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100 Mile Life/Grandma Core

Category: 100 Mile Life Adventure

Wrapping Up Week 2 of My 100 Mile Life 🌿✨ — September 13, 2025

Wrapping Up Week 2 of My 100 Mile Life 🌿✨

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

By Grannie Doll

I am two weeks into my 100 Mile Life journey. I’m beginning to see just how much richness comes from living closer to home. There is also a new rhythm to this lifestyle. Week 1 felt like dipping my toes in—learning, adjusting, and asking, “Can I really do this?” By the end of Week 2, I feel a shift. This lifestyle is less about rules and more about noticing the blessings woven into each day.

What Week 2 Taught Me

This week was about settling in. I learned that the 100 Mile Life isn’t only about food or fiber—it’s about slowing down and choosing with intention. Here are some highlights from the past week:

  • Farm Store Treasures: Apples, corn, tomatoes, and green beans filled my basket again, alongside maple syrup and (yes!) another cinnamon bun. Each item reminded me how local food tastes better when I know where it came from.
  • Kitchen Simplicity: With fresh ingredients, my meals became simpler and more flavorful. I didn’t feel deprived—if anything, I felt abundant.
  • Knitting Progress: My 100 Mile Sweater grew steadily. Every row became a meditation on patience and place. It feels good knowing the wool came from a farm within my circle.

Cozy Connections

Evenings this week were marked by cooler air, warm tea, and the click of needles. I found myself reflecting on the 100 Mile Life. It pairs well with the heart of DollCanCreate. This involves making do, making beauty, and making memories. Creativity thrives in rhythm, and I’m finding a gentler pace that feeds both body and spirit.

Blessings from Week 2 🌸

  • Apples that tasted like autumn’s first note
  • A growing sweater that warms more than my shoulders
  • Neighbors’ smiles at the farm stand
  • Quiet moments of knitting, prayer, and reflection
  • Gratitude for choosing what’s near instead of always chasing what’s far

Looking Toward Week 3

As I step into Week 3, I carry a sense of calm and confidence. I want to keep trying new recipes with local produce. I aim to deepen my knitting progress. I will continue noticing the little joys that come from living this way.

If you’re considering your own 100 Mile Life journey, take heart—it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Start small, find joy in one swap, and let it grow from there.

✨ Thank you for journeying with me. If you want to see more of my daily rhythm, join me on YouTube. You can also subscribe to my newsletter. I share behind-the-scenes glimpses of both the 100 Mile Life and my DollCanCreate projects there.

i

Week One of the 100 Mile Life Challenge: — September 5, 2025

Week One of the 100 Mile Life Challenge:

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

🌿 Gentle Beginnings

As September begins, I’ve started a 30-Day 100 Mile Life Challenge. I’d love for you to journey alongside me. This first week focuses on small, intentional steps. These steps ground us in place. They remind us why living locally and simply matters.

🌸 Day 1: My Why

Every meaningful journey begins with purpose. On Day 1, I wrote down my “Why.” Why does living within 100 miles matter to me? For me, it’s about slowing down, supporting local farmers, and discovering joy in simplicity.

👉 Reflection prompt: What would your “Why” be?

🌸 Day 2: Draw Your 100-Mile Map

With a simple circle on a map, I can see the farms, markets, and small businesses close to home. This circle isn’t a limit — it’s an invitation to rediscover my own community.

🌸 Day 3: Three Local Foods

I listed three foods I already buy locally — honey, meats, and vegetables. Naming what’s already part of my life reminded me I’m not starting from zero; I’m building on a foundation.

🌸 Day 4: One Small Swap

Today I swapped out a non-local item for something grown closer to home. I swapped out apples from South Africa for local apples. Small changes like this, meal by meal, item by item, create a ripple effect in how we eat and live.

🌸 Day 5: A Visit to the Farmer’s Stand

There’s nothing like the color and smell of fresh produce at a local stand. Shopping face-to-face with growers brings me into relationship with the people who nourish my community.

🌿 Reflections So Far

This week has been about awareness and gentle beginnings. By naming my why, drawing my circle, and making a few small swaps, I already feel more connected. It’s not about perfection, but about noticing and choosing differently, one day at a time.

💡 Cozy GrandmaCore reminder: Keep it simple. A loaf of bread, a pot of soup, and a kind word go a long way.

✨ Join Me

If you’re tracking along, I’d love to hear what you’ve discovered in your first week. Share your reflections in the comments — or even better, share your 100-mile finds with a photo.

“With love & stitches,
Grannie Doll 🌿🧶”

Download Check list here

Day 1 – 100 Mile Life Challenge — September 1, 2025

Day 1 – 100 Mile Life Challenge

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

30-Day Challenge 🌿

Today marks the beginning of my 100 Mile Life 30-Day Challenge. This month, I’ll be focusing on living more intentionally. I plan to source as much food, fiber, and everyday essentials as possible. These will come from within 100 miles of home.

Why 100 miles? Because living locally connects me to the seasons, to my community, and to the land that sustains us. It’s also about slowing down, appreciating what’s nearby, and letting go of the constant pull of convenience.

On this first day, I’m reminding myself that this challenge isn’t about perfection. It’s about curiosity, discovery, and small steps toward a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle.

I’d love for you to follow along. You might be joining the challenge or perhaps you’re just curious about what local living looks like day by day. Together, we can explore how to live closer to home and closer to our values.

✨ Here’s to Day 1 — one step toward a gentler, more rooted way of life.

What step will you take today to start your journey?

Download the check list here: 100 Mile Life

#100MileLife #GrandmaCore #SlowLiving

🌸 DollCanCreate Newsletter — August 29, 2025

🌸 DollCanCreate Newsletter

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

August Wrap-Up: Threads of Creativity, Calm, and Community

Hello friends,

As August winds down, I’m reflecting on this past month. It was full of slow stitching and mindful spinning. I explored how creativity can anchor us in both joy and calm. Here’s a little round-up of what’s been happening in the DollCanCreate community this month:

🧶 Fiber Arts Highlights

  • Tour de Fleece Wrap-Up: I shared my final skeins. I enjoyed watching small daily spins turn into something beautiful. If you missed it, I talked about what comes next—socks, hats, scarves, and blanket squares.
  • 100 Days of Spindle Spinning: We’re right in the middle of the challenge! It’s been such a gentle rhythm, a daily moment of stillness with wool in hand.

🌿 Living the 100-Mile Life

This month I’ve been reflecting on what it really means to live within 100 miles. I considered sourcing local wool and fresh produce. I even explored thrifting for home goods. I shared a new blog post on “What Is the 100 Mile Life?”—a lifestyle that connects us back to land, farmers, and community.

👵 GrandmaCore Meets Slow Fashion

I’ve been having so much fun blending the heart of GrandmaCore with the values of slow fashion. As a grandma myself, I embrace using what I have, thrifting the rest, and creating pieces that carry meaning. I shared reflections on how GrandmaCore teaches us to slow down, savor, and stitch wisely.

🙏 Faith & Reflection

August also brought moments of pausing in faith:

  • Sermons like “Life Is Like a Puzzle” and “Life Is Like a Library” reminded us. They taught us that our lives are stitched together in God’s image. Our lives are also part of God’s story.
  • I began a mid-week pause series, finding stillness in scripture during these summer days.

🏡 Decluttering & Calm

Many of us carry a bit of clutter—both in our homes and in our hearts. This month, I shared reminders, checklists, and simple daily steps. These help in clearing space. I suggested making it into a game. The goal is finding calm through order.

💌 From My Rocking Chair

Finally, a little chat: knitting socks, piecing a hexagon project bag, and dreaming about autumn projects. As always, it’s about more than just yarn—it’s about the life we weave together.

✨ What’s Coming in September

  • Launch of the #100milelifechallenge
  • New reflections on faith & creativity
  • GrandmaCore fall inspiration
  • More 100-Mile Life stories and practical tips

Thanks for walking with me on this creative journey. Whether you come for the knitting, the local living, or the moments of stillness—we’re in this together.

With threads of grace,
Doll 💜

100 Mile Life – 30 Day Challenge — August 27, 2025

100 Mile Life – 30 Day Challenge

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Free Checklist for 100 Mile Life

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to live more closely tied to the land? What about the seasons and your own community? That’s what my 100 Mile Journey is all about. For the next 30 days, starting September 1st, I am embracing this challenge. I am choosing to live, eat, and create within a 100-mile radius of home.

This isn’t just about food. It’s about weaving a life that reflects simplicity, sustainability, and gratitude for what’s close at hand.

Why a 30-Day Challenge?

Thirty days feels approachable. It’s long enough to notice shifts in habits and perspective, but short enough that it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I wanted to give myself a set time frame to experiment, track, and think. It would be almost like a season of mindful living.

What the Challenge Includes

Here’s how I’m approaching it:

  • Food: Visiting farmers’ markets, local farms, and small shops to fill my pantry. I’m aiming to cook at least three meals each week made entirely from local ingredients.
  • Fiber: Sourcing wool and yarn from within my 100-mile circle and committing to one project made completely from local fiber.
  • Faith & Reflection: Writing down what I learn each week, giving thanks for abundance, and noticing where the gaps are.
  • Community: Supporting local makers, sharing my progress with you, and inviting others to join.

Early Discoveries

Even in the first few days, when I walked into this in March, I learned so much. Seasonal produce shines in a whole new way when it’s the foundation of your meals. And talking with local farmers brings a joy and connection you just can’t get in a supermarket aisle.

Holding wool that was grown and milled close to home gives me the feeling of being rooted. It turns each stitch into an act of gratitude.

The Challenges

It’s not all easy! Coffee and spices aren’t grown nearby, so I’m learning to use them more sparingly and substitute where I can. Convenience also plays a big role — sometimes it feels easier to order online or grab something quick. But that’s where the heart of the challenge lies: slowing down, choosing intentionally, and letting go of “instant.”

How You Can Join Me

I’d love for you to try this alongside me — even in small ways. Maybe it’s one farmers’ market visit, one local craft buy, or one meal cooked entirely from nearby ingredients. Share your steps with me using #100MileLife so we can celebrate together.

A Reflection

As I start this 30-day journey, I’m reminded of these words:

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

Each choice I make feels like a way of honoring that truth. This is true whether I am in my kitchen, craft room, or community.

Here’s to 30 days of learning, growing, and rediscovering the beauty that’s already around us.

✨
I’ll be sharing updates here, as well as on YouTube and Instagram. Make sure to follow along — and let me know if you’re ready to take your own 100 Mile Challenge!

We are grateful for every small step we take toward living locally. — Doll Creelman “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” — Psalm 24:1 Living gently within 100 miles

Hope you’ll join me: 100 Mile Check List

What Is the 100 Mile Life? — August 26, 2025

What Is the 100 Mile Life?

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live a 100 Mile Life?

Hi, I’m Doll, and I’m here to share with you my journey into 100 Mile Living. You already have heard of the “100 Mile Diet”—that’s where this all began for me. Years ago, I read The 100-Mile Diet by a couple in British Columbia. They committed to eating only food grown or produced within 100 miles of their home. Their story stuck with me, and over time it’s grown into something bigger: what I call the 100 Mile Life.

What Is the 100 Mile Life?

The idea is simple. Find out where you live on a map. Place a circle with a 100-mile radius around it. Then, commit to sourcing as much of your daily life as possible from within that circle. Food, household items, clothing, even craft supplies—what if you choose local first?

In my case, living on Hamilton Mountain, a lot of my 100 miles is actually water. Lake Ontario to the north and Lake Erie to the south shape my circle. Sometimes I stretch the boundary a little. Let’s say 110 miles. The principle remains the same: live close, live local.

What That Looks Like in Practice

  • Food: I look for local flour. It is milled from Canadian wheat. I’m fortunate to have two or three mills within my circle. I buy bread ingredients. I get dairy from a nearby Ancaster farm. I also buy meats from Hamilton butchers who source directly from local farms.
  • Household & Clothing: Thrift stores are my go-to. Buying secondhand means I’m not feeding the global fast-fashion machine. It’s an easy way to keep things affordable. It’s also sustainable.
  • Craft Materials: Many of my fiber and creative supplies come from local sources. Sometimes they are sourced from thrift stores. This gives new life to old materials.

It’s not always perfect, but it’s always intentional.

Why September?

I sat in my rocking chair tonight. While talking with Nick over dinner, I realized something. September—a neat, tidy 30-day month—would be the perfect time to really lean into this. So, I’m setting myself a 30-Day 100 Mile Challenge.

Throughout September, I’ll share the process with you:

  • Short videos and longer reflections
  • A revamped 100 Mile Life Checklist (coming soon!)
  • Practical tips on sourcing food, clothing, and home goods locally

And here’s the exciting part: I’d love for you to join me.

A Season of Gratitude

Here in Canada, October brings Thanksgiving. What better way to prepare our hearts than by spending September cultivating gratitude for what we already have around us? By living within 100 miles, we discover the richness of our local farms, makers, and communities. We drive less, rely less on global shipping, and tread a little lighter on the earth.

Why Pair It with Grandma Core?

Because I’m a granny! And I love the grandma core aesthetic—slowing down, using what you have, mending, baking, thrifting, and cherishing simple joys. The 100 Mile Life feels like it belongs here, nestled among teacups, knitted shawls, and garden harvests.

Let’s Do This Together

This isn’t just my journey—it can be ours. I’ll share my ups and downs, and I’d love to hear your questions, tips, and experiences. Drop a comment below, subscribe to my YouTube, and follow along on my blog.

Let’s step into September with excitement and joy. We should be ready to live a little closer to home. Let’s stay a little kinder to the earth.

Here’s to the 100 Mile Life.

Bye for now, and God bless.

A Week of 100 Mile Meals: What I Ate, What I Learned — April 26, 2025

A Week of 100 Mile Meals: What I Ate, What I Learned

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment


By Doll | dollcancreate.com

I challenged myself to spend an entire week eating meals. These meals were made from ingredients sourced within a 100-mile radius of my home. The idea was simple but profound. I wanted to deepen my connection to the land. It was also about supporting local producers and exploring what it means to truly eat “close to home.”

Here’s a glimpse into what I ate—and what I discovered along the way.

🍳 Day 1: A Breakfast Grounded in Home

  • Meal: Scrambled eggs with local cheddar, served on English muffins from Oakrun Farm Bakery (Brantford)
  • Local sources: Eggs from the farmers’ market, cheese from a regional dairy
  • Reflection: Starting the day with food grown and made nearby felt grounding. No fancy ingredients—just simple, satisfying nourishment.

🥣 Day 2: Soup for the Soul

  • Meal: Carrot, potato, and onion soup with homemade stock
  • Local sources: All vegetables from a local farm store; stock made from leftover bones from a locally raised chicken
  • Surprise: The flavour was richer than expected—fresh produce really does make a difference.
  • Reflection: I felt connected to the rhythm of seasons and soil.

🧀 Day 3: Plough-man’s Lunch

  • Meal: A rustic plate of local cheese, apples, sourdough bread, and pickled veggies
  • Local sources: Apple orchard just 15 minutes away; pickles canned last summer
  • Reflection: This felt like a picnic from another era—slow, thoughtful, rooted in tradition.

🥘 Day 4: Comfort in a Casserole

  • Meal: Ground beef and rice casserole with herbs from the garden
  • Local sources: Grass-fed beef from a farm visit last fall; rice sourced regionally
  • Reflection: Planning ahead (and freezing local meat) makes this lifestyle more doable than I thought.

🥕 Day 5: Veggie Skillet Supper

  • Meal: Cabbage, carrots, onion, and sausage all tossed together in a skillet
  • Local sources: Veg from the local stand; sausage from a family-run butcher
  • Surprise: How much I didn’t miss anything “exotic.” This was deeply satisfying.
  • Reflection: Eating locally doesn’t mean boring. It means seasonal, vibrant, and flavorful.

🥚 Day 6: Brunch for Dinner

  • Meal: Local eggs, fried potatoes, toast, and rhubarb preserves
  • Local sources: Everything within 50 miles—truly a feast from close to home
  • Reflection: There’s something joyful in keeping it simple and making it special.

🍎 Day 7: Sweet Ending

  • Meal: Baked apples with oats and a splash of cream
  • Local sources: Apples from the orchard, oats from a nearby mill, cream from a local dairy
  • Reflection: A week of eating local ended on a sweet note—and I wasn’t craving anything else.

💭 What I Learned

  • Planning is essential. Local eating takes more intention but less complication than you’d expect.
  • The taste is better. Fresher food, fewer miles, and a story behind every bite.
  • It’s about connection. To farmers, seasons, neighbours, and your own values.

This week reminded me that food isn’t just fuel—it’s a relationship. And when that relationship is rooted in care, proximity, and community, every meal becomes a moment of grace.

Catching Up on My 100 Mile Life — Check-In — April 9, 2025

Catching Up on My 100 Mile Life — Check-In

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Hi friends, it’s Doll. Just popping in with a little life update — where I’m at in this 100 Mile Life journey.

  • We took a quick run to Costco after Bible study. Some hits, some misses!

The Misses (and lessons learned):

  • Grapes from South Africa — delicious, but not local.
  • Mandarins from Morocco — sweet, but definitely outside the 100-mile goal.
  • Blueberry bagels — I thought they were fresh, but it turns out the blueberries were simulated. Big disappointment! I should have read the label more closely.

The Wins:

  • Oak Run Farm Bakery English muffins — made in Brantford, which is local.
  • Plain bagels (also from Costco) — possibly made in-house, but unclear.
  • Local apples still in my fridge.
  • Summit Dairy cream and chocolate milk — both local.
  • Allen’s Apple Juice — made in Ontario.
  • Local maple syrup (label gone, but I promise it’s local!).
  • Liverwurst — also a local purchase.

Freezer Peek (yes, I showed it!):

  • Bacon — 100 Mile approved and Canadian.
  • Shaw’s, My favourite ice cream — Canadian-made
  • Pierogies from Toronto — a great local find!
  • Leftover chili and other good things waiting for me.

Other food notes:

  • All our meat is Canadian, much of it local.
  • One exception: canned ham from Denmark — and yes, I love it.
  • Coffee is tricky. I’m finishing up my stash but plan to switch to Canadian-roasted or locally roasted beans soon. The price jump is real though , my favourite coffee— $18.99 now vs. $9.99 back in the day!

Reflections:

  • The journey is real — and full of trial and error. I do my best and pray over the rest, as the saying goes.
  • I started this for 100 days, which brings me to Easter Monday. After that, I might refine it even more and lean harder into local. As we move into spring/summer and planting season I believe that the journey will be a bit easier.
  • Local fiber is especially important to me — I’m really passionate about Canadian wool.
  • I’m still spinning every day (100 Days of Spindling!), and yes, I’m still knitting too. A mitten for the fall mitten tree, and slowly working on a sock.

What’s Next:

  • A new video coming soon on my fiber declutter and de-stash project.
  • Planning for Palm Sunday and the big parade — so exciting.
  • After Easter? I’m taking a reading week — some rest, some reflection, and gentle learning. A little soul-care.

To You, My Reader:

  • If you’re trying a 100 Mile Life or a 160 km journey, I’d love to hear from you.
  • What’s worked? What’s been hard? What have you joyfully given up on?
  • We all have those “I’m still buying bananas” moments — and that’s okay.

Final Thoughts:

  • I feel so blessed. I’m doing what I love, surrounded by people who care. That’s a gift not everyone has, and I don’t take it for granted.
  • Let’s keep encouraging each other. One little thing at a time is how it starts.
  • Until next time, friends — God bless and take care.
  • And remember: you can create too.
March Reflections: Fiber, Faith & Finding Calm — March 31, 2025

March Reflections: Fiber, Faith & Finding Calm

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Hello friends,

As March draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the rhythm of my days—filled with fibre, faith, and finding small ways to bring more peace into my life. This month has been about creativity, mindful making, and managing anxiety with intention. Here’s a glimpse into what I’ve been working on and learning.

Spinning & Knitting Updates

March has been a full month on my needles and spindle! Here’s what’s been keeping my hands busy:

  • Socks, a shawl, a sweater, and a blanket—each one growing stitch by stitch.
  • Spindling DK brown & spinning fawn—finding joy in slow, meditative movement.
  • Carding white & brown wool—preparing fiber is just as satisfying as spinning it!
  • English Paper Piecing (EPP)—a quiet, mindful project for piecing beauty together.
  • Knitting a hat—because there’s always room for one more.

I’m also planning recorded a spindle plying tutorial, which I’m excited to share soon! You’ll see this later today.

Lenten Knitting & YouTube

I continue to work on a Lenten knitting project, setting aside an hour a day to stitch with intention. This ties into a YouTube video I’m creating about faith and knitting, where I explore how these practices intertwine.

Another video I create is this shortform: “Finding Calm: Strategies for Managing Anxiety.” I’d shared how spinning and knitting has become powerful tools in my journey, along with other techniques that help me reset when anxiety starts creeping in.

Managing Anxiety: What’s Been Helping

Anxiety has a way of showing up uninvited, but I’ve been focusing on small, tangible ways to shift my mindset. Here are some go-to strategies I’ve been leaning on:

  • Fresh air & water—getting outside, even for a few minutes, helps.
  • Knitting—stitching my worries into something tangible.
  • Watching something funny—laughter truly is medicine.
  • Healthy food—choosing what nourishes both body and mind.
  • Writing down blessings—a simple way to shift perspective.
  • Decluttering—turning tidying into a game keeps it from feeling overwhelming.
  • Driving—sometimes a change of scenery is all I need.

Recognizing the early signs of anxiety—like staying up too late or feeling a racing heart—has also been key in catching it before it takes over.

Sourcing Local: My 100-Mile Life Challenge

Another focus lately has been my 100-Mile Life in 100 Days challenge. I’m continuing to seek out locally sourced wool and other products, making mindful choices about where my materials come from. It’s been an eye-opening experience, deepening my connection to both my craft and my community.

Looking Ahead

As April approaches, I’m eager to continue these projects and see where they lead. If you’re also on a journey of mindful making, I’d love to hear from you—what’s been on your needles, spindle, or heart this month?

Until next time,

Doll from Doll Can Create

100 Mile Journey Check-in March 28, 2025 — March 28, 2025

100 Mile Journey Check-in March 28, 2025

/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Embarking on a Hundred Mile Life—sourcing essentials within a 100-mile radius—has come with its share of challenges. Here’s how I’m tackling them:

Budget Challenges & Solutions

  • Local products can be more expensive, so I need to cut back elsewhere.
  • Reviewing subscriptions to streaming services:
    • Prioritizing only what we actually use.
    • Canceling unnecessary ones to free up funds for local purchases.
  • Reducing unnecessary delivery costs:
    • Checking if I’m paying for services I don’t need.
    • Finding ways to replace delivery items with local alternatives.

Finding Local Alternatives

  • Some items are harder to find, like canned goods and long-term storage items.
  • Farmers’ markets will be opening soon—good opportunities to stock up.
  • Meat sourcing has been a challenge:
    • Local meats can be pricey but not impossible to find.
    • Found a store in Hamilton with its own meat processing plant—more affordable and transparent.
    • Whole chickens are cheaper there than at big-box stores.

Tracking Local vs. Non-Local Spending

  • Need a better way to measure how much I’m truly sourcing locally.
  • Planning to use YNAB (You Need a Budget) to:
    • Separate spending into “local” and “non-local” categories.
    • Analyze where I can improve and adjust.

Minimizing Delivery Costs

  • Ensuring delivery services are within the 100-mile radius.
  • Already have local options for dairy, produce, and coffee:
    • Dairy: Prepaid for a year’s worth of delivery.
    • Produce: Can pick up for free in Ancaster (15–20 min away).
    • Coffee: Found a local roaster that delivers affordably.
  • Planning errands efficiently to reduce fuel costs when picking up local goods.

Looking Ahead

  • Expecting more challenges but staying flexible and creative.
  • The goal is sustainability—balancing cost, convenience, and commitment to local sourcing.
  • Continuing to track progress and refine strategies.

Have you tried focusing on local purchases? What obstacles have you encountered, and how did you overcome them?

Let’s start a conversation. What steps will you take this weekend?

Till again,

Doll from DollCanCreate