Wishing You A Magickal Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL

Having a hard time believing....

.....that global warming is happening folks. 

Woke up this morning to MORE snow and freezing temps! That's pretty much been the weather around here for the past 3 weeks! I'm not complaining as I enjoy snow, but would have liked for Autumn to stick around a wee bit longer.  Well,  at least it has helped me get motivated on working on my Christmas creations .... for listing in my Etsy Shop as well as starting my handmades for gift giving*s*.


I plan on having a totally handmade Christmas, complete with handmade gifts as well this year. Part of my plan of getting back to the simple life of long ago yesterdays.  That was my 2009 New Years resolution and it has been a work in progress...but oh so much fun! Amazing what one can do if you put your heart and hands to it *s*

From now until mid December, I plan on sharing sites that might inspire you in giving from your heart and hands....... with wonderful ideas and sites who so generously share fabulous patterns. 

Remember.....

A Gift From The Heart Is A Most Treasured Gift Of All

Here's a beautiful site I stumbled upon not to long ago. The name of it alone makes me *smile*...............It is Among The Gum Trees blog A group of sweet talented ladies put this blog together and it surely is one you will enjoy visiting.   For nine weeks, they will be posting one of their fabulous patterns for FREE!!!! Talking about gifts...how wonderful is that! So make sure to visit Among the Gum Trees blog as they have just posted Freebie Pattern #4...and thank them for being so generous.  Oh....btw...Pattern 1 through 3 are posted on the right sidebar!! 

Am off to fetch my warm woolens and enjoy a bit of snow *wink*.........Do have a delightful Friday!

Recipe for Homemade Granola Bar Treats

I am busying myself today with making all sorts of special goody bags for the wee goblins that will soon be visiting.  Unlike in big cities, the only children that come by are the ones we know...family, friends, and the few that live across the corn fields *smirk*.

So, because we all know each other, each year I make a nice variety of yummy treats and can even personalize the bags with each childs name! How wonderful is that?  Living in a rural area has a few drawbacks...but for the most part...it truly is wonderful. 

I wanted to share a absolutely devine, stupendously delicious granola bar recipe that I have made for years....and not only to put in Hallowe'en goody bags either! *grin*.  Oh sure I suppose I could go out and buy granola bars at the grocery...but I might as well buy a dozen candy bars and be done with it....since there is absolutely no difference in chomping down on a store bought granola bar and candy bar. Both loaded with sugar/high fructose and not telling what other mysterious items, not to mention they are about as tasty as cardboard!

This recipe can be made in a wide variety of ways simply by adding or changing the nuts or fruits. Mix and match...have fun with it...but I promise you...you will NEVAH go back to eating store bought granola bars! 

Oh, I also want to mention, you can also layer all the dried ingredients in this recipe to use as a Gift in A Jar!!! Write the direction on a nice recipe card, punch a hole in the corner and tie it with raffia or piece of homespun around a vintage mason jar!! Make a few to keep on hand for gift giving when the need arises!!

This recipe is super quick and easy to make!!

Gourmet Granola Bar Recipe 

This recipe makes approximately a dozen bars depending on what size you cut them

Ingredients:

2 cups old fashion oatmeal

1 cup nuts- could be almonds, peanuts, macadamia *yum*, walnuts, pecans...anything you enjoy

1 cup shredded coconut- if you don't like coconut, no problem, leave it out and replace with another ingredient with the same consistancy...

1/2 cup wheat germ

3 Tablespoons butter (unsalted)

2/3 cup honey

1/4 cup lightly packed, light brown sugar

1 1/2 Teaspoon real vanilla extract - or use another flavor if you wish

1/4 Teaspoon kosher salt -yessss regular salt will work also- I prefer using Sea Salt since it is much healthier

1/2 cup chopped pitted dates - you don't like dates, use raisins or another other dried fruit

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots - again if you don't like, use another dried fruit

1/2 cup dried cranberries - ditto above

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Butter an 8 x 12 inch baking dish and line it with wax paper and making sure you have enough wax paper to be able to fold over pan once completed..

Toss the oatmeal, almonds and coconut together on a sheet pan and toast about 10 minutes or so.  Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ

Lower heat in oven to 300 degrees

Place butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. This is the "glue" to bind everything together

Add the dates, apricots, and cranberries and stir well.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Then take the overlapping wax paper and cover the top, pressing firmly with your hands to make sure your bars won't fall apart when finished. Once you have done that, you can tear off the excess wax paper.

Bake for 25-30 mins., until light golden brown.

Cool for at least 2-3 hours before cutting into squares.  Wrap individually and enjoy!

Hallowe'en Treats for Our Non Human Loved Ones

Everyone is busy getting their treats...and perhaps a few tricks along the way *smirk* for all the goblins, witch's, ghosts and monsters on All Hallow's Eve night that will visit. Probably carving out pumpkins in the next day or so too. What a fun time...but have you thought of including all your non human loved ones? *s*

Found another super Hallowe'en craft in BHG which I thought would be such fun. Create your furry family member their own Jack-O-Lantern in their image! Too cute!

 Just click here to take you to the instructions and all the free pumpkin carving templates/stencils to download!


Here's a great recipe for making some yummy and healthy treats...not only for All Hallow's Eve, but for anytime. I've made this recipe a lot. It is easy and almost makes me want to eat these treats myself!


Did you know pumpkin isn't only healthy for us humans for your dogs too?


This following pumpkin dog treat is loaded with Beta carotene and anti-oxidants especially vitamins C and E. These vitamins help to lower cancer risk, cataracts and heart disease.  Pumpkin is also being used in dog diets to help fat dogs lose weight....hmmm, wonder if it would help humans?? LOL  And pumpkin provides extra roughage or bulk in a healthy dog diet . Pumpkin is even being prescribed for dogs who have delicate stomachs or intestinal problems.

***PLEASE CONSULT YOUR VET IF YOUR DOG HAS SPECIAL NEEDS OR HEALTH ISSUES TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE FOR THEM****

 

PUMPKIN WAFERS DOG TREAT RECIPE

Ingredients:

# One 15 oz. can mashed pure pumpkin (NOT the spiced pie filling)

# 3/4 cup cream of wheat (or rice cereal if wheat-sensitive) You can mix this dry--no need to cook it first

# 1/2 cup dry powdered milk

Directions: Preheat oven to 300 F.

Mix all ingredients together. Drop small spoonfuls (I use about half of a tablespoon) onto a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

If you'd like to make bite sized cookies for small dogs, training rewards or just small treats, you can use a pastry bag and squeeze out rosettes about the size of a dime for tasty bite sized cookies!

Here's another Doggie Treat Recipe I've used. This one is for our older doggies who need softer foods due to their aging teeth.

Homemade Dog Treat Recipe

Soft Doggie Cookies

3 (2 1/2 oz. each) jars of baby food; either beef or chicken

1/4 cup Dry milk powder

1/4 cup Wheat germ or cream of wheat

Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Roll into small balls and place on well-greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork. Bake in preheated 350F oven for 15 minutes until brown. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate to keep fresh or freeze. I like to freeze mine, then I take out a few a day to thaw and be ready for treat time! *s*

Fun Hallowe'en Whimsy the Phee McFaddell Way

Hallowe'en is only a few days away!! So why not enter the Whimsical Realm of Phee McFaddell with your wee ones and enjoy some spooktacular fun. This webiste is loaded with all sorts of Hallowe'en adventures...from stories, to crafts, coloring pages, masks you can make, puppets and a wonderful array of other treats....didn't find any tricks, so tis safe to enter *s*.

Here's a few labels for potions you might have brewing for All Hallow's Eve.  If there's a Hallowe'en party whether at school or home...you could transform those juice bottles or boxes into something fun....or how about using some labels on clear cello treat bags you might be making. Lots of fun uses...with a Hallowe'en imagination! 

Labels from Phee McFaddall.......click to open full size, then right click and save to your computer. Don't forget to visit Phee McFaddall Craft Projects and HAVE FUN!!!!

How to Make Rustic Candle Holders

I really love Plain and Simple primitives and even more so when I can make them for pennies! I saw these in BHG and just had to share on how to make them! They are so simple and quick to make, I made 6 in about 30 minutes!!

Here's what you'll need:

18 gauge wire ~ you can really add an extra primitive touch by using rusty wire

chunks of wood or logs about 3 inches thick. Wood chunks can be any shape or size.

drill with a small bit the size of your wire and an auger bit the size of your tapers

dripless tapers of your choice

strong adhesive such as E6000 can be found at Walmart or any hardware store

Drill an off center hole the size of your wire into your wood base. Then using your auger bit, drill out a hole in the center for your candle. Place a tiny itsy bitsy teeny weeny drop of your strong adhesive in the hole for the wire and insert your wire. Now, place your candle in the your wood base and wrap the wire around the candle. Finish by making a curlicue at the end of your wire. Now wasn't that just the easiest candle holder to make? 

Now don't go throwing away the sawdust from drilling out your candle holes!!! Nope, nope nope ducky....I believe in recycling. Are you going to make a wonderful Christmas creation and want to add some 'snow' to it? Well....take some white acrylic paint and your sawdust and mix it together!!! If too thick, just add a wee bit of water. Mix it real good and you have snow!!!!! Save in a tight sealing container and use whenever you are ready! Apply it with your fingers or a paint brush! If you want your snow to glisten...all you have to do is add glitter to your sawdust/paint mixture or you can merely sprinkle the glitter on top when still wet.

Happy creating...the Plain and Simple way of days long ago...for your Primitive Homestead~

Harvest Blessings ~ *NorthwindStar*~

In Loving Memory..........

As I stated earlier today in my post, I've been away for almost a month busy with family...with life..with work.....and sadly did not take the time to visit my blog friends until today.....

....and some very sad news I was to learn.  Ever since I found out Debbie's (friend to so many of us in blogland)... sweetest and most beautiful daughter,  Amy Dawn's courageous fight with cancer,  I've had a burning candle on my blog which was so thoughtfully made by Penniwig...flickering as a symbol of Hope for Amy.


With a heavy and saddened heart...I "blew" out the candle and replaced it with a beautiful butterfly... as Amy took flight yesterday to her new heavenly home. I kindly ask you to take a moment to read Penni's beautiful tribute to Amy Dawn.

Please keep Debbie and her family in your thoughts and prayers, so God's loving and gentle arms wrap tightly around their hearts and spirit.... to give them the strength and courage during this heartbreaking journey.

God's Blessings To All ~~
Alexandria