Making Cheese - A New Adventure

Ever since I found a local supplier of raw milk, I have been wanting to try my hand at cheese making. I thought I would start with mozzarella but had a hard time finding rennet and citric acid. The rennet I eventually purchased on-line and the citric acid appeared in stores as canning season kicked into full swing. By the time I had my supplies I didn't have the time. Go figure.

Jump forward a few months and the cheese inspiration was back after reading about the success of some of my favorite bloggers. So when I had an abundance of milk due to being away for Christmas I knew it was time to give it a whirl.

Following this recipe for farmer's cheese I gathered all my ingredients and supplies and got straight to work.

From what I have read, temperature is extremely important in the cheese making process. Thank goodness for an instant read thermometer.

Once the milk was up to temperature, the rennet was added. Then it was time to wait. This was kind of like watch a pot never boil. You couldn't see much happening.


But like magic, after about an hour the milk was now a solid mass - kind of like tofu. Time to cut the curds. This was really cool! As the curds and whey were heated the curds shrunk and the whey increased.

Then like magic the milk had turned into a solid mass - like tofu. The next step was to cut the curds. This was really cool! As the curds and whey was heated, the curds shrank and the whey increased.

Then the curds and whey needed to be separated. This was funny because the more whey you removed the more appeared. Not a big deal because the remaining whey will be drained off later.

Next, add the seasoning. Salt - lots of it as most of it drains away with the whey - garlic and rosemary.

Now it was time to hang the cheese. Wrapped in cheese cloth it hung for an hour above a bucket to collect the last of the whey.

Not having a cheese press I made due with a couple of plates, a heavy cast iron pan, and a bucket of water. Here our cheese sat for the next 17 hours.

A long process but a huge success! Everyone love the cheese! I may even buy extra milk just to make cheese. And you can bet I will be trying my hand a mozzarella and ricotta soon.

Needle Book

After all the Christmas crafting it became quite clear that we needed a few new ways to organize our supplies. And while needles are really the least of my organizing woes, I couldn't resist making my own needle book after seeing these. I searched the web and found many tutorials for many lovely needle books, however, I didn't have the supplies for any of them. The solution . . . make up my own. I am truly pleased with how it came out.

And now my needles and a few pins have a home of their very own, and one that is easy to take along I am happy to say.

Warm and Crafty

The mercury has been steadily dropping after an unusually warm November. And I have been looking for ways to keep both hands and home warm. Well someone must have been thinking along the same lines because the latest issue of rhythm of the home was packed full of wonderfully warm ideas.

The minute I saw these wool felt handwarmers I just knew I have to make a bunch. I don't think there has been a winter in NH where my hands have been warm. Hopefully that will change. Thanks to this tutorial I was able to embroider these cute snowflakes without much trouble.

And of course living in a house that is over 100 years old we have our fair share of drafts! So next on the list was the patchwork draft snake. Simple, efficient, cute and frugal. Who could ask for anything more?

Be sure to check out

for lots of inspiration!

Felting Fun

Needle felting is one of those crafts that keeps popping up every where I go. Craft fairs, agricultural fairs, yarn shops, catalogs and blogs. and of course every time I see it I think - WOW! that is so cool. I've got to give it a try. So while at the Fryeburg Fair back in October I bought two felting kits and some extra dyed fleece. I wasn't sure how to get started so it all sat at the back of my yarn bin. Jump to December and the Christmas crafting inspiration and the felting supplies just had to come out.

The fleece is so soft and fluffy. It is fun just to twirl it in between your fingers. We have some great colors including some natural fleece.

We started with an easy project. Cookie cutter ornaments. It really is easy. Place the cookie cutter on the foam pad and fill with the color fleece of your choice. Carefully start poking it with the needle. Now here is where you must be very careful. These needles are SHARP!

You keep poking the fleece. This motion mattes the fibers making felt! How cool is that? You need to be careful to flip and move your piece otherwise it will get felted to your foam pad. Keep poking and felting until your piece is the thickness and density that you want.


Here are some of our completed ornaments. You can leave them as is or embellish them with embroidery floss, buttons or beads.

I can already see so many applications for felting. I think you will be seeing little felted treasures adorning some of my next projects - hats, mittens, bookmarks, . . . What would you adorne?

Gratitude in a Wrap

Another gift checked off the list. Sarah made this for someone special and I just had to share. Luckily the special lady doesn't check the blog.

This lovely wrap came from one of our favorite crafty ladies, Amanda Soule. You can find the pdf directions on her blog, Soule Mama. Look on the left hand side under For You.

The best part is when you open this lovely wrap up. It holds all you need to write those thank you notes for all the thoughtful Christmas gifts you received. There is a small address book and pen, card and envelopes, and stamps.

Sarah added the embroidered block for a personal touch. Thanks to the Richardson and Kelley ladies for help with the embroidery.

Now I know this wont be under the tree for me, but . . . hint, hint. You could make another one Sarah. Couldn't you?

Christmas Caroling

Our homeschool group went caroling at the local nursing home to help spread some holiday cheer. We sang about six traditional carols as well as some contemporary favorites. Then all the children then handed out handmade Christmas cards and shared snack with the residents. Everyone had a good time, and I know the children made many of the resident's day.

Homegrown Explorer's Christmas Crafts

Every year our homeschool group gets together to make Christmas ornaments, cards, and crafts. It is always a good time, and this year was no exception. We had a great variety of crafts. Some easy for the little ones and some more difficult for the more crafty in the group. Check out some of the fun.

Rebekah had a WONDERFUL time gluing her felt tree together and then decorating it. I think the glitter glue was her favorite.

She thought very carefully about every decoration and where it should be placed.

I was able to catch Sarah unaware as she made a Christmas card that would be delivered to a lucky resident of the local nursing home when we go Christmas Carolling later.

Hannah, Maggie and James hard at work cutting and creating.

Thanks to all the families that brought such awesome crafts for the kids to make. It was tons of fun!