Is Mother Nature Confused?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here...but something is missing!! Now please, pretty pretty please, with sugar on top...Mother Nature...WE NEED SNOW!!!!!! I think she might be confused as to where we are located but in the Upper Peninsula of MI we are supposed to have snow...and lots of it. We've been walking around in t-shirts for crying out loud. We should be bundled up in hats, mittens & scarves, tromping through the snow, drinking hot chocolate on a cold winters night...not drinking lemonade!!! So, if it's not too much to ask.... Jack Frost, Mother Nature, Kris Kringle, Frosty The Snowman, Rudolf & all you other snow loving people, let's get together & demand some white fluff!! Don't make me staple fake snow on my rooftop & shred Styrofoam for my front lawn this year!!

The new 'do'

I finally did it!! Made a big change...cost me about 6-8 inches but I LUV it!! I feel quirky, sassy & a smidgen sophisticated. I'm just sad it wasn't long enough & that they do not accept dyed hair for donations to Locks Of Love...=(

Christmas tree lights shimmering, fresh out of the oven cookie & a glass of milk....that was my night last night. I totally tried a new recipe that I found at a fellow bloggers page & knew I had to try it out. With only 4 ingredients needed how could I not try it out? You can find the recipe here: http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/11/ridged-ribbon-dishcloth-and-biscuit.html and below :

1 pound butter
1 can condensed milk (390-400 gram)
1 cup sugar
5 cups wholemeal self raising flour (or plain flour and baking powder)
toppings like choc chips, smarties, jam, cinnamon and sugar

cream butter and sugar, add condensed milk. stir in flour. roll into balls and flatten. top with choc chips etc, or thumbprint and add jam for jam drops.bake at 350 degrees for approx 10 min until golden brown. cool on racks

It makes 6-7 dozen delicious cookies...or about 5 dozen if you like em big =) The possibilities with this very simple recipe excites me. I foresee chocolate chips, walnuts, toffee chips & who knows what else I will put into this recipe.

Change of plans

So, there's been a change of plans. To make a long story short, Ken did not take the job after all. There were a few things we needed answers to & he was to be reimbursed his plates for the semi...and well, the owner didn't see that he had to. So, Ken's still truckin along for the time being. Just sucks cuz he should be starting the new job tomorrow & just knowing the dishonesty of people eats at my inner happiness.

On another note, we went to a Halloween party last night sponsored by the Lion's Club. Had a much needed good time with some pretty fab friends!!

Big Changes

Exciting changes going on here. This past Sunday a friend asked if I would make a quilt for him for his wife for Christmas and several friends contacted me about commissioning me to crochet some items. Then a random woman contacted me about making a sweater for her 10 month old niece & also asked if I could do some drawing & painting in her home. I'm so excited!! I guess I really never thought selling my handmades would actually bring in some extra money.

The other big change is Ken was offered the local job with the company he works for...and he accepted the job yesterday. It's a pay cut but to have my hubby home every night would kick all sorts of fannie. We'll be making some sacrifices but we have no doubt those sacrifices are beyond worth it. I've always been drawn to the way our ancestors did things way back when & now we will be implementing more of those things. I can honestly tell you I get my kicks out of making things with my own 2 hands rather than purchasing at the store. Some of the things I have already implemented are homemade laundry detergent, cleaners, baking breads, preserving food, stockpiling, crocheting many items, mending clothes & we only have energy efficient light bulbs in our fixtures. I feel guilty purchasing anything at the store if it's not on sale or if I don't have a coupon for it and I only purchase it if it is absolutely necessary. Our stockpile in the basement pantry keeps us out of the stores as well. I will be making our dog & cat treats and hopefully baking all of our breads. We are huge on enjoying the outdoors & I'll tell you, Upper Michigan has some of the most gorgeous places if one just gets of their butt to experience. The added bonus is it's FREE!!! We're looking forward to being able to spend time with our friends & family, sitting around the table playing boardgames and just having a 'normal' life. I'm sure it'll be quite an adjustment as it's been almost 10 years since we had a daily structure but it shall be fun!!

Earflap hat with matching mittens

Yarn has been flowing freely through my hands lately. Seriously, I cannot get enough. I feel at home with yarn & as if I am back to my roots.

The latest project is a fun hat with ear flaps with matching mittens I made for myself to match my ski jacket. After all, winter will be here before we know it. Next up is a brown set for my nephews wife, a quilt a friend is commissioning me to do & I must get to painting light bulbs!!! Yup, I said light bulbs. There will be a post about that in the coming days.

Turkey Pot Pie...it's a keeper

We made a big ole turkey this week & had enough leftovers for a double batch of turkey noodles soup, turkey sandwich spread & this...Behold....Turkey Pot Pie!!!!

Now this is the 1st time I ever made it so I went to Recipe.com & found this delish recipe:

1 recipe pastry for a (10 inch) double crust pie
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 small onion, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, diced
3 tablespoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups water
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roll out bottom pie crust, press into a 10 inch pie pan, and set aside.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the onion, celery, carrots, parsley, oregano, and salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the bouillon and water. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in the potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm.

In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in the turkey and flour. Add the milk, and heat through. Stir the turkey mixture into the vegetable mixture, and cook until thickened. Cool slightly, then pour mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Roll out the top crust, and place on top of filling. Flute edges, and make 4 slits in the top crust to let out steam.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

The hubby liked it, I liked it & it was filling & I am certain way healthier than the prepackaged frozen stuff in the store. We still have a gallon sized bag of leftovers that will be made into something. Perhaps turkey fajitas? Nothing beats trying a new recipe, having the food turn out delish & hearing the hubby say...it's a keeper. =) What kinds of comfort foods are you making this Autumn?

Reclaiming my mojo

Yahooo!!! I'm finally getting my crocheting mojo back. It seemed to have vanished shortly after Ken's Nana passed away this past June. This is a real fun hat pattern I've had for a couple years. I've made several but thought I needed a cream one for myself & of course the fingerless mittens were a must make/have also. Now that I have these made I was informed by a handful of others that they wouldn't mind a set...guess who's gonna be busy crocheting for Christmas gifts?? MEEEEEE =) I just hope they weren't being kind & actually like them...lol

SNOW!!!!

What do you do when Mother Nature sends snow flakes???? You ask the hubby if he'd take a picture of you while standing outside in the fresh fallen snow so you can post a picture on your facebook of course...and plop on the ground & make a snow angel!!!

Ok, this kicks all sorts of bootie!!!

It's finally summer here in the Upper Penninsula of Mi. It take awhile but by golly, it's here...for the time being. We'll see what next week brings. Who knows, it may snow!!!! Anyways, the Farmer's Market downtown is going strong & each week more & more goods are showing up...which pretty much = one happy gal!!!! I'll have some recipes coming up with some of the yummalicious treats I scored while there.

But this post I wanted to tell you about a new Farm Stand I went to today. Now let me tell you this....it kicked all sorts of bootie!! Ken had told me about it last week on one of his trucking adventures. It's right outside of town so it's not far at all. We Yoopers measure distance in minutes...so roughly 7 minutes out of town, give or take. Holy bean bags!! I thought I was going there to get some blueberries & maybe a watermelon. Lemme tell you, this stand was stocked with fabulous goodies & I took it upon myself to stock up. Oh, almost forgot to mention...the prices were out-freaking-standing. Where else can you buy 2 pineapples for 5 buckaroos? Well besides Mexico. Ok, so back to what I got...here's a picture & a list...cuz I know you wanna know ;) ps...I am fully aware that my kitchen needs an update...but c'mon, that yellow counter-top rocks...you know it does.

1/2lb garlic which was 2 heads

3 1/2lb pickling cukes

1 papaya (never had real papaya...just flavored drinks)

3 1/2lb pears which was 9 fruits

2pts of blueberries

1 1/2lb sweet cherries

2 green peppers

3 kiwi

2 big cukes

2lb bananas & then the gal GAVE me 8lb FREE because they had a couple tiny brown spots. Chloe (the tortoise ) is going to be one happy reptile =) Then I'm pretty sure we'll have banana bread, muffins, pancakes up the ying yang for awhile...which totally rocks my sox!!! (p.s. I do the sox thing on purpose...it's for my Red Sox...heeehee)

An 8lb seedless watermelon

2 pineapples

4 zucchini's

6 lemons

a honeydew melon

5 limes

3 1/2lbs tomatoes (ours are not ripe yet so this will tide us over)

6 Granny Smith Apples

6 Golden Delicious Apples

10 ears of corn

3 1/2lbs baby reds

Whew...that's a lot of stuff eh!!! All for a very reasonable price mind you!! What will I do with all this in our household of 2 you might wonder??? Pickles, jams, waffles, breads, salsa, stewed tomatoes, juice, pie or tort, muffins, roasting, grilling, smoothies & canning are in this gals very near future!!