Little chefs

 Cooking for Santa. Trust me...you don't want a bite.

b

The End

 I gained another pair of needles when I finished these recycled sweater slippers.

These may be the last of of my felted wool sweaters too.

Mr. b polished our Montana rocks this month. They turned out beautiful. We picked them up along the banks of the Yellowstone river. Now the rock polisher goes back to granddaughter #3 that started all of this rock business.

I think Dakota Man is done turning snowmen and trees for the season.

 His last two are snowgirls.

~b

Spindles

 In keeping with tradition these are my 2024 painted figures.

Dakota Man turned them out in his woodshop.

He is a handy man to have around.

I don't know why but I was feeling mint green and pink when I dug out colors to paint.

While my paint was drying we dehydrated two bags of celery to take with us in the camper.

Yes two bags of celery dried down to a half-pint jar. The verdict will be out on whether we like using it in chili and goulash. Then with all the ends I decided I better get those turkey bones out of the freezer and make broth. One thing always leads to another doesn't it?

It's a busy life at our house and we love every minute of it.

~b

Canada

 I got the fringe put on this scarf yesterday for another finish.

This was an easy project with self striping yarn and all knit stitches.

It is long and double weight. Might be perfect in Canada?

~b

Done

 Fingerless Gloves finished

and onto the next project. 

~b

story time

 This fall granddaughter #3 wanted a Stanley waterbottle. They are all the rage $$$$.

So off the 4 of us went to look for a Stanley. I found a chair and waited for her to find the coolest color. While I was waiting and pondering which is what I do best I remembered that Mr. b had a Stanley thermos buried somewhere in our basement that he carried to work for 30+ years. I told her grandpa had a Stanley and reminded her that grandpa was cool before cool was in. 

When Thanksgiving got here I had to put away my quest to finish unfinished projects. Thanksgiving involved two weeks for me...one week preparing and one week to rest and  recover. I finished this braided cable headband today and promply threw the pattern in the garbage. Knitting cables is just not my thing although it did turn out pretty.

Next up is a half mitten. It really is too cold in this country to wear a half mitten but it will probably be better to have two.

~b

Jim Beam

 It seems Mr. b is pulling out all the stops for this year's smoked turkey.

~b

ethnic

 We have this discussion at least once a year at our house when we ask each other which ethnic food we love the most or if we could only have one type which would it be. We usually agree it is between Mexican and German.

Yesterday it was German when I made these herb buns and sauerkraut soup. Remember when we made sauerkraut? I still had some of it left for the soup.

Both were delicious. I probably make soup twice a week. It really stretches my food budget when prices are what they are. I'm glad we aren't feeding a family of four or more. It also provides multiple meals giving me more down time from the kitchen.

~b is for Brotkorb

Books and Coffee

Or good coffee with a good book.

Todays post office delivery included both. We got hooked on pecan coffee the first time we were in Texas and have been buying it every since, there or online. Thrift books is my go to for used books.

 

I told you I am on a roll to finish up old projects and this scarf was one of them. 

When I picked up this entrelac scarf to finish I had to learn the technique all over again. Very frustrating. I'm vowing to do better.

NOW I am on to a slipper, cable headband and a fingerless glove.

~b

While the autumn days of November days go by

 Dakota Man is in his workshop making snowmen.

It's not until he starts the turning process that you see the beautiful grain in the wood.

The finish he applies further brings out all it's beauty.

~b

leaves and pumpkins

 It's the perfect time of year to be working on a Falling Leaves quilt.

I picked up these three fat quarters in a cute quilt shop in Iowa.

36 six-inch squares and 18 twelve-inch squares...I probably won't finish it this year.

But it is fun to be working on a seasonal quilt that is in season.

Then there's this quick pumpkin.

~b

wool

 The first time we visited Montana we stopped at a sheep farm 

where I bought this wool yarn for a scarf.

I've been working on it here and there for quite awhile.

It was beautiful yarn to work with in heather tones. 

Wool comes with a few pieces of straw to pick out as you knit.

It's hard to go back to using acrylic yarn once you've used a natural fiber like wool.

It's a rainy Saturday here and I have white chicken chili simmering on the stove and a good book to read while I consider my next unfinished knitting project. Yes, I did get that second sock done.

~b

American Gothic

While we were driving through Iowa last month we decided to stop at the site that the painter Grant Wood was inspired by to paint "American Gothic."

It's one of my favorite paintings. It seems the painting was controversial...Iowa felt it was being poked fun at. Did you ever read any stories about the movie "The Bridges of Madison County" which we also stopped by for a picture. The farmers of Iowa were sure their wives 

would never commit to such goings on. But who knows what a lady would do if Clint Eastwood came knocking at her door.

 Mr. b finished this picture for me when we got home. 

I'm so lucky that he also does the framing for his pictures.

~b

birds

 Octobirds...

I challenged myself to painting birds this month.

I'm thinking leaves and pumpkins in November,

both of which will also be a challenge for me.

~b is for bird

Americana

I'm determined to get this old sock done! This week!

I'm always on the lookout for barn quilts. We saw this one in Iowa.

 ~b is for balance

 If you know me you know that I don't always take the easy road.

We stopped at a roadside stand where I bought two pie pumpkins to bake with.

I turned this one into pumpkin bread. The other one will be pumpkin bars.

Always take the long slow road if you can.

~b

Wood Smoke

 Today was a good day for a fire in Dakota Man's woodshop. 

He has an order from me for candle cups.

He picked up a few pieces of exotic wood on our way through Iowa.

I was looking for black walnut.

These places are far and few between. We've never found a place here in South Dakota.

I can't wait to see what he turns this pile into.

Texas will be his next stop for wood this winter.

~b

Country Roads

 Every few years Mr. b and I have to do a pilgrimage to Iowa.

We spent the last four days driving to the Mississippi River and back.

We were hoping to see more color on the trees but we weren't too disappointed.

We saw lots of beautiful countryside.

Driving the back roads is how we like to roadtrip.

~b

too

Somedays I feel like Goldilocks. This block is too small, this block is too large.

This orange is too orange, this orange too pale.

I've been digging out all the fall colors in my little sewing sweatshop.

Dakota Man has been making me these little wooden measuring cups.

You know in case I get my own cooking show.

~b

American Gothic

 Sometimes Mr. b chooses his next paint-by-number and sometimes I choose.

I'm a fan of the picture "American Gothic" 

and I like that it was based on a house the painter Grant Wood saw in Iowa.

So this is what's going on in Mr. b's little corner of the house as we head into fall.

~b

officially

 It's officially soup season here which means 

I don't have to hide the fact that I like soup year round.

Todays selection is chicken and rice.

I'm celebrating with a new flour sack towel that I embroidered.

I see where I forgot to stitch that heart in the O so gotta go...

~b

LEGO

 We discovered there is some boy left in Mr. b when we saw this moose LEGO kit on our last trip.

He purchased it and enjoyed putting it together.

I think there may be more LEGO kits in his future?

We saw this moose four years ago in the Tetons.

~b

Dakota Man

 Mr b has a unique hobby. One that I love. Wood turning.

Yes, I am a lucky woman

Today he is in his workshop turning a large pecan bowl.

He was lucky enough to receive a larger wood lathe 

from my brother who is downsizing, THANK YOU!

We picked up the large piece of pecan in Texas. 

That was a fun excursion that we may make again on our next trip to the hill country.

Happy Fall! (finally)

~b

Today...

 Scrappy is my name - Quilts are my game.

There's always five or more quilts going on in my little sewing sweatshop.

I dug out a bag of dem bones from the freezer and made broth.

It will soon be soup season and I want to be ready.

When I need a break there's a dishrag and a good book by my chair.

~b is for busy

vacations

 Montana

Does anyone else ever feel like they could use a vacation from their vacation?

~b is for buffalo

crazy women

 I had to have a picture of this road sign in Wyoming?

I brought my sourdough starter along to feed it,

isn't that crazy?

We were headed for a drive through the Crazy Woman canyon in the Bighorn Mountains.

There was snow on the tops of them yet.

Life is definitely better in a camper.

~b