It's Canning Season!

It's time to visit farmer's markets, go berry picking, and enjoy all the fruits and vegetables that you have been missing throughout the winter months.  The season is short so you'll have to be quick and gather up your bounty and prepare and preserve it to extend the enjoyment of all those wonderful flavors...that means canning or freezing if you prefer.

I am no expert when it comes to canning so this post is not a "how to" for "putting food by".  I read all that I can find on the subject and listen carefully to those who wish to share their expertise with me, then I set about putting what I learn into practice.  I enjoy the process, literally.

With all the necessary tools in place, I start my canning season with one of my favorite fruits...Strawberries.  I wash, cut the stems off, and plop them in my food processor and pulse just to the consistency that I like.  They are then placed in a handy dandy little contraption that I just this Spring found out about, its the Jam and Jelly Maker by Ball, I use my favorite recipe and in 21 minutes I have jam that is ready to be processed in my water bath canner.  10 minutes later, I have summer in a jar...so good, especially in my yogurt.

I hope you are enjoying the season and will take a couple of hours out of your day to bring the time honored tradition of canning/preserving to your kitchen.

Blessings,

Vee

Healthy Choices

When I go to the grocer/market, I spend a great deal of time shopping the produce isles.  I really love seeing all of the textures and the variety of vegetables available.  I plan our meals around what's in season.  Spring time is especially wonderful, not for just the in season produce, but also for the anticipation of the bounty to come.  Vegetables make up a large portion of our daily meals but my favorite way to enjoy them quickly without a lot of prep, is to make big salads.

Add a little protein of choice and a favorite dressing ( I LOVE Montebello Kitchens oil free dressings) and I have a light and delicious lunch.

What's in it?

Green Leaf Lettuce
Red Leaf Lettuce
Radish
Raw Carrots
Cucumber
Cherry Tomatoes
Albacore Tuna
Seasoned with Herbes Provence, cracked pepper
Sprinkling of Hemp Seeds
(all veggies are organic and tuna is wild caught)
Dressing is Montebello Kitchens Fig Balsamic

Thanks for stopping by and always keep the "healthy" in your refrigerator.

Vee

Grain Free Granola and Yogurt

Wow, how long has it been...look at the date of my last post.  Time really does move swiftly.  The challenge is always in the management of time and how to marry all the things that I want to do with all of the things that I need to do.  I fall short quite often, but, I have learned to take it all in stride and at the end of the day...It's all right with me.

So, I shall get right to it.  I have been living and loving life since my last post to this blog of mine.  I have lots to share and I have decided that my blog will feature a variety of things that I love.  To begin,  I love food.  Healthy, vibrant, flavorful food...Real food.

I have adopted a whole food/unprocessed food lifestyle.  Other than the blueberries, there is nothing "low fat" in this little glass dish.  There's plenty of "good" fats.  (there was a time when I would have never said that let alone put it in writing).  Although this post features grain free granola, I am limiting (not eliminating) the amount of grains in my diet.  I feel that eating some grains are good for me and I do soak/sprout them prior to cooking or eating.  Here's a favorite afternoon snack.  It keeps me satiated until dinner, and that's a good thing.

What's in it?

Wallaby Whole Milk Vanilla Yogurt
Raw Walnuts (soaked of course)
Larabar Renola (grain free)
Blueberries

I also love pretty china and table settings.  The glass dish is from Home Goods.  The spoon is  Rogers & Son Champagne silver plate.  The quilted table cloth was made by me from various blue and white fabrics found in my stash.  It was a first attempt at playing with my mid arm quilting machine.  More on that later.

Thank you for visiting and reading my first post in a very long time.  It is short and sweet (literally) as I have a bit of updating to do with Thistle Creek Cottage so please do come back to see how it's coming along.

LadyV

Stitch Me Up a Spring Runner

Hello everyone and thank you so much for visiting me today as I take part in my very first blog hop.  So exciting!  It's the Stitch Me Up blog hop hosted by Mdm Samm, Sew We Quilt, and Jane, Jane's Fabrics.  Thank you both for putting together a fun hop and such a great source of inspiration.  Everyone's creations are just lovely.  You all are so very talented.

For this hop we were provided wonderful designs to choose from.  The designs were created by Cyndi from Stitch, Stitch, Stitch, and Debbie from Busy as can Be.  The sponsors are Colonial needle and Presencia Threads.  I chose to stitch Bee Tree Designs, Elements, it has such a vintage look to me. I  love vintage embroidered linens and display them around my home.  This sweet design provided the perfect opportunity to stitch a Spring runner for my Easter table.  I used a pastel palette of presencia finca size 12 perle cotton and colonial needles for all of my embroidery. 

I love the simplicity of this design and the way it flows so I shaped the corners of my runner to enhance the look. The fabric is 100% linen backed with white Kona Cotton. 

I made a generously sized runner so that I could place my table decorations on it without covering up or obscuring the embroidery.

We're ready for our breakfast tea!  What a fun Hop...Thanks Mdm Samm and Jane for allowing me to participate.

Now I'm going to hop on over to visit these lovely blogs, please join me.

Kristin @ That Other Blog
Robin @ That Other Blog
Jane's Fabrics and Quilts
Dexter Days The World Through our Window
Sew Nicely
My Art, My So Called Life
Just Sew Sue
Co mne bavi
Life, Quilts, and a Cat too
Tea Time Creations
Read, Quilt, Cook, Pray
Cate's Linens
Shade Tree Quilting
Ladybug Dreams

Red House Sampler

Just a quick post to show my latest cross stitch project.  Brenda Keyes Red House Sampler. This is the stitched model.

This is how much I've stitched thus far.

I'm stitching it on 28 ct. Cashel Platinum linen using the suggested dmc floss colours. It's quite a large sampler but not as large as my last one which was Needle Print's reproduction sampler Mary Peacock...She should be home from the framer this weekend.  I'll be happy to finally get that one on the wall.

Thanks for visiting me.

It's Spring Somewhere

But not here, not yet.  This is what was going on outside my window yesterday.  


 There's beauty in the day and I'll remember to visit this pic in the summer when its 98 degrees.

Hope you're having a sweet Spring day.

Need a Litttle Sunshine

I'm so ready for Spring and warmer weather.  There have been many overcast days.  A little more sunshine to enjoy would be wonderful.  Let's see if I can brighten things up a bit.  How about a sweet cross stitch for the tea room.

Maybe start gathering my Easter table decorations.  Not quite sure which china I'll use but I am sure this bunny pitcher will be the center piece.

 

Some lemon cookies would be nice too!

Think I'll end the day with this little cutie.  She needs clothes.

Better get started knitting her dress:-)

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to stop by on Thursday March 28th for my Stitch Me Up blog post.

Tea and Bird Watching

Just a few days ago it was cloudy, snowy, and wintery.  The bird feeders had not been filled yet and all my feathered friends were left to fend for themselves and find cover within the conifers.  Must change that!

Conditions are much better for them today.  The feeders are filled, they're happy, and so are we as we watch them while enjoying tea and scones.

 Now, instead of the lemon curd, I have lemon glaze on mine, since becoming vegan, butter is not an option. 

 "I can see you, can you see me?  The little chickadee on the left blends nicely into the brush.  The cardinal takes center stage.  The beauty of nature.

Have a great week.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sharing my day with:

Sunny Simple Sundays

 

Instead of Blogging I Was...

Re-decorating my kitchen.  Painting.

When my computer quit on me, I found myself with more time (Imagine that).  I decided that maybe this would be a great time to update my kitchen.  I also wanted to try my hand at painting with chalk paint.  There was a lonely little cupboard sitting in my garage all covered with "everything".  I painted it antique white, distressed it a bit, and here's the result.

Finally a place for my antique ironstone. I was now in full fledged painting mode.  I decided to paint the small towel holder on the other side of the kitchen.

Over the summer and in between paint strokes, you could find me stitching.

This is the "start" with a looooong way to the finish.

Getting Closer but still a ways to go.  When I'd break from stitching, you could find me quilting.
 A sweet little table square.

I also made a lifestyle change...I am now Vegan.  That was the most significant change of all and the best thing I could have done for my health going forward.  Still have some annoying sinus issues though.

So here we are at the end of the year.  The creek is icy and the winterberry bushes are full.

The cold wind blows...

Time to weave.  The looms will be making their rhythmic sounds again as I weave scarves, towels, and such.  Feels good.  This is a "blue jean" coloured scarf for Krista.

I couldn't let the year end without knitting a pair of socks.  I call these a tribute to "Dickens"...The Christmas socks.

Nothing like a nice pair of worsted weight socks to keep the chill away.

There were many things going on last year that got in the way of blogging and I seriously considered not blogging ever again.  But I really do enjoy blogging and visiting all the various blogs of creative and talented people. You all inspire me.  So In 2013 I will keep my camera handy and look forward to sharing the creative side of me here at Thistle Creek Cottage.

Many blessings to you.  Thanks for visiting.

Welcome The New Year

Still, quiet, and lovely...The dusting of the first snow of the season here at the cottage, bringing 2012 to a close.  Remnants of autumn still visible.  Taking a moment to reflect, think about what I'd like for the new year to bring...Joy.

I've been absent from blogland for quite some time. Lots going on...Although I've not posted, I've kept my camera busy. In the new year I'll update this old blog of mine with a brief pictorial of my 2012 projects. But for now, here's wishing a happy new year to all.

I'll Be Back Soon

My computer finally decided it was tired of me pushing its buttons so I will be partially disconnected from blogland for about a week.  I still have my net book so I will be visiting your blogs and being inspired by all the wonderful things you do.

Until next time, have a great week and enjoy each and every day.

Vee

Have a Wonderful Mother's Day

Many blessing to you on this Mother's Day.  Immerse yourself in all the joys and happiness that surround you.  Take time for yourself on this day and on the days to come.  You are the best!

I will share my day with my family and spend time enjoying my garden -- Bliss!

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to stop by for tea with me on Tuesday.

When Violets Are Happy

They glow like silk.

So pretty and cheerful.  I'm happy when my African Violets thrive.  I've had this one for over a year and it's a prolific bloomer.  It sits here on my sideboard with my tea things for company.

Right outside my window there are a few more reminders that Spring is in full affect and "consistently" warm weather is on the way.

When Nelly is happy, she climbs and shows her stripes...

and offers light shade for Fern and Fairy.

When Rhody is happy, she proudly shows her true colours...

and tries to be the center of attention.

When Vi is happy, she makes lace...

and glows at sunset.

I love it when my garden wakes up and presents me with so many pretty blossoms and wonderful scents.  The peonies will be blooming soon...I have my vase ready :-)

Thanks for stopping by...Have a joyful day.

I'm sharing with:
Show off your cottage Monday
Masterpiece Monday
Cozy Home Party
A Return To Loveliness
Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home