Meet my guests

Big Boy and Henny Penny.

My dad and stepmom love to travel, sometimes for a month at a time.

When they were planning their trip to Florida, my dad told me that since their little old man cat passed away, he really didn't want to bother us with the care of his 2 chickens (he had more but they suffered losses this past summer from coyotes) and that he would just butcher them. He knows we are busy with our lives and families and like me, he has a hard time asking for help.

My dad loves his rooster, he loves to hear him crowing in the morning. He's had these two for four years now and the little hen was severely injured during the coyote attack and has bounced back.

So I let him know I had a guest coop they could stay in and it was no bother at all to care for them. Just an extra stop on what I normally do anyway.

He took me up on the offer, he's going to be happy to have his crowing boy when he returns home. It makes me happy to do something for the man who is always there when I need him.

They are Jersey Giants and this Rooster is huge! His head comes about mid thigh on me, he has these wicked looking spurs, but is a gentle soul. My daughter has even picked him up.

Henny Penny even gifted me with an egg!

Now these are the kind of guests I like having for a month.

proud mom

Like all moms, I find my children funny, smart, talented and beautiful.
So I am taking a little time to brag.

I had my niece over Saturday night and look what my girl whipped up on the sewing machine for their dolls. They then borrowed my camera and had a photo shoot.

These are their cheer leading uniforms.

Buttons in the back.

I found this splits picture hysterical!

The models then had a pillow fight.

Apparently played some guitar hero and then passed out.

*

I have 2 children so I have to brag about my boy now.

He has made many inventions over the years, I am always impressed but not surprised

He built this, no pattern involved, filmed and posted it on utube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zsmPLOJ_Do

It is so cool.

Etsy love!

The nice gal over at blushing mermaid picked my Mermaid Quilt to be in her treasury.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=35028

It's flattering to be selected and put in with other talented artists.

We're havin a heat wave!

We are supposed to be getting temps in the 30's today and part of tomorrow!

Our winter has been extra cold (this is where I would normally add some crack about global warming, my @$$, but some are sensitive to that kind of humor so I won't).

Which means our fall woodpile...

...that was 2 rows deep...

...is now this. So sad.

Luckily we have some standing dead trees that we should be able to cut over the weekend, of course the temps are dropping back down by then.

I'm trying not to start belly aching about the winter since we have at least 2 or 3 months left, but I'm fighting a cold so my usual sunny disposition is hiding under a large pile of mucus.

I'm expecting guests Monday, so I have a lot to get ready. They will be staying a MONTH! More about that another day.

Praise song for the day.

Praise song for the day.
Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.
Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."
We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.
We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."
We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.
Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."
Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.
What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.
In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.
-- Elizabeth Alexander

Another trashy project.

This time of year I start nesting. The holidays are past, we are still months away from spring planting and my art/craft shows. I may as well take advantage of being cooped up.

Do any of you remember my project from last year to help me be organized in shipping out etsy orders? It worked great, but wasn't perfect. I had too much stuff left on the top that was getting in my way.

Well, do you remember this project? The part where I hung an old dresser on the wall for the girls to nest in (works great btw). I lack the skill of tossing things that may someday be turned into some thing useful. I also lack the skills to stick to one topic without going off on a tangent and rambling it seems.

So I saved the drawers from that project, I did toss the one that fell apart.

I painted one, hung it on the wall and filled it with the practical things for shipping and treasures too.

The den is a mix of practicality and our art.

There are still some blank spaces waiting to be filled.

I can"t explain how happy this one little change makes me.

The power of suggestion.

I have this terrible thing,

if someone talks about a certain kind of food, I see a commercial, smell an apple pie candle (you who burn those things in your home with no real apple pie to serve are just cruel), anything really, well I want to eat it or a close enough version. I want to eat it then or by my next meal or sometime in the near future. My brain wont rest until my taste buds are satisfied.

Danni showed these amazing cinnamon rolls, that did it.

Sadly I had no starter or the patience to wait it out so I had to improvise.

I use this bread recipe, for all things bread. I add extra grains and flax seed for a healthier version. It works for bread, bread sticks, pizza dough, pepperoni or ham & cheese pockets, or even my version of...

cinnamon rolls!

Danni, I thank you and the kids thank you.

Homemade Noodles

If someone you love has a cold, and you have all the other ingredients for soup except the noodles, don't run to the store, just make some.

Put a couple cups of flour in a bowl, the nice thing is you can use whatever flour you like, I have never tried a gluten free type, but I think that would work too. Make a well and add an egg or two. My family likes a lot of noodles so I use more of both.

Mix however you like, I use my hands.

I knead it a bit, it has a tougher feel than bread.

Pinch off a bit and with floury hands, start rolling. It's just like making play dough snakes.

This can get monotonous, it's good to have free child labor. Break them off any size you like.

I make them bite sized, since they are thicker than the average noodle.

If you make a bunch, make sure to sprinkle flour each layer in the bowl or they start to stick together.

Get your soup base boiling and add the noodles. They only take a couple of minutes to cook.

(sorry for the crappy photo)

They are a bit chewy but the family loves them.

No resolutions for me!

I try to never make New Year resolutions because I can never keep them. Because of my previous post perhaps? Maybe. I figure why give myself more to feel guilty about. But this time of year I always try to organize (at least some), my craft shows are months away, holiday decor is put away and I have a bit more time on my hands.

My entry way is were my pup's food, one bed and his toys are. He tends to get dirty at times and is a place we can block him off until he's dry.

Before shot, notice the small basket with too may toys to hold.

I had purchased this fun dog fabric quite some time ago and made a new "basket" to hold everything.

Much better.

I made two and loaded it's twin on my etsy shop.

Now back to organizing even though it's NOT a resolution!

If you can pay attention long enough...

Anytime I read an article or watch a show on adult ADD, I say " doesn't everyone do that?" My husband responds with a very emphatic "NO!"

http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm

I got an 80,

see how screwy you may be.

Guilt Free Doughnut Recipe

Take one handsome hubby

one 3 wheeler

2 laughing kids

2 sleds

some rope

If you like your doughnuts extra sweet add one medium sized dog and his laundry jug.

Add all your ingredients to an iced over pond and mix well.

Enjoy!