Tuesday, August 31, 2010

I Can Feel

Fall in the air
I am looking forward to going to the pumpkin patch
Hot Chocolate
College Football (Go Dawgs)
using the fire pit
and my birthday :)
What are ya'll looking forward to?

Carrie

If you are participating in the fall swap be looking for an email from me tonight!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Fall/Halloween Swap

We have our limit! I will be in touch with you girls soon

Who would be interested in doing a Fall/Halloween Craft Swap? Leave a comment to let me know if this is something you would be interested in doing!

Carrie

Editor's note: I am going to limit it to 15 I will be in touch with all you great girls with details I am excited!!!

Getting Through

I am just trying to get through the week

~Noah is sick running a fever for the last two days

~My grandmother is still in ICU but she is mad and wants to come home so thats a good sign

~I really want my dining room back and my yard to quit resembling a junk yard the yard sale is Saturday so I hope I can keep my OCD in check until then

~I want my creative mojo back but its just not happening I am blaming it on the heat

How is your week going?

hugs
Carrie

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Canning 101

I have alway wanted to do some canning but I have always felt overwhelmed by it so I went to my good friend Amy the guru of all things homemade and she calls me Martha

You CAN can :)


I cannot tell you the times I have talked to a friend about something I have recently canned, only to be met by a confused look and a long story about how their (grandmother, aunt, mother, mother in law) used to "do that, but that seems like too much work when I can go to the store and buy the same thing". I just shake my head, and feel sorry for them, knowing that home canned food is 1,000 times better than ANYTHING you can get in the store! Not only that, but it's also cheaper, fresher, and you have the satisfaction and pride of knowing you did it yourself! Here is a simple introduction to canning, just to show all you naysayers that it really is worth all the hard work (yeah, so hard) that you put into it!!

To start, you are going to need supplies. Now, this may seem pricey at first, but I can just about guarantee that if you ask around, you can find someone who has a ton of jars and bands that they are not using that you could have for free or cheap. YOU CANNOT reuse the lids over again, so those will always be a price factor, but you can find those cheaply enough at stores like Dollar General and Family Dollar. I have never been one to spend a ton of money on things, so I also make do with what I have at home. You will need a big kettle to water bath process your stuff with, but I just use a huge soup kettle, and have for years. It works great! There are three things I suggest you invest in, and you will use every single time you can: A large canning funnel, a magnetic wand (to remove the lids from simmering water) and a jar lifter (to add/remove the jars from the boiling water bath) you can buy all these together in a Canning Kit that is sold by the Ball company, and you can usually find these cheaply at Wal Mart. Again, ask before you buy, as you may luck up on these items free, too

Once you have your supplies ready, then you need to read up on the process of canning. I personally do not pressure can, I only water bath can....and there is a HUGE difference between the two. Water bath processing is safe for high acid foods such as jams, jellies, relishes, preserves, and some tomatoes. Pressure canning is for low acid foods like green beans, corn, meat, and is way more complicated and requires an expensive canner and other equipment. I suggest you start with something easy like water bath canning first before moving on to pressure canning. Make yourself familiar with what you are going to want to do, and what you need in order to do it.

And finally, you need to have the actual food that you are going to want to can. The first thing I ever made was strawberry preserves, as they are the simplest and most forgiving things to can. A simple recipe for strawberry preserves only has three ingredients: strawberries, sugar, and powdered pectin. If you follow the directions carefully, within 30 minutes, you can have 8+ jars of jelly cooling on the counter, which in a small family is going to last you a LONG time. In the future, when you become a canning diva, you will be covered up with fruits and vegetables that folks will want to give you, just because they know you will use it and appreciate it. This year alone I have been the happy recipient of (all organic) grapes, figs, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries....just because of my canning reputation.

Canning is one of the most rewarding "home arts" you can do, and also one of the most forgotten. With a little work on your part, you will soon have food in your pantry that is the best you can serve your family, and so worth your effort!

Thank you so much Amy she will be back for some more guest post if you have any questions please leave them in the comments!

hugs
Now go can something lol
Carrie

Monday, August 23, 2010

weekend recap

Hello everyone I hope you all had a great weekend! Ours was pretty laid back we were suppose to have a yard sale on Saturday but it rained most of the day which was fine because I have had a cold (colds in the summers are the worse). But I do want my dining room back this is killing me slowly... so this Saturday yard sale back on :)
We made some great food this frittata was so yummy if you want the recipe let me know watched movies, read alittle and hung out with friends
My mom got me this wonderful bowls as an early birthday present love them :)


If you follow me on facebook you know my grandmother is in ICU with pneumonia so please say a little prayer for her!

What did you do this weekend?

Hugs
Carrie

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Fairy Houses

Oh how wonderful are these they make me so happy
they are houses built for fairies
I am making me one of these I am so excited
I wish my kids would help maybe Noah will :)
I think every yard or garden needs at least one don't you think?
(image source google)

here is a link with instructions if you decide to make one please let me know I would love to see the pictures!!!!

hugs
Carrie

Wordless Wednesday

hugs
Carrie

Monday, August 16, 2010

Check This Out

I am making these cute bags out of vintage pillow cases they are perfect for shopping bags, beach bags or for your craft supplies
I will be selling them for 10.00 each more to come this week if you have a certain color you would like to see let me know.

Thanks to all my wonderful readers!!!!

You all are the best

Carrrie

Thursday, August 12, 2010

OMG

I thought I would share my cute toes because I know you all care ;)
I just realized that my birthday is less than a month away
I will be 36 Holy @$%# when did this happen!

Now on to more important things who is watching Big Brother? Who else hopes Rachel is going home because I just don't think I can hear her speak one more word!!!!

I will share my new project tomorrow I could not take pictures today I have missed placed/lost my memory card

hugs
Carrie

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Whats Going On

This is going to the most random post ever so bare with me please!

Johnny got me this for our Anniversary don't you love it!!!!

We have been having lots of grill cheese and lemonade the heat is killing me bring on FALL
Garden veggies
summer table yes pasta again lol
this lovely owl napkin holder and salt shaker set its missing the pepper shaker but I could not resist it
Johnny took this of me and Sadie sleeping my hair looks grey in this picture but its not really I promise :)
I have been working on something super cute I can't wait to share it with yall!

hugs
Carrie

Monday, August 2, 2010

Hello Monday

Outside My Window
Its cloudy hoping for rain

I Am Thinking
I really need to stop snuggling with Dixie and wash clothes

I Am Thankful For
My parents :)

From The Kitchen
nothing I really need to go to the store

I Am Wearing
tank top and brown shorts

I Am Creating
nothing I am in a creative slump (hate it)

I Am Going
to the library and grocery store

I Am Reading
nothing see above lol

Around The House
cleaning and organizing having guest this weekend

One Of My Favorite Things
getting veggies out of the garden

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week
cleaning, working, I hope some sewing

I hope everyone has a fabulous day!

hug
Carrie