COMPUTER WITHDRAWL

Well I sure had a busy weekend. The Christmas show at a local Mennonite Church where I had my hand mades at went really well! I had a great time too. I met some really nice people. I couldn't believe that I didn't even get near my computer for two whole days. I wasn't feeling well when I got home last and I think it must have been computer withdrawl......LOL. I was so busy all last week getting things together for the show. I wanted my table to look just right. I did have a lot of compliments about it which was worth the effort. So this week it is back to normal. I was supposed to start school at a private College tomorrow, but for now that has fallen through. I was so looking forward to it. So the College has put me on the list for a March start date. I had also worked so hard to get accepted into the College. Months of studying to pass that entrance exam. Now it is just a matter of the Government. The second career program has made some changes. I have been told they have been having a high drop out rate so they are making you jump through a few hundred more hoops until you are approved now. That is ok......I can jump! I guess they have been funding people, they get into courses and if they find a job in the meantime, they drop out. Well I can sure suggest a solution to that. Make the people pay it all back if they drop out. That way, the people who really want the re-training can get it and not be hindered by the irresponsible people. It is funny, but there are always people who make it really hard for others just by their irresponsible actions. We all end up paying for it one way or another. So I am looking ahead to March.

I Won!!!

Well, I can't believe my luck..........I never win anything :(

I won the giveaway for the 1 pound of hard tack candy on Crow's Creek Crossing's Blog.

Thanks so much Deb. I told DH I would share :)

Deb's blog address is: debsprimitivecountrykitchen.blogspot.com

TART SWAP FROM ANNE

Yesterday I picked up a parcel from our Post Office and it was my Tart Swap package from Anne from Seasons of the Past. Her Blog id is seasonsofthepast.blogspot.com

Thank you Anne for everything. It was very kind of you. There is much more here than the 12 tarts we were supposed to receive. I especially LOVE the bowl fixins........I can't stop smelling them :)

CRANBERRY SALAD

This is a great recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas

9 oz rasberry flavored gelatin

3 cups boiling water

2 cups of cold water

20 oz can of crushed pineapple

12 oz cranberries

3 oranges peeled and seeded

1 orange peel

1 cup of sugar

4 to 5 apples, diced small

1 cup of nuts, chopped

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add cold water. When partially set add undrained pineapple. Blend fresh or frozen cranberries in blender until fine. Add orange chunks and orange peel and blend until fine. Add sugar. Fold cranberry mixture into gelatin mixture, add apples and nuts. Pour into molds or 13x9 inch pan. Chill overnight.

MY KITCHEN SMELLS WONDERFUL!

You wouldn't believe the smell of my kitchen! I have been making batches of soap like crazy for Christmas orders. My whole table is covered in trays of soap that has to cure. It smells so good I could eat it. DH says he almost took a bite as he walked by..LOL.

I am thankful to my wonderful friends who have ordered soaps and candles from me for Christmas gift giving. I know there are lots of places to buy soap and candles, but my friends know that DH and I have been out of work since last March. The factory where we worked as Quality Assurance employees for 17 years closed down and moved to Mexico. Thank you ladies....you know who you are. It is so nice to have the support of  your friends :) I am looking forward to getting together with all of you tonight for dinner and sewing......and Linda, I am looking forward to your lasagna! I bet it will be wonderful. See you at 5:30......I am getting hungry already :)

Janet

MY NEW BUSINESS SIGN

Today, I made this sign for my business. I am doing a couple of Christmas shows at local churches with a friend of mine and we are selling our handmade goods. It is aged and antiqued, then hand rubbed with my special burnt umber/danish oil rub.

THE AIRPLANE HANGAR

DH has been working hard these past few weeks trying to get his airplane hangar finished before the snow flies! He is on the homeward stretch, working on putting the steel on the roof.

Last night, he finished the roof on the North side and today he is working on the South side.

I took some pictures of him hard at work. He should have the project finished up by the end of the week if all goes well. The weather has been perfect for him. After this, the corn has to be harvested and then he will be able to finish my summer kitchen :)

I can hardly wait!

This is Sydney, our Australian Shepherd

(He is supervising the building project)

SIMPLE GOODS SHOW-OHIO

Well, just one more day until my friends and I make the journey down to Ohio for the Simple Goods Show. I can't wait. I have never seen anything like this show. It is just fantastic! We will have to leave bright and early tomorrow morning, as it is about a 7 hour drive and of course we will have to make a few stops along the way. There are a few really nice shops that I always like to visit when I am down that way. After we get settled into our hotel, we will be going out to dinner at this wonderful Italian restaurant that is in walking distance........this is good just in case we have an extra glass of wine or two :) They really do have the best food. Snow is in the forecast for tonight, but hopefully it won't be enough to slow us down. I think they are calling for flurries.

We may be slowed down some, but we will get there.

A SPECTACULAR SIGHTING!

This morning while walking my dogs in the bush, I spotted two Great Horned Owls sitting up in a tree. When I first saw the one, I thought it was a cat because of the ears and the size. Actually the male was larger than a cat. The female was in the same tree a few branches over and she flew away when I got closer. The male sat there until I was almost underneath him and then he flew off. I just stood there, looking up and staring. It was such an amazing thing to see those owls. I wished that I had taken my camera. It is only the second time I have seen one back there in the bush. The last time it was only the male, but it was so nice to see the pair. I guess I am priveledged to have had that experience.
Boy..........I sure do love the simple things in life.
Janet

AMISH TOUR

     Yesterday, I went on this great Amish Tour with my friend Brenda Miller. We had a great time.

We got to enjoy learning some of ways of Amish life. We visited several Amish farms where they gave people tours of the different things they did for a living. One farm we visited was  a Goat Farm where they milked 140 head of goats daily. There were around 300 goats including babies and goats that were not in the milk production. It was so interesting to see all the different breeds of goats. The people who lived there, had their drive shed set up for selling all kinds of wonderful baked goods, jams, jellies and hot apple cider. You could go for a horse drawn buggy ride too, but the weather was just a little too wet and cool for us. Their buggies are not covered. Of course we had to buy some of those homemade goodies to take home. I got some cookies and butter tarts for D.H.

Our next stop was a farm where they made chairs and we learned all of the different steps involved in the process. You just couldn't imagine...very complicated. Just seeing the tools that are involved in the process is really amazing. It was also nice to see Amanda, the Amish lady who taught my friends and I how to make bread last November. She took us into her home and taught us how to make bread from scratch and then we baked it in her wood cook stove. Bread couldn't taste better. Each of us got to take home a loaf. She was there selling her bread and handmade greeting cards and soap. Her husband has the chair making business and he also builds chimneys for people.

Another farm we visited had all kinds of handmade Quilts, Cedar Chests, and baked goods.

We also had to stop at the General store where they sold all kinds of wonderful fabrics for quilting as Brenda and I do lots of Quilting ourselves.

I have to mention the wonderful lunch we had in a town called New Hamburg. There is a new Restaurant in town called Phidelphias and we had the most wonderful Butternut Squash soup with herbed scones......to die for!!!! They must have had 500 types of tea which was included with lunch. I couldn't decide so I told our waiter to just pick one for me. He brought me cherry green tea which was just perfect and Brenda had Chai tea. We will definitely go back there.

Anyway, we had an amazing time this year as well as last and we were sorry to hear that this may be last year they will have this tour. I am so glad that we had the privilege of experiencing this.