Spring, Summer and Fall Update

 Last spring, Peg and I decided to raise 100 broiler chickens.  We built 2 movable pens, called "tractors."  Not sure why they call them tractors…we moved them around the perimeter of the garden, and at 7 and 8 weeks, they were processed.  Such a great feeling of accomplishment.

 Almost a year to the date of starting this quilt, it was finished.  Hopefully, it will provide some warmth and love to my sophomore at UNL….all the right colors, but with a little bit of personality.  Bosley (neighbor dog) gives it even more personality!

 Wow!  Continental knitting is SO awesome.  Loved this class, it will take some time, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.

 This guy learned to wakeboard….miracles do happen!  Now, all the boys can go out together!

 The zinnias continue to be beautiful.  This is my favorite…a little inspired to make one out of t-shirt material.  Need to go get Princess Lasertron's flower book.

 Because we loved it so much, (insert sarcastic voice) we ordered 100 more broiler chicks.  We divided it up this time and added a third partner….we couldn't have done it without my good friend, Jaymie.  It will be worth it this winter when have a freezer full of chicken!

Another quilt adventure, this time with the Tula Pink Mystery Quilt on Craftsy.  Can't wait to learn how to use a long arm machine.  Planning on quilting this myself.  The Waterlouge app is completely addictive…trust me!

 Mother Nature is one amazing lady, the garden was green and bountiful.  From year to year, it is so different.  Peg, Jaymie and I learned what we like and what we won't plant next year.  The biggest surprise was how much we liked turnips…who would've guessed!

My time as a homeschool mom came to an end, as the beginning of a new school year started.  Both younger boys went back to school.  Both are thriving and loving it…I'm "shappy," happy for them and a little sad for me…searching for my "new" normal.  There's never a shortage of projects, just wish there was more time in the day.

Meyer Lemon Bars Gluten Free & Grain-free

I have an obsession with citrus plants.  Over the last few years I have accumulated quite a few.  Maybe it is a subconscious desire to live in a tropical area.  It certainly is a challenge growing them in Nebraska.  There really isn't anything like the smell of lemon blossoms.  Over the last few weeks, since the weather has gotten cold, it's a little bit of heaven just walking by them and smelling the sweet smell. I don't know where I found this recipe, but it's one I will continue making.

Meyer Lemon Bars

Crust:

1 1/2 cups Almond Meal

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

Lemon Filling

1 Meyer Lemon, seeded and cut into pieces

1/4-1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup lemon juice

4 eggs

4 TBLS cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

3 TBLS coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a food processor add all ingredients for crust.  Pulse until smooth.  Press into parchment lined 8 x 8 pan.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Remove and let cool, slightly.

In food processor, add lemon, lemon juice and honey.  Pulse this until the lemon is completely smooth. Add remaining ingredients and pulse to combine.  At this point you can adjust the amount of honey.  Pour into baked crust.  Bake for 25 minutes.  

Bacon & Tomato Frittata

Bacon & Tomato Frittata - Gluten Free/Grain Free

12 Eggs
1/2 lb Bacon, cooked and chopped (reserve 2 T bacon fat)
14 oz can Diced Tomatoes, drained
1 small Onion, diced
2 Garlic cloves
2 T fresh Basil, chopped
1 T fresh Parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium bowl whisk the eggs, 1 clove garlic, basil, parsley, salt and pepper.

Reserve 2 T of bacon fat after cooking bacon.  Saute onion in bacon fat, add garlic and cook for 1 minute.  Add bacon to pan and slowly add the egg mixture.  Gently top with drained diced tomatoes and additional basil leaves.  Let this cook on the stovetop for 5 minutes on medium-low, without stirring.  Then place skillet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the center is firm.  Cool about 5 minutes and serve.

Optional addition:  Grated Cheese….we topped ours with cheese.  It could be added when the tomatoes are added, Feta would be a really nice addition.

Revived not Deprived - Gluten Free and Happy

I haven't talked to my sister about this, but from today forward, we're going to start posting gluten free recipes.  It will seem like a food blog but it will be more than that.  In January of 2013, I decided to eliminate gluten.  After giving all of the white flour away, the conversion to a gluten free home was much easier.

This morning we made cream puffs with rice flour.  They are light and have a very flaky texture.

Rice Flour Cream Puffs:

½ cup water

¼ cup butter, margarine, or non-dairy butter substitute

¼ teaspoon vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt

7 tablespoons white rice flour

2 eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In medium-sized pot, bring water, butter, vanilla, and salt to a boil over medium heat.

Add the flour all at once and stir until mixture is smooth and forms a doughy ball.

Remove from heat and let cool for five minutes.

Add eggs one at a time and mix until batter is smooth.

Drop onto a baking sheet with small ice cream scoop.  

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.

Remove the puffs from the tray and cool on a rack.

Slice with a bread knife, stuff with your favorite filling, and top with your favorite garnish.

Makes 6 medium-sized cream puffs.

Pinterest

I have been having so much fun pinning things to my boards on Pinterest! Here are a few favs:

I love this idea. So easy. And.... I have some cute Christmas papers in my craft stash. Perfect!

Love this. Last year I bought a couple of wrap sweatshirts (hard to describe) that I planned to add some personality as they are a little bit boring. I think I will embellish one of them based on this sweater.

I think these shells would be the perfect addition to one of my bathrooms. Some shells and a little silver spray paint... Might be able to do this one over the weekend.

Yum! Crescent roll wrapped Jalapeno poppers! What more can I say!

I have been trying to figure out how to add a link to my Pinterest but can not get it work. Anybody have any suggestions? For now I am just going to put it in this post!

*None of these pictures or ideas are mine. If you would like to find the original source you can go to my pinterest and click on the pictures it will take you to its origin on the web:)

Wheat/oat bread

Betsy recently gave me a recipe and some advice for homemade bread. I have made it a few times now. Usually the first loaf is gone within a few hours. My family really likes it with a little bit of raw honey.

Betsy told me to start it in my bread machine and then bake it in the oven. It is really easy and turns out really well each time. Next time I am going to try to start it at night and use the timer on the bread machine so it is ready to put in the pans when I wake up. Then the kids will can have some for breakfast.

Bread Recipe:

1 1/2 c. hot water

3 T. raw honey

2 T. olive oil

2 T. Milk

I stir these four ingredients together and pour them into my bread machine.

Then I put the rest of the ingredients in on top of those in this order:

3 c. white flour

1/2 c. wheat flour

1 1/2 c. rolled oats

2 T. Flaxseed

2 t. salt

2 t. (heaping) dry yeast

Yippee!

I am so excited that Betsy agreed to let me share her blog! I have been hoping to do this for awhile and kept forgetting to ask. I have already started on a few projects to share but need to get them all lined up! The first one may be something that I made for both of our houses.
Betsy is amazingly talented and inspires me constantly. My projects will not be much like hers (except the ideas that I copy).

Spring Storm

It has been almost a year since my last post. Very soon, my sister will start posting her creative, supercutestuff, too! I just have to figure out how to add her as a contributor!

sooc

this photo is straight out of the camera. tonight after baseball, i stopped in the neighborhood to take some pictures of the wildflowers that were planted last year. oh my goodness, they are beautiful. i don't know what kind of flower this is, but there are thousands more ready to bloom! the background is so pretty....

hat pattern....

Here is my third attempt at making a hat pattern. It will take some more practice, but I love the flower and button!

something new

I love the earwire on these earrings.....they don't fall out! Hammered sterling silver and lentil shaped fresh water pearls....such a simple combination.

my husband took this picture

i stumbled on this when i uploaded the pictures from the annual easter egg hunt at mom's house. it is one of the best ones....and i didn't take it! not sure what that space was used for, but the kids really hate it when we hide their eggs in there!

overhaul needed

i found this pic of my oldest the other day and realized i could download it from shutterfly. it was so exciting! one of the parents took this shot last year with THE most amazing lens. her pics are amazing!

it's also time to re-do the blog. i need to spend some time overhauling.....upload some new photos. hopefully over the weekend.

learning curve

a couple months ago, i got a new lens for my dslr. it is a wide angle portrait lens.....
when the light is just right, this lens is amazing. (and there isn't any user error!) i love how it only focuses on the subject and blurs the background.
i have said for a long time i need to take a photography class, it's time! love.these.boys.

new stuff!

A couple new pairs of earrings. I love pearls with sterling silver, simple and pretty.
These garnets are so unusual. They are from my favorite bead shop in Valley Junction. So many beads to choose from!

i just took a short hiatus!

"Medusa" aka Jelly Fish shot in Mexico....they were really yummy, thanks Jose!!!

"Strike!" Bowling at a friend's bowling alley with great friends. f.u.n.
"Mom Prom," well, it has been over 20 years since I attended a prom....this time with my oldest! We got home WAY before dawn and had alot of fun!

I will be back with lots of new stuff, and will start posting more often!

Mr Golden Sun, where are you?

I really could have used some sunlight for these pictures!

adventures in copper and silver

There is something about the hammered copper and silver, they just complement one another.
There are a few new shapes, squares, little rectangles and little silver circles, I don't have any photos, but they are supercute!
The words are endless, however....they can't be too long!
My personal favorite...."happy!"

patience

i found this little chair at a local church garage sale for $10. as soon as life slows down, i can't wait to pick out some fantastic fabric and get it recovered! i think the legs and arms need to be painted.....fabric first!

just 6 short years ago he looked like this....
over the weekend, we celebrated his 7th birthday...

What a great weekend, when i asked if it was okay that the raspberry frosting was pink, he said, "it tastes good, so it's okay." Love you little man.