NorCalKnitter

Name:
Location: Crescent City, California, United States

I love to make things with my hands. My current passions are knitting and spinning.

Monday, May 31, 2010

I have been doing some reading and thinking about food, nutrition and how I would like to live my life. This is not something totally new, but is something that I have been thinking about for awhile.
As a nurse, I have done some diabetic teaching to pregnant women. Part of that teaching is telling them to "read the label, read the label, read the label...." on everything that they eat. So, I have been doing the same thing, reading the label before I buy foods in the store. Sometimes it is easier to just buy prepackaged food because you are tired from work, taking care of the house, and trying to meet the needs of your family, and put a meal on the table. But, you would not believe how many foods contain high fructose corn syrup as one of the first four ingredients. If you look at the last few ingredients on the label, there are allot of chemical words that no one can even pronounce. If you can't pronounce it, should you be eating it? Is this part of what is causing all the cancer in this world, and all the health problems??
I have stumbled on a few websites that have some interesting theories on foods that you should eat. GNOWFGLINS is mostly about eating natural, organic foods and eating local foods that are in season. I like that idea. The Nourished Kitchen is another site that talks about eating real foods. Both sites have on-line cooking courses with videos, and you are supposed to be able to work at your own pace. Both talk about fermenting veggies, making kefir, homemade yogurt and bread. Another fun cooking website for just down home good food is The Pioneer Woman Cooks
I have signed up for the Nourished Kitchen course, which starts tomorrow. I have never had kefir before and I am not sure if I will like it, but I am willing to give it a try. I am excited about learning something new.
I have also been reading The Radical Homemaker. I have read very much yet, but it does make allot of sense. If you are interested check it out.
Some great blog reads having to do with Homesteading are Mountain Home Quilts, and Homestead Revival.
I am supposed to go to an Alpaca shearing tomorrow. I hope to get some good pictures to share!

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Saturday, May 15, 2010

Back In Town

It has been a very busy month getting my in-laws moved to a new home from a place that they had lived in for about 27 years, then coming back home and a week later driveing to a graduation. YES, my middle son is done with his schooling, now he just needs to find a job and get some good work experience.
On our way home, we drove over Togette Pass. There was a snow storm the day we drove over it - at the end of April...................
While we were back visiting family in Wyoming, I found out about an Alpaca ranch that was close by - Arrowhead Alpacas. Jan gave us a tour of their ranch and told us everything we wanted to know aout Alpacas. I was also able to buy some raw fiber, and some roving from her. It was so nice to see where the fiber comes from. I could have kicked myself for forgetting to bring my camera and take some pictures!
While we were driving on vacation, I had plenty of opportunities to work on knitting. I finally finished these socks that will probably be a gift for someone.

And these socks for me.....

and a stashbuster project, the Spiral Rib Bag From One Skein by Leigh Radford. I used the yarn that they used in the book - Collinette Chrysallis #121. This took me about 1 day of knitting!



I also started the Fiddlehead Mittens, finally. Another stash busting project!

I think I will change the green yarn out for a lighter shade of green that will show up better against the black.
I have also been busy cooking since I came home, making Raspberry Jam......

and Raspberry syrup from the extra juice (Over wholewheat pancakes, YUM)........

and learning how to roast a chicken (yum) ...............See the recipe and a tutorial here. I love this blog! There are some great sounding recipes, great tutorials, and she makes it interesting.
And, last but not least, I have been washing wool, and washing, and washing (5 pounds of fleece). I finished up the last of the corriedale/targhee fleece that I bought last year at Black Sheep Gathering. I have made it a goal to try to get one more fleece washed before I go this year.
Next I need to get going with the carder!

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