Wind storm Feb 25, 2016

The wind knocked down one of our trees at the cottage, but it landed right in front of Mom's door, trapping her inside. Luckily the next day ended up being a snow day, so we were able to go up and cut up the parts that were in the way.

Getting the saw ready...on my kitchen table!?!?

That's Mom standing in the door. She also had no power overnight and all day at this point.

Baking powder biscuits

Over the years I have tried to make baking powder biscuits with ZERO succes. Many people have told me how easy it is, but they always turned out like hockey pucks. I remember my grandmother's biscuits and I remember just about every time (it was often!) I slept over at Auntie Carol's waking up to hot tea biscuits. The only succes I have ever had was with Bisquik. When Darcy recently asked for biscuits and I had no Bisquik I told her if she helped me, maybe I could make some from scratch. 

FINALLY! Success!!

I used a Canadian Living recipe. Here it is:

4 C all-purpose flour

2 tbsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 C butter, cubed (or margarine)

2 C milk (1-3/4 C and 1/4 C)

Preparation

In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Using pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter until coarse crumbs. Pour 1-3/4 cups (425 mL) of the milk over top, stirring with fork to form ragged dough. 

Turn out onto lightly floured surface. With lightly floured hands, knead gently until dough comes together. Pat or roll into 3/4-inch (2 cm) thickness. Using 3-1/4-inch (8.5 cm) floured cutter, cut out rounds. Place on ungreased rimless baking sheet. Gather up scraps and repat dough; cut out more rounds, pressing remaining scraps into final biscuit. 

Brush tops with remaining milk. Bake in centre of 375°F (190°C) oven for about 30 minutes or until golden. Let cool on pan on racks. (Make-ahead: Wrap individually in plastic wrap and freeze in airtight container for up to 2 weeks; thaw and reheat in 350°F/180°C oven for 10 minutes.)

Darcy used a heart-shaped cookie cutter, but a round shape is the usual way.

Ready for the oven!

They turned out amazing!!

Guinea pig cuddle cup DIY

Colby got a guinea pig for his birthday and Kevin really wanted to give him something for his guinea pig, so I made Ruby a bed.

I used this tutorial:

http://www.seamshappy.com/2012/01/19/cuddle-cup-tutorial/

I had a little trouble with the size of the circle at the bottom vs the piece that wraps around to make the wall. I should have trusted my instincts when I thought that the wall should be about 3x the diameter of the bottom, but I figured there was a reason for the measurements given. I ended up just sewing the wall a little further inside the circle so it fit correctly and trimming after. Save yourself some trouble and use pi.

Finished product.

Colby and Ruby are happy!

Value of your craft

I found this online via one of the sewing/quilting pages I follow. Very informative, especially if you've never tried to sew something. I usually make rag quilts or at least have the outer edge rag-style (fringe) and thus there is no binding, so that saves me a lot of time.

I found this video by Make Something with a simple technique to price your work:

https://www.facebook.com/MakeSomethingTV/videos/822803947845383/

I still find it hard to price things! 

Late slip

Ollie update 2016

Ollie sleeping on the back of the chair. Yes he is inside, in fact he has been inside virtually every night since November, except the 2 nights he disappeared in January. Turns out he got into the basement from outside through the basement window and since we keep the door at the top of the basement stairs locked, he was trapped. He couldn't get back out the way he got in and he couldn't get upstairs. All of his attempts to get our attention were easily explained away by the other 2 cats. For example, I heard scratching, but when I went to look I saw Eric there, so figured it was him. Of course now I realize Eric and Ollie were probably communicating on either side of the door. Poor Ollie! (The basement window is fixed, now, so hopefully that won't happen again!)

Ollie's paw prints in the snow...waiting to be let in.

Ollie playing:

http://youtu.be/E7Ru9PAp7tA

Ollie sitting in the barn/garage window. It's getting to be the time of year when he won't even want to be let in. 

Ollie is not spoiled at all.