Thrift store finds

I adore thrifting, finding treasure just waiting to bless my heart and home.  This week the local Goodwill was a gold mine of goodness. First, this fabulous old Royal typewriter was acquired for 1.00!  I could scarcely believe my good fortune.  Then for another mere dollar the perfect new egg collecting basket, I love how it perfectly holds our eggs we collect from our white leghorns.  Now to find the brown eggs from our Buff Orpingtons.  Egg collecting here is like Easter morning everyday, as we allow our hens to free range and they insist on making us seek out  their eggs.  seems daily they like play hide and seek with us.....hmmmm maybe a chicken coop does have its merits!

Yarn Along

Joining  in again with Ginny to share what I am knitting and reading.  I am casting on some of the yarn I spun last week to make gnome hat from the book, More last minute knitted gifts. 
The book is a new field guide that will aid us in our spring foraging for mushrooms.  We are pretty good at foraging for morel mushrooms, but I am hoping to expand our foraging to different types of mushrooms.

Bees are coming

after many years of longing to raise our own honey bees, we have finally taken the plunge and ordered our first hives.  I am so proud that our oldest daughter has developed into a real farmer mentality and she is the one who is taking on this endeavor.  She went to a bee keeping course at our local county extension office, she researched and spoke with bee keepers and now, at age 14, she is our familys bee expert.   I see this development in her a direct result of unschooling and allowing our children to grow into their own interest.  She is truly an autodidact.
This is where we ordered from, we have heard from other locals that they are a good company, knowledgeable and very willing to help the new bee keepers, like us!
The book pictured above, I have found to be very user friendly and clear, something that this mama desperately needs.  If you are interested in bee keeping for this year or in the future, I recommend checking it out. 

Mushroom doll

I have been drooling over certain dolls for Zelie, but they are always cost prohibitive.  I love the handmade dolls, they are so soft and unique, the beg to be loved.  Couple these dolls with my love of mushrooms/toadstools and you have my Monday activity!  I already had this doll form, the face was an iron on kit we had in our craft stash, the dress and felt shoes are made from our abundant stash of various material.  I have seen similar pocket dresses on Etsy, I just love the pockets and the mushroom we tucked into this dress. 

Busy spring days

I am

I am so grateful for these busy outside days,  I hope and pray your days are busy with all good things.

Colts Foot

While out and about today, I saw much coltsfoot blooming and perfect for harvesting.  We picked quite a bit for our own winter teas and I encourage you to look around and find some for your families.
An effective demulcent and expectorant herb, coltsfoot is one of the most popular European remedies for treating chest problems. In Europe, the leaves are preferred to the flowers (which contain higher amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids), but in China the flowers are preferred. Both parts are taken as a decoction for chest conditions. When used as a syrup or a medicinal cigarette, coltsfoot also relieves asthma. Coltsfoot is used as a specific treatment for spasmodic coughs. It combines well with licorice, thyme, and black cherry. In China, coltsfoot is classified as a "warming" herb that helps relieve coughing and wheezing.

Yarn Along

Joining in with Ginny for this weeks yarn along.    Though I confess, I am still spinning up my lemon colored merino wool, in dreams of a sweater for a certain Miss Zelie.
 I am reading Landscaping with Herbs,  and dreaming of spring. while waiting on forecast ed snow.

St Patricks day carnival

you can go here to join the carnival and have a grand time celebrating St Patrick!   Lots of good ideas already.
More to come- 

Spring is coming

Blessed spring air!   Line drying again, I love the smell and look of laundry hanging on the line. You can see the remnants of yesterdays snow.....though it is melting fast. 
While the sun and wind dry our clothes, we are cooking down sap for maple syrup.

Happy spring days.

snowy days of March call for spinning more yarn

and teaching the little ones a new skill.