2 New Wash Cloths for Washing Dishes

Patterns many times develop when you use variegated colored yarn. This one is my favorite pattern. I love this style wash clothes (for dishes) because they are the perfect size and thickness for my hand. They are also very easy and quick to make.

Gauge: Not important

Hook size: US G/6.00 mm

1. Ch22 loosely.

2. Row 1: Turn, hdc in 3rd chain from hook and then in each chain.

3. Rows 2 - 12: Turn and chain 2, hdc in each hdc.

4. Round 1: Change color if you wish and... Turn and chain 2 (this counts as 1 hdc), hdc 2 more times in corner and then hdc in each hdc except the corners get 3 hdc. On sides evenly crochet around 19 hdc. slst in second chain of beginning ch2.

5. Round 2: Chain 1 and single crochet in each hdc except sc 3 in corners. Slst in beginning ch 1. Tie off.

Key: sc= single crochet hdc= half double crochet slst= slip stitch

A Homemade Spice Cake

This is a very simple Spice Cake from my trusty cookbook. I found the same recipe here. The topping is simply a glaze of powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Yum! This is great on a chilly day with coffee!

Cast Iron Delight

I have exciting news! I won a cast iron skillet from Black Iron Dude. I am so excited. I found his website because I have 3 cast iron skillets that I would love to use regularly. I've had them for maybe 5 years and have used them maybe 3 times a year because I have never learned how to care for them properly.
After reading his blog and taking notes I seasoned my skillets again and started using them a lot. As you can see, I can finally make eggs in my medium sized pan and the pan is finally totally black! Check out those eggs and that black pan! Yay!!
You can see where I won the skillet here. If you have a cast iron skillet and don't use it, I hope you are inspired to take it out and start using it. Here is a delicious recipe for Apple Pancake. Do not make it in anything except cast iron or you may regret it :)
10" cast iron skillet
4 T Butter
1/4 c Brown Sugar
1 large Apple, cored & sliced 1/8"
5 large Eggs
1 c Flour
1 c Milk
1/2 t ground Cinnamon
Pinch of Salt
Confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 400. In a 10" skillet, melt butter & 3 T brown sugar. Add apples, and cook 5 minutes, stir occasionally.

In med bowl, whisk eggs, flour, milk, cinnamon, salt, & remaining sugar. Pour batter slowly over cooked apple mixture. Transfer to oven til golden brown, set in center, and puffed around edges, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar and serve hot.

Cards for a resonable price

A friend from church gave me great advice on cards and it is too good to not pass along to you!
You can make 300 cards for under 10 cents a piece.
This is what you need from, yes, Walmart. If you don't like shopping there why not make a special trip there very, very early in the morning. You then will pretty much have the entire store to yourself.
In the office supply section buy a package of white card stock (150 sheets). I just bought some in August or September and it cost around $8. In that same section you should see "Invitation Envelopes" that are about 4 3/8" X 5 3/4". In our store they are under $5 for 50 envelopes.
After visiting the office supply section, go to the party/card section where they probably have scrapbooking supplies. Again if your Wal-mart is like most you will be able to buy a bundle pack of scrapbooking papers and cutouts for under $10, I just bought one for $7. In the case that you already have pretty papers and things at home, save some money and use what you have first.
How to:
1. Cut a 8 1/2" X 11" piece of card stock in half so that the 2 halves measures 5 1/2" X 8 1/2". Cut a few more, I'll explain later.
2. Fold the cards so that they are 5 1/2" X 4 1/4", use a teaspoon or a ruler to rub the fold flat.
3. Think of or borrow a design for the front of a cover and duplicate it for a few more cards. If you do a few each time you need a card, you will quickly accumulate a nice assortment.
There is 1 card above that was decorated by a 7 year old with foamy stickers. Kids LOVE making cards too, so this is a fun project for the family.
NOTES: The cosmos flower in the first/second picture is a cut out dye that I used for a sunflower project. The 3rd card was made from a $7 bundle pack that includes 40 patterned 12x12 papers and 437 cutouts. I use Elmers Glue for the cards because people do not usually keep cards for long. I added glitter to the name in the 3rd card as well.

Crocheted Washcloths

When I was making the above dish cloth, I was wondering if these yellows would look alright together. The center yellow is lemon yellow and didn't match what I had intended it for. I didn't want to let it sit because yellow is such a happy color. So I experimented with the variegated yellow I think it found its match.The 2 blue ones are with my favorite pattern. It is very simple and works well in the sink, the size is just right for a woman's hand. The pattern can be found on the inside of most cotton skeins of yarn.

Quick Mosiac Frame Project for Boys and Girls

I just love finding a project for boys or girls and with supplies that we already have. I have craft supplies packed in all our storage areas around our house and still there are things stuck here and there around the house as well. My kids were excited to do this project today.
We used 1/2 of a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock, then folded in half to get it to an invitation card size. I measured and cut a hole in one side as a frame. After she glued cut up pieces of construction paper on it we let it dry. That is what you see above. Tomorrow we will find a picture to put in it and glue the card shut with a ribbon hanger.

Amazing Art Work

My girls submitted their art work today. The little one drew and then painted with water color. Her picture depicts a family of birds, some are being fed and others look on. She didn't have alot of time to work on it. She did an amazing job!







The next pretty picture was drawn by my oldest. I am very proud of you baby girl! Everytime I look at this I think about what that little girl must be thinking to have a little bird on her hand. I am proud of you, this is beautiful!

Fall Decorating

Today we put up the fall wreath on the front door. It was made last year and has held up beautifully. The leaves are dried and we are surprised that the colors have not faded.

Two pumpkins sit on our porch but our photographer moved them to take their picture in the leaves. The pumpkins are from the pumpkin patch. A neighbor of ours has 5 children and they have 7 little pumpkins on their banister. Very cute!

We have hydrangeas drying in the garage. I cannot wait to make wreathes this year. A few of the hydrangeas are huge. I definately want to buy more plants for next year.

Wherefore art thou, dishrag?

September 29, 2008

I've been busy doing small projects crocheting (dish) washcloths while my youngest works on her handwriting lesson. I see now that I should have blocked them before taking the picture. I figure that they aren't for sale and I wouldn't block it before I gave it away, he he.

My photographer is now getting credit for every picture she snaps or fixes. Did you notice? LOL

Above there are only 2 patterns. One is from the inside label of a cotton yarn and the other I bought at a craft store (AC Moore) on clearance. I think it is from the early 90's, it shows you how to crochet about 8 washcloths. I've tried about 4 and so far but only like the flower pattern above.

Cheese and Potato Shells

Cheese and Potato Shells

Box of large shells
3 pounds of potatoes
Velveeta Cheese
1 medium onion
butter for sauteing

My husband's family has been making these for years and they are so yummy. I didn't think I could make them, but my husband convinced me to try and I am so glad I did. They turned out really delicious! It is really easy to make too. They taste a little like a perogie but like homemade. My family has a variety of tastes, and so I am thinking of making a few with different things in them like roasted garlic and onion inside.