Now it’s November

I mean, DUH, you know that it’s November. But time is getting away from me as always!

I’m not subbing today and I’m glad- my to-do list is LOOONG.  So I can’t stay here long- just a quick note.

Handmade Holidays is back!!! EEEEKKKK!!!

- I recommend these Pumpkin Cheesecake muffins.  And no, I don’t think these can legally be called muffins- they are cupcakes in disguise!!

 I know there is more I want to show you, but I can’t think now.

Later………!

~S

And it’s October

I’m doing a horrendous job keeping up with this thing!  Well, school did start and all that goes with it, so I’ll use it as my excuse.

I didn’t get a booth at my church’s bazaar this Fall- just too much going on to make myself even MORE crazy.  I did put some things in the Gallery show in Richmond though.

 I made these Buttercup Bags for the show- aren’t they cute?!?  If they don’t sell (which would be a travesty!!) I’ll probably put them on etsy – OH! I registered for an etsy account!  I’ll give you more info once I actually have something for sale….

And some wooden disk pendants on handmade organza ribbon necklaces…..

And some of my scrappy flower pins.

This week I also sent some handmade notebooks to GA to benefit a doll club.  I think they turned out SO cute- especially since I used my own original photography.

Front of notebooks

Backs of notebooks

I used the Photojojo tutorial.

Happy World Bread Day!  Yup, October 16th. You are probably saying to yourself- “sugar smacks! I forgot to make bread today!”  Well you are in luck- here is a quick and SUPER delicious bread recipe you can make right now.

Jiffy Beer Bread

3 c.  self-rising flour*, 3 T. sugar, 1- 12 oz. can or bottle of beer

• Mix flour and sugar in a bowl; make a well in the center.   Add beer, stir till blended.
• Bake at 350 degrees in a greased bread pan for 60 minutes. Turn out immediately.
• Try not to grab a stick of butter and eat it all yourself!!

* 1 c. self-rising flour= 1 c. all-purpose flour + 1 1/4 t. baking powder + a pinch of salt

 This recipe sounds good too- I haven’t tried it yet.

CIDER BREAD

3-1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
3 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt

• Stir together. Make a well in center and add, in order:

1 c. vegetable oil
4 whole eggs
1 1/2 c. canned pumpkin
2/3 c. apple cider
1/2 c. thick applesauce

• Mix everything until smooth. Pour into greased and flour pan.
• Makes two 8 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 loaves. Can also be baked in one-pound coffee cans. If baked in can, fill 2/3 full. Makes 3.
• Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

 I’m off to figure out dinner………

~S

Yes, I like to Write Haiku….

 

Mysterious shroud

What do you hide? Lovely things…

Fruit flavors for me

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

That wonderful sound

Ping! Makes me smile with relief

The jam is complete

 

Yes, I like to write haiku…….

And on this rainy day I’m making- surprise surprise!  More jam!  I’m using the same fig recipe from the last post, except I subbed in some banana and strawberries.  And a little juice leftover from soaking raisins.  And a splash of orange juice.

Off to make another batch of peach almond jam!  The fruit won’t wait you know… at least not without turning into a slimy disgusting mess………

 

~S

In and Out of Jams

 Today I’m rallying the troops to clean up, get organized, get ready for school starting.  I keep telling them if you just do it quickly and get it over with, then you will have time after to do fun stuff……….but they never listen……..

I went to a yard sale yesterday and got some AMAZING buys.  I bought these cute kitty creamers (at least that’s how I’m going to use them!) for $2.00.  I got them for my church tea next year.

And these- THESE- cool vintage 1960s-ish chandeliers – $4.00 for the pair!!!! I thought the lady was going to say $40!!!  I was flabbergasted.  She obviously doesn’t know what she had.  I LOVE them.  Even if I have to put candles in the bulb sockets…..and hang them in the screened in porch…………

Well, besides buying scads of crazy stuff, I’ve been making jam too.  So far I made peach almond jam, blueberry cherry jam (because it reminds me of Michigan and Zehnder’s chicken dinner), strawberry fig jam , and I also made up my own concoction of watermelon fig jam.  

For watermelon jam I primarily followed this fig jam recipe but added elements of this one.  So,  I followed the fig recipe mostly, but instead I used 4 c. chopped figs (not overflowing, just 4 c.) and 1 cup watermelon slush (watermelon run through the blender) and didn’t add the extra water.  And I added a bit more pectin to make sure it all gelled. 

This site is great for canning recipes and canning instructions in general.  And of course finding great pick-your-own sites!

And now I’m working on making wild grape jam!!  We have wild grapes growing on our fence- a cheap and easy privacy fence.

They are tiny little things and more sour than you can imagine.  I’m not sure which recipe I’ll use- there is this one with powdered pectin and this one which requires less juice but liquid pectin.  We’ll see- they are in the freezer until I decide.

In the meantime, if you still have access to good peaches, here is the peach almond jam recipe:

Peach Almond Jam

 

 3 lb. Peaches                                     ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

½ c. almonds, chopped            7 cups sugar (3 lb.)

1 pouch liquid fruit pectin     ¼ t. almond extract

Peel and pit peaches and grind or chop until very fine. Measure 4 cups prepared fruit into a 6- to 8-quart saucepan. Stir in lemon juice and almonds. Thoroughly stir in sugar.
Place over high heat and bring to a full rolling boil and boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and immediately stir in liquid fruit pectin and almond extract. Skim off foam with metal spoon.
Ladle into clean, hot (8-ounce) jelly jars, filling to within one-fourth inch of top. Clean rims of jars and adjust caps, according to manufacturer’s directions. Process 5 minutes in boiling water bath.
This recipe yields about 8 jars.

 

September is Here

Hello all!

I can’t believe August is gone….. school starts next week and Fall is just around the corner.  Today was quite chilly- maybe only in the 70*s.

I’m trying to figure out where to start. Ok- UFDC Doll Convention- amazing, hectic, took a while to figure out, aspects I didn’t like, but it was very good. I learned a lot.  I’d love to say I bought loads of dolls, but that is FAR from the case!  There were SERIOUS dolls and serious doll collectors there- I went to a Theriault’s auction and saw a doll go for $345,000. Plus tax and buyer’s premium….  Yeah……….

I did get a doll I wanted- Sew for Me Toni- a repro by Effanbee, but SO cute.  I have the brunette.

I also bought some vintage Toni patterns- well, 16″ doll patterns.  I’m hoping to make some clothes for a vintage Toni I have and for this new girl too.

I love the Advance pattern- it’s a ‘Learn to Sew” pattern for children.  Anything to make it easier on me!

Here are some of my best photos from the doll show:

1920s boudoir doll

Beverly Walters doll- modern artist

1950s/60s fashion doll

I need to get to bed- this uploading takes along time!  Angry Chicken and the other mega bloggers must have mega computers…..

I will say that I’m making scarfletts from this pattern by Fig Tree Quilts. Easy peasy gifts!!  I’ll try to take a pic of one of my finished scarfletts- I’m starting with the plain corduroy one, not the pieced and quilted one.

I’ve also been making loads of jam, but I’ll leave that- and the recipes- for the next post.

Here is a coleslaw dressing recipe that I devised MYSELF!!!  Well, I changed a recipe so much I can claim it as mine now, right?  Very simple and cheap compared to buying it pre-made.

Cole Slaw Dressing

• ½ cup milk
• 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• A couple big pinches of celery salt (which is about 1/8 t.)
• Salt and pepper
• Finely minced sweet onion- @ 1 t.
• Finely shredded carrot- @ 1-2 t.
• Pre-shredded cabbage slaw (in the salad section of the grocery store)

Whisk all together. Let rest in fridge until chilled. If you like it thicker, add more mayo (and possibly adjust other seasonings as needed).

Toss with slaw to coat and mix well. Refrigerate.

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P.S.- Check out the Craft Talk link over on the right side- under “Lovely Places”- it’s a hoot!

Bye for now ~S

July is Here…how did that happen?!?!

How can it be July?  I mean seriously, the kids have been out of school for like a week, right?  What?  It’s been more like four weeks? Really?!?

I don’t know why every year I kid myself by thinking that summer will be relaxing.  It’s been CRAZY busy- parties and funerals (not funeral parties- that’s weird!), trips here and there, worrying about relatives with cancer, orthodontist appts., speaking engagement, trip to the lake, etc.  And now I’m getting ready to leave on another trip for a few weeks.

I’d love to say I’ve been sewing and crafting, but I haven’t much.  Well, I have been in the past week though- I’m trying to get Christmas presents [did she really just say that?!?] done so I can take them on my trip, which is also where we will be for Xmas (14 hours away by car).  If I get them done NOW that one less thing to worry about LATER.

I’ve been making Xmas pillowcases for all the family members who will be there in December- aw!!!  I thought it was a cute idea.  I’m using the pattern from Connecting Threads.  And I’m making quilts for the kids- I’ll have to show you those and explain them later.  Nothing crazy complicated-

And for myself, I made and am in the process of making more of these adorable and simple buttercup bags.   The pattern is easy, it goes together quickly, and only take a fat quarter of fabric for each the outside and the lining!  What a great use for a gorgeous fat quarter. My only suggestion is to add interfacing to the lining fabric- it’s a bit floppy if you use fine fabric.

I made my first because I wanted a bag to go with the dress I purchased to wear to the UFDC convention banquet. (Yes, I’m going to the doll convention next week!) I like how it’s similar but doesn’t match. ( I say that because I picked the bag fabric while trying to remember what the dress looked like, and it’s exact shades of blue!)

And if packing and all wasn’t enough, we were adopted a few weeks ago by a sweet, and pregnant, cat.  So we set up a nursery on our screened in porch, and late Sunday night she had the kittens.  We were excited- three kittens! I thought, I can probably find home for 3 kittens…… The next morning we got up to check on them- there were SEVEN kittens.  Whoa.  (she obviously wasn’t done)  Hubby will have to be their nurse while we are gone!  But Rose is a good mama, so we know they are in good hands.

And to close, I will leave you with a great recipe I’ve made three times in the past month.  It’s from a publication called “Let’s Do Lunch” In Southwest Virginia: A Memoir . (I think it’s out of print- it was a limited edition printed last year by a lovely lady at my mom’s church. ) This recipes is very economical too if you buy the peppers from Dollar Tree- seriously!! That place is a gold mine.

Roasted Red Pepper Spread

• 1- 8 oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
• 1- 8 oz. jar roasted red peppers, drained
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/4 t. garlic powder

- Gently beat cream cheese at low speed with hand mixer; set aside.  Drain the peppers, chop, and add to cream cherese with the thyme and garlic powder.  Transfer to fancy serving bowl and serve with crackers.

[Sam's note- I just whiz it all in the food processor- quick and easy. And bec. the peppers I get at Dollar Tree are 12 0z., I just add more cream cheese and spices accordingly.]

I’ll be taking my laptop with me, so hopefully I can post some more while I’m gone.  And I’m going to try to work on my hexagons too!

Bye till later!

~S

School’s Out for Summer……!!!!

WHEW!!!  Can I say I’m relieved??  No more getting up early, no more 6 am calls asking if I’m available to substitute teach………

I got the teacher gifts done before the end of school- I made paper cake boxes filed with chocolates. My kids wanted the give gifts to not only their immediate teachers but about 10 others at school!  And wouldn’t this be great for any party or multiple gift need?  At Christmas, with a poinsettia-type flower on top- adorable.

I’m now on to other projects.   Today’s project was to make 10 dozen (yup- that’s what I said) rolls commissioned by someone at church.  Thank goodness hubby got the kids a Wii this weekend as a good grades reward (and this will be the ONLY time you will hear me say that- I’m not a video game person)- they played for hours while I baked for hours! [Although I will also say it's addictive to make those Mii people- I'll have to post a picture of what "I" look like]

Next up, a bit more work on the Tea I’m organizing at my church for next year- I’m SO EXCITED!  It’s a fundraising project for our ECW Outreach (we give $$ to many other groups) but it’s also a new fellowship idea.  The plan has been approved, people have volunteered for most of the committees, I have entertainment, and I decided the theme and favors already!  “May Day” is the theme- so it will be about flowers. (And the favor is the cake box from above- SHHH! Don’t tell anyone!)  But more about that later….

At home we are having our 2nd annual Midsummer’s Eve party this weekend.  I’m really praying for nice weather!!!  It was great last year, with the bon fire, and tiki torches, and candles and all (and the sangria!).

I’m also “booked” a few places this summer to speak about my 365 project, which is crazy cool.  A friend made a video for me, set to music, which has gotten rave reviews.  I’m even impressed by my own work when I see the video!!  If it ever gets posted to Youtube I’ll let you know.

It’s very late and I need some shut-eye -next time I’ll tell you about the country store auction I went to on Saturday. Man I wish I had more space for stuff and a wad of cash- bargains were to be had!

Shirts with original tags, STILL in the display case.

‘Night…….

~S

P.S.- I now have a feed you can subscribe to, if you so desire- the link is at the bottom of the side bar.

Happy Birthday to me!

Yup, just had a birthday.  A milestone one.  We’ll leave it at that- it’s not so bad, it’s just a number, and the day before my birthday was the same as the day after- but we still won’t harp on the number…..  Anyway it’s not the dates on your tombstone but the dash in between, people!!!

I didn’t win anything at the Sew Mama Sew May Giveaway-   – but that’s ok.

Back to my birthday!!  I got phone calls and e-mails galore- some surprising ones at that.  DD said she felt sorry for me, because I had to make my own birthday cake.  Well, thems the breaks when you are the baker in the house- and I didn’t want a partially-hydrogenated oil icing store cake- so I made it myself.  I wanted blueberry bars, but blueberries aren’t in season yet, so I opted for chocolate (MUCH more appropriate anyway!).

 

I made Martha’s jam cupcakes with chocolate frosting – quite a good and easy recipe.  I acutally followed the directions as written!  Except lowering the salt to 1/2 t. as suggested by a comment, and I only had 1 stick of unsalted butter, so I used salted in the icing and omitted salt there.  It makes a dozen cupcakes, which is great, and I had everything in my cupboard to make them (except the raspberry jam). Easy peasy!

Off to the land of normalcy………..well, not normalcy- rather, reality!

~S

P.S.- Guess what I’m going to do this milestone year??? When it comes back to Richmond in 2010………

It’s May

Goodness time flies!

No new soups recently.  I’ve been busy, and the weather has been crazy- hot, cold, rain.  I’ve also been subbing in our school district.  Quite the shock to my system!  As one girl said, I need to “get mean.”  I usually have to get another teacher to give the class the evil eye to make them quiet down.  I did high school ONCE- they scared me!  The middle school wasn’t too bad- still were loud.  My favorite so far is subbing in the preK special education class.  I was an aide to one student yesterday-that was good too.

My doll bed?  Still not painted, but more hexies have been made.  I haven’t tried to assemble them yet- guess I better get started.

I have to go sub soon, but I wanted to post about a MAY GIVEAWAY over at Sew, Mama, Sew !!!!!

I might even pull myself together and participate!!!! (Beyond going to EVERY blog and entering their drawing)

Ok- off I go.  Lots to do.  (Strawberries ame in early this year- for you too?  I have jam to make…….. tomorrow though!)

~S

Another Recipe

Daughter asked yesterday if we could have tomato soup for dinner tonight.  So I made Amy’s recipe- I think we have a hit!  I added a  bit of paprika (not noticeable), some sugar (my honey is crystallized) and a chunk of light cream cheese to the blender.  It tastes so creamy and rich!  I also used plum tomato strips with basil for my canned tomatoes.