May 28, 2011

Oh What a Batt Can Do!

We were recently at the Michigan Fiber Fiesta with all of our fibery goodies and I ran into a lady that I had met last fall. We first met at the Fiber Festival we were at last October. It was such a cold damp weekend that we didn't leave our booth much, but I did wander out once and met Diana of Spin-a-Web. She has such fun things!

Well, last fall I bought one of her rovings and she bought one of my very first alpaca batts. I loved that batt colorway and had spun several myself.


None of what I had spun compared to what Diana did with that batt.

When I arrived at the fiber fiesta 2 weeks ago, Diana took one look at me and scampered off. I can honestly say I was a little baffled. She came back really quick though with this amazing shawl.


My one little batt (it was somewhere between 2.5 and 3 ozs.) had turned into a couple hundred yards and she knit this little shawl with yarn to spare. I was just in awe. It was such a lovely treat to see one of my batts all grown up.

If any of you have a project you've made from something you've purchased from us, I'd love to see it!

May 26, 2011

Crafty Friday 5/27 - Memorial Weekend

Welcome to the official start of the summer BBQ season!! You wouldn't know it here in Michigan because once again it's 50* and rainy. Supposedly it's going to be 90* and humid on Monday, but I won't hold my breath. Whatever the weather though, I am having a cookout!

I love summer food!! There is nothing better than grilled meats, potato and pasta salads, lemonade and corn on the cob. Yum!!!

So in honor of family Memorial Day cookouts everywhere, I am sharing my extremely popular BLT pasta salad. And in case you are wondering, I will be making this for Monday's family get together.


Also to celebrate this kick-off to summer we are having a sale in our yarn shop. All yarns (excluding clubs) and knitting goodies are 20% off until midnight Tuesday May 31st. Use code MEMORIAL during checkout to get the discount. Discount works on clearance yarns too!



So 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.
  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.

Home Sweet Farm





May 24, 2011

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 5/25

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!

Home Sweet Farm





May 23, 2011

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 5/24 - Basic White Frosting

It's Tuesday! I can't wait to see what recipes you share today. I think we had a record number last week. It was so exciting!!

Today I'm going to share a recipe that has been in my family forever. I've heard rumors that it was originally a Wilton recipe, but I'm not sure.

This week's recipe is a basic white frosting. I use boxed cake mixes a lot, but I always make my own frosting. It's super easy and really good.

This frosting can be used on just about anything. I use it on sugar cookies and other cookies that call for frosting. I also use it on cakes and cupcakes. It colors really easily too.


Basic White Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
Dash salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk

Using an electric mixer, mix all ingredients together except milk. On highest setting, gradually add in milk until creamy and smooth. Color as desired.

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

Home Sweet Farm





May 19, 2011

Crafty Friday 5/20 - Spinning a Project

Happy Friday! I am so glad the weekend is almost here.

This week I am trying something completely new. We were at a fiber festival last weekend and I bought almost 11 ounces of Icelandic wool. It's really dark gray and super soft. I keep petting it!


I wasn't sure what I would do with it when I bought it. I just knew I had to get some. I brought it home and stared at it for a day or so hoping it would talk to me.

Normally I spin yarn by letting the fiber tell me what it wants to be. I have no real goal in mind. I just enjoy spinning it. Most yarns I spin get put up for sale and rarely do I keep one. Occasionally I will knit something with a yarn if I get an idea when I'm done, but even those projects generally go into our shop.

The wool finally spoke to me and decided it wants to be a sweater for me. :o) I found the cutest sweater that could be worn with anything and during most any weather. It looks simple enough. It better be since it'll be my first sweater. The pattern is called Abalone.


The thing is, now that I know what I want to make, I have to spin this roving with the specific project in mind. This is a totally new idea for me. I need to spin this into a worsted weight yarn and I'm worried I won't be disciplined enough. What if it wants to be something else?

I'll start this as soon I finish another project I'm working on and let you know how it goes.

So 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.
  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.

Home Sweet Farm





May 17, 2011

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 5/18

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!

Home Sweet Farm





Wordless Wednesday - Our Neighbor Henry


This little guy has been hanging out in the backyard and the kids have named him Henry.

May 16, 2011

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 5/17 - Ranch Bean Dip


I love dips! Everyone in my family jokes that I use food as an excuse to eat condiments and dips. Yum!

This is not the most appealing looking dip when it's finished, but it could be dressed up with some extra cheese on top or green onions. Even a few chopped pepper slices could be used to make it pretty.

Ranch Bean Dip

1 can (16 oz.) refried beans
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 pkg. (1 oz.) dry ranch dressing mix
1 cup sour cream

In a small saucepan, combine beans, cheese, ranch dressing mix, and sour cream. Heat the mixture over a medium heat, stir until the ingredients are well blended and warm.

Serve with tortilla chips.

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

May 13, 2011

Crafty Friday has been Postponed

A big thank you to Blogger for being a pain the last day. It has been down for maintenance and I have been unable to post anything.

We are now packing up and getting ready to leave for a big fiber fest this weekend so I don't have time to get Crafty Friday's post up before we leave.

Sorry guys!

Have a great weekend!

May 11, 2011

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 5/11

I am soooo sorry this is late. I have no idea where my head is. Happy Wednesday!

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!

Home Sweet Farm





May 09, 2011

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 5/10 - Tangy Ranch Chicken

It's warm here in Michigan!! I don't know what it's like where you are, but this is a really big deal here. It finally hit 70* and I've been able to open the windows to let in the lovely spring air. It's wonderful!!!

I came across the most intriguing recipe the other day. I bought a twin pack of French's mustard at Sam's club and when I got it home I found a recipe on the back. It's one of those recipes that sounded so weird that it had to be good. I cut it out and stuck it on the fridge.

After staring at it every day for more than a week I finally decided to try it. I really wasn't sure how it was going to taste. Before I put the chicken in, we all got a quick taste test. Oh my! It was really, really good! I will definitely be making this again and I just had to share it with you.


Tangy Ranch Chicken


2/3 cup ranch dressing
1/3 cup French's Mustard
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 chicken breasts

MIX salad dressing, mustard and sugar. Pour 2/3 cup sauce over chicken.
MARINATE chicken in refrigerator for 30 min.
GRILL or broil chicken 10 to 15 min. until done. Serve chicken with remaining mustard sauce.


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

Home Sweet Farm





May 05, 2011

Crafty Friday 5/6 - Alpaca Shearing

It's Friday!! I am so ready for the weekend!

Have you ever wondered how we get all that alpaca fiber that we use in yarns and spinning stuff?

This week was our fiber harvest aka alpaca shearing. Once every spring the alpacas get haircuts. They go from cute, fluffy looking creatures to tiny, skinny aliens. They just don't look the same without all that hair.


Now we don't give them their haircuts. We have an actual alpaca shearer (yes, it's his full time job) spend two days here removing alpaca hair from all the animals. As it gets cut off with what looks like a hair trimmer on steroids, the rest of us are bagging it up into large garbage bags to be sorted later.


One alpaca will normally give about 6 pounds of fiber for us to use. Now multiply that by 38 and what do you get? Yes, I have a whole lotta of fiber waiting for me.

And if that wasn't enough, our shearer was nice enough to bring me nearly 50 pounds of raw wool from their sheep. I've never worked with raw wool before and I'm excited to give it a try.

I think I have my work cut out for me, but I'm looking forward to making new creations from the fiber.

So 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.
  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.

Home Sweet Farm





May 03, 2011

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 5/4

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!

Home Sweet Farm





May 02, 2011

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 5/3 - Lemon Berry Punch

I am trying to think happy, warm thoughts, but it's not working. It is still cold here in Michigan with no real warm-up in sight. The weather man was kind enough to mention that the average temp for the first of May is mid-60s, but today and tomorrow is only the low 50s. Brrrr.

So in a sad attempt at warming up I am thinking of great summer BBQ cookout food. My favorite punch to serve at any outdoor gathering is them one I'm going to share today. Its family friendly and super easy.

During a party I normally have several batches of the lemonade/cranberry mix waiting in the fridge. I will then add the soda just before serving it.

This recipe originally came from a Taste of Home magazine years ago.



Lemon Berry Punch

1/4 cup sweetened lemonade drink mix
2 cups
cold water
1/3 cup
cranberry juice, chilled
3/4 cup
lemon-lime soda, chilled

In a pitcher, combine the drink mix, water and cranberry juice. Stir in soda. Serve immediately.


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





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