Fresh from the soap pot:  lemon lavender

smells like Springtime!

fresh and clean

 

I've been working on spring cleaning my cottage.  Love this time of year.  Springtime, for me, symbolizes new beginnings.  Even more than January 1.  The earth is once again turning green, and it's almost planting time. 

 

I'm also full of ideas and inspiration.  So many, in fact, that I have started a "to do" list for my creative endeavors.  Hubby just laughs, because the list is way too much for one person to accomplish in 3 lifetimes.  That's okay with me.  Future projects excite me.

 

The days are a tad longer and a bit warmer, and we've been spending more time outside.  Jo loves her play house, and on my creative list are curtains and rugs to make it truly homey and cozy. 

 

This afternoon, I need to finish a few orders and start a few projects.  I think I'll work on the porch.

More snow means lots of crochet!

We are being hit with snow after snow after snow, which has given me the opportunity to delve into my yarn stash and make a few pretties for myself.  I love doilies, and I love the one I made this week.  It is made from one lonely skein of an alpaca and cotton mix. 

Snow Day!

We're enjoying the beautiful, perfectly fluffy snow here in Missouri.  Notice the little squirrel footprints going from the tree to the underground nut vault. 

cardigan for Josephine

Finished Josephine's cardigan.   She did not want to pose for pictures, which makes the picture even more precious.  Look at that bottom lip! 

Natural Mouse Repellant Recipe

Eeek!  We have a mouse!

My husband was working in the "man cave" (aka the garage) yesterday, and when he was finished he reported back that he saw a tiny little mouse. 

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, so it's just the garage.  But, the garage is attached to my basement.  The basement houses Jo's playroom, and MY CRAFT STUDIO!!!  Tiny mice have mommy mice and daddy mice and cousin mice and aunts and uncles................ you get the idea.

SO..  I set to work making lots of my super duper, super easy and ALL NATURAL mouse repellant bags. 

You will need:

Muslin bags
cellulose
peppermint essential oil

(I purchased all of the above at San Francisco Herb Co. )

It's beyond super easy. 

1. pour the cellulose into a glass bowl

2.  add about 30 or so drops of the peppermint essential oil and stir

3.  let mixture set for a couple of hours.  Your husband and kids will come into the kitchen several times and ask what kind of minty deliciousness you are baking.  You will disappoint them by letting them know that it is not for them. 

4.  Add a cup of the mixture to each muslin bag.

5.  Place bags all over the house to keep mice away!

I love that this method has the added bonus of making your home and garage smell fresh and minty!

Here's my Jo, showing off her new bunny and sweater.  You can find the patterns here and here, if you would like to make your own.

Lately, crochet has taken a backseat to knitting.  I'm a knitting novice, but I am enjoying the learning process.  I love the rhythmic action of knitting, it's almost like meditation.  I have a long list of knitting to-do's, like this and that .

In other news, today is my oldest baby's 17th birthday.  Where did the years go?  It seems like I blinked, and she was all grown up.  When she was a tiny little thing, about the age Josephine is now, she made me the promise that she would stay little forever and never grow up.  We laugh about that promise now, as I look across the room at a young woman.  I am so proud of her.  She takes on new opportunities with excitement and bravery, and is so sweet to her little baby sister.  She is a great kid, and I love being her mom. 

Mushroom Parmesan Quinoa

So this is more of a "how I did it" than a standard recipe.  But it was so yummy, I had to share.  And, it's so easy that you can put this together quickly, and now you have no excuse to not eat healthy!

I simply chopped a package of baby bella mushrooms, and then sauteed them in some olive oil.  I added 1 cup quinoa (I like Ancient Harvest brand) and 2 cups broth.  I used chicken, but you can keep this vegetarian friendly by using vegetable broth.  Cook for 20 minutes or so.  Remove from heat, and sprinkle with a bit of parmesan.  Again, if you want to keep this vegetarian friendly you can use a parm substitute, or just omit it completely.

Then, find a quiet place and enjoy!