Perpetual Calendar with Friends

-

I have quite a list of posts waiting on the back burner. This morning, I finally got time to snap the pictures for this one. 

Several months ago I came across this link/pin, and was inspired to make our own perpetual calendar.

I needle felted seasonal clothing for four wooden peg dolls. I'm excited to gain greater awareness of days, months and seasons passing through this simple ritual of keeping our daily calendar current.

In case you're thinking, "ok, two blocks, six sides each... waitaminit..." 

Here's how it works. Both blocks have 0, 1, and 2. One block has 3, 5, and 6, which doubles as 9. The other block has the 4, 7, and 8, to complete the set.

Now we just have to decide where we shall keep our calendar!

- 

Introducing Wee Willow Catkin

-

Inspired by this doll and its poem that reminded me of a similar poem, and sewn with a materials kit from this shop, I made C's first doll. 

As a crafter, I always hope that the recipient will like my creation, but as a mama I was trying to keep that hope in check. I wanted C to be free to play with a doll (or not) as she chose, without pressure from me. I cannot tell you how my heart began to sing when she couldn't keep her eyes away as soon as I'd sewn on the eyes, before hair, before a body. Now that I've finished, Willow is well loved, and C smiles when she sees her.

I can recall a poem in English about "Wee Willow Catkin" from my childhood and remember vivid images of the catkins (also knowns as pussywillows) that played through my head. I cannot for the life of me remember more, or even enough to find it. It may have been a proper translation of the German poem but the rough online translation didn't ring enough bells for me to be sure.

_

Going Back to Basics - Use Your Scraps

-

There are many things that past generations did as a matter of course that we are just beginning to bring back now - such as bringing bags to carry goods home. I am so thankful that  throwaways are becoming less and less favorable. 

For many reasons I've sought to minimize my use of plastics and have always preferred natural materials. When buying or making toys or other stuffed objects I've always tried to use cotton or wool, but due to cost have succumbed to the ease of poly-fill on more than one occasion. 

Just over two years ago I made a scrap bag to collect the little bits and ends of fabric and yarn leftover from any of my various endeavors. Finally, the "something delightful" I threatened to stuff has come along. 

Rag dolls of yesteryear were made with leftover scraps and stuffed with even more of the same. Today we can just as easily use our extra bits of fiber instead of buying new material.

To make your own scrap stuffing, save the odds and ends from your projects as you go. Cut your scraps/rags into pieces one inch or smaller. This will allow them to shift and move with washing.

Rag or scrap stuffing works like a dream, is completely machine washable, and will not shrink or clump like many natural stuffings. It also reduces and recycles perfectly good fiber that would otherwise end up in a landfill. 

-

Changing Directions here at Myrrhmade

-

As I mentioned back in February, my life has changed drastically and I'm still mulling a bit as to how to update this space without having it become a documentation of our children (present and future). I've been struggling to figure out what I want to put into and get out of this blog. I'm not going to abandon it altogether but need to update the use of this blog to better fit my life and myself.

What to do now, what to change, what to keep, and many more such quandaries have been occupying my thoughts and I've yet to come up with any definite answers. So, for now, I'll have to content myself with a slight change of directions. 

One of my original purposes here was to document my adventures, whether they were in my kitchen or half way around the world. Before becoming a parent, there was inherently energy that I could devote solely to my own interests and my own person. As a single person, I was the center and main consumer of my own attentions and energies.

The new addition to our family has charged me with a great responsibility - the stewardship of another being until she is able to take care of herself. This moves the center of my energy away from my own person and focuses it on giving to others. I find myself wanting to reflect that direction here as well.

In the past I've sometimes added recipes or directions in case someone else was interested in trying their own hand. Going forward I want to share what we do that might make a difference for other people. I hope to make this blog less about documenting my own exploits and more about showing what has worked well for us and how easy it can be to make improvements. 

There are also some side projects in the wings so look forward to other adventures!

-

Homemade maple teething necklace

-

Even before I had an amazing child of my own, I saw and admired beautiful carved teething necklaces.  They seemed like such a simply beautiful piece of craftsmanship and yet their hefty price tags always turned me away.

Until I realized I could make my own. 

Using a piece of leftover maple, I sawed, drilled, carved, and sanded until I arrived at this.

This post has been waiting for almost two months in the hope 

of getting a good picture of it in use. She is just starting to teeth at almost 

five months and I've got better things to do than wait for photographs. 

So here she is figuring out her fingers.

In the interim, this mama-made toy has come in handy at restaurants, on walks, in the car, and helping to set a world record!

-

Paleo Popovers (grain free) - part 2 - individual popovers

-

As promised, I decided to try my popover recipe using muffin tins (instead of a baking pan) and it turned out even easier than I'd expected.

I used the same amounts of all ingredients and split them up into the twelve muffin compartments. If you're using butter it's quite easy to cut each tablespoon of butter into quarters which equals 3/4 teaspoon (three tablespoons divided twelve ways) per popover.

Plus it looks cool. 

The butter melts much quicker so pay close attention. Notice the brown flecks in the photo below as they came out of the oven.

In our oven at 400f these took about 25 minutes. 

After cooling they get a little shorter.

Advantages of individual popovers: Using a dozen eggs means that each popover is one egg and that nifty well in the center is perfect for jam!

Disadvantages: it takes a bit longer prep time, you have to pay closer attention and I find muffin tins take longer to clean than a baking pan.

Overall they are delicious whichever way they are cooked.

-

Popovers part 1 - with original recipe.

Zucchini Flour Popovers - Popovers Part 3

The Brooks Homestead

-

Since purchasing our home and land over four years ago, we have undertaken a great many projects and have a great many more in mind. We strive to produce more of what we consume each year, from our gardens, to our backyard chicken flock, canning and freezing to handmade goods.

Introducing The Brooks Homestead. 

At this point we offer eggs to friends and family. If you are a friend (or even a friend of a friend) and are interested in eggs (we love to barter too) contact us and we'll work something out!

In the future we hope to expand our operations but for now we'll keep things simple and small.

-

Signs of spring - croci (or crocuses if you prefer)

-

With Blizzards followed by balmy days preceding days of "wintry mix" it has been hard to tell what season it actually is. These past few days have brought new evidence! We are turning the corner into spring.

I have always loved bulbs. Seldom has a year gone by where I didn't force at least a few. They wait on windowsills as little promises of spring that get me through the winter.

We bought our house in the midst of winter and to my delight we had many flowers throughout the lawn come spring. Since then I have tucked at least a few more bulbs into the ground each fall and daydream of their blooms in the darkest winter days.

A few days ago we were blessed with the first blooms - our croci are trumpeting, heralding the coming of spring!

-