WIP Update

Just a quick note. If you are checking blog regularly, you might want to go back and look at old posts, because in order to keep the posts down a little when it comes to the links for patterns. There are so many that I want to make and so many out there to make and sharing them and keeping them somewhere where I can access them easier. Mostly, the updates are on the posts that have a link patterns on it.

It has been awhile, since I posted things that I have finished. Mostly because I didn't want anyone to see what I had made, but I don't think they are looking at this blog, so it can be posted here.

 I made this Kindle Cover Case, recently. It is very simple and looks good holding onto the Kindles. It is called a TARDIS Kindle Case. It is not as good as the person who designed, but a first for me and looks pretty good.

Prayer shawls for a cousin and her daughter. I use a very simple pattern from a book by Debbie Macomber and it is on her website. It is called a Triangular Prayer Shawl.

Matador Hat for a friend who was helping her friend make a new costume for a program in the Kenton County Fair. I designed and made this. I didn't write it down as I went because I had to get it finished.

This is another Triangular Prayer Shawl, same one from Debbie Macomber, just different yarn.

This is a very simple Prayer Shawl that is just a cast on, knit all rows and stop at wingspan.

 

Scrunchies I made for my girls.

 

This is another version of the secret message scarf. It says "Love You." I will not write this in pattern because I did not like how it turned out (although my daughter loves it).

Good Samaritan

Today, my daughters and I were on the interstate to go to Kentucky to help with a Heroes Cup Invitational Corn Hole Match. It was held at Thomas More College and it was to raise money to help our returning military get an education at a college.

On the way down, we had to stop on the interstate because a vehicle in front of us had lost all the chairs that it had in the back of it. They were across all three lanes and everyone stopped and one person pulled over and ran across the lanes to collect the chairs.

What a wonderful site to see so many people willing to stop on the interstate and help this man get his chairs back and no damage to anyone or anything. The chairs were unharmed. The Good Samaritans were not injured and no cars were harmed.

More Recipes from the FB files

I just love to cook and bake, especially with my girls. It helps them learn how to cook and be better prepared for life as an adult. But it also teaches them chemistry and physics and biology (think of the meat). Again, I don't know who is responsible for the recipes, but if and when I find out, I will label, so that the proper person(s) gets credit for a great recipe.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles~

What you will need:

For the cookies:

3 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the coating:

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Dash of allspice

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together to blend. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars on medium speed until well combined. Next, still on medium speed, beat in pumpkin. Then, add the egg and vanilla extract. Lastly, add in the dry ingredients. Beat until combined, but do not over mix. Cover the dough, and refrigerate for one hour, until firm.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper (or spray with nonstick spray). In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and spices for the sugar coating. Scoop dough (approximately 2 1/2 tablespoons) and roll into a ball. Roll the dough ball in the sugar mixture, and place on the lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Take a drinking glass with a flat bottom and moisten with water. Dip the glass in the sugar mixture, and use it to flatten the dough balls. Re-sugar the glass as needed.

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove when the centers of the cookies have set. Let cool on the baking pan for approximately 5 minutes, and then transfer to wire cooling racks to cool completely.
(www.recipegirl.com/2007/11/05/pumpkin-snickerdoodles)

 

Lemon Bliss LEMON BROWNIES -

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup flour
2 eggs, large
2 tbsps lemon zest
2 tbsps lemon juice
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
For the tart lemon glaze:
4 tbsps lemon juice
8 tsps lemon zest
1 rounded cup powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with butter and set aside.
3. Zest and juice two lemons and set aside.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixture fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour, sugar, salt, and softened butter until combined.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined.
6. Pour it into the flour mixture and beat for 2 mins at medium speed until smooth and creamy.
7. Pour into baking dish and bake for 23-25 mins, should turn golden around the edges.
8. Allow to cool completely before glazing. Do not overbake, or the bars will dry.
9. Filter the powdered sugar and whisk with lemon zest and juice.
10. Spread 1/2 the glaze over the brownies with a rubber spatula and let glaze set.
11. Spread 1/2 the glaze over the bars, and let it set (not harden like most).
12. Cut into bars and serve.

Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs...
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup evaporated milk
2/3 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 cup muffin tin with silicone liners, foil liners sprayed with cooking spray or just spray the cups with cooking spray. Either of these three methods will make it easy to take the cupcake out after it’s cooked. Paper liners make it difficult to remove the cupcakes.

Mix the pumpkin, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and milk. Add the flour, pumpkin spice, salt, baking powder and baking soda to the mixture. Fill each muffin cup with 1/3 cup of the mixture. Bake for twenty minutes and let cool for twenty minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle more pumpkin pie spice on top and serve. Makes 12 cupcakes.

EASIEST YEAST ROLLS EVER:

1 pack yeast
3/4 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups Bisquick
1 Tbsp sugar...
1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Dissolve yeast in water. Put Bisquick, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl mix well flour your work surface turn dough out knead for 12-15x shape into rolls place in a greased pan cover with damp towel let rise 1 hour brush with melted butter bake for 12-15 minutes add more butter.

 

Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding
Recipe from Paula Deen

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen Cookies OR 2 bags Vanilla Wafers
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk...
1 (5 oz.) box French Vanilla pudding
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 oz.) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Directions
Line the bottom of a 13x9 inch inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer.
Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth.
Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.
Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended.
Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies.
Refrigerate until ready to serve!
Gotta love Paula Deen! She has some awesome recipes!

 

PEANUT BUTTER "BUCKEYE" PRETZEL BITES
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbs softened butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar...
minature pretzels
1 bag of chocolate chips or Merkins Choc. wafers

Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside. In mixing bowl, beat peanut butter and butter until combined. Add sugars and mix well. You should be able to roll mixture into small balls without sticking to your hands. If needed, add more powdered sugar until it is easy to roll. Take each ball and sandwich between two pretzels. Place on wax paper. When done, stick in the freezer for a few minutes. Melt the chocolate. Dip each pretzel bite halfway into the chocolate and place on wax paper to set

.

Skinny Chunky Monkey Cookies!!!
Makes 30
3 ripe bananas
2 cups oats
1/4 c peanut butter
1/4 c cocoa powder...
1/3 c unsweetened apple sauce
1 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350F. Mash bananas then add the rest of the ingredients and stir and let sit for 20 min. Then drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 min.

Pecan Pie Cobbler
1 Box refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
2 1/2 cups light corn syrup
2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 1/2 teaspoons vanilla ...
6 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
Butter-flavor cooking spray
2 cups pecan halves
Vanilla ice cream, if desired
1. Heat oven to 425°F. Grease 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. Remove 1 pie crust from pouch; unroll on work surface. Roll into 13x9-inch rectangle. Place crust in dish; trim edges to fit.
2. In large bowl, stir corn syrup, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs with wire whisk. Stir in chopped pecans. Spoon half of filling into crust-lined dish. Remove second pie crust from pouch; unroll on work surface. Roll into 13x9-inch rectangle. Place crust over filling; trim edges to fit. Spray crust with butter-flavor cooking spray.
3. Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until browned. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Carefully spoon remaining filling over baked pastry; arrange pecan halves on top in decorative fashion. Bake 30 minutes longer or until set. Cool 20 minutes on cooling rack. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Cake Batter Fudge

2 C white or yellow cake mix
2 C powdered sugar
1/2 C (1 stick) butter, cut into 4 pieces
1/4 C milk...
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/4-1/2 cup sprinkles (who really measures sprinkles?)
Instructions

In a microwave proof mixing bowl combine cake mix and powdered sugar. Stir just to blend.
Add in butter and milk. No need to stir.
Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
Immediately remove from microwave and carefully stir to combine. Once blended, add in white chocolate chips and blend again.
Fold in about half of your sprinkle to give some color.
Quickly spread fudge into a 8x8 greased pan. Add remaining sprinkles to top and gently press down to secure sprinkles. Refrigerate until completely chilled, then cut into 1 inch squares.

 

Cinnamon-Sugar Pizza made with Crescent Rolls
*Sugar Crumb Crispies*
1/4 cup butter *make sure butter is cold*
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar...

1/4 tsp cinnamon
dash of salt
1/2 cup flour
1 can Pillsbury Cresent Rolls
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Cut in butter to sugars, cinnamon, and salt and flour to form crumbs.
On an ungreased cookie sheet, separate crescent roll dough into 8 triangles. Sprinkle crumbs on top.
Bake at 400 degrees for 8-12 minutes.
After they were cooked and cooled I cut them into smaller triangles but you can leave them big too!


GLAZE
1/2 cup powdered sugar *I like my glaze thicker, so if the glaze is too runny, just add more powdered sugar to get yours to the desired consistency.*
1 Tbsp. softened butter
1-1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 to 1-1/2 Tbsp. milk
Blend together and drizzle over Sugar Crumb Crispies

Witches Hats

Ingredients

32 Hershey's® Kisses® brand milk chocolates, unwrapped
...
1 package (11 1/2 ounces) fudge-striped shortbread cookies (32)

1 tube (4.25 ounces) orange or red decorating icing

1 Attach 1 chocolate candy to chocolate bottom of each cookie, using decorating icing.
2 Pipe decorating icing around base of milk chocolate candy.

 Snickerdoodle Bread
 

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

You Will Need:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar...
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

 

Banana Split Dessert
Alee

2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 whole crackers crushed)
1 1/4 Cups Sugar, Divided
1/3 Cup Butter, Melted...

2 pkgs (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
1 Can (20 oz) crushed Pineapple, drained
1 cup strawberries, sliced thin
4 ripe bananas
2 cups cold Milk
1 Large box Vanilla Pudding
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

In a medium sized bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9 x13 inch pan. Set aside.

Beat together remaining sugar and cream cheese until well mixed. Carefully spread over cookie crust. Top with pineapple. Slice bananas and layer over pineapple. Add sliced strawberries over bananas.

In another bowl mix together cold milk and vanilla pudding and set aside. In a large bowl, beat together whipping cream, vanilla and powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Remove 1 cup of whipped cream and mix into pudding. Layer pudding over bananas. Spread remaining whipped cream over pudding and sprinkle with huts. Chill for 5 hours before serving.

Exploring

Recently, I took my girls exploring. We are going to be attending an OHVA school function and it is at a park. I thought I knew which park and just wanted to make sure, I was right. So we went for a drive and stopped at a couple of other parks along the way to one of the parks. One is just a place to have a picnic and maybe go down and check out the water in the creek. The other has some nice picnic tables, an awesome view and a trail to hike.

 
Nice little parks, for just a quiet time.
 

Jungle Jim's

I took my girls to a specialty store here in Ohio, called Jungle Jim's (they were on the Shipping Wars show sometime ago). They have sections of food from all over the world. The sections are set up so you can "travel" to countries and look for foods in that region, like Haggis.

 

When I saw this, I had to laugh. I looked around for Radar from MASH, but he wasn't there.

My girls convinced me that they needed to try a specialty drink. So I let them pick one out and they choose Dog Drool (actually a citrusy flavored drink). They loved it and have been asking to go back to Jungle Jim's so they can pick out another. Not sure if they are going to choose Bacon, Peanut Butter and Jelly or Kitty Piddle.

Chocolates did not deter my girls.

If you ever come to Ohio or live here now, you have to take some time to check out the Jungle Jim's store.

Kool-Aid Cake

Sometime ago, I found a recipe for a cake that had color to it. You would make a yellow or white cake and divide to add food coloring and then bake as cupcakes. You would make another cake (white or yellow) and add the colored cupcakes to the cake pan and cover with cake mix. When you cut into the cake you find all the colors.

I went to make this and discovered that my food coloring has vanished and decided to try Kool-Aid to fill in the colors. So I let the girls pick out four colors of Kool-Aid and the flavors were wonderful in the cupcakes.

I made the cakes and let them cool overnight. In the morning, I made some icing and added Grape flavored Kool-Aid and took it to church.

 

Vampire Cupcakes would be so much fun to make for a friend's birthday.

Sunday at Resurrection Lutheran Church

Today, at church we had a special guest. He painted while people did readings (7 of them) and we had special music, Arland did such a great job (so did everyone)! He created a beautiful picture that will be hanging in our sanctuary from now on!

This is how he started with first reading as: Genesis 2, how woman was created from man.

He moved on to Exodus 20 and 22, 23. The rules set forth by God.

 

Leviticus 19, continued the readings.

I love how he stood back to look and see what he wanted to do next.

Now as I look, at his work, I am wondering about the big blank spot at the top. I then look at what he has and think it is upside down.

He spun it around and suddenly, I am thinking, it is the story of the Good Samaritan. I look at the bulletin and notice the story, Matthew 6 and Luke 10. I tell the girls that this is the story of the Good Samaritan. He continues to paint and the picture comes to life. It was beautiful.

He added light to it and the picture will hang in the sanctuary at church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bags and Purses and Backpacks, Oh My

More from the email.

Water Bottle Bag                                                          Smiling Sunflower Bag
Flower Striped Drawstring Bag                                    Sunflower Beach Bag
Busy Bee Backpack                                                      Cute Reusable Crochet Gift Bag
Crochet Yarn and Project Bag                                      Brass Ring Purse
Bubblegum Crochet Purse                                            Hook Clutch
Ruffle Bag Pattern                                                        Little Granny Bag Tutorial
Easy Crochet Hook Case                                              Quick Puff Stitch Purse
Owl Coin Purse                                                            Beach Bag Crocodile Stitch
An Autumn Tote                                                          Plarn Grocery Tote
Mesmerizing Messenger Bag                                   
Crochet Flower Purse      
American Girl Backpack (other American Girl Patterns).                                         

Miscellaneous Patterns

I have a lot of emails and things come in them, and I had been saving them for the past 4 years and I could not find things that I wanted to make and ended up having to search and then I would save them to my computer, and then my computer was hacked. I lost a lot of the things that I wanted to keep and so I am hoping that this way, I can get it all organized some how. Hope that you are able to enjoy the patterns as well and it helps you find what you would like to make. This page will be about things that don't really have a category.



Crochet Candy Cane Wreath                                           Peppermint Coaster
Easy Hexagon Rug                                                          Scrap Squares Rug
I Phone Crochet Cozy                                                     Crochet Kindle Cover Case - Love it
Ultimate Universal Electronics Cozy                             Skull iPad Case
iPhone iPod Purse                                                           Pen Covers
Flower Pencil Toppers                                                    Rainbow Pencil Case
Colorful Summer Beach Mat                                         Winter Flowers
Ruffled Rose Pattern                                                       Everlasting Flowers Crochet Pattern
Crochet Owl Links                                                         Wine Bottle Cozy
Free Crochet Patterns blog                                             Mosaic Cozy
Lace Waves Bookmark                                                  Golf Club Covers
Owl Stuffie Pillow                                                         Minion Pencil Case
Moogly Links to Minions                                              Owl Sachet
Moogly Link for African Flower Motif Patterns          
Pimp Your Car - Passat

Baby Knit/Crochet

What can I say, more from the email. This page will be the baby page.



Bulky Baby Aghan                                                  Crochet Baby Shoes
Robot Baby Cocoon and Hat                                  Bath Friends Puppets
One Ball Baby Blanket and Hat                             Retro Rainbow Baby Blanket
Candy Swirls Baby Blanket                                   Pink Ruffle Baby Hat
Road Trip Baby Blanket                                        Pastel Rainbow Baby Blanket
Baby M Blanket                                                     Baby Converse Tennis Shoes
5 Hour Baby Booties                                              Baby booties from Calista
Baby Mittens                                                          Lace and Cables Baby Hat
Abominable Baby Slippers                                   

Homeschooling Links

State Coloring Doodles                                    
50 States and Capitals Song
Animaniacs President Song
Presidential Museums in OH

Boonshoft Museum Homeschooling Programs
Presidential Pets Museum
Khan Academy - math
Seriously Amazing Smithsonian Institute
Serge Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
Disney Version of Peter and the Wolf
Digraph Song
Constitution Day Activities
Where things appear in the Constitution
Important Figures in American History
Constitution Fun Zone
Constitution Fun Facts
YouTube Schoolhouse Rock Constitution
Schubert Unfinished Symphony
Hayden's Surprise Symphony
Brahms' Symphonies
School House Rock Live Jr High show
Grammar Monster - grammar lessons for kids.
Good Spelling  How to spell correctly
Hyper Grammar

Home Made Cleaning Product Recipes

CARPET SHAMPOO SOLUTION:

1 Cup Oxyclean*
1 Cup Febreze*
1 Cup Distilled White Vinegar
*This homemade version works fabulously!
...
Pour contents into shampooer tank and mix with hot water to fill tank completely. This will not only clean your carpets it will also deodorize. It will smell slightly of vinegar until the carpet is dry, then will smell like febreeze...

Be sure to test spot with the solution just to be safe, however this should be safe for ALL carpets.

 *** Homemade Febreze ***

What you'll need:
1/8 Cup of fabric softener (I used Downy April Fresh)
2 tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot tap water
Spray bottle (I used my empty 27 oz. Febreze bottle)

Preparation:
Using a funnel, pour fabric softener and baking soda into your spray bottle. Fill spray bottle with hot tap water and shake well. Don't forget to twist the nozzle over to the LOCK position if you're using a Febreeze bottle.

Heavy duty floor cleaner recipe:

ONLY use this and it leaves floor spotless.

1 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon liquid dish soap...
1cup baking soda,
2 gallons tap water, (very warm.)

It leaves everything smelling amazing.

 

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent - 6 ingredients, cost you about $28 a year, this recipe makes a batch that will last a year! Works in HE washers and with cold water too!

Ingredients -

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent ai...sle

1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle

1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle. (This is optional but I highly recommend adding it)

2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap- Found in the detergent aisle (we chose to do pink for the scent but the white would be just fine. You can also use Fels Naptha)

1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle (You could also get two 2 lb box, we couldn’t find the larger 4lb box when we went)

1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- or use 3-4 bottles of Scentsy Washer Whiffs. Scentsy washer whiffs are my top choice, (they smell out-of-this-world amazing – my favorite is Quiver), but when in a hurry, I opt for the Purex, (which can be found in the detergent aisle).

The hardest most time consuming part is grating the cheese soap. It looks like pink cheese….has anyone ever seen pink cheese? If you do not have a food processor you will need to use a typical hand grater. We would recommend using a large mixing bowl to grate into and using the fine side of the grater. Another option is to microwave the soap before hand. First, cut the bar into chunks or slices. Pop it into the microwave for about a minute. It will expand… a lot…but then it is dry and just crumbles into tiny bits! The hardest part is now over and all that’s left is to mix everything together. Use a very large bucket and take a layering approach to mix it easier. Take a small amount of each ingredient and layer it on top of each other, then grab a large mixing spoon and mixed it together. Do this about 5 times. This is so much easier than dumping all the ingredients in at once and then trying to u it well. This batch makes A TON! Now for probably the best part…you only need 1-2 Tablespoons per load depending on the size. Now here comes the stroke of genius, if you opted to put the Purex Crystals in your batch, you can scoop the detergent right into your bottle and use the cap as your measuring spoon. There are 3 lines on the side and the middle one is approximately 2 Tablespoons…genius right?

ORANGE CANDLE! So clever!

Just take an orange/lemon/grapefruit, cut in half, eat the middle portion, leave the center core-like stem intact. Pour a kitchen oil (veg oi...

l,olive oil, etc) into orange just below the top of the stem. Light stem. It will burn for hours and smell amazing.
Household Cleaner

You peel 2 oranges, or in my case, 2 grapefruits, (just THE PEELS ONLY) and soak them in cheap white vinegar for 2 weeks in a tightly sealed mason jar. I put mine in a sunny window ...sill. This is for a household cleaner, but what I discovered is that this stuff takes iron stains off of the sink, faucets, showers and toilets and it works better than Lime Away and almost as good as Iron Out!!!! Non toxic too!

HOME MADE MOSQUITO REPELLENT (ALSO FOR ANTS & FLEAS)
(And free from chemicals that poison the body)

Ingredients:

1/2 litre of alcohol...
100 gram of whole cloves
100 ml of baby oil or similar (almond, sesame, chamomile, lavender, fennel etc)

Preparation:
Leave cloves to marinate in alcohol four days
Stir every morning and evening
After 4 days add the oil
It's now ready to use.

How to use:

Gently rub a few drops into the skin of the arms and legs.
Observe the mosquitoes fleeing the room.
Repels fleas on pets too.

Toy Patterns

I love to make toys with crochet. I haven't tried with knitting yet, but I do enjoy making toys. It seems appropriate that I have a page for toys from my email.

Crochet Dinosaur                                                         Crochtopus
Colorful Tumbles                                                         Antonio the Frog
Christmas Teddy                                                          Mermaid
Charizard Pattern                                                         Rabbit and Bear
Toy Monkey                                                                Dino the Dinosaur
Cookie, Amigurumi Girl                                             Bee Girl Amigurumi
Amy, The Amigurumi Doll                                         Nesting Dolls
Crochet Snakes                                                            Jip The Owl
Baby Elephant Crochet Pattern                                   Wendy the Owl Pattern
Amigurumi Gnome                                                     Laid Back Cat Amigurumi

Tutorials and How tos

More from the email files, but this will be for links to how to videos or tutorials.

Hexagon How-to                                           
How to Make an Owl Hat (baby to adult)
Away We Go Stripey Blanket CAL
Crocodile Stitch Shawl
African Flower Hexagon Tutorial
Invisible Crochet Decrease

Scarf and Cowl Patterns

More patterns from my email. I have way too many emails and it is so very hard to find patterns in there. Hoping that this will allow me to find what I want easier. This page will be for scarves.



Bacon Scarf                                                          One Skein Asymmetry Scarf
Braided Cable Scarf                                              Hand Puppet Scarf
Cupcake Scarf                                                      Crochet Seashell Scarf
Loopty-Loo Wool Cowl                                      Dragon Skin Scarf
Peppermint Knit Cowl                                          Knit Sushi Scarf
Pineapple Crochet Scarf                                       Gunsmoke Cowl
Goddess Dream Scarf                                          Pink Fairy Scarf
Easy Striped Summer Scarf                                 Wave Cable Scarf
Marie Antoinette Scarf                                        Cherry Berry Scarf
Rainbow Dreams Scarf                                       Seashells Scarf Crochet
Oddball Scarf                                                      Swiss Cheese Scarf
Jitterbug Scarf                                                     Honeycomb Cluster Scarf
The Dude Scarf                                                   Rabbit Track Scarf
Pineapple Crochet Scarf                                     Holy Cowl
Goddess Lace Ladder Scarf                                A Cosy Scarf
Little Leaf Lace Scarf                                        Compassion Scarf

25 Rules for Mothers of Daughters

1. Paint her nails. Then let her scratch it off and dirty them up. Teach her to care about her appearance, and then quickly remind her that living and having fun is most important.

2. Let her put on your ...makeup, even if it means bright-red-smudged lips and streaked-blue eyes. Let her experiment in her attempts to be like you…then let her be herself.

3. Let her be wild. She may want to stay home and read books on the couch, or she may want to hop on the back of a motorcycle-gasp. She may be a homebody or a traveler. She may fall in love with the wrong boy, or meet Mr. Right at age 5. Try to remember that you were her age once. Everyone makes mistakes, let her make her own.

4. Be present. Be there for her at her Kindergarten performances, her dance recitals, her soccer games…her everyday-little-moments. When she looks through the crowds of people, she will be looking for your smile and pride. Show it to her as often as possible.

5. Encourage her to try on your shoes and play dress-up. If she would rather wear her brother’s superman cape with high heals, allow it. If she wants to wear a tutu or dinosaur costume to the grocery store, why stop her? She needs to decide who she is and be confident in her decision.

6. Teach her to be independent. Show her by example that woman can be strong. Find and follow your own passions. Search for outlets of expression and enjoyment for yourself- not just your husband or children. Define yourself by your own attributes, not by what others expect you to be. Know who you are as a person, and help your daughter find out who she is.

7. Pick flowers with her. Put them in her hair. There is nothing more beautiful than a girl and a flower.

8. Let her get messy. Get messy with her, no matter how much it makes you cringe inside. Splash in the puddles, throw snowballs, make mud pies, finger paint the walls: just let it happen. The most wonderful of memories are often the messy ones.

9. Give her good role models- you being one of them. Introduce her to successful woman- friends, co-workers, doctors, astronauts, or authors. Read to her about influential woman- Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie. Read her the words of inspirational woman- Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson. She should know that anything is possible.

10. Show her affection. Daughters will mimic the compassion of their mother. “I love yous” and Eskimo kisses go a long way.

11. Hold her hand. Whether she is 3 years-old in the parking lot or sixteen years old in the mall, hold on to her always- this will teach her to be confident in herself and proud of her family.

12. Believe in her. It is the moments that she does not believe in herself that she will need you to believe enough for both of you. Whether it is a spelling test in the first grade, a big game or recital, a first date, or the first day of college…remind her of the independent and capable woman you have taught her to be.

13. Tell her how beautiful she is. Whether it is her first day of Kindergarten, immediately after a soccer game where she is grass-stained and sweaty, or her wedding day. She needs your reminders. She needs your pride. She needs your reassurance. She is only human.

14. Love her father. Teach her to love a good man, like him. One who lets her be herself…she is after all wonderful.

15. Make forts with boxes and blankets. Help her to find magic in the ordinary, to imagine, to create and to believe in fairy tales. Someday she will make her 5 by 5 dorm-room her home with magic touches and inspiration. And she will fall in love with a boy and believe him to be Prince Charming.

16. Read to her. Read her Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. But also remember the power of Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost. Show her the beauty of words on a page and let her see you enjoy them. Words can be simply written and simply spoken, yet can harvest so much meaning. Help her to find their meaning.

17. Teach her how to love- with passion and kisses. Love her passionately. Love her father passionately and her siblings passionately. Express your love. Show her how to love with no restraint. Let her get her heart broken and try again. Let her cry, and gush, giggle and scream. She will love like you love or hate like you hate. So, choose love for both you and her.

18. Encourage her to dance and sing. Dance and sing with her- even if it sounds or looks horrible. Let her wiggle to nursery rhymes. Let her dance on her daddy's feet and spin in your arms. Then later, let her blast noise and headbang in her bedroom with her door shut if she wants. Or karaoke to Tom Petty in the living room if she would rather. Introduce her to the classics- like The Beatles- and listen to her latest favorite- like Taylor Swift. Share the magic of music together, it will bring you closer- or at least create a soundtrack to your life together.

19. Share secrets together. Communicate. Talk. Talk about anything. Let her tell you about boys, friends, school. Listen. Ask questions. Share dreams, hopes, concerns. She is not only your daughter, you are not only her mother. Be her friend too.

20. Teach her manners. Because sometimes you have to be her mother, not just her friend. The world is a happier place when made up of polite words and smiles.

21. Teach her when to stand-up and when to walk away. Whether she has classmates who tease her because of her glasses, or a boyfriend who tells her she is too fat - let her know she does not have to listen. Make sure she knows how to demand respect - she is worthy of it. It does not mean she has to fight back with fists or words, because sometimes you say more with silence. Also make sure she knows which battles are worth fighting. Remind her that some people can be mean and nasty because of jealousy, or other personal reasons. Help her to understand when to shut her mouth and walk-away. Teach her to be the better person.

22. Let her choose who she loves. Even when you see through the charming boy she thinks he is, let her love him without your disapproving words; she will anyway. When he breaks her heart, be there for her with words of support rather than I told-you-so. Let her mess up again and again until she finds the one. And when she finds the one, tell her.

23. Mother her. Being a mother - to her - is undoubtedly one of your greatest accomplishments. Share with her the joys of motherhood, so one day she will want to be a mother too. Remind her over and over again with words and kisses that no one will ever love her like you love her. No one can replace or replicate a mother's love for their children.

24. Comfort her. Because sometimes you just need your mommy. When she is sick, rub her back, make her soup and cover her in blankets - no matter how old she is. Someday, if she is giving birth to her own child, push her hair out of her face, encourage her, and tell her how beautiful she is. These are the moments she will remember you for. And someday when her husband rubs her back in attempt to comfort her...she may just whisper, "I need my mommy."

25. Be home. When she is sick with a cold or broken heart, she will come to you; welcome her. When she is engaged or pregnant, she will run to you to share her news; embrace her. When she is lost or confused, she will search for you; find her. When she needs advice on boys, schools, friends or an outfit; tell her. She is your daughter and will always need a safe harbor - where she can turn a key to see comforting eyes and a familiar smile; be home