?

She Finished Putting Food By December 6, 2009

With the exception of an occasional squash that is getting a little punky, so needs to be cooked, and possibly frozen, I'm done putting food by!  My last Apple Sauce went into jars today.  I now need to take an inventory of what I have canned, frozen and dried, so I will know better what to put by next year.  I'm really kind of excited about putting all the canning supplies back on the shelf in the basement.  Canning is hard work, and while there is certainly a great satisfaction in knowing there is food set aside for my family for the winter, I'm ready to close that chapter of this year.

I helped friends butcher chickens today.  Cold, snow on the ground, Christmas music playing, and we were processing poultry.  I have another friend who needs help tomorrow.  I'm terribly amused that early this fall I had never slaughtered a chicken, and now I'm helping others to do it.  It's funny where you end up, along the path of life.

Advent

Day 8

1John 4:10  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

2John1:6  Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Tonight was the second candle, and the word love has been associated with it.  I think these verses are straight forward. This time of year is such a wonderful time to think about Love and not only what Love is or means, but what we will do because of Love, or to show Love.

She Made a Bonnet, Butchered a Rabbit, Made a Wreath... December 4, 2009

I've been a busy girl the past couple days, but my camera is giving me issue, so I haven't posted...well, that and I've been pretty tired by the end of the day.  Let's see, what have I to share...

Knitting update. 

A couple months ago, I was given a couple skeins of lovely wool yarn.  Sue Paradis, a local raiser of sheep, has their fleece turned into yarn and sells said yarn both locally and on Etsy.com.  She doesn't knit, so when she saw me knitting like mad during my time at the Rochester Fair, she struck up a deal.  A couple skeins of yarn, in trade for a couple pics of items made with the yarn, that she can use to show folks what it looks like knit up.  That seemed like such an easy arrangement, until I tried to figure out what to make.  I wanted something with a wow factor, as making wool soakers would be very practical, not very "Wow", so I set out on a hunt for a fun to knit project that would use only 1 skein, and the right weight.

I found this lovely baby bonnet.  How perfect.  The baby is bald, and if she's anything like her sister, and in that area she seems to be, she'll be bald until she's more than a year old.  She has a sweet little peach fuzzy head, that is great fun to kiss, but as the weather gets colder, will need protecting, even inside.  So I have knit her a sweet, vintage-esque, bonnet, with a great star pattern in back, and lacy, girly and sweet.  I love it.  The yarn looks great, and she will be warm...if I can convince her to leave it on her head.  Always the challenge with a nearly 9 month old baby.

 

Sue puts the name of the sheep from whom the wool was gathered, on the skein band, and this wool is compliments of "Cocoa puff".  It's 100% natural, no dies used, just whatever color Cocoa Puff was born with, which is a beautiful cream with a yellow tint.

This was knit in one night.  I cast on just before Mini went to bed, and had it done by the time the Baby was dipping into her night time rest.  This would make a great gift for a little person, as it is such a quick knit, and so totally adorable!

The pattern was "lacy bonnet" by Erika Knight, from her book Knitting for Two: 20 Simple Designs for Expectant and New Mommies and Babies.

The little green longies, in the picture, were finished last night (Friday).  I used Julia Yarn by Nasha Knits, and the pattern is from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac.  I made another pair of these in a great earthy orange, and loved them on her so much I had to make another pair.  I'm thinking their may be at least one more pair in her future.  They are so warm, cozy, soft, everything a baby garment should be, and more!

Yesterday I got together with a friend and we butchered one of the rabbits, the first of my meat rabbits to become meat.  We are building breeding stock, so there are not a lot of rabbits to go.  We have a couple more males that will be ready around Christmas, maybe just into the new year, but the girls are all going to stay to breed, which will start, for most of them, in February.  We started a family tree, of sorts, for the rabbits, that are held between myself and my friend.  It was exciting to see the bloodlines we have, just between us, and we figure we won't need any new blood for years.  Very exciting.  Much of our stock was purchased through Shanahan's Ranch in Epping. 

After Rabbit butchering a few of us got together over at Jess's Farmhouse, for some old fashioned wreath making.  Jessica and I cut evergreen boughs, and dragged them inside.  We used a wire coat hanger for the base, took 2-3 small bunches of greens and wired them to the circle, continuing until they were full.  I found it helpful, at the end to flip the wreath over and wire the thicker branches that wouldn't have worked for the front, to the back to stiffen the wire coat hanger, and help the wreath stay more round.  I am thrilled with how it came out, and the fact it cost nothing to make was even more exciting.

 

Naked wreath, waiting for some decorating...soon

I tested a new tool for bead making.  Snowflake plates!  If you are a fellow bead maker, reading this blog, you can find them for sale, soon, on my business site.  I love snowflakes, they work all winter, they are not just a "Christmas thing", though they work well for Christmas, too.

Okay, I think that catches you up, to today!  Today was the Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmer's Market, held in Rollinsford at Wentworth Greenhouse.  It's such a great venue.  It's like being outside, only you are warmer, and not getting snowed on!  First Snow of the year, today!  Mini and I went out tonight around 7:30pm to make a snow man, snow angels, catch flakes on our tounges, and breath in that first snow of the winter air.  I love snow.  I love the sound of the snow plow clanking down the road, the calmness that comes with the fresh blanket of white.  I could go on and on about the first snow of the year.  It's really a special event.  It's hard to believe that a couple days ago I was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt, while working outside, quite comfortably, and today there is snow accumulating out front.  That right their is one of the joys I find to living in NH. 

Back to the Farmer's Market!  Great, as always.  Some vendors I hadn't seen before.  Moor Farm, and Borealis Bread.  Both had local flour!!  Moor had Red Fife Wheat Flour.  I picked up a 2.5 pound bag, for $5.00.  He doesn't have a lot of this, it's his first year doing the wheat, and as we all know the year was a bad one for crops in general, but he did have some success, and is excited to try again next year.  He said he's retired and doesn't plan on making this a full time job, but he wants to share his experiences with the "young folks who want to move in this direction".  

 

Borealis had local oats, so I picked up a bag of that.  They are Maine Grown and processed.  I love oatmeal for winter breakfast, especially with some Sugarmomma's Maple Syrup, which I also picked up today.  I grabbed a couple bags of toasted pumpkin seeds from Borealis.

Fresh Northeast Shrimp from Eastman Fish Market!  I'm not a huge fan of shrimp, but I always like to try the local version, even if it's not normally my favorite food, as I've found many things that I don't like from the store, but do love fresh.  So tomorrow night I will give Shrimp, from the coast of NH/ME a try.  Husband loves shrimp, so at the least I'll be serving him a special treat. 

More Garlic Seeds from Osprey Cove Organic Farm.  They sell it by the shot glass, which is quite cool, and I purchased 5 very generous shots!  Butternut Squash, Spinach and a Romanesco Head, all from Farmer Dave.  Romanesco is a form of Cauliflower, and looks very geometric.  I hope it's as yummy as it is interesting to look at.

Mom keeps telling me all the benefits of eating gluten free.  I'm not sold, hence the purchase of local wheat flour, but I did decide to try Abigail's Gluten Free Bread.  It's very good, toasted, and I'm looking forward to trying it as bread soon, too.  

Parsnips from Brookford Farm, and some yogurt that didn't make the picture.  I couldn't get my milk, however, as they were sold out.  Good for them!  I just scooted over to their farm, a couple miles away, after the market, so I am all set with milk, and I'm happy for them, that they were so successful selling their Raw Milk at Market!

Shallots from Meadow's Mirth.  Shallots are in my seed cart for next year.  They are just so yummy and so much gentler than the average onion.  I'm a fan!

I did have a bit of a personal crisis at the market, however.  Velvet Pastures is out of Sweet Italian Elk Sausage until Spring.  I'm crushed.  I use that in my Sausage Pea soup, and I have yet to find a sausage I like better, for that application.  I'm hoping one that I tried from Popper's Sausage will come through for me.  Sausage Pea Soup is one of my most favorite foods for Winter.

Also, not in the picture, goat kabob meat from Riverslea Farm.

Another great trip to the Market.

Advent

Day 7

Genesis 28:12-13

He (Jacob) had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

John 1:51

And He (Jesus) said to him (his disciple), “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

These verses refer to a picture of Jesus and the connection he makes from Heaven to Earth.  He creates a way for man to reach God again, after the separation that sin, entering the world, created.

She Is Frustrated with Her Electronics December 4, 2009

Waiting for some posting because my camera and my computer are not on speaking terms right now.  If this continues, I'm sitting them down for an intervention, but I'm too tired, it's too late, and I had too much to do today to argue with them about their petty squabbles.

I'm going to the Seacoast Eat Local Farmer's Market tomorrow, and will be bringing beans to those who I often see there.  If I see you, great, if not, I'll be in touch.  The market will be from 10-1 (or 2, don't remember) at Wentworth Greenhouse, in Rollinsford, right near the Dover line.  If you haven't been, you should, it's brilliant!

I'm thinking if I never see another apple it might not bother me all that much.  I'm on the last laundry basket of them, I have two huge pots on the stove, simmering sauce, and 3 cook trays filled in the freezer, of lovely little slices, just right for pies, or the like. 

Mini will be very sad when the fresh eating apples are over.  Yesterday I had processed the laundry basket of them, that was in the kitchen, and she walked by the counter they sit under, and with eyes wide and panic on her face stated "The apples are gone.  Where are they?"  Husband assured her that there were more in the pantry, and she was able to be talked down, off the ledge, so when this last basket is gone, I'm sure their will a pretty disappointed little girl in my house.  Good thing apple sauce and yogurt will be in plenty.

Advent

Day 6

Genesis 22:6-8

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.

Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

Abraham knew that God would provide.  He had no idea how, but he trusted the Lord with the life of his son.  God provided not only a sacrifice but a beautiful picture  played out in the lives of these two men.  God showed that he would provide the lamb, but the sacrifice of  a son would not be Abraham’s son, but rather it would be God’s own son, who would be the Lamb to complete all sacrifices.

Note:  If you were doing this with older children you could continue with verses 9-13 which is a little more in depth, but our daughter, being 2, we stopped at verse 8.

She Did Stuff but Will Tell Tomorrow December 3, 2009

Advent

Day 5

Genesis 14:17-18

Then after his (Abraham’s) return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.

The introduction of Melchizedek.  The bread and wine are symbolic of Christ, and Melchizedek is a priest who brings these items out to Abraham while he is in the process of blessing Abraham for following God.

Hebrews 7:1-3

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God…by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Melchizedek is mention only 2 more times in the bible.  The Hebrews passage references the Genesis passage and defines him as a king, of righteousness and peace.  Also pointing out he was created in such a way to have no genealogy, and is a priest of God forever. Melchizedek is an interesting character and it is unclear if the pointing out of his lack of genealogy is pointing to him being an incarnation of Christ prior to Christ coming in Bethlehem, or if the the verse simply points out that his genealogical information is not important to his role.  Seems that would be a theological discussion, beyond the scope of this little Advent journey.  He is later compared to Christ, in on of the Psalms, which is why we included him in our journey.

Psalm 110

The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchisedek.“

Psalm 110 is a collection of statements about Christ.  One of those statement references Christ being a priest forever in the order of Melchisadek. Christ’s role, after his reserection, is to be the priest and judge.  The cool thing about that is that he has already paid the price for anything we deserve judgement for, so his role is to release us from the judgement, not to damn us for what we’ve done.

Advent Journey December 2, 2009

Advent:

Day 4

Genesis 12:1-3

The LORD had said to Abram,

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Abraham was to start the Nation of Isreal.  He would be the Father of the ine of Jesus.  Jesus would be whom all the peoples of the Earth would be blessed through.

She Filled her Freezer! December 1, 2009

I have a list of things that needed to happen before the snow started, and I'm happy to say, it is dwindling quite nicely!

• Build Chicken Runs
• Separate Chickens, and determine which will winter over
• Harvest Chickens
• Plant Garlic
• Harvest Rabbits
• Harvest Ducks
• Build Raised Beds

Today I was able to check the harvesting of the chickens off my list!  All the birds are in the freezer, the frat house is empty.  It will be cleaned tomorrow.   In with the Roosters we ordered last Spring, there were  4 surprise hens.  I decided to keep them, let them lay for their pullet year (that is the first year of laying), then they will be harvested next fall as Stewing fowl.  They will move into the frat house, once it's cleaned. 

The remaining list items are not so daunting.  I only have a few rabbits to process, and I have that scheduled on Thursday.  The ducks are going on Sunday.  So with schedules made and ends in sight, I'm feeling good, as long as the weather holds out.

As for the raised beds, that was a bit of a "dream" anyway, as there is a lot to be done to get them made.  I'm moving rocks from a "non-boundry" stone wall in my woods, up to the yard to create the beds.  It's going to look great when it's done, but it's time consuming and requires dad with the tractor.  I will feel good about going into winter, even if that remains un-checked from the list.

Advent:

Day 3

Genesis 3:13-15

Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

Then the Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, you are cursed
more than all animals, domestic and wild.
You will crawl on your belly,
groveling in the dust as long as you live.
And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

The “He” referred to Jesus, the son of man, who would defeat evil once and for all.

She Started The Advent Celebration and Made Her Dark Days Meal November 30, 2009

I didn't post yesterday, but it was the start of Advent.  I'm going to share the advent that we do as a family, every year, because people enjoyed it so much last year.  I'll be posting it at the end of the post each day.  I had intended to have a PDF file of all the images I used for the hand embroidered ornaments, along with the verses that accompany it, but didn't get that done this year.  I think I will be putting that together in January, when there are no animals to hatch, birth or harvest, or veggies to plant or harvest, and no coops to build, or gardens to tend.  Yes, January seems like a good month for organizing.  I'm hoping that i don't find myself with too many January projects to finish them all, but for now, I'm dreaming of January, the slow month of homesteading.

I finished the runs for the two breeding coops.  There is one coop of Anconas with the choicest rooster, and all the hens.  There is one coop with the choicest Dorking Rooster and all the Dorking Hens, where the guineas, and Jane and Eleanor are also bunking, for now.  I feel so much calmer after getting all the birds setteled in their winter homes.  There is one coop of the remaining roosters, which has been dubbed "The Frat House", by my husband. It will be empty tomorrow, if all goes well.  My friend, her dad, my husband, and myself, will be harvesting the rest of the Orpingtons and the Frat Boys tomorrow!  That leaves 7 ducks and 3-4 rabbits, and my freezer will be full of homestead raised meat!

There is a blog that is challenging folks to eat local during the "Dark Days" of winter.  Thanks to the Seacoast Eat Local Farmer's Markets, that will be easy, even in this part of the cold, dark north of the country.  Once a week, all the volunteers for the Dark Days challenge, will make a completely local meal.  I did that tonight, and my family loved every last bit of it. 

• Cod from Eastman Fish, which I broiled with a little Maine Garlic Salt and Pepper.  
• Fingerling Potatoes and Shallots from Meadow's Mirth, cooked with a little sunflower oil from Maine, and some Rosemary from Wake Robin Farm, some Smoked Apple Salt from the Maine Salt Company.
• Thelma Sander's Sweet Potato Squash from Shelley, who sells adorable, boutique style produce at the Barrington Farmer's Market.  It was roasted in the oven with a bit of butter (Cabot butter, from VT, but I'm not going to make the leap that it's local), Maine Salt and (non-local) Pepper.
• Apple Cider, pressed by me, with apples from trees in Barrington and from Butternut Farm
• Homemade toast with a bit of Maple Butter, from Sugarmomma, as a tasty little meal topper.  That stuff is amazing, and I'm becoming a bit too addicted to it.

A delicious local meal, and lunch was local too.

• Pea soup made with Split Peas from Exeter Maine, Sweet Italian Elk Sausage from Velvet Pastures in Lee, Carrots from Heron Pond, Garlic from my garden, Smoked Apple Salt from Maine Salt Co., Sage from a friend's garden, Leeks from my garden.
• Apple sauce made by me from apples I picked at Butternut farm, with a bit of nutmeg and cinnamon that are not local. 

Sunday was the first day of Advent.  There are 4 Sundays before Christmas.  In my Advent journey we started with a Candle, that reads Hope.  The verse that we read, talked  and prayed about was 1Peter 1:3.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

Tonight,  Day 2:

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

She Found Another Reason to Love High Mowing Seeds of Vermont November 27, 2009

I love High Mowing Seeds.  The company has been great in the areas of high quality product, customer service and valuing the future of farming.  When I was recently perusing their site, starting to fill my cart for the 2010 seed order, I stumbled across another reason to love this company.

High Mowing Seeds was involved in a lawsuit, along with the Center for Food Safety (CFS), Organic Seed Alliance and the Sierra Club, being represented by CFS and Earth Justice attorneys, to sue the USDA!!

They won!  HMS, et al, were concerned with the USDA deregulating the Monsanto Sugar Beet.  Sugar Beets are the source of most of the sugar in this country, and like corn and soy, Monsanto has a "Round Up Ready" sugar beet.  If you are interested in reading more about this victory for food security in the US, you can do so on the High Mowing Seeds Site.

I intended to buy my seeds from them again this year, simply because I've had such a great experience, they are a small company, that is local-ish to me, so we are growing in very similar climates, but all the more reason, now, to support a company that stands up and speaks out!  Thank you HMS for your efforts!  Congratulatons on the win.

Are you buying seeds this year?  Please consider giving your support to this great company!

You can order direct from their website, which is what I do every year...Oh how excited I get when that little cardboard box arrives, but you can also find their seeds in the following NH stores:

• Claremont - Posie's Place
  
• Concord- Concord Food Coop   
• Hanover - Hanover Consumer Co-op 
  
• Hollis - Brookdale Fruit Farm
• Laconia - Sunflower Natural Foods 
• Lancaster - Martin's Agway  
• Lebanon - Longacres' Nursery Center  
• Manchester - A Market Natural Foods  
• New Ipswich - Amazing Flower Farm 
  
• Newport - Stillwater Garden Shop
  
• Plainfield - Edgewater Farm   
• Rollinsford - Wentworth Greenhouses (the site for several of the Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmer's Markets) 

She Enjoyed Thanksgiving November 26, 2009

We went to my Grandparents, on my Dad's side, for the big family get together.  I enjoy going there for holidays.  My family is a great group of folks.  I brought along a jar of the Cranberry sauce Jessica and I made a couple weeks ago.  It was so yummy on my turkey!  I love meat and fruit together.

I wanted to make Maple Ice Cream, as Mini has been asking for it for a couple weeks, so I figured today would be a good time.  So I pulled up the online recipe that I've used before.  It came out great and many others enjoyed a smidge with their pies, after dinner, but Mini was the only one who actually licked the plate clean.

While at the fabulous Seacoast Eat Local Winter Market at Wentworth Greenhouse (the next of which is Saturday, December 5th), I ran into fellow blogger, Virginia, who told me about a great recipe for Parsnips.  A parsnip bread pudding from Martha Stewart.  Sounded so yummy, and after she forwarded me the recipe, I had to try it.  I used about 3/4 turnips and 1/4 parsnips, because it's what I had on hand.  It was delicious.  Husband made a loaf of bread for me to use, so I didn't use the brioche, but it was still very good, and I had requests for the recipe.  I'll be making this again, this winter.  I imagine it would be good with just about any root veggie.

Image from Marthastewart.com, as I still don't have a knack for taking pictures of food.

While we were sitting around visiting, we realized that there was an event going on at Calef's so a few of us headed over to take a peek, before heading home.  I found out some exciting news.  The beans sold at Calef's are from Exeter Maine, and are "fresh Dry" beans from the current year.  As are their Dried peas!  I picked up some more peas, for my winter stock, and some Rat Trap Cheese.  Joel was there signing bottles of his hot sauce.  Mom picked up a bottle of that, which Joel guarantees to "Make your Liver Quiver". 

In the gift store, free ornaments, and 25% off discount coupons, were being handed out.  They also had a great little item to turn any old mason jar into an oil lamp!  I have some VERY cool old Mason Jars from the lot down at my mom's, so I'm going to use one of them for an oil lamp, which will allow me to look at it all year!

If you missed out on the Calef open house, be sure to make your calendar for their Soiree on December 11 (5-9p).  Calef's, and all the businesses and stores at Calef's Corner, and Christmas Dove, across the street, are open for the evening with discounts, Hors d'oeuvres, give-aways, and late evening shopping.  We've gone a couple years now, and find it a fun family time.  Last year there was snow, it was actually a little bit of a snow storm, that is not likely to happen this year...but it is NH, so anything is possible.

My local Yarn Store is having a big coupon yarn sale tomorrow!  I might actually be shopping on Black Friday.

Another Local event for tomorrow, and the following week, Jenness Farm is having an open house.

Friday, Nov. 27 through Saturday, Dec. 5th

Jenness Farm Annual Holiday Open House

Jenness Farm - Nottingham, NH 10 am - 4 pm each day.

Come shop for the holidays with many in store specials as well as 10% off your entire order (excludes food/drink items). Additional vendors with gift products will be there as well.

She Planted Garlic November 24, 2009

Yesterday Jessica and I picked up the beans!  143 pounds.  We are going to separate them out after Thanksgiving, so if you were among the list of folks who ordered, we will be in touch soon after the holiday.

The ride was beautiful and the weather was great.  I love driving in New Hampshire.  I really do live in a gorgeous State.  We have it all, Mountains, Beaches, Lakes, History, Fields and Forests.  Here are some of the sights I snapped pics of.

 

I have finished two knitting projects.  My mom's Hemlock Ring afghan is done and has had an initial blocking.  I'm not thrilled with how it blocked, so I'm thinking of doing it one more time, with more pins, so I can pull out some of the details on the edge.  It will be presented in this very cool basket, which was purchased yesterday at Marden's in Sanford (part of our little bean trip).  It is handmade in America.  The company is Henn, from Ohio. I think the low basket will be fun for holding a pie plate, or even picking herbs.

 

Mini has a new cozy top for winter.  Neighborly, the pattern by JCasa*Handmade, was knit up with Malabrigo in Chestnut and Malabrigo Twist in a new color that my LYS just started carrying.  I love how it worked up, it fits her nicely. It knit up fast, it took me about 3 days to finish it.  I'm thinking of making one with thinner yarn for the Baby.  I think if I used yarn that was 5 sts. to the inch it will work up for a good 9 month size.

Jessica and I stopped at a couple places, besides beans, along the way.  Marden's in Sanford had tons of baskets, and we were the most ridiculous of girls as we tried to weed down our overflowing cart of baskets we wanted.  We are both a bit basket-centric, so we weren't a large help to each other.  We did not fight over any, so that was good, and in the end we both left with 3, plus I had the one for mom. 

We were both enamored with this style, which is designed to hold a 9x13 baking dish, but we envisioned being a great herb picking basket, like in the bonnet films, specifically Pride and Prejudice.  I plan on planting an herb garden, for the first time, this year, as I'm so enjoying all the fresh and dried herbs I've been given by friends, and purchased at the markets.  I will definitely plant some thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, chamomile and oregano.  I'm excited to start looking in the seed catalogs, that have recently started to arrive!  The basket did a bang up job of holding the evergreens and berries I picked for holiday decorating.

 

That little dress is handmade in velvet and will fit my daughter's doll.  Mini is a big fan of changing dolls clothes, and dressing various animals that will fit into the clothes, as well.  This dress is very well made, with high quality fabrics.  I'm a bit of a fabric snob, even with kids clothes, or toys.  I want it to feel good, and not much feels nicer than cotton velvet.  The lace is antique cotton lace, as well.  Beautiful!

It's hard to believe today is the day before Thanksgiving, and I'm just planting my garlic!  I have been so behind on doing this, but so lucky that the weather has allowed me to still plant it.  I put it in today, and tonight it's only 45 degrees.  Amazing.  I'll be mulching it, heavily, on Friday, when I can get to the feed store.  I'm hoping that it gets the time it needs to sprout, but at this point, this is the best I could do, so it is what it is.

I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving.  We are going to have dinner with my Dad's family, which we do every year, and I'm looking forward to it!