It seems like only yesterday I became a Grandma. Very exciting, and I had a good teacher......my Gram was the best. Now #1 Grandson will soon turn 26, where does the time go. He is the Dad to two wonderful boys with another one due in a few weeks.
My third Grandchild Elizabeth gave me yet another adorable great Grandson in January.
Number 5 grandchild Christina blessed with the latest Great Grandson
Before September will will have one more Great Grandson and our first Great Granddaughter. How exciting.
Last summer at our analysis summer birthday bash we took a group photo for my Mom in Florida who is a huge Cubs fan, this time we will have 3 new babies in it .
Here is my gang, we were only mixing one Granddaughter.
They keep me busy and very happy, especially when I get those calls to make them something. Like a monkey hat or a kindergarten show. CARSEN will be adorable, Ps I had to dye shorts and thirty brown and make a tail to match.
I love being a Great Gramma even more than Gramma, who knew that was possible.
Good Morning, it is sunny and only -4 this morning. That means we have made it through the worst and can now talk about it. No frozen pipes, kids off school 5 days in a row and we are all still civil.
We ventured out into the cold yesterday when I needed crochet thread for a christening gown I am working on. An emergency? In my book YES. I only bought one ball, not knowing if I would like working with #3 thread , rather than baby yarn. I love how it looks and now can't wait to finish it. I am then going to try and make a slip for this delicate vintage pattern Christening gown. I bought the pattern from an Etsy shop ,
As I stitch away I can see my Gram smiling from ear to ear. She crocheted almost her whole life. We grew up in things she made and our babies all came home in her sweater sets, got Christened in her gowns and off to school in her hooded sweaters. She could look at something and just figure it out, I wish I was that talented.
I do have a few new things up my sleeve and if I finish my blanket squares and a few orders I can start on three new puppy hats, a chow, bassett hound and yorkie. I have to make myself finish before I can start more. I also have a lamb and baby bird drawn out and waiting to be hooked. I may have to forget cleaning house, have leftovers and just stay up later to get this all done.
I am off to sit in the sunshine and work on projects, stay warm and safe and have a wonderful productive day!
That about describes the weather here in Wisconsin. School has been called off because of the extreme cold and will be closed again tomorrow. That means , " can I have a snack will be said about fifty times and constant chatter by two little girls. I on the other hand am busy finishing up some orders and working on my square a day for Crochet Mood Blanket 2014, on Facebook. I have also joined http://www.ravelry.com/groups/crazysocks--friends square a week crochet along. I am using up all my odds and ends and will use the blankets for raffle prizes at our family Christmas next December.
Orders seem to come in spirts, the minions were hot around Halloween, just before Christmas I was busy with fox hats and now, Boston Terrier hats. One of my customers was nice enough to share this photo with me.
I am trying to work up a few new items for Valentines Day and then onto bunnies and such for spring and Easter. Luckily I can sit in front of a sunny window and try to not think just how cold it is outdoors.
To warm the kitchen this morning I treated everyone to these Donut Muffins. The kitchen was warm and smelled wonderful. Now to get a pot of soup simmering and a loaf of bread in the oven and we should be good.
To keep up with whats new in the shop and some of our favorite recipes follow us on Pinterest. You can also find us on Facebook, they we try to share more photos and exchange ideas for new fun hats and other clothing items.
It has been very rainy here and my backyard looks like I should put in a pond instead of a garden. Mothers Day got some of the bushes and my rhubarb planted. From what I've been told next year I will have my own supply of rhubarb. For now I will have to make a trip back to Montello to the Garden Center to see my friend Jean and pick some up. That visit is always wonderful because she knows me very well and we talk each other out. I stopped there on Sunday before the birthday party and it did my heart good to sit and chat awhile. I do miss her after our move but am trying to keep in touch. While there she did pass on what sounds like a great recipe for that rhubarb.
Prepare batter for cake mix according to package directions; turn into greased and floured 9x13" pan. Dump the chopped rhubarb on top of the cake batter. Sprinkle the sugar on top of the rhubarb. Pour the whipping cream (unwhipped) over the sugar. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, until cake springs back when lightly touched.
Cream, sugar, and rhubarb sink to bottom, forming a custard layer. Makes 1-18 (depending on how you cut it!!)
My grandson Mike turned 15 on Monday, I can't believe how fast the time has gone.
Tabitha is so excited about Fridays upcoming field trip, we are off today to find her a rain poncho or coat because they go to the zoo rain or shine and you can never be too safe.
I have been working on mermaids and hula skirts over the past few days and have a few new patterns I would love to sit down with. I better hurry though school gets out on the 6th and then my piece and quiet will be over. LOL
Today after my rain poncho quest I am going to work on the pants set and then hopefully a new hula skirt order. They are calling for rain so that will be a perfect way to spend the afternoon.
I always thought as the kids grew and I got slightly older I would be less busy and have more ME time. So far, I haven't found that. About two weeks ago we had a litter of puppies, seven healthy little fur balls. Amazing, but I get up at night when one crawls away from Mom and cries, not once but several times a night. Like getting up for those night time feedings all over again.
With my Etsy shop, orders and classes I am taking online my life is pretty full. Grandkids, kids, pets and did I mention my Grandaughter who is in college to be a nurse brought us her dog to VISIT. Daisy is a good dog, but as my husband says another dog!
Today we are getting the two little guys for the weekend. I love having them here, I was raised in a house where my Gram lived with us . I need that hands on, as much as some of the kids fight this tooth and nail. Like has been said many times "It takes a village to raise a child" and I agree. Now with all this going on we also have my Mom recovery from colon surgery and has just started chemo last week. STRESS should be my middle name, so to cope and not go on a never ending eating spree I crochet. I also have discovered Facebook and am trying to use that wonderful tool to help share my shop and keep in touch.
I added a few new patterns for this spring and am busy working on those adorable drivers caps. While watching Marie on the Halllmark channel today I saw one of the young models come out in a drivers cap. The trend for all well dressed little dudes this spring.
This is my go to pattern for spring, I know have made some longer pants and will add them to other listing for yet another look.
Now with the boys coming I get to do some baking, as hubby and I do not need it ourselves. I have raised another group of boys who thinks Grammas cookie jar should always be full. I found this recipe and breakfast should be quite tasty and different.
Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
3 tbs brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 egg
1 1/4 cup milk (use coconut milk for dairy free, this is what I used)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup raisins (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
In a bowl add the flour, oats, salt, brown sugar, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, mix until well combined. Make a well in the dry ingredients, add the milk, egg and vanilla, stir until just combined. Add the raisins and stir.
Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat, coat with cooking spray.
Drop about 1/4 cup of batter on the hot griddle. Cook until dry on the edges and bubbles start to form in the center. Flip and cook on the other side until cooked through, about 2 more minutes.
(Yield: 6-8 pancakes)
So hug your family , stay warm and try some of these pancakes!
Early this morning my hubby took my Grandson Carsen back to his Dad'd, something we do almost every week. He is my little house guest and gives me reasons to bake cookies and watch cartoons. We spend our days watching the Rifleman, Bonanza and a new favorite of his Gunsmoke. He wants to be a cowboy when he grows up, he is three. In the photo he is busy with his cowboy dog, a cockapoo named BINGO. We could not have found him a better companion, he is patient, loves the attention and a great side kick to our cowboy. I only hope this phase lasts for years.
The only down side to all this fun we have is that I tend to get very little crocheting done. Over the past few weeks I have bought some very cute patterns and am waiting to try them out. Some of them come from Boomer Beanies, RAKJ patterns and Crazy Socks Designs. There are so many more and with the help of Ravelry and Craftsy a new pattern is very easy to find. The problem is there are more patterns than time lately. I am working on a set of boxey bunny hats and pants for twins as well as a rhino and in between some african flower hexagons for a bedspread for me.
I am having so much fun working up these little sets, now if we just had some little ones. I should bite my tongue......we did get little ones today SEVEN puppies how exciting and this event brought my first home alone day to a stop while all the labor and birthing went on this afternoon.
Mandy the "mom" is a bichon and a one person dog, Mine , she was very upset as she worked so hard this afternoon. This is #5, atleast that is what I was calling him as I rubbed him to get him to wiggle around, he had a hard time coming into the world.
So, with all this fun behind me, I will get my computer stuff doe and turn in so I can really hook away tomorrow. Orders for the shop to finish and new patterns to try out. Maybe I can get a yarn run to Joanns in the game plan, I got a coupon in the mail.
After having been away from the Etsy shop for a few months it has been an adjustment getting back in gear and crocheting while working on online classes and then my visits with the boys. Maybe I am just beyond such multitasking . Even though I did manage to get some new items listed and made some great sales. The inspiration for these adorable drivers hat outfits is my Great Grandson Carsen, he loves hats and looked like this hat was just made for him.
After seeing him in this I set out to make it for some little guys, a great item for photo shoots or just to dress up a little guy.
this is a customers photo from a newborn shoot. Just adorable. Now I also have to start thinking Valentines Day and spring even though it is still quite chilly here. So on my list for the upcoming days are fluffy chicks and Drivers caps. It is nice to be busy again and I love the feedback. I also am working on some doll clothes since I have two beautiful granddaughters who just got American Girl type dolls for Christmas. This is all fun, and a Granddaughter who has requested I work up a border collie hat for her. I will let you know how all that comes out.
Off for some pancakes and housecleaning before I can work on my hats while my inspiration for these is playing The Rifleman, he just loves Chuck Connors and watches it daily. Bonanze, Gunsmoke and the Rifleman and his day is made. The good old days!
Sorry for being away so long, but like most of us life has gotten in the way again. We are on an extended vacation and my crocheting has taken a back seat to watching fireflies, roasting marshmallows and watching the boys grow like weeds. Although we are still on vacation I am going to buckle down and get some crocheting done. Fall is almost here and school will be starting and that means Halloween is not far behind. I need to get some fun hats done to be ready. I have a couple shows that I do in the fall and then just HOOK away to get ready for Christmas. I do have a couple back to school specials going on right now. https://www.facebook.com/GrammasGifts/app_135607783795 check out the MP3 player hat, a great hat for guys or girls on the go. The beard hat is also a special, it can be done in team or school colors with your choice of beard color , also a fun owl hat with matching fingerless mitts. Mat ch these to you school, favorite jacket or just about anything. I also have a couple new newborn hat sets coming along, a few final touches and I can get pictures up for everyone to see.
Well I am off to shake the sand off of everything and watch the rain , we really need it. Crochet hook in hand I WILL get something done today!
I( don't understand why I am not getting as much done as usual. I make a list, I have a plan and then.......alot of nothing! Now, could it be that two little boys, three chicken , a duck, a mom cat and her three kittens, two puppies, a bichon and a border collie are all trying to make me nuts? Possibly. I understand we are all excited about the chickens, great but must I stand guard all day? Have you ever told a guy just what you wanted , they nod in approval and then go off and do it their way? That is what happened here. I showed Joey a plan for a portable chicken coop, he said, " no problem" That should have been my first sign things were going to go badly. What I got instead was an open top chicken playpen! So, the boys climb in , the cats jump in and I spend my day chasing things around! Now, all of this would probably be much different if the chickens were bigger and could peck them once.
But, today is going to be different! The boys spent the night away so I woke up this morning alone in my bed. Feeling a little more rested, I grabbed a cup of coffee and let the chicken out. ( they are kennel trained) Fed and watered them, fed the cats and the dogs are waiting patiently. It is a bit chilly this morning so hubby was nice enough to make cocoa wheats. I am not a breakfast person, but couldn't resist. Teenagers asleep, house quiet I will finish up posting and get some work done!
Yesterday I bought a pattern from Whimsical Warmth and did get that hat finished.
The weathr is supposed to get hot for the next few days so I think I will cook a few things today so we can reheat and eat, instead of me heating the house up more. I hate to turn the air conditioner on.
I had better run and get started before someone else comes home or another animal appears. Maybe instead of the barn we should build an ark!
I am finally going to make myself something using the African flower pattern, here is a great post to learn how to connect all of them
My go to place to look for patterns is Ravelry , give it a try . You will be amazed at the amount of free patterns as well as some of the newest for sale patterns available.
Last June we moved into the house and all the space was amazing......then winter arrived and we froze. The furnace does not heat the whole house and the propane bill was almost four times what we paid at the old house. With all that in mind hubby has decided he wants to move...where? That is yet to be seen, since the place he wants needs some major rehab. He has purchased an old barn and about four acres of land. The barn is amazing, yet needs much work. I can close my eyes and see a big country kitchen and all the bedroom space, a loft for the grandkids to come stay and the thought of not a neighbor in sight. The question is, where to stay until the barn is livable. That to be would mean the roof fixed, wall closed and water and electric run with my number one must have ...a bathroom! Hubby claims to have a plan that he will hopefully share with me. If there werent so many of us I would say get a camper , park it and live there while you work. The rest of the family is not so keen on that idea. There is an artesian well and beautiful views from all four sides. I am ready for a change.....sounds of chicken and the morning rooster wake up call. A goat of two grazing in the pasture and maybe I can grow something! That part is questionable LOL.
All this said I went outside yesterday to find the boys busy. making a chicken tractor.....WHY...because they bought three chicken and a duck! Jumped the gun, I think, but they are here. The dogs enjoy them , the cats were curious and oh how I hoped whatever got BINGO did not come down the hill for a late night snack.
I woke this morning to find them all fine, thank goodness. I did not want to explain to two little boys about missing chickens.
JJ and his chicken Batman ( we don't know boy or girl chicken, but he names everything Batman )
Carsen being brave to let Batman sit on his shoulder
Carsen chicken "DORA"
Dad's girlfriend and Mandy checking out the chickens
The BOYS getting Daddy to hold DORA.
Now let me say when I dreamed of chicken I thought big fluffy hens who lay eggs each day....I will need to be patient I guess. They say be careful what you wish for....In this case I totally agree. All this could have been mush worse, where they bought the chicken there were horses for sale. They could have brought one of those home.
Now between packing to move, college courses,crocheting for the shop...I will be watching two boys, four dogs, cat and three kittens, three chicken and a duck!
Before all this amazing fun arrived I had just finished this cute catepiller set, all it needs is antennaes and it is ready to go.
With chicken on our minds I went to an old favorite for dinner tonight.
Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then dredge both sides in flour.
Melt butter in a pot over medium-high heat. In two batches, brown chicken on both sides and remove to a clean plate.
In the same pot, add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Stir and cook for 3 to 4 minutes over medium-low heat. Stir in ground thyme and turmeric, then pour in chicken broth and apple cider. Stir to combine, then add browned chicken. Cover pot and simmer for 20 minutes.
While chicken is simmering, make the dough for the dumplings: sift together all dry ingredients, then add half-and-half, stirring gently to combine. Set aside.
Remove chicken from pot and set aside on a plate. Use two forks to remove chicken from the bone. Shred, then add chicken to the pot. Pour heavy cream into the pot and stir to combine.
Drop tablespoons of dumpling dough into the simmering pot. Add minced parsley if using. Cover pot halfway and continue to simmer for 15 minutes. Check seasonings; add salt if needed. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
For as long as I can remember I do not take change well. I realize that as life goes on things must change, but that doesn't make it any easier for me to adjust to. So much has happened since my last post I am at a loss as to where I should start.
Probably the biggest change is last week we lost our favorite UNCLE. Uncle Eddie was , perfect. Kind, sweet and as good a guy as you will ever find. The perfect son, brother and uncle. In the past seven years since my Gram has passed away he has been with us for holidays to keep the family going. He is probably best remembered for the line of kids waiting to kiss him goodbye before he left. Some of us got in line more than once, he never minded that! I am handling this much better than I thought because he is with my Gram now and both can chat the days away. In heaven I bet he's bowling again. I will think of thunder in a whole new way from now on. The saddest part is the little ones in the family did not have nearly enough time to get to know him. He will be greatly missed at our house.
Luckily for me I have a wonderful friend who is more like a sister, Jean for the Teapot Quilt Cottage and Garden Center in Montello. In good times and those awful times she is always there to lend a shoulder and help talk me through the tears.
I started taking college courses online! Will I run off and get a career? Maybe, if not I will still show the kids if Gramma can do it so can YOU.
We are getting ready for a move. That means packing and unpacking. I did mention I hate change and this will surely add to the stress in the house. On a good not the kids will be out of school and can help. Can help, should help!
I have also added some new items to the shop and hopefully after catching up on orders can get a few more done.
A holiday weekend ahead with a birthday party and BBQ ( speaking of BBQ, here is a great take along salad recipe from Pioneer Woman ), two small boys 2 puppies, 3 kittens 2 dogs and a cat, it should be a piece of cake! Have a safe weekend!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Where have I been? What have I been up to ? Those are the questions I get from friends and family and the simple answer is I have been spending alot of time with mermaids!
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