Woolly Wanderings: Wyoming By: Woolly Mammoth Woolen Company

Wyoming is one of the most magical places to witness mother nature at her finest. The beauty of Wyoming is unlike any other state. Wide open lands and an abundance of nature and wildlife puts into perspective our place in the world and the importance of land preservation.  We recently took a trip to Wyoming and quickly fell in love with the landscape, the people, the food, and most of all, the fresh air and freedom that we experienced. 

We decided to camp near the Grand Tetons. It was a little chilly with snow on the ground, but my trusty navy blue wool blanket and yellow wool blanket proved to be a perfect companion for the night and served as an additional heavy layer outside of my sleeping bag. Deer were abundant and within close range in nearly every direction. We were warned earlier in the day that there had been several grizzly bear sightings earlier in the week, so we were on guard most of the night. Fortunately, we dodged bears that trip.

The next morning, we stopped into the sweet little square of Jackson Hole for coffee and a healthy breakfast. There are great small shops and restaurants for you to fuel up before heading out. We decided to explore Yellowstone during the day where we saw all types of wildlife including elk, bison, deer, turkeys, moose, and bighorn sheep. We caught a sighting of Old Faithful geyser erupting, which was incredible to see for the first time.

The next day, we set our sights on the Pryor Mountain Range, which is a refuge for free-roaming mustangs. It’s located on the border of southern Montana and Wyoming. We did some off-roading and took in the sights before setting up for another chilly night of camping. Feeling a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to explore such beautiful lands while laying out under the stars was the perfect way to conclude the trip.

Rainy Day Activities By Woolly Mammoth Woolen Company

We absolutely savor rainy days. It’s an excuse to stay inside and slow down. It’s why we named our Navy blue wool blanket the “Rainy Day”...because of the number of cozy afternoons we have spent on the couch using that red plaid wool blanket! The energy in the air is restful and it’s a gentle reminder to turn inward and disengage from the hustle and bustle. Below are some of our favorite ways to spend a good rainy day.

• Bake homemade banana bread
• Read a book
• Make a cup of loose leaf tea
• Light incense and listen to your favorite tunes
• Spread out your cream wool blanket and play a classic board game (Monopoly and Scrabble are our favorites!)
• Make some hot cocoa (be sure to check out our hot cocoa recipes!)
• Wrap up your favorite 100 percent wool blanket and binge watch your favorite TV shows
• Practice yoga with the window open
• Play the guitar 

There you have it. So, the next time you have a rainy day…embrace it!

Woolly Spotlight: The Limited-Edition Freedom Red, White, and Blue Wool Blanket By Woolly Mammoth Woolen Company

America.

Land of the free, home of the brave!

Nothing is more patriotic like representing the red, white, and blue. For this reason, we created our limited-edition Freedom 100% merino wool blankets, which is part of our Farmhouse 100 Percent Wool Blanket Collection. The Freedom wool blanket boasts a hefty size at 66 inches by 90 inches and weighing in at approximately 4 pounds. This patriotic plaid wool blanket is perfect for any time of the year, serving as a great cabin blanket for the lakehouse or part of your home decor. Our Freedom wool blanket is a nod to a charming New Hampshire town.

Quality wool blankets are known for their warmth during the cooler months, but they also help keep the body cool during the summer.  A sheep wool blanket makes for a perfect companion to lay within a hammock or to keep on the front porch swing to wrap up in while you watch the sun go down. Our high-quality wool blanket is made to last for years. We use pure wool spun with a bit of a nylon and polyester blend to provide strength and durability to the blanket.  The edging of the wool blanket is finished with a double nylon stitch and then wrapped with a thick yarn whipstitch providing a beautiful, classic finish.

Need to stock up on some wool blankets for sale? The very special limited-edition Freedom wool blanket will not last long, so get yours today. We also offer wholesale wool blankets.

Gift Basket Idea: Valentine’s Day By Woolly Mammoth Woolen Company

Valentine’s Day is quickly upon us. And although the concept of “love” should be celebrated all throughout the year, it’s always nice to celebrate the day and show the person closest to you how meaningful they are. We favor a perfect night in with a home-cooked candlelit meal. How do you like to celebrate?

Below is this month’s Woolly gift basket idea for Valentine’s Day.

100 percent wool blanket from our Heavenly Collection (perfect to wrap up in together!)

Paired with a basket filled with…

A bottle of red wine

Two wine glasses

Dark chocolate

Soy-based candle

Book of love poems

We want to share the love with our customers this Valentine’s Day. Shop our wool blankets for sale now!

In the Kitchen: Warm and Crunchy Artisan Bread

Wintertime calls for cozy hibernation and creating delicious meals in the kitchen. Although it’s always a treat to get dressed up and go out to a restaurant, there’s just something so special about making your own food and devouring the finished product. It doesn’t matter if you are dining alone or with a party of 10, cooking can always be a fun experience. 

Putting on some soulful tunes, lighting a few candles, and opening a good bottle of red always gets us in the mood for cooking up a meal. Whether you are re-creating restaurant finds or making it up as you go along, the food you choose to put in your body should be intentional and nourishing.

Today’s “In the Kitchen” spotlight is on one of our winter favorites…. Warm and Crunchy Artisan Bread.

Artisan bread is delicious. Perfect for soups, stews, picnic paninis (don’t forget your black and white wool blanket!), French toast, or just snacking on in the middle of the day. It’s important to plan accordingly for this one, as homemade bread needs time to rise. This recipe is so simple, soon you’ll learn how to make it with your eyes closed.

Ingredients

• 3 cups (24 ounces or 680 grams) lukewarm water (100°F or 38°C), plus more for the broiler tray
• 1 tablespoon (.35 ounce or 10 grams) granulated yeast (active dry, instant, quick rise, or bread machine is fine)
• 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons (.6 to .9 ounce or 9 to 12 grams) Himalayan salt, measured to taste
• 6 1/2 cups (2 pounds or 910 grams) bread flour, measured by the scoop-and-sweep method

Directions

1. Warm the 3 cups water to about 100°F (40°C). In a large bowl of a standing mixer or a 6-quart container with a lid, mix the yeast, warm water, and salt. Add the flour all at once, then use a spoon or stand mixer to mix until the flour is completely incorporated. (If you’re hand-mixing the dough and it becomes too difficult to incorporate all the flour with the spoon, just use very wet hands to press the mixture together.) Kneading is not necessary. Dough should be uniformly wet and loose enough to conform to the shape of its container. Ensure there are no dry patches of flour. Add 2-3 Tbs of fresh oregano or Italian spices.
2. Loosely cover the container and let the dough sit at room temperature until it begins to rise. It will take about 2 hours to rise.
3. After 2 hours, place the container of dough in the fridge. Once refrigerated, the dough will appear to have shrunk back upon itself as though it will never rise again—this is normal. Do not punch down the dough, as you want to retain as much gas in the dough as possible. Be sure to use the dough at some point within 14 days.
4. Cut off a 1-pound piece of dough. Hold the dough and, if necessary, add just enough flour so the dough doesn’t stick to your hands. Gently stretch the surface of the dough, tucking the ends underneath the ball and rotating it a quarter turn as you go. Your round loaf of bread should be smooth and cohesive, and the entire shaping process should take no more than 20 to 40 seconds. Place the shaped ball of dough on a prepared pizza peel and let it rest uncovered for about 40 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C) for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Preheat a baking stone on a middle rack for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Place an empty metal broiler tray on any rack that won’t interfere with the rising bread.
6. Dust the top of the raised loaf generously with flour. Using a serrated bread knife, slash a 1/2-inch-deep cross or tic-tac-toe pattern in the top. Add about 1 cup of hot water to the boiler tray.
7. Bake the bread for a total of 20 to 35 minutes, until the crust is richly browned and firm to the touch.

Soon your kitchen will be smelling like a French bakery. And on that note, it’s time to wrap up in my red plaid wool blanket with a cup of tea and a slice of oregano bread topped with butter and honey.

Bon Appetit!

Camping Spotlight-Yosemite National Park

Summertime in Yosemite National Park is buzzing with thousands of campers, tourists, climbers, photographers… you name it you’ll find it in Yosemite.  So, when it comes time to find a campsite for a few nights, it is nearly impossible unless you have reserved your spot many months in advance.   If you get fortunate and arrive extremely early to the park, you may be able to get first come first serve campsite.  For those of us who haven’t thought ahead, we may have to scour for a campsite outside the park.  If you know where to look, you can find many beautiful campsites within a short distance to the park entrance. 

One of the best camping experiences we had was when we showed up short notice to Yosemite thinking we would be able to find a place to post up for a few nights. Wrong! After driving out of the east side of the park, we stumbled upon Aspen Grove Campground.  The campground is named for the beautiful aspen grove that surrounds the 45 campsites within.  At an elevation of 7490 feet, Mount Dana and Tioga Peak are visible from the campsite.  It was a first come, first serve site with a few vacancies available.  We pounced on a spot along the Lee Vining Creek which snaked through the backside of the campground.  The snowmelt from the nearby mountains had the creek flowing at a good pace, which made for peaceful naps in the hammock and even better night’s sleep. It was an amazing campsite only 3.5 miles from the park entrance. 

After setting up our tents and hanging our hammocks between Aspen trees which lined the creek, we all took a well-deserved nap before cooking juicy cheeseburgers over the open fire.  The sunset turned into darkness until the billions of stars began to twinkle above us.  We then cozied up in our sleeping bags and our heavy wool blanket from Woolly Mammoth Woolen Company.  As the cold mountain blew in overnight, we were all snug as a bug in merino sheep wool blankets.  The navy blue wool blanket was my favorite camp blanket, but we also made use of the gray and yellow wool blanket as well.  The next morning, we had a big day as we were going to conquer the Clouds Rest hike. 

Clouds Rest is one of the best hikes in the U.S. with the most spectacular sweeping views overlooking some of the most famous landmarks in Yosemite.  Some can see as far west as Hawaii and as far east as Oklahoma.  After hiking most of the day and wandering through the park, we headed back to our nest at Aspen Grove Campground to enjoy the serenity and solace of the flowing creek and the fresh mountain air that gently blew between the Aspen trees. 

Moral of the story folks – you can still have a great time in and around Yosemite even if you failed to plan early. 

Winter Car Safety and Emergency Preparedness

These wintry days are upon us! The snooze button is hit a minimum of 5 times.  The struggle is real trying to get out of bed, especially when you have an extra layer of comfort from a red plaid wool blanket or a black and white checkered blanket from our Farmhouse Collection keeping you toasty! 

The cold, dark winter days along with the snow and ice on the roads require us to become more diligent of the risks associated with winter driving.  A small patch of black ice on a country road could leave you stranded for some time before help arrives.  If you were fortunate enough to have a full tank of gas, then staying warm with your car heater might not be a problem. However, if your vehicle's tailpipe is clogged with snow while you’re in a ditch and you are stuck in your car, then your vehicle must be turned off due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.  For situations like this, we always recommend to friends, family, and customers to carry multiple sheep wool blankets in the vehicle during winter months.  Woolly Mammoth Woolen Company makes heavy wool blanket made from virgin Merino wool.  At 66 inches by 90 inches, these blankets are extra-large to ensure you can completely wrap up your entire body.  Wool is an excellent insulator that traps warm air within its fibers while allowing it to breathe at the same time.

Aside from having quality wool blankets accessible, it is essential to have a few warm hats, gloves, extra water, and some non-perishable food items in case you are stuck for a while.  Some other notable additions to a winter car safety kit may include quality jumper cables, emergency flares, collapsible shovel, and a flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries. 

Hopefully, a reliable winter car safety kit will never be used.  Although it takes up some space in the vehicle, you will extremely happy you are prepared for when the time comes and you get stuck or when you need to help somebody else out.   To shop our top selling emergency preparedness blanket click here. 

Creating a Beautiful Summertime Picnic

Creating the most perfect and beautiful picnic is a fun activity in the summer time. Whether we are out camping in the mountains, trail riding in the woods, or hanging out at home in the country, we take our picnics seriously. It’s important to nourish the mind and body, and what better way to do that then blend food and the outdoors together? Grab your quality wool blankets and picnic basket, y’all.

Although we favor garden fresh fruits and veggies, you can find most makings for a summertime picnic at your local grocery store. Stocking up on the essentials means you will never be left stranded. Below are our top must-haves for planning a perfect summer picnic.

Basket

This sounds obvious, but make sure you get one that is big and sturdy enough to hold all your food, utensils, etc.

Cloth Napkins

They don’t blow away and it’s more sustainable than paper napkins

Wooden Plates

More sustainable than paper and plastic.

Food

Pack the makings for a good charcuterie board to kick things off. Quality prosciutto, salami, goat cheese, fontina, and gouda. Add a touch of organic raw honey, some good quality organic crackers, and a sprinkle of your favorite nuts (such as pumpkin or almonds).

Hummus and pita chips

A bowl of fresh blackberries

A good bottle of wine. White wine or champagne with berries is a summertime favorite!

Sparkling water

Garden fresh veggies on a millet and quinoa loaf. Pre-slice ahead of time and add smashed avocados, heirloom tomatoes sprouts, and a little pesto.

A Good Book

For post-meal relaxation

A Woolly Mammoth Woolen Company classic checkered wool blankets for sale

A perfect picnic black and white wool blanket for that post-meal snooze….

Summertime Outdoor Fun

Summertime is meant to be spent outdoors. Fresh air and nature are so good for the soul. The constant drain of technology we are faced with throughout the week can be downright exhausting. It’s important to put the phone away, log off email, and embrace your surroundings—every day and not just when the weekend calls. Whether you live in the city or in the country, make sure to carve out time and get down with mother nature.

Summer outdoor fun can take many different forms. Our favorite hot summer nights include wrapping up in a warm wool blanket and sipping wine (or whiskey!) while lounging on the porch swing, watching the sunset rays and fireflies sparkle throughout the yard. Keep the phones inside and lose track of time for a while. Sometimes simplicity and nature are just what the mind and body need.

Some other ways to incorporate summertime fun includes…

Setting up a horseshoe game

Draping a sheet from two trees and screening a favorite movie outside on the lawn. Don’t forget some quality woolblankets to lay out!

Playing corn hole

Building a bonfire

Building a tree fort specifically, with the Stargazer gray wool blankets and yellow wool blanket!

Rounding up some friends and play the guitar on the front porch

Grilling corn, smoking meat, and roasting marshmallows

Going for a sunset horseback ride

And on that note...how many more days until summer is here?

Front Porch Essentials

Warm weather is upon us, and that barren front porch is ready to come alive again.  The front porch offers curb appeal to your home and is often the first place a visitor sees and steps foot.  The front porch is a place to sit and relax while watching the sun going up or the sun going down.  It’s the perfect place to sip coffee in the morning, sweet tea during the day, and a glass of wine at night.  The front porch is a place to gather with loved ones, friends, acquaintances and share stories.  

Adding some flair to your front porch to make it inviting, intriguing, and comfortable can be a low-cost and simple task.  Some of our favorite front porch essentials include:

Rocking Chairs

We like to scavenge through garage sales or antique shops to find the perfect rockers.  Buy a rustic wooden or metal table to separate the chairs to rest beverages or play cards.  Choose from our variety of sheep wool blankets from our Farmhouse Collection to add year-round comfort and warmth. Use as a backrest on the chairs or pull over your shoulders on a chilly night. They make the perfect porch swing blanket. Wool is a unique fiber that will help keep you cool in the summer and warm and toasty during the colder months. 

Small Garden Bed

Putting a small garden bed of aromatic flowers or herbs will add a lovely scent which greets visitors to your front porch. 

Bistro Lights

The classic glow of warm bistro white lights will provide a warm ambiance to your space.

Vintage Wagon

Vintage items such as wagons or sleds can be incorporated into a flower bed or herb garden.  Vintage items provide charm, timelessness, and are also great conversation pieces.   

Swing

What front porch would be complete without a swing?  Whether it’s a traditional two-seater swing or a swinging daybed, these are a must.  We recommend a composite construction that requires minimal maintenance and will last for years and years.