Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Caviar for my Chickens?

Slug Caviar....that is.
This picture was borrowed from Ask website.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

The Frank Tree.

I made this up as I went along to make The Frank Tree.
This special tree is a countdown to his birthday.  
I loved the Christmas Paisley as the background to the Silk Dupioni tree and ornaments.
The Moose was recreated out of wool felt.  
He made that with his bare hands and foot when he was almost three.
The back has a huge Houndstooth pattern (with wings).
Next time, I'll sew this a little different.
Again, no pattern, just my imagination and knowing my son will love the back.
There is also a dowel pocket at the top.

I made this for him because it was to be all about Frank.

Monday, December 23, 2013

A Christmas I'll never forget....

It was 1990.  I graduated from the Reserve Police Academy that summer as an Officer;  money was tight as I worked for minimum wage to make a living for my one-year-old son and me; and I was going through a divorce.
It was December 24th and I was finishing up a sweater I was knitting as a gift for my son when I got a late phone call from one of the office gals at the PD.  She said someone left some boxes of presents in my name and asked me to come get them.  I looked at the clock and saw it was after 10 pm but told her I would right away.
I got my son and bundled him up and we drove the 13 miles to town.  When I walked into the PD, no one was there but the 2 big boxes full of presents for my son.  I packed them into my '87 Toyota pickup and we drove back home.
After tucking my son back in bed, I hauled the boxes into the house and placed them under the tree and finished up his sweater.  I cried and cried with the thought that someone cared enough about us to do this.  I still had no idea who did this.
Morning came and my son (about to turn 2) jumped around with excitement at the colorfully wrapped gifts under the tree.  I soon found out they came from the Radio Shack store that was owned by Keith Mercer and his wife.  Keith was a police officer there.  I did not think of Keith this way as he was very serious about his work.
This was the most memorable Christmas ever and I reflect back on it every year.
I am ever so grateful to him and the PD for giving me so much.....not only the gifts for my son but the gifts I learned as a Reserve Police Officer.
Merry Christmas to all.....

Sunday, December 15, 2013

The chicken named Princess Pea

Princess Pea in the roost
I just came in after locking the three girls out of their huge run so I could dig up some carrots.  They wanted in badly because I had the tool that digs up worms.  Oh, yeah!
I caved and let them in  and dug up some worms and such.  Princess Pea ran to the roost and I thought, Ah, an egg will soon be here, and went back to digging for #1 and Tattie.  Lo and behold, Princess Pea was back.  Hmmm, I know she didn't have enough time to do her job.  She must have thought, I have a few minutes before I have to.
Never mind, I thought, and went back to digging.  Oh!  There goes Princess Pea running to the roost, again!  This time she didn't come back.....not even for worms.  I'm still laughing at how she thought she could squeeze in one more worm before squeezing out one more egg.  LOLOL

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Leftovers? Easy way I put mine to work!

First, prepare a piroshki dough you make the night before.  Don't have a good recipe?  Email me and I'll send one to you....Check my profile for that.

Then chop up your leftover turkey and place in one bowl, stuffing and mashed potatoes in another bowl, vegetable of your choice and some grated cheese.

 The assembly line is ready!
Filled pastries are ready for their egg wash.
I used parchment paper for easy clean up.

Last time I used the piroshki dough recipe, I used cooked sausage and scrambled eggs for the filling.  It's a great way to start the day by taking one out of the freezer and placing in the microwave for only 30-45 seconds.  Yum!