One Sweet Week

I know it's not the end of the week yet, I suppose it feels like it, cause it's the end of the year.

I just wanted to share with you today what I've been up to this week.

After being set straight by dear Helen earlier this week, things have really been wonderful.

I've been enjoying watching the girls get used to the snow. They don't like it so much. Me, I'm loving it. It blankets the earth in a stillness.

See that black chicken? Her, yes, her identity has finally been shown.

She layed an egg.

'She' didn't crow.

I've been waiting six months to find out what was going to happen.

I introduce to you -

Aunt Jemima.

Aaron wanted to name her LaQuisha.

Seriously.

The seed catalogs have arrived, and none to soon. Every day I look out the kitchen window and dream of the garden. Heirloom veggies, sunflowers, zinnias, and other delectables. Is there anything sweeter than growing your own food? Please remind me of this in August.

Oh dear. I've neglected my scarecrow.

Next trip to Salvay's (Salvation Army) I'll get her some proper winter clothing.

I've not left the house since Saturday. I'm loving it. I do have to go out today, and I'm actually looking forward to it, instead of dreading it. I'm loving this simple and quiet life.

I've been so busy stitching this week as well. Back in the summer I picked up this plain hat for $2 at the Tractor Supply Company. When I saw it, I just thought 'I can embroider that hat!"

This is what I did.

Does the bee hive look like a wedding cake to you?

Does the chicken look like it's floating?

I've never embroidered with pliers before, but that's what it took to get that hat done!

I managed to clean out my mending basket as well. I mended a bra that was ready for the trash, but now it's as good as new.

I hemmed Glenco's jeans. I hate hemming jeans, but look at this cool trick I learned this week.

You can preserve the hems on jeans, so they don't look so....what would you call it....umm..dorky?

I love notions. Love them. Ache for notions. I love sewing.

What you need to do to hem jeans is to measure what needs to be cut off.

Fold it, and measure again.

Then add about a half inch to that, and cut.

Now, trim your cut off piece to about a half inch as well, and pin it back on the jean bottom, right sides together.

Using your zipper foot attachment, sew as close as you can to the seam edge.

Presto chango! Lookie here. Up really close you can see that you hemmed it, but when you have the jeans on, you'd never guess it. I hope you 'get' this from my instructions. It took me a bit to wrap my head around it at first. Just look at the photos closely.

I've been a knittin' fool. A scarf for Aaron, dishcloths galore, and an iPod cozy.

Last, but not in the least, least...

Did you ever notice how Dr. Oz is always telling you to examine your poop? I took that vein of thought and decided to examine my waste...as in what I'm throwing away.

It's a lot.

Not good.

I decided to put these cans to use instead of in the trash.

It made the cutest little loaves of bread, and the cutest little sandwiches.

I used Chickens in the Road's Grandmother Bread.

I think it's a great recipe for anyone starting out making bread, or for anyone that falls into the category 'I fear yeast'.

Using the 'one loaf' recipe, I separated the dough into three balls after the first rise,

greased the can and plopped them in there.

An hour later, I had this:

After baking and brushing with butter, I had this:

You have to shake the cans a bit to get the bread out.

Just too stinking cute.

I wish you all a wonderful, happy, safe New Year!

I hope you are looking as forward to 2010 as I am.

God Bless.