Aprons and hearts

I have fallen in love with "garlands"! I decided to use my mini-aprons that I make as ornament/favors for the Christmas Cookie Exchange that my SIL and I host as a garland over my kitchen window. All I needed was some twine and mini wooden clothespins! TADAA!
I also made a Valentine Garland using vintage Valentine graphics from The Graphics Fairy.

It was easy! Print, cut, glitter, punch and thread ribbon through the holes!

Y'all Come Back,

Lorilee

Daylight shortage!

I recently made my first Etsy purchase! I got this sweet apron that converts into a bonnet from Paula's Fraker Farms Etsy shop. Here is her post about it.
Receiving it in the mail was a highlight of my week! Otherwise, life is busy, but daylight is short! Our central air/heat had major issues. Now we have a new unit. The teenager is down with an upper respiratory infection and on antibiotics. Not good material for blogging about with accompanying photos anyway! So I searched the archives for some "sunnier times".
Definitely sunnier here. I see the sunburns. (This was building the playset in the backyard)

Oh, sweet summertime. There's nothing like mud between your toes and pond grass wrapped around your body while taking a dip in the catfish pond!

More sunburns! My youngest and his cousins loved to pull a wagon full of big buckets up and down the street and collect toads.

Yes, they are wearing rollerblades that are much too large for them.

Cupcake time.

One of the trips to Goose Island State Park! The boys love crabbing.

Mmm watermelon that Paw Paw and Grandma grew!

The watermelon after the raccoons reached into the ice chest.

A last photo before saying good-bye to that camping trip.

I'm kinda wishing for summer right now!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

We've been having lots of rainy weather in my neck of the woods. This makes for a very muddy chicken run! I've been letting them out into the yard whenever possible.

Matilda is enjoying a little jog around the yard!

Madeline just spotted something--is it edible?

Gottlieb and Buffy seem to be after the same tidbit!

Y'all Come Back!

Lorilee

After my first taste of Pizzelles at our Cookie Exchange Party, I am hooked on them! Lucky for me, my guys are not fond of them. That means I actually get some! The ingredients are easy-eggs, oil, sugar, flour, vanilla and anise. Some recipes call for melted butter instead of oil and baking powder. I think the baking powder gives them a drier crunch, and I prefer the chewier crunch.

Most of all you need a Pizzelle Press.

I purchased mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

The batter is all ready to go!

Mmmm. I adore anise! I also love black jelly beans.

I hope to share some with my SIL who also loves them. That is, if I can keep myself from eating them all!
This is the recipe that I like. I halved it.

6 cups flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

1 dozen eggs

1 tsp vanilla

anise to taste (about 1 tsp.)

Lightly beat the eggs with a whisk. Add oil and extracts and mix well. Add sifted flour and sugar, a little at a time. I start mixing with a whisk, but I switch to a wooden spoon as soon as it starts thickening. Preheat Pizzelle press. My press uses heaping teaspoon size dollops of batter. I use the 2 1/2 setting and bake them for about 1 1/2 minutes.

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Farewell 2010, Hello 2011!

So long, farewell,good-bye 2010!

We hope everyone has a wonderful 2011!
Y'all come back!

Lorilee

Pussycat, where have you been?

This Saturday was the day to take down my Christmas tree and decorations. My doggies just slept on the sofa and loveseat while I was busy. My kitty, on the other hand, was in the middle of it all! He had to try out the little Christmas tree box.
He seems quite comfortable.

Next he had to try out the tub that holds my faux greenery!

Still trying out those tubs!

After I packed the Nativity, he had to try out the shelf for size!

When I carried the tubs out to the garage, he decided to have a seat on the jeep. We didn't tell Dad about that one!

I think he hated to see the tubs go!

I've suggested we call him Samson, instead of the original Beasty. He only comes to "Here Kitty, Kitty" and that is if he feels like it.

Y'all Come Back!

Lorilee