Zakka's ornament idea

I thought this was really cute. You can find the whole thing with more pictures here: http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2008/12/kokeshi-doll-christmas-ornaments.html I made something like this a few years ago with clothespins, eye hooks at top, but made carolers, skaters and the like. For skaters I used a piece of stiff gray felt hot glued to feet to make the blade of the skate.

Zakkalife was busy making kokeshi doll ornaments for her daughter's nursery class. She decided to give ornaments since she's been told no one throws away a Christmas ornament. Do you think this true? Have you ever thrown away Christmas ornament? The only ornaments most of us have ever thrown away were broken ones. Curious to hear your thoughts.Directions to make Kokeshi Doll Ornaments here. She also made a gift tag to go with the ornaments, see her page, she offers for people to copy and use it if they wish.

It's been very cold in the northeast!

Brrrrr! It's been chilly here in the northeast. Nothing is better than a stew on a day like today, unless you ask the kids; they will say nothing warms better than hot cocoa! I found many recipes for stew over the years. I find they best stew is when the meat is cooked very slowly, in a crock, on the stove, or in the oven for many hours. This one should have been cooked longer, but we couldn't wait. Just like chili, it is better the next day,,, but needs more time on the stove, cooked very slowly. We like it when the meat starts to fall apart.

Free Christmas Music MP3

Happy Hearts at Home always posts really neat things for home schoolers. Also alot of free things that are very interesting for anyone. Here is her blog.
I downloaded this, it is cute. Thanks Alexandra!!

Free Christmas Music MP3

Shpiffy Squirrel at Klazane

Today I finished my Shpiffy Squirrel mini stuffie. You can see him on my blog here. :]

-Klazane

Cards for parents Anniversary

This week my girls and I sat down and made homemade cards for my in-laws anniversary. The first on the left is Klazane's hand painted rose card. The second was made by my youngest (7) and the last one I made. My in-laws really enjoyed receiving the homemade cards. I think we will do this every year.

Vintage Sewing Attachements

Vintage Sewing Attachments

Two months ago, we dug out an old box of attachments and, boy, did we find a treasure chest! We had gotten them with an old sewing machine at a yard sale a few years ago for only $3! contained many old contraptions that looked like they'd be as hard to figure out how to use as doing the work by hand. (Particularly the ruffler, which is the one farthest to the left in the above picture.)

We also had an old book that explained how to use each one, and dispite complex diagrams and long lists of parts and their functions, they were actually fairly simple to operate.

I am particularly excited about the four hemmers in the kit. I can't wait to easily sew hems with those handy little attachments. I did try out both the ruffler and the narrow hemmer, and was very pleased with the results.

The ruffler was especially fun to figure out, and I love how adjustable it is. It ruffle or plait, scantily or heavily, close together or far apart. And the Narrow Hemmer did a seam fabulously and easily.
Posted by Klazane--

Finished Cap

Finished Cap

Last week Klazane finished the cap she was working on for her sister.
(Pattern found here.)
"I must say, I am so very glad I started running out of the yellow and was forced to add a large off-white stripe because I'm afraid otherwise it may have resembled a construction hat, and that isn't quite the look I was going for. :P"

Now on to the skirt! :]

The "Wait" Shopper

When a new series first came out by Beverly Lewis, I was really thrilled and couldn't wait to get it, but I did not... and then forgot about. Yesterday while shopping I stopped in at Ollie's and there were the first three books for $4 a piece. They are usually around $11 a book. I was excited to spend $12 on 3 books instead of over $30.

I've been talking to a few friends who are "wait" shoppers and were saying that they also teach this to their children. "Wait" until it is on sale. This is a very new for me! I am excited about it and wanted to share it! It's pretty neat to buy something brand new for a third of the sale price.

How far back can you remember?

This was taken around the year 1970. I remember the doll house and sink, but not the other toys.
My youngest who is now 7 spends time playing like this; having a few things around the floor going from one thought to another playing for hours. There are days now that I spend time to play with or talk to both girls. That is something I am happy I am doing now. I love not working even though it is alot of work.
Much of my days are filled with teaching my youngest. I spend time with my oldest every afternoon while making lunch & dinner and sometimes after the youngest is in bed. This time with my girls is invaluable! I am grateful for the opportunity to be home. It's a small luxury few mothers get to enjoy, especially in today's economy.
In two more days we will celebrate Thanksgiving and here I wanted to give thanks to God for saving such a wretch.
I wanted to share a gorgeous prayer, puritin prayer.

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY,
Thy understanding is unsearchable and infinite,
Thy arm cannot be stayed,
Thy agency extends through limitless space,
All works hang on thy care,
With thee time is a present now.

Holy is thy wisdom, power, mercy, ways, works.
How can I stand before thee
with my numberless and aggravated offences?
I have often loved darkness,
observed lying vanities,
forsaken thy given mercies,
trampled underfoot thy beloved Son,
mocked thy providences,
flattered thee with my lips,
broken thy covenant.
It is of thy compassion that I am not consumed.

Lead me to repentance, and save me from despair;
Let me come to thee renouncing, condemning, loathing myself,
but hoping in the grace that flows even to the chief of sinners.
At the cross may I contemplate the evil of sin, and abhor it,
look on him whom I pierced,
as one slain for me, and by me.
May I never despise his death by fearing it's efficacy for my salvation.
And whatever cross I am required to bear,
let me see him carrying a heavier.
Teach me in health to think of sickness,
in the brightest hours to be ready for darkness;
in life prepare me for death.
Thus may my soul rest in thee, O immortal and transcendent one,
revealed as though art in the Person and work of thy Son,
the friend of sinners.

Tips for Cooking in Cast Iron

Please see Rick & Kathy's Website Cooking In Cast Iron
They have alot of tips on taking care of cast iron and a great video if you'd rather watch tips. Below I have listed a few but check out the website when you get a chance to, it is really worth it.
1. Use your pans and use them a lot. If your pan has just been seasoned fresh (as opposed to factory pre-seasoned) or re-seasoned it will probably be a shade of brown, BUT it should be completely black within a year if it is used frequently. There's very little that cannot be cooked in cast iron. Rethink the kinds of pans you use. If you normally cook something in the oven on a cookie sheet, it might cook just as well in the skillet. On the stovetop, skillets can be used for much more than frying, but obviously, they're good for that, too. Breads and desserts cook well in cast iron skillets, too.
2.Keep them handy, either on the stove top or in the oven when not in use.
3. Since cast iron distributes heat so well, under normal situations, you don't need to turn a stove burner above a "medium" heat. Always let the pan heat as the burner heats or let the pan heat in the oven as the oven heats. Don't put a cold pan on a hot surface or a hot pan in cold water. Either has the potential to crack or warp the pan.
4. Check out Rick & Kathy's website...