COTTAGECORE WINTER 2022
CHOOSING A LIFE OF CONTENTMENT
SLOW LIVING
HOW TO CROCHET A CHUNKY SWEATER
BRINGING BACK TEA TIME
TRADITIONAL SKILLS THE ART OF CANDLE MAKING
Tea Time! Send Cottagecore Magazine your favorite tea recipe! We'll select a few to be featured in upcoming issues.
Message your favorite tea recipe to Instagram @bigredbarnandboots!
Table of Contents 3 Meet Our Contributors 15 The Importance of a Sit Down Family Meal Why sit down meals are vital in families.
27 10 Ways to Have a Slow Living Kind of Day 34 Mexican Chicken Soup
Bringing Back Tea Time
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Perfect family meal on a winter's night.
35 Choosing a Life of Contentment 6 actions that can help you choose contentment.
Candlemaking Made Simple
44 Gardening: Starting Seeds Indoors 47 How to Crochet an Oversized Chunky Sweater Learn to crochet this oversized chunky sweater.
52 The Experience A fantasy about a dwarf continued.
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Meet Our Contributors
Meet Rachel Rachel Davis, author at J&R Farms, lives with her farming family in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. She loves all things home: Homemaking, homesteading, homeschool, and homebirth! She has a passion for growing, preserving, and cooking healthy meals for her husband, three little boys and baby girl. You can find her on Instagram @jandrfarms_mama and on the blog, www.jandrfarmstn.com
Meet Dea Hello friends, I am Dea. I'm a mother, creator and a Biology Professor who adores nature. I love making my life into an art by being creative with crocheting and handicrafts. I also advocate a simple and sustainable life, working on myself and learning new skills. Find me on Instagram and Youtube @deaweaver
Meet Abigail Hello friends, Cottagecore Magazine warms my heart because I admire anything and everything vintage, cottage living, farm life, and country style. If you want to see more of my content visit my YouTube channel called Abigail Epling.
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Meet Our Contributors Meet Kimberli Cozy Kimmi Kimberli Almonla is a certified family herbalist and Doterra wellness advocate studying for her doctorate in naturopathic medicine. She is married with 4 children and loves spending time homemaking on her homestead. Kimberli goes by the name Cozy Kimmi on Instagram where she teaches people about herbs and oils.
Meet Stephanie Come join me as I continue to learn and share my journey as a godly wife, mother, homemaker, and homesteader living in a 3rd generation home built by my husband’s grandfather. I thrive in the balance between wearing aprons and shooting guns, the stability of stay-at-home motherhood whilst still cultivating wild femininity, the heart struggle between wanting to be in control while still yielding to God and merging a path to the future at the same time as preserving the past.
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"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures." ~L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
@CozyKimmi
"Homemaking on a Homestead" ~Homeschooling ~ Herbs ~ Oils ~ Gardening ~ Booklover
"The cottage is the place, where you find beauty and grace. The trees, they sway. I will stay In this wonderful place. ~ K.W. Carver
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Candlemaking
Made Simple
by Rachel Davis
T
he first time I made soap I burnt the varnish off our kitchen table. Did that stop me from trying again? Not a chance! I took to the books, researched some more, and made another attempt. The next time went much better and produced a usable batch of soap. That was seven years ago. I haven’t bought soap from the store since then! Candlemaking seemed like such a Ma Ingalls task…I had wanted to learn how to dip candles since I was a little girl. It was along the same lines as soapmaking in my book. One more thing to not have to buy at the store. Also, when you make it yourself, you know exactly what you are putting in your product.
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While I didn’t destroy any major household furniture in my candlemaking, I did have to adjust my expectations a little. See, I had envisioned dipping cotton wicks into vats of beeswax to make beautiful long, tapered, candles. I ended up not having time or resources for that…so let me teach you a doable, easy, yet beautiful way to make candles.
All you need to make candles for yourself or for unique handcrafted gifts is: a container beeswax or soy wax wicks. The container can be anything from a mason jar to an antique thrifted teacup. I’ve used tiny metal buckets I found discounted at craft stores, little glass jars, or mugs from Goodwill.
You can order beeswax or soy wax online from Amazon or check with your favorite bulk herb store online. If you are adventurous and conscious of supporting local farmers, by all means check with your local beekeeper and see if they have any beeswax to sell!
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Candle Making Made Simple Wicks are also available online. Your best bet for a good burning wick is to order cottonwicks that are pre-waxed. They may come pre-cut with metal bottoms for easy pouring. Or they may come in a roll that you have to cut yourself.
Depending on how the beeswax is packaged, it may be in flakes already. Or you will need to grate it with something like a cheese grater to get it into tiny flakes so it will melt easily. Soy wax typically comes in pellets ready to melt. Cottagecore 10
Candle Making Made Simple
For Easy Beeswax Candles: In order to melt the wax, you need to set up a double boiler. Much like melting chocolate. Beeswax sticks to EVERYTHING so make sure you plan to clean your bowl right away or set aside a special beeswax melting bowl. Once the beeswax pellets or shavings start melting, you can stir gently and make sure all the pellets are completely liquid. Prepare your containers with the wick. Measure and cut the wick if needed and center the wick in the container. If you need to tape the wick into place, do that now. To ensure the wick stays centered, you can tie the wick around a pencil, a clothespin, or really anything to stabilize the wick. You can tape it or wrap it loosely around the stabilizing object. You are ready to pour! Carefully pour the melted beeswax around the wick in your container. It smells amazing. Honestly it’s quite soothing to watch the golden liquid pour! Now all you have to do is let the containers sit. The beeswax will harden. Then you can trim your wick.
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For Soy Wax Candles: You could certainly pour the soy wax just like the beeswax. But there is another option that is even easier. And it uses the trusty CrockPot. You will first prepare your wick in the container, just like I stated above. Adversely, you can add the wick after the wax has melted. Either way will work. Then, carefully add in the soy wax flakes to the container. Fill to the top. (You will be adding extra wax flakes as they melt).
Set all the containers into your crockpot with a little bit of water added around the bottoms of the containers. Turn the slow cooker to low. It will take a few minutes for the water to heat up, and the wax will begin melting. Cottagecore 12
"Watch and pray, dear, never get tired of trying, and never think it is impossible to conquer your fault." ~ Louisa May Alcott
The Importance Of A Sit Down Family Meal By Abigail Epling Photos by Abigail Epling Cottagecore 15
The fine art of sitting down at mealtime is growing closer to extinction each year. In a busy world that wants instant gratification, one does not want to invest in the time it takes to prepare a sit-down meal, nor do they want to invest in the time it takes to consume that meal. It appears to be an unwanted hassle.
I have heard a lot of moms recently say, “I don't know how to cook,” or “I don’t want to cook.” I want to encourage the wives and moms of today on why sitdown meals are vital in our families today, and explain the benefits of slowing down the family’s pace to incorporate a family meal.
The Importance of a Sit Down Family Meal
Family Time Is Important Time is important! Americans rush time like they can get it back. Here is the secret, they can’t. Once time is gone, it is gone forever and so are the precious memories with it. Time spent with family members can be made into precious memories. It is so important to slow down and take time to eat at the dinner table together. Being together elicits conversation. Family members can then discuss their day, pass around stories, get to know one another better, and create stronger bonds with one another. It means a lot to children, even if they don’t recognize it for what it is. It gives each child an opportunity to talk about their day. Each person gets attention and may discover the importance of being part of their family.
It Teaches Manners Table etiquette is something that is slowly dying. Children of this generation grow up without knowing how to act appropriately at a table. It is foreign for them to know which side the silverware goes on or to say, “Pass the potatoes please.” Children often do not respond well when introduced to new foods or to foods they don't like. They have not learned to eat what is on their plate, or to at least try the new food given to them. Most kids’ pallets are for pizza, chicken nuggets, and mac and cheese only. While these foods are delicious, it does not teach them to be grateful for what was prepared and given. When children refuse to eat new foods that have been prepared, it can often be interpreted as disrespectful, ungrateful, and/or disobedient.
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Fast food or restaurant meals can take a toll on one’s body. It can be much healthier to eat a home-cooked meal. It is more cost-effective too. Try one week of slowing down to eat a sitdown family meal. It does not have to be every meal of the day.
Pick one meal of the day that would be the best time to prepare and try it for a couple of weeks. The results will be beneficial.
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For More
Cottagecore Cottage Time - YouTube, bigredbarnandboots.com, & Instagram @bigredbarnandboots
BRINGING BACK
Tea Time By Cozy Kimmi (Kimberli Almonla)
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Bringing Back Tea Time
M
y love affair with tea began many years ago when studying for finals left me craving something to comfort my very soul. I remember my first cup of that black tea with a spicy orange flavor. It reminds me of those cozy moments of my youth. That was almost three decades ago, but you can still find me curled up on my favorite chair with a good book and a nourishing cup of goodness! Teatime is one of the oldest practices on earth and I happen to think it’s a celebration of all that is good in life. Time spent with a cup of tea is time well spent, especially if it’s made with herbs. I’ll share a few of my favorite herbal blends with you in just a bit.
Why Have Tea Time So, what is it about a cup of tea that we all crave so deeply? Do we desire nourishment or comfort? Maybe we're seeking wellness or a time for rest. I love all of these reasons. Tea time forces us to pause. We need to boil the water, or turn the kettle allowing you time with your thoughts. You need to select a cup that’s just right. I happen to love thrifting for that perfect cup. I choose seasonally of course. Herbal teas require preparation. Tea bags need to steep. Then we need to choose the coziest place to enjoy our delightful cups of comfort. My favorite place to enjoy a cup of tea is in my garden but it’s January right now here in New England so the best I can do is sit next to the window and listen to the birds who never complain about the cold temperatures. I sip and glance at a winter wonderland outside. I plan, prepare, think, and dream of all that it will become while I sip. To me, that’s the ultimate morning here on the homestead. Starting each and every morning with books and tea gives me a sense of steadiness for whatever may come.
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I could spend all day romanticizing tea and how it can bring you nourishment and solace. The medicinal benefits alone are enchanting. I love herbs. I love growing them, harvesting them, and making tea and medicine from them. The simple act of making an herbal blend is an easy and sustainable practice. Gather up your favorite cup and kettle for a few of my absolute favorite herbal blends. I wish you all a season of wellness and JOY. May you all find comfort in your daily cup. Love, Little Ole’ Me Always seek the advice of your doctor before using or taking any herbs. There are contraindications for some of these herbs.
Bringing Back Tea Time
Recipe #1 Kimmi's Powerhouse Tea Ingredients: Astragalus Root, Echinacea angustifolia, Tulsi
This tea is packed with immune support. Astragalus is one of my favorite herbs to use in the winter. This is a super strengthening root used in Chinese medicine. It helps support the lungs and promotes healing. Echinacea angustifolia is a powerful herb known as purple coneflower. Commonly used for snake bites this herb is packed with so much medicinal value. I use it for infections and immune support. Tulsi or holy basil is used for everything from the common cold to anxiety. It’s antiviral and a strong addition to a winter care routine. Ingredients: Astragalus Root, Echinacea angustifolia, Tulsi Directions: Place 1 teaspoon of each herb into a tea strainer and pour hot water over it. Allow it too steep for about 3 minutes, longer for a more medicinal brew.
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Recipe #2 Floral Bouquet This is what I drink on those days when I find myself dreaming about spring and summer. I want that floral experience to remind me that spring is right around the corner. These edible flowers have a variety of benefits from skin to general well-being. My favorite is rose which has a tonic effect on the body. This tea would also be excellent iced!
Ingredients: Blue Cornflowers Gomphrena Calendula Rose
Directions: Place about a teaspoon of each flower into a strainer and steep for about 5 minutes. This recipe is excellent with a little maple syrup or raw honey. This recipe is definitely kid approved here on the homestead!
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Recipe #3 Longetivity Brew This is something we have year round. It’s so delicious and the nutrition is off the charts. Rooibos is a powerful and effective antiinflammatory. It’s known for high antioxidant levels but it can also prevent serious illness. Rose is again a great addition to any tea recipe. The color is just lovely. I add doTerra’s orange essential oil to this tea and it almost gives this tea a creamsicle flavor. This wild orange oil is a super cleanser and it’s flavor and benefits are many. It supports the immune system and has cleansing properties. I always take a deep breath of this while its brewing to uplift my mood.
Ingredients: Rooibos, Rose, doTerra Orange Essential Oil
Directions: Place 1 tsp of rooibos into a strainer over your cup and add ½ teaspoon of organic rose petals. Let that steep for about 3 minutes. Optional and delicious is to add 1 drop of orange essential oil from doTerra. This makes it extraordinary!
"If any of you are passing my way, don't wait to knock. Tea is at four; but any of you are welcome at any time." J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
Abigail Epling Slow Living ~ Homemaking
Instagram @_applegator_ & Abigail Epling - YouTube
10
Ways to Have a
SlowLiving Kind of Day Treasure the small events of an intentional day.
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A s many of us seek to enjoy a slower
paced life, there can be a struggle to
know what that might look like. While it's true that we are all coming from different backgrounds, there are areas of our life where we can all embrace the simple, slow living.
Slow living is a lifestyle philosophy. Treasure the small events of an intentional day. Enjoy life as it happens and decide today, that you are going to enjoy the journey!
Take a Nature Walk When weather allows, nature walks can lend a refreshing vibe to your day! Take in the smells and scenery of the great outdoors, which is all a part of the slow living day. Live in the moment. Bring a journal and draw something beautiful that catches your eye or gather specimens to create an herbarium later. Whether you choose to simply stroll or explore and learn, time spent outdoors is a much-needed past time.
2 Get Lost in a Good Book Begin an adventure as you let yourself get lost in a good book. Wandering where to start? Look for Classic authors like: L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, J.R.R. Tolkein, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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Homemaking, Life Giving Food, Traditional Skills
jandrfarmstn.com
J&R Farms Instagram @jandrfarms_mama
Sit and Chat with a Loved One While texting and phone calls have their place, there's nothing quite like sitting a spell with someone you love. My grandmother always loved to have someone stop by and sit under the shade tree with her. While our conversations may not have been book worthy, they meant a lot to her and are cherished memories for me today. It's about catching up on life and genuinely conversing with your loved one. Be in the moment...slow living.
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3 Have a Quiet Time A quite time to reflect on what matters. Make adjustments where needed. Pray. Journal. For me, I try to do this in the morning. There's something refreshing about the morning. I read my Bible and talk to God. I have found this time to be renewing and stress relieving.
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Tea Time or Coffee Break Take a few minutes each day to linger over a cup of your favorite beverage. Be grateful for the time and the "tea." This little break can be the reboot to get you through the evening.
6 Listen to music to unwind or lift your mood. While listening, do a chore or paint or just sit and enjoy. The main goal is to embrace the slow living activity.
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7 Who doesn't appreciate the down time of sitting by a fire? Cozy up next to a bonfire or the woodstove and have a relaxing evening!
Surprise your loved ones with a candlelight dinner! Turn the lights down low and enjoy sweet conversation and the flickering glow of candles lighting your dinner.
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Enjoy a Candlelight Dinner
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Play a Board Game
Take a break from the stresses of the day. Focus on those in your own household. Go old school! Spend an engaging afternoon over your favorite board game.
Learn a New Skill
Take up a new skill that's not only relaxing, but productive as well. Making something with your own hands can bring a satisfying joy...contentment. Cottagecore 32
Off Gr id
- Enjoy ing Nature
Self-Su stainabl e Dea Weaver - YouTube Instagram @deaweaver
Simple Living
Mexican Chicken Soup by Abigail Epling
Ingredients: One Tablespoon of onion powder or one sweet onion chopped and sauteed One Teaspoon of garlic or two garlic cloves minced Two Teaspoons of cumin Two Teaspoons of dried oregano One Teaspoon of salt Two Tablespoons of lime juice or one fresh squeezed lime Three (15 ounce) cans of cannellini beans Two (10 ounce) cans of Rotel if you want it hot or one can of Rotel with one can of diced tomatoes for mild heat One (15 ounce) can of cream-style corn One (15 ounce) can of whole kernel corn One (15 ounce) can of black beans Four cups of shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken with assorted white and dark meat. It would also be good with chicken thighs.)
Directions: Make sure to cook & shred your chicken prior to fixing the soup. Mash two cans of the cannellini beans (Leave the bean juice in your mixture. This will help to thicken your soup.) Add all of the ingredients to a large soup pot. Let the soup simmer for 15 mins. and stir occasionally. This recipe makes a large pot of soup. Serve with corn tortilla chips, sour cream, and Mexican shredded cheese. This recipe is also Gluten-Free. Cottagecore 34
Choosing
A Life of Contentment
Being able to sift through and find those little moments in the craziness of life is the first step of learning to choose contentment. by Stephanie Heinbaugh of Mountain Mama Homestead Photos by Stephanie Heinbaugh Imagine this: finally sitting down at your kitchen table, a cup of coffee in hand, slowly taking those first sips of the day. The sun is slowly rising through the back window; the sky red and orange as it begins to glow. What I failed to mention is that the toddler has just thrown yogurt all over the puppy's head and is now yelling for a drink. And the cat just got sick on the rug. You get up, clean
up the puppy's head and the cat’s mess. You give your toddler that drink. And you do it all with a nice, deep breath and a realization of the blessings that you have in front of you. Sure, it's not thrilling or easy. And honestly, it's not because of that sip of coffee and the sunrise (although it probably helps!). It's because you have
decided to choose contentment. You know your child is the greatest blessing the Lord has given you and the animals you care for are wonderful little ones. But deliberately choosing to focus on those facts in the heat of the moment is a different thing altogether. Being able to sift through and find those little moments in the craziness of life is the first step of learning to choose contentment.
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Choosing a Life of Contentment Some may see this as unrealistic. Surely, if this were every single day, it would be pretty unrealistic. But consider also, that we're talking about choosing contentment. Our reactions to the world around us are always and only, in our control. We can, at least some of the time, choose contentment even in cleaning up yogurt off the dog’s head. We have to start somewhere to create the habit of contentment, so that then, each of those small moments strung together, becomes a life of contentment.
This is what I believe the goal of a Cottagecore lifestyle is: a contented life.
When I think of what contentment means, what first comes to mind is a sense of simple happiness or peace-filled joy. It's a thirst for an authentic life. Instead of wanting things, the Cottagecore lifestyle is about embracing experiences and teaching ourselves traditional crafts and skills. It's that underlying feeling of gratitude for what you have and being able to see the blessings even in difficult times. By living a simpler, more old-fashioned way of life, we can begin to settle into a rhythm of contentment. Through getting rooted in faith, choosing to limit distractions, embracing a simpler lifestyle, writing handwritten notes of thanks, no longer comparing ourselves to others, and through unplugging from tech, I have found that we can begin to choose contentment in our lives.
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Below, I expand on each of these, giving examples and simple ways to act on them. By implementing these 6 actions into our lives, we begin to choose contentment, and thereby fulfill the goal of the Cottagecore lifestyle.
Get Rooted in Faith
'I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance, and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. ' Philippians 4:12-13 New American Bible (Revised Edition). Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division. Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 2017.
As a woman of faith, I could not write about the topic of contentment without first acknowledging how I truly find the strength to choose contentment, even in times when it is most challenging to do so. I feel the Apostle Paul puts it perfectly in the above passage. I can’t always choose contentment in my own strength. It’s as simple as that. My secret is that it is the Lord working through me, “who empowers me". And don’t get me wrong, I still stumble sometimes. When I stumble though, it is in those times that I chose to be stubborn and work through my own strength, failing to put the situation into the Lord’s hands. So if you are a person of faith, get as rooted as you can be in your faith.
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Choosing a Life of Contentment In the Parable of the Sower in Luke chapter 8, Jesus talks about, “the seed of the Word of God” being planted in different environments and how the seed that “fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” As Jesus explains the parable, He goes on to say, “As for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” Rooting ourselves in faith; letting God’s Word fall onto open hearts and meditating on Scripture, is a concrete way to begin to choose contentment in our everyday life.
Choose to Limit Distractions By limiting distractions and allowing ourselves to be singularly focused more often, we can choose contentment. For instance, - Put down the cell phone and look up at the person you are conversing with. - Sit in a set of old rocking chairs with your partner, just to listen to music play; each note becoming an adventure in itself. - When your partner starts the coffee before you get out of bed, take in the smell of the coffee wafting through the air first thing in the morning. - Put your hands into the dirt and show the children how to plant seeds and grow their first garden. - Savor that first bite into a slice of warm, buttered, homemade bread at the dinner table with our family.
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Each of these is a singularly focused experience that allows us to become fully immersed in living each moment fully. Each is focused on living through our senses; sight, hearing, smell, touch & taste as well as seeking a deeper connection to our loved ones. Sure, this would be hard to do and focus on all the time. But if we choose to limit distractions, we can find real contentment in our lives. This is because it truly feels like we are living instead of just getting things done.
Embrace a Simpler Lifestyle For those of us drawn to the Cottagecore lifestyle, we find happiness in working towards cultivating simplicity and natural beauty in our environments. It’s making a dinner from scratch, making an intricate needlepoint to display on the wall, or starting a garden from seed. The simple, but challenging work brings its own reward and therefore, contentment. Honestly, sometimes I wonder how it came to be called “simple living”. What it should be called is "hard work that is more rewarding in the end" because that's what it is. But isn’t life like that? A lot of times, the more work we have invested into a project, the more it means to us. So, by doing work that is hands-on and slower-paced, we feel more contented with the reward because we did it ourselves. We saw what all went into it. It's more work to put the clothes out on the line to dry than it is to throw them into the dryer. But the rewards are saving on electricity, the clothes lasting longer, and the intoxicating smell of fresh air through the fibers. Cottagecore 40
Another example is making a quilt; we can buy one that may last a few years and is sort of devoid of meaning to us, except for it being pretty and warming. But when we make a quilt ourselves, it becomes something we treasure. We know the work that went into it, and therefore makes the quilt that much more cozy, beautiful, and warming. We can apply this analogy to almost any traditional task or project. By taking the road less traveled, we are choosing to surround our environment, and therefore ourselves, in contentment.
Write Hand-Written Notes of Thanks This idea may seem a little more out of left field, and maybe notes and letters aren’t your jam. But the act of writing down what and who you are thankful for re-affirms that truth to us. Cultivating the virtue of gratitude enables us to live a life of contentment. I honestly don’t think it would be possible to otherwise, they go hand-in-hand. When we write little notes of thanks and give them to their recipient, it is a
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concrete way of deepening this much-needed virtue. We become grateful for the little things, not only the big gifts we are given by others. When we concentrate on the kind gestures from those around us, it also shifts our focus. We begin to see more and more positivity in the world around us. Consequently, this brings about more feelings of contentment.
Stop Comparing Ourselves to Others Comparing our lives to others is not only a false comparison but can completely steal our joy and contentedness. We can only compare ourselves to who we were yesterday and even then, with an eye of kindness and compassion, not scrutiny. Continually working towards becoming the best version of ourselves is a good thing. However, comparing ourselves to others can lead to feelings of jealousy or envy.
We will never fully know someone else’s story or what they have lived through, we may just see the fruit of their interior work. By staying in our “own lane”, we can be much more content with ourselves and our lives. We can create goals that suit us and are attainable for us and achieve them. Thus, choosing a life of contentment instead of jealousy or envy.
Unplug From Tech if You Have To Turn your phone off, delete the social media apps, shut down the computer; do whatever you need to do if tech is keeping you from contentedness. With the world at our fingertips, and advertising bombarding us all the time, it’s easy to find things we want. This can make us discontent because we want all the products. But if we don’t see those items that are marketed specifically towards us, we won’t even know they are there. By turning off our phones, we can drastically reduce our desire for stuff. We are so tethered to our phones, that taking a break may seem like a challenge. But welcome the challenge. Even if it’s a short break, like an hour, this can help re-prioritize your day. You can choose when you want tech to be a part of your life, and when you don’t.
By incorporating these 6 concrete actions into our lives, we take steps towards choosing contentment. We decide to live a simpler life; one that is rooted in faith. A less distracted life lived in the moment that cultivates simplicity. A life that is full of gratitude, instead of comparison to others. A life that is in control of tech instead of tech being in control of us. Through this, we are living out what Cottagecore is meant to be.
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"Where you tend a rose my lad, a thistle cannot grow." ~Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Gardening Starting seeds indoors
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By Alisha Carver
My introduction to gardening happened as a child helping Maimie, my grandmother, pick and shell butterbeans as well as purple hull peas. I remember her long garden rows that we walked down planting those seeds. When you start plants from seed, you have the peace of mind knowing the purity of your plant and starting indoors can result in an earlier harvest. Check the back of your seed packet to determine which seeds to start indoors.
The Basics of Starting Seeds First, gather seeds. Quality seeds are a pretty big deal! Buy from a reputable company, read reviews, and purchase heirloom only seeds if you intend to save seeds. Heirloom seeds are the only seeds that can be saved. Hybrid and Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds cannot be saved. Next, purchase a seed starter mix. This is different than soil. It's a planting medium that acts like a sponge, keeping the seed moist which aids in germination. And lastly, gather seed starter trays/cells. This is a kit that comes with a plastic dome lid. The dome lid gives a greenhouse effect to your seeds. Cottagecore 45
Seed Starting Supplies Seeds - Purchase seeds from a reputable company. Seed Starter Mix - A planting medium which aids in germination. Starter Cells - Planting cells with a domed lid, which gives a greenhouse effect. Label Tags
The kit can be substituted with countless items that you most likely already have on hand. Eggshells, toilet paper rolls, or plastic food containers. etc. Label tags are also very important! You'll want to label every row of different seeds. You can buy tags or use something as simple as popcicle sticks and a permanent marker.
10 Steps to Starting Seeds 1. Fill the bottom of the cell tray with 1/4 inches of water. 2. Fill the cells with seed starter mix. 3. Make a shallow hole in the mix. 4. Place 1-2 seeds per hole and cover with the seed mix. 5. Label Seeds. 6. Water the seeds from the top with a spray bottle, misting until moist. You don't want it soggy! 7. Place seeds in a sunny location. 8. Cover seeds with the clear plastic dome lid. 9. Check seeds every couple of days for moisture and germination. 10. Once seeds have sprouted, remove lid and make sure they have plenty of light.
Go to bigredbarnandboots.com for more gardening inspiration!
How to Crochet an
Oversized Chunky Sweater by Dea Weaver Crocheting is such a wonderful craft.
o
nce you start crocheting, you may start living a less stressful life. It's been proven that the action of crocheting changes the brain chemistry, decreasing stress hormones and increasing feelgood chemicals (serotonin and dopamine).
Relevant, repetitive tasks that you practice often, like crocheting, are important for forming synapses, thus improving your ability to learn new things.
Learn to crochet this chunky, oversized sweater!
It is sure to get you through Winter.
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How to Crochet an Oversized Chunky Sweater MATERIALS: Yarn (any yarn you like that fits the size of the hook) Approximately 9 - 10 balls; Crochet Hook - For this project I used a 5.5 mm crochet hook. For the seaming I used a 3.5 mm hook. Scissors Measuring tape
The yarn I used was a bulky, acrylic yarn. I wanted a cardigan that is oversized and chunky but if you want a more fitted or less oversized cardigan simply do less rows on each panel. The sweater is constructed using 4 panels. All you need to do is crochet 2 rectangular panels and then work 2 smaller rectangles that will become the sleeves. Then you seam the pieces together at the end. First, I started with the front panel and I chained 100. The number of stitches really depends on the crochet hook and yarn thickness you are using. I recommend sticking to your measurements rather than the number of stitches. I pretty much used leftover yarn that I already had in my yarn stash - dark pink, dark green, gray and white. Be creative and play with the colors.
Take your measurements and decide which size sweater to make. Wrap a measuring tape around your bust and then, measure how long you'd like the sweater to be:
Small (S): 32 in (81 cm) bust and 23 in (58 cm) length Medium (M): 36 in (91 cm) bust and 25 in (64 cm) length Large (L): 40 in (100 cm) bust and 27 in (69 cm) length Extra-large (XL): 44 in (110 cm) bust and 23 in (58 cm) length
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An example of measurements for this chunky, comfortable sweater: Width across back and bust: 65cm (25,5 inches) Lower parts of the panels: 77 cm (30,3 inches). As I crocheted the way up I reduced the number of stitches to create a dress-like piece. Length of both panels: 70cm (27.5 inches)
Sleeves: Length 50cm (19,6 in) Width - 36cm (14,1 in) wrist 22cm (8,6 in) I started crocheting from the tip towards the bottom of a sleeve and increased the number of stitches to create a fine line. When I finished the sleeve panels and cuffs, I attached and seamed the two together along one long edge.
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How to put the panels together: If you are going to do a crochet seam, it's very simple, you can either use a slip stitch or a single crochet and then you line up your pieces and start slip stitching or single crocheting across.
Make sure you check everything and put the right sides together. For me the easiest way is to use a single crochet seam. Make sure your panels stay at the same points when seaming and line up each row as best as you can. Cottagecore 50
How to Crochet an Oversized Chunky Sweater How to crochet cuffs: Start by making a slip knot, and chain the length that is how wide you want your cuff to be. Skip the first chain. Insert your hook into the next chain, pull up a loop and pull that loop through the loop on your hook to slip stitch. Make sure your stitches aren't too tight. Continue slip stitching in every chain of your foundation chain. When you want to start the next row, chain one and turn your work. Here you have to find the back loops of your stitches and continue slip stitching into each back loop. Seam the edges together and attach the cuffs to the sleeves.
Every piece you crochet is actually realization and demonstration of your creative mind, your thoughts expressed through your hook and hand.
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Happy crocheting.
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." ~ C.S. Lewis
The Experience Stala flew down the path leading back to his village, heart pounding, mind racing. Why? Because a stranger asked him a question? "Absurd... really," he thought "there's no need to go running." But still he ran, the colorful Autumnal landscape streaming past him unnoticed. Why? Why? Why? The question echoed a thousand times over in his mind, but it remained unanswered. "Yes! I AM content here." But this thought was quickly perused by another. "No... you are not content. Get away for here, far, far away." "Can't I be content? Does anyone else think like me? Feel the need; the urgency to get away? The yearning to see more?" No. The other Dwarves were all content in their comfy vale. "Why Aren't I?" There it was again. Why? He burst from the tree line and skidded to a halt as a group of children ran past him, enveloped in a game of their own design. "The children don't worry about such things." muttered Stala "Why do I?" "I am content here, I am." Beginning his flight at a more controlled pace Stala mused "If I weren't would I not regard hunting with disgust? Would I not be repulsed by the idea of shooting a bow? If were not content I would hate the forest and our wigwams maybe even despise our god Manitou."
He pulled up suddenly beside the giant fires over which meals were cooked. He thought: "Perhaps it would be best not to go so far with my musing." A group of women walked across the path in front of Stala towards the fire. They all wore simple leather skirts, moccasins and sleeveless blouses. Some had the three lines of a widow tattooed on their lower lip, most didn't. "The children, the women-even the widows- seem to be content. Of course, I am as well." But from somewhere deep in Stala's heart there arose an argument against this line of thought. "They're content, yes. But are you? How normal are you really? How different?" thus his thoughts wared back and forth, one never vanquishing the other. He continued down the path through the center of the village, presently he passed a cornfield to his right. In it there sat a Dwarf on a covered platform to scare away the crows before they devoured the harvest. He stopped walking and observed this rather mundane job. "Look at that" he thought, "does he not realize it is the same thing every day, every year? Plant, water, watch, harvest, repeat. Does no one else realize how small and insignificant this village is? 'The most repulsive fate, is to become engulfed by apathy.'" The doctrine of the Dwarvish brave that was hammered into Stala's mind as a youth.
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"The fools. They don't realize they have all grown weak and fat on peace. No thought for or about anything outside their little world." Again, that voice from deep inside his mind spoke. "What knowledge do you believe you possess that others lack?" To this he had no answer. With this question added to the weight of his thoughts he made his way throughout the village, weaving between wigwams of various sizes, heading no place in particular. He was simply thinking, completely withdrawn into his mind, his feet wondering wherever they pleased. How long he aimlessly wondered, he knew not- all he knew was that when he awoke from his stupor, he stood before a medium sized wigwam at the edge of the village. Nothing to differentiate it from any other save the inscription over the entrance.
With a sudden howling in the distance, the world about Stala seemed to fall away to dust. In the wake of this strange event, nothing was left but scorched earth, the scent of death and decay, and the wigwam with the inscription. No trees survived the desecration, the once lushly forested mountains surrounding the village were now reduced to sharp rocky cliff The peaks rose like knives as if to assault the sky. A thick haze lay upon the valley, sticking in Stala's throat and obscuring his vision. Turning back to the wigwam he saw that its walls seemed to glow with their own ethereal light, and the inscription shimmered a teal blue. In the blink of an eye, it all vanished. Somewhere in the distance children laughed and a bird alighted on the top of the strange wigwam. At this point the only recourse that seemed logical to Stala, was to enter the wigwam- though why it seemed logical to him he had no idea.
by NAC
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