by hand

  • by hand

    Making Christmas Sugar Cookies in the Kitchen!

    A little glimpse of our Christmas cookie baking and decorating. A few years ago my daughter and I went to a cookie decorating evening with my work. My co-workers’ mom had her own cookie business and she ran a little evening workshop. We learned tips and techniques to create the…

  • by hand

    Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Bun

    On Thanksgiving weekend, we attempted to make ‘pumpkin buns’ by modifying our regular ‘Grama Buns’ recipe. We usually shape the buns into a ‘knot,’ and instead, we used butcher twine to create pumpkin-like ribs. (Fun fact: each of a pumpkin’s ‘ribs’ correspond to a set of seeds inside the pumpkin!)…

  • by hand

    In the Kitchen Baking Blueberry Bars

    I love to watch the Magnolia Network’s show Zoe Bakes. It is a lovely curly haired lady who bakes delicious recipes in her magnificent kitchen. She is down to earth, funny and uses ingredients that you would have in a well stocked pantry. The local blueberries this season were so…

  • by hand

    Summer Fruit Breakfast Bowls

    Summer is in full swing and we are now able to enjoy many fruits grown by local farmers. This time of year is amazing because everything tastes so fresh and delicious. I enjoy going to farmer’s markets and fruit stands at the side of the road. I am usually a…

  • by hand - by nature

    Maryboro Lodge Museum and Inquiry-Based Learning

    As an Early Childhood Educator, I am always looking for new ideas and innovative methods of presenting educational content. Inquiry-based learning is especially important in our classroom. One of my favourite ways to discover new approaches is by exploring how different communities embrace educational opportunities. Sometimes it’s a library, a…

  • by hand - by nature

    Flower Hammering Art

    On a recent Pinterest search I discovered The Hammered Flower by Michelle Moore designs. Michelle has created pieces of clothing and art using the hammered flower technique. Her items on Pinterest and Instagram are simply beautiful and inspiring. The actual process of hammering flowers onto cloth and fabric requires a…

  • by hand

    In the Kitchen Making Strawberry Muffins

    While doing my usual perusing through Instagram and Pinterest this recipe for strawberry muffins caught my eye. The recipe is from Two Peas and Their Pod. The recipe was super simple to follow and I had all the ingredients that I needed on hand including fresh local strawberries. I have…

  • by hand - by nature

    DIY Outdoor Living Wall

    This Spring I have been diligently working to improve our front porch. Slowly, I’ve added some new things that make it a place where I would want to sit and have a cup of coffee or tea, a place where I would like to stay a while. Porches hold a…

  • by hand

    DIY Barrel Hoop Fire Wood Holder

    Many years ago, on a road trip to the Kitchener/Waterloo area we picked up an old whisky barrel. I remember that we saw a sign on the side of the road saying they had barrels for sale and I thought it would be a great idea to buy one. As…

  • by hand

    DIY Backyard Potting Bench

    I have always wanted a potting bench for my backyard garden. A place that I could transplant seedlings. The opportunity to store my gardening tools, display flowers and treasures from the garden, and a general outdoor work surface. This was a weekend project that my husband and I did together.…