On This Snowy Day

Inspired by a friend,  I decided to get some fresh flowers on this snowy day.  


Hydrangeas are so beautiful but also quite sensitive when it comes to care.  Here are a few tips to help you appreciate this gorgeous flower and extend it's life once you bring it home.


 Hydrangea's have a woody stem so its water absorption ability is poor compared to other fresh flowers. To counter this problem, I usually use a hammer or the flat end of a handle to smash the bottom of the stem.  This is to ensure that the flowers will be able to absorb water at a faster rate and keep the hydrangea’s blooms hydrated at all times.


Place the hydrangea into cold water - they love cold.


Cut the hydrangea’s stem every 2-3 days and never expose them to direct sunlight.

Dishwasher Magnet

Clean or dirty?  That is always the question when it comes to the dishwasher.

This idea comes from Futuregirl.  Here is my take on this adorable magnet!

It doesn't take very long to make and you can put your own spin on it.  I used foam for the base and felt for the rest of it.  There is a magnet in the skirt and the letters were glued on.

Oh so dirty......

Amazing Bread Recipe

On a recent trip out west to visit my family,  I learned how easy it was to make your own bread!

Over the duration of my visit, my sister in law made two loaves - each took about 3 hours to make, start to finish, using a bread maker.  Throwing the ingredients in takes only 5 minutes and the remainder time is the rising and baking (which the machine does for you).

This inspired me to get a bread maker and all I can say is wow-  I have become a bread making machine!

Making your own bread is so easy!   These days It can easily fit into anyone's busy life with program options like cooking overnight (wake up to the smell of fresh bread....sigh)  or "quick bake" which only takes an hour!

It feels so good to know exactly what is going into my bread and it tastes so much better than what you get at the store!   Nothing beats warm bread and butter.

Here is a recipe I have been making most frequently but I hope to post many more!

• Ingredients:
• 
  
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 tablespoons white sugar  (I use a bit less)
• 1 (.25 ounce) package bread machine yeast
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups bread flour  ( I use half whole wheat and half white bread flour)
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Place the water, sugar and yeast in the pan of the bread machine. Let the yeast dissolve and foam for 10 minutes. Add the oil, flour and salt to the yeast. Select Basic or White Bread setting, and press Start.

Harman Kardon Piggy Bank

While doing some early "spring cleaning" I came across an old Harman Kardon iSub that has been sitting in my closet for years!

Learning that it wasn't even compatible with anything that I owned, I knew I had to get rid of it.  It seemed like such a shame, the iSub just looks so cool!

After a final attempt to find it a new home with my neighbours (which failed) Mark came up with the brilliant idea of making it into a piggy bank!

Here are some photo's of the process and the very cool looking bank!

Everything had to be unscrewed and the bottom speaker needed to be taken out

All the parts for the bank

The final product!  

It's pretty fun dropping the coins in and aiming for the different holes.....looks like something you'd see at a Science Center.

Make Yourself Some Cute Coasters!

These Coasters are so cute because they are made by you! 

It's an easy project that doesn't take much time to do - the hardest part is deciding which colours to use!

Cut out two squares from either the same or two different fabrics. (I use different so my coasters can have two different sides). 

 To decide how big to cut your fabric, figure out how big you'd like your coasters to be and add 1/2 inch to each side of measurement.

Place your fabric with the right sides of the print facing together and sew 1/2 inch seam all the way around, leaving a 2 inch opening at the bottom ( to turn your project right side out)

Before turning right side out, trim all four corners being careful not to cut through any stitches.  

By doing this, it allows the corners to be pointy once turned out.

Turn your project right side out.  

Push out the corners (use a tool if needed)

Press your coaster so it sits nice and flat (make sure your two inch opening is turned in before pressing)

Sew another seam all the way around on the right side (this seam will close the two inch opening).

Now your coaster is complete!

There are so many variations you can do as well.   

These Coasters can be made by sewing a seam around all the sides and using pattern edge scissors to create the jagged edge.

Enjoy and happy sewing!

Dog Coat

I finally finished Becky's doggy coat and just in the nick of time!   I was starting to think winter was winding down only to wake up to a beautiful blanket of white snow outside.

Because I had no pattern for this coat I used Willow's old jacket as a template.  Becky is much thinner so I needed to sew it smaller around her chest and length.

The fabric I used is waterproof and I used a jogging fleece for the lining.  The grey and black ribbon on the sides are actually reflectors for night time and I used velcro on all the panels to make it easier to put the coat on and off.

Becky is the best model - look how fabulous she looks in her new digs!

Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken -Chickpea and Apricot

When it comes to slow cooker recipes they can be so hit and miss with the texture and flavour so it's up to us to pass along the good ones!

This is one I came across on the   www.food.com  website and it turned out to be really tasty.

You can eat it on it's own but I served it on rice.

• Ingredients
• 
  
• 6 large boneless, skinless chicken breast chopped into large chunks (I used a mixture of thighs and breast)
• 1 tablespoon flour or 2 tablespoons cornflour
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 3 -4 garlic cloves chopped finely
• 1 -2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 inch fresh gingerroot, finely chopped
• 6 ounces dried apricots ( I cut them in half )
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 (14 ounce) cans chopped tomato
• 2 (14 ounce) cans chickpea OR ( I used 1 can chickpea + 1 can white kidney beans)
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 pint chicken stock
• 1 pinch saffron or 1 teaspoon tumeric
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper  (optional) ( I used 1/2 tsp and it was just a little spicy)
• salt and black pepper
• 2 carrots peeled & diced (optional)