"It's Spring!" Table pond

I am packing, and sorting and tossing and packing more boxes.  I am moving to the other side of town in 3 weeks.  We are all very excited about the move, and the children are active participants in the tossing and sorting process. My oldest son is very excited about simplifying life and removing clutter and excess toys. But with so many little helpers, sometimes I need a break! So Grandma and Grandpa have been great helpers, coming and keeping them busy and taking them out on excursions. 
Today they spent an hour at the library together, and then came back to the house for a bike ride around the block.  They stopped often and picked up many spring treasures to fill their pockets.  I was presented with a large handful of Spring gifts when they returned.

So we put them all together with a few added pieces from their shell collection and placed them in a pan of shallow water to keep the crocuses  fresh. The two oldest then  had fun blowing bubbles into the water. It's a beautiful center piece! I wish I could get outside more to enjoy these sunny days, but I didn't mind them bringing a bit of it in for me to enjoy later. :o)

Head Cover

(Pardon my frown, I am squinting at the camera's view finder!)

I designed myself a head cover, and my friends love it! Can you see the Star of David on the brim?
It is essentially a snood or slouch hat, made with the mathematics of this pattern, with ties that are a part of the brim that tighten the cap just the way you want made with this technique . I am having difficulty writing out the pattern though. I have the techniques down, I have made 2 of these. but the wording isn't coming to me.  I may have to break down and chart this one. So for now, look and admire :o)

If you REALLY really want one, go to my Etsy and click Request a custom order. (I have two on order already!)

GF Chocalate sponge cake recipe

Here is the Chocolate version of the sponge cake recipe.  I made this cake for a friend.  It was made with an 9x113 pan and I doubled the recipe. I did have to cut off the edges, as I found they stayed higher than the center. These cakes "fall" a little when they hit the cool air, but are still light ad moist. (There is a layer of Raspberry jam between the two cakes, Yum!)

 Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup corn starch
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 c gluten free flour mix with NO Xanthan gum
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 eggs separated
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla 

Directions

1.Sift corn starch, flour, baking powder and salt together. Set aside 

2. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.

3. Beat  egg yolks into the egg whites.

4.Gradually beat in sugar until mixture forms a figure 8. 

5.add vanilla

6.Fold in the dry ingredients.

7.Divide into 2 well greased 20 cm (8") sandwich pans.

8. Bake at 180 C or 350 F for about 15- 20 minutes.

9. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.
10. When cool, top one with whipped cream and jam (jelly).

11. Place the other on top and dust with icing sugar.

Monkey #2 Was A Tad Jealous .....

So I made him one too.  This is with the red mouth knitted in variation.  And of course he wanted to show off to the camera as well!

Matthew 21- Are you ready for Christs Return?

I think Matthew 21 could refer to this subject as well. I am afraid there will be a great number of people who call themselves Christian who will be “surprised” on the day of judgment. I ask the question, how many Christians are now behaving towards God as the Jewish people did towards God , taking on the traditions of non believers and compromising Gods word to fit into society more comfortably. This story Jesus tells relates to His time because he is telling the Jewish people they will lose their blessing and it will be passed to another nation or group of nations. But I believe it applies to us today as well. When the Lord returns, God may chose to remove the blessing also from our nations and pass it onto another (perhaps even Muslims who convert?)
Notice in the parable that the husbandmen KNEW who the servants belonged to and that it was the Son they were casting out and killing (just as professing Christians KNOW Christ is the son of God). I don’t see how a Christian who willingly compromises Gods word (and puts down others who live with the bible as their absolute life guideline) to fit in easier with their community INCLUDING their church community, is any better than the husbandmen. And their hard labors (good works?) which produced a good yield were left for someone else to finish (end time witnesses?)

33 ¶ Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Remeber this house?

It has a tenant........

This is Josie, (wait...DD flip flops with several more ideas)...Twinkles, our newest pet. She is a African Pygmy Hedgehog 

Isn't she cute!

And so much quieter than a hamster, less stinky than a rabbit, caged unlike a cat and doesn't require a leash to walk outside like a dog. She is 11 months old, and I found her through Kijiji for less than half what you would pay at a pet store with the cage included.  She eats cat food and meal-worms and is also litter trained in her cage. She loves baths and playing with her tinkle ball and dinky cars. She uses a blanket for the lining of her cage (so no pine shavings!)  And loves to hide in the Little House when she is roaming around the living room.
Welcome Josie Twinkles!

(UH Oh ....Grumpy Josie is more Prickle than Twinkle!)

Birthday Time!

We had a birthday at our house this week. DS1 is now 6 years old! I can hardly believe it! And to top it all off, he lost his first tooth today too. Hope you have a great year Buddy!

Gluten free sponge cake recipe

•  This is an adaptation of one I found on recipe zaar. I have been searching for the perfect white cake recipe for birthdays for years, and it was perfect! Tasted just like angel food cake.  Still doesn't have a lot of height when it cooks, but doesn't weigh 10 lbs either, like most GF cakes.

 Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup cor starch
• 1/2 c gluten free flour mix with NO Xanthan gum
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 eggs separated
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla 

Directions

1. 
   
   
   

   Sift corn starch, flour, baking powder and salt together.

2. 
   
   
   

   Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.

3. 
   
   
   

   Beat  egg yolks into the egg whites.

4. 
   
   
   

   Gradually beat in sugar until mixture forms a figure 8.

5. 
   
   
   

   add vanilla

   Fold in the dry ingredients.

6. Divide into 2 well greased 20 cm (8") sandwich pans.
7. 
   
   
   

   Bake at 180 C or 350 F for about 20 minutes.

8. 
   
   
   

   Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.

9. 
   
   
   

   When cool, top one with whipped cream and jam (jelly).

10. 
    
    
    

    Place the other on top and dust with icing sugar.

Sock Monkey Hat

DS1 is a huge fan of sock monkeys, all because of a pair of pj pants I bought him with this delightful childrens toy on them. I keep intending to make him one, but I just haven't had time to search for sources of the perfect sock. But his birthday is coming up this week, so as an early gift I made him this hat!

                 

SEE No Evil 

HEAR No Evil

 SPEAK No Evil








Size: Child age 4-9

Materials

1-circular US size 8 Knitting needle

1- circular US size 9 Knitting needle, optional size 9 DPN's (not needed if you are familiar with the magic loop technique of pulling the cable out between the stitches)

1- ball Bernat Softee Chunky Heather Gray

1- ball Bernat Softee Chunky White

1- ball Bernat Softee Chunky Berry Red (only a small amount needed)

2- black shank buttons for eyes

Directions
Cast on 60 st in Heather Gray on size 8 needles. Place marker (PM). Begin knitting in the round.

K2, P1 all the way around. Keep moving marker along with the knitting to keep track of the beginning stitch of each row.

Continue with K2 P1 for 6 more rows. Switch to size 9 circular needle

Begin to knit all rows until entire hat measures 5 ” (or longer if the hat is for an adult.)

Switch to white.

Knit 2 rows

Switch to red

Knit 1 row

Switch back to white

knit 2 rows.

Begin to decrease. Switch to size 9 DPN's or be ready to use magic loop techniques to finish the hat.

Knit 4, knit 2 together, repeat all the way around one row

Knit 3, knit 2 together, repeat all the way around one row

Knit 2, knit 2 together, repeat all the way around one row

Knit 1, knit 2 together, repeat all the way around one row

Knit 2 together all the way around until only 5 stitches remain. Cut off yarn with 1 foot of excess. Thread the tail onto a darning needle and run though the last 5 stitches on the needle and pull knitting needle out. Pull the tail tight to close the top of the hat and tie in securely to finish.

Pompom

Take a piece of cardboard 1.5 inches long. Wrap red yarn around it about 15-20 times. With a darning needle and 1 foot of red yarn, slide the needle under one side of the yarn wrap and tie the ends of the sewing yarn tightly around the hank on the card and knot securely. With scissors on the opposite side of the knot, cut the hank off of the card.

With the excess tie ends, sew the pompom securely to the top of the hat.

You now have a “Work Sock hat”, To make a Sock Monkey hat continue on...

Plush Muzzle

With size 8 needle and white yarn, cast on 20 stitches.

Row 1: Knit across

Row 2: Purl across

Row 3: K2tog, knit across to last two stitches, sl 1, k1, psso (18 st on needles)

Row 4: Purl across. (optional- Switch to red yarn, but do not cut off the white.)

Row 5: K2tog, knit across to last two stitches, sl 1, k1, psso (16 st on needles)

Row 6: Purl across

Row 7: Knit across

Row 8: Purl across. (If using red yarn, join the white back in here and cut off red)

Row 9: cast on 1 more st, knit across to last stitch. K in the front and back of last stitch (18 st)

Row 10 Purl across

Row 11: cast on 1 more st, knit across to last stitch. K in the front and back of last stitch (20 st)

Row 12: cast off and end

Directions for sewing.

Fold muzzle piece in half longways with right sides together, and with needle and thread sew the short sides together. Leave the long open edge open. Turn right side out for sewing onto the hat.

Ears

On size 8 needles in gray yarn, Cast on 8 st

Row 1: knit across

Row 2 (and all even rows)purl across

Row 3: knit across

Row 5: k2tog, knit across to last two stitches slst, k1, psso (6 st)

Row 7: k2tog, knit across to last two stitches slst, k1, psso (4st)

Row 9: cast on 1 more st, knit across to last stitch. k in the front and back of last stitch (6 st)

Row11: cast on 1 more st, knit across to last stitch. k in the front and back of last stitch (8st)

Row 13: knit across
Row 14:cast off and end.

Repeat for second ear

Directions for sewing.

Fold the ear in half with right sides together at the last decrease point. Sew each of the the open sides together (but NOT across the end) Turn right side out .


Assembly
Pin the muzzle to the ha, with the bottom of the muzzle placed right above the top of the last ribbing row. The muzzle will be stuffed, so don't stretch it out as you pin  it into place.  With a needle and thread sew around the muzzle most of the way, leaving a space open to stuff it. After stuffing it sufficiently, close the gap with sewing.

If you made a pure white muzzle, embroider the red mouth into place with a darning needle and a length of red yarn.

Ears are not stuffed.  Pin ears into place at about the 1/3 mark around the hat (aprox 2" away from each side of the muzzle.) Sew into place. Sew two black button eyes just above the muzzle




NOTE: This pattern could use testers! If you make this and see a mistake, please leave a comment so I can be sure to fix it!!

Did you ever think to yourself....?

You know, those things where if your life was really together the way you wanted you’d never have to think such a thought … like for example:

“Hmm, smells like I left a pan in the oven.”

I love this! It was written by "dovian" in a forum on Ravelry and is SO TRUE! How many times have I (or you) let  chaos have control in our life, to the point that we waste time or loose out.

If you were to peak into the window of my life right now, an outsider might consider the rooms in my house of life to be in shambles. But praise God, it really isn't. Because I have a hope found in Him! I am not traveling on an easy road right now (someday I'll explain). I have lost a lot recently, there are days I am overwhelmed by the chaos of our circumstances. But I still have a peace and a comfort in my heart, even in the moments I feel sorrow.

I bought an inexpensive silver ring the other day, to replace one that has been missing from my hand for sometime now. And it is inscribed with Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

(I love verse 6:)

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I have  known this verse since I was about 8 years old.  And no matter what path I am on, whatever chaos is seeking to control my life, this verse has always come to me.  Despite the clutter I allow into my life, the choices good or bad and the outcome, I know God is by my side. I need to be willing to surrender to him though, give him the clutter to deal with, listen for his direction and follow it, even if it's hard- like forgiving yourself, or harder still- forgiving someone else.

CTM

2010

PS.  I just went down to do dishes after I posted, and found I had left the crockpot on low with left over porridge in it ALL DAY. Yep, lots of chaos in my life! 

A Light Hearted Look at Real Life

**Kaleidoscope

Review of a book by Patsy Clairmont

“Life is textured”, and Patsy Clairmont adds her own unique texture to life in her book Kaleidoscope. I received an advanced copy from booksneeze.com, and really enjoyed this light hearted look at life. It is a  book about Proverbs, covering a wide range of life topics in a colorful way that really does reflect the lives of women everywhere. Just like a Kaleidoscope.
It is like a “girls night out” that you read, which also makes it the perfect book for a group of moms, business women, grandmas, sisters or knitting groups to read together. The topics are all great conversation starters and I enjoyed the Bits and Pieces at the end of each chapter. Patsy Clairmont gave questions that sometimes required me to reach into my inner depth to answer. One minute I was reading and chuckling, or nodding my head in agreement, and then I would get to the Bits an Pieces and Miss Honesty and Ms. Reality who were sitting at my side would speak up and make me think harder about the scripture Patsy had chosen for each chapter and how that applied to my everyday, color filled life.

“Tomorrow is already full, but we didn't pack it.” But are we ready to deal with what will come in our day? If you wanted to put a theme on this book, it would be “Words”. Patsy Clairmont encourages readers in this book to consider their words and how they affect others. Are we puffed up with pride? Do we invoke fear? Are we a fool? Or are we speaking with love, humbleness and meekness. And have we learned how and when it is best to shut our mouths? How we react and the words we use to others in times of our own struggles and winning accomplishments will affect how people view us when life returns to “normal” and we are looking around for our friends. If I may quote from the book in Chapter 3: Custom fit-

“ …..words can be like a fitted garment because hen they have been measured out in such a way that they hang correctly on the recipient, when they have been fashioned from the heart and designed to add value, they become a priceless addition to the wardrobe of others.”

I felt challenged myself to pay more attention to my choice of words, that at times when I need to learn to forgive and let go, I need to make sure my words and actions reflect that to others as well.

CTM

March 2010