Merry Christmas....

... and a recipe.

Do you love egg nog, but don't drink it often because it's so "bad" for you?  I would agree store bought, over processed egg nog is bad for you.  But thick, creamy, homemade egg nog could almost be considered good for you.  I am going to share my homemade egg nog recipe with you.

Here are my disclaimers, though:  It does have raw eggs.  Make sure you know where your eggs come from.  Use pastured, preferable organic eggs.  Don't eat store bought eggs raw.  The same goes with your cream and milk.  Don't use ultra pasteurized store bought milk.  Using real milk and fresh eggs, this delicious holiday treat can actually be considered good for you.

1 pint of Cream
1 pint of Milk
4 Eggs
1/4 cup (or less) Maple Syrup
1 Tbsp Vanilla
Cinnamon
Cloves
Nutmeg

I am generous with the Cinnamon and Nutmeg and just use a little sprinkle of Cloves.  Mix it all together in your blender and enjoy.  You can use a kitchen aid or hand mixer if you don't have a blender.  You can also add a jigger or two of rum.

Let me know how you like it.

Sharing a Scrapbook layout

Since I switched to digital scrapbooking I am constantly amazed at all the cool things that can be done with a page.  In September when I was at SpragueFest (I should post about that), I watched over someone's shoulder while she made this way cool "part photo, part sketch" layout.  She directed me to the tutorial she used and I made a layout like it... and then another, and then another.  It is such a cool technique I know I will use it over and over.  You can find the original tutorial here.  If you have Photoshop Elements you can use a levels adjustment layer on step 4 to achieve that look rather then the curves (which is only in Photoshop CS).  Here is my layout:

Now go may your own amazing layout.  I can't wait to see what you make.  :)

Thoughts on the Election

I have strong opinions about politics.  They mostly have to do with people (citizens and representatives) knowing the Constitution (and not allowing our Reps to violate it) and personal responsibility.  It seems as the people of our country want neither knowledge nor personal responsibility.  Oh well, we reap what we sow and we have sown a generation of civically ignorant irresponsible people.

If I were to change on facet of the whole election process (besides ads on TV) I would change the debate process.  There were 10 Presidential candidates on my ballot.  How come I never heard of 7 of them?  I think all the candidates should participate in the debates, at least the ones who are on the ballot in every state. ( I guess Rosanne Barr was running... she wasn't on my ballot).  Each candidate should be in a sound proof booth and each candidate should get a certain amount of time (15 minutes maybe) to share their plan and their vision for our country.  Or each candidate should field questions from the moderator.  Or like the old Lincoln-Douglass debate... the first person should get 30 minutes and then the second person get 60 minutes to reply and the first person get 30 more minutes.  They should not be allowed to attack the other person.  This whole campaign seemed to be more about how many bad things you can say about the other person, rather than "this is my plan and it's good because x, y, z."  But all the candidates should be involved, so that Americans can have a REAL choice.

There are so many more things I could say, but it would end up being a novel.  Soon I will go back to "lighter" topics.  I have been knitting and scrapbooking like crazy.  I should post some pages or knitting projects soon.

Thoughts on Halloween

Halloween is in second place for the holiday Americans spend the most money on, after Christmas, of course.  It's a pretty big deal.  For weeks ahead of time folks ask kids, "What are you going to be for Halloween?"  Home decorations get more elaborate every year.

I celebrated Halloween as a child.  My mom dressed us up every year and took us trick or treating when we were little and let us go when we were older.  I think maybe 6th or 7th grade was the last time I trick or treated.  As an adult I have dressed up once on Halloween (well, twice in the same year) to chaperone a junior high dance for the junior high I worked at and to go out to dinner with friends on Halloween.  When we were in our first home and without kids we passed out candy on Halloween if we were home.  I honestly cannot remember how many kids we used to get at that house.  I had a couple of cute Disney Halloween decorations, but nothing elaborate.

One year, though, something happened that changed how I looked at Halloween.  Our church at the time was very involved with some missionaries in the jungles of Venezuela who lived among the Yanomamo people.  There was a specific man from our church who spent a significant amount of time down there and various occasions.  He eventually wrote a book about the Yanomamo from the perspective of the head Shaman (medicine man) of this particular tribe.  Now this Shaman had come to know Christ because of the missionaries who lived there... in fact, most of this tribe has become Christians.  The book, Spirit of the Rain Forest, by Mark Andrew Ritchie, describes in great detail,  their life before Christ.  The book is not for the faint of heart.  These people regularly, under the influence of drugs and spirits, raped, murdered, and pillaged other tribes.  Violence was a way of life for them.  The book tells of the Shaman's conversion and his life because of Christ.

Well, one fall Chief Shoefoot, along with one of the missionaries, came to the U.S. to do a book tour with Mark.  He was here about the time that folks were putting out their Halloween decorations.   He was greatly concerned and perplexed by this.  He asked Mike (the missionary that came with him and spoke Yanomamo, who was born and raised in Venezuela) why the American's put up images of the demons that he and his people so feared (before Christ).  Chief Shoefoot could look at people's decorations and name the proper names for each demon that the particular image represented.  He did not understand why American's would celebrate the evil spirits that the tribes in Venezuela so feared and that inspired them to such violence between the tribes.

Now this happened more than 15 years ago and I am not describing it now with the detail and the absolute amazement that I had back then.  I never thought about Halloween in terms of the forces of evil behind it.  If we sugar coat (literally and figuratively) evil and give it a fun appearance, then it's ok for Christians, right?  What has light to do with darkness?  As Christians are we to make light of evil and the spirit world?  God's word is pretty clear that we are at war with the forces of evil.  Maybe we should take it seriously.

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Make the Most of Every Opportunity

Three weeks ago the husband of a dear friend had a stroke.  They were on their way to our house and we had a house full of people.  The hospital is between their house and ours.  He told his wife we was feeling funny, that he was either having a heart attack or a stroke,  and they went there instead of coming here.  

When they didn't show up, I didn't think much of it... things happen, kids need naps, etc.  There was another family who hadn't shown up yet, but we all decided to eat anyway.  The other family showed up soon after.  My friend called 2 or so hours later to say her husband had had a stroke.  What!?  He's only 35!  She briefly told the story and I tried to process it.  I asked if her immediate needs were taken care of (kids not with her at the hospital, that kind of thing).  When I got off the phone, I shared the news with all of our guests (it was a get together of home schoolers from our church).  We stopped and prayed for her husband and her right then.

After everyone left and I got my littlest one in bed I told my husband I was going to go to the hospital.  I called her up and sort of asked her and sort of told her that I was coming.  The situation did not look good.  We talked together, cried together and prayed together.  At one point she said to me, "I don't know what my week is going to look like."  And I said to her, "no one does."

And that is my point... none of us knows what our week is going to look like.  We can make all the plans we want, but it is the Lord who directs our steps.  Life is too short to argue over stupid things.  Life is too short to get angry over minor inconveniences.  Life is too short to not ask for forgiveness or to not grant forgiveness.  Yes, there are big issues in life.  Life is too short not to talk them out.... even if it is only with God.  Sometimes friends don't talk over something no one can remember.  Sometimes spouses grow apart because of the busyness of life.  Sometimes we let our kids do their own thing because we're tired and it's easier.  Life is too short not to take opportunities when they arise.  Your kids want you to read to them or play a game with them, but you are on the computer.  Life is short... your children will remember that you chose to spend time with them.  Your spouse wants some attention, but you're tired.  Will that extra half hour or hour of sleep make a difference in the morning... most days, probably not.  You have wanted to do something silly for a long time and have never done it (dye your hair purple, get your belly button pierced, get a tattoo, etc)... life is short.  If it's not illegal or immoral and you won't go into debt to do it, do it (especially if it's temporary, like purple hair).   A friend is down and needs help... be there.  Even a phone call or email helps.  You will not ever regret the time you spent being there for others.  You will not regret the time you spent making the most of every opportunity.

That first night and next day in the hospital, things did not look good for my friend's husband.  I spent some time with her that night and went back the next day.  But she called me the second morning to say he had greatly improved and by that evening he was home.  I visited them at home that night and God's grace was so apparent in their lives.  If you didn't know he had had a stroke, you wouldn't have known.    We praise God for that.  Two days before I wasn't sure if my friend would be a young widow.  They have the opportunity now, after being faced with a serious situation, to reevaluate things in life.  I know they have had some serious (and probably not so easy) discussions since then.  If you need to have some of those discussions in your life, please do it and make the most of every opportunity.

You should do this

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Yea, I made this...

I have been working on this vest for not quite 4 weeks. I loved the pattern (mondo cable vest/shell from Ravelry). And considering I have been knitting for less than 6 months, I think it turned out pretty well. There are some mistakes along the arm holes and the shoulder seams, but you really can't tell. The yarn I used is from Knitpicks.com and it's called sugar bunny. Doesn't it sound like it would be soft and fuzzy. Well, it is. It's a very soft merino angora blend. However, I never expected it to shed so much. I wore it yesterday with a white t-shirt underneath. The white t-shirt was COVERED in purple fuzz... as was the straps on my backpack and some other things. Also it is starting to pill a bit... after only one wearing.

Moral of the story... I am going to check yarn reviews on ravelry before I purchase a yarn. I still love the pattern and I will make another one (probably out of a superwash merino or cotton blend) after I make 3 or 4 other things on my knitting list.

Sorry the picture is kinda' "eh". I took it with my phone and I barely have enough time to blog (because I am always knitting). I definitely don't have enough time to edit pictures to put on the blog.

And I haven't forgotten about the selling my cricut story. I will get to that.

Have a great weekend!!

Another Yummy Recipe

So most days I don't even think about blogging. I'm not sure why. I really want to. But the days come and go and run into each other. I am sure I have plenty of things to blog about. Since my last post I have completed 4 shawls. One I hated and turned it into one of the other ones. I knitted a sweater (just have to block it and weave in the ends). I have made countless meals, snacks, and desserts. I have had families and large crowds over for meals. I have gone to a homeschool conference. I sold my cricut (more about that in another post). I am sure I have something to blog about.

 Today I am going to share another yummy, healthy dessert recipe: Chocolate Coconut Cream Pudding (you can also use it as pie filling). I made this one up based on a coconut cream recipe from Bruce Fife's "Cooking with Coconut Flour".

 Here goes:
 2 cups coconut milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
mix together and bring to a low boil

 1/2 c coconut milk
1/4 c arrowroot powder (can use corn starch)
 mix this together and add to the other coconut milk

beat 4 egg yolks (keep the white and make macaroons. Have I shared that recipe? Yummy!!)
mix some of the warm coconut milk into the egg yolks and then add it all back in to the coconut milk 

when it thickens a bit add:
1/4 cup chocolate chips
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 Tbsp vanilla
2 cups coconut
remove from heat and put in another container (or separate serving dishes) and refrigerate for a couple hours. You can put plastic wrap tight on the top to prevent a skin from forming. You can eat it like that or add whipped cream. Yummy!!

If you make it, let me know how you like it. You can probably eliminate the sugar and it would still be good.

Enjoy!!

Yum, Yum, Yum

So I found this no bake cookie recipes somewhere on the internet. I didn't pin it. I didn't print it. I scribbled it on a piece of paper. I have no idea where it came from. I wrote in down because it is gluten free, egg free, refined sugar free... you get the idea. I am always looking for yummy gluten free, low sugar recipes for myself. But I also have a friend whose daughter has allergies to so many foods, so I am always looking for things this little girl can eat... and she can have these cookies! :)

I made them earlier in the week. They were gone in a day and I've made them 2 times since then. That's how good they are. I am making them again today to bring for Easter lunch at previously mentioned friend's house.

Here's the recipe:
1/3 cup honey (I use less)
1 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup coconut oil (or butter - friend's daughter is dairy free)
melt those together and stir in
1/3 cup almond butter or peanut butter (I've used both. Both are good)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

drop by spoonfuls on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm.

Then come back here and tell me how much you loved them. :)

"I could never do that"

As a homeschool mom there are several responses that I get when I tell people that we homeschool. The responses range from "Cool", to "I wish I could do that", to "I never could do that." My response to any of those generally has been, "we enjoy it", or "it fits our lifestyle." However, secretly I have always felt bad for the children of those who respond with "I could never do that." The implication (or the out right statement) is that they (usually a mom) could not spend all day everyday with their kids. These are usually the same moms who dread summer vacation or rejoice when school starts again in the fall.

I point these things out not to say that I am better than them. On the contrary, I point these things out to say I don't homeschool because I have super powers or super patience. I point these things out to say that it is only God's grace in my life that enables me to homeschool.

We homeschool because it is an conviction from God's Word that it is the best way to disciple, train, and educate children. Yes, there are other benefits... my older two can know and enjoy Little Brother. If they were gone all day they wouldn't really be a part of his life. My older two are going to Washington DC soon with Grandma and Grandpa and participating in a drama camp that occurs during our local district's spring break. We spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa last week and are looking forward to time with other Grandparents in April. They would not necessarily have as close intergenerational relationships without homeschooling.

But my point is I am not super mom. I don't have a cape or super powers. Sometimes I want time alone. Sometimes I raise my voice to my kids. Sometimes they make me want to bang my head against the wall. Most of the time I can't get everything done. My house is not always clean, my garden is not always weeded, and our yard would never make it on the cover of a magazine. I am not perfect and I will not be until eternity. I only have my children for a short time. I want to enjoy them. I want to have a relationship with them. I want to know what is going on their lives. I want them to love learning (not dread school). Most importantly I want them to love the Lord and desire to live for Him. That is why we homeschool.

We sang a hymn in church this morning that sums it up well, "And now, let the weak say I am strong. Let the poor say I am rich, because of what the Lord has done, for us."

And if you are one of those who has said, "I wish I could do that," I will be the first to encourage you and say you can, with God's grace, you can.

Digital Poster Design

So this week I started a Poster Design class at Jessica Sprague dot com. I have taken several classes at Jessica Sprague and I have loved them all. For the most part they have been digital scrapbooking related classes. Some I have kept up and done well... others I still haven't finished the class and it's been a year and a half. The poster design class is a little bit different. We're still using photoshop, but it's different in that we're not using pictures. It still can be personal and I am sure pictures can be incorporated in some situations.

So there have been three lessons so far this week and of course I am behind. Life is crazy. I have one lesson done and here it is:




Apparently alphabet posters are all the rage. It's cute. I enjoyed making it. The next two lessons are a bit more complex. Not sure when I'll get to them (or the nine lessons that haven't happened yet), but I will post them when I get them done.

If you are interested in photoshop or digital scrapbooking, check out Jessica Sprague dot com.

Advice for a Beginning Knitter

Since I am still new at this knitting thing I thought I would do a post about advice for anyone considering starting knitting. I have been knitting all of 6 or 7 weeks and have completed 2 projects. I am working on a really easy shawl now and will probably make 2 more of those for Mother's Day gifts before I move on to something else. Anyway here's my advice:

First, find a knitting mentor. Find someone that has been knitting for a while and have her help you choose a first project. Have her help you choose needles. Have her take you to a quality yarn store and explain things. Maybe even choose a project and start it together. She will be right there to answer questions and critique your technique.

Don't bother buying cheap needles from a chain craft store. If you think knitting is going to be a lifelong hobby, then invest in good tools (your husband would do the same thing). If you are not sure if you are going to keep knitting, then borrow needles. Good yarn stores will have some to try. Try bamboo, wood, metal and acrylic and see which ones you like best, then buy a good set of needles. You will also need to decide if you want straight needles, fixed circular needles or interchangeable circular needles. Eventually you might end up with all of them, but hopefully not right away. I bought several sets of straight bamboo needles in several sizes from a chain store and I kinda' regret spending the money. I bought a moderately priced set of interchangeable needles that I wish I would have started off with right away. I also have an expensive set on order that will take 4 or 5 months before I get (because of the demand for these good quality needles).

Go to knittinghelp.com and watch lots of videos. Also download the app by the same name (for $5). Then you will have the videos right on your phone or ipod when you need them. I have used the videos several times to help me with a technique that I could just not remember. I love having the videos handy. Also they are on your phone, so you don't need wifi or your phone service to watch them.

When you have TONS of time to kill, go to ravelry.com and join. Then wander around the website. Did you see a pattern somewhere that you liked? Well someone on ravelry has probably made it and they have posted pictures. For the shawl I am making now there were about 60 people on ravelry who had already made it and posted pictures. I could get a nice idea of how it would look with different yarns, etc. Ravelry also has message boards, galleries, and groups. There are thousands of groups, including some where people are "destashing" stuff. You can get yarn, used needles and other knitting accessories at great prices.

And my last bit of advice would be not to choose a project with cables until you've been knitting for a while. Also know that even experienced knitters have to rip things out and start over.

Oh, one more thing... check your library for knitting books. That was another thing that I have spent too much money on so far... books (I have purchased 5 knitting books so far and got another for a gift). Check your library for books. If there is one pattern you like in it, just copy the pattern. If there are many patterns you like, then look for the book used on Amazon or half.com.

Happy Knitting!!

knitting a cabled purse

So here is my second knitting project. I found the pattern on Pinterest (linked from Ravelry). I have a thing for bags and purses. I have more bags, purses, totes, etc than any one person should have. So when I saw this knitted purse on Pinterest I knew that was going to be my next knitting project. The pattern even said that it was the perfect beginner cable pattern because it was a relatively small project. The original pattern had purchased handles instead of the strap that I knitted and sewed on. And since it had handles it did not need a closure. Mine needed a closure, so I knitted a loop and bought a cute button.

Now I probably ripped this out and started it over 6 times... at least. The first time I was about 2/3 finished and my knitting friend told me I had read the pattern backwards. I should have taken a picture of how much I had done, but I didn't. Then in starting it over I just could not get a hang of the knit, switch to purl in the same row thing. My husband's step mom showed me how to do that and it help immensely. Once I finally figured out what I was doing it probably only took me two weeks to complete it... maybe less. It was a great, small project to learn how to do cables. It's not perfect... there are a couple of mistakes, but I love it!!

knitting

So I have this friend... she's pretty, her husband is nice looking... they have 2 kids (a girl and a boy)... she has a PhD... she sews and she knits... beautifully. Sewing... I can sew well enough to get along. I make stuff for myself and my kids. Years ago I entered things in the county fair and won ribbons. Knitting, however has not really ever appealed to me. Both of my grandmas crocheted and I pictured knitting kinda' like crocheting... for grandmas. I hadn't really thought about it, but A LOT of my friends knit. Crazy. So this friend has made me some cool stuff and finally after the 3rd cool gift I decided I had to learn how to knit. So I asked her if she would help me. I also asked for some knitting stuff for Christmas (from someone who knits - my husband's step mom). Well she got me some needles, yarn, some accessories and a basic how-to book. I started right away, that night.

This is the first thing I knit. I know, not very exciting, but I could do it.



Then I decided I wanted a "fun fur" scarf. I have no idea if they are still in style (although my friend would say hand made things are always in style), but I wanted one. So I decided to get some fun fur and get started. I bought multi colored fun fur that would match just about everything I owned and I made a scarf 3 skeins long. I had to start over once because Little Brother pulled the needle out and there was no way I was going to get it back in. So now it's done and I've worn it and it is a very nice feeling of accomplishment. Here it is in bad lighting:




I have moved on to the next project, which is fine. What is not fine is now I want to knit all the time. I have found tons of patterns that I want to make... there's things for me, for the kids, for gifts. There is not enough time to do it all. Any ideas how to balance knitting and real life and all the other hobbies?

DIY Magnetic Chalkboard wall

Once again Pinterest was the inspiration for my project. I did a small magnetic wall at our old house maybe 9 or 10 years ago. It was in the space between the cabinets and the counter top and I just painted regular paint over it... not chalk board paint. Well on Pinterest I saw someone's pin to a link at the Martha Stewart website about how to make your own chalk board paint. Not only is that less expensive than chalk board paint, but you get the color you want. So I asked for some magnetic paint for Christmas (and got it). Then I spend more of my Christmas money at Home Depot and bought another quart of magnetic paint, some unsanded tile grout, and a quart of my color of choice for my chalk board (which in this case was dark blue). I also bought accessories needed to paint (tape, roller covers, tray liners, etc) and the PVC pipe for the previously made play house, but I digress.

First I painted a border around the wall... a lighter color to set off the chalk board wall.



I let that dry and then I taped off where I wanted the magnetic paint. How I decided how big I wanted it was basically I did it as high as I could reach and then on each side and the bottom I went in 6 inches.



Then I painted the magnetic paint. This area, which is approximately 64 square feet, took 2 full quarts of magnetic paint. I did several coats... I lost count after 6 or 7. The more coats of magnetic paint, the better your magnetic hold.



I took the tape off and allowed it to dry. Ideally it probably should have dried overnight, but I just wanted to get it done. I let it dry while I went grocery shopping then I retaped the wall and mixed the grout into my paint. I put 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout per cup of paint (so I did 8 Tbsp for a quart of paint) into a gallon bucket and then I poured the paint in. I mixed this for several minutes.

I painted two coats and that used up almost the whole quart.

Then I used the side of a piece of chalk and seasoned the board (covered the whole thing) and then used a damp cloth to wipe it off.



Then our magnetic chalk board was ready to use. I had hoped this would be an attraction to Little Brother and occupy him during school. So far it doesn't hold his attention very long, but the rest of us have been enjoying it. :)

Some hints and tips: The magnetic paint has a powerful odor. Paint during a season of the year that you can open the windows. All of us were getting a little light headed by the end of the day. Also the magnetic paint splatters. Wear clothes you don't care about and don't wear rings or watches or bracelets. It was several days before the magnetic paint was off my hands. Keep the tape on the baseboards too. And use green "Frog Tape", not the regular blue painters tape. It costs more, but the quality is worth it. You get a crisp edge that doesn't pull the paint off with it when you remove it. I was concerned about that with 6, 7 or 8 layers of magnetic paint, but it pulled off perfectly.