A new peanut recipe!

Amish Peanut Butter Spread
3 1/2 ounces Marshmallow Cream
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring
Pinch of salt
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly

Now doesn't this sound wonderful!
would make a good Christmas gift too!
Enjoy!

Soap making 101

Soap making is an old skill from very early man... it is taking fats/oils and combining with lye and water to make a solid mass that is useful in cleaning.
I made two batches of soap last week and cut them this week to air dry and set better...
First, I made a batch of skin soap full of coconut oil, palm oil and olive oil... there are bits of lavender in it to help with a bit of gentle exfoliating... it smells wonderful and is sooo sticky upon cutting I know in a week or two it will set and be a wonderful winter soap...
The other soap is a shaving soap for men who like a lot lather shave...
I tried something new and it worked out GREAT!  I saved a container tube from store bought Halloween cookies and used that to pour the soap in to make it round ... so it will fit in a mug... I have never done this before and was not sure how it would work out... I just peeled the cardboard tube off and the soap looks awesome... So I recycled and reused!  and got a mold for my soap for FREE!  well... since I was definitely gonna by the tube of sugar cookies for my boys as a treat... LOL...
So if your a soap maker, I thought I would share this cool trick ... I am sure others use this too, but for my part I was happy to think of it! It worked awesomely and I was happy with the perfect circles to fit in shaving mugs.
I will post instructions for making soap someday, but for those who already make it...just had to share!
Have a happy day! 

Candles

Candles are such a beautiful addition to the home.  I love the warmth they bring, not in a physical way, but it is almost soothing to the soul to see the flicker of the flame and enjoy the fragrance (although honestly I would like it even without a fragrance)  This may be a sense of home that is illuminated in the old Victorian age pictures of a warm fireplace and families cozy by the fire reading a bedtime story or it could be because nothing makes my heart more cheerful then sitting around a campfire looking up to the star and down to the colored flames and coals.  One of my happiest places to be!
Anyway Candles are one of my favorite ways to give ambiance to a room.
So, I make them... I use soy wax and bees wax and create something I love for myself and to share with others. It is a hobby of mine that I make a little bit of money with around holidays...
I am going to make some more today to finish off a Christmas basket for a friend of mine, he usually purchases a couple of gift baskets for family.  His grandmom and mother enjoy them and he gives them something personal and from the heart. (we chat a lot about their likes and dislikes)  It is a win for me... Christmas $ and a win for him... two gifts done... and for them...they love the candles...
I hope to post some pictures of the candles and making them on here soon... so check back!
Have a great day and enjoy a candle and give one to a friend!

simple idea's for Christmas gifts...
  I am sitting here typing out some idea's for gifts for family and friends and had a thought... maybe some of what I thought of you have not.. So here are my ideas for you...
I am making candles this year... lots of candles, soy candles, bees wax candles...  this is not hard and hopefully I will blog some ideas for you who want to give it a try, but for now...
1.  candles
2.  Soaps... whether it is melt and pour or cold press home made soaps..they are fun and rewarding
3.  Gift baskets with goodies mentioned above and below
4.  Cookies
5.  Fancy Jars... Mason Jars with home made mixes .. like brownie, cakes, soups etc.
6.  Canned goodies like jelly or relish etc...
7.  hand sew napkins or even napkin and place mat set... you can do straight lines on a sewing machine you can make this fun little gift.
8.  Crochet and knitted gifts... I would love a wrap/shaw, I need to learn how to crochet!!!!
9.  Candies, fudge etc....
10.  Bath and Body lotions etc...that you made just for your special recipient!

So there are my top 10.. how about you?  What do you like to make for friends and family?
Have a great Christmas and New Years... and give from the heart not the wallet!

Okay, Finally I got pictures of my Mead making for everyone to enjoy!
It was so yummy on Thanksgiving with our dinner!
So...here are the directions...
I put the gallons of water in the sink along with the honey (2lbs of honey per gallon of water)...
Added hot water to the sink and let them sit for about 10 mins... this was to bring the temp of the water up and to make the honey easier to get out of the bottle.
Take 3 cups out for the "tea flavoring" and take 2 cups out for room for the honey....dump the two cups... save the 3 cups...see below..

Next was to start the Mead tea solution... I made two flavors... Raspberry Lemon and Spiced.  You simply put your flavors in the 3 cups of water .. TAKEN OUT OF THE GALLON and simmer it covered for 10 mins.... For example the spice mixture had cloves, cinnamon, all your traditional mulled spices.
This is a picture of the tea solution...

Yes, my stove is dirty... I made a huge mess on it earlier in the day.... figured I would clean it later...but you get the idea... At this point, you simply let it cool to a temp. your comfortable with them add it to your gallon jug.... While your waiting for this to cool a bit... add 2 lbs of honey to your gallon jug....SHAKE to distribute the honey... it will be easier since you have warmed the honey and the water in the hot water bath in the sink.

This is before I shook it up real well... it looked all one color without layers when it was shaken and mixed properly...
Next add your tea solution...yes... all the goodies in the water too... it adds to the flavor and you can strain them out before you bottle or drink it.  Mix this with a good shake then when the over all temp is around a baby bottle add your yeast...DO NOT SHAKE OR MIX... it lays on the top of the solution...
Cover with muslin or cloth and rubber band the cloth over the top....you need for gas to escape but you don't want to add any bad bacteria etc... I let mine ferment for 2 1/2 weeks and enjoyed it strained and put in some reused wine bottles.  I keep them all in the refrigeration since I don't want mine super dry and still fermenting at a regular rate....

Here is a picture of it fermenting... It was easy and it was fun... most importantly it was yummy!  Even my husband who is not a wine drinker enjoyed it with Thanksgiving dinner.... I was loving sharing it with family and tasting the two flavors!
Try it yourself, but don't drink too much... I don't know the percentage of alcohol and NEVER drink and drive... I make it a personal practice to not drink more then a glass or two of home fermented drinks in a night since I am never sure of the amount of alcohol... this is just a hobby for me.... I claim no responsibility if something goes wrong or you make bad decisions!

Today was a busy day, but a fun day!  I went to the farmers market and bought the honey for the mead and I went to the amish market to buy a goody for tonights "ladies night in" at a friends house from church.  I then decided to dye my hair and clean my car, inside and out, then give a bike to the kid down the street...(waited on my son to sell it, he didn't .. I got generous!) ...
I am taking pictures so you can see the whole process....
I will post directions tomorrow...

Also, I am waiting on an order of oils for some soaps and some supplies for some candles...
I will post directions for that soon too!
well... gotta go turn off the burner and see how the meade is doing...
Look for more good stuff soon.... I am so sorry I am so slow on getting this going!

Busy weekend for my family... We enjoyed the Renn Faire on Sat. and a very busy church day on Sonday.  Sat. was such an iffy day.. many said we shouldn't go since it looked like it was going to rain and it was muddy, but we went.  It was not that muddy and I enjoyed Hamlet on stage as well as a day with my guys.  Well, really my husband since the boys went off on their own for most of the day.  I know it is a labor of love for my husband to do these outings.. his legs hurt so badly after the day.  (He has CMT)  He didn't complain once even as I walked from shop to shop.  I appreciate him so much and think that the boys and myself probably don't realize how much he sacrifices for us. 

I am also excited because I am going to make Mead... it is a honey wine... sounds like fun and I am very excited to try my hand at it.  I bought a kit so it should be successful ... and I am going to make another batch of hard cider too.   I love doing these types of things...  I will take pictures so you all can see how it goes.  I will try to post them and blog the experience incase your interested!

Sonday was non-stop... worship, biblestudy, lunch with some dear friends, singing ministry, life groups... and I was tired when I got home... I was in bed by 9:00.  I love worship... and my church family.  I am thankful that God arranged for us to have a church family!  There is one who is in my church family now who is so hurting and struggling... I wish I could help her, but this is a journey she will have to get through... I will continue to pray for her and listen to her and hopefully encourage her, but right now I hurt for her.... I pray that she sees light at the end of her tunnel!

Well, I have a house to manage and running shoes to purchase for my son... Hope to get some neat pics of some cool things one here soon... soap making, mead, cider, and candle making... all of which I enjoy doing this time of the year... maybe even some apple sause, jelly and butter!  YUM! 

Really wanted to keep my blogs positive and uplifting for the most part, so excuse me while I vent for a minute.  Why do people need to curse with every sentense uttered out of their mouth?  I really don't understand it... when you do it so much it looses it's intended impact, it sounds so common and I think it shows a lack of vocabulary. 
Yes, I realize that I am living in 2011 and that since I live in basically an urban environment with close living I should just get used to it, but honestly, I hate it!  I chose my movies carefully, I choose my friends carefully... I have no control over this though.  I close my windows on a nice day and turn on some music to block the neighbors out.  I wish that I didn't have to live that way.
I don't mind my small row house, I don't like my small yard, but I can deal with it... I like knowing my neighbors and enjoy them for the most part, but UGH!  why do they have to talk like thugs.!!  It used to be that when someone cursed infront of a lady they apologized and tried not to do it again, but now even the ladies talk like that.  I think it is sad, I liked being respected as being different from the guys... not slighted, but respected.
Oh well.. this is part of living in today... when I was younger I never thought that it made sense when old folks were tired of living and ready to "meet their maker" but as life goes on... I slowly see how they can get tired of this world.  Not the beauty, and the blessing from God, but the worldliness of Satan's rule here... I am slowing seeing how God's children can have peace with death and a readiness for it when their life is coming to a close.  I am not ready, but some days I am tired!

Mornings are so sweet, they are quiet and a bit lazy only if I get up early enough before the day starts.  The day starts earlier and earlier these days so I have to work hard at making some time in the morning to get my day organized and ready. 
I am not one of those who can live on a few hours of sleep a night.  I enjoy a full nights sleep, but my husband does not need sleep the way I do.  He can stay up later and get up earlier then me.  I try to keep up with him, but I just can't seem to do it gracefully.  I guess coming to terms with that has helped me with my scheduling.  I sometimes just need to leave him in the living room and go to bed at night.  I don't like to do that... but it has to be done for me to function the next day.
So it has taken me 20 years to figure out i can't hang with the hubby without feeling the effects the next morning.  I guess you can teach and old dog new tricks afterall... !
Well, it is time to get the kids up... get the house picked up and ready for the 3 more teens headed over for history class.  My quiet morning has drawn to a close... i spent time with my "to do list", my calendar and my lesson plan.... I really need to spend time in my Bible too... I guess I still need to get up even a wee bit earlier to fit that in.
See, married 19 years, been a mom for 17 and I still don't have this down yet!  I am still a work in progress... I hope that brings comfort to you if your struggling too. 

Blogging is a catch 22, I need the time to gather my thoughts, but I often don't have the time to write down all I am thinking... right now though I am thinking that my dear husband is on his first day of work of a NEW job.  I am hoping that it is going well for him and hoping that he is able to keep close to God today (and everyday).  My husband works so hard to provide for our family.  He should be able to work somewhere he is happy.  His last job didn't make us very happy, except for in this day and age we got a pay check and that is a blessing.  I hope if any are reading this and don't have a job, you get one real soon and that if possible it be one that makes your family happy too.
I live in a area that has lost much industry and I know how important having work is to a family and to the community... my community is looking a bit depressed these days.  I would love to see men working again... taking pride in a job well done!  If you women want to work, I hope that your happy too!  I don't have anything against working mom's.  I personally am blessed to not "have" to work and can enjoy domestic projects and raising my boys!  So... all that to say I hope my husbands' first day at his new job is an awesome one!  Now... I have laundry to do, kids to educate and dinner to figure out.  Hope your day is awsome too!  Remember to give God the glory!