Chilly Willy

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.

The Holidays Are Over

              Yes, I must say I did do the happy dance this morning as the kids returned to school.  The two little giuys are back with their Mom for her week and there was silence! It has been a hectic couple of weeks.
         Let me explain. On December 13th my Mother flew in from Florida to stay a week and be at our home for a Holiday gathering. For the first time in 6 years since my Gram passed we were all going to try and get together. This is a big undertaking since I am in Wisconsin, many relatives are in the Chicago area, I have a brother in Indiana , a sister in Ohio a couple in Tulsa etc.   I had done my prep work so the food was  a breeze, shopped early had a to do list and help from those in the house. I even fit in lunch with my good friend Jean from the Teapot Quilt Cottage in Montello.   The big day came, Saturday December 17th, ( for my Mom, there was a light dusting of snow ) my husband drove down to Watertown to pick up my Uncle and kids started to arrive. My daughter Diane and her 5 kids came the night before from Chicago to not need to leave to early or rush. You never know what the weather might bring up here. Not only all those relatives we knew and missed but after more than 35 years to be reunited with my Moms sister, who had been adopted. What a nice Christmas gift.

Mom (Dorothy)  Aunt Charlotte Mom ( Lillian ) Aunt Barb and in the front everyones favorite Uncle Eddie
My Grandfathers 5 children together in one photo.
Now, I have to say I was awful at taking photos and hope someone shares theirs with me. I was busy warming pierogi and making sure everyone was finding everything and lacked the camera on hand.

Her are two of my daughters helping with the food. The nesco behind them contains a favorite party recipe . We call it Italian Beef coming from Chicago. Something not easily found up here.  Pioneer Woman calls it drip beef and here is her link. 

Try it, it is amazing http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/02/drip-beef-two-ways/

This is Becky who is 5 and has just had her one year anniversary being diabetic. I did not bake cookies and had to make many calls to her Mom, Diane to see just what she could eat. 

This is our baby Isabella, who just turned one and is the quickest little person I know!

Here are my two favorite little men. JJ and Carsen

Elizabeth who is off on her own with boyfriend Dakota and in nursing school in Fond Lac

Mike, always ready to pose

Rosie, a big help to her Mom

Chrissy, one of the in house teens 

Sergio, who we call Jr.

Uncle Eddie admiring Beckys red bird hat

Aunt Barb

cousin Natalie

daughter Diane with Bella

Tommy the quiet funny guy

cousins, husband, boyfriends and kids. It was wonderful to catch up! This was the best gift of the year!

Our 5 generation photo

back row: my daughter Patrice, me, Big Joe my grandson who is holding little Joe and I have Carsen

Everyone had a good time and it just did not seem long enough to chat. Hopefully we can do this again next year and with more notice those relatives who could not make it can find their way here! 

So, with all that behind us and some quiet I did get a little work done and added a few new items to the Etsy shop, here is a preview

they can all be found at 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrammasGifts?ref=si_shop

Feels Like Fall

Well, the heat has kicked on and there are leaves changing colors down the road, so it really does feel like fall. So I went to one of my favorite cooking sites Pioneer Woman Cooks and found this recipe http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/10/moist-pumpkin-spice-muffins-with-cream-cheese-frosting/   The whole house smells wonderful and the kitchen got warm and cozy. What a way to spend a Friday afternoon.

Moist Pumpkin Spice Muffins (With Cream Cheese Frosting)

Prep Time: 20 Minutes  |  Cook Time: 25 Minutes  |  Difficulty: Easy  |  Servings: 12

Ingredients

• Muffin Ingredients:
• 1 cup All-purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 4 Tablespoons Butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup (heaping) Pumpkin Puree
• 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk
• 1 whole Egg
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1/2 cup Golden Raisins (optional!)
• _____
• Topping
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
• _____
• FOR FROSTING:
• 1/4 cup Softened Butter
• 4 ounces, weight Cream Cheese
• 1/2 pound Powdered Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Generously grease 12 muffin tins.

Pour into a greased muffin pan—batter hardly ever fills all twelve unless you keep it down to 1/2 full. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar-nutmeg mixture over the top of each unbaked muffin.Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until it is fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla. Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Add raisins. Fold gently until mixture is just combined.Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and allow to cool. Ice with cream cheese frosting.To make the frosting, mix all ingredients on high until soft and whipped. Spread onto completely cooled muffins, or place into a large pastry bag with a large star tip and go crazy! Store in the fridge, as icing will soften at room temperature. 

      I have spent the day finishing up orders from the Etsy shop and last weekends Volkfest. Volkfest had wonderful weather and it was nice to spend the day chatting with other Etsy shop owners like Marlene Grahn of Country Soaps by Marlene http://www.etsy.com/shop/countrysoapsbymarlen and  Heather Flannery Raabe of HRBea Designs http://www.etsy.com/shop/HRBeaDesign?ref=pr_shop_more .  An owl, sock monkey, Packer helmet and baby sock monkey are ready to ship.  The hippo is getting his final touches and then some of today's orders can be started. It is so nice to see the orders now and not a week before Halloween or for Thanksgiving the turkeys being ordered the weekend before. I don't mind one or two rush orders but I can only crochet so fast and I do need to sleep.. 

    I have purchased a few new patterns in the last couple days and can't wait to start on them. I have some things I'd like to change on the Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/Grammasgifts?ref=si_shop and a couple photos to add for new items. So much to do before the boys come back on Sunday.

I am also still working on our Family Christmas event and have gotten some responses but have about a dozen out there waiting. If only we could predict the weather. Many of the family are coming from the Chicago area and you never know about snow that time of year. Of course over the past few years they have gotten more snow than we have up here. It has been quite a few years since we have all gotten together. My Gram was the glue that held us all tight and with her gone we seemed to have slipped up a little. Now is as good a time as any to reconnect and touch base.  So, I have decorating ideas I would like to do, the Etsy shop to run and still about a dozen unpacked boxes from our move. As I type this is doesn't sound so bad. I'll get there, but my plan is to do it without getting all frazzled and burnt out like most years. 

By the way the phone company finally fixed the wire problem that squirrels made.  Thank you....the phone now rings!