How is it that the Yarn Along has slipped past me for several weeks now? My how time has flown by!

Yesterday I pick up my double pointed needles and began knitting some fingerless mitts for myself (finally!).  I’m using the handspun hand-dyed yarn I posted about the other day and I am just loving the fact that these are going to be for me! I’m also enjoying using my Brittany double pointed needles again. (video review of them here if you are interested.) I have not used them in forever and have missed them. I love how they feel and think they are really wonderful to knit with- and no I’m not being paid to say that!

A few weeks back I finished the Language of Flowers and enjoyed it so much even if at times I hated the main character and how she treated people (even if I understood why). It was very frustrating for me at times. I have since had a hard time picking up a new fiction book. Has that ever happened to you? Do you read a book and connect with the characters so much that once you put it down it becomes hard to pick up a new book and move on to a different story? It’s like having to tell good friends goodbye. I felt this way after reading the Language of Flowers.

I spent a couple of weeks browsing magazines and nonfiction books waiting for the urge to start over with a different fiction book to hit. It finally did Monday night and I began reading Into the Free by Julie Cantrell. This story is set in Mississippi during the Depression and opens with the main character, Millie, at nine years old. Immediately I was pulled in by Millie’s narrative voice and I am hopeful this book will not disappoint. I have only made it to chapter 4 so far but am already hooked.

My “to read” and “to knit” lists are ever growing thanks to our weekly Yarn Along posts. I always enjoy seeing what else everyone has been reading and knitting. As always, thank you to Ginny for hosting it every week.

{Pattern and Ravlery notes can be found here.}

Over the weekend I found myself having to slow down and take it easy more than I really cared to. It seems the pesky head cold I recently got over decided to settle in my left ear and by Friday night I was dealing with a fever and quite a painful earache. And I thought only children get earaches! Ha! This one sure did force me to take it easy. As of today I am feeling quite a bit better thanks to some needed downtime as well as some homemade herbal preparations.

Nearly every year I make an herbal oil out of mullein flowers, garlic, and calendula flowers. Who knew this year I would be the one needing the oil! { For some great info on making herbal infused oils be sure to check out this post found on the Mountain Rose Herbs blog.}

Throughout the weekend I placed 3 drops of my oil in my ear four times a day. I really should be treating both ears but am not (hope I do not regret this.) Within about 24 hours of using my herbal eardrops I noticed a significant difference in my ear. I am going to continue the drops for a few more days to make sure everything clears up well.

I should add that as well as using the herbal eardrops I have also been drinking large quantities of liquid which includes herbal teas made from anise seed, thyme leaves, elder flowers, lemon balm, and echinacea root. All of these herbs are good for congestion as well as the immune system. I know the earache stems from congestion building up so it is very important that I focus on ridding myself of it. On top of all of this I have also upped my Vitamin C intake to also help support my immune system (which has obviously taken a beating this year!)

I intentionally moved at a slower pace all weekend to force rest upon myself. This has not been an easy thing for me to do lately as there has just been so many things piling up needing my attention. I tried to focus on my knitting and spinning. I finally got back to work on Ariella’s sweater and made some progress on it. I also got a little bit caught up on my reading that I have fallen way behind on. And I was finally able to finish spinning up this yarn that I have been desperately trying to get around to finishing.

Isn’t it pretty? It is 4 ounces/210 yards worth of superwash BFL that I dyed with cochineal prior to spinning it. I decided to 2 ply it and am glad I did for it looks so lovely. It is about a sport weight and I am thinking it might make a really lovely pair of fingerless mitts. I so badly need a pair of fingerless mitts! My hands are always so cold. It seems I am always knitting some for everyone else, now I think it is time I knit myself a pair!

Hope everyone is well and healthy. Are you as anxious for spring to get here as I am?

XoXo, Cynthia

March indeed came in like a lion today. We woke up to about 2 inches of snow on the ground- the most we have seen since moving here. It sure does not feel like Spring is only a few weeks away!

Steve and I took the younger two kids on a little hike the other day. (Who knew that a few days later we would be in for some snow!) The lake was beautiful and peaceful and empty. Seeing that we have had some heavy rains recently, the trail was quite muddy at times and Ariella did not care for that at all. She would stop dead in her tracks for fear of falling in it. Gabriel on the other hand plowed through it all and more than once had me fearful that he was going to run full tilt into the lake. He will be 2 years old this month and still possess no fear of anything. He scares me half to death though on a regular basis.

Earlier this week I finally got around to starting up another batch of sauerkraut. I have been meaning to make some since moving but just never could seem to get around to it. It is actually a family affair when I make it because the three older males in my house like to squeeze the cabbage for me. (I think they enjoy showing off who has the stronger forearms.) I chop the cabbage, they squeeze the heck out of it. It’s a good combo. This time I decided to try adding some grated carrots to the mix. I can’t wait to see how that changes up the flavor. Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz is my go to source for making things like sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi, etc. He also has a great YouTube video on making sauerkraut that I thought was very helpful the first time I made it. We have all been having some tummy troubles lately and I can’t help but think that some of that is related to how little fermented foods we have eaten since moving. With any luck this sauerkraut as well as the kombucha I have brewing will help get our tummies back on track.