Kids, Lakes, Loons and Pines

bunny yarn

I have been harvesting fiber from our bunny "Checker" since we got him late last Spring.  Today I put a new spool on my spinning wheel and started spinning some super-soft bunny yarn!

This afternoon I carved out just enough time to spin about half of what I have been collecting so far.  My plan is to add to this spool until I have a usable amount, then dye it and knit it into something simple and functional like a hat, shawl or scarf.

It is great to have hobbies like this to lean into on cold and rainy afternoons, and it is ever so meaningful to have the fiber sourced from our own little fiber bunny.

bunny love

We are enjoying our bunny "Checker."  Tending to him is easy.  He spends most of his time outdoors in his coop, we do take him in for frequent snuggles - sometimes accompanying us during our evening story times.  On a recent grooming we even able to harvest a little bit of fiber from this little guy, which I am collecting in my fiber bin for future use with plans to spin it into yarn.

He is proving to be a great addition to the homestead. 

our Valentine

Celebrating our Valentine birthday girl today with pampering, handicrafts, friendship and love.

I love being her mom.

Happy Valentine's Day!

outside and inside

Minutes of daylight are returning to our northwoods each day.  It seems there is just enough time after school and work to tend to the chickens, light a fire, eat an early supper, then get out back for a little ski or walk before the darkness sets in.  

Lately, our evenings indoors include time spent together, then some time off in our own little corners of our home.  On a typical weeknight we may have three boys wrestling or splashing in a tub, a daughter drawing or singing in her room, the daddy reading a newspaper or book and the mama clicking away at the keyboard or dabbling in one of her handicrafts sipping a cup of tea.

We know as our children get older they will have more and more evening activities drawing them out of our home during these weeknights.  But for now, savoring this time where we are most often all at home, warmed both by the fire and the love that we share.

Chocolate Play Dough

Early in the week one of my parent volunteers dropped off a wonderful batch of chocolate play dough for my kindergarten students to play with for the month of February -along with some silicone cupcake liners, candles, and chocolate boxes for creative play.  (thanks Angie!)  This play dough has been quite a hit, and I must say, I really don't mind the smell of chocolate permitting through my classroom either!

This weekend we made a batch at home too.  Chocolate play dough is great for making pretend chocolate cookies, candies, and of course Playmobil dirt bike tracks!

Here's the recipe:

Chocolate Play Dough

INGREDIENTS

• 5 cups water
• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup Hershey's Natural Unsweetened Baking Cocoa
• 2 1/2 cups salt
• 3 Tablespoons cream of tartar
• 10 Tablespoons vegetable oil

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix water, salt and cream of tartar. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring regularly until mixture is hot. Add oil. Whisk together flour and cocoa in a separate bowl.  Stir in flour mixture a cup at a time, stirring in between each addition. Mix until playdough pulls away from pan and is no longer sticky (pinch it between your fingers to test). Dump dough on counter, let cool a bit, then knead.

Have fun!

::morning making

School is canceled today due to icy road conditions, so this turned into a perfect morning for some making!  A relaxed morning with my kiddos, making some Rosemary Peppermint Lip Balm and some Beeswax Lotion Bars....a welcome change of pace.

Have a great weekend!

 

::warming up

This was another weekend of sub-zero temperatures.  Daytime temps were close to -10 with windchills at their warmest, but we still made an effort to go outside.  This weekend we enjoyed cross country skiing, sledding and ice skating.  In short enough segments of time that we did not risk frost bike.

Indoors we enjoyed the warmth of our woodstove, hot chocolate, warm soup and bread - and all of the relaxation and catch-up that comes with a weekend at home.

How was your weekend?

::when the mama was sick

photo-credits go to the daddy

Just before the New Year I got sick - hit like a ton of bricks and out of service for four whole days.  I don't I have slept as much as I have in the last few days since I was an infant!  Not fun, and I am praying that this illness stays clear of everyone else in our family.

Today, I am finally starting to feel a little better, for the first time eager to drink my morning coffee and write,  so appreciative of feeling of health creeping back into my body.

Also grateful of timing of my illness.  James had some time off from work and was able to be home to work on projects around the house and spend some quality daddy time with the kids.  I could not have taken care of our four kids by myself while I was sick - and being sick during a vacation, as much of a bummer it was, was a lot easier than going in and writing up four days of lesson plans for a substitute teacher!

The past four days I have been a passive observer of our family life from my bedside.  While James has been tinkering with some house projects the kids have had the opportunity to hang out in the garage with dad and do some tinkering themselves.  

 

Everyone thrived with frozen pizza, hot dogs, and a lot of love and some extra time with their daddy.