Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 3/1 - Grandma's Sweet Dill Pickles

Do you have one of those recipes that you sometimes just forget about, but then you have them somewhere else and remember that it's just really, really good? Kind of one of those, why didn't I think of that moments.

My grandma makes these really awesome little pickles. Kind of sweet, but not in the same way sweet pickles are. I make them a lot in the summer, but haven't given them much thought lately.

We had dinner at my grandparents this past weekend and she had these on the table as an appetizer/dinner go along. I ate one without thinking much of it, but when I bit down....yummy!! They really hit the spot and I ended up eating more than a dozen before I realized. Oops! I hope the others got some too. :o)

These do take some time to do their thing in the fridge so you have to remember to make them before you need them.


Grandma's Sweet Dill Pickles

1 qt. dill pickles (midget pickles work great)
1/4 cup water
2/3 cup vinegar
2 1/2 cups sugar

Bring water, vinegar and sugar to a boil in a saucepot. Be careful not to boil over! Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, drain pickles and rinse with cold water. Rinse out the jar. Cut pickles into 1 inch pieces and place back in jar. When liquid is cool, pour over pickles. Replace lid and store in refrigerator at least a week for best flavor.

For more great recipes visit Hearth and Soul, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday and Tuesdays at the Table.




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Crafty Friday 2/25 - Show Me the Crafts!

If you haven't heard by now, our power was out for what felt like forever. Because of that I didn't get much of anything done including my project for this weeks Crafty Friday.

Hopefully you had more luck than I had. I can't wait to see what you've been up to. Maybe you can inspire me to finish what I've been working on.

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, recipes, or anything else you feel is "crafty". If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below (need help with finding the permalink? (click here to see a great post Darcy wrote on this!)
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what makes a party fun!! You don't want to come to a party and have no one talk to you!

If you want to play along don't forget to grab a button to place at the top or bottom of your post to show you are participating in Crafty Fridays!
Simply copy the code below in the box and paste where you can edit the html in your blog post.




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Ice Storm 2011

I am soooo grateful the power is back on! It was nice to have a break from life, but I had so many things waiting to get done.

What made this storm even worse is we just had a blizzard 2 1/2 weeks ago. Talk about adding insult to injury. Blah!

I won't bore you with all the tedious details of our powerless week, but I will share with you some of the pictures from the ice storm.


I took this little video to try and show you how much ice was all over everything. You can also see the section of fence that the pasture shade tree was nice enough to crush.

The Power is Back!!

Yeah!! The power is back on! It's a good thing too because we were all getting a little bit stinky. It's amazing how much you can miss a shower when you can't take one.

After 66 hours of no power the house was beginning to look trashed and the dishes were piling up. We aren't paper plate people so we kept using the real dishes even though we didn't have a good way to wash them.

I want to say a big thank you to everyone that sent me little "stay warm" notes. I really felt the love!

Hopefully I'll get the big ice storm blog post up tomorrow. I got some great pics and a couple videos too.

See you soon!

The Powers Out

Just a quick post because that's all I can do right now.

We had a big ice storm yesterday and our power's been out for 24 hours now. They are saying it should be back on tomorrow night. :(

I won't be able to post the Delectable Tuesday blog hop unless a miracle happens tonight.


Updated 2/22: A quick call to the power company this morning has given us a new restoration time of Thursday! AHHHHH! It's chilly, but not bad. The fireplace is keeping us warm at least in the living room. I just have soooo much I needed to get done this week.

The upside is I am getting a whole lot of knitting done.

Crafty Friday 2/18 - Yarn Dyeing

I've been having a great time this week dyeing numerous skeins of yarn. I've been waiting until it was a bit warmer because I have such a problem getting the yarn to dry when it's cold.

I started with an amazing alpaca and silk blend that we sell in our shop. It's really the softest yarn ever and I love it for baby knits. I dyed several skeins in pastel colors probably because I always think of babies when I play with it.


Then I dyed some suri alpaca/merino wool yarn that was new to me. It's really a nice sport weight yarn and I think I'm going to knit myself a cowl out of some. I love the way the dark grey turned out!



I've done a lot of dyeing this week, but I still have pounds and pounds of yarn to go. It's like a rainbow has exploded all over the house. What color should I do next?

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, recipes, or anything else you feel is "crafty". If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below (need help with finding the permalink? (click here to see a great post Darcy wrote on this!)
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what makes a party fun!! You don't want to come to a party and have no one talk to you!

If you want to play along don't forget to grab a button to place at the top or bottom of your post to show you are participating in Crafty Fridays!
Simply copy the code below in the box and paste where you can edit the html in your blog post.




<center><a href="http://ourjourneytoasimplerlife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/TomorrowFarm/craftyfriday.jpg"/></a></center>

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 2/16

Welcome to Waltz On By Wednesday hosted by Home Sweet Farm. The goal of this hop is to get new Google Friend Connect Followers for your blog and be introduced to new blogs to follow! We wanted to keep it fun and easy so all you have to do is add your blog link and start blog hopping and following away! You aren’t required to write a post for your blog for Waltz On By Wednesday unless you want to (but we really appreciate it if you do to help get the word out).

When you visit a blog that you like and want to follow, leave them a comment with your link telling them you are following from the WOB Wednesday. Of course, we would love for you to follow your hostess blog, Home Sweet Farm, but it isn’t mandatory. If you do follow us, just leave us a comment and we will follow you back.

The main goal is to have fun and follow the blogs that interest you!




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May 5, 1930

This is the date on the newspapers that we found in the floor this week.


The youngest is getting a room makeover with new carpet and while working on the floor we found these papers. They're really fun to read. I always think of the 1930s as rather modern, but it just hit me that these papers are more than 80 years old!

How about these medical ads.... $8 for a set of teeth.

Laxative anyone?

Even back then they were worried about the number of motor vehicle deaths.

These sale ads were my favorite.

And of course we always have to keep up with what's in fashion. :o)

I hope you have enjoyed our 300th post!!

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 2/15 - White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Happy Valentine's Day! I honored the day by dyeing a whole bunch of pink silk yarn. It's absolutely scrumptious!

To go along with the holiday of romance I'm sharing with you a dessert to beat all desserts. Cheesecake is soooo yummy!



White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
3 tbls. sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 (10 oz.) package frozen raspberries
2 tbls. sugar
2 tsps. cornstarch
1/2 cup water
2 cups white chocolate chips
1/2 cup half and half cream
3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, mix together cookie crumbs, 3 tbls. sugar and melted butter. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.

In a saucepan, combine raspberries, 2 tbls. sugar, cornstarch and water. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 5 minutes or until sauce is thick. Strain sauce through a mesh strainer to remove seeds.

Preheat oven to 325*. In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate chips with half and half stirring occasionally until smooth.

In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in vanilla and melted white chocolate. Pour half of batter over crust. Spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over batter. Pour remaining cheesecake batter into pan, and again spoon 3 tablespoons raspberry sauce over the top. Swirl batter with the tip of a knife to create a marbled effect.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8 hours before removing from pan. Serve with remaining raspberry sauce.


For more great recipes visit Hearth and Soul, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday and Tuesdays at the Table.





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Crafty Friday 2/11 - Yarn Doll

If there is anything around here that we have too much of, it's probably yarn. (That can't be a bad thing though, right?) Even the girls have their own bags and boxes of yarn to do with as they please.

Lately the youngest has been making cute little creations with her yarn and spent one day making yarn dolls to play with. Hers were really cute, but didn't last the day after all that playing.

So being the good mommy I am, I went online (what did we do before internet??) and found these directions for an improved yarn doll that should last for awhile.

Materials Needed:

Yarn (any two colors) Scissors Books or Cardboard pieces with the following measurements from top to bottom: Large = 16 1/2 inches Medium = 9 inches Small = 7 inches Doll Makers Needle Black & Red Embroidery Floss

Make the Body:

• Using the color you have chosen for the doll’s body, cut a piece of yarn approx. 6 inches long to be the tie and lay it across the top edge of the large book. Wrap yarn around the book as shown in the photo at #1. Continue winding yarn around the book 200 times.
• Slip the wound yarn off the book and tie the 6 inch piece of yarn tightly around the wound yarn.
• Cut the opposite end of the wound yarn where it bends, so that you have what is shown in the photo at #2.
• Make a yarn ball that is approx. 1 inch in diameter. See the photo at #3.

Make the Arms:

• Using the Medium book, wind the yarn around it as you did for the body, but only 50 times. (You will NOT need to place a tie along the top of the book)
• Slip the yarn off the book and cut along the bottom bend of the wound yarn.
• Tie together one end of the yarn, as shown in the photo at #4, about 1/2 inch from the edge.
• Braid the entire length of the yarn and tie together again, at about 1/2 inch from the edge. (Trim if necessary)

Assemble the Body:

• Take the yarn ball and place it inside the yarn body, under the gathered, tied center.
• Smooth out the yarn evenly around the ball and gather it together under the ball. Tie the yarn together tightly to form the head. See the photo at #6.
• Divide the yarn below the head into two parts, front and back.
• Center the braided arm piece between the two parts as shown in the photo at #7.
• Tie the yarn together tightly under the arms to form the upper body.
• Divide the remaining yarn into two parts, left and right.
• Braid each side, gathering and tying the ends about 3/4 inch from the ends. See photo at #8. (Trim if necessary)

Create the Hair:

• To make the hair, use the Small book and place a 4 inch piece of yarn across the top edge of the book as you did for the body.
• Wind the yarn around 50 times.
• Slip the wound yarn off the book and tie the yarn together tightly with the 4 inch piece of yarn.
• Cut the opposite end of the wound yarn along the bend so that you will have cluster of long strands, tied in the middle. See photo at #9.

• Place the hair over the head with the gathered tie centered at the top.
• Use a doll maker’s needle and the hair color yarn to carefully, sew the hair in place at the top.
• Bring the needle and yarn down to one of the sides of the neck. (This should be done by sending the needle through the inside of the doll's head.)
• Loosely stitch over a small segment of the yarn hair along the neck, then another segment, then another, and so on until you reach the other side of the neck and the hair is secured evenly across the back of the neck as shown in the photo at #10.
• Tie off the end of your stitching yarn under the hair where it is concealed.
• Stitch a simple face using embroidery floss or you could even glue ready-made doll eyes and mouth on.

Done!

What have you been up to this week?

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, recipes, or anything else you feel is "crafty". If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below (need help with finding the permalink? (click here to see a great post Darcy wrote on this!)
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what makes a party fun!! You don't want to come to a party and have no one talk to you!

If you want to play along don't forget to grab a button to place at the top or bottom of your post to show you are participating in Crafty Fridays!
Simply copy the code below in the box and paste where you can edit the html in your blog post.




<center><a href="http://ourjourneytoasimplerlife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/TomorrowFarm/craftyfriday.jpg"/></a></center>

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 2/9

Welcome to Waltz On By Wednesday hosted by Home Sweet Farm. The goal of this hop is to get new Google Friend Connect Followers for your blog and be introduced to new blogs to follow! We wanted to keep it fun and easy so all you have to do is add your blog link and start blog hopping and following away! You aren’t required to write a post for your blog for Waltz On By Wednesday unless you want to (but we really appreciate it if you do to help get the word out).

When you visit a blog that you like and want to follow, leave them a comment with your link telling them you are following from the WOB Wednesday. Of course, we would love for you to follow your hostess blog, Home Sweet Farm, but it isn’t mandatory. If you do follow us, just leave us a comment and we will follow you back.

The main goal is to have fun and follow the blogs that interest you!




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Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 2/8 - From the Archives Bratwurst Stew

I'm working on putting this together for tomorrow. Yummy!! So I'm sharing a favorite with you form the archives. Enjoy!


Bratwurst Stew

4 medium potatoes, cubed
2 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 lb. fresh bratwurst links, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 cups half and half cream
3 tbls. cornstarch
2 tbls. cold water

In a 5 quart slow cooker, combine the potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and garlic. Top with bratwurst slices. In a small bowl, combine the broth, salt, basil and pepper; pour over bratwurst and veggies. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours. Stir in cream. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into stew. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes.

For more great recipes visit Hearth and Soul, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday and Tuesdays at the Table.




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Are you on Ravelry? Come join our new group.

All of you knitters, crocheters and fiber artists....have you ever poked around Ravelry?

Ravelry is such a wonderful place for fiber artists of all types to come and meet up, discuss what they are up to and of course the patterns are fun to search through.

Well, we have finally started a Ravelry group for our farm. Actually, we started it almost a month ago and it's freakishly quiet over there. I'm feeling lonely. :(

Currently we've got discussions going on class ideas for 2011 and have scheduled a dyeing day here at the farm in a couple weeks. Soon I hope to have a place for everyone to show off what they've made using our fibers, yarns and patterns.

I'd be honored if you'd stop by and say hello. Maybe even join if the mood strikes. You can find the group here.

Do You Watch the Superbowl?

I'm sitting here wondering if I'm the only one in America oblivious to the superbowl. I didn't even realize it was this weekend until I saw the grocery store specials. Sad isn't it?

We are not a TV watching family to start with let alone watching televised sporting events featuring people we don't know. I'm not opposed to going and watching a game of some kind, but normally it's because someone we know is playing.

I really don't get how involved people seem to get in these things. Sorry if this is your thing, but I don't get it.

Oh and for those of you that say you watch it just for the commercials, why? Commercials are the bane of TV shows and the reason that I will only watch a TV show once it's on DVD.

I did enjoy the sales though at the store and stocked up on some really great snack sales.

Are you watching the game today?

Crafty Friday 2/4 - What to do with all that snow?

Oh boy, what a week! Did you participate in the blizzard of 2011? If you did, I hope you made it through safe and sound.


It sure was an interesting thing. Nearly all the snow we got came while we were sleeping and the next day it was sunny! The wind was awful though and I spent the day indoors baking and knitting. I just wish I could have sat there watching the snow fall instead of running for my sunglasses because the sun on the snow was really bright.

How did you spend the blizzard?

I posted this recipe a few days ago, but it still seems very appropriate. If you have even a fraction of the snow we have here than you have plenty to make Snow Cream. It's like ice cream made from snow. It's a great activity for the kids because let's face it, there is always more snow outside. :o)

I've posted the recipe in the linky below, but you can also find it here.

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, recipes, or anything else you feel is "crafty". If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below (need help with finding the permalink? (click here to see a great post Darcy wrote on this!)
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what makes a party fun!! You don't want to come to a party and have no one talk to you!

If you want to play along don't forget to grab a button to place at the top or bottom of your post to show you are participating in Crafty Fridays!
Simply copy the code below in the box and paste where you can edit the html in your blog post.




<center><a href="http://ourjourneytoasimplerlife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/TomorrowFarm/craftyfriday.jpg"/></a></center>

Wordless Wednesday - Snow Drifts

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 2/2

Welcome to Waltz On By Wednesday hosted by Home Sweet Farm. The goal of this hop is to get new Google Friend Connect Followers for your blog and be introduced to new blogs to follow! We wanted to keep it fun and easy so all you have to do is add your blog link and start blog hopping and following away! You aren’t required to write a post for your blog for Waltz On By Wednesday unless you want to (but we really appreciate it if you do to help get the word out).

When you visit a blog that you like and want to follow, leave them a comment with your link telling them you are following from the WOB Wednesday. Of course, we would love for you to follow your hostess blog, Home Sweet Farm, but it isn’t mandatory. If you do follow us, just leave us a comment and we will follow you back.

The main goal is to have fun and follow the blogs that interest you!




<center><a href="http://ourjourneytoasimplerlife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/TomorrowFarm/waltzwednesday.jpg"/></a></center>

Blizzard Warning!!

It's official. They have issued a blizzard warning. That's actually a pretty rare occurrence around here. I think that last real blizzard we had was about 10 years ago. Somewhere I have some crazy pictures of that storm.

The wind right now is the worst part. It's snowing a bit, but the wind is awful. I'm so glad we got all of the alpacas shut up in the barn for the night. I'd hate to think of anyone out in this storm. I wonder what the wind chills are. Then again maybe I don't.

I took this picture of the bench outside my back door just as it started snowing. Most of the snow they are predicting is supposed to fall tonight while we are sleeping, but I hope to get another picture of the storm to compare the bench later.


For all of you in the storms path. Stay safe, stay warm and stay home if you can.

I'll let you know how we are faring in the morning.