Worm!

Another commission for my five year old. It's kind of cute. An inch worm.

 His smile is a little crooked, but that's just something that I have to practice. I've never embroidered on crochet work before. The hardest part of this guy were the three bends to shape his body. The most frustrating part was having to stuff him with cotton balls because I didn't have any polyfil! Just means he can never get dirty and never get wet....

I love how I can start out with string and end up with something like this. While it is forming it never looks like much, but then -tadaaa- it shapes up into something horribly cute. Now if only I could afford more yarn... Ah, well. I'll settle for using the last of what I have here for now. I may have some in the storage closet too, from last year.

I think this year, since we have no Christmas items.. we lost them two years ago... I will crochet ornaments and decorations. That is, if Bastian will quit asking for witches, ghosts and worms!

An Ugly Pumpkin...

So recently I have started doing amigurumi crochet things. I really needed a break from scarves and blankets. Anyhow, my five year old requested a pumpkin yesterday. I didn't have any bright orange, just this burnt umber color, but I thought I'd share it anyhow. It actually turned out better than I had anticipated while I was making it. The pattern for this one was different than some of my other projects have been, since it wasn't worked in rounds from the bottom up but rather rows like a wonky washcloth, then sewn together and smoosheded.

Apparently it "needs a face, Mom!" but:

The color is actually not bad in these photos because of the flash. Trust me it's a lot darker. Still, awful cute. His next request is a worm and a witch. Maybe I can just put a witch hat on a worm and say it's both!

In other news, it's 36* this morning. I am having cravings for hot chocolate and graham crackers with chocolate frosting sandwiches.

Thin Mints...

Most of my Barnhop Monday posts are recipes. I find this draws the most outside readers because people love to learn new things. I love to have new readers, so it is a win win!

Lately my recipes have been of the "commercial things you can do yourself" variety. This week is no different. I want to show everyone how to make Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies... at home.

Thin mints are by far my favorite of all the cookies. I also enjoy most the other flavors (except the lemon ones, blech!) but the little green box is highest on my list. I usually line my freezer with them once a year. They are also best frozen!

To make a batch at home that is almost the real thing try this:

Ingredients

Cocoa Wafer Cookies
3 T. butter
1 egg white
1/4 c. brown sugar
pinch of Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1/2 c. flour (plus 1/4 c.)
2 drops pure peppermint oil

Combine all ingredients together. Add flour as needed, until dough is roll-able and not sticky at all. Roll verrrry thin. Cut into desired shapes. Bake at 325 for 4-7 minutes, or until cookies have firmed and browned slightly around edges. Remove from oven and cool.

*

Peppermint Buttercream Layer
2 c. powdered sugar
4 T. melted butter
2-3 drops pure peppermint oil
1/2 tsp. heavy whipping cream

Mix together until it becomes thick and easy to roll with a rolling pin. Roll until about 1/4″ thick. Cut into desired shape. Place atop cooled cookies.

Chocolate!

 Place cookies into melted chocolate (Candiquik is very easy and good here, but melted chips made in a double boiler -bowl over boiling water- would work), spoon chocolate atop until fully covered. Fish out with fork or tongs, carefully! Allow to dry on rack placed above a piece of parchment paper (rack not necessary, but does make cookie bottoms prettier. Makes about 30 cookies.

Waste Not

I like to reuse everything. Compost when I can, horde leftovers, feed the dog scraps of fat or offal. There are many little things that I can manage even in my current apartment setting. One of my favorite tricks is to use an ice cube tray and freeze the juice from canned fruits. The resulting cubes can be used in tea or water later to sweeten it.

I also use the water from canned vegetables in recipes in place of some of the water that may be called for. If your stew needs water and you are adding canned corn anyway, just measure out the liquid and adjust accordingly. This isn't always the case, and I don't freeze veggie water for later use, but for the most part it makes me feel I'm using more. It really only amounts to a quarter cup per can, so some may not feel it worth the effort.

Lazy Saturday

Nothing at all planned. I finally finished the blanket last night! I stayed up late to finalize the edges and am fairly happy with the result. Now my bed is winter ready. Four layers and very cozy.

Next up: pillows to match. Then a scarf set for me, I think. I'm fairly sure I've gotten all my Christmas things out of the way. This year is going to be very tight, budget wise. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage some things. I know I'll figure it out, but still.... *sigh*

Catalogs

I get a number of catalogs each year. Most arrive in the Spring but a few come in the Fall so you can plan ahead for early Spring ordering. I get a bunch of them and I thought I would share my list and ask everyone else to share theirs...

Lehman's Non-Electric Catalog
Hoegger Supply Company
Burpee Fall Edition
Brushy Mountain Bee Farm
Randall Burkey Company
Murray McMurray Hatchery
Dadant Bee Supply
Chick's Discount Saddlery

I love flipping through the catalogs and planning for future purchases. It may be years before I get to make any, but I will be well prepared for the eventuality.

So Close!

The evil blanket is almost complete! I have to do a little more on one side of the trim and fill up the 4 inches that the border extended. I'm so happy with it. It's the first blanket I've finished like this for myself. All my other blankets I've always given away. And none of my other blankets have been this intricate with a border.

Picture updates:

Finished border.

First I made a crud ton of squares...

"Sewed" them together with a single crochet stitch on each "seam"

"Sewed" them to the main body of the blanket.

For some reason my bottom batch of squares came out a little larger than the sides. It all worked out though.

 I think the reason the bottom row came out so large was because I used a different sized hook - 6mm instead of 5.5mm. I had been using a 6 for the body of the blanket and when I switched I completely forgot to trade out hooks. It worked out though, since I didn't need any extras for the sides. Once I finish up the last little bit I plan to make 2 throw pillows to match out of more granny squares, I think I have enough extra yarn. I will be sure to post those when they are finished as well.