Frost

It's been so beautiful around here the past few days... We've had a unique and lingering frost that has left the most common, ugly and even dead things looking simply lovely.

A Twig

Spirea Foliage

White Pine Needles



Garden Fence



Purple Coneflower



Evergreen Branch



Unknown

Twins....

....with braids

Jewelry Stand

I was delighted when my sister Katie gave me this jewelry stand as a present.

Not only because it's super cute but it's so handy!

It holds all my earrings and keeps them organized.



A very nice mix of functionality and style and a great gift!

Thanks Kate!

Sarah B. and Luke: Adventures in Painting

Hello Everybody! This is Sarah Beth, I am writing this blog post with Susie (and yes Sarah even wrote the title :) )

Sometimes Susie helps Lukie and me to paint pictures. Last time we had so much fun discovering paint and mixing colors.



This time we each worked really hard to make a painting.

We got to create whatever we wanted.



Lukie wanted to paint a picture of a farm and a horse in the field.

He worked very hard on every little part.

I think his favorite part was using the special fan shaped brush to do the sky.





I wanted to make a picture of a cardinal and a blue jay eating together.

Susie says I do very nice brush strokes!

My favorite part was painting the cardinal and my not favorite part was doing the blue jay.

My favorite color is RED!

We learned a lot and it was SO MUCH FUN!

On Licking Spatulas, Spoons and Other Cooking Utensils

Sounds easy no?

Well there's a lot more to it then you'd think

Yummy Batter is a MUST!
Cake, cookie or cheesecake (shown) doesn't matter, as long as it's tasty!

Focus is important!
It's a tough job and you've got to have a lot of tenacity to follow through and lick a large mixer attachment like this.

You can't make it without Natural Talent!
You've got to have a flexible, nimble tongue to reach around each turn and bend to get every last drop of deliciousness.




Remember it's an honor and a privilege to get to "lick the spoon". Only those who help with baking, wait patently and show thankfulness are worthy to preform this special task.

Makes Me Feel Warm and Cozy!

New Template!

I thought maybe it was a little to cold for bare feet....

This one seems to fit more with the season. I love the warm fun colors!




What do you think?

How to Operate Kitchen Aids with SB

First you help Mommy get the ingredients (Make sure to do this is in your cutest apron!)

Watch VERY carefully as Mommy turns on the Kitchen Aid (This must be done by an adult, little girls should NEVER touch!!!)

Continue to watch the machine stir your ingredients ( this is done best if everyone puts their heads really close together)

The very best food is made with LOTS of loving care and attention!

How to Climb onto a Tall Stool with SB

SCHNITZ & KNEPP

I always thought it sounded like to two big strapping German farm boys..............

( A Pennsylvania Dutch ham and apple raisin sauce with dumplings dish)

Ham pieces/slices (I used the leftovers from Christmas ham)

6 c. boiling water
8 oz. dried sliced apples (we've always used fresh apples never even tried with dried...)
3 1/2 oz. raisins
3 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 to 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. flour
3 T. shortening
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. milk

Add apples and raisins to boiling water in large pot and cook until puffed and tender, about 20 minutes; drain and save liquid. Keep fruit warm. Bring liquid to boil, adding cinnamon, cornstarch and sugar. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, milk and shortening like dough. Dip spoon into boiling liquid and (from apples and raisins) between dropping spoonful of flour mixture into boiling liquid. Cook, uncovered, ten minutes.Start pan-frying ham. Cook dumplings, covered, 10 minutes. Serve dumplings in warm bowl. Pour sauce and dumplings over ham on plate.

Yummy!