This is my Mom and brother Kelvin at the show.

Would you buy a handmade pillow from these two?

My Booth at Farm Chicks

Farm Chicks Show 2009

This picture was taken at the end of the show of Wilma, Michelle and Michelle. I think we still look fresh as daisies! We are all smiling becuz my brother Kelvin and nephew Morgan have arrived to help us load up the booth. It has been a long, wonderful weekend. This is the first time I have had a booth at a show, and it is a lot of work! I was very thankful for my Mom and friend Michelle. They were both a big help.

Farm Chicks Here We Come

This is a wonderful picture of my Mom, Wilma, and her girlfriend Elaine. Elaine is still one of my Mom's best friends. Doesn't this picture just capture a friendship of a by gone era. The picture was taken in 1954. Both of them still look pretty darn good.

I am leaving in the morning to go to Moscow and pick up Mom. My friend Michelle is coming with me. I am going to be a vendor at my very first craft show. I am past the stage of being nervous, now I am just ready to go! I have been sewing like a crazy women, and I am anxious to have my wares out on display. I want to see what sells, and what customers think about what I have created. I am also going to do one more show this summer at Mary Jane's Farm. I hope I have enough inventory for two shows!

Making Rice

Microwaveable rice...This is the best recipe I have ever used.  I promise.

For this big 'ole bowl of rice you will need:

1 cup basmati rice  (don't know if other rice will work)

3 cups water

Put the bowl of rice and water in the microwave uncovered and cook for 15 minutes.   It doesn't boil over.  How cool is that.

After the 15 minutes, cover the rice and you can cook for 5 more minutes.  I usually, just cover the rice and let it sit until we are ready to eat.

Since the boys can eat more that the average serving, I use 1 1/2 cups rice to 5 cups water.  I microwave it in the bowl that is pictured.  It still does not boil over.  

My friend Dawn gave this recipe to Blaise and it has been the best gift.  The boys will even make the rice!

Be Funky Pillow

This is a pillow that I made for the Funky Formal Auction for the middle school.  It fun to play with the lettering.  I found these letters at Goodwill.  The packaging they were in was really old.  I think it may have been from a company that use to do letterman jackets.  

I like the mix of fabrics and textures.   The blue border around the design is the only fabric that is new.  The bird is stenciled onto a piece of linen tablecloth.  I really like to repurpose items that I find at the thift store.   This was a really fun project and I can see myself doing more of this style.

How to make yogurt

It has been a long time since I have written in my blog. I decided I really do want to use this as a way to connect with family and friends.

Today I am going to share the recipe for how to make yogurt. If you know me, you know this will be a simple recipe.

HOW TO MAKE YOGURT (so you don't have to pay $5 for yummy Greek yogurt)

You will need:

2 Cups any type of milk
1 spoonful yogurt
Glass measuring cup
Thermos
Thermometer for cooking
Strainer
Cheesecloth

Put two cups of milk in a glass measuring cup.

 Microwave for about 3-4 minutes until the milk comes to a boil. You do have to watch so it doesn't boil over. The temp for boiling is 214, but I keep it under 200 so it does not scald.

Next boil water and sterilize your thermos.
Then let the yogurt cool down to 122 F
Add a spoonful of yogurt. Stir it up until the yogurt is mixed in.
Empty the hot water out of the thermos and pour the hot milk mixture into the thermos.
Let the thermos sit on your counter for 12 hours. I have let it sit for longer and it turned out fine.

Then pour the mixture into a strainer that is lined with cheesecloth. This lets the whey (watery stuff) drain out of the yogurt. I like to drain most of the water out and have the yogurt be really thick.

The yogurt is very sour and could be used as sour cream. I like to sweeten it up with sugar or honey. It is SO YUMMY with fresh raspberries or any type of fruit. I save a spoonful for the next time that I make yogurt.  It tastes a lot like a yogurt I had in Iceland that is called Skyr.