stuff I made while living in the sticks

i like to think I crochet and quilt, lately I am just a yarn and fabric collector ;)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

chocolate chip cookies

This is my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. 
I figured I should post it here in case anyone else would want to try it. 
Honestly, I have it in my pinterst cookie board, but when I go to pinterest to find it...I get a little distracted. I am really posting it here so I can find it easier. 


Its from Loving from the Oven


  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  1. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.
  3. *Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  4. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
  5. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
Cool completely?  Haha! I eat them warm, when the choc chips are still all gooey. Sometimes I add some Health Toffee bits too. Yum! 
We made them with white choc chips and dried cranberries at Christmas. 
*I never refrigerate the dough

Friday, January 11, 2013

Finishes

I finished a prayer shawl, dropped it off at church after work yesterday. I used Red Heart Love yarn in Boysenberry. Such a pretty color. Not sure if I like that yarn or not, its so thick. 
Would have finished another one, but ran short of yarn - will pick up another skein next time I get to walmart.  Using Lion Homespun Feista, its a 
Also finished a granny stripe afghan made in summer brights simply soft.  Love it! 

Sorry, no photos. I had my camera but the battery is dead and I have no idea where my charger is. 

The worst part about the dead camera is: I am missing the eagles!  We have at least 10 bald eagles soaring over our ridge every morning and afternoon. Glorious! 

Friday, January 4, 2013

Am I the only one?

Wandering around blogland and facebook  the last week, I can't help but notice how everyone has their Christmas stuff packed away already.
Am I the only one with my tree still up?
Drinking from the snowman mugs?
Rudolph and the Abominable Snowman still clinging to the back door? 

I like to keep Christmas around after December 26th. 
Yes, I am one of those people! And I love it.
(I also start listening to Christmas music right after Halloween, thank you pandora!)
The lights are still sparking every evening.

Probably will be for at least another week, maybe more. 
My tree is up so long it gets dusty. 
Old farm house, so its not really that long! 

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. 
Charles Dickens 

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Welcome 2013

I bet it will be hard for me to write 2013, I never got used to writing 2012!

I, like just about everyone else, am ready for a new year - a fresh start and some resolutions. (Even though I think I have the same resolutions every year!)


  • Get an etsy shop started with my daughter. She makes hats and I make scarves. 
  • Keep crocheting. It is my prozac, its good for my soul.
  • Figure out the constant ache in my hands. (could be all the crocheting, but I don't think so. I have been crocheting for 40 years, the pain is just the last few.) One person told me I should be tested for Lyme disease.  
  • Learn to knit. Nothing fancy, just a straight line for a scarf or dishrag. I bought some needles and I planning on cozying up with youtube some day. 
  • NO MORE SURGERIES!  Oh please God, I have had enough!  5 major surgeries in the last few years. 
  • Write letters. Not emails, real snail mail letters and cards. 
  • Declutter my house. I am not sure how to go about this. I am sentimental and like stuff; pretty dishes, anything polka dot, fuzzy warm blankets, old tablecloths, cows, gnomes, cookbooks. Now wonder I am in so much trouble!  
  • Sew from my stash. 
  • Make quilts for my family. My grandma made a quilt for Scott and I when we got married. Since my mom is gone, my kids, nieces, and nephews won't have that. A couple of them are already married, I will start with them! 
  • Drink less diet pop, eat more vegetables, lose weight!
  • Plan meals. 
  • Take more pictures!
Gee, my list looks the same every year! 

Friday, December 28, 2012

2012

The older I get, the faster the years go by!

I started this blog in April of this year.
Mostly to motivate me to finishing projects and to have pictures of things I made.

I have been productive!
I have finished so many projects; a couple quilts, a couple afghans, potholder, countless dishrags.

But I am terrible about posting pictures! 
Oh well, good intentions count for something, right?

There are so many project ideas floating around in my head.
Those can be another New Year's Resolution post. 

I read a lot of blogs, really enjoy seeing what others are making.
Seriously, how do people get it all done?
I didn't even send out Christmas cards this year. (bad Linda)
Maybe I should retire and just sew?
Yeah right, that's not going to happen. But a girl can dream ;)

Happy 2013!