New Black Crowes

Abigail's Christmas Morning finished

Abigail's Christmas Morning

copyright 2010

Feathers in the Nest

28 count Cashel Cherub Pink linen

Fibers: Crescent Colors

Buttons and cookie cutouts from Hobby Lobby and Joanne's

Wood beadboard frame from Joanne's Fabrics

Framed by Me and Thee

Well, we have spent the day finishing the finishes and taking down Christmas stuff. I usually do that soon after Christmas is over and got my desk now cozied up to the fire so I can chat with you, my friends!  : )

The fire feels so good. Hubbie has done an excellent job at putting down the liner and the stair treads. The matching 2 x 3 rugs for the top and bottom of stairs are on backorder. Can't wait. But here's a sneak peak. I thought Abbie would high-tail it up the stairs now but she still is leary with 3 steps.

Take a peekie from the top:

Stair treads from Yankee Sturbridge Workshop ( a new addiction)

This is the black multi.

BG did a good job with putting the liners and the treads on!

The 2 x 3 rugs to match for the landing up and down stairs are on backorder  :(

Anyways Abbie took a peek:

We were at the top calling her. But I don't think she is going to do this many stairs.

She just looked at us like we had 10 heads.

Nope, 2 stairs and on the way down.

Well, this is one accomplishment this weekend. BG has been vacuuming upstairs and cleaning out for the delivery truck for the new beds which could be tomorrow or 3 weeks from today.

Christmas morning was nice. I got way too much and somebody else who's name starts with an A did too.

notice the feet, and who do they look like????

Honestly, I didn't notice this until I bought this toy. Honestly.

Her Uncle Paul, said this is beyond spoiled. You think?

And again, I didn't intentionally realize this until I looked closer but don't you think this bow looks samplery looking?>>

And treats galore

Of course, snowman is her favorite. The carrot nose intrigues her.

XXSmall doggie T's

And after all that, she was even sweet, nose to nose, with Thomas at the door. She's NEVER done that.

Then we opened our gifts.

Just found out she completely shredded the pillow and chair pad I got from Yankee Sturbridge (shown in earlier posts). BG put them on the sofa instead of in the box where I had them.   Abbie I guess decided to shred them. I think I'm sick to my stomach now.

Carry on.

The Christmas spirit is still here at the homestead

Mario and me last week during Christmas shopping at the Mall of Georgia

Well today I got to sleep in again and it was wonderful. Warm bed and snow on the ground outside to wake up to. The temps are going to be high  of 33 so not much will melt, maybe.
These joints and bones though are not going to be building a snow man today. I cooked an 8 lb ham yesterday and it was GOOD! Enjoying brunch now with a cuppa tea to go with.

Nesting is in order today. Last night, I finished the Abigail's Christmas Morning sampler and the house was such a mess, couldn't find my large sewing scissors to trim the fabric. So, plan to delve into finding those again after my caffeine fix. When that's finished Body Guard and I have 13 stair treads to put down and to cut the liners to go under them so we won't fall. I can't wait to see it!

I'm always working on something around the house. Hoping our bedroom stuff comes in by the next couple of weeks because we are having company and I would love to have the house together.

Santa was up last night packing boxes out to send as the kids didn't show up or even call. I hope they had a great Christmas and their goodies will go out tomorrow in the mail. HO HO HO!

I started this weekend stitching one of my own freebies and found an error, so I will correct the pattern when finished. I think it's going to be a cute one.  :)

Now onward to cleaning and decluttering.........wish me luck with putting down new stair treads with hubbie today. Home improvement projects are just so much fun for me.......NOT for him though.   LOL

This weekend went by toooooo fast.

Amazing Grace,
Jennifer

Merry Christmas Eve!

While I'm wrapping and putting goodies out, Miss Abigail would like to tell you and all your canines, Merry Christmas Eve. We are loving the fireplace that has been going all day and wishing for a white Christmas but the weather man keeps changing the predictions so we'll see.

Thank you, Parsley for this sweater, she is so cute in it. Finishing the touches of a sampler to show soon. Now to sit back and sip some cidar and munch on goodies that are so delightful.

Love ya,

Jennifer, Abbie, and Bodyguard

Thursday Thoughts

Thank goodness it's Friday  Thursday!

Work-week is over and a 3 day weekend, hoping for snow as the weatherman says tonight. I may see my first white Christmas in 47 years. We'll see. Supposed to get 4-6 inches Christmas night and the day after.

Early morning rush to the stores tomorrow----to get my new glasses, 2nd pair. These are supposed to be transition lens for outside so the lights don't hurt my eyes. Otherwise, I think we will collect all the dollar store readers and donate tomorrow while we are at the store so that someone else can use them.

Then on to who knows what for our Friday tomorrow............definitely will be a spontaneous kind of day.

My Grown-up Christmas List

Every year I put out the huge Christmas village that I have collected over the past 15 years. This year, I did not. I found this "Jennifer's Craft Store" from Walmart one year to add to it and couldn't believe they had my name on the craft store.

I've often dreamed about how cool it would be to own a cross stitch shop, just as we all have dreams. So, I own one, but it's quite tiny!!! LOL

My Grown-up Christmas List

• a hug from my kids
• to find a good family in need to leave our Christmas jar at the door anonymously

My list is short this year. Funny, how Christmas is so commercialized now that we forget the real meaning behind Christmas. Sometimes, the smallest things can mean so much. 

 Thank you for your friendships all over the world. You mean alot to me and sending out a Christmas hug to all, from my craft shop.

Canine Treat Recipes for Christmas Baking

It's hard to tell this one that TREATS are running low in the house.

In browsing through some recipes for doggie treats, I came upon this one. I think Miss Abigail, Raven and Ruby will like these.

Working most of the week in a frenzy and then off Christmas Eve.

 As usual, Christmas cookie baking starts about 2 pm on Christmas Eve and then Apple Cidar is brewing on the stove with a bag of spices, cloves and orange slices with cookies there to munch on through the evening. This year Abbie, with her sweet tooth, I think would like these to add to the list. 

I have made a wish on the Lunar Eclipse tonight for a Christmas miracle and hope it comes true on Christmas. I guess we all can hope.

I have never made doggie treats from scratch but have collected recipes such as this. I already have the dog bone shaped tins from  last year and we'll see how this goes.

Peanut Butter Slice and Bake Biscuits !!!!!!  Recipe number 1


Ingredients


•1 cup whole wheat flour

•¾ cup smooth peanut butter

•½ cup water

•2 tablespoons molasses

•2 tsp plain wheat germ

•¼ tsp sea salt

•¼ cup shredded dried beef, saved for top of cookies



Directions
1.Pre-heat oven to 375°.

2.In a pot on top of the stove, place your peanut butter, molasses, water, wheat germ and salt. Warm at medium heat.

3.Melt the ingredients together, whisking quickly.

4.Once melted and smooth, take the peanut butter mixture, which should now be nearly liquid, and put in a small bowl.

5.Measure your flour into a large mixing bowl, and fold in your liquid mixture slowly until your dough is soft. Be sure to have a well-floured board ready to go!

6.Once you have your dough mixed to the consistency you desire, turn it onto your floured board, roll it into a log shape. Place it in the refrigerator for two hours, until your dough is hard enough to slice into ¼-inch sections. If you are in a real rush, you can place it in the freezer for ½ hour until firm.

7.Have a cookie sheet ready to go, and spray it lightly with a non-stick spray.

8.Place your slice and bake cookies on the cookie sheet.

9.Put the dried beef in a blender or food processor to chop it.

10.Sprinkle the top of each cookie with your shredded, dried beef.

11.Bake for 25 minutes. Turn off the oven and let your cookies dry out as the oven cools down. This will make them hard and help keep them fresh. It will also bring out the flavor and make it more intense.

12.Once your cookies have completely cooled, it is time to place them in an air-tight container. You can either gift wrap them if you are giving them as a gift, or store them in your freezer up to three months until you are ready to serve them. You can also store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

To save time in a pinch, you can also make the dough and freeze it for up to three months until you are ready to use it. I love these slice and bake treats because they are fun, fast and, most of all, easy!

Recipe number 2

 Apple Crisp Dog Biscuits


These biscuits can be kept frozen for up to three months, or kept in an airtight container for two weeks.

INGREDIENTS:
•¾ cups beef broth

•1/3 cup sunflower seeds, shelled

•1 cup dark rye flour

•1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour

•½ cup barley flakes

•½ cup rolled oats

•½ cup buckwheat flour

•1 cup dried apples, chopped

•½ cup apples, peeled, seeded and chopped small

•2 tablespoons plain wheat germ

•1 large egg

•2 tablespoons safflower oil

•2 tablespoons dark molasses

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375°

2.Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray.

3.Separate the egg yolk from the egg white, and set aside in two bowls.

4.In a blender or food processor, combine beef broth, oil, egg yolk and molasses until mixed very well.

5.In a large mixing bowl, add all of your dry ingredients.

6.Now, slowly add the liquid. This will form sticky dough. Make sure you flour both your hands and your cutting board.

7.Roll out your dough to ¼ thickness and cut into any shape you like. I use my small dog bone cookie cutter, but feel free to use any shape you like.

Now, here is the second part that will make your biscuits brown and crunchy.



1.Bake for 20 minutes at 375°.

2.Remove the biscuits from oven, and use a pastry brush to paint the tops with your egg whites. This will make them shiny and give them a nice golden color.

3.After you brush the biscuit tops, return them to the oven to bake for another ten minutes.

4.Very important: When the biscuits are brown, turn the oven down to 200°, and leave them in the oven for two hours.

5.Then and only then, turn the oven off. Leave the biscuits in the oven as long as you can to dry them out further. This will make them hard, and it will also give them a more intense flavor. Chewing very hard biscuits helps keep your dog's teeth clean.

6.I like to leave the biscuits in the oven overnight. The more moisture you take out of the biscuits, the longer they will keep.

7.Be sure to let the biscuits cool at least eight hours before storing.

Yields 30 biscuits.

This biscuit has great fiber and flavor, and is a healthy treat for your dog.

Just because she sits in my lap ALL the time whether it's writing or stitching.

Doesn't mean she is spoiled one bit.

But she loves treats. So, because she is not spoiled a bit, I will consider making one of these recipes for her this year.  ;)

This lump of white sugar has been a huge blessing this year.

Till later,

Jennifer

Saturday Ventures

YEAH!  Heard from Virpi and those items will catch Santa's ride to Finland this week!!!  Cool!

Abbie yesterday morning in one of her sweaters with fringe. I think she should model for Target puppy section don't you?

And a surprise package from Auntie Parsley!!

Cute stitckers Parsley. Love them!

Abbie was so excited to see this and I was too!

Her tail was waiting!

Oh yippee!  A beautiful sweater !!!!!

in mine and hers favorite color of pink!

She doesn't have one like this and I love the little doggie on the front!!!!!

Beautiful. Thank you, Aunti Parsley very much. You are so special.

Last year Parsley sent Ren a Christmas sweater and it is now Abbie's. She loves it too. I've counted now and she has 30 outfits, I know, that is an illness. LOL

I promise to get her pic in her new sweater real soon to post.

BG and myself are going shopping, yes, that's right shopping the weekend before Christmas. I will armor myself when going to the mall and believe me, he will be profiling everyone as I run hither and yonder in child-like excitement of the decor and the store fun! He says he has shopping to do too. We have decided to get a new bed for Christmas and are going shopping for that and mattresses too. So a full day ahead, and night.

Last night I slept 12 hours, couldn't believe it, woke up at 11:30am this morning. I must have been really tired from the week.

Tomorrow I have to finish Abigail's sampler and frame it. I got the frame for it this week at a Joanne's on a road trip Tuesday.

Thank you Parsley for these very cool Chi bookmarks!!!!!!  I will definitely use these and you know how I love chihauhaus.

Well, last night we had a nice fire which felt so good and probably made me very sleepy as well after we  returned from a Christmas party where I stuffed my stomach like no yonder. I literally felt like I needed spandex pants to attend such good food gatherings. ;)

It's overcast here today but fixing to take a road trip to Buford, Ga. where I'm sure the traffic is gridlocked because of the holiday but who knows what we will venture into today.

Hope your Saturday goes well too.

Till later,

Jennifer

Giveway goodies arrived this afternoon---need winner contact

The winner of this give a way announced this week is Virpi from Finland. If you know an email address for her please let me know. If I still don't hear from her by Sunday night, I will be drawing another name for these goodies as Santa is ready to ship these. Next week, I will be working most of the week, so hoped to get these out tomorrow or if not, then on Monday.

    The wooden box with lifetime warranty heirloom scissors are eye candy and absolutely stunning. I should have ordered one myself but didn't. And as always Blackbird Designs are beautiful and includes the linen and threads for one of the patterns.

Hope the lucky winner enjoys these for years to come.

Thanks again,

Jennifer