Cold Snap--Evening Update

  What a shock to our bodies-woke up to the mid 30's F this morning. Not ready to turn the heat on yet though.

 Yesterday I brought in the two large clay pots of the amaryllis bulbs so they wouldn't freeze and also the small pot of annual mums that I picked up a month or so ago-after tomorrow we are warming back up for the rest of the month-loving it  A bit unusual for October, perhaps I can work on pulling up some of those weeds

  My spinning is going well, so am very happy. As much as I love spinning fibers I have yet to really master really good yarn with no flaws-but mine does have character haha. 

  I needed to switch over to spinning just the bison fibers-which is a challenge as the fibers just barely hold together while spinning. I found a bag of a few huge balls of roving to spin. At the time I had found a seller that was getting out of selling this fiber so I was able to buy it-otherwise it is very very expensive I filled up the niddy noddy last night so I wetted the yarn to set the spin. Once dry will go back and finish up spinning more of this blend. I found another white wool I can use once I finish up what I am using now.

 I decided to treat myself to a new handmade spindle. The one I am using by Ashford works well but it has a crack that I mended on the top. Those are now rather expensive for as simple they are. So I shopped on Etsy for handmade spindles. I always preferred the whorl on the bottom instead of the top. I liked this one-the whorl (bottom) was crafted from black walnut. For the same price the seller had a spindle with a handmade bowl-to place the tip in while spinning, or two sizes of spindles-I went for the two.  I have a collection of awesome stone or glass  I enjoy using to hold the base.

Photo from the etsy shop here

 Things are much more stressful at this point-so I decided I needed a little gift for myself. I am encouraged that my spinning is going well, very relaxing and have always enjoyed it.

  Enjoy your weekend

Found this photo online frost on the pumpkin

update: does anyone have a hamburger goulash type recipe-but using No tomato products and gluten free? thanks

Evening update: sorry I couldn't get a photo of my slow cooker soup-my camera does badly with indoor photos.  

    I browsed online for recipe ideas-and ended up making a hamburger soup-which I have not made before or even heard of  smiles. I added unsalted beef broth to my slow cooker  sauted some chopped white onions-added to the soup, used a half package of usa hamburger and cooked in cast iron til just cooked through-kept the meat in chunks and added to the soup. I always keep those small packages of small potatoes around so cut up a bunch of those in half and added to the soup. I keep organic canned mushrooms on hand-added those. Added some dried chives, and frozen peas.  With  my acid reflux issue-due to all the stress-I don't add much spices any more but did add a little ground pepper. Let it cook all afternoon-then added handfulls of Bob's Red Mill dried potato flakes to thicken a bit. I just had a bowl-very tasty-would make this again-and I have enough for a couple more meals. I have always cooked and baked for my husband-so this is new cooking for myself. 

Time to Get the Luminaries Out

   I decided to find my Halloween luminaries, and battery tea lights this afternoon. I also have two pottery "sacks" and a cast iron witch-that I forgot to turn towards the camera

  I always enjoyed the Christmas luminaries but when we moved to the lake the ledge under the big windows is perfect for also Halloween and Thanksgiving ones too-something a little fun for me to do. I did not turn on the lights yet. (enlarge photos for better viewing)

Below is the display on the woodstove. I would love to get this woodstove working again, the previous owner had a major chimney fire, so it needs a new metal insert in the chimney.

  We did not get the storms and strong winds but we did get some much  needed rain.

I had not written any slow mail letters since July so I wrote and mailed out just a few this morning.

Good Morning Monday

  Here in the States we celebrate Columbus Day so no mail delivery.

   I just mixed up a batch of the peanut butter cookies-using the recipe I grew up with as a kid. The only sugars I use now for baking are fair trade sugars-especially the brown sugars-so I just used less, and I made them with my gluten free flour.  I will need to check my freezer to see if I still have all the ingredients I need to blend up the gluten free flour ingredients for my baking this fall and winter.

 Over the weekend I switched over to spinning. I had a basket of bison fibers and a white wool that I had been carding together and spinning. I have not been able to master spinning like most spinners, but I do enjoy the process-and hope to weave something with my spun yarns Thinking a scarf and a poncho type garment.

  My camera takes terrible indoor photos this is the best one. Photos will enlarge for better viewing just click on them

I took a few photos outdoors-and spotted this bee on the orange marigold

Below taken outdoors

 My followers may remember, before Larry's accident that bison fibers for spinning is very very expensive. I found a company that sells all things bison and one year they sold very very inexpensively very large bags of fibers not good for spinning but excellent to mix in with the soil. So I took a chance and went through it all-one bag for fertilizer use and the other for spinning.  This is what I am spinning with and carding it with a white wool for stability.

 I so need to get to town for errands and the other town for a big wal mart shopping trip. We are still in the 90's F here-pretty crazy I know We really really need rain I think mid-week we may get some and cooler temperatures.

  Have an awesome new week

Looking for Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe-Less Sugars

   I was thinking of baking up a batch peanut butter cookies. I only buy natural peanut butter these days.

    The recipe I grew up with as a kid at home used soooo much sugar-both white and brown sugars.

So I have been looking around on the internet for a different recipe. Do you have one that bakes up well and you like it?

  Thanks 

I found a Snoopy cookie haha

Slow Stitches

 Last night was one of those no sleep nights. Ugh  Couldn't sleep this morning either, so went back to a book I started reading-and then started stitching on the American theme scroll

I am alternating the rows with red-white-blue embroidery threads-repeat. I usually stitch in my lap on the couch-but thought I would try on the dining table. Liking it so far

When I reach an area that the row goes off the fabric edge-I stitch the row as it should be space wise and then go back and stitch down the edge with the same color thread- You can see that area on the left below the last row of pins-left of the eagle. click to enlarge for better viewing

Good Morning Tuesday

   I am still seeing a hummingbird or two at the feeder and we are still warm here this week-high 80's and into the 90's all week, but we do have fall temperatures at night which I am liking-and then wake up to thick fog-so autumn is partially here in the Ozarks.

  Last night was my first full night of sleep in a very long time-so hoping that continues. I was looking into possibly changing hospice care.  One of the staff came out yesterday. Only thing that was really different is they had two doctors on staff. The one we have now has no doctors just one nurse practitioner-which I have always avoided using. Leaving the decision up to Larry. 

We are having issues with the new bed I purchased-one that lowers the front and back, and even has a massage feature, lights under the bed. Working on fixing a couple issues with it.

  Yesterday morning I started marking out some lines on my patriotic scroll. I don't have to think that much when stitching this-and I enjoyed stitching on the first one. I have been too tired to work on finishing Viola's slow stitch bag.

  So much to do in the flower bed areas-lots of weeds to pull-but we have had no rain-so waiting for that-otherwise I don't get the roots out. I really want to clean up these areas before winter.

 I am going to call our courthouse this morning and check if they have early voting starting this week. I filled out a mail in ballot for Larry, and I would rather go in early in October while the weather is still nice to drive in. Sometimes early November is not so nice.

  I have been wanting to bake some cookies-been putting it off as I need a new stove-along with other appliances. Lowes refused to deliver my order a few months ago do to my hill and steps-so will try Home Depot next time.

  Enjoy your Tuesday

  

Surprise Package from Mia

   Good afternoon Saturday,

    The weather has turned so perfect today-hoping I can get out in the flower bed areas tomorrow.

In my mailbox was a gift from Mia in Greece. If you have ever received one of these-aren't they just so special?

  She sends items for the person she is gifting too. Thank you much Mia-I won this gift package on one of her blog giveaways.

  Again sorry for the poor photos-next year I will work on a new camera or maybe learn how to use a cell phone for mostly the photos-maybe haha

 Mia sent a hot mitt, a handmade by her eyeglass pouch, a pink glass pen-that will go with my glass pen collection-I do write to my slow mail friends with these pens from time to time-I love using them, fine paint brushes-which I didn't have too many of, a pretty postcard and lined book-for writing in

Close ups 

Under the glass pen and brushes is a really nice lined book-for notes or writings

Happy weekend

Sunday Update I still have a few hummingbirds stopping by-makes me happy to see them