Baking and Books

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As I have mentioned in other posts, I belong to the local library book club.  Our club meets each month and discuss a book that was pre-selected by one of the book club members.  Each of us are in charge of choosing a book and supplying the group with a tasty treat one month of the year.  This month was my turn.  

I had chose a historical non-fiction book entitled "Buddha in the Attic" written by Julie Otsuka.  It is a very easy read, historically accurate and an interesting read.

 

photo credit

 

Deciding on treats was the next challenge.  There happens to be between 12 and 14 members within the group at any given meeting. 

 

All of the members so far have brought store bought treats and seeing that I am a person who would rather do some home baking ( this way knowing the ingredients that are being added ) decided that I would get busy.  I think that bringing homemade goodies are becoming a lost art but are still so very much appreciated. 

 

                  

 

 

Still having quite a bit of pumpkin in the freezer, I whipped up a batch of pumpkin bars ..... I used this recipe and topped them with cream cheese frosting. 

 

 

Then I popped some drop sugar cookies in the oven.  Having a container of Betty Crocker peppermint frosting left over from Christmas shopping, I thought it would be a nice touch to the cookies. 

 

 

Then noticing some stray candy canes left over as well, I tossed them into the Ninja and crushed them to a coarse powder. 

 

 

Once the cookies were cooled and iced, I sprinkled the crushed candy canes on the icing ..... THAT sure got rave reviews!!! 

 

Not wanting only sweets on the table ( in case someone was unable to eat them ) I added a combination cheese and cracker tray.

 

We had a wonderful evening talking about the story, munching on goodies and planning for the next book over the course of a couple of hours. 

 

I look forward to these evenings and spending some time discussing one of my favorite pastimes ..... reading!  Do you belong to a book club?  What is it like?  I would love to hear about it .... and maybe pick up some ideas!

 

Happy reading and remember to give your loved ones a hug! 





from a dear friend

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I will be celebrating a birthday soon.  I don't like birthdays.  Never have.  I do not enjoy being the center of attention that having a birthday brings. 

 

I do however have wonderful friends and family who take the time to wish me the best, send and give gifts or spend some time visiting with me.  I appreciate it all ..... every little bit.

 

 

 

I have a dear friend whom I never met in person.  We met on a frugal website forum and there the friendship began.  We swap stories, dreams and sorrows.  I have 'watched' her oldest grandson grow through the years and 'witnessed' another one being born.  Now she has a third grandchild on the way and I am so excited for her! 

 

She enjoys so many of the same things I do ..... crafting, gardening and living simply.  Although for now our friendship consists of emails, messages and phone calls.  One day I am sure, we will meet in person and it will be as if we had never met.  We call each other our 'kindred sister'.

 

 

Deannie was ever so thoughtful and sent me a lovely birthday present.  Amazingly Deannie does not know what outfits I like to wear or my style BUT she could not have picked a better present.  Actually she had the present MADE especially for me by one of her co-workers.

 

 

Isn't it gorgeous?! I just LOVE it!!!  When I chose something to wear for work, I like to incorporate scarves into my outfit.  I can wear the same outfit a whole week (I don't, but I could! LOL) and it wouldn't look the same just by changing the scarf, accessories and footwear.  So this present was a PERFECT thoughtful gift!

 

 

Thanks Deannie and please give those grandbabies Liam and Rio a huge hug and kiss for me!!  Talk to you soon my friend.

 

Have a wonderful day and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

 

Valentine Tree

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Last Wednesday I  made some little sweet hearts when we had a 'no school ice day' and left you with a promise that I would show you today where I would put them BUT first I had to make it!  It's a Valentine Tree!!!

I got the idea to make a Valentine Tree ..... well really a tree that can be used year round for each holiday, just by changing up the decorations ..... from Leslie over at A Spoonful of Everything.  I thought it was such an adorable idea, I just had to copy it.  I hope you don't mind Leslie!

On my morning walk, I grabbed the pruning shears and headed out the door.  Since the ice storm, it isn't as easy to walk around as it use to be!

Making my way carefully around the property, I searched for the perfect branches that would make up my little 'tree'.  I wanted to make sure I chose some sturdy ones as I am hoping to use the 'tree' for Easter, Canada Day, July 4th ..... you see where I am going with this?

Finding the 'best' bush on the property, I carefully trimmed some branches ..... I don't want to kill the poor bush and headed back indoors where there is no ice that could break a hip or something.

Finding a large enough 'vase' that wouldn't topple once the branches were placed inside, I proceeded to decorate my Valentine Tree. 

 

 

Isn't it just cute?  So easy but oh so festive.  I do however have to make more hearts....either that or make my tree a tad bit smaller as there seems to be quite a few branches!  Now Suzan made a comment the other day to add red lights....oh how I wish I had some!  That would really 'add' to the tree.  I also love the idea that Katie had to hang them from ribbons in the window.  I think I need to make A LOT more!

 

 

Do you have such a thing?  If you do, I would love to hear about it and see it on your blog!  Just leave a comment and I will head over to check it out.  

 

         

Then after seeing Stephanie's Paper and Yarn Valentine Trees over at The Enchanting Rose, I wanted to make one of those as well!  My yarn was quite thick enough so I had to wrap around the paper cone twice to make it appear full. 

 

 

Thanks for the idea Stephanie, although yours are so much prettier! 

 

Remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Fall Banner

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While perusing Pinterest the other evening ..... which can seriously take up a lot of my time!!!!  .....   I noticed all the lovely fall banners out there.  Well I just had to get in on that project!

There were quite a few that I adored .... so much talent, ideas and inspiration.  I love the look of burlap this year but unfortunately I didn't have any on hand.  I did though, have a couple of little pieces from another project long ago before burlap was popular so I set those aside.

I didn't follow a pattern of any type, I just cut out a template from a piece of cardboard of the approximate size that I thought would work well.

Finding a small amount of 'fall' type fabric in the stash, I used the cardboard template to cut out four triangles.  

Then using stencils, I cut out the letters F, A, and L from the burlap .... but then that started to fray .... what to do?

Taking some similar colored embroidery floss from my supply, I sewed the letters to the fabric triangles.    No more fraying!  

Now to put it all together .... to me the triangles still looked unfinished.  

                          

Back to the craft cupboard.  Bias tape was the key.  Sewing the tape around each triangle and using it as the hanging strip for the whole project, I was done.

Hanging it in the window and adding my pumpkins and new nutcracker,  Halloween kitty my fall decorating was complete.  LOL 

It isn't much but since we never get any trick-or-treaters out here in the country, I don't decorate much for fall or Halloween.

Happy fall and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

                                                       

Small Rewards

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My husband is one of those people who always makes friends no matter what.....sooooo because of that we are always treated with company off and on, all day long, each and every day.  All of our friends know that the evenings are reserved for 'us' so company in the evening is rare.

The evenings are special to us.  We will surf the web...each on our own laptop ... hee, hee,  we will watch a t.v. program together, read a book, knit, challenge each other to a board game or just spend the time talking about chores, goals, projects and dreams....but always, always...we will have our our small 'rewards'.  

We each have our own 'small rewards'. Hubby's 'small rewards' are usually food.....or his favorite t.v. program that he follows online since we do not have cable or satellite television.

My 'small rewards' are quite simple as well but oh so very special to me.  I have flavored tea and coffee specially reserved for those times or sometimes I will have a new magazine to explore....my magazine subscriptions are bought and paid for with coke reward points....love, love, love that I don't have to buy magazines anymore!  Some nights will include those little, itsy, bitsy chocolate bars as a treat or a bowl of my favorite ice cream.  

After a long day of working it is wonderful to look forward to something enjoyable, especially if that day wasn't.  

We treasure our evenings and we treasure our 'small rewards' as simple as they might be.  What are your small rewards at the end of the day?  Remember to give your loved ones a hug!