We always love family birthdays!!

It is always fun to spend a day with the grandkids especially when it is a birthday! Here is the birthday boy. I think the highlight of his day was when he was "blindfolded" and his dad wheeled in his new bike. When he opened his eyes and saw the bike, he was speechless and immediately ran to dad then mom and gave them BIG hugs and thanks. That before he even got on the bike!!!

All 15 of my grandchildren in the same place all together! That was a highlight for me!!!

Another Award! Thank you Crafty Sue!!!

Isn't this a gorgeous Award? I received this new award from Crafty Sue with this motivation, "... simply because their blogs deserve this award, they are creative, interesting and very cool!" Thank you Sue, for the compliment AND for the award!!!!

The rules are the usual as most blog readers already know.

1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate 10 other blogs for this award
4. Add links to those blogs
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs
6. Give a reason why you consider their blogs cool.

I would like to give this award to all the blogs in my blog list as I think they are all deserving but I have to choose only ten as the rules say, no offence to all the rest I hope.
Here's my motivation:
Because their blogs deserve this award, they are friendly, creative, interesting and very cool!

I'm passing this award on to the following 10 blogs:

1 Karen at Homespun Simplicity

2 Connie of Boondock Babble

3 Ginger of Lovestodream

4 Rachel of Home Sanctuary


5 Mrs. H of Standing Firm in Quicksand

6 Lori Jean of Happybirds Crafting Haven

7 Diane of Where do I get Started???????

8 Rhonda of Down - to - Earth

9 Peggy of The Simple Woman

10 Lara of The Lazy Organizer

Sue, thank you again!

My Desk at Work! :(

Ei Yi Yi! This is my work area. I am the office manager/full charge bookkeeper of a small business. Scary, huh? lol I don't like having the computer up on my desk but other than the floor and hidden under my desk where it would be difficult to get to this seems to be the only option. I need to reorganize my in baskets and it would be nice to have more space to spread out my paperwork and do my invoice and payroll. :) My desktop is a pic of 4 of my granddaughters ready for their first day of school. :)

I am showing you this by taking part in Marcia, The Organising Queens, show me your desk challenge.

Blessings in our lives - Wordless Wednesday

To see others pictures of Wordless Wednesday click here.

Talk about Tuesday -- Do You Think We will finally get some sleep tonight!?

"Take Sominex tonight and sleep..... safe and restfull, sleep, sleep sleep..." Just delivered and I am so excited. We got a Simmons Beautyrest and are so looking forward to getting a good night's sleep... too many aches and pains for us "old" folk! We also got these fantastic new pillows that seemed to feel so good at the mattress store! Looking forward to finding out if they help too. GOOD pillows are so hard to find and believe it or not these pillows have a 10 year guarantee as well! Wow! We have been sleeping on a mattress that was barely 4 inches deep. NO support and this is going to be a wonderful change! I will let you know how we slept in the morning! Now I have to go make the bed. Oh.... and no, the dog is NOT getting up there but he has to be where I am!

For more Talk about Tuesday click here.

45 Days and Counting

The reality is that it is creeping up on us! One of the biggest jobs at Christmas is getting the envelopes addressed for Christmas cards. I have an excel file that I keep. I add and delete every year and print out my labels so that makes it so much easier. So tonight, I am updating my Christmas labels file and getting it printed out and ready for my cards. :)

To see what others are doing, check out 100 Days to Christmas!

18" Prim Doll Giveaway

Isn't she a cutie? She is being given away on Cowgirl Primitives. Click over there now and leave a comment for a chance too win her!

The Log Driver's Waltz

This is very cute! I remember as a teenager walking on the log booms in the harbor at Port Angeles. Never told my mom that she would have had a fit and rightfully so!

The Very Best Christmas Present I ever Received

Sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of time. A very, very special woman in my life realized this one time and that is exactly what she gave me for Christmas. Betty was a Coast guard wife with 3 children. Her heart is as big as the universe. This particular Christmas was especially difficult for me. I had 5 children, the youngest not yet one and my special angel was not quite 3 and not walking yet. The other three were in school at least part of the day and "Angel" had a special needs class that she attended 3 days one week and 2 days the next. I attended all but one day of week of the classes/therapy. And it wasn't easy to get out with the kids at this time. With 2 under 3 that did not walk, it wasn't exactly easy to carry them around, getting them in and out of the car, etc. Life was not exactly easy but I tried hard not to let others see or know that. Betty, however, was a very perceptive person and she saw between the wrinkles on my face! Here gift to me was to take my youngest son and "Angel" one day a month until all the children came home from school so that I could do whatever I wanted to do. That gift, although it was short lived (her Coast Guard hubby was transfered in April) was the BEST gift I have ever received. The gift of time. Can you think of someone in your life who needs a gift of YOUR time? Sometimes something that seems so very small to us turns out to be one of the most important events to another.

100 Days of Christmas - not quite on topic but meant something to me today. :)

More Christmas Recipes

Peanut Brittle

2 C Sugar
1 C light corn syrup
1/2 C water
2 t baking soda
1 heaping Tablespoon margarine
2 C raw peanuts

Cook sugar, corn syrup and water on medium hig until temperature reaches 230 degrees on a candy thermometer. Add peanuts and continue cooking and stirring frequently until thermometer reaches 298 to 300 degrees. Remove from stove at once, add baking soda and margarine. Stir just enough to melt margarine and dissolve soda. At once pour on a large, well greased tray. Do not spread out. Let it go where it wants. Cool outside, then break in pieces. temperature outside should be freezing or colder and clear. (humidity can make a difference - we always have humidity in Washington state! lol but I have had success with this)

Cinnamon Pecans
1 egg white
1 lb pecans
1 t salt
1 t water
1 t sugar
1 t cinnamon

Combine egg white and water. Beat until stiff. Add pecans, coating them with the egg mixture. Add sugar, salt and cinnamon, coating well. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes. Stir after 15 minutes and move cookie sheet to top rack.

Out of this World Snack - If you haven't tried this you really must. It is very, very good. There is enough to serve to your family and share with friends!

Cinnamon Ornaments
1 1/2 C cinnamon
1 C applesauce

Mix ingredients and place on a piece of waxed paper. Spread the mixture out and cut with a cookie cutter (small ones are best.) Using a straw, make a tiny hole at the top of ornament. Put a ribbon through after the ornament has set.

Christmas Centerpiece

Using a vase sized brandy snifter, center a candle in ssde. The candle should be about 3" in diameter and about 2/3 the height of the snifter. Fill the container with fresh whole cranberries, leaving about 1/2 of the candle exposed. Tie Christmas ribbon around the stem and make a decorative bow. You can add holly or pine greens to the bowl. Small ball ornaments could also be used in place of the cranberries. Even try decorative potpourri!

Cran-Apple Jelly

1 1/2 C cranapple drink
3 1/2 C sugar
1/2 C apple juice
1/8 t cinnamon
1/8 t cloves, ground
3 oz pkg liquid pectin

combine sugar, cranapple drink, apple juice, cinnamon and cloves. Bring to a full rolling boil. Stir to dissolve sugar. Let boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in pectin. Pour into 4 - 8 oz jars. Cool slightly and tighten lids. Let sit at room temperature until set. Keeps in refrigerator 3 weeks or in freezer for 3 months.

Mulling Spice Bags with cider as gift

4 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
8 whole allspice
4 T grated orange peel
Cheesecloth and twine

Cut cheesecloth in double thickness into 4" x 6" squares. Place onto each square 1 cinnamon stick, 2 cloves, 2 allspice and 1 T orange peel. Tie up with the twine. Buy 1 gallon of cider and place in a basket along with mulling spice and top off with Christmas bow or decoration.

Click on box above starting November 15th for more Christmas recipes and ideas. :)

Remember those in need this holiday season

Today's directive is to remember those less fortunate than us during the holidays. While you are making out your list for your holiday dinner, add some extras to that list to give to your local food bank, or to a specific family or to your church for those who may not be able to afford to have a special celebration. One thing that Top Foods did recently was to have a grocery bag with several items out on a table up by the checkstands. The contents was listed on the outside. You purchase the bag for $5 and put it in a special bin by the doors as you leave for the food bank. I hope you can and will do remember others for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you know of a specific family in your community that may need some assistance, perhaps your family and another family could go together and provide the makings for a wonderful dinner and maybe even extras (i.e. special napkins, centerpiece, holiday gifts, etc). There is nothing that makes the heart feel better than to share and give to others.

For other thoughts, visit 100 days to Christmas!

51 Days and Counting

Today's directive is to GET OUT THERE AND VOTE! I am tired of the election. I am tired of the media. And I am tired of the media "micro" analysizing everything making it appear that MY vote does not count! If you listened to the news, you would think that only the states of Pennsylvania, Iowa and Ohio matter! Well, Washington counts and it is important to let your voice be heard. Who knows maybe the media will be wrong on their "projected" outcome. They have been before!

But back to Christmas for me. Here is another gift and/or basket idea!

FLAVORED SUGARS

MAKES 1 PINT JAR FOR EACH FLAVOR

Orange Sugar: 1 3/4 to 2 c. Sugar plus thin slices of peel from 1 orange

Lemon Sugar 1 3/4 to 2 c. Sugar plus thin slices of peel from 1 lemon

Vanilla Sugar: 1 3/4 to 2 c. Sugar plus 1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise and cut in half crosswise

Mint Sugar: 1 3/4 to 2 c. Sugar plus 1/4 c. Fresh mint leaves, rinsed and thoroughly dried

Cinnamon Sugar: 1 3/4 to 2 c. Sugar plus 3 to 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks, broken in half

Rosemary Sugar: 1 3/4 to 2 c. Sugar plus 2 to 3 (4-inch) fresh rosemary sprigs, rinsed and thoroughly dried

Place about 3/4 c. Sugar into 1-pint jar with tight-fitting lid. Add layer of orange peel, lemon peel, vanilla bean, mint, cinnamon or rosemary. Whichever flavor you decide to make. Layer sugar and flavorings, ending with sugar on top, packing down lightly before adding next layer.

Shake or roll the jar every day or two for 2 weeks blending flavors. Cover top of jar with fabric, stickers or a crocheted or knit jar topper. Attach gift tag/recipe card with ribbon or raffia.

NOTE: SUGAR PICKS UP COLORS FROM THE FLAVORINGS; THIS IS NORMAL.

GIFT TAG/RECIPE CARD:

Substitute Flavored Sugar anytime a recipe calls for granulated sugar. For example, use Orange Sugar in coffeecake; Vanilla Sugar in cookies, Mint Sugar in coffee or hot chocolate. Use the lemon sugar in hot or iced teas; Cinnamon Sugar in any baked item, or on a cake, cookies or buttered toast; or Rosemary Sugar over fresh fruit.

Free Cup of Coffeee at Starbucks today only!

Seems that Starbucks was going to give a free cup of coffee to all that showed proof that they had voted. But it turns out that it is illegal to reward someone for voting so they are now giving EVERYone a free cup of plain jane java! Well, if you like coffee that is a good one! :)

Also, don't miss out on this one!


Guess we better check out Krispy Kreme also! lol

Thank you, Debbie!!

I can't believe I am the winner! I REALLY want to thank Debbie of Virtually Organized for the Procrastination Challenge. I won her October Challenge with the reorganizing and decluttering of my craft room! This really was a huge undertakinn for me. I love to craft! And I always think I have to have every material/craft need under the sun! lol My craft room had gotten so out of control that we affectionately called it the "crap" room!!! and that isn't not a word I am fond of at all!!!! When I got started, I didn't know if I could finish this. It got overwhelming at times.... but I had taken the challenge. I am not a young woman anymore! I am an OLD lady! lol But, I had the before pics. I had started to post them and that accountability along with the encouragement of Debbie, Marcia and Laura and MANY others who were working on projects REALLY helped and make me accountable. I was kind of hoping and expecting a little help from my #1 granddaughter but she is a teen now and stays pretty busy! lol... so I tackled it and at times had to walk away! But got thru it and that is the important thing! SO, what is my prize you say? The 2009 Entertainment Book!!!! I love them!! And we had not gotten one this year so I am so delighted!!! We will use it that is for sure! It does help save money and also for dining it gets you to try out new places and you never know the discoveries you might make! :) Thank you, Debbie, very much! I will certainly be taking part in more challenges, not for the prizes (although they are the frosting on the cake - and I do love frosting) but because each new project, each new challenge gets me closer to the goal and the feeling when you have accomplished that goal is tremendous! I still have a few procrastination projects to tackle!! (Alright! A BUNCH of projects!)

PS When the girls were over yesterday when we went to the movie, I showed them the craft room. When we came in the house, #1 said, "Wow, gram, you really cleaned up the kitchen too!" lol. Now what does THAT tell you!? WAY too much clutter!

Please check out their websites thru the links above! I really am appreciative of all of them and each of the friends that I have made along this decluttering, organizating, STOP procrastinating journey!!!

Menu Plan

Monday: Grilled Cheese and tomato soup

Tuesday: Leftover Turkey - hot turkey sandwiches

Wednesday: Tuna Fish Casserole

Thursday: Hamburgers

Friday: Pizza Pasta Casserole (from Freezer)

Saturday: Chicken Spaghetti casserole

Sunday: Undecided

Click over to I'm an Organizing Junkie to see more menus.

3D Yo Yo Ornaments

These look very cute and not difficult to make. Check out the instructions here. She has a clickable link for the PDF instructions. Also, for more pictures of these cute ornaments, click here. Not only cute as tree ornaments but would look nice on packages also. Decorate a gift basket! And not limited to Christmas! You could easily adapt these to any occasion! Picture by Tracy of Let's Get Sewing.

Countdown to Christmas

I really am enjoying this 100 Days of Christmas planning! Today the directive is now that the menu is planned for Thanksgiving, check out the pantry and make a list of ingredients that you will need. Very good thinking. I am one who buys ALL my items for Thanksgiving when I buy the turkey. And that gets REALLY expensive. If I start buying the non perishables right now it will help the grocery budget come Thanksgiving!

I took a day off yesterday which was not the charge given by 100 Days of Christmas but it was a good day. I took 2 of my daughters to the movie, High School Musical 3. I was prepared to possibly be not interested in the movie. I guess I thought that it might be a bit hip hoppish or have rap music (which I can't stand). I was VERY pleasantly surprised and I really enjoyed the movie. How refreshing that this movie is so enjoyed by our youth. It was innocent, cute and had a good moral to the story! I am so glad that I took them! And I also found out that my one granddaughter doesn't like purple anymore that her favorite colors are now pink and brown instead of pink and purple! So, I need to find those colors for the doll dress that I will be making! I knew she liked pink and brown (those are the colors of the headbands that I made her) but thought she still liked purple too!

If you want to find out more about 100 Days to Christmas, click on the link and see what others are planning!

More Holiday Recipes

One of my favorite breads to give at Christmas time is Eggnog Bread. I don't remember where I got the recipe but I know that we love it! Click on the link above for a copy of the recipe. This is another recipe that I always get asked for the recipe! :)

Thinking of giving a basket to a tea lover? Here are ideas for the basket:

Line a basket with a paper doily or a real doily.

Include a tin of a nice loose tea. A tea loaf of bread and some jam. A set of homemade napkins, a teacup, a tea ball, and a jar of lemon sugar for the tea. A small box of special candies, truffles or tea biscuits.


Lemon Sugar
1 C Sugar
1 (.23 0z) pkg unsweetened lemonade flavored soft drink mix (kool aid or similar)

Blend thoroughly and place in a decorative jar.

Play Dough

2 1/2 C flour
1/2 C salt
1 T powdered alum ( Try your local pharmacy)
2 pkg unsweetened kool aid
2 T vegetable oil
2 C boiling water

Mix together flour, salt, alum and drink mix in a large mixing bowl. Add the oil. Pour boiling water over the mixture and stir until well combined. Knead dough until smooth. Store in airtight plastic bags or covered containers. I think the new plastic containers from ball would be great too!


Zesty Red Onion Jelly! Oh my word! I cannot say enough good about this! This is a recipe from one of my Sister friends, Redawna, on the TOH message board. Redawna lives in Canada and she is a very talented woman and a wonderful cook and homemaker. She sent me a jar of this a short while back. IT IS DELICIOUS! You cannot believe how good this is! I served it over an 8 oz brick of cream cheese and crackers on the side. My company loved this. This makes a very nice and unique gift! Great in a basket with other jams and jellies!

Hot Orange Cider Mix

1 C sugar
2 - 6" cinnamon sticks
1 whole nutmeg

Combine sugar, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg. Place in a plastic baggie and seal. Place baggie into a decorated fabric or paper sack for giving. Add these instructions: Place 2 C apple cider and 6 C orange juice in a crockpot. Stir in cider mix and turn crockpot to high for 2 to 3 hours. Removes spices before serving. Add an orange or apple slice to each mug.

Pecan Pie Mini Muffins - need I say more??? Yum!

Macadamia Mini Loaves - another great recipe!

Saturday Recipes and Ideas for Christmas

First I want you to go and visit Amber at Redmommy Crafts! She has been posting the most interesting and yummy sounding fudge recipes!! Amber is a first class crafter and is busy this time of year with bazaars and craft shows. I for one, really appreciate her sharing some of these great and different fudge recipes with us! Don't stop with just the base fudge recipe! Make sure you check her blog for all the great recipes using this base fudge! Editted to add: You can freeze fudge if you wrap it well. I usually wrap with plastic wrap and then with aluminum foil and freeze up to 3 months.

Since I am thinking declutter, I am thinking Christmas gifts that won't clutter my family or friends' homes. Homemade mixes, baskets and gifts are the order there. So over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my recipes and ideas. And perhaps even some gift packaging. We will see what happens!

Almond Roca
Source: Friend and sister in Christ, Lynda from P.A.
I have been making this for over 20 years and it is simple and good!

Almond Roca

3 1/2 cubes butter (MUST BE BUTTER)
2 C sugar
1 C sliced almonds

12 oz bag chocolate chips

Melt butter. Bring to boil Add sugar and bring to boil. Stir and add in almonds. Continue to stir up to hard crack (310) Be careful!!! Pour into 2 greased pie pans. When cool enough lay out on to wax paper. Melt 12 oz chocolate chips. Spread on one side of roca. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Turn over and repeat. Break after chocolate has hardened. Store in airtight container. To break I use a nut picker and a mallet to help crack. Decorate a mason jar to give as a gift. Or wrap in clear wrap and tie with a ribbon and set in a sleigh shaped basket.

Easy Pomanders for Christmas

Push whole cloves into a styrofoam ball to form your desired design - circles, stars, Christmas tree - your imagination is your limits!

Take a large plastic bag and fill with ground nutmeg and cinnamon. Gently shake it to mix the spices. In a small bowl, add a few drops of scented oil to Elmers glue. Brush this on the cloves and ball completely covering. Drop the ball into the spice bag, carefull NOT to let the ball touch the sides of the ba. Now shake this gently until the ball is completely covered. Let dry completely. Put in a Christmas bowl or basket with some pinecones and holly. Decorate by tying a bow around it. :) Placing this next to the warmth of a fireplace with enhance the aroma!

Chocolate Coffee Mix:

1/2 C instant coffee crystals
1 1/2 C powdered creamer
1/ C chocolate flavored powdered drink mix
1/4 C Sugar
1/8 t salt
1/2 t nutmeg

Mix ingredients together in a blender. Put into a decorated jar. To use: add to hot water according to your taste.

Caramel Pretzels and Nuts

16 C small pretzel twists
2 C roasted peanuts
2 C brown sugar, packed
1/4 C light corn syrup
1/4 C molasses
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 t almond extract

Place pretzels and peanuts in a 20" x 14" oven cooking bag sprayed with cooking spray. In a 2 qt microwave safe bowl, combine sugar, corn syrup and molasses. Microwave on high for approximately 2 minutes or until mixture boils. Stir and microwave 2 minutes longer. Stir in salt, baking soda and almond extract. Pour syrup over pretzel mixture; stir and shake until all is well coated. microwave 1 1/2 min more on high. Stir, shake and microwave again for 1 1/2 min longer. Spread on greased aluminum foil and cool. Store in airtight containers. Again this is a great mix to share with friends.


Layered Oatmeal Chip Cookie Mix

1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar packed
1 C quick cooking oats
1 C Rice Krispies
1/2 C chocolate chips
1 C flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking powder

Layer first 5 ingredients in order listed, in a one quart wide mouth glass canning jar. (Always use a wide mouth jar for mixes) Press down firmly on each layer before adding the next ingredient. Combine flour, salt and baking powder together, mixing well. Add flour mixture on top of the chocolate chip layer. Add a gift card with the following instructions:

Mix the jar of ingredients with 1/2 C softened margarine, one beaten egg and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend well. Shape into one inch balls and place 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Hard to believe it is the 1st of November already!

Today's directive was made just for me! 100 Days to Christmas says today is the day to put away the Halloween decorations and get in there and CLEARLY mark the storage boxes/containers. Guess what I had already planned to do today? With the cleaning and organizing of my craft room, I freed up quite few storage containers. While out in the storage room looking for something the other night, I realized that my Autumn decoration are here there and everywhere and not in clear containers and in mismarked containers. So, today, I am heading out there to declutter, rebox and clearly mark all the containers. Perhaps, I will find some of the Autumn decorations (like my Pilgrim) that I couldn't find and clearly don't know where they are! If I get this out of the way this year and make sure that I put them away carefully when done for this season, how much further ahead of the game I will be for next year! lol

Head on over to 100 Days of Christmas to see how others are working on being organized and stressfree for the holidays. You might just want to join in! There are prizes involved! :)

*~* Cranberry Honey *~*

I got this recipe years ago from the old TSR recipe board. This is delicious on hot rolls, biscuits or toasted English muffins. Beautiful addition to holiday gift baskets too.



2 C. cranberry juice cocktail
3 C. sugar
1 tsp. grated orange rind
1 C. honey
1/2 bottle liquid fruit pectin



In a heavy 3 qt. saucepan, bring to boil cranberry juice, sugar & orange rind. Boil gently for 10 minutes. Stir in honey. Bring to rapid boil & boil 1 minute. Remove pan from heat.
Stir in liquid pectin; skim off any foam. Pour into hot, sterilized jelly jars. Seal. Makes 5 (6oz.) jelly jars.

Crockpot Chipotle Roast

Let me tell you! This recipe is AWESOME! It isn't tooo spicy. We love this and I am always asked for this recipe! Tremendous!






Crockpot chipotle Roast:

3 lb. chuck roast
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
3(or MORE) chipotles in adobo,chopped
1(4 oz.) can green chiles
1(7 oz.) can salsa verde
1 cup sliced onion
3 tsp. minced garlic
1 cup beef broth

Mix spices together and season the roast. Place in crockpot. Add remaining ingredients and cook on high for 5 hrs. or low for 7-8 hrs. Remove roast and shred with a fork,return to crockpot to heat through.
Serve with enchiladas,tacos or crusty rolls with sauce for dipping.

Click on the grahpic above for more crockpot recipes!

55 Days to Christmas

Todays directive is an easy one! It is to relax! lol Tonight just might be a great night to do that! We in Western Washington have enjoyed one of the most beautiful Octobers EVER! We have have very little rain and the sun has been shining and the colors, well they have been just magnificent! But today, we are back to our normal, rainy, drizzly, DARK day. The golden leaves that have been piling up under the tree in the island in our work parking lot have lost their crispness and are smushing down with all the moisture. I will be thankful for our prolonged Indian Summer and remember that today. So with the darker day and the rain, I think tonight might be a good night to get dinner done and hunker down with a good video with the hubs and our golden. Hopefully he is coming to the end of his strike and after tomorrow's vote will be returning to work on Monday. It is a pretty quiet night in our neighborhood as we are only 1 of 5 homes and the top of the hill and no kids!

Have you been following the 100 Days to Christmas? Check it out and see what others are doing to plan!

Felt Mitten Silverware Holder

Here is the silverware holder that I was talking about earlier. I copied off a mitten pattern from the internet, enlarged it just a tad and cut out 8 mittens out of red. I cut 4 white cuffs from felt. Tacky glue was used to adhere the cuff to the top mitten piece. I then aligned 2 mittens together and taking 2 strands of embroidery floss, I blanket stitched around the outer border, leaving the top open for the silverware. A bright button was glued in place after all thh stitching was done. :) This would be cute in Red, green or blue for the holidays and makes an inexpensive but cute gift. I forgot to add a little loop for a hanger. I can still do that but would do this at the same time that I glue the cuff in the future. This was inspired by Linda when she showed me a knitted mitten silverware sock from kitchen accessory company. :)

Snowball fight anyone!?

Countdown Continues!

Last night I got my list of recipients for the dolls. I grabbed my storage container with the materials and began to see what I had and what I needed. I need 2 more sets of button eyes, lace and dress material for 4 dolls. Everything else is pretty much there! I may need to get more double knit for the doll face and body, so today, I will be researching on line where to find that. JoAnns did not have anything that I liked last time I looked there! The elastic, ribbon is all in place! :) This week I will begin cutting out the dolls. I am thinking of cutting out all that I need and putting each of the pieces in a labeled LARGE ziplock bag tagged with the name of the recipient and keeping those in a storage basket next to the sewing machine. :) I am anxious to get started!

Visit 100 Days to Christmas to see what others are doing and to get organized for your holiday! :)

Wow! Another fun giveaway!

Make and Takes is giving away the dress, above, from Shabby Apple! Click on over to her blog to leave a comment and get a chance at winning! Hurry, because today is the last day to enter!

57 Days and Counting!

It is getting closer! Time to really get to organizing the crafts that I am making! And I am so pleased with my newly organized craft room!!!! Ok... so down to business. The biggest project this year is the dolls! The one I am making is the one on the bottom right. This pattern is from a 1980(something) McCall's Crafts and Needlework magazine. When I originally got this magazine, I made my daughters each one and it turned out so cute. In the interim, I lost the magazine and was able to connect to the original pattern with the help of a fellow crafter on the Voy Craft Forum. I was going to do this last year and didn't get it planned out too well! lol. Recently I took the magazine to Kinkos and had the pattern enlarged to scale. It was so inexpensive to have done that I had 4 copies made! (years ago, I borrowed a whatchamacallit from the library and enlarged the pattern myself!) I would like to preserve one copy with lamination so that I don't lose this again. Tonight, after work, I am going to go out to my Craft (no longer the crap) room and start setting up my area to get started. I have the materials all organized in 2 storage containers. I am going to make 9 for sure. I am not going to make the newest baby one yet. I am contemplating making 2 more for "step" granddaughters... the more I think the more I am leaning towards this. So, have to get an area set up and begin my process. Considering how this goes, I am entertaining the idea of after Christmas, making up some more and selling them on Etsy. I have never sold anything there before. I am very excited for this project. This doll is so cute and I believe that is a timeless pattern - as cute today as it was over 25 years ago! I will be posting pictures of the finished projects here when I am done.

Another project that I am going to be working on is making mitten silverware holders. A good friend of mine pointed out some to me on a Kitchenwares website. We thought they were very cute and could be somewhat duplicated in felt, so I purchased some felt last night and designed a "pattern" for the mitten and am going to try making up a few for gifts. I will be posting my pics when I finish a few. These are going to be a simple project. Just cut, clue and blanket stitch is the plan. :)

I love the directives of 100 Days to Christmas. I hope that you will go and visit and see her thoughts on getting prepared and ready for Christmas and see what others who are following her posts are doing! :)

Do you think someone is anxious for Christmas?? Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday click the banners!

Merry Christmas Bread

This recipe comes from Dena. I have "known" Dena for over 10 years now. We first met on the TSR board where she posted this and other wonderful recipes! She is a fabulous cook! This is a very special bread to make for the holidays and to give as gifts. It does freeze well.



Merry Christmas Bread
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Stick real butter
1/4 C. Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
Cream this together
Add:
1 1/2 Cup Flour
1 tsp. Allspice
1 tsp. Cinnamon
Stir tog. well then add:
1/4 C. Black raspberry seedless preserves
1 C. Dates that has been soaked overnight in
1 C. Blackberry Brandy (add all to batter)
1 C. Chopped Spiced gumdrops (coat your knife with flour - may have to do several times)
1 C. Coarsely Chopped pecans
1 C. Coarsely Chopped Walnuts
1 C. Crushed pineapple (drained)
1 C. Maraschino Cherries
Make sure you soak your Dates all night the night before you want to make this in the Brandy. All the alcohol bakes out of the bread, but leaves a very wonderful flavor in the bread.
Pour in greased bread pan and top with whole pecan halves and halves of maraschino cherries. Bake at 325 for 1 hour . It's done when inserted knife comes out clean.
Triple batch makes 3 loaves and one small tin loaf.


Rachel at Modern Mommyhood is hosting a 12 Weeks of Christmas Carnival. Please check out her blog for more Christmas fun!!! If you are here visiting from 12 Weeks of Christmas Carnival, please stay and visit. I do have some other Christmas recipes and Christmas ideas posted.