daily yarns 'n more

life

I'm planning on taking a break from this blog.  I do plan on posting at my photo blog...but that will be photos only. 

Life sure can be difficult sometimes. 

A very dear friend e-mailed me and said this, "Perhaps the blessing is not what we see, but what we don't see."

So, Jim and I are heading to Florida on Sunday, and we'll be there a week...Hoping to clear the fog out of our heads and think about the blessings we see and hopefully find the blessings we can't see.

I hope to be back here posting again.

Take Care!

Judy

celebrate national delurking week

and leave a comment.

It’s time to get active online. You’ve got 51 weeks a year to read web pages without making your presence known, but this week, be sure to comment wherever possible! DeLurk and come out of the shadows!

National DeLurking Week is celebrated the second full week of January, running from Monday through Sunday.

Since starting my blog I have meet many wonderful people and have been lucky enough to have met a couple in person.  I know there are a lot of people who read my blog by the stats I get.  So leave a comment so that I know you're there and if you have a blog I'll come over and leave a comment too.

Lurkers...this is the week to come out of hiding.

a year in review

I took the first picture from the first post of each month and made a collage out of it.  I hope all who read my blog has a wonderful and safe New Year!

you are not going to believe what we did tonight

Jim and I met the Pioneer Woman and Marlboro Man.  My hubby puts up with a lot and taking me down to see The Pioneer Woman was one of them.  He didn't mind tho, he found a couple of books and a seat on the other side of the store and settled down to read until I was ready to go.

I met the Pioneer Woman while Jim took pictures.  She's as wonderful as her blog.

But, while Ree was with all of us during the Q&A...Jim was visiting with Marlboro Man.  Jim got a kick out of watching the boys while they drank a juice box and shared a huge chocolate muffin.

Note the youngest son behind Marlboro Man checking out the cowgirl.

The night got pretty long for these little guys.

I'm off to bed now.  It was a long night but a fun and memorable one and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

i'm gone one day and everything is changed

I popped on my blog to do a quick post and everything is changed.  TypePad did some updating and has totally revamped the site...At first I thought I was in something that wasn't mine.  I just started getting used to the "new" TypePad and now I have to figure out the "new"..."NEW" TypePad.  But, I like it.  It seems a bit more user friendly.

I have to show you my stitch marker.  There are 3 of these cute little things.  One says knit, one says purl and the other says yarn.  I thought I lost one the other day and I was frantically looking for it.  I found them at a local yarn shop and just had to get them.  Someone local makes them and sells them in the shop.

 

I found this cute book on Amazon...How to plan, prepare and host and old-fashioned Christmas party...Elsie Dinsmore.  Wouldn't it be neat to have an old-fashioned Christmas?

It's been busy, busy, busy, around here but not anything worth posting about. 

I hope you all have been having a nice week.

some chit~chat

I want to share with you a wonderful food blog called Full Bellies, Happy Kids.  Sandra has some wonderful recipes, head on over and check it out.

My friend Kar gave me an award oh so long ago, and awful me totally forgot about it.  I have to post about 7 things that I love.  I'm going to post the first things that come to my mind, because I love a lot of things.

7 Things I love

1. Hubby and that includes all my family.
2. The smell of a baby.
3. Yarn & Fabric
4. Aprons
5.Coneflowers
6. Life
7. Tennessee

I bet you never would have guessed my answers.

The rules to this meme award are.
1. List 7 things I love.
2. Link back to the person who gave the award to you.
3. Pass it on to 7 other bloggers.

I can't decide who to pass this on to.  I love too many blogs, so if you read my blog and have a blog I pass this award on to you.

And speaking of fabric that I love so much.  Here is some I bought last weekend for a table runner that I want to make.  Now to find the time to make it.

Have an awesome weekend!

i have lots to share today

My blog here is ready for the 4th of July.  I posted here that there might be some changes this year on my blog.  I'm going to every month change my blog look to fit the month, season or holiday...give or take a few days.  I also mentioned that I might do a give away.  Notice I said might?  I'm still working on that.  But, the blog look is in effect starting with the July 4th celebration.

The asparagus that we planted is already starting to really shoot up, even with the drowning it took.  We have counted at least 17 shoots coming out of the ground so far.  If we can get at least half of what we planted to grow we will be very happy.

A few people have wanted Jim's bread recipe.  I don't mind sharing it but it's a bit tricky to make.  You see, we grind our own wheat and roll our own oats to make bread, waffles, pancakes, oatmeal etc.  This is the post that I had done way back in 2007 of Jim's Basic Bread.

JIM'S BASIC BREAD

makes four one pound loaves

10-12 cups hard wheat berries
one cup rolled oats (optional)
one cup flaked wheat (optional)
4 cups very warm water
one-half cup olive oil
one half cup honey
one half cup applesauce
one Tbsp dough enhancer
one Tbsp wheat gluten (no gluten is o.k., but bread is a bit 'heavy')
two Tbsp SAF yeast
two Tbsp coarse salt

Grind wheat berries, roll the oats, flake some wheat.

Combine water, oil, honey, about half the flour, enhancer, gluten, and yeast. mix in Bosch machine on speed one for a minute. Let rise in Bosch machine about 16 minutes.

Add applesauce, a couple cups flour, oatmeal, flaked wheat, and salt. Mix at speed one, add flour
until sides of bowl are completely clean. If using flaked wheat and rolled oats, they will soak up lots of water while kneading, adjust as needed. Knead on speed one for 8 minutes.

Set dough in warm bowl to rise for 16 minutes. Cover with towel. punch down and let rise again for 16 minutes.

Divide into four loaves, put in pans and cover. Rise for 35 minutes.

Bake in top rack @ 350 for 27 minutes.

Remove from pans, set on rack and cover.

I was also asked by Sharyn once how does one find wheat berries and how do you grind them?

My answer is this:

He gets the wheat and oats from either a farmer or a health food store in Minnesota. Then he grinds them with a grinder called a "Whisper Mill". Here is a web site. www.nutritionlifestyles.com.  It's not really easy to find wheat around here. He does use the grinder and roller a lot. He makes oatmeal with oats for breakfast, pancakes and waffles with the wheat flour.

The reason he started to do this was because of health reasons. Eating processed white flour started to react badly for him. Since his dad and a grandfather are and were diabetic he decided to check into wheat and found that fresh ground wheat was far the best for not turning into sugar in your body. Hoping that he will prevent getting diabetes later in life.

I'm sure if you eliminate the dough enhancer and the gluten and use store bought wheat flour it should work just fine.  Let me know if you make it and if it works or not.

This is a crazy busy week.  We are leaving on Friday morning for Dan's wedding in Michigan.  I've been trying to wrap things up for this weekend.  Carri and her family are stopping by Thursday night instead of trying to drive all the way from Minnesota.  The same with Becky and Erin...but they will be riding with us there.  Sadie will be going to the kennel on Thursday afternoon.  I hate doing that, but any one who could watch her will be at the wedding.  So, I saved a nice bone for her and will give it to her when we get her back home.

I better get hopping...I have lots to do today.

The temps are starting to rise, so you all try to stay cool and have a great day.

bored, bored, bored

With DH working most of the day...can you tell I was a bit bored?

 

ETA:  Let me know if my blog is uploading too slow for you.  I'm thinking it's the color background.  I got bored and decided to change the colors and now it seems to be uploading really really slow.

 

Drop me a comment if you would, just so I know if I need to change things again.

 

Thanks,

 

Judy

letter C

I almost forgot about this fun meme that I said I would do...Zaroga gave me the letter "C" and I have to write about 10 things that I love.  

 Here goes and I've added pictures to go with each word.

1. Coneflowers~my utmost favorite flower.

2. Chickens~  I love them and wish I had a barnyard full of them, so I do the next best thing and collect them.

3. Contentment~I love being content with my life and I don't need anything else.

4. Crafts~I love to make all kinds of things.

5. Consistent~I love that I have held to the same principles and beliefs throughout my life.

6. Carrot Cake at the Cheesecake Factory~my favorite place to have dessert.

7. Chicago~the windy city...there's nothing like it, so how can you not love it.

 

8. Close-up shots~ I love taking them...you see the most interesting things up close.

 

9. Cuddling~I love to cuddle and there is nothing like cuddling those wonderful Grandchildren close to you.

 

and last but definitely not least....

10. Coke~in the Diet form.

Now if you want to play along just pick a letter and post 10 things you love.  Let me know if you do so I can come and read the words you picked.

a couple of awards and i need your help

I bought a tulip plant the other day and it's starting to open up.  Just a bit of Spring to have around the house.

I was given a couple of Awards and I want to share them with you. 

Kar over at Kar's Down Home Bliss gave me this award.  Thank you Kar.

 

~~~~~~

Joyce over at Home Again-Vintage Treasures gave me this award.  Thank you Joyce.

I have to post 6 things I'm thankful for.

I'm Thankful for...

1. My Faith

2. My Husband, Children and Grandchildren

3. My Health

4. My freedom, and that I'm able to write this post.

I know I only have 4 things that I'm thankful for...anything else I thought of sounded corny and these 4 were the ones that popped into my mind right away so I went with these.

Now, I'm supposed to pass these 2 awards along but I always have such a hard time deciding who to give them to...so I'm giving them to all who are on my blog list, because you are all deserving of both of these awards.

Now for the help.  Last night at my ASG meeting we were all given a wrapped gift.  Inside each gift there were 2 pieces of fabric one measuring 1/2 yard and the other measuring just over 1/4 yard.  This is our challenge fabric for the year.  Now, I have done it every time since joining but there are many who don't.  This year no one was given the chance to say NO.  I think that's great...no more party poopers.  Now here is the fabric were were given.

  

Any ideas for what to make would be great.  I do have a few...a bag/purse, a pillow, cover a small foot stool, line a basket.   We have to use at least 75% of each fabric piece.  I would love more ideas if anyone has any.

I'm making a 3 Button Wrap out of this delicious, yummy yarn.

 

So far, I am about 25% done on it.

 

Enough chit~chatting for today.

You all have an awesome day and I'll see you on Monday.