A New Toy

A cake pop and donut hole maker! Oh YUM!  My youngest daughter bought a mini-cupcake maker, I thought it was so cool!  I like the idea of this a bit more.  My middle daughter thinks these are fake cake pops, as she has gone through all the work to make "real" ones.   I am okay with this!  So my first go, I chose "brownie cake pops".

Basically, a box brownie mix with a cup of sour cream added.  Sour cream brownies?!?...seriously...YUM!

Not the best picture...sorry...it was night-time.  I did wash my maker, but the first ones still kind of tasted funny.  They didn't stick though, and I forgot the oil.  Each batch took only 5 minutes!  Sweet satisfaction in a hurry!

Made about 45 brownie bites.  They were really good.  A success!  I like the idea of the brownie bites, not so much being tied to the kitchen...but I was in there cleaning anyway.  The cuteness factor, though, cannot be beat!  I will be using my cake pop/donut hole maker alot.  I think I will stick to donut holes though.

Have a wonderful day ~ Melissa
Be still and know that I am God ~ Psalm 46:10

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  This is my table at our annual ladies Christmas celebration.  We do crafts, a mission project, sing carols, have a speaker, and have a wonderful meal.  There are also handmade door prizes.  This year I made an apron and a potato steamer pouch.  I hope the recipient enjoys them.  Hopefully this week I will get my tree up and decorated...I have been so busy lately.  There is always so many things available to do during this season, so hard to choose.  We will be driving through our local botanical gardens Christmas lights display.  We walked it last year, this year those days/nights were just too cold.  So in the car we go, with coffee in hand!  I  hope you are enjoying each day of this wonderful season!
~ Melissa

Making Applesauce

The remainder of the apples picked at Mercier's was made into applesauce.  I did leave 6 out to make caramel apples, but haven't gotten to those yet.

Washed at ready. I think each variety picked is here.

The six left out, golden delicious and cameo...YUM!

8 pounds cut up, 4 cinnamon sticks and 2 cups of water added.

When the apples were soft, I removed the skins....somewhat of a painful process  :)

Added about a cup of pure maple syrup for sweetness...Yummy!

filled eleven half-pint jars...future Christmas presents!

into the hot water bath for 25 minutes

Voile` ! 

Who wouldn't want hand picked, home-made applesauce in their stockings on Christmas morning?!?!

Happy February Rudolph Day!

Another Rudolph Day has come for us to enjoy!  A pumpkin pie is in the oven, Christmas music playing in the background, and I am working on ornaments for my children and grandchildren.  I did this ornament thing the first year I celebrated Rudolph Day.  I presented my one child who was actually out of the house with a box of 10 ornaments.  The other three children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews will have to wait until they have homes of their own.  However, since they have to wait, their boxes will have so much more!  I have been wanting to make these cute patchwork ornaments for a while, today is the day!  The instructions can be found in "Country Woman Christmas 2003"

on page 68

Aren't they adorable?!?!

This is the beginning of one of my versions

and this is the other

I hope y'all have a wonderful Rudolph Day!  Take time today to remember all those warm, fuzzy feelings that usually only happen in December!



Happy Rudolph Day!

It's the first Rudolph Day of the year.  I love these days set aside once a month to focus on Christmas. I found Rudolph Day on OrganizedChristmas.com when I was looking for a way to have the Christmas-y feeling all year.  It has worked!  I always start my day with "A Charlie Brown Christmas."  I appreciate Linus' quoting of Luke Chapter 2.  Then on to Christmas music, fulfilling the task from OrganizedChristmas , making some cookies, or a pumpkin pie and coffee in one of my Christmas mugs.  A Christmas craft is a must!  I made this bag to hold my Rudolph Day paraphernalia.

I found a coloring page I liked and cut it apart, and used them as patterns to cut the felt, fleece, and satin, I used.

I used felt for the for the face, eyes, and ears; fleece for the antlers; red satin for the nose, then decided it wasn't shiny enough, so I added the sequins.  I did use wonder under to attach all the parts, but then thought the face would stay on better with some hand sewing.  I liked the look and finished the rest of Rudolph. I did straight stiches for his nose and mouth, and french knots (which I am no good at) for his freckles. A bit of piping, three bells and Voila, a fun bag I get to play with once a month.  I keep ongoing small projects in it, and of course, my binder...just so I can claim I am organized. hehe

I hope you like him too!

Merry Christmas!

It has been crazy around here.  My oldest child was hired on at the hospital in town.  Third shift, so I watch babies all night and then all the next day.  Whew!  I was so much better at this when I was younger!  I have managed to get a bit of sewing done, just a bit.  Have made my favorite cookies, Thumbprint and Sunny Cocoa Drop, but the Christmas Spirit eludes me.  Ah, well, maybe I am just trying too hard...I did finish the girls Christmas quilts, my first, second, and third.  Quilt purists may point out all my mistakes, and there are many.  They needn't, I see each and every one.  But while we perfectionists mull over mistakes, three girls are snuggly warm!  And that's all that really matters anyway.

Craft of the day

I wanted to make something with Bug.  I got out our book See and Sew.   She chose the baby bib.

After reading the directions I decided this was a bit much for her.  Hand sewing quarter inch binding takes a great deal more patience than either she or I have.  So with her choice of fabric, I made it for her. 

I didn't think it would fit Bug's little sister, newly nicknamed Spider Monkey (just started walking AND climbing!), but it does!