Welcome to my little farm in the city.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
On vacation!!
I have had a lot of fun so far and with two weeks left I am sure there will be more memories made before I leave. Let's see ..... we have played outside in the sprinkles
We have gone shopping for Halloween costumes and I am now the proud Grandma of a pirate and Cleopatra
The weather has been typical Michigan fall weather. Crisp and a bit windy but sunny most of the time. The fall colors have been amazing .....
Oh course when it is fall you have to go apple picking and then make apple sauce and apple butter so you can remember that fun day when it is cold and wintery here.
On one warmer fall day we took the girls to the pumpkin farm and let the play on the hay bales, play with baby animals and pick their pumpkins .
So after the pumpkin getting you must do this right ? I think they did an awesome job too, I can not wait to see them lit tonight !
So the only bad memories so far? A nasty cold that won't go away but if that is the worst, I will take it !! So much for today , more memories to follow but before I go a couple more memories for you to enjoy.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Amy's Down Home Cooking:
Amy's Down Home Cooking:
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Sweet Tea and Cornbread: Peanut Butter Cake!
Sweet Tea and Cornbread: Peanut Butter Cake!: I have had so many requests for a good peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting, so we decided to make a good one. This ca...
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Crochet Baby Bunny Hat: Free Pattern
I love love LOVE hunting the web for free patterns to knit or crochet . I so appreciate the people that take the time to create them and then so generously let us use them for free. This lady has an amazing blog such a fun read and her patterns are amazing. Thank you so very much for them and she also has an Etsy shop and is on face book . Please take the time to look at her pages and friend them and support her beautiful efforts if you can. Her blog is http://poochie-baby.com/index.html and her pinterest page is http://pinterest.com/MyPoochieBaby/ and her facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poochie-Baby/206062482830506. Please check her out she is such a fantastic artist.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Crochet Attic: Crochet Japanese Flower
I am totally smitten with these patterns I have found on some of my favorite blogs and if you are a crocheter you must try them . I am going to make some up very soon.
Would you like Yarn With That?: Japanese Flower Motif--FREE pattern!!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Time Has Come!!!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Waiting !
I don’t like that word , I never have , I am not good at it .
So we are down to May in just a day or two. We have bought a new home in Florida, and we are moving the middle of May if all goes as planned. The waiting is the most difficult . I am not good at it , I suck at it actually. We have to wait to see if my husbands SSD goes through, we have to wait to see if we got the house we wanted in Florida, we have to wait to move because we got the house. We have to wait for my son to be released from the army……………….. and so on!! I don’t like waiting, I want things now . My grandma always said waiting teaches patients , maybe that is why I am not so good at because I am not very patient . Well hopefully this time will go by fairly quickly and it will be time to go soon. I know we are looking forward to the warmer weather in Florida . It is cold , rainy and very dismal here this weekend making Florida look even grander to us now . Pray for me that I will have patients to wait this out. Pray that we have a safe move and that all will go as we hope with the SSD and pray that my hubby gets to feeling better in the warmer weather and hopefully he will love it there. So hopefully this will be the last post for me from South Carolina and I shall see you soon in sunny warm Florida. Have a great couple of weeks and I will see you soon !
Saturday, March 23, 2013
What happened to spring?
I know I have been lapse about posting. I do apologize for that but I have been busy. I have been working up my fingerless mitts, slippers and kitchen items for folks and now they are done, so for a while I have to take a break and get back to what I want to do.
I have grand daughters that want doll clothes and bunnies and toys and hats and all kinds of sweet things made by grandma plus I have been making an afghan and I LOVE working with those pretty bright colors. Yes it is a granny , I am so addicted to anything granny , I just love the style , the colors and the patterns. The new granny patterns are very unique and so fun to make.
So what else have I been up to ? Well my husband finally has me talked into that last move I shall ever make . I hate moving , no really I despise it all the packing and unpacking, the ridding of boxes and of course all the tossing out or giving away because you won't need it or have room for it routine. We are moving to Florida. Yes I hear you snickering, but we are tired of cold and snow and ice soooooo...... since he has been suggesting it for years I have decided that we should go. I used to love the snow .......... I am from Michigan and I lived there for over 40 years but there just comes a point when I have to say enough. I love snow at Christmas. I want to be warmer now, as I move into the next chapter of my life. So we move one last time to Florida. WE have found the spot we want , we have purchased the home and now all we need to do is get our son here to this house so that he can take it over and we can make the last move. I so look forward to it , my kids and grandkids are REALLY looking forward to it LOL . We are less then an hour from the land of MOUSE and all things Disney. Plus we are surrounded by attractions and now they will not need motels ........... see a plus side always !! So I know that they will be down to visit, we shall be warm and happy and my old bones will be resting in the sun doing what I love to do , sitting and knitting or crocheting the days away in my little sun room in my new home .
See now does this not look inviting ? I think you shall agree and now I will have more time for my favorite things and blogging here with you .
The sad part of preparing to move is pretty much done already. Yes I did have to find a good farm for my chicken girls . I did that and they are very happy now and I did have to find homes for 4 of my rescue pups. I have done that as much as I love them I could not take them with us and I knew that was the mission when I took them in so now they all have very sweet loving forever homes and I know that they are doing well so I can continue on with a quieter and less chaotic but missed life. I have been in dog rescue for over 10 years and even though I will miss the licks and wagging tales I am ready for some quiet and my 3 little pups will be very happy not to have to share me anymore LOL.
So a couple things that I am working on for you to see and then I shall close and sit and try to enjoy this very cold and rainy , snowy day and dream of Florida !
This is my granddaughters work in progress she wants a big granny in little girl colors LOL
I have made more pairs of these then I care to think of at the moment but they are so nice to slip on in the house . I always have a pair with me so if I go to someones home I can remove my shoes and put these on .
AND since my grandchildren LOVE sock monkeys I am making Alyssa a small one of these and one of these below for the big girls soo soo cute and I like them so much I make one in my size of this one below. You all have a great weekend and I will see you when I see you !! :)
Monday, February 18, 2013
A nice quiet weekend, snowy weather and a good blog produce this !!!
Journey of a crafter: Giveaway: want some yarn?: It's been time to do some spring cleaning in my stash these days and I've found something for you! There's 1 prize consisting in this s...
This is such a wonderful and creative blog I am so glad I found it ..... you probably wonder how I did find it right? Well I found her on my twitter account. Yes ....... I twitter and I am having such a good time with it . My twitter name is Sunflower Farms 1. I have been putting all my things I am creating on it and I love to follow all kinds of wonderful crafty creative people and their blogs. I have made some new friends, gotten some wonderful ideas, and had fun seeing how beautifully creative people are . So I think I need to update my blog list and you should really get a cup of coffee, charge or plug in your laptop and start reading. One of my very all time faves is this one , Attic24. Her blog is a wonderful relaxing read. Her designs are so beautiful, and so colorful and cheerful. I absolutely adore her designs . I go to her blog everyday and I visit her face book page all the time for updates. So you have my permission , sit down, relax and read a few blogs and enjoy!!
OK so I told you that Lucy from Attic 24 inspires me to be creative and I love what she does with such colorful yarn . I absolutely love her eye for color and her love for all things granny. I also love all things granny! I love round grannies . square grannies, lots of color grannies. one color grannies, granny ripples granny stripes , I adore the look of the granny patterns so much and all that Lucy creates that I have started my own colorful Granny Stripe Afghan. Of course I must tell you first and foremost that I have no eye for matching colors. I stink at it and as much as I would love to recreate one of Lucy's Granny blankets, I fear it will not be nearly as pretty but here is my attempt to recreate one of her most beautiful blankets . I have been working on this all weekend since I have peace and quiet . Yes it is very quiet this weekend as the hubby has been in Oklahoma visiting our son who is in the Army. Since I have been alone , just me and the dogs, this is what I am working on . I must say the further along I get the more I am liking it .
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Busy hands
Saturday, February 2, 2013
So what do you do when it"s cold outside?
So what do you do when it is so cold out that you want to stay in? Me I just want to keep those knitting needles or crochet hooks working , as I have an addiction to yarn and I must satisfy it by handling it, making it into something pretty and warm. If I am not feeding my addiction then most likely I am in the kitchen baking. Thank goodness my husband does not mind me baking, in fact he encourages it ........ a lot. I love to make bread and I used to do it the old fashioned way of mixing and kneading it by hand . Well for Christmas I got a new best friend and now I have found that he loves to help me with the bread !! I gladly let him and he does an wonderful job, much better then I can do it.
So I found this fabulous recipe for whole wheat hamburger buns that I make but I have found that the recipe also makes wonderful bread . This recipe will make one good size loaf if you let it rise for about an hour and them shape it and rise it in a pan for about a half hour and then bake it in a 375 degree oven for about a half hour.
So below the first picture is the recipe for the buns, It really is delicious and I have found that I just recycled a large tuna can and washed it very well and I use that to cut out the buns , place them together on a pan , let them rise for about 20 to 25 minutes and them bake them , You really must try this recipe they are soo good .,
Hamburger Rolls
- 2 tablespoons rapid yeast, room temperature
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water (110 F)
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups all purpose flour
In a medium size mixing bowl (or kitchen aid mixer) dissolve yeast in water, add oil and sugar, set aside undisturbed for 5 minutes. Add egg, salt, and enough flour to form a soft dough.
Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding remaining flour as needed. (Do not let rise) Divide into 8 pieces, forming each piece into a ball. Place dough balls approximate 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. (or use parchment paper)
Cover loosely with a clean towel and let rest 20 minutes.
Bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
This next recipe is so wonderful and I found it on a lovely blog called Rosa's Yummy Yums. She has the best recipe's and this one is hers.
So if you prefer a no wheat flour roll here is another very good very easy recipe that makes up quickly and easily.
Ingredients:
1 Cup (240g/ml - 250g/ml) Water, lukewarm
2 Tbs (30g) Unsalted butter, at room temperature and creamed
1 Egg (~63g)
3 1/4 Cups (433g) Plain white flour
1/4 Cup (53g) Castor sugar
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tbs Instant yeast
1 Egg yolk (+ 1 Tsp water)
Sesame seeds
Method:
1. Sprinkle the yeast into the water and leave for 5 to 10 minutes, until frothy. Stir to dissolve.
2. In a big bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.
3. Turn the dough out on to a lightly floured working surface and knead for about 10 minutes until you've made a soft, smooth dough.
4. Place the dough in a clean and lightly greased bowl.
5. Cover it with a towel and let rise for about 1 (or1-1/2) hour, until doubled in size.
6. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and shape each piece into a flattened ball.
7. Place the buns on greased baking sheets, cover with a towel and let rise 30 to 40 minutes, until they're quite puffy and doubled in size.
8. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F).
9, Glaze the buns with the egg yolk and water mixture, then sprinkle with sesame seeds.
10. Bake the buns for 12 to 15 minutes, until they are golden brown.
11. Remove them from the oven and cool them on a wire rack.
So I hope you all are staying warm and cozy inside this winter. Well I must be going , so I will see you soon.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
BRRRR who turned down the heat?
SO.......... I awoke yesterday morning to a bit of an ice storm coming to my neck of the woods. Now I live in South Carolina, as you know. We have very mild winters here............ usually. This past couple days though mother nature had plans of her own I guess. I was the lucky recipient of this yesterday and the cold temps were crazy.
Yes that is ice, and you did not dare walk out on the deck yesterday or you would have immediately tumbled . I had to go out the front door and all the way around to the backyard to open up my chicken coop and by last night we had more ice yet. This morning .......... it is now all melting and just wet . Crazy weather we have here and I hear by Tuesday it is supposed to be 72 degrees. Yes crazy weather this winter here in the south .
So I have been working on knitting projects for donations , family and friends and it seems that all of the sudden (I suppose that winter has a hand in this ) I have people wanting to order my knitted fingerless mitts . I love to knit these as they are so easy and quick to make ..
Also I have had a couple orders for my knitted slippers , so wonderful on a cold winters night to keep those toes toasty. I need to keep those needles going non stop as my yarn stash grew from just a couple of very small totes to a large tote and a rainbow of colors. I was a very lucky recipient of a donation and I felt very blessed to receive it. Since my husband is still on disability and I am not able to work as I am ab out 50% legally blind the one thing I LOVE to do is knit and crochet and try to make anything I can from scratch rather then to buy because money is very short here. I also love to knit items to donate to charity such as mittens and scarfs for the homeless shelters. I truly enjoy this anytime of the year and I know it is much appreciated.
As for those grand chldren ...... they are growing by leaps and bounds . My littlest angel Alyssa is getting so big and is just about one step away from crawl. She is the happiest , easygoing little angel , always a little ray of sunshine.
Then there is my son in the army. He will be done and out of the army in May and he and his family will come home to South Carolina to live finally. It has been way too many years since he and his family have been home and I can not wait to see them again and to spend time with and watch my grandson Xavier Lee grow. He will be 4 this August and I can not wait to see him again.
So that is what I have been up too as of lately. I hope that you all are doing well and staying warm this winter. Me I am doing very well and yes I am staying warm and just busily knitting down this stash of yarn. As much as I LOVE to knit and crochet......... it makes me a bit sad as I know that when it is gone I will have no more yarn to play with , but until then I will continue to make those mittens and scarfs to donate and enjoy every minute of it too! See you soon. take care and be kind to one another !!