Saturday Baths and Saturday Samplers

One of the many projects/samplers/etc. I am working on is to finish 12 Washcloths for the upstairs bath!

I found a free pattern, actually many free patterns unlike the ones I did for the Etsy shop, this was is corrugated.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/corrugated-cloth

Click above for the pattern.

I picked Bernat cotton with a Joannes' 50% off coupon one day and the colors are Cloves, Avocado, and Indigo.  These are fun to make anyways and easy to pick and put down when busy. I'm almost done with one Indigo one.  11 more to go~!

On the cross stitching front, as I was cleaning out some stash and moving it to the studio, I saw this project, brand new and had it for at least 3 years from The Scarlett Letter. I got this actually on ebay and the copyright of the sampler is 1982. I am not able to find it on their website any longer. Someone wanted to know.

But, I opened it up and started this simple sampler! The floss is silk and one strand is used. 25 ct unbleached linen  of which I like and off I go. This antique sampler will go in the family room at the homestead.

The Antique Alphabet Sampler by The Scarlett Letter

 

 



 

 

 

 

The colors in the pic look different than the floss they supplied; however, I still love them.

 I also have a couple I need to work on of my own designs. This little sampler was irresistable though to stitch. The Scarlett Letter reproduction antique samplers are probably one of the most favorite.

I hope this finds you safe, happy, and needles in hand!

Jennifer

Oatmeal Cookies from scratch!

My hands are never idle. If they are I'm sleeping. Today is our 7 month anniversary! We have kinda set a tradition to have a homemade dessert on our anniversary date month. So....................

today is Oatmeal Cookies. Not just the plain ones. Well, the basic recipe with a little jazz and pizazz.

These turned out so well just like I like them, thin and slightly crispy!

Yes, the homestead is fragrant with Home. Sweet. Home.

Yes they are YUM!

I tweaked the recipe out of the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook I have. Abbie is drooling as I type while I eat one now.  :P

This is my improvised version and it seems to make them more thin and crispy but soft in the middle.

Fox Mountain Homestead Oatmeal Cookies

 

1 and 1/2 sticks of butter, softened well

1 cup of packed brown sugar + a smidgen more (1 tbsp)

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1 tsp of baking powder

1/4 ( or a tiny grains less) of baking soda

2 and 1/2 or so tsp of cinnamon (the more the better)

1/4 tsp of ground cloves

2 eggs

3 tsp of pure vanilla flavoring (no imitations)

1 and 1/2 cups of all purpose flour

2 cups of dried oats (uncooked, in quaker oatmeal paper cannister)

1/2 tsp of salt

1/2 cup of finely crushed walnuts

 

 

Gather all your ingredients and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. The best way to yield a cookie without a darkened edge too much is to use Parchment paper. You can find it by the aluminum paper in the grocery store. A box will last forever. You only tear off a sheet large enough to cover a cooking pan. This make sure no sticking and is easy to clean up when finished. The paper will not burn unless you are baking over 450 degees.

 

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium-high for 30 sec to a minute.

 

Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and the salt, cinnamon, and cloves.

Beat in eggs and vanilla all together at one time.

Beat in all of the all-purpose flour for about 2 minutes.

 

Then  take off the beaters and hand one to your soulmate and one for you to enjoy and remember sweetness.

 

Then take a large spoon and fold in the batter the 2 cups of oats and the walnuts.

Stir all batter well.

 

On the parchment paper covered baking sheet, put 1 well rounded tsp about 2 inches apart (these spread alot)

 

Put in oven and set cooking time for 8 minutes.

 

Then when 8 minutes are up, scoop right away to a plate with a spatula (if you wait till they cool they cook longer even while not in the oven from the heat of the pan)

 

This makes the chewiest, thin, crispy oatmeal cookie you'll ever eat!!!!

 

When the plate is full set under your glass cake stand an enjoy with coffee, milk, or hot tea.

 

 

 

Place near the sofa and watch an episode of The Waltons!

 

 

Live simple.

 

Count blessings.

 

Spread love.

Pink or Blue?

I can't wait until the Royal baby is born!  I so want a baby Princess!!!  But if it's a Prince, that is fine with me too as long as it's healthy and happy. ;)

Well, Feathers in the Nest has a design pending the gender of the special baby. I want to pull out alot of pink overdyed sampler threads but still have to wait to see. Nevertheless, I picked up an empty flower vase in pink and went into the yard for flowers. The combo looked good with my quilt remnant that will make a cute runner in the guest room.

I can tell you the design will include motifs of a prince or princess infant, gingham border, sampler dates and a verse of my own!

While I can't start model stitching on it yet until I know boy or girl, I can show you the pretty flowers and fabbie on the little table in one of the guest bedrooms.

I thought while cleaning this room today I would add some pop color of nature.

 

My cup is tipped over. :P

 

This is a teeny set to go with my china in the dining room. For little ones who visit, it's a favorite! This was my own table when I was preschool, age 3.

 

 

Pink or blue?

I think we will know in a few weeks.................until then, enjoy both colors waiting on the little one!

Have a cup of tea and let's chat.......do you think the Royal baby is a girl or boy???

Jennifer

Abigail's Primitive Bed: A Diamond in the Rough

From the moment Mr. Darcy saw potential in trash crate for Abbie a bed I was confident he would make it special. He is very good with woodworking. The wood was rough cut and no paint was on it except some old white paint on the side of a strip. I knew it would be turned into something special for Miss Abbie because he loves her so much.

I didn't get a pic of the crate wood found in the trash but he made it into this one day while I was at work. He made this in no time.for the end pieces!

He made a footboard and headboard. We wanted it high off the ground so she couldn't jump out during the night to wonder off an play around. LOL  She is able to sleep through the night for a long time without "doing her business" and she loves sleeping in the room with us. So off to make this a primitive match for our colonial/cottagey/prim home. When the alarm goes off, she sleeps right through it.

Many folks who saw this wanted us to stain it and we thought about it; however, there would have to much prep done first. Mr. Darcy said let's distress it and paint it so the only stained part is a large chunk of wood in a heart shape to go at the headboard.
It actually looks like a crib.

He made spindles out of the remaining junk wood.

 

And here you have a diamond in the rough.

 

Abbie has a very thick plush covered tan pillow that fills the bottom already.

 

Yesterday after church we did our prim work, along with getting gothic fingernails. :)

 

 

Distressed with cheesecloth and painted in the rough with Primitive Black, Miss Abbie is on the way to her prim bed.

 

Next, I have to stain the medium chuncky heart wood to put at the headboard and attach.

 

The pillow works well for the bottom and even filling the sides.

 

I'm working for her a coverlet that matches the other colors in the room to go across the top of her pillow. Also sturdy enough to be a sleeping pad if she likes. This will make the piece of furniture blend in the room.

 

 

Rough sections of remnants. The remainder is in Baby Alpaca double stranded to make it thick.

 

 

 

Using large circulars, Knit pic DREAMZ I worked on this all night last night.

 

Still have about half more to do.

 

 

When the bed gets totally finished, I will post pics again. 

 

It's been a fun and functional project working with Mr. Darcy.

 

We both love Abbie so much. She is one spoiled furbaby!!!

 

We went junkin' yesterday afternoon and that big roll of soft yellow you see and this bag for pennies was found. I guess someone was cleaning out their stash.

 

I love remnants and this is definitely going to be useful when I learn to make Abbie attire.

 

 

 

I love the colors and the balls of yarn in there. Most are acrylic and good for pet sweaters, toys, even blocks to form a small blankie for her.

 

I'm thankful I saw this yesterday. Mr. Darcy sold 2 pics in this junkin place. Very proud of him.

 

We ended the day with grilled steaks, by the grillmaster, and they were more than juicy and good!

 

Today, I'm getting busy to finish Miss Abbie's bed, washing linens and finish the normal room cleaning and laundry of Mondays.

 

Abbie will not be scared anymore of loud thunder and lightning. She has a place in our room to sleep and see us always. I can't tell you how much she loves it.

She doesn't sleep with us because she is a snuggler and I have almost rolled on top of her and afraid she might get smothered. This was the best option.

 

In the future, Mr. Darcy wants to make some doggie beds that are lower to the ground and with ability for the animal to go in and out whenever. This bed was made just for her needs. I know there are other pets that are different in needs.

 

A trash crate made to a nice Doggie Bed goes to show that what one considers trash is another man's treasure.

 

On Saturday night, we had these on the grill:

 

 

 

Chicken Kabobs!

 

They were perfect for grilling and having a candlelight dinner outside.

 

Mr. Darcy got his Father's Day gift early.

 

 

 It was a power tool he needed in the shop.

Abbie actually rode in the buggy in Lowe's to help pick it out. She did really well, no barks, and very well-mannered throughout the store.

 

I wore my shawl I made with hot pink and orange. This is a pattern design by Stephanie Japel and it's called City Shawl on Ravelry. I decided not to block it as I like the size it was already.

 

 

 

My dining room turned craft table is getting cleaned today to go down in the studio. I'm still organizing my studio and one day will post pics.

 

I hope you have a great Monday! I feel so blessed.

 

Jennifer