Cinnamon Sticks GUEST GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Cinnamon Sticks GUEST GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Warmer Weather Means Walks

We took two walks today! I am so thankful that it is above 32 degrees. Tomorrow, it is supposed to be around 50. It's like a heat wave! This afternoon on our walk we made our way to the playground at the end of one of the main streets that I have seen when we drive to the grocery store. I didn't actually plan on going there, it just didn't take very long to walk to! I had to let the girls get out and play for a while. If I hadn't, there may have been a revolt!\. I am a little paranoid walking here in the city. I passed so many people today. When we lived in the apartment, most of the time we didn't see anyone on our walks! At least it is very public!

My mom was here today on her break and taught me to purl and how to finish off the knitting. I really like it! It is slow, but it is pretty! Pnut keeps asking when she will get her scarf. I finished my practice piece tonight so I had better start on that tomorrow before she cuts up one of mine for her own. I don't think that I have mentioned quite how wonderful my mom is. Today, she taught me how to purl and she helped me fix the sewing machine. She also told me that I should clean it and oil it! The things I do not know! When she was here Tuesday, she helped me learn to cast on stitches and to do the knit stitch. She also helped me to get the hem set on my skirt (which I have not worked on since). She is great! I am so glad they live here now! And that her boss gives her these long breaks that are too short to drive to her house but too long to hang out in the parking lot feeding seagulls. Thank you postmaster!

Tonight, we did playdough. I let Pilly play with it because I was sitting right there and scolded her every time she put it in her mouth. Eventually she gave up on that!



She mostly just squished it and tore it into little pieces. Here, she is done and wants me to put it away. She was actually getting ready to get really angry and yell because I delayed taking it from her to take a picture.



I had to make a blueberry pie for Pnut which turned into a cherry pie because her playdough was red. She then picked all my cherries off, all that hard work, and stuffed them into the container. She proceeded to tear the playdough into 400 little pieces while putting it away. That should be a fun one to open.

Tomorrow is cleaning day. Oh joy. But Carolyn comes tomorrow so that is a joy! Happy Friday!

Sweet Cornbread or Dessert that You Serve as a Side Dish!

1/2 c butter
3/4 c honey or 3/4-1 c sugar
2 eggs
1.5 c cornmeal
1.5 c flour
1.5 milk
1 T baking powder
1 t salt

Cream butter, honey or sugar, and eggs. It helps if you soften the butter first. Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add dry ingredients alternating with milk to creamed mixture. Pout into greased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

I usually halve this for our family. It takes about 20 minutes to cook then in an 8x8. Try not to over-bake it or it will dry out. If cooked properly, it is moist and delicious. The girls only wanted to eat this for supper. They did eat some meat and Pilly ate her vegetables, but they each had several pieces of cornbread.

Tonight is Lost night! I will probably either knit or play with the beads during that. I hope everyone had a great day. It is bath time so I have to get upstairs!

Popovers

I like popovers. They make me think I am British. Surely they must eat them in the UK. They are relatively easy to make and require few ingredients that we always have on hand. Joel says that they remind him of a breakfast food. They have sort of a pancake taste. Sort of. In any case, they are fun!

2 eggs
1 c milk
1 T butter, melted
1 c white flour
1/4 t salt

1. Put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thorougly without overbeating.
2. Half-fill buttered muffin pans.
3. Put them in the cold oven and set the heat for 450 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees adn bake for another 15-20 minutes.

To test to see if they are done, remove it from the pan and it should be crisp on the outside and moist and tender inside.



They really do puff up and pop over!



This is the inside and it is light and airy. The girls really liked them. They each had 2.5! We like to put butter on them.

My mom was here today, and we decided where to hem the skirt to hopefully fix its problem. Ha! Hopefully. She also showed me the basic knitting stitch that I was trying to learn from the book. I like it! I will probably only be able to do that for the next week until she comes again!

I received a surprise today. I was sitting on the love seat practicing knitting, and the girls were in the other room. I heard Pnut say, "Sit still for your haircut." I wasn't too concerned because she likes to pretend to cut my hair with a ruler. I went into the other room, and I wasn't even less concerned because she was holding the ruler. Then I looked at Pilly.



My baby has bald spots now!



She cut off the front too.



I can't disguise it very well!!



This isn't even all of it. I found three more cuts of hair after this.

My poor little baby! I can't even put her hair in pigtails. It is going to take forever for it to grow!

I wasn't too mad. I cut Randa's hair when I was three. I think it is just a natural curiosity.

Alright, I am off to watch Sesame and practice knitting.

Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY!!!!

Twice Baked Potatoes

These are so easy and sooooo good! Even Mr. Picky Joel liked them!

4 Medium baking potatoes
2 T mild
2 T butter
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
2/3 c shredded cheddar cheese

1. Prick each potato with fork and wrap in a paper towel. Microwave on high for 8-12 minutes or until potatoes are just soft to the touch, turning over after half the cooking time.
2. Slice top layer (do not cut in half) from each potato. Scoop out centers and place in medium bowl. Add milk, butter, and seasonings to potato, mas until fluffy (use a mixer). Stir in cheese.
3. Spoon mixture into the potato shells. Place on a serving plate and return to the microwave for 3-5 minutes on high, or until potatoes are hot.
4. Remove and top with crumbled bacon or bacon bits if desired.

Pilly loved these! I had to give her a roll so that I could eat mine because she wanted more.



Pnut and I went out tonight to a few stores, and apparently Pilly and Joel had quite a good time while we were gone. She has a penguin that she sucks on (I know, it is disgusting), and Joel said she was sitting on his lap facing his chest and started to suck on his shoulder. She thought it was hilarious when he told her to stop! Joel took the video with the camera so it was really dark.

I am working on making our room more comfortable. I bought some candles for the night stand, and I would like to find a large painting or three smalls ones for the wall above our bed. It is just sort of empty. I would like to find something for the top of the chest of drawers as well. I am hoping that it will make me like the room more. I cleaned up some of the boxes that are in there, and that did help. I want to paint the trim this summer, and I think that will help as well. I might make new curtains, but I want white ones, and that might be too bright for Joel!

I tried knitting tonight with Knitting for Dummies. I think that I get it, but I pulled out my stitches because I wasn't sure. When my mom comes tomorrow, I am going to have her watch me and tell me if it is right. I also finished my skirt today, but something is wrong with the way it hangs. It might be too long. I am going to have her look at that as well. I can't tell when I am wearing it. The jeans were flared, and I think that kind of messed with things.

Well, I am going to lay on the cough for a few minutes to relax!

Born 2 Impress GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Born 2 Impress GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!