Busy hands

So  I have  been  very busy  working on  some  smaller  items  to  try and get a small business going  selling  what  I think will be  needful  items that  people will want to buy  .  I have  a  real liking for making these dish and wash rags and  scrubbies.  They work  very well, and they hold up  to the  most difficult of tasks  they last  soo much longer then a sponge and  I wash and dry these all the time to sanitize them.  If you are interested in anything you see here please  send me an email or  leave a comment and I will answer any questions  for you I can .  I can make any of these items just about any color that you would like also.  The  wash rags  and scrubbies are all in 100 % cotton yarn and are washer and dryer safe.  

   

As   you  can see  that  is quite a variety.   I  have  been busy  and  I  am  in the process of  making  more  so  please  if you  would like some just  let  me  know .  I  will have  prices  up in a day or  two for the items .   For the  most  part  Dish Cloths  sell for $3.00 each for the simpler patterns and $1. 50 for shipping and  the  scrubbies and  little sponges are $2.50 and  $1.00 shipping  each.  I will have  more  items  to post and  organize  very soon.  If  you have  any questions please comment  or message me  or  visit my  facebook page   http://www.facebook.com/sunflower.farms.3

So what do you do when it"s cold outside?

So it is  still  cold here today.  Yes  I know it is February.........  but  it  usually  is  warmer then this.  Yes this  weather  has  been really crazy  here  this  winter, one day or  two  in the  60's or 70's and then into the  deep freeze  we  go.   My poor chickens  keep  looking at me like they  want  me to make them some sweaters or mittens.   Today  at  3 in the afternoon it  was not  even 40 degrees.  So  it has been so cold the last  few days  I barely  have  gone outside.  I  love  to be outside  .........  usually but  this cold  is  not usual.  I have  managed  to start my  walking program again and  I have  managed to walk for 45 minutes with my  music  but  I do walk  faster  just to stay warm  and  keep the  joints working.    I know  that  I feel better  when I get out there but tonight  they are  calling for freezing rain or  snow  over night  for us  I  hope they are wrong  but if not I may be  walking in boots tomorrow.

  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.  

BRRRR who turned down the heat?

Well  I know it  has  been a while.  I  have  not  even one  good  excuse  for  my  not  being  here.  I  have  been busy with  knitting and  crochet projects  for the  grandchildren , donations and  just  for me .  

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 !! 

Where did fall go?

Oh my  goodness,  in the  blink of an eye  it  seems fall has gone and the holidays  are  around the  corner  already.  I have  been  so busy  getting  ready for the Christmas  season  preparing  gifts  for the grand kids ,  and thinking of  what  to send them  since  they live  so far  from me.   I know that  something  homemade  is  a  must  gift.   So  they are getting  something  to keep them warm  on those  cold winter  days , and  something  tasty  to  enjoy  with a  cup of  hot  cocoa .   I am  busy  making blankets  and  goodies  and my crochet hooks  and knitting  needles  are  very  busy  .  I will have to post  pictures soon of  them.  I  LOVE  to knit  and  crochet  and  it is  seldom that  I do not  every  day.  I love  the  feel of  yarn in my hands,  I LOVE  yarn  I admit  it I am so addicted .  I love  all the  colors  , the softness and  the  gratification as a simple skein of yarn  turns into a  beautiful  little gift.   I  love  looking  at all the colors  ,  the  patterns  that  I can  create  for gifts .  I need no excuse to buy  more  yarn ,  I have  plenty,  but  I can never  have  enough  ,  there  is always  another  project in mind  that  I must  have  more  yarn  for.  It  is my  weakness,  my  guilty  pleasure  and  I  am  lucky that  I can indulge  in the  shopping  spree  now and then for more  yarn .  So  home  made  yarn  gifts  will be  coming  for the  kids  big and small this  year  for  Christmas , so that  I can use  the  yarn  and  I have  and............   to give me  a reason to buy more  !!    Yes  I freely admit it  I am a yarnaholic and  Red Heart  and  Lion  Brand  are my  fix .   So  I will post  pics  very soon  , but  for now I must  do more  crocheting, one  gift  down , another  half done and  3 more  to go !!  Happy  Crocheting  to you !    In the  picture  is  one  of  the  things  I am working  one,  I love  this  pattern ,  so  easy, it is a granny  square  pattern  but  in rows.  It  works up  very fast  and  has the  warmth of a
giant  granny  ! 

Oh my goodness what a summer for me !!

Wow  I had  NO  idea  it has  been soo long  since I have  been here.  So  much  has  happened  and I was  soo  busy  making  baby  girl  things  this  spring , I am the  very  proud  grandma  of  Alyssa Jean Effrick.  She  was  born  on August  19, 2012  in Michigan.  I  was  lucky  enough to be  able to fly  to Michigan  and spend  11 weeks  with my  daughter  and 2  beautiful granddaughters .  I had  not  seen  them  in over a year  and it  was  such  fun.  Plus  I was  there  to meet  my  3rd  beautiful granddaughter Alyssa.  She  is  also  named  for me , her middle name is  also mine.    This  is  Alyssa ,  and  Alexis  my  oldest  granddaughter .  

This  is  my  second  granddaughter  Gabrielle  she is  6  and  Alyssa  

And  of  course  there is  Miss Alyssa  who is  now  2  months old and  growing  so fast.

Before  Alyssa  came  I spent months  working on  little  girl  things and that is why  I have  not  been  here in so long .   I  had  so much fun learning how  to make  tiny little things  for  babies.    Here is a  pretty good  selection of  what  I made  minus  all the  things  I made while  I was in Michigan  for her but  this  gives you an idea what  I was  busy  with  .   

I also  had  made  her  3 blankets  and some  spit rags  and  a  Raggedy Ann and Andy  quilt  but  I guess I forgot  to take  a  picture.  

 Now  I am working on making her  a  pretty  Christmas  dress and  mittens  and  scarfs  for the  girls  since they have winter  and I do not   here in the  south . 

what a crazy winter!!

Well  we  have  been  very  lucky  this  winter  here.  It  has  been unseasonably warm and  sunny  most of the  winter.  Today  it  is  in the  70's , sunny  and  windy.  We  have  tornado watches  up, and  thunderstorms  in the background  headed our  way.  It  has  been  beautiful  for washing  clothes  and  hanging them out.   The  door  is  almost  shut  on  winter  here, and I fear  what  March may  bring to us  this year.  Three years  ago  next  month  we  moved  here  , and  just  before  we  arrived,  a  wicked  snow and ice  storm  did .  We  came  into broken  trees and a leaking  roof and  a broken  water  pipe  under  our house.   I remember  an  ice storm last  winter  that  pretty much shut  down our  town  for a  day or  two  and  bitter  cold  days  last winter ,  but  no such luck  this  year  .......  so  far.

 I  found  out  at Christmas  time  that  my  dear daughter  is  going to have  another  little  bundle  right  around  my  birthday  this  coming  August.  I am  so excited  to be a  Grandma ...... again.  This will  make number  8  for  us  and  I look  so forward  to another  joyful event.  Of  course  with the  little  one  coming  comes a flurry of  activity  knitting and  crocheting  baby  things.  We  do not  know  if  it is a boy or  girl  yet, so of course  there is the  colors of yellow  green and  peach  that  are  pretty  generic ,  but  not  as  pretty  as  the  favorite  color  of  mine ....... PINK.   So  I wait ,  making  little  generic  items   until  we  find out   if  pink or  blue  is  the  right  color.   Then  the real flurry of  knitting will begin making  sweaters and  booties and  all the  cute  little  things  you can think of  for  girls   if  that is  what the  baby  is.    Why  oh  why is it  so  difficult  to  find  really  cite  patterns  for items  for  boys  and things  to make for them.  For  girls  just  about  anything  you can imagine  to make  there  also is a pattern but  for  boys  ,  how many  hats  and  sweaters  can you make  ....really?    So  I wait .........

Jake  the  wonder  dog  is  still growing and  growing  nicely .  He will  be a year old  in 2 months  and  what  a  well behaved and  sweet  boy  he  has  become.   Any doubt  I had  that  he  may not  be a Golden  Labrador  Retriever  has  been erased.  He is  all  Lab,  from his  pretty  color  to his  goofy  I love  everyone attitude  to his  love  of  water,  yes  he is a Lab.   If  you go to tak a bath in this house  make  sure the  bathroom door  is  tightly  closed  behind  you  or  you  very  well may  have  a peeping  Tom  watching  you or  a  bath mate  joining  you in the tub.   He  is  such a  good  dog and  my  best 4  footed  friend.

 

Well  Nascar  season is  now  in full swing  and I am a very  happy  girl.  I love  Nascar!!!  I eat  , sleep  and  breath  Nascar, and  this  is the time of year  I live  for  .     We  were  lucky  to get  tickets  to the  Nascar  Preview  weekend this  year  and  I got to meet  lots of the drivers , see the cars and  get pictures  with  my  favorites .   I  truly  admire and  I root  for  Carl  Edwards  and  Trevor  Bayne.  I got  to meet them , chat  with them and  have  a  picture  taken  with  them this  year.  They  are both  the  kindest, most  polite  and  very  friendly  drivers.  They  really  appreciate their  fans and  they are  so willing to take the  time  to visit  with  each one.   I  am looking  very forward  to supporting both of them this season and  I pray they  have  a safe and  very successful  season this  year.  

Well that  is about  it  for now.  You all take care and I will be back again soon to let you know if  I am  knitting  pink or  blue  !!!