So now I need to get busy making jammie pants!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Black Friday
The only Black Friday Sale I shop is the Joann's sale. Black Friday means seriously cheap flannel, and well, I use a lot of flannel. Mom and I go every year no matter where we are for Thanksgiving. Last year was the first year we skipped it ... I had lots of flannel from the year before that I hadn't cut into and couldn't justify going. Most of that same flannel still hasn't been cut into, so again, we seriously considered not going. BUT the girls need jammie pants and I didn't have flannel that's really suited for 8-9 year old girl jammies. And really, for $1.49/yd you can't pass up a chance to add just a few more yards.
So now I need to get busy making jammie pants!
So now I need to get busy making jammie pants!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
We wish you were here to enjoy this:
with us:
We had a lovely time with family and friends in our home, and are so grateful to each of them for spending this special day with us. The meal was delicious and simple, with everyone's favorites ... turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry jello, fruit salad, green beans, carrots and even roasted brussel sprouts (Katy brought them and they were quite yummy!). And Daddy made six pies ... two pumpkin, two blueberry, and two apple!
Since it isn't really self explanatory from the pictures, GR smoked the turkey this year. First he soaked the turkey in a simple brine (I think it was Paula Dean's recipe) over night. Then wrapped it in Hickory Smoked Bacon (not quite 2 lbs covered a 12lb bird) and then smoked it with apple wood for roughly 6 hours. Ahhh, it was amazing! Very moist with a slight hint of sweetness to the meat. I expected the bacon to really flavor the turkey but it didn't. We'll definitely be trying this one again.
with us:
We had a lovely time with family and friends in our home, and are so grateful to each of them for spending this special day with us. The meal was delicious and simple, with everyone's favorites ... turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry jello, fruit salad, green beans, carrots and even roasted brussel sprouts (Katy brought them and they were quite yummy!). And Daddy made six pies ... two pumpkin, two blueberry, and two apple!
Since it isn't really self explanatory from the pictures, GR smoked the turkey this year. First he soaked the turkey in a simple brine (I think it was Paula Dean's recipe) over night. Then wrapped it in Hickory Smoked Bacon (not quite 2 lbs covered a 12lb bird) and then smoked it with apple wood for roughly 6 hours. Ahhh, it was amazing! Very moist with a slight hint of sweetness to the meat. I expected the bacon to really flavor the turkey but it didn't. We'll definitely be trying this one again.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Diversion
I don't always focus well, especially when my feet are held to the fire by deadlines, and often get distracted by other "more exciting" things. Yesterday afternoon and this morning, when I should have been cleaning my house and preparing for tomorrow, or sewing pillowcases and photographing them for this weekends sale in the shop, I started something new to go above my mantel...
The inspiration and directions came from this tutorial. The pine cones, from the neighborhood park the kids and I went to for playgroup when they were off school. While they played, I picked 1/2 a brown paper grocery sack full. It wasn't quite enough, so GR picked more for me this morning after purchasing our new dishwasher* and I was able to finish it up after lunch.
The directions say to use a Styrofoam wreath form. Styrofoam wasn't on sale when I went to purchase a wreath, and I wasn't willing to pay $7 for a small wreath form when a larger straw wreath (~14" in diameter) was 1/2 off, costing a grand total of $1.80. I wrapping the straw wreath in brown calico from the gifted-to-me, box of vintage fabric, securing it to the form with lots of straight pins. It worked like a charm, and means I can return the $4 can of brown spray paint.
I love the way it turned out, even though it isn't as nicely staged as hers. Mine really needs some stylizing help ... Sara I so wish you lived next door! Maybe when I get the nativity up and some greens on the mantel it will help anchor and define the space ... who knows.
If you have access to pine cones and like this look, it would make a fantastic handmade gift. Just make sure you have lots of similarly sized small pine cones, a hefty supply of hot glue and block out a good 3 hours to glue all these puppy on - or choose a slightly smaller wreath.
[* We finally gave up on the old dishwasher. I know after all that waiting and heartache, we finally decided to walk away and sever our ties. GR was completely fed up; he's the family dishwasher. Same problem, dishes, especially glasses on the top rack, coming out in worse condition than going in. Sears had some good pre-Black Friday sales and we found a good middle ground dishwasher made by Bosch, that will suite our needs and be one more added "feature" to the house when we go to sell in February.]
The inspiration and directions came from this tutorial. The pine cones, from the neighborhood park the kids and I went to for playgroup when they were off school. While they played, I picked 1/2 a brown paper grocery sack full. It wasn't quite enough, so GR picked more for me this morning after purchasing our new dishwasher* and I was able to finish it up after lunch.
The directions say to use a Styrofoam wreath form. Styrofoam wasn't on sale when I went to purchase a wreath, and I wasn't willing to pay $7 for a small wreath form when a larger straw wreath (~14" in diameter) was 1/2 off, costing a grand total of $1.80. I wrapping the straw wreath in brown calico from the gifted-to-me, box of vintage fabric, securing it to the form with lots of straight pins. It worked like a charm, and means I can return the $4 can of brown spray paint.
I love the way it turned out, even though it isn't as nicely staged as hers. Mine really needs some stylizing help ... Sara I so wish you lived next door! Maybe when I get the nativity up and some greens on the mantel it will help anchor and define the space ... who knows.
If you have access to pine cones and like this look, it would make a fantastic handmade gift. Just make sure you have lots of similarly sized small pine cones, a hefty supply of hot glue and block out a good 3 hours to glue all these puppy on - or choose a slightly smaller wreath.
[* We finally gave up on the old dishwasher. I know after all that waiting and heartache, we finally decided to walk away and sever our ties. GR was completely fed up; he's the family dishwasher. Same problem, dishes, especially glasses on the top rack, coming out in worse condition than going in. Sears had some good pre-Black Friday sales and we found a good middle ground dishwasher made by Bosch, that will suite our needs and be one more added "feature" to the house when we go to sell in February.]
Sunday, November 22, 2009
My Brunch Bakers
I'm enlisting the girls in helping me do some of the brunch baking this year. They are loving it and doing a fantastic job. They tested a new pan I found that does mini bundt cakes. The portion size is perfect - smaller than an actual slice - perfect for the brunch. Invitations go out via evites this weekend. If I happen to miss you - please come anyway - December 12th, 9-11am @ GR's Mom's house.
Mini-Orange Zest Cakes:
Mini-Orange Zest Cakes:
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