How To Make A U-Hinge Album and Fun Facts!

I adore papercraft projects. They bring back memories of my Nana. At Easter, Nana created handmade paper crafted Easter baskets for us with the most beautiful easter eggs. She instilled in me so much...one was a desire to create handmade items because of how her gifts of herself made me feel. 

FUN FACT: Today is National Egg Day, I didn't even know that was a thing, ha-ha!

Tricia, from Club Scrap shares great techniques for creating this sweet u-hinge embellished paper crafted photo album. She makes it look so simple to create this project using minimal supplies, organized methods and beautifully finished embellishments to really wow your recipient. She even shows in the beginning of the video, a simplified method to keep your project moving along by sorting your supplies early on.Thanks Tricia!

And So This Is Christmas

And so this is Christmas... as John Lennon sings. Yes this is nearly Christmas and I am busy making Christmas cards, preparing for a visit to celebrate my granddaughters 5th birthday and trying to finalize shopping for a few Christmas gifts but the one thing I love to do during this season is hand make a few gifts. 

Here were a few of my Christmas cards before we got them addressed and out the door.

Just before heading out for Christmas at Nate's house we had a surprise birthday party for my niece. I had a fun idea for her gift since through the summer she and her family do quite a bit of camping. I had seen this camp bucket idea the year before and in fact had made one design for my DIL for her birthday. They also like to camp during the summer months. Hers turned out cute and I was excited to do this one for my sweet niece.

A fun project I created for my grandson Leo who is so-ooo into BLACK PANTHER anything right now... I made a cute design for a long sleeve red shirt. 

I made up this Lavender Poppyseed Sugar Scrub for a few friends and business partners that was inspired by some I had purchased at an event here in the fall. It was so delightful I decided to give my version a go. It turned out so nice.

So this is my view out the window as I am finishing up all my last minute projects....I love this view! 

I did finally get to make some fun foods. We made Snickerdoodle Christmas cookies while we were at Nate's and I made some of my 

Breakfast French Toast Casserole. I also made Scalloped Potatoes and Nate cooked some Prime Rib from a recipe he found on the web. Everything tasted yummy.

Savoring the Season: Apricot Bounty and More

Preserving season is in full swing in my little area of the world!  I’m in need of taking a brief break from it myself WHEW!!

Last month we were overjoyed to discover the cherry tree was producing a wonderful crop.

I froze a bunch of quart sized bags, tried Fresh Cherry Pie, my new favorite Cherry Pudding Cake and a not so favorite clafouti. We had so many cherries I went out and got a Cherry Pitter which really helped speed up the pitting process. Grandson Luke was excited about tasting Cherry Pie so I promised him a Fresh Cherry Pie. My sweetheart and I headed to Idaho for a few days with a housewarming gift of the promised Fresh Cherry Pie. It was a delight to see how excited he was that it was there in the their new home. 

 

I also enjoyed a break here and there watching a few youtube videos that showed some very creative ways to pit cherries! 

  

   

  

I started out tackling July's harvest.by throwing together a quick batch of Apricot syrup for my sweet grandnephews who came to visit. It was a simple mash of a few cups of apricots and a bit of sugar cooked in a pot on the stove long enough to bring out all the juices. We all enjoyed it sooo much!  It was Yum...These past couple of weeks have been crazy busy with apricots  ripening and dropping faster than my sweetheart can keep up with them... I decided we better pull out some recipe ideas... Apricot Leather, pie, Apricot Pudding Cake... The first batch of leather was amazing.The boys liked it so much they took home all but a few strips :) Next I grabbed my Apricot Jam recipe and got busy. Before too long those apricots were ripening FAST so I began freezing quart bags in between jam batches and a few random desserts. As the apricots increased ripening and dropping at the beginning of August I was trying the various recipes to use as much as I could of my yummy apricots.  

I also called in the troops- my friend Maieli and her granddaughter Amber came to pick some apricots and we decided to turn them in to jam here at the Ferrier Chalet.

Sweetheart Tom and I continued to work on the apricots since what I have learned from past years was that next year we may have a zero harvest so enjoy it now.  

So what is next? Apples, and did I mention the plums?

Well it looks like it is time to jump back in with both feet...As the weeks have progressed, the apricot trees have thinned out but a quick look at our property and I note it is time to get set to tackle plums, tomatoes, apples, herbs, and maybe some neighboring peaches too. 

Tea Time With The Grandkids

It was our first visit since the birth of little brother Leo Alexander so we were catching up, celebrating birthday parties (Luke's 6th on March 23rd had just passed and Fiona's 10th April 4th had also just passed) and generally just enjoying time together. We planned our very first tea party ever. Fiona, Luke, Grandma Ferrier and Grandpa Ferrier held the tea party at the apartment in San Jose, Ca. Grandma interviewed the children to get ideas of what would be the perfect foods to serve, what kinds of teas to plan for and of course what theme to use. Luke asked for Honey Water Tea, sharing that he loved cinnamon buns and chocolate and Fiona said she adored Pomegranate tea and her favorites for a tea party would be cookies and chocolate. Grandma and Grandpa found a teapot and small cups at World Market and some Lacey cookies. The local Safeway had fresh strawberries, blackberries, Cinnamon Buns and some Salted Caramel cookies. Then we found some savory snacks at Trader Joe's; our newest favorite cheese, Cambozola along with some Rosemary crackers and Trader Joe's Pretzel Slims and some Agave Nectar. A visit to the local dollar store was perfect to set the table with square shaped floral plates with matching napkins and clever egg shaped toothpicks for the fresh fruit bites. Luke helped set the table and prepare the fruit bites while the tea was brewing. It turned out to be a wonderful tea party!

As we enjoyed our tea and munched the delicious sweet and savory foods we talked about our plans for the next tea party and the excitement of getting to come to grandmas house! I am so very delighted to enjoy this time with my grandkids and cannot wait to have them come to my house too! 

OMG Moments Making New Traditions at Thanksgiving

Just looked at the calender and had an OMG moment...Did you know??? It is only 17 days until Thanksgiving? 

I'm so excited! This year my son Nathaniel and his children are planning to come, it's the first time having my grandchildren come visit from out of state and I'm on pins and needles! They will meet families of their cousins face to face for the very first time and see Aunties and Uncles that they've not had in their life due to distance. 

Oops, change of plans,,,<heavy sigh> my son can't get the time off...so very sad. I know it will be a blast just hanging out but of course I want the traditions we create and the food we eat to be memorable too. I'm still in the planning stages but I thought I'd share my ideas for my Menu...

Brined Turkey

 Carol's YUM Stuffing

Homemade Turkey Gravy

Rolls

Mashed Potatoes

Vegetables

Veggies & Dip

Relish Tray

Fruit medley

 Cranberry Relish

deviled eggs

 Sweet Potatoes

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifle

The newcomer...Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifle looks really yummy!

A few years back it was a great joy to have my dear friend Beverly staying with us for a while. As we talked over food plans for the Thanksgiving celebration she shared a tip...
Brining a turkey guarantees a delicious moist turkey. She and I bought our brine the first year from Williams and Sonoma but honestly it is a simple thing to make your own, I thought you might enjoy the recipe I have since used.



Turkey Brine

"This recipe makes 3 quarts of brine, enough for a 10 to 25 pound turkey. All of the spices and herbs in this recipe add great flavor, if you can't find one for some reason, don't worry, just leave it out. 

Ingredients

2/3 cup kosher salt
2/3 cup sugar
6 whole cloves
1 teaspoon juniper berries, crushed

1 teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed
2 teaspoons whole allspice berries, crushed
5 fresh sage leaves
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
8 cups hot water
4 cups ice water 

Plus:
2 turkey size plastic oven bags or brining bags
1 large roasting pan (or a very large bowl)
1 fresh or thawed frozen turkey (12 to 20 pounds)

note: The easiest way to crush whole spices is to use a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder. If you do not have either of these kitchen tools, place the whole spices in a heavy lock-top plastic bag, seal the bag while pressing out all the air, and pound them with the bottom of a small, heavy saucepan until coarsely crushed.

For the Brine:
In a large saucepan, stir together the salt, sugar, cloves, juniper berries, peppercorns, and allspice. Add the sage leaves, thyme, and bay leaves along with the hot water. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently until the salt and sugar have dissolved. Boil for 3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Add the ice water and stir to cool the mixture. Set aside and let cool to room temperature.

The Method:

Nest 1 plastic oven bag inside the other to create a double thickness. Place the double bag mouth open wide and facing up, in the roasting pan. Fold back the top one-third of the double bag to make a collar (this helps keep the bags open). Place the turkey inside the double bag. Unfold the collar of the double bag and pour the brine over the bird, then add 2 cups of cold water. Draw up the top of the inner bag, squeezing out as much air as possible, and secure it closed with a twist tie. Do the same with the outer bag. Turn the package so the turkey is breast side down in the roasting pan (or very large bowl) and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours. Turn the turkey 3 or 4 times while it is brining.

Remove the turkey from the brine. Discard the bags, brine, and any cured herbs or spices remaining on the bird. Rinse the turkey under cold water and pat dry with paper towels (sanitize the sink afterwards). Place the turkey back in the roasting pan (or on a rimmed sheet pan that is large enough to hold the turkey) and refrigerate, making sure that it touches nothing else in the fridge, uncovered, for at least 6 hours or up to overnight. This resting period allows the skin of the turkey to dry a bit so it is crisp when roasted. The turkey is now ready to be roasted. 

One new tradition for me began a few years ago, recounting things I am grateful for. I'm looking for an idea to help all of us express gratitude together on Thanksgiving Day. If you have an idea for me please share it in the comments. 

Happy 4th of July!!

Firecrackers and picnics, barbeques with smoky scents~ the family dog running through the yard.. lots of children splashing about while adults gather to tell stories of the past and present! Of course it also creates a "reason" to craft...As if we crazy crafty folks NEED a reason LOL!

Today I thought I'd share a few fun crafty things... Some of my cards...

I love this big "foamie" Flag stamp!

This tiny flag stamp is really fun to use with the "colored marker technique.

Two old favorites, corregated paper and dot alphabet stamps :)

 

 4th of July and food just go hand in hand...

Look at this yummy looking pie...mmmm!

 

Mmmm! Watermelon! Au Natural

 

or gussied up!

How does your family celebrate?

Whatever your plans are...Wishing you all a safe and Happy July 4th! Thinking about the many freedoms we enjoy I hope to always remember they were not "free" but were the efforts of many men and women, boys and girls who came before us and paved the way for us in this land we love. May we always be known as "The Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave"!