Since Christmas I have been goofing off and eating. Hubby gave me lots of chocolate for Christmas and I think it's my duty to finish it off before the new year(not to mention the cookies & fudge I made). Of course, I am going to be exercising like crazy for at least the next 6 months to get rid of the extra pounds.
In an effort to delay working on tax stuff just yet, I have been working on some critters. Most of them I can't reveal because they are for the TBACA Valentine show. I dyed some 2 pieces of fur 2 slightly different shades of pink. The colors achieved using cream colored fur instead of white have kind of a vintage look. So I have been shopping for and purchasing ribbon and old looking hang tags to complete the look. The idea is still coming together ....we'll see. The pink tiger in the photo is almost finished -she needs a collar or necklace, whiskers and a name. She will probably be traveling to the Brightstar show in Tampa Feb 22.
I wonder how long I can delay working on taxes.....
This is the first time I have uploaded a video to my blog. I call it the Christmas kiss and it's one of my favorite all time presents. My sister, Mary Louise(I have always called her by her 1st & middle names), sent me these two last Christmas. She knows I decorate with snowmen and has sent me snowmen gifts since I moved to Florida. This year she sent the cutest little snowglobe ornaments. One has a boy snowmen and the other a girl. The boy says Bill on the front and the girl says Nancy.
Merry Christmas to everyone!!!
My next post will be after Christmas.
I almost forgot...Don't forget to visit the Christmas Parade on Ellen Borggreve's blog!!
This is the second year I have participated in the Teddy Talk ornament swap. I am so thrilled at the ornament I received all the way from the Philippines. This cute little Santa was made by Carolynn of Teeny Tiny Teddy Bears.
This is Randy, Rudolph's little brother. I made him for the ornament swap and he now resides in Canada. Check out the Teddy Talk tree here. It has the swap ornaments and more are added each day. It is so much fun to see all the different, creative ornaments made by Teddy Bear artists.
It's here, it's here!! The Cookie Recipe Roundup! My recipe this year is a two-parter. In the early 1980's Reese's introduced peanut butter chips for baking. I searched for a recipe for a chocolate cookie that called for chocolate chips so I could use the peanut butter chips instead. I found this recipe in the Better Homes & Gardens Homemade Cookies Cookbook. I have used it since and have never found a recipe using the pb chips that I like better. It makes a cake-like cookie that is not super sweet and compliments the pb chips. The basic cookie mix will actually make 3 batches of these cookies. Unfortunately there are no children around here so I have already made and eaten 2 batches. There are several other recipes in the BH&G cookie cookbook that use the basic cookie mix.
Basic Cookie Mix
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups shortening that does not
require refrigeration
In a large bowl thoroughly stir together first 4 ingredients. Cut in shortening till mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Can be stored in covered container up to 6 weeks at room temperature. For longer storage, place in freezer. To measure, lightly place in measuring cup; level with spatula. Makes about 8 1/2 cups.
From Better Homes and Gardens Homemade Cookies Cookbook
Peanut Chip Chocolate Drops
2 1/4 cups basic cookie mix.
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 1 oz squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted & cooled.
1/2 cup Reeses Peanut Butter Chips( I actually use 3/4 cup)
1/2 cup chopped nuts(optional-I don't really like nuts in cookies)
Combine first 3 ingredients; beat well. Blend in cooled chocolate. Stir in peanut butter chips and nuts. Drop from teaspoon 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet(I use ungreased nonstick). Bake at 375 for 10 - 12 minutes. Remove cookies to rack; cool.
For the next recipe at Teddies by Laura Lynn click here
After participating in the Mims Fire Dept Christmas parade yesterday I came home and started decorating the tree. I wish I could have taken some nice pics of the parade but it is not easy when you are part of the parade. We pulled our trailer decorated by the local dog groomer and followed by a number of dogs decked out in Christmas garb. Just your local small town Christmas parade with fire engines sirens and school bands marching. We had a good time.
Today I finished the tree and baked some cookies. Make sure and come by on Saturday, Dec 13th for the Cookie Recipe Roundup. I have made cookies from this recipe many times but I felt I needed to make a batch today to test the recipe(yeh...right!). Of course by Saturday they will all be gone and I might need to make another batch to keep me company while I collect all the great recipes in the roundup.
I finished this little cat before company came for Thanksgiving. Her name is Duchess and she is just 7" tall to the tip of her ears. I didn't have anything in mind except making a small cat when I cut her out. Her personality emerged all on it's own and I knew she was royalty. Now I am thinking of doing a series called Sophisticats. My mind it running with it, thinking of all the different colors of cats. Maybe a black and white one next. Bill thinks Duchess looks like a rat, but to me, she is definately a regal cat.
We had a nice visit from my neice and her family. She has two great kids, Nick(10) and Katie(8). I don't think we have had children in the house since we moved here. Katie loved my critter room. She even took a dip in our pool despite the fact the water was very cold. Now that Thanksgiving is over Christmas preparations are in full swing! I also have 2 shows shortly after the new year-time to get in gear.
My Christmas Carolers that were in Teddy Bear & Friends will be on Bid 4 Bears starting this afternoon. I will put a link on my sidebar after the auction starts.
We got a call early yesterday morning. Our rental property had been hit by a truck. It is a double wide trailer on an acre of land. It sits over 100 feet from the road on a straight quiet country road. Apparently the driver choaked on coffee and passed out with his foot on the gas. He traveled 300 feet and hit the corner of the trailer doing over 45 mph. It knocked the home over a foot off it's foundation. The inside looks like an earthquake hit. The driver walked away with a bump on his head and sore ribs. He had hunting dogs in the back in a cage and one dog tied in the back(he was not injured). One of the tenants was in the bathroom on the other end of the home and was knocked down by the impact. Now the home has been declared unsafe by the building inspector. Our tenants must remove all there belonging(that aren't damaged) and find somewhere else to live. It looks like the trailer will be a total loss. Now we have to deal with the insurance companies.
