Tinsmithing first became popular in England around 1630. Tin was the poor man’s silver. In the early 1700’s during colonial times, tin became popular in America. Tin was inexpensive, lightweight, easy to clean and durable. Popular uses for tin included lantern covers, fireboxes, and fronts of pie safes.
Today is Homemade Soup Day – can you guess what’s for dinner?
Minestrone soup is a favorite around here. This super quick recipe has become a staple during winter months. I can keep all the ingredients on hand (except the spinach- which is optional). And it cooks up quick, which is very important for my busy family. It is a complete meal in one bowl.
My sister requested a pair of boot cuffs; and I aim to please. 
Living in the Northeast, winters can be quite brutal. The cold wind will cut right through you. Boot cuffs help to keep the cold from seeping into the gap between your pants leg and the top of your boot.
I found a free pattern for a pair of reversible cuffs on the blog Everyday Art. Because they are two toned it is like getting two pair for the work of one. I opted for black and tan because 85% of her wardrobe will match one of these colors.
Based upon several Ravelry reviews, I increased the size by casting on 52 stitches. They were massive and that one ended up in the trash. I hate to disassemble a small project and have tiny scraps of yarn.
The final pair was made casting on 48 stitches. They fit me great and I wear a size XL. They were not to tight. They also fit my sister who wears a size 6.
I opted to use Jeny’s Suprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. Instructions for this can be found on YouTube. Don’t forget to use a jogless stripe join when changing colors. It will make a huge difference in the finished product.
Recently the kids and I took a field trip to the zoo. Now that the kids have gotten older we no longer make regular pilgrimages to the zoo. But this trip will be remembered for a very long time.
The weather was a bit nippy for January, but since the zoo was running a special $3 per person, we decided to take a break from school and join some friends at the zoo. We saw the usual zoo animals – lions, tigers and bears, Oh my! The zoo even had jaguars. I don’t recall ever seeing jaguars before this.
BUT what makes this trip memorable was the elephants. 
Continue reading “Best field trip EVER!”
We love American Heritage Girls. With our endless moves it has been a great way for us to meet people in a new community. It also has allowed us to try things we never would have done before. My daughter loves anything crafty. The Creative Crafts merit badge is a great way for her to try new types of skills – Bead Making.
