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Saturday, April 16, 2011

The goodness of goat's milk

Well, this isn't actually MY project, but I just had to share this.
My nephews that live in Australia just won first place and $500.00 each for this presentation on goat's milk.
We grew up drinking a lot of goat's milk, and so it's no surprise to me that my sister has made it a staple in her family's diet.  We plan to get some goats too as soon as we move to a better location, for keeping livestock.
This presentation is very informative.  It covers all the basics that you need to know for keeping a goat or two for milk.  Enjoy!


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Bishop Dress Sew Along Part Sweet 16 - Sleeves, Placket, & Review Of The Final Dress & Lessons Learned


I want to apologize for not posting a new video sooner.
I've found out I'm pregnant and that explains why I'm falling asleep every time I sit down for a couple of minutes.  Also, my baby is crawling now too.  Whew!  She's a cute mess, as you'll see in this final video, she's into everything.  She kept going after the tripod every time I tried to video while sewing.  I couldn't watch this video without laughing so hard my stomach hurt.  Between the baby, the cat, and the number of times I had to retake because my dog was making a lot of noise it was hilarious to watch it.  Thankfully, I think I got all the dog noises out of the final cut. 

Thank you so much for following along.
It's been a blast.

Here is the video I mentioned that shows how to starch the pleating before smocking.
Here is a tutorial about doing a placket, very differently from what I *think* the pattern I'm using says to do.  I say *think* because I'm still confused, to be honest.  But this tutorial makes more sense, to me.  So, this is what I'll be trying on the next dress I make.
Here is a video about the neck bias, from the same helpful person.


*UPDATE*
I made a 2nd dress in just a few days, for my older daughter.  This time I kept the dress on the neck guide, but I drew the neck guide on a piece of cardboard.  So, while I was doing the smocking the dress was pinned to this big piece of cardboard.  It was a Priority mail box, actually.  One just big enough to put the neck guide on.  It came out so great and so much faster.  Of course I would expect it to come out faster, but I'm gonna do this step from now on.


OK, now I'm just showing off my sweet family.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins (from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook, but not exactly the same recipe)

  1.  12 muffin cups
  2. 1 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
  3. 1/2 cup peanut butter
  4. 1/2 cup carrot puree
  5. 1/2 cup banana puree
  6. 1 large egg white
  7. 1 cup all purpose flour
  8. 1 teaspoon baking powder
  9. 1 teaspoon baking soda
  10. 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place 12 muffin cups in a 12 cup muffin tin, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mix 1/2 cup of the brown sugar with the peanut butter, the vegetable and banana purees, and the egg white using a wooden spoon.  (To make the banana puree, mash two bananas and then put them in the blender for 2 minutes.  To make carrot puree steam the carrots till they are soft and then put them in the blender for approximately 2 minutes.)
  3. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and stir.  Add to the bowl with the peanut butter mixture and stir just to combine.  Add the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar and stir once or twice.
  4. Divide the batter among the muffin cups and bake until the muffins are lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center, 15 to 20 minutes.  Turn the muffins out onto a rack to cool.
  5. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or  wrap individually and freeze for up to 1 month.

We had these for breakfast this morning and they were a complete hit.  My son said they were the best muffins in the whole world.  My husband said they were absolutely delicious and my daughter gave an affirming "Um hum" while stuffing her face.  I preferred mine with margarine added to the center as they were still warm, so it would melt good.  My kids and husband ate theirs without butter.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
I want to apologize for not posting anything these past few days.
I've been incredibly busy trying to get the housework caught up.
See, when I sew, I neglect something like laundry in order to be able to find the time, since I can't/don't want to neglect lovin' on my babies.  Well the laundry is so out of control, and the kitchen counters can't take another stack of paper or dishes or whatever else is on them.  I'd love to take a photo of the new table lamp my husband has installed over the kitchen table, but the table's never clean enough.  I'm about to hit "super momma" mode today and get it all done.  My sweetly, just a smidgen spoiled little baby, is gonna have to hang out in the baby carrier or cry in her crib or living room rug till I get it all done.  I've tried to fold clothes while she sits with me.  But she likes to unfold.  It's her favorite thing about "time to fold clothes".

I'm gonna get a posting done either tonight or tomorrow.  I promise.  (Deep breath....GO!)