Crocheted Snow Swirls

With just a little bit of size 10 crochet thread you can make these simple little swirls which add a bit of whimsy to your tree or gifts.

With a size b hook, chain 31

1.) 2 single crochet in second chain from hook

and across - 60 single crochets

chain 1, turn

2.) 1 single crochet in each stitch across,

chain 1, turn

3.) 2 single crochet in each stitch across

and fasten off.

That's it, so very easy, so very cute!

With a squirt of spray adhesive you can add glitter for a sparkle.

Homemade Christmas Tags

This year's Christmas party favor is a candle and holder. I found these gold decorated candle holders in the dollar store, the clear glass ones with a candle (Big Lots) which fit just perfectly inside. Wrapped in clear wrap with gold/silver curling ribbon.

After I found a verse I liked and typed it up, I cut out a cute angel design from Christmas cards. To the back of the angel I glued the verse and trimmed the paper to fit the size of the tag, laminated, punched a hole and attached to the wrapped candle and holder.

Something small that says Merry Christmas, thank you for coming and enjoyed your company.

When wrapping packages, I cut designs from the wrapping paper. For these tags I first glue the typed to/from and sentiment information to an unlined index card and then glue the card to the back of the wrapping paper cutout. The card makes the tag sturdier. Follow as for above tag by trimming, laminate and decorate.

Tied with a pretty bow, embelished with a rose, holly and this pretty tag makes a beautiful Christmas package just waiting to be opened.

A Christmas Centerpiece

With a little bit of this and a little bit of that a nice centerpiece can be made.

As I'll be using reindeer plates I had gotten a few years ago I remembered a small silver reindeer I had which I originally received from an arrangement that was given to me several years ago. With pieces from an old garland I surrounded the reindeer in a wicker oval tray with greens, added some pine cones (also saved from arrangements I had received), added three roses, three hydrangeas (purchased last year from Big Lots), a few sprigs of holly, and six small gold ornaments.

If you look closely you can see that the handles of the tray are ... what else ... reindeer! I'm amazed at how this all came together, you would think I planned this ... not! The tray was a great buy from Michaels a few years ago during their after Christmas sale, under $3.00!

A very pretty centerpiece for no cost by recycling those bits and pieces of leftover holiday decorations.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year...

With the kids jingle belling And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.













The trees are lit, the snowmen have assembled, the table is being designed for a holiday feast, Christmas is being sprinkled throughout the house.

Holiday Fare

I usually only make this for holidays or at some special occasion and not sure why as its about as simple as you can get and exceptionally easy to prepare and very well liked.

Starting the holiday preparations, a day or two ahead I make what we call pepper salad.

==========================================

Two Jars of B&G Whole Sweet Peppers

One Jar B&G Hot Cherry Peppers -

(I only use three hot peppers, as I do

not like this too hot)

1 large onion, diced

5-6 stalks of celery, diced

3-4 large cloves garlic, minced

olive oil

Remove the stems and seeds from the peppers, rinse.

(note: keep the jars the peppers came so that you can return the pepper mixture to the jar to marinate in)

Dice the peppers, add the onion, celery and garlic, mix well.

Spoon mixture into the jars, add 3/4 cup of olive oil to each jar.Cap tightly and turn jar upside down, place in a bowl.

Every so often turn the jar over letting the olive oil

flow through the mixture.

A great hors d'oeuvre if you can keep it long enough to get to the table, in my house, that's a feat if it can be done. Very simple but so very tasty.

Serve with your favorite crackers.

This is best made at least a day ahead.

Falls into the s u p e r e a s y category.

wool eater blanket ... again ...

ok, so I caved and started another wool eater but I did manage to last a few weeks before I pulled out the yarn for this one. Another winter project. I just enjoy this pattern so much and it is soooooo comfy that I could no longer resist. However, with that said, I'm sure it will be quite some time before this is completed. Christmas planning and decorating is the front runner right now,and yes, believe it or not has taken over crochet some nights. Wow, I'm amazing myself. Didn't ever think I'd put down the hook for anything!

Tuesday Treasures

and a blessing. This beautiful crocheted cross was made for me for my birthday by a very dear and special friend who is also my crochet buddy. Our crocheting jaunts have more often then not taken us to Barnes & Noble for an afternoon of wonderful flavored coffee and crocheting.

Crocheting not only produces such pretty items but introduces one to others who enjoy the craft or want to learn. We have met many lovely and interesting people during our afternoons of java and thread.

Crocheted Star Motif I

With small amount of size 10 white thread and size 4 hook


1. Ch 8, join in 1st ch, ch3, 19 dc in loop, join to ch 3, 20 dc.

2. Ch 3, dc in same stitch as ch3, 2 dc in each stitch around, 40 dc.

3. Ch3, dc in next 6 stitches, *ch 3, skip 1 stitch, dc in next 7 stitches*, repeat around, join in ch 3.

4. Sl st to next stitch, ch 3, dc in next 4 stitches, *ch 3, sc in space, ch 3, skip 1 dc, dc in next 5 stitches, skip next dc* repeat around, join to ch 3.

5. Sl st to next stitch, ch 3, dc in next 2 stitches, *ch 4, sc in space (twice), ch 4, skip 1 dc, dc in next 3 stitches, skip 1 dc*, repeat around, join to ch 3.

6. Sl st to next stitch, ch 7 (counts as beginning ch 3 and chain 4), *sc in next space ch 4, (three times), ch 4, skip 1 dc, dc in next stitch, ch 4,*, repeat around, join to third chain of beginning dc and fasten off.

A sweet adornment to a small holiday package.

Decorating

Well, the trees (two) are up and most of the house is decorated. This is a first in several years. When the kids were home I always had the house decorated for Thanksgiving, then Thanksgiving was the official lighting of the trees and kicked off the holiday season. I think its nice to be back to this. Love the evenings now with the soft white lights glimmering.

Winter accessorizing

Loved this wide bobble headband and it was fun and easy to make. Added a neck warmer to it and all set to go out and brave some colder weather.

The headband pattern is designed by Chole Nightingale and can be found here: .: The Crabby Crafter :. scroll down and there is a smaller bobble headband.

Great for gifts, stocking stuffers, not to mention making several for yourself in different colors!

So very holiday appropriate

and of course for any other time but in this season I think these are just great! Perfect for your Thanksgiving table ... Potted Pumpkin (showcased by Stephanie at The Whispering Creek House from Style Me Pretty (http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/03/25/diy-project-potted-banana-bread/ ) ... and Stephanie's Pie Crust Leaves ... you just have to stop and visit with Stephanie at The Whispering Creek House blog. You'll not only love these but you will love her blog as well. Its a wonderful place to visit and you'll find yourself going there often to visit. I know I do.

The Whispering Creek House

Sunday Nite Planning for Monday Menu

and its a s u p e r e a s y but tasty one.


Chicken Casserole
Green salad
Pudding and/or fruit

Chicken Casserole

4 chicken thighs or leg quarters, skin removed
16 oz. frozen mixed vegetables
1 onion, diced
1 can cream of celery or chicken soup
2-3 stalks celery, diced
5 ladels chicken stock
2 cup cooked white rice
1/4 cup Bread crumbs

Cover chicken with water and bring to boil, simmer until chicken is cooked.
Remove chicken and shred, cool and refrigerate chicken stock to "gel" ... this brings any fat to the surface which you then scrape off and discard.

Into a pot put 5 ladels of chicken stock
cream of celery soup
onions, celery, and mixed vegetables.
Simmer for about 30-40 minutes.

Put rice, chicken and simmered vegetables mixture into a 10 x 14 baking dish.
Gently mix and top with bread crumbs.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

This is a winter favorite. I have already cooked and shredded the chicken, cooked the rice and vegetable/soup mixture and refrigerated (all in separate containers). When I get home tomorrow I just have to mix them into the pan and pop in the oven and serve it up!

crocheted coverlet ... so very easy

This is a so very simple crochet project. Good companion to watching tv.

Its smaller then an afghan, larger then a lapghan, just perfect for a winter's afternoon of covering up, hot tea by your side and settling in for a good read. The one here measures 50 X 34 inches.

With Size J Hook and a pound of yarn (actually used about 3/4 of the skein)

Chain 76, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across ... 75 sc, ch2 and turn.

1. DC in same st as turning ch and next st., *ch2 sk 1dc, dc in next st*, repeat across to last two sc ... dc in each sc, ch 2 and turn.

2. Dc in same st as turning ch, dc in next st, *ch 2, sc in ch 2 sp, ch 2, dc in dc* to last 2 st, dc in each, ch 2 and turn

3. DC in turning ch st and next st, *ch 2, sk ch 2 sp, dc in next dc*, repeat across to last 2 dc, dc in each, ch 2 and turn

Repeat rows 2 and 3 to desired length, ending with row 3 and with ch 1 instead of 2 at end of this row and turn.

4. sc in turning ch and next st and across with only one sc in each ch 2 sp, ch 1, turn

5. sc in each st across and fasten off.

You have to check this out ... Bow Making

A group I belong to posted a site today about making bows from magazine pages. I just think this is terrific and had to share. The bows are beautiful!!! You can find the instructions by

Jessica Jones at her blog How about orange ...

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-gift-bow-from-magazine-page.html

Just think, you'll never have to worry about running out to get a bow, just grab an old magazine, paper, etc. and your set to go! And, besides being beautiful they are more then priced right!

Thanks to Jessica for sharing this.

Monday Menu

After flipping through my Recipes To Try folder I settled upon one I had come upon a few months ago. This is its first run and I have to say it will be a keeper. Its a nice tasty dish and I think will be especially good for cold weather. With that said Monday Menu is:

Mexican Noodle Bake (Meatless)
Salad
Corn Bread or Muffins

This recipe by Quiltingqueen is #381943 and can found at Recipezaar. I mixed this together tonight thinking that I would then just pop it into the pan and oven when I got home tomorrow. It hasn't been baked yet and is very good, so not sure whether this will be a warm up or I will follow through on the recipe itself. Oh, as I used mild taco seasoning I also added a tablespoon of chili powder and only cooked the elbows for about 3 and a half minutes.
Mexican Noodle Bake (Meatless) - 381943 - Recipezaar


Mexican Noodle Bake (Meatless)

SERVES 6

Ingredients
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup green pepper, chopped
1 cup celery, sliced
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, undrained
1 (16 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups elbow macaroni, dry
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

1Cook macaroni according to package directions, drain and rinse in cold water, set aside.
2In a large skillet, saute onion, pepper and celery in oil until softened.
3Stir in taco seasoning, beans, tomatoes and tomato sauce.
4Simmer for 10 minutes.
5Remove from heat and stir in cooked noodles.
6Spread mixture in a 9 x 13 pan. (or, put in gallon ziploc bag and freeze--write baking instructions on the bag, then when you are ready to eat it, thaw in warm water for about 10 minutes, put in pan and bake).
7Bake, uncovered at 375 for 45 minutes.
8Sprinkle cheese on top and bake five more minutes or until cheese is melted