Happy New Year 2009!

Happy New Year to all! No Holiday Postings recently as it was a very busy Yuletime Season. Wishing all a Happy Safe & Prosperous New Year.


I have been busy crocheting various silly winter hats from patterns found on the web, and will start posting pix and links later this week.

Make a Smilebox recipe

Make a Smilebox greeting

helpful book hints

Greetings,
over the years I and many others have found it difficult to find a good book.So I give you my suggestion to read my favorite book Skulduggery Pleasant by: Derek Landy. To find out more about this book visit http://www.skulduggerypleasant.com/
thanks,
Ro

NOVEMBER

"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."
- Clyde Watson

Economical Recycled Porch Goblin w/ Directions!

We have our annual porch goblin assembled on the front porch to greet visitors. He is made from a couple of bags of clothing from local Church Rummage sales an old pair of Rubber Boots and an ugly face mask. Stuffed and placed in a plastic chair. Our cost this year $2 for 2 bags of rummage sale clothing. We keep the hands, mask & rubber boots for use the next season. Here is an image of our glamorous Samhain Goblin just in time for the Holiday! AND he is made from recycled clothing and reusable accessories!

Halloween is in the Air!

Halloween will be here in less than 3 weeks! The air is crisper and the trees are changing color. Children are planning strategies to make the most of the Holiday! Pumpkins are on the porch awaiting carving into scary Jack O Lanterns...

Happy Fall!

Fall is here, and here is a picture of our pets after a long day in the new yard. Pretty tired out they are.

Kitties enjoying their "Garden" window

Here are my daughter's two cats enjoying their "Garden Window" and you can see my last blooming lilac outside. All the outside plants have been enjoying the rain.

Strawberry pot

Scalped a strawberry pot from one of the Rummage sales and gonna try this as well. Drilled some holes in the bottom. Used a small piece of PVC with some holes drilled in it and some fish tank gravel (uncolored) in the middle for watering. Got some HUGE strawberry plants and hoping for the best!

Small 3 ft area that needed help

Here we redid the small area on the north side of the house. Looks MUCH better... Now no need to mow on this side of the house. Shady area so hostas and some more impatients.

Patio completed images

Busy busy here as always here are the finished patio images...FINALLY!

However it was getting dark and sprinkling so they are a big hard to see.

Mutant Rhubarb I planted last summer

Here's a pix of my Mutant Rhubarb I got off freecycle last year. It liked the spot it was planted in... obviously! Soon to be Rhubarb cake, and I will be using the leaves as a mold for XL concrete stepping stones. Happy Spring all!

Cowbird pair having some seed

Here they are....

Cowbirds in the grass

We have new visitors to the birdfeeder. Haven't had this particular bird here before. Probably looking for a nest to leave their eggs in of course.

Better view of Fairy door on our old Willow tree

Here's a better image of the scale of this Spring's Fairy door and patio:

Kids have created new Fairy door/patio

NEW Fairy door & patio constructed and christened today by our Fairy fans! Door is handpainted of course as is the patio. Fairy marbles also included!

Pavers almost done on Sunday

Waiting to see if the rain will get us. Cloudy overhead. Last 8 blocks to place!

Pavers almost done on Saturday!

Here's where we ended on Saturday nite:

Here's a shot from Friday when we started laying out the pavers. They are 16" square 2" thick and 42# each!

Yard after tilling prior to leveling.

Here is the after tilling phase. Today we remove excess dirt and add sand and level. Purchased some of the new concrete Patio Blocks which are approx 46# each and on sale for 2/$5. Gotta make 4 or 5 trips or will damage suspension on the truck as I will need at least 81 of these dang things!

Another view of our pitiful yard and 1 of its inhabitants

Here is the 2nd view of yard pretilled:

Spring is here at last! Yesterday we started a new Patio. I have included a couple pre Patio Pix. We tilled to get dirt loosened to make it easier on ourselves. Tiller Rental approx $50.

Welcome spring! The snow from Easter is finally gone and hopefully will stay away this time! Finally got a pix of our baby girl cardinal in the birdfeeder. She's such a pretty green girlie...

March Poetry Anthology

"March roars in like a lion so fierce,
the wind so cold, it seems to pierce.
The month rolls on and Spring draws near,
and March goes out like a lamb so dear."

"The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter
The green field sleeps in the sun;
The oldest and youngest
Are at work with the strongest;
The cattle are grazing,
Their heads never raising;
There are forty feeding like one!
Like an army defeated
The snow hath retreated,
And now doth fare ill
On the top of the bare hill;
The plowboy is whooping—anon-anon:
There's joy in the mountains;
There's life in the fountains;
Small clouds are sailing,
Blue sky prevailing;
The rain is over and gone!"

Its February! A short poem by: Super Elise

Its February!

Rhyming words:
Cary
Fairy
Mary
Sherry
Cherry
Hey, I can think of some names too!

End of the poem

February is Dental health month, Black history month and Lincoln's birthday!

If you know more words that rhyme with February I would be more than pleased if you say so in the comments below!
Blessings!
Super Elise
( :

2 Snow Days last week and I'm Still Alive!

Two snow days last week and we survived! Not sure that we would make it through unscathed as three children make one giant mess when school is canceled. They sure were disappointed that there wasn't another day today. Boo Hoo!

However, they did get to do some crafting over the weekend and worked on a Valentine's wreath for the door.

We took an old grapevine wreath and whitewashed it and then glued lots of pink and fuschia roses on one end. Not sure what ribbons will be going opposite of the flowers as yet but its pretty striking as it is.

I'm back & a quick recipe for Taco Seasoning!

Hello all!

Sorry it's been a busy couple weeks. Back to school after Winter break for the monkeys and then a week of the stomach flu this past week. Just a quick line or two and a promise to be more diligent to post more frequently.

Anyway on to the promised Taco Seasoning recipe!

Tastes almost exactly like store bought but fresher and lower sodium!

Ingredients for approx a lb. of ground meat (Beef,chicken, or turkey)

1 Tbs Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Onion Powder
1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (decrease to 1/8 tsp for kid's recipe or for those who don't prefer a little zing)
1/4 tsp Oregano (dried)
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1/2 tsp Ground Sea Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper

I grind up sea salt & the crushed pepper flakes in a Molcajete (Mexican Mortar/Pestle) before combining.

Tip: easier to make a double batch and store 1/2 for your next batch.

Enjoy!

This week's frugal crafty project. Simple Knit Harry Potter Scarf w/ Pattern

My Harry Potter fan just HAD to have a

Gryffindor scarf. Here is the finished project and

simple directions/materials for you to make your own.


I used Red Heart Super Saver 7 oz skeins (as they were on sale for $1.99) in the following colors:
Claret & Gold. You may use whatever colors or 4 ply yarn you wish with this pattern.

I will post pix/pattern for hat as soon as I can find time to make one.

Knit Harry Potter Scarf Pattern:

US size 7 double point needles
1 Crochet hook size J or thereabouts for affixing fringe when done
4 ply worsted weight yarn in 2 colors approx 4 oz each color, or 7 oz of each if you wish to make matching hats/mittens to accompany your scarf.

Gauge 5 stitches = approx 1" in width.
15 rows = approx 1 1/2 inches in length

Finished dimensions: 4" wide X 56" long (plus fringe)

Final materials cost: $3.98 plus tax! I even have yarn enough left for a hat and mittens!

Start w/ darker color (claret.) Cast on 40 stitches, join and work in the round.
Work 20 rows and change color to gold. Continue 20 rows in each color block. I made a total of 19 sections. Cast off. I used a 3 needle cast off so I had a finished edge. You can find directions to do that here: http://www.knitpicks.com/content/index.php/cat/binding-off/
Sew Cast on side neatly together.

Optional: fringe. I used a 12 inch ruler and wound yarn around 5 times total and then made 5 fringes per side. 3 of the dark (both ends and middle) and 2 of the lighter color in between.
You can find how to for fringe here: http://www.ehow.com/how_14822_knit-scarf.html

Tips: Always start and end in the darker color. You can make your color blocks larger or smaller and scarf wider or narrower if you prefer. This was sized this for a 10 year old.

Pattern is offered free for all to enjoy.

So, please no reselling of this pattern.

Happy knitting!

Lilly and the Kingdom of theThree Purple Moons - an ongoing story by Super Elise

Chapter One

My name is Nina, I am 8 years old and I love all school activities.

This is my story…

There was a school play today.

I was cast as the most magical fairy.

The play was a great success.

Then, after I went to sleep that night following my performance…

“Wake up protector of the forest.” said a voice in my ear.

“Who are you?” I said, certain I must be asleep.

“My name is Lilly, and I am the Guardian of the Kingdom of the
Three Purple Moons.”

“This must be a dream!” I said, to which Lilly said “No it is not!”

“Well then, tell me more.” I said, as I sat on the edge of my bed.

Lilly said “You are one of three protectors of the Kingdom.
Without your help we could be gone forever, Nina!”

“I was in a play today and I was a Fairy.
The teacher said there was something about me that
made me perfect for that role."

Before I could open my mouth Lilly said "We must hurry to the kingdom as time is running out.
I will tell you all about the forest as we are traveling there." Lilly took my hand and away we flew out the window into the starry cold night.

To be continued...