Chex Mix ... a Favorite Fall Snack

 

  Mr. K has eaten this all his life and it is his FAVORITE snack.  =)  

His Grandma made it for him as a child.  

His sister, Amy, made it for him when he was in college.  

Now I make it for him and maybe one day I'll pass the torch on to Abigail.  =)

Melt 1 stick of butter in the microwave.  Add season salt and Worcestershire sauce.  Mix well with a fork.

In a large mixing bowl, combine Chex/Crispix, Cheerios, Goldfish, and Honey Roasted Peanuts.

Pour butter mixture over dry cereal mixture and gently stir together.  

Divide between two cookie sheets and bake for 1 hour at 250 degrees.  

Stir and rotate cookie sheets 3 times during that hour.

It is SO good and SO easy to make.  

I might even call it healthy ... at least you know EXACTLY what is in it!

CHEX MIX

1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)

1 1/4 teaspoons season salt

4 1/2 teaspoons Worchestershire Sauce

4 cups Chex or Crispix cereal

2 cups Cheerios

1 cup Goldfish (original recipe calls for pretzels but Mr. K doesn't like them)

1 cup honey roasted peanuts (original recipe called for dry roasted peanuts)

Mix wet ingredients.

Mix dry ingredients.

Combine together and spread on cookie sheets.

Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour - stir every 20 minutes.

Store in gallon Ziploc bag (if it lasts that long LoL).

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Love,

Erin

Walmart ... Walmart!

I went into Walmart to buy milk, egg and bread.  

As I swing past Electronics, this laptop caught my eye.

It's so PRETTY!

It reminds me of Monet ... I love Monet.  =)

Mr. K, if you are reading this, could you play Santa and put one under the Christmas tree for me?

 

Love,

Erin 

Granny Log Cabin

Thanks for waiting so patiently as I put this tutorial together!

I did it Sunday night after Abigail went to bed and it took me about an hour to crochet and assemble the whole potholder.

Scraps and leftovers are perfect for this project!

I used Cotton Ease and a size H hook for the sample but I think a heavy weight worsted wool yarn like Stitch Nation Full O Sheep would work great.  =)  

If you use a normal worsted weight like Peaches N Cream or Patons Classic Wool, I'd go down to a size G hook.

Let's get started.  =)

Step 1:

Crochet a 2 round granny square.

 Fasten off and weave in ends.

 Note - Traditional Log Cabins have a red or yellow center.

Step 2:

Starting at a corner, fasten on new color with a slip stitch.   

Chain 2 - this is equal to 1 DC.

 2 more DC in this corner to form a 3 DC cluster.

 3 DC cluster in next space (middle).   

3 DC cluster in corner.

 Chain 2 and turn work over.

Step 3:

Chain 2 from previous step equals first DC.

 3 DC clusters in next two spaces.

 1 DC to finish row.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

 Turn clockwise to start new color.

Step 4:

Starting at a corner, fasten on new color with a slip stitch.  

 Chain 2 - this is equal to 1 DC.

2 more DC in this corner to form a 3 DC cluster.

3 DC cluster in next two spaces.

 3 DC cluster in corner. 

Chain 2 and turn work over.

Step 5:

Chain 2 from previous step equals first DC.

3 DC clusters in next three spaces.

1 DC to finish row.   

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Flip work over so that the “right” side of the center granny is showing.

Step 6:

Turn clockwise and fasten on new color.

Continue crocheting each “log” as explained in Step 2 and Step 3.

In this Yellow Log there are 4 DC clusters in the first row and 3 DC clusters sandwiched between a 2 chain “DC” and a regular DC.

Step 7: 

Turn clockwise and fasten on new color.

Continue crocheting each “log” as explained in Step 2 and Step 3.

In this Orange Log there are 5 DC clusters in the first row and 4 DC clusters sandwiched between a 2 chain “DC” and a regular DC.

Step 8:

Continue adding “logs” until the block is as large as you would like it to be. 

Two rounds of “logs” is the perfect size for a hot pad!

Weave in any loose ends if you haven’t done so already and snip.

Naughty me ... my tails aren't snipped yet!

Step 8:

Crochet a 6 round granny square for the back.

 Hold Log Cabin granny and solid granny wrong sides together and join with a single crochet.

Add one more row if you’d like.  A clam shell border is very charming!

Wasn’t that SOOOOO fun and amazingly easy???? 

Wouldn’t these make lovely holiday & house-warming gifts????

I can’t wait to see what lovely creations you crochet with this pattern.  

 Promise you will email me pictures!

Love,

Erin

XOXO

Why I get Up Everyday

My Abigail ... bright eyes & big smile!

I took this on Saturday when she was helping Mr. K clean out the refrigerator.  Yeah ... I am spoiled.  =)

Photo Scape - Fun, Free Photo Editor

Mosaic with Rounded Corners

Stamp Border

Film Filter and Rough Edge Border

PHOTO SCAPE

Color Inspiration

Nesting Tins from Ikea

I keep Band-Aids, Q-Tips, and Hair Bands in them.

Project A.D.D.

Confession time ... I started another Blanket on Friday.

    I want to tell you who this blanket is for but she reads my blog!

Then it wouldn't be much of a surprise, now would it?

Love,

Erin

Like Mother ... Like Daughter

I was  home all day doing a little of this & that paperwork so when Abigail got home from school I decided to Go Out.  Supposedly Michael's was adding more fiber to their Yarn Department and I wanted to check it out.  

She didn't like that idea AT ALL so I decided to bribe her.  Don't tell me you've never used that card.  =)  I had a 40% off coupon and told her she could pick out a "treat."

Look what she chose:

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, now does it!!!!

My Beautiful Artist

XOXOX

Love,

Erin 

Pizza Night

Wednesday is Pizza Night!

I think the Homemade Variety is the Best =)

This is how I make my Pizza Sauce. 

It's SOOOO simple ... you are sure to love it as much as I do!

 

Heat 3/4 cup of water in Pyrex measuring cup to a boil.  Three minutes does the trick in my microwave.

Mix the spices together in a small teacup.
Why?  I just like to do it that way.  =)

Stir into the boiling water a can of tomato paste and a squirt of honey.  

Use a fork to get it nice and smooth. 

(Forgot to take a picture of this step!)

Dump in pre-mixed spices and stir really well so there are no clumps. 

DONE and Ready to Go!

This recipe makes enough sauce for 3 pizzas.  

In our family that means Friday night is ALSO Pizza Night.

One more thing ... wear an apron.  

I always spill or slop something on me when cooking with tomato products.

EASY-PEASY PIZZA SAUCE 

• 6 ounce can of tomato paste
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar (squeeze of honey)
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

STASH ADDITION ALERT

I am a huge fan of Knit Picks knitting needles but really never tried any of their yarn.  There catalog comes in the mail regularly and I always droll over the brightly colored yarn.  And the prices ... what can I say ?!?! I'm a cheap frugal Dutch girl who loves a good deal.  =)

So I placed an order for a little bit of this and a little bit of that ...  =)

Knit Picks Comfy Worsted Weight

14 of the 20 colors

GREENS

 RED & PINKS

 BLUES & SILVER

 

 ORANGES & PURPLES

So Pretty sitting together!

The million dollar question ... what am I going to make with it? 

I'm not sure yet, but would love to hear some of your ideas!

Lots of Love,

Erin

Indian Summer

We had a long weekend with Teacher In-service Day on Friday and Columbus Day on Monday  The weather all four days was BEAUTIFUL! 

We went apple picking yesterday at a lovely orchard just over the state line in PA.

We picked mostly Stayman with a few Fuji and MacIntosh thrown in for kicks!

I have one of these jobbies that makes quick work of making applesauce.  Found it on Craigslist for $20 ... what a deal!

Progress is continuing on the Rainbow Granny Blanket.  

I am crazy-in-love with it and must stop myself from working on it every waking hour of the day!!!!  

LoL 

Over half of the blocks are joined together and I plan on many late nights to get it done.  So ... Check back later this week for the Big TaDah!

Enjoy your week and keep the comments coming.  They absolutely tickle me pink and make my day!

Love,

Erin 

Random Ramblings

Abigail has the day off from school.  =)  =)  =)  Woot-Woot-Woot!!!!  I love In-Service Days.  We both slept in a little bit and are having a lovely leisurely morning.  A play-date is scheduled for this afternoon so we eventually have to change out of our Jammies. 

The Rainbow Grannies are FINISHED.  =)  I laid them out on the living room floor yesterday afternoon ...Wow.  They are BRIGHT!!  Many, many thanks for the suggestions on using charcoal or natural for the final round.  My initial idea was to border and join them with natural but after contemplation that just seemed to "safe."  The Grannies are Wild and Crazy!  Sooooooo I'm following my gutt and ... sit tight and I'll show it off ASAP.

I tackled a couple corners of my home this week that needed sorting-through and de-cluttering.  It was just a hall closet and a blanket box, but I had some emotional attachments to the contents.  I don't like having such strong attachments to "Stuff" so I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and tackled the job.  The last of the baby equipment went to Goodwill.  The yarn dyeing pots and pans went into the garbage.  The soap-making supplies are in a tub for my sister.  When I was done, I felt GREAT.  =)

Would you like more tutorials on DGD?  Crochet?  Knitting?  Quilting?  Cooking?  Let's chat about it!

Time to go ... my grannies are calling to me!

Lots of Love,

Erin

FoUrTy-TwO Month Ripple Afghan

Remember THIS post?

It's done.  It's beautiful.  Abigail adores it.

I love this picture ... it looks so artsy-fartsy!

 There is one small section of split rail fence in our backyard that is PERFECT for hanging quilts, afghans and the like for photo shoots. 

Look at those waves.

UP ... down ... UP ... down ... I'm getting sea-sick!

All wooly and squishy ... makes me Happy.  =)

 HOOKY DETAILS

• 100% worsted weight wool yarn purchased sporadically as I needed it for this project.  Patons Classic Merino, Lions Wool, Ella Rae, and a few hand-dyed by Yours Truly.  

• Can't remember what pattern I used ... sorry!  =(  

• Started out with a G hook and some how finished with an H hook.  One end flares out a bit but I can block it out I think.  =)

• I'm too lazy to measure it but it fits perfectly on the top of a twin mattress. 

 I hope this inspires you to hook a ripple of your own!  It was really fun even though it did take me 3 1/2 years.  LoL.

Lots of Love,

Erin

Rainbow Grannies are GROWING

These are so much fun to make!!!  

I try to make one color-set per day - five of each.  

There are 20 color sets so I'll have 100 blocks when I'm done. 

See the crochet hook in the picture?  That is my FAVORITE one ... I bought it when I was 15 years old.  Susan Bates size H/8.

I think it is pretty cool that I still have it.  =)

Love,

Erin

Homemaker in Training

Abigail wanted to learn how to iron so I taught her the same way my Grandma taught me ... ironing hankies.

My ironing board is height adjustable just like the one Grandma had so we lowered it to 6 1/2 year old height.  =)

Whose hankies did we iron??  Why, Grandma's, of course.  =)

STEP ONE:

Lay it out Smooth ... Spritz, Spritz, Spritz!

STEP TWO:

Iron from the center outward with even strokes to avoid wrinkles.

STEP THREE (OPTIONAL):

Burn your knuckle.

A Disney Princess Band-Aid made it All Better.  =)

STEP FOUR:

Fold and Stack neatly

Love,

Erin

PS - I can really see from these pictures that I need to freshen up my ironing board cover.  It's pretty dingy looking!

 

My Fashion Secret

I feel so chic and hip when I wear a scarf!

This one is new ... on clearance @ Target.

Knit Notebooks

Look at these NIFTY notebooks!!! 

I find such wonderful things at Michael's.   =)

My favorite ... can you guess why?

Love,

Erin