Christmas Ornaments Past

I love making Christmas tree ornaments.  I'm so ready to make something new for next year.  I made many policemen ornaments back in 2011 for a police station tree and for one of my brother's trees.

I made these one year too. I have so many that I made, golly. This year, our tree will be ornament-less (puppy proofed).  It'll be lights only, but pretty as well.

I had so much creativity and motivation back then.  I even made these.  I think I will check more books out of the library to get more ideas for next year.

I made these with all sorts of decorated "cookies" for an entire elementary class.  I used to make a homemade ornament for each student in my kids class for the Christmas school party.  I sure miss those days.  Hopefully, when my grand kids are older I can help with their class party (if they still have them by then).

I made these from toilet paper rolls, and gifted them to my family for Christmas.

I made these and gifted them one year also.  I still have some apples and skewers to make them again.

These were fun to make as well, and were also gifted.  Instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot.

I made these for an entire elementary class as well.  Made from brown paper bags.  I should put a tutorial up for this one as well, on my other blog.

I made these one year too - from recycled medicine cups.  The instructions are also on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot.

I got to the point where my family told me they had "enough" ornaments so I quit making them.  I am motivated to work on something new for next year after looking through all my old photos.  I made so many of them.

This and That

Sam I Am (at farmgirlSam blogspot) shared an ornament that reminded me of one I made for gift giving years ago.  The crocheted edging is different, but wanted to share.

I found wooden rings at the thrift store and used canning lids (old ones) for the backs.  The directions can be found on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot if you are interested.

I will be digging through my crafting supplies to see if I have more rings to make the ones she posted.  They are beautiful!

Not much going on at our homestead right now.  

I got a few organic celery cubes frozen for winter soups.  Speaking of soups, I will be bagging my corn off the cob into smaller bags more so than the 3 cup bags, so I can use it for soups (but in smaller amounts).

I made crock pot leftover ham/veggie soup yesterday.  I left out the corn and added white beans and a small amount of lentils (shockingly high in carbs), leftover green beans etc.  I did some reading, and couldn't believe corn has more carbs (starch) than white potatoes.  Yikes.

I got my brown paper bags stamped for "shopping" bags for my customers at the craft show.

I baked my first loaf of wheat bread using whole grain Einkorn flour - no eggs, no butter or other fats.  I was a bit iffy on this recipe.  I had to wait 2 hours to slice a piece to try (what the recipe said to do).

Results?  

Surprisingly good!  According to what I am reading on the package of the flour, it is about half the carbs you would get in other (white flour) breads, and just a hair more than coconut flour (which is a low carb flour).

I'm crocheting and knitting like a mad woman.  The upcoming craft show will be the only one I'll do this year, but will work quickly to prep for next year, so I can spend my time in the garden next summer.

Tuesday Tidbits

I've put together 8 sets of crocheted items, with a bit of savings, for the craft show.  I will post any that do not sell Saturday, on my Rooster's Crow Farm Blogspot.

I'm still being haunted by the mouse.  It ate the peanut butter off the trap, and didn't even set it off.  Grr.  The glory of living in the country, and a lazy house cat.  

We will be going to yet another funeral this week.   Or at least visitation.  The mother to my friend (we were best friends in jr and high school together), passed away at the age of 86.

It snowed yesterday.  In the midst of rain too.  Not sure what today will bring yet.  I was up at 4am, so I stoked the fire and put on a put of coffee.

Oddly, this is a short and picture-less post today.  I have many things that need made like homemade lotions, but it'll all have to wait until next week.  

Happy Homemaker Monday

Tuesday, our daughter received her recognition award for Student of the Month for her school, in all of our county.  Her grade point average is 4.111.

Wednesday, I had to make the stuffing, sweet potatoes, dessert, pie (yes I made them for other guests, but with little sugar), bake the turkey, ham and rolls.  I got everything done but the turkey, and baked that Thursday morning, along with 4 other veggie side dishes.  I put up my outside Christmas lights, which are minimal, but pretty and noticeable (no roof or ladder climbing).

Friday we had our 2nd Thanksgiving, and Saturday our 3rd, where I got to taste my first heated cider with a shot of salted carmel vodka.  We watched the Buckeyes win, and headed home to relax.

Sunday, Dec.1st rolled in with thunder and lightning.  A wintery-mix headed in with it.  We cut wood until the rain arrived again.

I can't believe my Mom saved this, and one of my brother's displays it at Christmas.  I made this way back in elementary school, ha ha!  It's a pringles can Santa.

Question:  Does anyone have a homemade whole wheat bread recipe?  Also, does anyone have a good homemade whole wheat roll recipe?  Thanks!  Or even a book title to check out of our library as well?  I'm going to try some recipes from Jovial's website.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom


The weather outside is . . .
Raining.  Again.  High of 36°F.


On the breakfast plate . . . 
Sweet potato scramble eaten with a fork for some, and for others in a spinach wrap (until I can make some tortillas using Einkorn flour), organic black coffee


As I look outside my window . . .
It's cloudy and dreary looking.


Right now I am . . .
Looking around on the internet to make plans for our 21st Anniversary this month.  Not sure I want to prepay a hotel, because if road are bad, considering it is winter now.  


As I look around the house . . .
I have 3 crock pots that need put away, and some tidying up to do.



On the to-do list . . .
Dishes
Laundry
Floors
make a breakfast scramble with greens



On this week's to-do list . . .
Finish up last minute projects for the craft show
Returns and pick-ups at the library
Cut wood



On the menu . . .
Leftovers...have no idea yet.  Now that I have to revamp and leave carbs and sugar out mostly, it'll be a bit different.  I am ordering some Jovial pasta this week.


Currently reading . . .
Nothing.  Too busy getting the craft show items ready


On the TV . . .
Movies on Netflix or from the library.


What I am creating . . .

Dish scrubbies and a set of boot cuffs.  I also started another set of hot pads.


New recipe I tried or want to try . . . .

I tried Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars.  The grandkids LOVED it.  It was time consuming, but so good and light (not like a thick cheesecake). 





Favorite photo from the camera . . .

My new kitchen night light.  

Prayers . . .
Prayers for my friend's mother.  She passed away last week. She broke her foot while in the nursing home, was sent to a medical clinic where she was on life support.   My mother - she fell and has lots of pain and one very big bruise.

This and That

Wednesday required more running around, which I am getting so tired of.  I just want to stay home for an entire day.

Breakfast - sweet potato hash with eggs, chives, oregano and basil (bell peppers, onion, jalapeno, and garlic too).

It ended up more like mashed sweet potatoes, because Hubby was helping and put a lid on them (instead of crisping them), but it was still very good and healthy.  I topped it with chives.

I had to start putting away all my crafting supplies, but made one more wine cork tree.  It was a pain to put everything away just for a meal, as my 2nd kitchen table is my "craft" work station (I do not have a craft room here).  The other table only seats 4 people.

I made the roll dough for the upcoming holiday, but will freeze what's left over to minimize carb intake at any meal now.  Thank goodness I picked sweet potatoes over mashed potatoes from the get-go.

As the holidays creep in, I can't stop thinking about Jesse and how he's doing (or the older two girls).  I haven't heard from either since that daughter moved completely back out and took Jesse with her.  I can't get myself to change my blog header and take Jesse's picture off and put Romeo's up.  In time...in time...

The two stray young cats are still around.  I have temporarily named them until we can trap them, see what's what and friend them enough to get them both fixed.  We believe Aurora is getting up in age, and we could use barn cats.

Today's list is too long, and I will remember it well next year when Hubby volunteers me (all by myself) for an entire meal.  He will be remembering this.  He won't be here to help as he insisted he would and our daughter is still feeling sick.  Now I have the sniffles and congestion.  Just lovely.  I'm about to tell them it's off, but we'll see what happens.

I have to make several dishes today and reheat tomorrow, putting a few more dishes (that Hubby cannot eat) into the oven tomorrow, and starting some veggies in crock pots.

The weather is awful - extreme wind and rain.  They say it'll stop by noon, but we'll see.  I pray you are all getting help with the preparation of the Thanksgiving meal, and that you are all healthy as well.   I'll be re-writing our menu for next year.

Everything is something Hubby cannot eat - cheesy potatoes, glazed carrots (sugar), BBQ green beans (Sodium), corn casserole (carbs, sugar), rolls (sugar, carbs), even sweet potato casserole has brown sugar.  I'll be back to making roasted brussel sprouts and other healthier sides like roasted or baked sweet potatoes.  It'll be a challenge for sure.  I'll be spending snow days trying out whole wheat roll recipes too.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  I most likely won't get a post in tomorrow, but know that I'm wishing you all a happy holiday!



...finished a set of yellow pot holders.

I have ordered  Cassia cinnamon sticks to make Rosemary Gladstar's  tincture to help lower blood sugar for Hubby.  I also picked up steel cut oats for breakfast meals (oats help lower blood sugar).

Our weather is going to go from almost 60°F yesterday and sunny, to extreme wind and rain.  They are even saying traveling will be difficult, and we have our one daughter, her husband and the grand kids coming tomorrow.

Tuesday Tidbits

I'm up at 4am.  Can't sleep, so I'm gluing snowflakes/stars to the tops of a few wine cork Christmas trees and sipping hot coffee.  I've already let Romeo out, as he came to the gate and let me know (I think I woke him up).

Meanwhile, over the weekend, Daughter became more ill.  I made her sage tea, and homemade ginger ale.  She's congested and has a sore throat.  I also gave her a eucalyptus steam.  She slept a lot over the weekend too.

Sunday we needed wood cut, and it did not get done.  Instead, I pushed the start button on the dishwasher, and water was suddenly flooding the kitchen floor.  Hubby's attention was called to the situation, and he spent a while working on that.


All this time the problem wasn't the dishwasher falling apart by it's self.  A mouse chewed through all the rubber hose parts and water wasn't getting to the dishwasher or back to the drain.  Parts may cost up to $50.00.  I may have Hubby convinced to rip out the dishwasher and put in a cupboard with shelving for me.  We'll see what happens.  Until then, mouse traps are set.

I didn't get time to post Monday due to an early morning doctor appt.  It was the last follow up with my vascular doctor.  Between doctor appts for me, Hubby and Daughter, I nearly finished a set of pot holders in the waiting rooms.  Literally.

First, we left the house at 8am for my appt.  In and out, good check up, given the go to get back to lifting (even exercise).  Then out to breakfast and a run to the store before his appt.  

However while heading to the store, our youngest texted she wasn't feeling up to finishing the day at school.  I called the school, she met us in the "Big City" and we had her checked out at one of the urgent care centers.  

She wasn't diagnosed with a sinus infection, but given a nasal spray - hope it helps.

She drove on home, we went to Hubby's appt, then back to the store for medications.  Yep.  Ugh.

Hubby has always had problems with his blood pressure and blood sugar, and after his heart attack we really watched his intake of food choices.  Well, guess what?  He can't have any carbs now.  At his check up, blood pressure was perfect (I do have a tea on order to help get him off those, which by the way is just a small water pill), but his blood sugar was not.  It's going to be a  challenge for me even more - no tortilla for breakfast burrito, no pasta (very little), no bread etc.  Not sure I want to make dough today for Thanksgiving rolls.

I have looked, and Einkorn is half the carbs of regular flour, so I may be able to make homemade pizzas at home with home canned sauce and veggies.  I may have to order einkorn pasta to also allow a pasta dish here and there.

Looks like a millet skillet will be in the menu, as well as more veggie hash/egg breakfast meals.  


Anyway, we left at 8am and returned home at 4pm.  Long day, and where we got to visit with our 21 year-old how came out to do her laundry.

Sorry for the long post, hopefully, the next will be much shorter and more interesting.

from the handiwork journal . . .

...finished the blueberry hot pad set.

. . . finally finished the knitted dishcloth.  Started another set and also finished it.  I literally sold this set I put together right after I put it up on my other blog (who also ordered the second set).

....got more of the yellow netting cut, but still need to cut pink as well.

....finished a coral set of hot pads.  Started a yellow set.

. . . finished a hat for myself, and I love it.  It's very warm.  I will use this pattern for making some to sell for next year's craft shows.  I hope I can get more colors at a good price.

...crocheted these paw print ornaments for the fall craft show.

...crocheted a few cows.  Just need to get eyes on the cats next. 

. . . got a set of coffee cup coasters done.

. . . I got a few more wine cork Christmas trees done. I'll put up a "how-to" soon on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot.

The clock is ticking closer to the craft show, with a holiday in between it all (3 for us, sigh...), so I'm busy, busy, busy with handiwork.

I'm up early to get the fire stoked.  We got snow last night.  I'll be working on more wine cork Christmas trees.   I can't believe I'm finally using them all up (and no I didn't drink all that, ha ha!  I had a restaurant save them for me many years ago and found them cleaning my closet).