If You Could See Me Now

What a sight , sipping coffee and doing the HAPPY dance. The two teens are at school.  Quiet at last. I am hoping to soak up all this calm and quiet. Maybe even get some work done. I have decided to schedule my time, between unpacking boxes, crocheting and the Internet. In hopes of getting so much more done now without interruption.
I just received another order for a turkey hat, last weeks hat was in school colors and turned out so cute. In checking the shop I found a photo of turkey hats sent out last fall for adults, take a look!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61539242/turkey-hat-teenadult

As the temperatures drop people begin thinking fall and Halloween so I have received a couple monster hat orders a pair of adult skunk hat orders for a photo shoot and a frog hat and sweater set.  Much to do but glad to see the orders arrive.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80702670/monster-hat

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80397643/fox-hat

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80843594/skunk-hat

Also to celebrate I am baking this afternoon, I looked all over yesterday for an apple cake recipe and this is the one I am going with...

My first stop in looking for a recipe is Pioneer Woman Cooks and then off to Tasty Kitchen, so far they have never let me down.

http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/fall-spiced-apple-cake/

Fall Spiced Apple Cake 

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil (or Oil Of Choice)
• 1-½ cup Sugar
• ½ cups Brown Sugar
• 3 whole Eggs
• ¼ cups Milk
• 2-½ cups Self-Rising Flour
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoons Nutmeg
• 2 cups Peeled And Chopped Apples (3-4 Apples)
• 1 cup Chopped Pecans
• _____
• FOR THE GLAZE:
• ½ cups Brown Sugar
• ½ sticks Butter
• ½ cups Milk

• Preparation Instructions

  Preheat oven to 350F.
  Using an electric mixer on low speed, combine oil, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and milk. Sift together flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Gradually blend creamy mixture with dry mixture. Add chopped apples and pecans.
  Grease and lightly flour a Bundt pan. Pour batter into pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake comes out clean. Cool.
  In saucepan, combine all ingredients for glaze. Cook over low-medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture is smooth (it will be liquidy). Drizzle over cooled cake (or warm if you can’t wait that long).

Monday Breather

Today is the day before school starts here. Tomorrow the two teen will be off to start their second year at High Marq Environmental Charter School here in Montello.  I can't explain how much nicer they are and how much more enthusiastic and involved they have become in their studies. I am thrilled. The two little guys headed back by mom for her week so after this I will have almost a perfect week. Hours to myself to finish crochet projects, get the Etsy shop changed around, blog and bake. Sounds like alot of work but I can't wait. I also have a big project under way. I am going to throw a family Holiday party. Ever since I can remember we as a family have all gathered either on Christmas Eve or in later years the Sunday before to visit , catch up and just be together. A few years back my Gram passed on and since then we have stopped doing this. A big mistake I think, maybe no one wants to do all the planning and people are all so busy but I think we need to take time to pass along to the kids what we all enjoyed so much as kids.  So, with the new house and some extra space I am working on inviting everyone up here. It will be a Saturday so the fact that we are a four hour drive from Chicago where many of them live should not be a problem. In fact should we chat late there are quite a few nice motels right in town for an overnight stay.  I have invited my sister and her family from Tulsa to come and spend a few days , so they will be at my house visiting with Mom and us.  As usual my husband will take the drive to Watertown and pick up Uncle Eddie and for the first time in about 45 yeasr my Aunt Charlotte who we recently found will be able to come and meet everyone too. Right now we are busy working on my favorite room.....the sun porch where there is a fireplace and I want to put the Christmas  Tree.

It is hard to tell by this photos but the room is all white right now.  A big change is in the works. Something cheerful and cozy. I have been painting tables and ma working on a painting for over the fireplace. I have been a little worried if I can pull it off but hubby says I can.  We will see if not it is firewood!

I just listed a little monster hat on the etsy shop  http://www.etsy.com/listing/80702670/monster-hat

well I am off to finsih a frog sweater and blanket order and then make a family favorite that needs to simmer all day pork roast, potato dumplings and sweet and sour cabbage.  

Changes

I don't know about you, but I do not handle change well.  I have said it before, and it holds true I am a creature of habit and dread changes.  So after almost 15 years in our little cottage we are moving.  Almost done moving that is. I love the new house and the kids are thrilled, the dogs have room to roam and I even got an office.  Why then the hesitatiion.......change. My first problem was it took almost three weeks to get the internet hooked up. No, we are not at the end of the earth or miles from civilization.  Yesterday, finally I could access my Etsy shop and do some work right from home. Up until now I had to stop unpacking and run to the library to check emails and orders. This does'nt sound bad except I don't drive because of the myastenia gravis so I have to have another person stop what they are doing and take me.  Not alot of fun. School sign up was yesterday so I am counting the days until the three big kids are back at school and I have some quiet.  The two little guys are here most days but they are not a problem, they play while I work and I hate to say it out loud but I miss them on those days they spend with their Mom.  Elizabeth has found an apartment and will be starting college, that change was not as hard on me as I would have thought, maybe I was just too frazzled with the move. If so I am thankful for that. The stress with all of us in such close quarters has let up and the trivial sqaubbling has stopped, that is a relief.  Kathy and Michael now have their own place and that has been a huge plus in this move. She can finally unpack that full cedar chest and use all the things she has been saving over the years.  I did get a huge kitchen and a sunroom where I spend the early mornings drinking coffee in peace and quiet before the house wakes up and the day gets started. I take this time to count my blessings and be thankful for all I do have and send off prayers in the peace and quiet. I am trying to take nothiung for granted, enjoy the kids while they are still here becasue I know in a couple years two more will venture off and I do not think I am cut out to be an empty nester. Until then I will fill my hours with crochet, baking and enjoying them all. I just finished a arctic fox crocheted scarf that I will be listing on Etsy later today. I have a stack of hats to add buttons to and get photos off so that is my quest for this afternoon.  Chicken and Dumplings for dinner with the homemade bread I put on this morning and a quiet afternoon......did I mention we have NO tv right now.  I don't miss it a bit but hubby is beginning to crack. 

Feels Like the Dog Days of Summer

With the temperatures in the 90's and so humid it feels like the tropics, even man's best friend needs some TLC. We have a border collie Trixie and a bichon named Mandy, neither one wants to even venture out the door. With the family in the process of moving they seem to be under foot and in the way from morning until night.
   Here is a post from a blog I like to visit about her pet shampoo.  I mut say her soaps are wonderful!
http://thegrahnhomestead.blogspot.com/2011/07/chillin-lucy-with-her-first-bath.html?showComment=1311099596921#c474947659404468746

In the Process

  After living in our little near lake cottage for about 15 years we are moving. Not very far, in the same school district and closer to town.  Yet, this is all very hard for me, I am not good at change, and all the commotion and overwhelming work has me a bit frazzled.  The house has much more room, a beautiful view and is just what we needed, but between the boys stays, filling the Etsy shop, getting orders ready and shipped I haven't had a lot of time. What I really need is an afternoon to sit and catch up with my friend Jean who own the Teapot Quilt Cottage and Garden Center in Montello. She has a knack for getting all the craziness calmed down and things put in perspective.   DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. 
   Now with all this going on in my life I feel the need to make bread...I better do it today because the weatherman has a brutal next seven days mapped out for us.  I like 70's during the day and 50's at night. If I could find such a place year round I would give a kidney to move there. Now with much of the kitchen packed, any serious baking will be a project so I found this recipe

No Knead Bread Recipe


Servings: One 1-pound loaf Prep Time: Cook Time:

No Knead Bread Recipe is adapted from Mark Bittman of NY Times who got it from Sullivan Street Bakery. When the recipe first came out, it was the blogging community who took the bread to new heights, especially Rose Levy Beranbaum, author of The Bread Bible. I followed Rose's experiments through the weeks and learned from her recipe adjustments and the why's of how this bread works.
Ingredients:

3 cups bread flour (I like Harvest King bread flour)

1/4 teaspoon instant yeast

1 teaspoon fine table salt (or 3/4 tablespoon of kosher salt)

1 1/2 cups warm water
Covered pot (five-quart or larger cast iron, Pyrex, ceramic, enamel...something that can go into a 450F oven.)
Directions:

1. Mix dough: The night before, combine all ingredients in a big bowl with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together. It will be a shaggy, doughy mess. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 12-20 hours on countertop.
2. Shape & preheat: The dough will now be wet, sticky and bubbly. With a wet spatula, dump the dough on a floured surface. Fold ends of dough over a few times with the spatula and nudge it into a ball shape. You can use your hands if you like, just keep your hands wet so that the dough does not stick. Generously dust a cotton towel (not terrycloth) with flour. Set dough seam side down on top of towel. Fold towel over the dough. Let it nap for 2 hours. When you've got about a half hour left, slip your covered pot into the oven and preheat to 450F.
3. Bake: Your dough should have doubled in size. Remove pot from oven. Holding towel, turn over and dump wobbly dough into pot, using your hands to get the dough off the towel. Doesn't matter which way it lands. Shake to even dough out. Cover. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover, bake another 15-20 minutes or until the crust is beautifully golden and middle of loaf is 210F. Remove and let cool on wired rack. If not eating right away, you can re-crisp crust in 350F oven for 10 minutes.
http://steamykitchen.com/168-no-knead-bread-revisited.html  check out this site for great directions along with photos as well as more recipes.

   Before I can get to the bread though I need to pacge two hats to go to the post office. One skunk and a new hat ...the rhino, I must say he is adorable.

This hat was a suggestion for a customer on Etsy, I love when they ask for new hats, it keeps things fun!

Boxes to pack, directions to give.....I like to position of supervisor, I hate packing LOL

https://www.facebook.com/GrammasGifts  LIKE us on facebook and see new items as they are ready for the shop!

Internalizing Stress

  It has been a rough week or so!  To fully explain this I should give you some background.  As a kid I stressed out at holidays a gatherings until I had a stomach ache. Was my hair ok, did I look ok. All put upon myself but real non the less. Then I am the oldest child......at a doctors visit for stomach pain he asked...are you the oldest child?  I answered yes, WHY?  You have big sister syndrome...you try to make sure everyone else is ok and it is killing you!  I also think I am a control freak in order to make sure I can keep everyone ok and things going smoothly. So, lately with finances in a mess, 3 teen, one going off to college, one just getting her license and one dating, a grandson who has gotten a divorce , is back and we now share custody of his two little guys two and three. Living with two grown daughters and a thirteen year old grandson  three dogs, two cats and a husband.  

    So last week I had a blinding headache for three days then I lost my voice ( no pain just no sound ) for a couple more. I don't sleep well and I am gaining weight not losing it. My husband is oblivious to all the stress factors around and to top it off STRESS is the number one trigger to my Myastenia Gravis so after a week like this I am lucky to be able to dress myself.

  I have taken to listening to hypnosis on my MP3 player to fall asleep, positive thinking messages, weight loss and chronic pain relief. So far I am still upright and able to get my daily stuff done so I guess I will get through this.   Husband says  " It is all self inflicted, just don't worry! " If only I could!
   Last week before the heat and I had a great day out with my oldest daughter and the two little guys. We went to Wisconsin Dells to revisit some of the places we took her as a kid. I don't know who had more fun, her or the boys!

We started out our day at The Ducks, I had a coupon in the mail so adults were only $10.00 and the boys were free. JJ the biggest sat serious to whole ride, but Carsen made a noise for each bump, turn and splash.  Trice my daughter snapped away with her camera trying to catch all the funny faces Carsen made and the beautiful scenery.

Then off to Deer Park, I hadn't been here since the boys Dad was about four. Nothing has changed much and the boys were amazed at the deer. Carsen lost the need to feed them after a goat took his whole cracker.  

Trice at this point has put the ice cream cone full of food into her camera case to get a few shots of JJ and comfort Carsen who is not happy with the friendly deer. So, this deer decides to self feed and she is laughing so hard she can't move, Carsen is clinging to her for dear life and trying to hide from the deer.

JJ is kindly removing a bug from this deer leg. It almost looks like the deer is thanking him!

Before leaving we got this cute shot, Carsen did not mind these deer.

A quick stop to cool off and get lunch at Mc Donald's. This was not here back then but this sure makes a cute tourist photo. We live about thirty minutes from the Dells.

Our last stop was the Indian Trading Post. Yes, it is full of all the same stuff each shop in the Dells has but it has a cement tee pee.   The attraction was I have photos of my kids as toddlers in this same tee pee. Trice says nothing has changed inside, as she poses with the boys!  We bought a hatchet and Indian flute, yes I am the Grandma I can buy noisy toys!  We left for home with two tired boys, one happy Grandma (Trice) and one exhausted Grandma   ME!
    In the following days the headache etc. would take over so I finally got around to finishing some things for the Etsy shop and Christmas in July Sale that starts Saturday.

Be sure to stop by the shop and use the coupon code christmasin07 to save 15% on your whole order. This includes custom orders! 

This Little Piggy Diaper Cover and Hat

Well, Carsen is up and the day is getting warmer I am off to water the tomatoes and get laundry started. Have a great weekend!

Where Did I Come From?

   This is the question asked by so many kids, but for me it was a mystery for the longest time.  I was adopted at age 4 , luckily for me my MOMS were sisiters so one side of my family stayed the same.  My new Dad was wonderful and everything a Dad should be .  My maternal grandmother gave me enough love for two Grandmas but I always wondered..did they miss me?  did anyone look for me?  As a gramma myself I cannot imagine having a grandchild and then one day because of divorce that child is gone. But, that is what happened to me. Yet, there was always the question,  My Father...what did he look like, what nationality was he and do I look like any of his side of the family. This all came to a head when my yougest daughter was born and needed emergency surgery.  A full family medical report was asked for. I had only one side.  Family members tried to located some info but came back empty handed. Thank goodness it was not needed.  Then when I turned 40 my adoptive Mom and Step-dad, ( my adoptive Dad had passed away when I was in my 20's ) got on the internet and found some info.  I now had a full name , Donald Joseph Rowan, a birth date and a cemetary plot number.  There was also two numbers, one his sister June and the other a sister in law Wanda.  I got brave and called June, we talked for hours.  She told me all about my father , the little she knew about her own parents family and how she always wondered what became of me.  I found out I was Scotch Irish on that side and the only grandaughter. I felt really sad for all the missed family time for all of us. I cannot explain the hole that seemed filled by those few facts.  Over the past fews years with the help of Facebook I have spoken with Junes son and his son.  Hopefully one day they can share some family photos , as June has since passed away.   Over the past weekend a cousin down the line on the other side of the family had arranged a family reunion. I was set to find info to fill in the holes left in My maternal  grandfathers family tree. This did not take place as I woke with an abcess tooth and a face so swollen it hurt to move my head.  I was depressed and feeling sorry for myself when I came across a post from an Etsy shop owner. Laurel Ehricke of Laurel's Legacies. She asked if anyone wished to have some work done on their family tree. Just what I needed.  This would be no easy task as Aunt June had told me she did not know her moms maiden name, and only heard of her living in Louisville, Kentucky and coming to Chicago.  I gave her my fathers name and birth date and crossed my fingers. Within hours and email came back saying I found grandparents. The report would be typed up and mailed to me. How exciting, I can't wait for the mail.

The report arrived today!

Not just one or two but 16 grandparents were found. One back to Switzerland in the 1700's.

One was in the civil war , one came from Scotland and another Switzerland.  Laurel wrote a nice letter giving me some direction to keep the search up. I have to say this is much more than I ever thought would show up and so quickly. There were copies of census reports and a civil war pension receipt. My Aunt June would have been so happy. She wanted to find where her Mom came from. We know now!  There is much more digging I would love to do and now I have a great start in the right direction.

My Father, a photo Aunt June had mailed me !

So, I recomend for anyone looking to do a little digging into their family history please check out Laurel's link on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurelslegacies?ref=ss_profile    What a great gift she has given me which I can now share with my kids and Grandkids.p.s. I also have 3 great grandkids. I cannot thank her enough. I will be busy trying my hand at the detective work to find out more about these relatives and then .....who knows...I may find a way to trace the relatives of my Great Grandmother who never made it over here in 1912 from Germany. Wish me luck and as I have found out you just need to find the right person to set you on the right track. Laurel is just that person, and I would love to hear about your finds. I will also keep you posted as my family tree fills out and I find out more. I was palnning to save for a trip to Ireland to se where my maternal grandfathers family came from....I might have to add Scotland and now I find out Switzerland. I am amazed.

Random Acts of Kindness

  We have all heard Oprah talk about random acts of kindness and most of us do some in our daily lives without even thinking about it. But, every once in awhile we are the recipient of such an act that effects us and our family in a big way.  I have been that recipient this time. A few days back a fellow Etsy shop owner who lives near Madison posted on facebook that her family had a swing set that they no longer needed. Send me a message and it's yours! WOW, with 2 small grandson here every other week this would be a real treat for them. So on rainy Wednesday I sent a grandson and his friend to pick it up. Not only could they have it but her husband was kind enough to help them disassemble it. It was not just a swing set but a sandbox and forty. She had no way of knowing our 3 year old spends hours digging in the sand. We may never be able to get him back in the house.

Right now Grandpa is getting the area ready for this set. I cannot say how thankful I am and am waiting on pins and needles for the boys to arrive Sunday. I will have my camera in hand to hopefully catch their faces when they see this wonderful gift.    Now what could I do after saying thank you so very much.....I can share her Etsy shop with you and hopefully you can share it and help pass the word.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HRBeaDesign?ref=pr_shop_more

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75927484/learn-teach-customized-hand-stamped  this is one of my favorite pieces in her shop. Wouldn'tthat make a great gift for graduation?

Now don't just take my word for it, click the link and check out all the wonderful pieces in her shop and share that link.

There is a website for Random Acts of Kindness also where you can get idea, share things you have done or that have been done for you. http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Visit this site and see how you can bring a smile to someones face or maybe lend a helping hand.  I am checking out the links myself and going to actively try to do these things more often!

https://www.facebook.com/therandomactsofkindnessfoundation?sk=wall

Magic Bean Stalk

This is exactly what the little guys are wishing for!  Although JJ does not want to climb up and meet the giant.  He think Carsen should!  Send up the little brother! LOL

    Last year as a Grandma and me project, we invited my daughter, Patrice  ( who is the grandma) over for lunch and to help build a green bean teepee in the yard.  She has become quite a gardener and we thought she would be the perfect helper to get this project done.  JJ and her had a wonderful time and all summer it was covered with morning glories and green beans.  The scarlet runner beans and some purple beans were a big favorite.  He could be found playing in the yard munching green beans, happy as could be.

This year, the weather has been a factor here in Wisconsin , so we got a late start but, the green beans are planted and the weeds and JJ are growing like magic.  I only hope the beans do as well!

Now, what to do with beans, and kids. Here is a good baked bean recipe. I also use the grape jelly in a meatball sauce around the holidays. It is a big family favorite!

                              Kids' Baked Beans Recipe

   Grape jelly is the “secret ingredient” that sweetens these beans!
They’re wonderful alongside burgers or other sandwiches and sure to be a hit at parties and family reunions, too.
Jessie Sarrazin of Livingston, Montana sent the recipe.
This recipe is:
Quick

6 ServingsPrep/Total Time: 20 min.5 15 20 Ingredients
2 cans (16 ounces each) baked beans
3/4 cup grape jelly
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions
In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until thickened. Yield: 6 servings.
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (2/3 cup) equals 189 calories, 1 g fat (trace saturated fat), 5 mg cholesterol, 379 mg sodium, 43 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 4 g protein.
Kids' Baked Beans published in Simple & Delicious May/June 2007, p11

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Kids--Baked-Beans

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plans/vegetable/easy-childrens-vegetable-garden-plan/
Enjoy growing healthy produce while spending time with little gardeners with this easy garden plan.

Many joys and lessons can be found in this easy vegetable garden. Once planted, it takes only a few hours a week to keep it looking its best. Site this garden in full sun and well-drained soil for best harvests. Spread mulch over the soil to help decrease weeds and disease.
Garden size: 6x6 feet
Our free Planting Guide for this garden includes a larger version
check out this page for more great idea and get your fingers dirty with the little ones. As they sprout up and grow so will a patch of home grown veggies the whole family can enjoy! Frugal, fun and family!
Now I am off to finish some hats to list in my Etsy shop and find a new blanket pattern to crochet. Have a great day !

Something to go with this light sage set, something girly I am thinking and different. I will keep you posted on the hunt!