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Life and Times of EJ

Life and Times of EJ

Welcome to my first post on Beatrice Ryan Designs for my new page – Life and Times of EJ!

I am happy to devote this page to you full of my regular life stories and adventures…. It will be full of home ideas, recipes, aging and mature women tips for health and beauty and much more!

Join me in my fun new adventure on this page! You can always just click on the Life and Times of EJ at the top of the website to see all of the posts dedicated to this part of my blog.


#60IsTheNewFierce

Now that I am 60, I have been really focusing on my health and well being. I still love to crochet, but in recent months I have developed arthritis in my thumb joints and will be having replacement surgery in the upcoming weeks. I will keep you all posted on that, it will be a long recovery back to crocheting.

Ok… So a short story about the last few months with some fun photos, then on to a great muffin recipe to finish off the post!

Pear Pecan Muffins
Pear Pecan Muffin Recipe Below

As many of you who follow me know, besides running this website and designing crochet patterns… I worked full time as a Purchasing Agent for a forest products company. Last October my dad passed away after a 9 month stay in a care facility. So, in Feb. of 2023 I decided to retire… YAY! No real big plans, just focus on health and wellbeing and see where life took me!

Since Retiring I have traveled to the Northern CA coast, headed to Santa Cruz to see my youngest daughter, and later in the spring to Washington to see my oldest daughter and grandson. I had been toying with the idea to sell my condo and by a small house with a yard, but prices were high so that was on the back burner… Then I came down with a case of shingles… UGH… By May I decided since a new house looked to be later in my future, I would by my dream car… So I did!

However, the day I signed my papers my realtor called and said she had the perfect house… So I put an offer in and in 28 days the house was mine. My condo sold right away so moving was all in a rush. If you are around 60 and single… You know how this went! Fun, but exhausting!!!

Norther California Coast
My new home
Ziggy checking out the new living room

The rest of the summer was settling in my new home and lots of yard work too. The back yard has a older pear tree and produced thousands of pears… So, it was canning time. Since I was canning, I decided to go all out! I canned so many cans of pears, beef stew, pork and beans, chicken soup, chipotle beef and beans, jams and jellies and more… And I had continued my sourdough bread journey.

Freshly baked Sourdough
Sourdough Bread using regular flour

As Fall arrived I was researching food and health. I found a ton of info that led me down the next rabbit hole… Grinding my own wheat to make fresh flour. Yes, it may seem hard or huge equipment… But no, to my surprise it is so easy and yummy…

If you want to learn more about the benefits of fresh ground wheat, I followed Bread Beckers on YouTube. Click here for one of my favorite learning videos.

Prepping for bread making
Sourdough Bread using freshly ground wheat
Sourdough Sandwich loaf using freshly ground flour.. Turned out great
My new Nutrimill Flour Grinding Mill

That all being said, This week I started playing around with using freshly ground wheat in my sourdough breads and muffins. I still have some adjusting to do on the bread, but the Pear/Pecan Muffins turned out great today. I will post the recipe below…

If you try it, let me know what you think. I used my home grown canned pears, but you can by store bought fresh or canned if you don’t grow your own!

Pear Pecan Muffin Recipe

Pear Pecan Muffins using freshly ground wheat… Cooling off

1 C. Honey Granules (regular sugar can be used)
1/2 C. Oil
2 Eggs
1/4 C. Sour Cream
1 Tsp Vanilla
1-3/4 C.Freshly ground soft white wheat flour (All purpose can be used but 2 C.)
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Cardamom
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
1-1/2 C. Diced Pears- Fresh or well drained canned
2/3 C. Chopped Pecans

My Wheat, Redmond Salt and spices
Home canned pears and pecans

Mix honey granules and oil until well blended. Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla and mixed well. Add spices, salt and baking soda until just blended. Add flour until slightly blended. Stir in pears and pecans.

I love my USA Muffin Pan…. Totally Nonstick

Preheat oven to 350, grease muffin pan or use muffin papers (if using the USA muffin pans no grease or muffin papers are needed, they are perfectly nonstick). Add batter 2/3 full to each muffin section. Sprinkle with honey granules and cinnamon lightly and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until done. Cool in pan on cooling rack then enjoy!

Just sprinkle honey granules and cinnamon on top and bake

That’s it… I hope you try these. The health benefits of the freshly ground flour is something I hope will continue to allow me to stay healthy as I age. Honey Granules are somewhat better for your body than white sugar… I have almost completely switched over in all of my items I added sugar too(including my daily coffee!


On a last note, I have an Amazon Storefront now with my favorite items I use. Many of the things in this post/pictures are available there, plus a lot more of my favs! For my November recommendations, Click here! or just to head to my full list of grouped products I use and LOVE… Click Here! *I may earn commission for any purchases made in my Amazon Storefront.

Below is my current groupings, I hope you check it out and follow me there too!

Stay tuned for more fun posts!

Elena



2023 Crochet with Me… Temperature Afghan CAL… Jan. – March 2023

2023 Crochet with Me… Temperature Afghan CAL… Jan. – March 2023


Temperature Afghan CAL Jan- March 2023

Temperature Afghan CAL… 2020 Crochet with Me! January – March is now complete… So much fun! The first season flew by, looking back it was a little crazy in my neck of the woods, How about you??

If you don’t know about a Temperature Afghan CAL… You crochet a row each day(the pattern here is provided by me) in the daily average temp for your area using a color chart provided… So as the seasons go by… it shows a gradient color change… And for special occasions/holidays you can use a special color to make it more fun… Mine is sparkly blue! More info at the bottom of the post on how to get started!

Temperature Afghan CAL chart

January was a new year and my son turned 40! Our weather here in the small Northern California town of Mt. Shasta was one of the biggest start to snow in many years… In February, I retired from my day job and took one quick trip to the coast, got a new tattoo and one of my precious grandsons turned 2! My Granddaughter continued to race and went to States in Alpine Skiing… and guess what? More snow! In March we were buried in snow, temps ranged from low 20’s to a day that reached a high of mid 50… Yep once again my life was filled with shoveling! So I tucked in and did some pickling and bread baking… But, I was able to start my walking routine of 3-5 miles per day again… Felt great! See a few pics below of my March life! I also published 2 new patterns, Easy Elegant Shawl and Springtime Tic Tac Toe! Both free crochet patterns… so check those out!

To read my January post click here… To read my February post click here…

Temperature Afghan CAL Jan.
Temperature Afghan CAL January - Feb.
Easy Elegant Shawl
Springtime Tic Tac Toe
I haven’t bought bread in years… Love to bake!
Pickled Jalepeno’s, Dilly Beans ad Carrots!
Ugh… Now to clean off the car!
The piles of shoveled snow were almost as tall as me, and the 53″ shovel…
Finally a path out!
Way to much show!
Digging out the car!
Ziggy enjoying the shoveled driveway!
Out for a Spring Walk…. lol
Snowy Walk
A break in the weather for a nice Springtime walk!

I love this 2023 Crochet with Me… Temperature Afghan CAL… I can’t wait for it to warm up a bit so I can use more of my lovely colors… April will bring Spring weather I hope! Mine now measures 27″ x 60″… At this pace it should be about 110″ x 60″ which will be a perfect large afghan!

If you haven’t started the 2023 Crochet with Me Temperature Afghan CAL yet… Head to the Crochet with Me tab at the top of the page for the Material/Info post and the first 9 weeks(this is a 7 row repeat so you only need the 9 week instructions and the yarn temperature chart!!! Easy to catch up by heading to Weather.com where you can get your historical temps in their monthly tab!

Happy Spring and catch up with me in early May for the next monthly post about April!!!

I cant wait to see yours! Make sure you join the Beatrice Ryan Designs CAL Facebook Group to share your pics, see all the inspiring fan pics and play the games prizes!


Also, Don’t forget to follow me on my social media sites for more fun!

FacebookTwitterInstagramMy CAL Facebook Group, and Pinterest

I hope you love this project!!  Finally, make sure to share your finished projects on my Beatrice Ryan Designs Facebook Page and make sure to share around social media too! Why share?? Because it shares our Love of Crochet!!

Happy Crocheting!!

Elena


©Copyright 2023 Elena Hunt/Beatrice Ryan Designs.  All of my patterns and posts are my own work. Do not copy them in any way. If you want to share this information with someone, share the link to this post. Additionally, If you want to share on your own blog, website or social media, then you may use the first photo in this post and link back to this post. You may not give away printed copies of this post. Thank you. This post may contain affiliate link

Timeless Crochet Beanie… Free Crochet Pattern

Timeless Crochet Beanie… Free Crochet Pattern


Timeless Crochet Beanie… Free Crochet Pattern is a super simple half double crochet V-stitch project… This lovely hat is a single row repeat too! I have provided two stiles for the brim and it is also available for sale in a PDF format…. Works up quickly and is stylish to wear! Great gift idea too!

Make sure to save this Timeless Crochet Beanie to your Ravelry favorites for easy access or purchase the PDF download $2.99! Click Here!!!


Materials:

Yarn: 175 yards of worsted weight yarn. I used Hobby Lobby I love this yarn in Linen or Eddington Ridge

Hook: H & I

Scissors and Yarn needle

Size: 21″ diam. not stretched x 9″ tall


Stitches:

  • St – Stitch
  • Ch – Chain
  • Sl St – Slip Stitch
  • Sp – Space
  • Sk – Skip
  • Fhdc – Foundation Half Double Crochet
  • Sc – Single Crochet
  • Hdc – Half Double Crochet

Instructions:

Row 1: Make 58 Fhdc, join without twisting the row with a sl st to 1st Fhdc. = 58 Fhdc *you can also ch 60, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and each across

*You will now work in the round

Round 2: Ch 1, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in 1st st, * sk st, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in next st*, repeat *to* around, sk last st. join with sl st to 1st hdc. = 29 (hdc, ch1, hdc)

Round 3-15: Sl st in 1st ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in each ch1 sp around, join with sl st to 1st hdc. = 29 (hdc, ch1, hdc)

Round 16: Sl st in 1st ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in 1st ch 1 sp, *sc in next ch 1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in next 6 ch1 sps*, repeat *to* 3 more times, join with sl st to 1st hdc. = 4 sc & 25 (hdc, ch1, hdc)

Round 17: Sl st in 1st ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in each ch1 sp around skipping over the sc’s(this makes the decrease row). Join with sl st to 1st hdc. = 25 (hdc, ch1, hdc)

Round 18: Sl st in 1st ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in 1st 4 ch1 spc’s, *sc in next ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in next 4 ch1 spc’s*, repeat *to* 3 more times, join with sl st to 1st hdc. = 5 sc & 20 (hdc, ch1, hdc)

Round 19: Sl st in 1st ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in each ch1 sp around skipping over the sc’s(this makes the decrease row). Join with sl st to 1st hdc. = 20 (hdc, ch1, hdc)

Round 20: Sl st in 1st ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in 1st 3 ch1 spc’s, *sc in next ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in next 3 ch1 spc’s*, repeat *to* 3 more times, join with sl st to 1st hdc. = 5 sc & 15 (hdc, ch1, hdc)

Round 21: Sl st in 1st ch1 sp, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in each ch1 sp around skipping over the sc’s(this makes the decrease row). Join with sl st to 1st hdc. = 15 (hdc, ch1, hdc)

Round 22: Ch 1, sc in ea ch1 sp around, join with sl st to 1st sc. = 15 sc

Finish off leaving a long tail, using a yarn needle, weave the yarn tail in and out of each sc from round 22 and pull tight to close top of hat. secure end and weave in end.

Timeless Crochet Beanie Brim Choices:

Brim choice 1: With the right side facing join the yarn in the bottom of row 1 fhdc in any stitch

Round 1: Ch 1, sc around in each st, join with sl st to 1st sc. = 58 sc

Round 2: Ch 1, reverse sc in each stitch around, join with sl st to beginning. = 58 reverse sc

Finish off

Brim Choice 2: **Switch to I Hook – With the right side facing join the yarn in the bottom of row 1 fhdc in any stitch

Round 1: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beginning. = 58 sc

Rounds 2: Ch 1, sl st in each st around loosely, join to 1st sl st. = 58 sl sts

**For the next 2 rounds you will work in the stitches as indicated above to get the effect.

Round 3: Ch 1, Sl st loosely in each “back” st as indicated in the picture, join to 1st st. = 58 sl sts

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each ” back” st in previous row around, join with sl st to beginning. = 58 sc

Finish off

That’s it, you now have a Timeless Crochet Beanie!!! I hope you love your new project and make tons!

Timeless Crochet Beanie 2 brim choices

Make sure to check out all of my Free Crochet Patterns! Click here to go to the page…

Timeless Crochet Beanie

Don’t forget to follow me on my social media sites for more fun!

FacebookTwitterInstagramMy CAL Facebook Group, and Pinterest

I hope you love this project!!  Make sure to share your finished projects on my Beatrice Ryan Designs Facebook Page and make sure to share around social media too! Why share?? Because it shares our Love of Crochet!!

Happy Crocheting!!

Elena


©Copyright 2023 Elena Hunt/Beatrice Ryan Designs.  All of my patterns and posts are my own work. Do not copy them in any way. If you want to share this information with someone, share the link to this post. If you want to share on your own blog, website or social media, then you may use the first photo in this post and link back to this post. You may not give away printed copies of this post. Thank you. This post may contain affiliate link

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