Easy Owl and Dove Creations

I love owls.  When I was a girl it started, but really burst out when I started calling my husband Owl when we were dating, because he was SUCH a night owl.  And I was his "Morning" dove --later he discovered the actually bird is called a mourning dove. :) So owls and doves have become one of our home 'logos,' so to speak.

And here are some of my ideas!

Seamus the Owl Knitting Pattern and Tutorial

Ways to Prevent Infant Hair Loss

"You can prevent a bald spot from forming on the back of your baby's head with a few simple steps, including

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/488991-how-to-prevent-a-bald-spot-on-the-back-of-a-babys-head/#ixzz2GAkggwmM

Also see:

http://voices.yahoo.com/three-ways-prevent-infant-hair-loss-2455103.html

Repurpose:Old Jeans

Repurpose: Hangers from back of chair

You've got to be kidding me.
I love these.

100+ Ways to Reuse and Repurpose UGLY SWEATERS

I have a sweater that is a beautiful wool knit piece from Austria.  I can't throw it out, but I hate to have a collection of ugly sweaters. So, I'm looking for ways to repurpose it for wear:

Mittens and Beanie:  http://holiday-parties.wonderhowto.com/how-to/repurpose-your-heinous-christmas-sweaters-into-useful-winter-hats-and-mittens-0140587/

alternate mittens: http://www.craftbits.com/project/recycled-sweater-mittens

-adult-sweater-to-child-leggings:    http://craftingagreenworld.com/2009/10/20/tutorial-adult-sweater-to-child-leggings/

 Child’s Hat and Legwarmer Set  -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfJhuBh9wsw&feature=player_embedded

DIY Felted Scarf Tutorial  -http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iJx0TvCGe30

 harvest yarn from an old sweater

  +PLUS! 

30 Creative and Cool Ways To Reuse Old Sweaters.

100+ Ways to reuse your old sweaters!

 

 

Sites to Find Rental Places

Sites to find Rental places:

 Rent.com
Forrent.com
http://sabbatical.com/forums/entry/register?Target=discussions
 http://www.zillow.com/
http://www.sublet.com  (very few contacts for free )
http://www.metroroommates.com (")


You can also search a possible place to find s it or similar listings, which may display more information.  Also, find ratings on an area/apartment/street.  Check for crime.

The best?  Undoubtedly, 

Bacon Press- Brilliant

No More Unruly Bacon!

The Dangerous Book...

...for Boys.  I just ordered it for my brother-in-law, and scanning the reviews, I just got the thrills.  A six year old treasured it, wearing it out.  ^_^  I love this book.  It has  chapters teaching how to build a treehouse, grow a crystal, tell direction with a watch, handle girls and  learn famous quotes, stories, battles, and phrases that "every boy should know."  Vive masculinity!

White or Brown Sugar?

I shy from both, health being the reason.  But when it needs to be used....

" There's also a difference between brown and white sugar even though they have roughly the same texture/consistency. Cookies will be chewier if you use more brown sugar...

Because brown sugar, honey, molasses, and corn syrup are all very hygroscopic (have ability to pull moisture from their surrounding atmosphere), they are often used when a softer chewier outcome is desired. Cookies made with all brown sugar will soften upon sitting a day or two from absorbing atmospheric moisture. White sugar crystallizes upon cooling and will produce a crisp texture. As far as white and brown sugars go, you can substitute one for the other, measure for measure...

Sugar is often used as a "wet" ingredient in baking. That means it needs to be dissolved in the water in order to prevent too much gluten from being produced (making the result fluffy/flaky, and not chewy). Different sugars hold different amounts of moisture (for example, brown sugar holds more than white) and using sugar with crystals that are too large (or too small) will make the texture come out completely wrong. Too small and your cake will be rubber; too large and your biscuit will fall apart.
Also, if you're using the sugar for creaming (with fat), you generally need to use a coarser sugar. Superfine sugar will dissolve too quickly and won't allow enough air to be incorporated. Confectioner's sugar is good for creaming but has completely different properties from crystal sugar - it's been "processed" and has cornstarch added, so you can't just substitute in equal quantities.
Of course, it goes without saying that the taste is different as well. But even more important than the taste are the solubility characteristics which, as explained above, will have noticeable effects on other parts of the recipe.
It does depend what you're baking; if the sugar is being used purely for flavouring, then you can use whatever sugar you like. Much of the time in baking though, sugar is used for more than just sweetening, and it's important to be aware of that. If the sugar is being creamed or dissolved, don't substitute unless you're sure you know what you're doing."

 

 http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/2503/does-it-matter-what-kind-of-sugar-is-used-in-baking

When she has hair...

...I'll do this updo.  Some cute clothes here too.

Making LOTR Elf Costumes

Site that helped:

http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/


Me: Old White Velvet medieval dress.
silver hair ornaments
cut lace and put over arms and collar

Alternate: Riding Habbit

Black coat, wide belt around buttons on waist, collar up, white medieval long sleeves out.  boots, cover laces with cloth.

Shane:
Find at good will: Cape with hood/Cloak, to cover lack of long hair
 Inner robe : Mandarin collar shirt with tight sleeves and skirt, joined with wide cloth belt
 Outer robe: Mandarin collared

Alternate Riding/Soldier:   boots,

 button down shirt, inside out, pinned shut, or long shirt, cut off the collar and cuffs, and wear it backwards! You could even combine the two - a long t-shirt or sweater underneath, and a 'tunic' shirt over the top.


 Vambraces, belt for quiver, 3 other leather belts (see legolas), bow, cloak with fellowship pin, pair of tall leather boots that aren't
decorated in some undesirable way, and cut your vambraces out of them

Indispensable Kitchen Herbs

Basil, oregano and rosemary are indispensable in any kitchen;
Second are cilantro, chives, parsley, sage and thyme.

Which herbs and spices go with...

Pork: Parsley, Sage, Thyme, Mustard
Beef: Horseradish, Mustard, Pepper (black or white), Garlic, Thyme
Lamb: Rosemary, Thyme, Mint, Garlic
Chicken: Garlic, Mustard, Pepper (black)
Fish: Lemon Balm, Parsley, Thyme
Vegetables: Oregano, Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Mint,
Salads: Borage, Nasturtium, Mint, Lemon Balm, Sorrel, Chives, Garlic Chives
Pasta: Basil, Marjoram, Oregano, Mint, Chives, Pepper (black)
Puddings: Anise, Cardamom, Angelica, Lovage

Free Dave Ramsey Excel Budget Forms

I'm working on a written budget.  With a new baby and a move coming up, and Christmas in between... we need it (as we always did, actually).
My favorite part of Ramsey's Total Money Makeover was how he showed that effective people write down their goals.

Also, he points out what I love to remember and experience and witness: Necessity is the mother of invention.  Make a budget, get creative and stick to it.

Find the the pink button:
     And get your         Also, other people have shared their version.  Go to this site,   scroll down to:

My Budget Spreadsheet

and click the link: ExcelSpreadsheet (103346)   down 

 

 

 

Repost: George Grant on Advent

From Micah6.8 blog

Here is a great summation of the meaning of Advent, dated before the Internet age, by Pastor George Grant, taken from his wonderful book, Christmas Spirit.

"Advent is a season of preparation. For centuries Christians have used the month prior to the celebration of Christ's incarnation to ready their hearts and homes for the great festival. While we moderns tend to do a good bit of bustling about in the crowded hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas - shopping for presents, compiling guest lists, mailing holiday greeting cards, perusing catalogs, decorating hearth and home, baking favorite confections, and getting ready for one party after another - that hardly constitutes the kind of preparation Advent calls for. Indeed, traditionally Advent has been a time of quiet introspection, personal examination, and repentance. A time to slow down, to take stock of the things that matter most, and to do a thorough inner housecleaning. Advent is, as the ancient dogma of the Church asserts, a Little Pascha - a time of fasting, prayer, confession, and reconciliation. All the great Advent stories, hymns, customs, and rituals - from the medieval liturgical antiphons and Scrooge's A Christmas Carol to the lighting of the Advent candles and the eating of Martinmas beef are attuned to this notion: the best way to prepare for the coming of the Lord is to make straight His pathway in our hearts."

My Cherry Pie for Grandpa

Adapted from blue ribbon gluten free cherry pie, which was Adapted from Classic Sour Cherry Pie with Lattice Crust.Bon Appétit Magazine

I want to try this sugar-free, ie, with maple syrup or rapidura. Or some other whole food sweetener.  But, first I needed to try this with frozen cherries, since I had them on hand and was tied for time.  And using leftover piecrust from Thanksgiving.  It was great!  I thawed the cherries (with juice!) and  piecrust in the fridge, (had been frozen after about a week or 2 in the fridge), and, after letting it sit out for 1/2 hour, rolled it quite easily for the top.  Pressed in non-flaky sort for lower crust.  Baked accordingly.  Looks just like glutenfreegirl's picture! :)  One other change: half brown sugar.

servings: 10 slices

              Crust:
• 2 1/2 cups gluten-free flour mix
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 5 tablespoons (or more) ice water

Filling:
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons gluten-free flour mix
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4-5 cups whole pitted sour cherries (about 2 pounds whole unpitted cherries)
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

For crust:

Whisk gluten-free flour, sugar, and salt in large mixing bowl to blend. Add butter and mix gently or rub in with fingertips until small pea-size clumps form. Add 5 tablespoons ice water; mix lightly until dough holds together when small pieces are pressed between fingertips, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough together; divide into 2 pieces. Form each piece into ball, then flatten into disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Do ahead: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let dough soften slightly before rolling out.

For filling:

Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 425°F. Mix 1 cup sugar, gluten-free flour, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Stir in cherries, lemon juice, and vanilla; set aside.
Roll out 1 dough disk on lightly floured parchment paper to 12-13-inch round. Transfer to 10-inch stoneware pie dish. Trim dough overhang to 1/2 inch. Roll out second dough disk on lightly floured parchment paper to 12-13-inch round. Using large knife or pastry wheel with fluted edge, cut ten 3/4-inch-wide strips from dough round. Transfer filling to dish, mounding slightly in center. Dot with butter. 

Arrange dough strips atop filling, forming lattice; trim dough strip overhang to 1/2 inch. Cover pie crust with (silicone) pie shield.
Place pie on rimmed baking sheet and bake 15 minutes. 

Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Bake pie until filling is bubbling and crust is golden brown, about 1 hour longer. Transfer pie to rack and cool completely.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/BLUE-RIBBON-GLUTEN-FREE-CHERRY-PIE-50184374#ixzz2EOc4FzUg

She loves to fold laundry and clean dishes

 I recently listened to Vision Forum's talk Home Is Where The Heart Is?  One lady told how she prayed that God would help her find delight in all she does, even doing her most hated tasks: folding laundry and cleaning dishes.God gave her that delight...

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.   

PSALMS 40:8

The Yuletide Season

  - George Grant writes:

The holiday season—what we generically just call Christmastime—is actually a long sequence of festal revelries and liturgical rites stretching from the end of November through the beginning of January that are collectively known as Yuletide.  

Beginning with Advent, a time of preparation and repentance, proceeding to Christmas, a time of celebration and generosity, and concluding with Epiphany, a time of remembrance and thanksgiving, Yuletide traditions enable us to see out the old year with faith and love while ushering in the new year with hope and joy.  

It is a season fraught with meaning and significance.  Unfortunately, it is also such a busy season that its meaning and significance can all too easily be obscured either by well-intended materialistic pursuits—frenzied shopping trips to the mall to find just the right Christmas gift—or by the less benign demands, desires, wants, and needs which are little more than grist for human greed.  The traditions of Yuletide were intended to guard us against such things—and thus, are actually more relevant today than ever before.

http://grantian.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-yuletide-season.html

Planning a Trip

Upcoming: Legoland and Epcot with free tickets!

CHECK:

•  find free PARKING, , plan on TRAFFIC

• Eat a big breakfast: bacon, sausage, eggs, grits, smoothie, toast,(Shane doesn't like oatmeal... :P)

• bring FOOD (allowed?)

PACK bottles of water
 and food:

In cooler, or eat soon: fruit, ham, cheese, salad, leftovers, carrots,

Afternoon snacks: crackers, chips,trail mix or nuts and dried fruit

• Stuff to do in car: Knit, Office work, Book, Paper and Pencils for Drawing and Games
• Camera, empty memory and battery full. =]

• Map and directions.
• Lay out clothes,shoes, hat, etc.  day before
• Check weather - umbrella, waterproof shoes, cold, hot, 

• Baby and Tots: Stroller, diapers, nursing cover, changes of clothes,  /'

SNOWFLAKE BALLERINAS