2026-07-09T21:53:31-04:00

The Wheel Keeps Turning (Spindle too)

July 9, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

There is something deeply comforting about the rhythm of a spinning wheel.

As I sit and spin, my heart begins to keep time with the turning spindle, with the gentle treadling of the wheel. Before long, I notice my breathing has slowed. My thoughts have softened. The hurry of the day begins to slip away.

Soft fibres in countless blends pass through my fingers. Wool from one farm, perhaps alpaca from another, a touch of silk or bamboo. Each fibre brings its own personality, yet together they become something entirely new.

As I spin, I find myself wondering.

What will this yarn become?

Will it become a pair of warm socks for winter? A shawl wrapped around someone’s shoulders? A sweater worn on cool autumn mornings? Will it be beautiful? Will it be useful? Will it bring comfort to another pair of hands?

Those are lovely questions.

But they are no longer the most important ones.

Somewhere along the way I realized that spinning was never just about making yarn. The true gift is what happens while the wheel turns.

The process changes me.

As the fibre drafts through my fingers, I dream. I pray. I remember. I give thanks.

Even on difficult days—days when my head aches, when worries creep in, or when life feels uncertain—the steady rhythm of the wheel reminds me that peace doesn’t always arrive in dramatic ways. Sometimes it comes one treadle at a time.

One draw.

One twist.

One quiet moment after another.

The yarn grows almost unnoticed, just as our lives do.

We often ask ourselves, What comes next?

It’s a question we carry through every season of life. What comes after retirement? After the children leave home? After grief? After illness? After success? After disappointment?

The truth is, we rarely know.

And perhaps we don’t need to.

The wheel teaches me that I don’t have to see the finished skein before I begin. I simply need to trust the next draft of fibre, the next turn of the wheel, the next quiet breath.

What comes next will come.

Today is enough.

Today I will spin.

Today I will breathe.

Today I will give thanks for these ordinary moments that quietly become an extraordinary life.

The wheel keeps turning.

By the grace of God, so do I.

A Gentle Invitation

What simple rhythm has been steadying your heart lately?

Perhaps it’s knitting, gardening, baking bread, walking at sunrise, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea.

I’d love to hear what helps you find peace as your own wheel keeps turning.

Grannie Doll

Spinning each day and loving life.

Podcast Episode 1: Fiber Rituals And Summer Reflections

July 4, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Pip: Tour de Fleece is upon us — the one athletic event where the training plan includes a die roll and a cup of tea.

Mara: Barbara (Doll) Creelman has been writing about exactly that: how to prepare for Tour de Fleece with intention, what the event is really building beneath the surface, and how July itself becomes a season worth tending. Let's start with the preparation side of things.

Tour de Fleece: Showing Up One Spin at a Time

Pip: The question at the heart of Tour de Fleece prep isn't what fibre to spin or which wheel to use — it's how you build a daily habit that actually holds when motivation is thin and the bobbin is empty.

Mara: The five-step framework in "Let's Get Ready for Tour de Fleece" starts before the fibre even comes out. The framing is direct: "It isn't about spinning the most yarn or owning the fanciest wheel. It's about showing up, building a habit, and enjoying the journey one length of fibre at a time."

Pip: So the whole architecture is about removing the pressure that makes people skip a day — and that shapes every step that follows.

Mara: Exactly that. Hydration comes first — water beside the wheel as a cue to care for the spinner, not just the spinning. Then a timer, sometimes just twenty or thirty minutes, which the post describes as replacing guilt with consistency.

Pip: The die roll is the one that earns its keep. Six outcomes — different fibre, different spindle, a wheel session, plying, sampling, carding — and the decision is already made for you.

Mara: The post calls it removing decision fatigue, and the framing is generous: "Sometimes creativity just needs permission to play." Steps four and five round it out — choosing today's spindle deliberately, and then letting process be enough. Celebrate the uneven yarn, the small victories, simply showing up.

Pip: Which is a harder instruction than it sounds, for the people who keep a spreadsheet on their yardage.

Mara: The second post, "What Are We Really Building During Tour de Fleece," takes that same spirit and zooms out. It argues the real product isn't yarn at all — it's community. Spinners who may never meet face to face, cheering each other through tangles and broken singles, connected by a shared rhythm across time zones.

Pip: Spinning is described there as quiet and solitary by nature, which makes the community angle feel earned rather than promotional.

Mara: That tension is the whole point of the piece. The craft is solo; the event makes it collective. And that's the ground the July newsletter picks up on too — which is where we're headed next.

July: Steadying the Ship

Pip: If Tour de Fleece is the event, July is the container — and the July Newsletter frames the whole month as a season of intention rather than acceleration.

Mara: The newsletter opens with a quiet declaration: "Steady the ship. Tend the roots. Enjoy the journey." Not a productivity manifesto — more a permission slip. July's longer days and open windows become an invitation to return to small practices that make life feel rooted.

Pip: Socks, a sweater, English Paper Piecing, local shopping, bread baking, walking — the list reads less like a to-do and more like a description of a life already in motion.

Mara: That's the 100 Mile Life thread running through it. Living locally reframed not as restriction but as relationship — knowing where food comes from, supporting neighbours, finding abundance close to home.

Pip: Habit, community, rootedness — it all points the same direction: slow down enough to notice what's already there.

Mara: Worth sitting with as the Tour gets underway. We'll be back with more from Doll Can Create soon.

Let’s Get Ready for Tour de Fleece: 5 Gentle Daily Steps

June 29, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Every July, thousands of spinners around the world gather for one of my favourite fibre celebrations: Tour de Fleece.

Just like the cyclists in the Tour de France ride each day, we spin each day. It isn’t about spinning the most yarn or owning the fanciest wheel. It’s about showing up, building a habit, and enjoying the journey one length of fibre at a time.

As I prepare for this year’s Tour, I’ve settled into five simple daily steps that help me begin each spinning session with intention.

1. Set Up Your Hydration

Before the fibre comes out, I reach for my water.

Spinning is wonderfully absorbing. It’s easy to lose track of time and realize an hour later that you haven’t had a sip to drink.

Having water, tea, or another favourite drink beside you is a gentle reminder to care for yourself while you create.

Think of hydration as caring for the spinner—not just the spinning.

2. Set a Spinning Timer

One of the biggest myths is that you need hours to make progress.

You don’t.

I like to set a timer—sometimes just 20 or 30 minutes.

When the timer starts, all I have to do is spin. No pressure to finish a bobbin. No expectation of perfection.

Some days I’ll stop when the timer rings.

Other days I’ll keep going because I’m enjoying myself.

The timer removes the guilt and replaces it with consistency.

3. Roll the Die

This might be my favourite part.

I keep a simple die beside my spinning supplies.

Each number represents a different spinning choice:

a different fibre
a different spindle
a wheel session
plying
sampling
or even carding fibre

Rolling the die removes decision fatigue.

Instead of wondering what to work on, the decision is made for me—and it often leads to delightful surprises.

Sometimes creativity just needs permission to play.

4. Choose Your Spindle

Whether you’re spinning on a wheel or with spindles, today’s choice becomes today’s companion.

Maybe it’s your trusted favourite.

Maybe it’s the spindle that hasn’t been used in months.

Maybe it’s the beautiful handmade spindle you’ve been saving for “the right time.”

Today is the right time.

Every spindle teaches us something different, and part of the joy of Tour de Fleece is rediscovering the tools we already love.

5. Enjoy the Process

This may be the most important step of all.

Tour de Fleece isn’t really about finished skeins.

It’s about slowing down.

Feeling the fibre slip through your fingers.

Listening to the gentle hum of the wheel.

Watching singles slowly become yarn.

Celebrate the uneven yarn.

Celebrate the tiny victories.

Celebrate simply showing up.

Because every day you spend spinning is already a successful day.

See You on the Tour

This year I’m choosing progress over perfection.

One glass of water.

One timer.

One roll of the die.

One spindle.

One peaceful spinning session at a time.

I’ll be sharing my journey throughout Tour de Fleece 2026, and I’d love for you to spin along with me.

What spindle—or wheel—will you begin the Tour with?

Blessings from Grannie Doll

Living the 100 mile path one spin at a time.

Preparing the Spindles for July

June 13, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

July is just around the corner, and in the fiber arts world that means one thing for many of us: challenge season. The baskets come out, the fiber gets sorted, and suddenly every spindle in the house is asking for attention.

This week I’ve been focusing on preparing my spindles for the July 2026 spinning event. There is something deeply satisfying about getting ready before the first official day begins. Choosing tools, organizing fiber, testing balance and spin — it all feels like part of the ritual.

Some people train for races.

I prepare spindles.

What I love most about these events is not necessarily the speed or the output, although both can be exciting. It’s the way a challenge encourages me to pay closer attention to my craft. I notice my drafting more. I experiment with different fibers. I become more intentional with my spinning rhythm.

Preparation matters.

Before the spinning even begins, there’s a quiet season of planning:

Which spindle feels best in my hands right now?
What fibers do I want to work through?
Do I want comfort spinning or skill stretching?
What goals actually feel realistic for this season of life?

As I sorted through my spindle collection, I realized each one carries its own personality and memory. Some are fast and lively. Others are steady companions for evening spinning in the rocking chair. A few are connected to previous spin-alongs and long winter nights.

That’s part of the beauty of hand spinning. The tools themselves become part of the story.

I also know myself well enough now to understand that preparation helps me stay grounded during a challenge. When the fiber is organized and the tools are ready, I can simply sit down and spin. No scrambling. No searching. Just fiber moving through my hands one draft at a time.

And honestly? I enjoy the anticipation almost as much as the event itself.

There is joy in sharpening skills at any age. There is joy in setting personal goals simply because we love the craft. Whether you are spinning for sweaters, socks, prayer shawls, or simply for peace of mind, every yard spun by hand carries something meaningful within it.

If you are joining the July spinning event, I’d love to hear what you are preparing. Are you focusing on consistency? Speed? Learning a new technique? Working from stash?

Let’s encourage one another along the way.

Until then, I’ll be over here with my baskets of wool, a growing spindle lineup, and a cup of matcha nearby — getting ready one spin at a time.

Blessings,

Grannie Doll – living the 100 Mile Life, one spin at a time.

DollCanCreate Newsletter

May 1, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Small Circles. Deep Roots.

April Reflection + May Intention

🍵 A Gentle Welcome

Dear friend,

This past month has felt like a soft exhale.

After the fullness of Lent, the depth of Holy Week, and the joy of Easter morning, I’ve found myself slowing… perhaps more than I expected. The urgency has lifted, and in its place—something quieter.

Each morning, I’ve been lighting a candle, whisking my lavender matcha, and sitting in stillness with this simple truth:

Nothing is required of me right now.

And in that space, something beautiful is growing.

Time by the water: Port Dover, ON

🧶Scroll down for video

What I’ve Been Working On

April has been a month of steady hands and gentle creativity.

Spinning local wool from Rampart Farm
Exploring natural dyeing with avocado pits and onion skins
Knitting socks (always socks… you know me)
Dreaming into a larger sweater project

There’s something deeply grounding about working with fibre that comes from nearby fields… wool that has known our weather, our soil, our seasons.

It reminds me:

We are allowed to live locally—not just in geography, but in spirit.

🌎 The 100 Mile Life – A Real Reflection

I’ll be honest—this journey isn’t always smooth.

There are moments (like standing in the grocery store, searching for local potatoes in early spring) where the path feels… a little bumpy.

And yet—

I don’t rush.
I don’t force.
I don’t give up.

I adjust.

Sometimes that means choosing Canadian over hyper-local.
Sometimes it means waiting patiently for the next harvest.

The 100 Mile Life isn’t about perfection.

It’s about:

awareness
intention
and grace

The earth will produce—in due season.

🕯️ Faith & Slow Living

In ministry and in life, I’m noticing a common thread:

So many of us are carrying heaviness.

The world feels uncertain.
There is noise, urgency, pressure to react.

But our faith invites something different.

Not panic…
Not scarcity…
But trust.

A quieter way.
A rooted way.

Like the words from Micah 6:8:

Walk humbly. Act justly. Love mercy.

There is no rushing in that.

Only steady, faithful steps.

🌸 A Small Invitation for May

As we move into a new month, I’m not setting big goals.

Instead, I’m holding one gentle intention:

Stay close.

Close to:

home
rhythm
creativity
God

Maybe for you, that looks like:

cooking one meal from scratch
buying one item locally
sitting for 10 minutes in stillness
picking up a forgotten creative project

Small circles.

Deep roots.

📺 What’s Coming Next

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing:

A cozy “Day in the Life” video
More on the 100 Mile Life (including practical steps to begin)
A spinning + prayer series
A new gentle resource: The 100 Mile Life – A Gentle Start

This one feels special. Like something that’s been growing quietly for a while.

💌 Before You Go

Thank you for being here.

For reading.
For creating.
For choosing a slower, more rooted way—however that looks in your life.

I picture you with your own version of a cozy chair, a warm drink, and a moment to breathe.

And I’m right there with you.

With warmth,
Grannie Doll 🌿

What my wool is teaching me

March 14, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

There are weeks when inspiration comes rushing in like a river.

Some weeks are like this one. They are quieter and slower. In these weeks, creativity feels more like a gentle walk than a sprint.

This week I have been spending time with my wool.

Not rushing a project. Not planning the next big idea. Just sitting with my spindle and letting the fibre teach me what it wants to teach.

Hand spun local wool

Wool has a way of reminding me that transformation is rarely fast.

When I begin spinning, the fibre is loose and airy in my hands. It doesn’t look like yarn yet. It doesn’t look like anything finished or useful. But with patience — draft, twist, wind — something begins to change.

Slowly, almost quietly, strength appears.

I’ve been thinking about how similar this is to the life of faith.

Grace does not usually arrive with fireworks. More often it shows up in small daily moments. These include a quiet prayer or a simple meal prepared at home. It might also be a few peaceful rows of knitting or the rhythm of spinning in the afternoon light.

This is the grace I am living into during Lent this year.

Not dramatic grace.

Not spectacular grace.

But sustaining grace — the kind that walks beside us through ordinary days.

Working with local wool deepens that feeling for me. The fibre carries a story. It tells of farms, fields, sheep, and seasons. It includes the hands that cared for the animals before the wool ever reached my spindle.

Spinning it connects me to something older and steadier than our busy world.

And each time the spindle turns, I am reminded:

Transformation happens slowly.

Faith grows quietly.

And grace, like wool becoming yarn, strengthens us little by little.

So this week I will keep spinning.

Just a little each day.

Trusting that God is doing the same gentle work in me.

Blessing:

May grace meet you today

in small quiet moments —

in work done with your hands,

in simple food shared at your table,

and in the steady peace of an ordinary day.

Grannie Doll

The Local Sock Experiment

March 2, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Spinning, dyeing, and knitting a pair of socks from close to home

This year I’ve been asking a simple question:

How local can my knitting truly be?

I’ve sourced local food. I’ve explored local wool. I’ve spun fibres grown not far from where I live. But a new curiosity has been forming in my hands and heart:

Could I create a pair of socks entirely from local fibre?

Thus begins The Local Sock Experiment.

This is not a quest for perfection.

It is an exploration.

It is a listening.

It is a learning journey from fleece to foot.

What This Experiment Explores

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be working through the full process:

• preparing and spinning fibre by hand
• dyeing yarn in small, meaningful colourways
• knitting durable, wearable socks
• testing comfort, strength, and practicality
• reflecting on sustainability and slow making

I’ll share the successes, the surprises, and the honest challenges along the way.

Because experiments teach us most when things don’t go exactly as planned.

Why Socks?

Socks are small enough to be practical… yet essential enough to matter.

They carry us through daily life.

They warm us through winter.

They remind us that care belongs in the ordinary.

If local fibre can serve our feet, it can serve our lives.

Why This Matters

This experiment is about more than socks.

It touches on:

• supporting local farmers and fibre producers
• reducing dependence on global textile systems
• preserving traditional skills
• slowing down consumption
• reconnecting with place and season

And perhaps most importantly…

learning to live gently within the rhythms of our own communities.

Join Me

If you spin, knit, crochet, weave, or simply love wool, I invite you to follow along.

If you’ve wondered where your yarn comes from, this journey is for you.

If you long for a slower, more intentional way of making, you are already part of this story.

Let’s see what we can create — one local stitch at a time.

Grannie Doll Blessing

May your hands find rhythm,
your wool tell its story,
and your steps be warmed
by the work of your own making.

Sitting & Spinning: Thoughts on Canadian Wool and the Beauty of Slow Making

February 21, 2026February 21, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Hi friends,

Today I thought I’d sit with you for a few quiet minutes. I want to simply share what has been on my heart and in my hands. This isn’t a tutorial or a how-to — just a gentle check-in from my spinning corner.

Sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen when we slow down enough to listen. Scroll down for the video.

Thinking About Canadian Wool

Lately, I’ve been thinking a great deal about wool in Canada. I wonder where it comes from and who raises it. I also consider how we support the shepherds and farms that care for these beautiful animals.

Living close to home has become increasingly important to me. The idea of using fibre grown within our own communities feels both practical and deeply meaningful. It connects us to land, season, and stewardship in a way that mass-produced materials simply cannot.

I find myself wondering:

Can we support local wool more intentionally?
What would it look like to build a resilient fibre future right here at home?
How might our crafting choices bless our local economies and environment?

These are gentle questions, but they keep returning as I spin.

What’s on My Spindle

Right now, I’m working with wool from local farms in natural shades. These include soft creams, warm browns, and quiet greys. These colors seem to carry the landscape within them.

There is something deeply grounding about spinning natural colour fleece. The fibre drafts differently than commercially processed wool — a little more alive in the hands, a little more honest. It asks me to slow down and pay attention.

As the twist builds and the yarn forms, my breathing slows. The rhythm becomes prayerful.

Spinning, for me, is no longer just about making yarn.

It is about listening.

There are bumps. There are background noises and the occasional interruption. I’ve come to see these moments as part of the authenticity of home life. Creativity does not happen in perfect silence. It happens in the midst of living.

And perhaps that’s exactly where it belongs.

On My Needles: Pink Cable Mittens

Alongside my spinning, I’ve been working on a pair of pink cable mittens. They are soft, cheerful, and full of texture — the project that feels comforting just to hold.

Progress has been steady rather than rushed. I’ve been enjoying the rhythm of the cables and the way the stitches create structure and beauty row by row.

There is joy in watching something useful and lovely take shape slowly.

The Gift of Slow Making

Spinning and knitting continue to teach me the value of unhurried creativity. In a world that moves quickly and demands productivity, fibre work invites me to move differently.

To pause.
To notice.
To create beauty with intention.

These small acts of making ground me spiritually and emotionally. They remind me that usefulness and beauty can coexist, and that simple work done with care carries deep meaning.

Looking Ahead

As I look toward the months ahead, my goals feel softer than they once did.

I want to continue exploring local fibre sources.
I want to experiment with Canadian wool for practical projects.
I want to deepen the connection between craft, faith, and daily rhythm.
And I want to keep making beauty in small, faithful ways.

Nothing loud. Nothing rushed. Just steady steps forward.

Come Sit With Me

If you’re creating something right now, I would love to hear about it. What is on your needles, your wheel, or your worktable? Have you explored local fibre sources in your area?

We build community by sharing what we make and why it matters to us.

Thank you for sitting with me today.

May your hands find peaceful work,
may your heart notice quiet beauty,
and may grace meet you in the ordinary moments.

With warmth and gratitude,
Grannie Doll

Ready for Valentine Knits?

January 20, 2026January 21, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/2 Comments

Love at First Stitch: Sock Knitting, Valentine’s Day & Pink Yarn Dreams 💕

There’s something quietly romantic about knitting socks.

Not the flashy, roses-and-chocolates kind of romance—but the kind that shows up every day. The kind that warms toes on cold mornings. The kind that says, “I thought of you.”

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I find myself reaching—almost without thinking—for pinks. Soft blush. Rose. Berry. The gentle kind of colour that feels like kindness rather than noise. And this year, I have a small collection of pink hand-dyed sock yarn skeins ready to find their way into loving hands.

Why Socks Make the Perfect Valentine

Socks are intimate in the best way.
They’re practical, yes—but they’re also deeply personal.

When you knit socks, you’re knitting for real life:

morning coffee on cold floors
boots kicked off at the door
evenings curled up with a book
daily walks, errands, ordinary days made softer

Hand-knit socks say, “I want you to be warm.”
And honestly? That’s a love language all its own.

The Magic of Merino/Nylon Sock Yarn

Every skein I’m offering is a merino/nylon blend, and there’s a reason sock knitters come back to this pairing again and again.

Merino wool brings softness, breathability, and warmth without bulk
Nylon adds strength and durability—because socks are meant to be worn, loved, and lived in

This blend is ideal for:

everyday socks
gift knitting
long-lasting heels and toes
smooth, satisfying stitches on your needles

And when it’s hand-dyed, each skein carries subtle variations—no two socks exactly alike, just like the people who wear them.

Pink Isn’t Just a Colour—It’s a Mood

Pink sock yarn feels different in your hands.

It’s cheerful without shouting.
Comforting without being dull.
A reminder that softness is a strength.

Whether you’re knitting:

Valentine socks for someone you love
a cozy pair for yourself (self-love counts 💗)
or a future gift waiting patiently in the drawer

Pink feels hopeful. Gentle. Kind.

A Small Batch, Dyed with Care

These skeins are part of a small, lovingly dyed batch—the kind of yarn that doesn’t rush you. The kind that invites you to slow down, cast on thoughtfully, and enjoy the rhythm of heel turns and toe grafts.

They won’t last long, and that’s okay. Handmade things aren’t meant to be endless. They’re meant to be meaningful.

A Gentle Invitation

If your needles have been whispering,
if you’ve been longing to knit something warm and loving,
if your heart could use a little pink right now—

These skeins are ready.

Cast on a pair of socks.
Wrap someone in warmth.
Or treat yourself to something handmade and kind.

Because love doesn’t always arrive in a box of chocolates.
Sometimes, it comes one stitch at a time. 🧦💕

With warm wishes and gentle stitches,
Grannie Doll

I have a few 100 gram skeins of hand dyed sock yarns to offer today focusing on Valentine Pinks. Let me know which one you’d like and I’ll ship ASAP. Cost? $20 per marked down from $30.

Thanks for looking today.

Still Waters in a Snowstorm

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026/Barbara (Doll) Creelman/Leave a comment

Finding Calm Through Spinning, Soup, and Slow Living

Have you ever felt like you were rushing through everything — trying to get it all done — and then feeling that quiet guilt creep in?

I should have done more.
I wish I had slowed down.
I meant to take better care…

You can fill in the blanks.

Today feels like a good moment for a gentle check-in.

Here on Hamilton Mountain, we’re having one of those rare, holy kinds of days — a snow day, a pajama day, a let’s-just-breathe day. The kind of day when the world outside hushes itself for a while, and the inside of your home becomes its own small sanctuary.

So I pulled my rocking chair close.
I picked up my spindle.
And I listened to what my soul needed.

1. Finding Peace with Busy Hands

When the world feels loud and heavy, my hands remember what to do.

I spin.
I knit.
I create.

Not because something has to be finished — but because something inside me needs to be steadied.

There is something deeply grounding about working with fiber. It connects me not only to other makers around the world. It also connects me to the generations before me. These were people whose hands once spun wool by candlelight. Their meals simmered on wood stoves. Their days moved at the pace of daylight and seasons.

Today I’m spinning from my Distaff Day bat — a special blend I build year after year. I save little bits of fiber from past projects in a jar. Once a year, I card them together to make something new. From that batt have come socks (some that shrank terribly!), mittens, and now a new pair of mitts currently on my needles.

Sometimes I set intentions for yarn.
Sometimes I simply choose a color that feels like joy in my hands.

Both are holy work.

2. What’s on Granny Doll’s Stove

A big pot is bubbling quietly in the kitchen. It holds a bone broth made from beef bones, onion, carrot, celery, and a splash of vinegar. It will nourish my body with warm sips today and become soup tomorrow.

I’m thinking beef barley.

Yesterday I also roasted a local chicken, so tonight’s supper will be simple and honest: leftover chicken, rice, and vegetables. When we make things good, they are good.

This is Granny-core living.
This is larder living.
This is nourishment that blesses both body and soul.

3. A New Gentle Health Journey

Some of you know that I live with type 2 diabetes. Over the past year and a half, I have been learning to care for my body. I am doing this while using a GLP-1 medication. I have been learning its rhythms, its limits, and its blessings.

I’ve recently begun creating a 14-day gentle meal plan — not a “diet,” but a sustainable, simple, grandmother-style way of eating:

Using what we already have
Honoring leftovers
Eating mostly at home
Avoiding waste
Choosing foods that truly nourish

I’m turning it into a small booklet. It includes daily scripture, prayer, and reflection. You can adapt it, reflect on it, and make it your own.

If that sounds like something you’d love, let me know. I’d be happy to share it when it’s ready.

Still Waters

Today, Psalm 23 whispered to me:

He leads me beside still waters.

Outside, everything is frozen — snow piled high, roads quiet, the world resting under a white quilt.

Inside, my still waters look like:

A rocking chair
A spindle turning slowly
Soup on the stove
A meal plan that supports my health
And the deep knowing that I am cared for

Still waters aren’t always rivers and streams.

Sometimes they are quiet kitchens.
Sometimes they are wool in your hands.
Sometimes they are choosing to care for your body gently and faithfully.

So for today, dear friends…

May every stitch you make,
Every inch of yarn you spin,
Every meal you prepare,
Every quiet moment you take —
Be a blessing to your body, your spirit, and those you love.

You are always welcome in my cozy corner.

Until next time,
Grannie Doll 💗

100 Mile Life/Grandma Core