Yarn Along - Turtle

 
Yarning along this week again with Ginny from Small Things.  I am still working on this turtle for Sky.  I have a lot of the pieces done I just have to sew them together (which is my least favorite part of the process). 

As far as reading goes I am reading Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman.  I know I don't have a really large family but she has some good tips in the book that are helpful for families of any size.  My biggest complaint about this book is that it is a large hardcover book.  Most of my reading these days is done while nursing LT and it is difficult to hold that large of a book while nursing a baby.  Also on my Kobo I am currently reading The Ride of a Lifetime by Kitty McGregor that I will be reviewing for Booksneeze.com.

Christmas Baking: Date Squares

I don't do a lot of Christmas baking but I do love me some cookies.  So I try to make a few extra goodies for Christmas.  Some of these only get  made at Christmas time so they are an extra treat.  Also I try to let the older girls help with baking so it can become a fun family time (it doesn't always work though as mom has trouble giving up control but we try).  I thought I would share what is on my Christmas baking list for this year along with some of the recipes.

My baking list for this year is:

Shortbread Cookies
Gingerbread Men
Sugar Cookies
Vanilla Walnut Crescents
Butter Tart Squares
Date Squares

Yesterday I made some Date Squares.  This isn't the most Christmassy goodie but I really like Date Squares and I hardly ever make them.  Also this is one of the more healthier recipes I make for Christmas.  It is full of good fibre, iron, and magnesium.

Without further ado here is the recipe:

Date Squares

Filling
5 cups (2 3/4 lb/1.25 kg) pitted dates, coarsely chopped
Finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
1 1/2 cups water

Crust
3cups quick oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, melted

For filling: in saucepan combine dates, lemon rind and juice, and water.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes or until dates are very soft.  stir mixture well to mash dates.

For crust: in bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Stir in melted butter until thoroughly combined and crumbly.

Pat half the crust mixture onto bottom of lightly greased 9 inch by 13 inch baking pan.  Spread filling over crust evenly, sprinkle with remaining crumbs.  Bake in preheated oven 350*C for about 45 minutes or until deeply golden.

Cool before cutting into squares.  I then place them in paper muffin cups.

I make this recipe pretty much as written.  I didn't have a lemon on hand though so I just put some bottled lemon juice in the filling.  Also I like oats so I added an extra cup without changing any of the other ingredients.  I imagine this might have made the crust a bit more crumbly but that was okay by me.  Enjoy!

What are you baking this Christmas?

Here the girls are making Sweet Potato Whole Wheat Gingersnaps.

Daybook - Nov. 28, 2011

 

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the trees are bare of any leaves, there are a few white patches of snow that haven't melted from our last snowfall, and the windmill is turning swiftly in the wind.

I am thinking...about celebrating advent and the upcoming Christmas holiday.

I am thankful...for a kind, loving, helpful, hardworking husband.


In the kitchen...I have some banana's that are going to be made into banana bread today and some ground beef that is going to be made into meatballs.  The meatballs will go into the slow cooker so as to be ready when we get home from skating today.

I am wearing...gray sweatpants and a gray T-shirt.  I am all about comfort when I am at home.

I am creating...a crochet turtle for Sky.  Also we are starting to put up a few Christmas decorations and I have to get a Jesse tree put together today.

I am going... to take the older girls to skating tonight and on Friday.  Tomorrow I will do some shopping and take LK to the tot spot.  Hopefully the rest of the week I will be able to stay at home.

I am wondering...why on the slough there are spots where the ice is so clear it almost looks like open water when the rest of the ice is white (the clear spots seem to be frozen just as hard as the everywhere else but it looks so different).

Here Star is checking out one of the afore mentioned spots.

I am reading...Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman.  I don't think I quite qualify as having a large family but it has some good tips.  For light reading I am enjoying Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber.

I am hoping...that we continue to get some nice weather in December.  It is much nicer when we can spend time everyday outside.

I am looking forward to...having some company on the weekend and celebrating Sky's 8th birthday.

I am hearing...LK watching TV in the background.  Time to get to get off the computer so as to turn the TV off and have him help me do laundry.

Around the house...today the living room needs vacuuming and laundry needs to be done.  Hubby was wonderful and cleaned the porch and the kitchen yesterday.  I have the advent wreath out but still need to set up a Jesse Tree.


One of my favorite things...the Christmas season.  I am excited advent is here and we start the countdown to Christmas.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I am hoping to get started on some Christmas baking this week.  Also I have to go through LK's clothes.  Most of his pants are too short.  I have lot's of hand me downs for him to wear I just have to go through them and get them into his dresser and the too small stuff put away.

Here is picture (or two) for thought I am sharing...

Two of my most precious blessings.

LT sure is growing fast.

Skating on the Slough

Remember in the spring we were able to canoe on the slough near our house.  Well this past weekend we were able to skate on it.  It was a beautiful day with temperatures right around 0*C.  The girls were quite excited and we had a good time.  Unfortunately I didn't skate as I was wearing LT in the wrap but Daddy joined the girls for a skate when he was done vaccinating cows.  LK enjoyed walking on the ice for a while and when he got tired he got a ride in the sled.

A beautiful day for skating.

Sky doing a spiral.

Star doing a spiral.

It is not often that the slough is this full of water and that it freezes into nice ice.  We were lucky to get this opportunity.  Living in the country definitely has its challenges but it also has many blessings.  We hope to find more time this winter to take advantage of this ice.

Yarn Along - Stroller Toy

So I am once again joining in Wednesdays Yarn Along over at Small Things.  This week I finished the fish stroller toy.  The fish came from this Lion Brand pattern for a fish mobile, but then I decided to make them into a stroller toy.  The pattern for the stroller toy is from the book Amigurumi Two, Crocheted Toys for Me, You and Baby Too.  It turned out pretty good I think.  LK is always stealing them from LT's car seat and waving them them around saying "sh, sh" (he can't say fish yet).

The next project I will be working on is the turtle from the same book Amigurumi Two, Crocheted Toys for Me, You and Baby Too.  Sky has been asking for it for a while so I plan to work on that next and hopefully it will be done in time for me to give it to her for Christmas.    With two little ones I don't have a lot of time to crochet these days.

The book I have been reading this week is The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule.  I enjoyed this book.  It had a lot of ideas of how to encourage creativity in our children and ourselves.  It really focuses on enjoying the process of creating rather than the end product.  I've never really considered myself a creative person but I do think there is some creativity in all of us.   And we all can find joy in creating if we let go of any expectations for the end product.

That's all for this week.  Be sure and check all the wonderful projects over at Small Things.

Brush Cut

LK has thick hair that grows pretty fast.  He has had 3 or 4 haircuts already and he is not yet two.  He hair was once again getting pretty long so this past weekend  hubby decided it was time to cut it.  Now LK has never been good about getting his hair cut.  He won't sit still, tries to grab the scissors, and it usually ends in tears and screaming.  This time was no different.  He was not about to let us cut his hair.  So hubby decided it was time for a brush cut.  I wasn't too sure about it, thinking the clippers would frighten him and it would still be a  problem.  However he didn't seem to mind them that much.  Now I am not saying he sat perfectly still, but hubby was able to get the job done.  I kind of miss his long hair, but he still looks super cute with his brush cut.  Hopefully it will be a while now before we have to cut his hair again.

Sorry I don't have any before pictures but here is LK sporting his new hair do.

Yarn Along

I was updating my Ravelry page and thought I would share with you some the crochet projects I've been working on.   Since reading is another one of my favourite pastimes  I am joing in with Ginny over at Small Things by participating in my first Yarn Along.

This little mini-pouch is cute and super quick to crochet.

I made a few pairs of these mittens for the girls to wear.  We keep these in their skating bags so they always have a dry pair of mitts for skating.

And I am currently working on this Fish stroller toy for LT.

As for reading I am currently reading the 10 Habits for Healthy Mothers on my Kobo.  Also on my Kobo for light reading is About That Man by Sheryl Woods.