Frugal Living with Pshyrein

Monday, December 15, 2025

Spiral square top

The journey of the intimidating graph reading is not a hard a you think, just learning a new language but you got the base already.

Here is it's broken down to help.

To start :

1. either magic circle ( or chain 2) 8 sc in to MC [8] {i did not turn my work always working in the spiral}

2. Sc Inc around [16]

This is the base of the rotating square.

3. Ch3 ( counts as DC), [hdc, sc hdc,dc] repeat 2 times, hdc, sc, hdc, ss top ch3.

This is where the rotation starts.

4. Ch1, sc in same as starting, hdc, dc, tc, ch4, *sc, hdc, dc, tc , ch4* repeat 2 more times. Ss top ch 1. FO.

5. Attach yarn to top of last TC,

Ch1, *(2sc, 2hdc) into ch4space, dc in next 2, tc in next 2 , ch4) *, repeat * to * 3 more times, ss to ch 1, FO.

6. Attach yarn to top of last TC,

Ch1, *(3sc, 1hdc) into ch4space, hdc in next 2, dc in next 3, tc in next 3 , ch4) *, repeat * to * 3 more times, ss to ch 1, FO.

7. Attach yarn to top of last TC,

Ch1, *(4sc) into ch4space, hdc in next 4, dc in next 4, tc in next 4, ch4) *, repeat * to * 3 more times, ss to ch 1, FO.

From now on every row grows by 1 [sc, hdc, dc, tc] until you get to your desired size. Take the row you are about to start and minus 3 to get the number of repeats [example: row 10 is 10-3 = 7, so your pattern is 7sc, 7hdc, 7dc, 7 tc for each side]

# = number of repeats.

8-??. Attach yarn to top of last TC,

Ch1, *(4sc) into ch4space, (#-4) sc in next (#-4), dc in next #, tc in next #, ch4) *, repeat * to * 3 more times, ss to ch 1, FO.

*For texture can do in all back loops.

For my square shirt, I did 25 rows. I'm a large top XL girlie, adjust for your desired drape and size. ( i measured outer shoulder to outer shoulder as i went knowing i wanted it to be drape a lot)

I then seamed the sides up 6inches, then did 4 inches over the shoulders. I double slip crocheted all the edges in black for arolled polished look.

Weave in all ends, or crochet over them as you go.

Share finished projects to @pshyrein_dags on Instagram, or find my Facebook page Handmade Crafts by Heather.

Thursday, November 27, 2025

The "Infinite Apple" Guide: 4 Instant Pot Recipes from 1 Bag of Apples

Stop buying individual jars of applesauce and jugs of cider. If you have an Instant Pot (IP) and a bag of apples, you have an entire autumn production line sitting in your kitchen.

Here is how to turn one bag of apples into Sauce, Butter, Cider, and Jelly with zero waste.

1. Instant Pot Applesauce (The Base)

The fastest way to process apples. No peeling required, BUT RECOMMENDED for your other recipes.

Ingredients:

●3 lbs Apples (Roughly chopped),

●½ cup Water,

●Cinnamon, grated (optional).

Method:

Toss apples and water into the pot.

Cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes.

Quick Release.

Blend with an immersion blender until smooth.

Note: If you want it chunky, peel the apples first!

2. Instant Pot Apple Butter (The Upgrade)

Cook the water out of the sauce to make it spreadable and rich.

Ingredients: 1 batch of the Applesauce above, ½ cup Brown Sugar, 1 tsp Cloves/Nutmeg/Allspice.

Method:

Keep the applesauce in the pot. Add sugar and spices.

Turn IP to Sauté (Low) or Slow Cook (Less).

Cook with the lid off (or slightly covered to stop splattering) for 1–3 hours.

It is done when it turns dark brown and stays in a mound on a spoon (no liquid weeping out).

3. Zero-Waste "Scrap" Cider

Use the cores and peels you would normally throw away.

Ingredients: Apple cores & peels, Water, 2 Cinnamon sticks.

Method:

Place scraps in the Instant Pot.

Add water until scraps are just covered.

Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.

Natural Release for 10 minutes.

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Sweeten with maple syrup( or honey)) to taste.

4. Apple Scrap Jelly

The magic trick. Apples have high pectin, so this liquid will gel on its own if boiled with sugar.

Ingredients:

●2 cups of the "Scrap Cider" (unsweetened),

●2 cups White Sugar.

Method:

Take your strained scrap liquid (before adding syrup).

Add an equal amount of sugar (1:1 ratio is crucial).

Boil on Sauté (High) or stovetop.

Boil until the mixture reaches 220°F (105°C) on a candy thermometer.

Pour into a jar and let cool. It will set into a firm jelly!

Storage Tips:

-Fridge: Sauce and Cider last 7–10 days.

-Freezer: Butter and Sauce freeze perfectly for 6 months.

-Canning: These recipes are acidic enough for water-bath canning if you want them shelf-stable (process for 10-15 mins).

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

My changing world

This blog is from Living a Longer Healthier Life, a companion guide to Dr. A's Habits oF Health

List Five life style event I would really love to do

Backpack with my daughter and be able to hike along side her instead of trudging along in the back at a very slow pace.
Bike ride with my daughters along the coast.
Enjoy a hiking trip and not dreading that insane hill I'm about to climb
Go to the beach and feel confident in what i choose to wear
Weight lifting and working out with my best friend

Do my current activities support or prevent me from doing my dreams?

Currently prevents because i quickly lose stamina, get short of breath and have a racing heart when i begin to carry a backpack
Prevent, I easily get fatigued and do see the benefit of driving to he beach to ride our bikes.
supports, I currently do go on hiking trips with my girls and i might dread that insane hill but we get it done.
Supports, I am confident in all i wear but i would love to still look spectacular in a bikini
Support, able to do this but need to be able to go one my own too. Prevents as well, because we have very full schedules and we have to make time to see each other.

When I am upset, stressed, depressed, angry, sad, bored, tired, or overworked, I tend to sleep or nap, or stay in bed. I have definitely found myself sitting at the sushi bar drinking sake and eating 3-4 rolls of sushi myself. The fish may be good but that is a lot of rice and sauce. So i am a victim of my works candy draw. Especially on slow nights it is so easy to pop open that draw and eat a little of whatever is inhere. It is such a bad habit, i don't even have to be hungry to open that draw to get something out.

Ten daily choices I make that support my health right now are:

Chicken over other meats
Fish is my favorite
Salads are better then most meals at fast food restaurants
parking further from the store
taking the stairs instead of the elevator
drinking more water
starting this blog/journal
going on hikes with my daughters or going on walks with Tony
thinking about my decision and why i make them
Removing all food post from my Facebook feed to lessen the temptation

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Haunting's from your past

No matter how hard you work, How far you have come, or the distance you put between you and you past; your past has ways of leaking back into your life.

How you choose to deal with it defines you today. What happened for me helped me to reflect back on about the last 15 years of my life. Amazingly, I have overcome great obstacles forced in my path by those that said they loved me, and those who could have care less about me. Despite them trying to derail me, I have still come out a better person. I have accomplished so much. I have seen much beauty in the side road I was to take, that had i not been derailed never would have seen.

I take this opportunity to hope that someone else may be able to look beyond what they are going through now. No matter the amount of hurt, mountain of mental pain, or tribulations you face, there is a brighter day on the other side of that mountain. There may be a valley of peace, a beautiful sunset to behold, or maybe another beautiful mountain to climb. You can do it, I can not promise that it will get easier. However, I can promise that you do get stronger and are able to endure everything and so much more.