Changing of seasons...

     I came to the realization that it has been a while since I last posted here on the blog.  Life just grabbed hold at some point in November and didn't slow down until after the holidays.  At least I didn't forget to take some pictures from time to time to remind me of just what went on around here.

     Pictures of Fall leaves reminded me of all the pretty color that we will all have to wait for again for another 9 months  at least.  Brightly colored sunrises reminded us of beautiful sunrises we would wait patiently for each morning.  Those beautifully colored sunrises also make us remember the story of how pink skies in the mornings and evenings mean Santa, Mrs. Claus and all the elves are busy baking cookies for Christmas, a story passed down for many years in our family.  It's so wonderful to see all the little ones faces when they see those bright pink skies and squeal about all the baking going on at the North Pole.  And the ever important letter to Santa was written in time with personalized art work added in just because.

     Handmade Christmas gifts were finished with plenty of time to spare.  Although one little person's gifts turned out to be a bit of a challenge all because he has to be bigger than others his age.  All turned out good in the end.  Then my attention turned to making things just because I could.  I love making things when there is no real time constraints attached to them.

     We were able to convince Mom to come up for the holidays.  It was a wonderful 3 weeks which passed by way to fast.  But at least we got snow for her to enjoy.  She's not one to slow down so when I said "you don't need to help shovel snow", she didn't listen.  Then there was a snow fort that needed to be built and a snowman.  A few mornings even brought us freezing fog and beautiful hoar frost everywhere.  There were lots of things being baked while Mom was here.  From our traditional cookies to first ever macaroons for us and quite a few Apple Strudels were made by the girls and Mom.  How lovely that was to sit back and watch the girls bake together with Mom like I would in years past.  And then to listen to her stories about how things were done when she was little just made me melt.  That has to be my favorite part of her visits with us.

     Christmas Eve was quiet and relaxing.  A wonderful treat.  Reindeer food still had to be put outside because the poor reindeer are working hard also.  I love how this tradition has not been forgotten yet.  Hopefully it won't stop.  Then watching the girls sit by their bedroom windows for a bit looking at the Christmas lights outside, staring at all the glowing lights against the snow.  We were able to sleep in on Christmas morning for the first time in years.  I really didn't know how to act due to our normal wake up call is at 4 or 5am other years.  This year we slept till 7am.  I'm thinking the girls were being easy on Mom, although she is a early riser anyway.  New Years came and went. A few days after meant Mom was heading back home.  We were all sad.  Even the girls thought that the house was too quiet without her here.  Not that she was all out loud and rowdy while visiting.  It just meant that our game time and puzzle time and shopping with her had come to an end for now.  I will never play Scattergories again without thinking of some of the answers she and Glenn came up with.  We hadn't laughed that hard during a game in ages.  Crazy people.

     Now we are back to our normal schedule filled with school work and being our normal selves.  Not that there are any complaints about that.  I will just have to fill the evenings with new projects made from pretty yarn.  Someone is asking for a pair of crocheted socks just because I've never crocheted socks before.  I might have to kick back on the sofa and tackle that challenge.

~*~

Kar

Valentine Sweet Chex...

     The girls have been invited over to their friends house for a get together right before Valentines.  Nothing stirs up an idea for treats like a get together that can brought along to share with everyone.  And the girls will use any excuse to get in the kitchen and make yummy, simple things to eat, especially sweet treats.

So let's get all the ingredients needed and get started to show how easy this is to make.

We doubled everything you see here (plus a box of powdered sugar)  for the number of people we have on our list. (about 12 people if doubled)

1 box of Rice Chex mix

1/2 box of powdered sugar

1 bag of white chocolate chips

1 bag of Wilton Red Candy melts

1 or 2 containers of decorative Valentine themed sprinkles

1 box Strawberry flavored cake mix

treat bags 

First you want to find a microwave safe bowl to melt the chocolate in.

Pour the entire bag of white chocolate chips into the bowl and microwave for 1 minute at a time until all is melted.  We did 1 1/2 minutes total.  Remove bowl from the microwave, get a good metal spoon to stir the Chex (about half the box) into the white chocolate.  (We have found that spatulas just don't get under the Chex well enough to coat with the chocolate without having a lot of broken bits of the cereal in the bowl from using the spatulas).  Pour the desired amount of sprinkles into the mixture and stir again to make sure they are distributed well.

Then start sprinkling the mixture with the powdered sugar and stir to make sure that all the pieces are coated as well as possible.  If done right there shouldn't be big clumps of chocolate covered Chex.  You should start to see individuals pieces being coated.  Add more powdered sugar as needed until you feel there is good coverage over all the pieces.

I transferred this mixture to another bowl and used the plastic bowl for the next batch and melted the Red Candy Melts just as the white chocolate chips were melted.  Toss in the remaining Chex mix as you did with the first batch.  We did not put sprinkles in with the second batch just because you can't see them as well with the red melted candy.  Toss this batch with the Strawberry Cake Mix just as you did with the powdered sugar in the first batch, until all the pieces are coated well.  When finished coating both batches, add 1/2 bag of M&M's to each batch, toss well and places equal amounts into each of treat bags.

Since we have an abundance of yarn around our house, each bag was tied off with Red, White and Pink yarn to keep all the yummy treats safe and sound until they reach their recipients.  Plus it keeps me from eating it all.

This whole project is super simple to make and takes no time at all.  It's fun for the kids to help with.  And it's pretty great to look at with all the holiday colors mingling around in each bag.  It won't disappoint.  

Enjoy!!!

~*~

Kar

The feeling of calm…

     A sense of calm fell over the house this weekend.  The Christmas shopping was officially completed and the last of the handmade gifts were finished.  Such a wonderful thing to be able to breathe and relax again.  French seams are a new favorite around here.  Especially were flannel pj pants are concerned.  It takes a little bit more time but so worth the effort.  Let's just not talk about the possibility of having to take those "completed" seams out when you noticed two wrong pieces were sewn together.  yay.  But all finished well and no one was hurt.  Complete success in my book.

     This completion of sorts would not have been a success without the help of my wonderful husband I have to say.  His willingness to take the girls down to another library seasonal favorite treat event was very much appreciated.  Especially since he had to endure all the noise and craziness that goes along with such event.  Such a trooper.  All so I could get my act together and complete my sewing.  He is an absolute keeper in my book.  

     Later that evening when everyone was breathing a huge sigh of relief from all the holiday craziness, a puzzle checked out from the library that afternoon was taken out and completed by all of us.  It was the perfect finish to our day.  All the laughing and cheering each other on when a "hard" piece was found was just what was needed to put us in the right frame of mind again.  Love that.

     Then the cookie baking started the next day.  Hopefully we will get it all completed today.  Then it will be on to the Apple Strudel for Christmas morning.  Can't wait for that!  Yum!

~*~

Kar

Loving Spring time...

     Spring time has been fabulous around here this year.  It's just easing along, letting us enjoy the breezes, the sunshine and the mild temps before Mother Nature throws the hot days of Summer at us.  Windows being opened for days on end, even at night.  Clothes making their way back outside to dry out in the sun and breezes.  It's just down right wonderful.  Last year it seemed like it skipped right passed us, not wanting to stop and visit for a while.  Just cruising on by without caring what we thought.

     There has been a lot of digging around in the back flower beds.  Rearranging the plants that came back.  Planting seeds for new ones.  All of us crossing our fingers in hopes all the seeds sprout so things can look like we imagine.  And every once in a while we stop to see all the little bugs and bees that seem to be visiting this year.  Taking in their sounds and just watching their work when we should be doing some of our own.  We even have a couple of feathered friends who have taken a liking to our Lilac bush and have made a nest in it.  Their visits to the feeder throughout the day put a smile on our faces.  Such pretty color those Goldfinches are.  There are even Hummingbirds that have made a nest for us to see this year.  So sweet.

   The nice weather has also allowed us to get back to some painting that needs to be finished from last Fall.  I'm so glad I didn't start with the patio area first.  I would have quit soon after and the house would have never been finished.  I'm just thankful for lovely helpers who don't complain about helping out.  Love them to pieces.  Even the side garage door get a spiffy new color.  Although the neighbors don't seem to care for it much (lovely notes left on the fence for us to find this morning).  When they start paying the mortgage they can have a say.

   The garden is giving off loads of leafy greens for us to enjoy.  How I love a good salad every day.  And with it coming from our little bitty garden patch makes it even more enjoyable.  Our first harvest of rhubarb has given us plenty to go around for jams.  I found a recipe that just sounded beyond awesome and had to give it a try.  So worth the effort.  11 jars of strawberry rhubarb and 11 jars of pie cherry rhubarb to please us all here.  This recipe is a keeper for sure.  The girls loved helping throughout the whole process and can't wait to make more flavors here soon.  I can't wait either.  I have figured out though that I am a "canning" hoarder when it comes to certain things and it just kills me to see the last jar of something special (pie cherries) being used up.   I'm loving the strawberry rhubarb with my favorite Greek yogurt.  So much better than a store bought brand, that is a tiny bit pricey for one serving.  But I do thank them for introducing this combination to me.  It was truly one of those "why didn't I think of this" moments.

   Even the evenings have been pleasant and enjoyable while relaxing after a days work.  Enjoyable knitting on the deck, all the while debating on how to finish off this "private" area off of my bedroom.  Then there has been relaxing work being accomplished on the quilt.  It is becoming a favorite for sure.

   I'm just hoping that Spring hangs around as long as possible.  It has truly become a favorite so far this year and I'm not one to be rushing it off any time soon.