Recycled Corduroy

I finally got back to my bale of corduroy, I had woven a runner for our back hallway a year or so ago. I wasn't really pleased at the time, with this first cord rug woven on my upright loom. It was a bit too loosely woven. It is still there in the hall, standing up to all the boots and shoes that come into our house.

In January I started to cut up corduroy(this rug took 16 pairs of mens corduroy pants!!), and set up my loom. I wove the rug, took it off the loom and started the long job of weaving the ends back into the rug. You can't leave a loose corduroy fringe, it would be messy and would eventually fall apart. I got distracted by the fact that our son would soon be leaving to go back out west to work, the rug could wait. He flew out early Monday morning so I got back to work on the rug. I am very pleased with it, I listed in in my Etsy shop this afternoon. Soft yet thick and durable!

corduroy, close up

handwoven recycled corduroy rag rug runner

Fun and Flirty!

To help fight off the winter blahs, I have been playing with some bright and colourful beads. I am pleased with the results so far!

tropical twist

olive with pale blue

aqua blue copper

primary copper

The 2010 Handmade Olympics

Earlier this week I was notified by the amazing, sweet and very energetic, rikrak, that one of my rugs had been shortlisted in her Handmade Olympics! My fabulous friend emmarts had very kindly, nominated the rug earlier this year.

I am so excited, and have become very competitive, but sadly I have run out of relatives and friends to ask to vote for me. The voting ends this coming Wednesday.

If you have not already voted, you may do so here! Please vote in all 8 events to show your support for all the very talented artisans nominated!

Ice Fishing on Toss A Coin Lake

On Sunday we drove north of Terrace Bay up the mill road to go ice fishing. I was surprised at how much more snow there is up there and how much colder it was than on the Lake shore. We went to a lake right beside the road as I cannot walk far. It was far enough! The dogs love ice fishing and get right int it, they get so excited if they hear one of the bells ringing, they usually get to the hold first. Kinoje would love to eat all the bait and would have loved to eat the pike that Thomas caught.

It was really nice to see Kinoje back to his old silly form, he is feeling so much better, thank goodness. Cali on the other hand was a bit more reserved around the holes, she was a good fisher girl, but couldn't resist rolling in the pike poo... her favourite thing to do.

the dogs were quite excited to see Mark and Thomas pulling the little sleds in

cold clear day on Toss A Coin

setting up the lines

Kinoje being a good helper boy, trying to eat the bait

Mark and the dogs drilling a hole

smoke gets in your eyes

Mark and the dogs, watching and waiting

Kinoje looking for a snack, a little obsessively

Dog Walk

It was such a beautiful day yesterday we took the dogs out earlier than normal for their afternoon walk, and went to the five mile bridge and then part way in to Minnow Lake. Kinoje is not fond of the snow mobile bridge and would not go near it. Old dog sledding memories for him. Big spaces for little dog feet to slip through.

Kinoje hanging back

looking out across the mill road toward the Aguasabon River

five mile bridge

Kinoje feeling much better, getting some love!

Cali (miss bean) is the rolling queen

the dogs love to chase "peanuts", jackpine cones

Happy Birthday to Debbie!

Today is my sister Debbie's birthday!

I am wishing her the happiest of birthdays!

Celebrate you and life today Debbie, I love you!

Debbie, Black Bay in the summer of 2009

My Dad's Black Bean Soup Recipe

Yesterday I made black bean soup from my dad' s old recipe. I had not made it for years, so it was a fabulous treat! It is the best, most delicious, black bean soup I have ever ate. It's well worth the effort. My black beans were very old, so they took a lot longer to cook, I eventually covered the pot completely and they softened much quicker. Yum!

Ken’s Black Bean Soup

1/4 cup olive oil

2 large onions, chopped (4 cups)

8 garlic cloves

3 cups beef stock

3 cups chicken stock

2 cups water

1 lb. dried black beans, rinsed

1 meaty smoked pork hock

1 tbsp. toasted ground cumin

1 tbsp. oregano

3/4 tbsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

4 to 5 pickled jalapeno peppers, finely chopped ( I used fresh jalapeno)

Salt

Sour cream

Cooked brown rice

Heat oil in a Dutch oven on medium heat. Add onions and garlic, lower heat slightly and cook covered, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.

Add broth and water; stir in beans, pork hock, cumin, oregano, thyme, cloves and jalapenos. Raise the heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer partially covered for 2 hours, until beans are tender.

Remove pork hock, and set aside to cool

Puree 1/2 of the soup and return to pot. Shred the meat and add to the soup.

Taste the soup and correct the seasonings, simmer for 10 minutes.

To serve: place a spoonful of hot brown rice in your bowl and ladle soup over top. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream if so desired.

(I doubled the recipe, so that we could have at least two meals from it. It is sometimes nice not to have to cook every night!)