Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Craft Class Week 3......

Last nights class was so much fun!
The only drawback was that I forgot the camera.....AGAIN!
You would have thought that after forgetting it 2 weeks in a row, that it would have been the first thing I packed this week. The silver lining to this cloud is that we still have 5 classes left!
 
This weeks project....
 

We made a cute little snowman pillow.
 
 
There are so many places you can put it!
I love little decorative pillows.
 
 
 
 I did 3 snowmen, because we have 3 boys.
I wish I had pictures of some of the pillows the girls in my class did. They were so ADORABLE! The creativity in my class is simply amazing!
 
Blessings,
Julie

Monday, October 29, 2012

Crafts From the Past....

I was thinking that maybe today I would show you some of the crafts that we have done in some of my past classes.
I really want to show you what I have planned for Tuesday, but since my students don't know yet what they will be making, I can't show you.
 
Okay, this is one of the projects from a couple years ago...
 
 
This is a fall door topper made from felt and a few fall leaves.
I stuffed my pumpkins a bit to give them a little dimension.
 
We also did a winter one...
 
 
This next one is something we did last year....
 
 
Prim pumpkins!
I think they were a favorite of quite a few of the ladies. I know they were one of mine.
 
 
I love making chalkboards! I can't remember exactly what the measurements of this was, but it was good sized. The bottom has square nails for hanging keys or what have you.
 
 
And.....
 
 
A cute little sheep clock. I don't usually keep any of the crafts I make. They usually end up as gifts for birthdays or Christmas, but for whatever reason I did keep this little clock.
 
Finally....
 
 
....As I am so thankful for all of my wonderful friends and followers out there!
 
 
Blessings,
Julie 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Craft Class ~ Week 2......

Remember when I said I would remember to bring my camera to class this week? Well, I forgot....again!
 
Don't worry, though! I do have pictures of what we did last night.
 

I took these pictures this morning, and in case you couldn't guess, the BELIEVE blocks were this weeks project. This is exactly how I had them set up for my class last night.  I like to show ways you can display what we make, and as you can see they really do make a nice centerpiece for your holiday table.
 
Other ways to display them....
 
 
 
I have also used them as part of my Christmas display on my mantle, but I can't find any pictures of it. Sorry!
 
A couple more close ups...
 
 
 
These blocks were made from a scrap 2x4 and are so easy to do. I did use a stencil for the letters, but you can always free hand them if you like. I have terrible writing, so a stencil is definitely the way to go for me!
 
You can write anything you want on these blocks, make them large or small. So many possibilities!
 
More next week....
 
Blessings,
Julie

Monday, October 22, 2012

Monster Cookies.....


 
These cookies are SOOO delicious! I used to make them when my kids were little, but somewhere over the years I stopped. I always called them Cowboy Cookies, but on Saturday I was watching an episode of Pioneer Woman, and she was making almost the exact same cookie, only she called them Monster Cookies. I guess that's what kinda jogged my memory a bit and made me want to start making these again. It's the perfect time of year, too!

 
Here's my recipe, but I'm using the Pioneer Woman's cookie name....

Ingredients


  • 2 sticks (1/2 pound) butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 cup oats (either quick or regular)
  • 1 cup M&M's, (I like to use peanut butter M&M's)
  • 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
  • 2 1/4 cups Rice Krispies or Cocoa Krispies cereal

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cream the butter with both sugars in a mixing bowl until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after adding each. Add the vanilla and beat again.
 
Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon . Add to the mixing bowl and mix until combined. After that, add in the oats, M&M's, chocolate chips, coconut and walnuts or pecans. Add the cereal at the very end, mixing until just combined. Do not over mix!
 
Use a 2 1/2 inch ice cream scoop to scoop balls of dough onto a cookie sheet. I do 6 per sheet. They are big and they will spread. Bake until golden brown, about 12-15 minutes, and then allow to cool on a rack.
 
 
Don't these just make you want to make some right now? They are soft and chewey and oh, so perfect with a hot cup of tea!
 
 
Enjoy!
 
 
 
Blessings,
Julie

Friday, October 19, 2012

A Bit of Crafting......

 
The fall sessions for Adult Education Classes started this week, so that means the beginning of work for me.
I teach a primitive craft class every fall for about 8 weeks. I LOVE this class and I LOVE teaching!
 
This week we used old books to make some primitive treasures. I should have thought to bring my camera to class, but maybe next week. I do have pictures of the ones that I made as samples for the class, though......
 
 
 
 
I really like the Naughty or Nice one.
 
 
 
This one is my favorite...it reminds me of our youngest son.
He always liked to hang his own stocking up at Christmastime.
Such a precious moment.
 
 
 
 
This last one is a picture of the old homestead back in the day. It sure has changed a lot throughout the years.
 
I hope you enjoyed my little blog today. I love hearing from you, so feel free to leave me a comment. I see I have some new followers, too. Welcome to our little red saltbox. I love meeting new people. Thanks for dropping by....see you again soon!
 
Blessings,
Julie 
 


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Keeper's Meeting......


 
We had our monthly Keeper's of the Home meeting on Thursday night. We decided a couple months ago that we would all learn how to make rag rugs. 
 
 
 
 
As you can see in these photos, everyone is busy connecting fabric and rolling it into a big ball.

 
Some of us brought our own little fabric rollers~LOL!
 
 
We'll be making the rugs at our November meeting. I think we're all really excited!
 
 
Everyone is using fall colored fabrics.
 
 
This is a picture of a rug I made earlier this spring, as a gift.
They are so easy and fun to make! We bought everything we needed here. Thank you Lora !
Next month I will be sure to post pictures of all our beautiful finished rugs.
 
 
Blessings,
Julie

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

A Frosty Morning at the Homestead.....

 
 
Here are a few pictures that I took early this morning....
 
 
Frosted petunias
 
Our lawn that actually needs mowing.
 
Almost looks like snow on the ground.
 
Rutabagas
 
A beautiful weed
 
Beets
 
The chicken coop
 
Goosey, Goosey & Gander
 
Billie
 
A tree from my childhood homestead
 
Leaves on the apple trees
 
Honeysuckle
 
Autumn Joy
 
Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot
 
Blessing,
Julie
 


Monday, October 1, 2012

The Beauty of Fall....

 
Our days are getting shorter and crispier, while the color of the leaves are getting brighter. I love this time of year, because it's like living in a box of crayons. The beauty at times is breathtaking. I can't imagine living in a part of the world that doesn't experience a change in seasons.
 

 
Folks from all over come to New England during what we call the "leaf peeper season". People like me wake up in the morning and rush to the window to get a view of the newest masterpiece God has created overnight with his mighty paint brush. Such beauty is astounding!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fall is a time of gathering; reaping what you have sewn over the summer months. A time to harvest all of your hard work, so that your family can be fed over the long winter months. There's something so satisfying in that. It's like a big, warm hug from mother nature.
 
 
 
The only complaint I have about the fall season, is that it is way too short. If only it's beauty lasted as long as winter!
 
 
 
 
 
Blessings,
Julie

The Potager Garden

Good morning folks! It's another cool rainy day, here in Northern Maine. Our long winter has turned into a long, cold spring. Let's...