April 28, 2011

Crafty Friday 4/29 - Open House

Happy Friday!

My crafty contribution this week is our Open House. For any of you in SW Michigan or the surrounding area, we are having an open house here at the farm.

The weekend will be a lot of fun and all of your alpaca products and yarns will be available. Also alpaca kisses may be on the agenda. :o)

For complete details you can visit our website.



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






April 26, 2011

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 4/27

Today is my birthday so I am off to do something fun! Happy waltzing!!

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





April 25, 2011

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 4/26 - Ham Loaves

So, are you like every other family and have tons of ham leftovers from Easter?

I love leftover ham because it gives me the opportunity to make one of my favorite ham meals. I've tried making these loaves with ham that wasn't roasted first, but it's just not the same.

These are really good and I love the fact that it makes two. One for now and one for later. Two meals for the work of one!


Ham Loaves

1 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers (about 25)
1/2 cup chopped green onion
2 eggs, beaten
2 tbls. lemon juice
1 tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. pepper
Dash ground nutmeg
Dash paprika
1 1/3 cups leftover ham
1 lb. ground pork

Ham Loaf Glaze ingredients:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. ground mustard

Using a food processor or blender, finely chop ham. This is best done in small batches.

In a large bowl, combine the crackers, green onion, eggs, lemon juice, ground mustard, ground ginger, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, nutmeg and paprika. Add ham and pork; mix well. Shape into 2 loaves.

Place one loaf into an ungreased 9x5 loaf pan. Bake the ham loaf at 350* for 1 hour. Wrap the remaining loaf in foil and freeze for up to 2 months.

Meanwhile, combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes.

After the ham loaf has baked, remove it from the oven. Baste with the glaze. Bake 30-40 minutes longer, basting occasionally.


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





April 21, 2011

Crafty Friday 4/22 - Wool Rovings

Happy Friday!

Did I tell you that we're having an open house next weekend? If you are in or around southwest Michigan you are welcome to join us. You can find all the details here.

All week I have been creating fun, fibery goodies to have for sale and on display during the open house. The biggest accomplishment this week was these wool rovings that I divided into small multi-colored packs for felting.


I dyed the rovings and then split them into 4 different packs. I made a rainbow pack, a warm hues pack, a cool hues pack and a pack of neutrals. I couldn't believe the time that it took just to divide and package!

I will have these available during the open house, but I have also listed them on Etsy.

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





April 19, 2011

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 4/20

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





April 18, 2011

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 4/19 - Easter Glazed Ham

Happy Easter! or maybe it's Merry Christmas since I woke up this morning to this...

I'm feeling holiday confusion!

Since the calendar says it's almost Easter I'll go with that and share a great Easter ham recipe. My mouth is watering just thinking of the ham. I love ham!! It's probably my favorite meat and I could eat it all the time, but I don't. I only make it once in awhile.

I wonder if I'd like it as much if I ate it more often?

Anyway, enjoy and happy egg hunting!


Easter Glazed Ham

1 (5 pound) fully cooked sliced ham
1/4 cup whole cloves
1 cup pineapple juice
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 oranges, juiced
Sliced pineapple rings (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350*. Place the ham in a roasting pan and dot with cloves. In a saucepan combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey and orange juice. Stir and simmer over medium-low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes. Pour the glaze over the ham. Top with pineapple rings if desired. Bake the ham uncovered for 1 hour.


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





April 14, 2011

Crafty Friday 4/15 - Carding Seminar

I did things a little different this week. My post was really long so I made it a separate post and am linking to this post in the #1 spot in the linky below.

I wrote all about a seminar I went to last weekend. I learned a lot!

Happy Friday!

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.

Carding Seminar at Magical Farms

How many alpacas does it take to make you think a farm is big? Before last weekend I would have said 100. Not so now.

This past Sunday I went to a carding seminar at Magical Farms in Ohio. Have you ever heard of them? Do you know how many alpacas they have? They have....can you believe it.....over 1600 alpacas!!


There are alpacas as far as the eye can see. No matter which way you turn there are alpacas in field after field. It was alpaca overload.

The whole reason we were there was to attend a carding seminar. For those of you none fiber people...carding in its most simplistic explanation is straightening out the fibers/hairs to make it easier to spin into yarn.

This seminar was being taught by a woman named Roo. Roo is one of those people that I friended on facebook more than a year ago when I was just friending every fiber arts person I could (please don't take offense Roo!). I wanted a FB community of alpaca owners and fiber artists so I could socialize and learn.

I quickly learned to really pay attention to Roo. She knows her stuff and seems to have a thriving fiber business underway. I loved everything she did and felt like when I "grow up" I want to be just like her! (I imagine she's blushing right about now).

Meeting her in person was a dream come true because I never thought it'd happen. She lives down south and I'm here in Michigan, but for one great weekend we were able to meet in Ohio. I was really excited to get there and found her to be really genuine and down to earth. She is self taught (like me!) and really wants to share what she can do so others can succeed. Not to mention her fiber goodies are more gorgeous in person!

I've been using a drum carder at home for a year or so now, but I was never really happy with the batts I got off of it which is why I signed up for this seminar in the first place. Roo did not disappoint. It wasn't long and I was making batts that I could be proud of. I also learned several tips that should make my carding at home much better.


After learning some basic techniques we got to go play with add-in, glittery goodies. Did you know there were so many yummy options to add into alpaca? I've played with bamboo before, but we also used silk (heaven!!), milk fiber, sari silk, angelina and honestly I can't remember them all. I loved making these blended batts!


The true highlight of the day though came at the very, very end. Have you heard of a hackle? It's this crazy, wickedly painful looking pointy contraption that is just another way to straighten the fibers. You can put the fibers on and then pull them off into a long rope (called a roving) instead of a large batt like the carder. It was love at first sight!! I had to have one!


I brought my hackle home and I've been pulling off rovings ever since. Rovings from a mill are always nice and smooth and well blended. Hand pulled rovings off the hackle are less smooth, less blended and oh so lovely. I can not wait to see the yarn that comes from these.


All in all it was an awesome day. Did I tell you I had to get up at 4am to get there? Even with that it was great. I feel like Spongebob. It was the "Best Day Ever!!"

I now have a very long wishlist of fiber things I want to buy to make more really cool batts. I also can't wait for the next fiber seminar at Magical. I will be there!

April 12, 2011

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 4/13

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





April 11, 2011

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 4/12 - From the Archives: Basic Bread Tutorial

Hi and happy Tuesday!

I am sitting here trying desperately not to fall asleep and it's not working. I had an absolutely fabulous day at a carding seminar with one of my favorite fiber artists. It was a long day and I am still recovering, but it was great! I'll deal with being exhausted.

I didn't have the time or the energy to make something new this week so I am sharing my basic bread tutorial from a loooong time ago. Enjoy!

Recipe of the week -- Basic Bread 101

There is something soul satisfying about making bread from scratch. I know so many of you shy away from it because you think it's too hard or takes too long, but honestly it's neither and so much more fun than using a bread machine. I think the bread tastes better as well. So here's a basic white bread recipe, from scratch, with detailed instructions and pics. Oh, and it's best if you get all the ingredients together before you start.

Basic White Bread

2 cups warm water (approx. 100*F)
2 tbls. honey
1 tbls. active dry yeast
2 tbls. vegetable oil
2 tsp. salt
5-6 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk

The most critical part of bread baking actually comes in the beginning. Check the temperature of your water! If you have a thermometer, use it. If not, run the water over your wrist; if it feels definitely warm but not uncomfortably warm, it's okay.
Put the 2 cups of warm water in a large mixing bowl (the bowl from your mixer is perfect because you'll be using the mixer soon). Add the honey and dry yeast; stir together. Set the bowl aside for a few minutes. It can take anywhere from 3 minutes to 15 minutes depending on the temperature of your water, but as the grains of yeast activate they will begin to foam. Cool!
When the yeast is bubbly, add the oil, salt and 2 cups of the flour. Using your electric mixer, beat the mixture on medium speed for 2 minutes or longer. This stimulates early development of gluten. What's gluten? It's the magic ingredient in the flour that gives your bread lightness and a fine texture. When you have finished mixing, the surface of the dough may have a glossy look - a good sign.

Add the dry milk and mix it in. Then add 2 to 3 cups more of the flour, a little at a time, mixing on low speed until the dough is stiff and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. (Stop putting flour in at this point even if you have some left)
If you have a heavy-duty mixer with a dough hook you can use it to knead, but personally I like to do it by hand. I have a large island in my kitchen that works really well for this, but a tabletop or other large surface will work too. Just make sure it's not too high or your arms will tire quickly.

Sprinkle the kneading surface with flour. Dip your hands in the flour and lightly coat them. Dump the dough out of the bowl onto the floured surface. Turn the dough around and over to coat the outside with flour, patting into a cohesive mass (big ball). Begin to knead.

There is no perfect way to knead, but whatever you do, be decisive. This is not a time to be gentle. Take all your frustration out on the dough. It'll be better for it and so will you. If you still want some direction here is a basic kneading pattern.

Take the far side of the dough and fold it toward you, stretching it and then folding it. With the heels of your floury hands, push the folded portion down and away from you. Give the whole piece of dough a quarter turn, fold and push. Repeat. Each time you will be folding and pushing a different segment of dough. Do it over and over. Ten minutes is a nice ball park figure. The dough will be rough and sticky at first. You may have to keep dipping your hands in the flour and sprinkling flour onto the kneading surface. Add only as much flour as you need to keep the dough from sticking; too much flour makes a dry loaf. You should end up with a dough that is soft and pliable. When you push it, it springs back. Eventually, it will become smooth and satiny.

Rub a large bowl with soft butter or brush it with melted butter. Don't use oil. The dough will absorb the oil and then become sticky which is exactly what you're trying to avoid.

Place the dough in the bowl and turn until all sides are coated with a thin layer of butter. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel. Place the bowl in a warm, draft-free place. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. You have time to do something else now, just check on your dough once in awhile. You can test it by poking a finger into the top of the dough, about an inch down. If the hole you have made stays, it has risen enough. This can take anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours.
Give the dough a good punch with you fist. This is called punching down the dough. Take the dough over to your lightly floured work surface and dump or pull it out of the bowl. Knead it a few times to press out gas bubbles, then take a sharp knife and cut the dough into 2 equal pieces. Cover them with a towel and do something else for 15 minutes while the dough rests.

Now to shape the dough. Take one piece of dough, pat it with your hands into a rough ball, and flatten it to a size about twice as wide as your loaf pan and slightly longer. No need to be exact, your not being graded. Just get close. Fold the 2 long ends under so they meet in the middle of the bottom. Tuck the 2 short ends under. Place the dough in a greased (butter again) loaf pan. It should fill the pan no more than half full. Repeat the process with the other piece of dough.

Cover the pans with the towel and put in a draft-free place to rise again until they double in size. This is usually 45 minutes to an hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375*F.

When doubled in size, place the pans in the oven and bake about 25 to 30 minutes. Check the bread after the minimum amount of time. If the loaves are well browned and the sides have shrunk slightly from the sides, remove from oven. If not, give the bread a few more minutes.

When done, turn out the loaves onto a wire rack to cool. Bread doesn't slice well when hot so you might want to resist the urge to eat it right away.

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





April 07, 2011

Crafty Friday 4/8 - Free Knitting Patterns

I've been spending some time this week looking for some patterns to bring new life to my knitting. I've been in a knitting rut. Knitting the same kinds of things over and over.

I thought I'd share with you a few of the free patterns I found out in cyberland. I can't wait to cast these on! (Just click on the pics and it'll take you to the pattern pages)


Easter Peeps. How cute!!


I can see these cute little strawberries hanging out in the kitchen.


Who doesn't love Susan B. Anderson? Look at this little elephant.


And for something different...this sweater is really, really cute. I may finally attempt a sweater. ;)





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





April 05, 2011

Waltz On By Wednesday Blog Hop - 4/6

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





April 04, 2011

Delectable Tuesday Blog Hop 4/5 - Donut Muffins

Yummy! Is it time for breakfast yet?

I love muffins! I love everything about them. Even better is the fact that they are really easy and don't take that long. What could be better than that?

Enjoy!


Donut Muffins

1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup milk

Topping:

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter

In a mixing bowl cream together the shortening and sugar. Add the egg and mix until it is smooth. Measure the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg into the bowl. Pour in the milk. Mix the batter until it is smooth. Drop the mixture into 12 oiled muffin cups. Make sure not to over fill the muffin cups, 1/2 to 2/3 full is full enough. Bake the muffins at 350* for 25 minutes, or until the muffins are brown on top. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly.

Mix the powdered sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.

Take the muffins out of the pan. When they are cool enough to handle, dip the tops of the muffins into the melted margarine. Then dip them into the powdered sugar/cinnamon mixture. Arrange the prepared muffins on a large plate and serve while still warm. Makes a dozen.


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





Meet Manny from Where's Manny? Monday

Meet Manny the alpaca! He's a cute little fellow that will spend the next few months checking out new places. Sometimes he'll be close to home (both inside and outside) and other times he'll be away from home.


Every Monday Manny will post a picture and you can try and guess where he is. Today he's playing in the yarn in the fiber studio. Where will he be next week?

April 02, 2011

Day 6: Something to Aspire to

Is there a pattern or skill that you don’t yet feel ready to tackle but which you hope to (or think you can only dream of) tackling in the future, near or distant? Is there a skill or project that makes your mind boggle at the sheer time, dedication and mastery of the craft? Maybe the skill or pattern is one that you don’t even personally want to make but can stand back and admire those that do. Maybe it is something you think you will never be bothered to actually make but can admire the result of those that have.

There is one skill I don't possess, but when I'm knitting I wish I had.....patience. I believe that if I had patience I could then tackle the one project that makes my heart go pitter-pat and makes me so envious when I see others projects.

Lace Knitting.
There are so many beautiful projects out there that I so badly want to knit, but when it sometimes takes me a month just to knit a pair of fingerless gloves...Well, I can only imagine how long it'd take to knit a lace shawl with 1000's of yards.

Not to mention the fact that lace weight yarn just seems so fragile and I've barely conquered chart knitting.

{sigh}

Someday I'm sure I will give it a try, but for now I will just dream lacey dreams at night.

April 01, 2011

Day 5: Animal to Yarn Photos

Today I thought I'd share with you some pictures of how we get yarn from our alpacas.
Not all pictures are form the same project because my photos are just not that organized right now. Should be fun!

We start we these cute little critters. This is Zach.

Every Spring the alpacas get a haircut and we bag their hair in large bags.

We take those bags and then clean the fiber. We take out any yucky spots and then wash the dirt out. The kitty like to help. :o)

Then we take some of the fiber and dye in big pots. We will make a huge rainbow of colors.

The the dyed and undyed fibers with get a pass through the carder. This is a fun little machine that will straighten out the fibers to make it easier to spin.

Then off to the spinning wheel!

We spin lots of lots of yards of yarn during the colder winter months.

We get skeins like this one after the fiber is spun.

After the yarn is finished you can knit to your hearts content!

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