Happy Solstice ~ Merry Winter

I wish you peace on this longest night of the year.  Our tree is up, and most of the gifts are wrapped.  So many memories of past Christmases as I unpacked things, I couldn't help but shed some tears.  A friend shared a beautiful song that brought both tears and comfort.  If you're struggling with having lost someone this Christmas, it may comfort you as well.  https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152903695062603&pnref=story

I've never much cared for liquor, but I love this Hot Buttered Rum recipe shared by From Scratch Magazine.  My sister and SIL have requested I bring it to our Christmas gathering, which I'm pleased to do.  I expect we can all use a little something to soothe and take the edge off this year.   If you can use a little of the same, you might want to give it a try.

I am looking forward to the return of the light.  Wishing you a Happy Solstice and a Merry Winter.  Hold your loved ones close this holiday season.

My New Favorites~ Seagrove Pottery

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season, in whatever way suits you.  I didn't intend to stay away, but I haven't had any extraordinary frugal accomplishments these recent weeks.  I'm still doing all the usual things, just nothing terribly exciting to share.  I did, however, want to share a couple of treasures I found for myself at the recent Celebration.  I'd been wanting a sponge holder, and when I saw this one of Michele's, I knew it would be the perfect one for my countertop.  Michele & her husband Jeff are both Seagrove potters.  Here's their website, which has links to both of their shops at the top of the page.  Once my workshop is built, I'd love to have one of Jeff's sinks in the bathroom.

I'm loving this mug by Matthew Kelly.  It called to me, and while purchasing it, he told me his wife claimed it for her own if it didn't sell.  The Celebration had just begun when I spied it.  It never had a chance of making it back home.  Here's his fb page.  I don't believe he has an online shop at this time.

We've just a few remaining shortening days before they begin to lengthen again.  The winter season is almost upon us, and we've begun hearing about the possibility of winter weather here.  I wouldn't mind if it held off until the first of the year, but then bring on the snow!

Late November Frugal Accomplishments

I froze trimmings of carrot and butternut squash for broth, ground wheat flour, and harvested carrots. Made a pasta dish using broccoli, onion, garlic and basil (frozen) grown here, with some vegi broth I canned.  Emptied water glasses into the teapot that "lives" on the woodstove to add moisture, dried laundry on the line. Baked some of our sweet potatoes. which we ate two nights.

Gathered a fall bouquet of magnolia leaves, winterberry, pinecones on a branch, rosemary, branches of colorful leaves, a branch of hazelnut catkins, and nandina.

I brought a butternut squash dish, an apple pie, and sesame cookies to Thanksgiving dinner at my brother's house.  The pie and cookies were made with a mix of unbleached white and the wheat flour I ground.  The squash was grown here.

McNibs napping

Made a batch of white bean dip from Bean by Bean.  I began reading this book during slow times at the Celebration last weekend, and I had quite a few pages marked after only reading a portion.  I decided to purchase my own copy, and found a very inexpensive used copy online.

I've seen a blue heron around the pond lately.  I can never seem to manage a good photo, taking it inside the house and through a screen.  With all the losses this year, I don't feel I have a lot to say these days.  These Monday posts are something I feel I can manage.  I hope to have more to say at some point, but for now, this helps me feel I'm still connected here.  Joining in with this week's Frugal Accomplishments on The Prudent Homemaker.