We have a PhotoBook winner!  Samantha, congratulations! 

I put all six of the names in a jar and had our 10yo daughter pick one out.  No cheating, I promise!  :) 

It was really fun having a drawing.  I think I'll do another one soon, after I find some more stuff you all might like.  

Hewlitt Packard gave me a coupon code just for my blog readers.   The coupon is good until December 31st.

Thank you for joining the drawing!   Watch for the next one; you just never know when I'll be so inspired.

by Lori Seaborg 2007

I was recently introduced to a fun way to create a photo album that looks like a scrapbook without the mess of scrapbooking or the time it takes.  The trick? 

A PhotoBook from HP (Hewlitt Packard)!

What's super cool is that the HP PhotoBook comes with the software needed.  It's fun to work with, and really easy.  I do wish the program provided even more templates (it comes with about 20), but on the other hand, because of its simplicity and limited choices, you can create a photobook quickly.

Also included in the kit along with the software:  a hardbound PhotoBook cover (sizes available:  8-1/2"x11" and 5"x7"), directions and 12 sheets of photo paper.  In other words, you'll get everything you need except the computer and the printer (you can't expect that, too, can you?).

I'm making one for Christmas for Tim's grandmother, who is 94 years old, so I've been playing around with the program for the past few days. 

To make a PhotoBook,  you open the program (provided) in your computer, then simply choose a template, choose which photos to use, and write some text if you'd like. 

Then, you simply print out the pages on the provided paper, or you have a print service do the printing, and then...insert the printed pages into the PhotoBook! That's it!

If you don't feel like you're a creative person, this is really great for you.  You'll look like a Creative Queen! 

If you are someone who loves creativity and always wants to do more to every project (I totally understand), you'll like knowing that the photobook expands beyond the 12 provided pages, so you can also insert traditional scrapbook pages into the hardbound covers. 

I think Tim's Grandma is going to be so pleased!  And I'm pleased to have a gift for her that is so meaningful yet quick to make.

Soon, I will blog my final product to you.  I'm pretty sure Grandma doesn't get on the Internet.  She doesn't even own a computer (why bother, when you're 94?!).

One of you will be pleased as well, because I have a

spare PhotoBook to give away!  

You'll get a 5"x7" pink or green photobook, mailed to you, for free!  

Put a comment below by Friday midnight (December 7th).  On Saturday, I'll put your names in a sock and have our 4yo pick one out.  She won't have a clue how to cheat! 

Please be sure that I know how to contact you.  You don't have to put your email address in the comment box, if your comment links back to your blog or another place where I can email you. 

I can't wait to see who wins! 

If you like crafts at all, you absolutely must pay this site a visit:    Sew, Mama, Sew

Imagine!  A full month of sewing tutorials!  Each day in November (2007), a new set of craft tutorials is posted. 

Today:  Lunch Bags!  How fun is that?! 

by Lori Seaborg 2007

I've been surfing the crafty blogs again - this time of year makes me do that - and wanted to share this new one with you:  http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/meandmygirl/ .  The author of the blog created Me and My Girl to encourage mothers and daughters to create things together.  Recent posts include Lollipop Cookies and a darling tote created from a child's crayon drawing. 

The author comes from this blog:  http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/ , which is well worth exploring.

Enjoy!

by Lori Seaborg 2007

Nature journaling is the art of drawing and painting what you see in nature.  I'm going to write more about it soon, but wanted to give you a few ideas on creating a nature journal or, if you don't nature journal (you may be like us, and have to basically stay indoors most of the summer!), you can use these ideas to create a book full of your child's artwork.

STEP ONE: 

First, draw a picture.  This is a picture that Britty drew of her new kitten.  She drew it left-handed, even though she is a righty, because her right elbow is broken and in a cast right now.   Pretty good, considering all that!

STEP TWO:

Transfer the design onto any fabric of your choice.  Denim, broadcloth, linen, cross-stitching Aida cloth, burlap, silk, etc.   For the first time, choose a cloth that is light-weight (eg. not denim this time) so the child can insert the needle easily.  Brittany, 8, transferred her design onto a piece of pink linen purchased at the needlework store.  Brenden, 10, transferred his onto inexpensive broadcloth, purchased at the fabric store. 

There are several options for transferring a design.  One idea is to just have the child draw on the fabric in the first place.  If they drew on paper, you may transfer the design via your computer (scan it then print it), use a transfer pencil, or do what we did:  put the drawing under the fabric and simply copy it with a fine-point Sharpie (see Step 4 to view the results).  

For the needle, use a chenille needle or a tapestry needle.  You may also use a plastic child's needle.

STEP FOUR:

Start embroidering!  Choose from hundreds of stitches.  Back Stitch is the most common stitch used for outlining, and was very easy for my children to master.  For filling in small spaces (like the bunny's carrot in another project), we used Satin Stitch. 

STEP FIVE:

When finished, you have lots of options.  Here are a few: 

• Leave the project in a wooden embroidery frame, such as above, and hang it on the wall
• Mat and frame the embroidery (there's a huge debate amongst needleworkers as to whether or not you should use glass in the frame - you choose)
• Turn the artwork into a small pillow
• Use it as a stool cover
  

My children have all requested small pillows for their embroidery projects.  While I am completing the 6yo's pillow, I will help the 10 and 8 yo's do theirs, and so we continue learning!  :) 

Here is proof that boys can embroider, too.....

(he's our just-turned-11-year-old, creating a black and white cartoon character)

If you post your projects, please send me a link!

Lori Seaborg

2006

(note: if you're coming in through the portal page, the photo may not display.  Click here to see the entire blog and it should show up)

by Lori Seaborg 2006

Brittany, 8,  and I are going to make a run up to Hobby Lobby (an arts and crafts store) this afternoon after her doctor appointment (she broke her arm last week in a trampoline accident) to buy some polar fleece so we can try our hand at rug making.  She was given a rug (latch) hooking kit from Nana recently, and was having such fun learning the craft when she broke her right arm and can no longer hook! 

Her rug hooking reminded me that I've been wanting to learn "real" rug hooking, the kind that uses burlap or other cloths like that, and in which you design your own rug.  It's not that I'm an amazing artist - I've never even taking drawing classes -- but if it doesn't work out, I can always say I was purposely trying to create a  Picasso-esque design. 

by Lori Seaborg 2006

I tend to eat this mostly as a snack, out of hand. Sometimes I'll put a little in a bowl and add milk, for breakfast, or sprinkle it over vanilla yogurt.

Almost every time I make this granola, I change something, using what I have on hand. Feel free to change it around to suit you!

Pour 4 cups old-fashioned oatmeal into a large roasting pan. Heat oats in 350F over for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, stir, heat 5 minutes more.

Heat together:

• 1/3 cup maple syrup OR honey
• 1/4 cup oil (I usually use olive; it's healthiest)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional; I never seem to have it on hand)

• 1-2 cups chopped nuts (my choices: pecans, almonds - use your favorites)
• 1/2-1 cup seeds (my choices: sunflower seeds; flax seeds - add your fav.)
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• optional: 3/4 cup bran cereal (I've never added this but hear it is good)

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg powder

by Lori Seaborg

Spring is certainly here on the Gulf Coast!

Blooming:

Azaleas, Camellias, Bridal's Wreath, Bradford Pear, and so many more that the colors are just dazzling.  Our azaleas on the Gulf Coast are particularly lovely this year.  It is as if the entire county has brightened considerably in the past couple of weeks.

Collecting:

Eggs, eggs, eggs...in the doghouse, behind the doghouse, in the woods, and in the chicken pen (where they all should be laying!).  Green ones, pink ones, bluish ones, and brown ones.  Wish I could give you some!

Buying:

Local Alabama Produce:

Strawberries, fresh off the local farm -- and at only  $8.99/flat (but I first paid another farmers' market $12.99/flat before I found that better price -- ah, well)

Fresh local spinach at $2.49 for a huge bag of it (we use fresh spinach as our lettuce - shh, the kids don't know you're supposed to have anything else)

Almost Local Florida produce: 

A whole box of "canning tomatoes" (they call it that when they have a slight blemish on them) for just $4.49 for the entire box (just over 20 lbs.)

A big bag of slightly blemished pickling cucumbers for $0.99 

A big bag of slightly ugly yellow squash for $0.99

Almost Local Georgia produce:

Vidalia onion greens -- mmm!  $1.49 for a bunch of 4-6 big onions with long greens

Ugh....The apples weren't a great price at $1.29/lb.  for Fuji's, but we can't grow everything down here!  And I don't know where the $0.99/lb. green grapes came from.

In My Garden:

Late-February planting: 

The onions are about 6" tall; carrots are about 2"; radishes are doing well; the mustard greens are being eaten by my chickens before they can grow; early peas are about 4" tall; can't remember where the beats are, but I think I planted some!

March planting:

The watermelons are sprouting; I planted cantaloupe, yellow squash, zucchini, and bush beans a few days ago.

From the Burris Farm Market in Loxley, Alabama:

A recipe I am going to try tomorrow.

Strawberry Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 eggs, beaten

1-1/4 cups vegetable oil

1 cup chopped pecans

2-1/2 cups chopped Burris Grown Strawberries (or, your local ones!)

Combine first 5 ingredients and mix.  Combine remaining 4 ingredients and add to dry mixture, stirring well.  Spoon into 2 greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake at 350F for 1 hour.

by Lori Seaborg

Well, it was finally time to remove the Christmas book that I had on the left column on this blog!  I mean, how long after Christmas must you wait for me to update my blog?  So sorry about that!

I've replaced the Christmas book with the book that I am currently reading, called Mary Jane's Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook.  I like to be sure of a few things before buying a pricey book like this one:

• Is it full of useful content?
• Is it pretty to look at?
• Is it big?

Yes to all of those regarding this book!  It is full of useful content such as recipes and craft projects and many little reads that make my heart feel warm and fuzzy. 

It is pretty to look at...no, make that breathtaking.  Mary Jane's farm is in Moscow, Idaho, which is very near Gold Hill, Idaho, where my father grew up.  I love to visit the family's homestead site, with the nearby one-room schoolhouse and tiny church.  Mary Jane's photographs bring me back to Gold Hill each time I look at them.

And, yep, the book is big, with 416 pages of 8-1/2 by 11" paper. 

I've only had the book for a few days but already I am loving it.  It will make a wonderful gift for the women in my life who love the home and garden as I do.

p.s.  After reading through the book, I have to add that I didnt' like that many of the recipes require you to have something specific to Mary Jane, ie. a product that she sells is needed.  I like recipes to use only filled with those things which are easy to find at my local store.  If you can get the book on sale or a used copy, get it.  Don't pay top price for a new one, though. 

by Lori Seaborg

Wait!  You didn't toss out the turkey bones yet, did you?  If not, you have the chance to try out this Turkey Carcass Soup!

Thanksgiving Night (tonight is fine): 

Toss the turkey bones, skin, yuckies, and all, into a big stock pot and cover the turkey carcass with water.   

Add 1-2 whole, unpeeled onions and about a tablespoon of peppercorns and a few garlic cloves, if you have them.  (all of these added ingredients are optional.  Other options are 2-3 bay leaves, leeks (washed, but toss in all of it), and whole fresh herbs like oregano, chives, thyme). 

Turn this pot on low and let simmer all night long (if you have less time, boil the water, then reduce to low and simmer for at least four hours.  The longer time, the more rich the stock, though.

The next morning:

Strain all of the whole ingredients from the stock.  You are left with rich, brown turkey stock (especially if you had a deep-fried turkey this year!).  You can either boil this stock to reduce it (this will strengthen the flavor even further), or - this is what I do - you can freeze some of the stock for later soups (any time a recipe asks for chicken or turkey stock, use your own!).

Keep enough stock in the pot for your Turkey Soup:  8 cups worth, or so?

Later in the day, about 1-2 hours before dinner:

To the stock, add the following leftovers and ingredients:

• a Tablespoon of salt (I use Kosher)
• Thanksgiving leftover veggies (green beans, carrots, whatever sounds good in soup)
• Thanksgiving leftover mashed potatoes (these help thicken the soup)
• Thanksgiving leftover turkey meat
• chopped onion and garlic (if you'd like)
• other Thanksgiving leftovers that would be good in a soup

Let this soup simmer for 1/2 hour to 2 hours (or all day, like I do, but add the veggies - carrots, beans - at the last 1/2 hour so they won't be too mushy).

A 1/2 hour before dinner:

Add some noodles - homemade or purchased, or some biscuits to the soup and cook/simmer until they are done.  Or, use serve leftover Thanksgiving dinner rolls with the Turkey Carcass Soup. 

This is one of my husband's favorite meals, with homemade noodles or dumplings in it.  Mmmmm!

by Lori Seaborg

For the doldrums:

Grind some Oats in a blender or a coffee grinder.

Add powdered milk to the ground oats (a ratio of 1:1)

Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender to relax
you, peppermint to help with your sinuses, or whatever is your
choice!)...

AND/OR grind some herbs (I recommend your choice of lavender,
peppermint, orange peel, bay leaves, rosemary, eucalyptus, rose
petals) and add the ground herbs to the milk-oat mixture.

Place the above milk-oat-herbal mixture in a pretty jar with a lid to
keep in your bathroom. When you take a bath, put about 1/4 cup of
the mixture scattered around the hot water.

Here's the fun part. On a glum day give yourself the gift of a
bath. It is often hard to admit that you really can make the time
for something as luxurious as a bath, but you really do have the
time! You will find that when you take time out for yourself, you'll
be more productive (or a nicer person to be around!) afterwards.

MAKE the time for this getaway. Schedule the time into your
calendar, if necessary. Tell your dh (dear husband) that you have to
be somewhere at precisely 7pm until 8pm so he'll have to put the
babies to bed tonight.

When you arrive at 7pm, go promptly to the bathroom with a steaming
mug of cocoa or herbal tea. Bring something inspirational to read.
Bring a radio or CD player. You'll also need your cozy bathrobe and
some lingerie that makes you feel beautiful. Don't forget the
candles! Spend the whole hour in relaxation while your milk-oat-
herbal bath mixture softens your skin.

I'm going to guess that after this bath hour you will go back to your
family in a more loving spirit.

by Lori Seaborg

p.s. Go to SurvivedKatrina.org for updates on what we're doing to help families in Mississippi.

We have a chalkboard in our schoolroom.  Ours is 4' by 8', the size of a piece of plywood.  If you want to cut it down to have a smaller chalkboard, that is of course an option.

Here is how simple the project is:

An option:  You could just paint a rectangle on your wall and do away with the plywood.  Then add trim.  But we think this wears and tears on the wall, plus it leaves a hard-to-paint patch when you're done with the chalkboard (we speak from experience here!). 

by Lori Seaborg

The following little ideas would be great for a basket for your hardworking cowboy.  Don't get yourself all overwhelmed trying to be perfect.  He's hardly going to notice the bows on the sachets or the way it was laid out in the basket.  But he will notice his pretty little wife who is spoiling him something awful!

If you are not in the mood to pamper your cowboy just this once, you could always put the following into a basket and give it to newlyweds or to someone on their anniversary.  Choose one or all items to put in your basket, and add a cute card that says, "Handmade by ____  ____, " because you want them to know you worked hard at it!

Chocolates (in the craft and grocery stores, you can find melt and pour, or use a good fudge recipe or a turtle recipe)

English toffee: This is like making peanut brittle, except you cook it less long and add chocolate as a layer on the top.  My favorite candy!  I use the Better Homes & Garden cookbook recipe.

Massage oil: Give a small jar of olive oil with a little essential oil in it (you could also use almond oil or jojoba oils, etc., but olive is at the grocery store).  It is rumored that men love the scent of vanilla; try it!

Bath tea:  Cut squares of cheesecloth or cotton material, add herbs, and tie off with a rubber band.  The user will toss this sachet into the tub as the water is running into it. Chamomile and calendula are especially great for the skin.

Candles:   You can make candles the long way or the short way (with granules or melt and pour).  Add essential oils. If you make your own, use scents that match the massage oil and bath tea.

Body scrub: I love this one especially. Put sea salt or brown sugar or white sugar (I've even seen coffee grains used!) into a container. Add oil (olive oil, almond oil, sunflower oil,  jojoba, etc.) to the salt/sugar until the mixture is damp but not dripping wet. Almost slushy. Add essential oils for a scent, if desired. The user puts a bit of the mixture in the palm of their hand and scrubs it on their body. When they rinse the scrub off, the oils remain on the skin, leaving it soft.   This is my dh's favorite foot scrub.  I rub it on my elbows, feet, knees, and hands for softer skin.

Bath milk: Mix 2 parts powdered milk to 1 part ground old-fashioned oatmeal. Essential oils may be added. The user places a small handful of the mixture into the tub's hot water (note: If you don't want to grind the oats, use a sachet or a cheesecloth for the mixture so the oat flakes don't clog the drain). It will leave their skin soft. 

Sachets: If you have some herbs on hand such as lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, calendula, mints, etc., you could make some pretty sachets for drawers or linen closets. Just sew three sides of a square from your fabric stash. Add a ribbon or a drawstring. Or, sew all four sides and give them as herb squares without an open top.  (note:  dh may be embarrased to have lavender-scented t-shirts for work.  Be thoughtful, now!)

Herbal Tea: Also with herbs, you could create some herbal tea from chamomile and mint. I do a 50-50 mixture. This also makes great cold tea, and doesn't need sugar, IMO. They may not drink tea, but it smells nice. It also looks nice on the kitchen counter in a glass jar.

Hot Cocoa Mixture:  For dh, and anyone else who doesn't seem to be a tea drinker, make a batch of hot cocoa. 

Dream Pillows: Sew another sachet out of breathable fabric, such as
cotton, but this time sew a rectangle. Add a mixture of herbs just like above for the sachets. Add a ribbon. This dream pillow will be placed inside a pillowcase for use. The bedroom will smell pretty and they'll likely be  sleeping better with it.  My dh loves his dream pillow and wants it every night, especially during the Spring when he has 2-3 months of allergy agony. The dream pillows clear his sinuses up so he can breathe well enough to sleep.  In his, I use mints, eucalyptus, calendula, chamomile, lavender, and mugwort - or whatever I have on hand out of those.  For a more romantic floral pillow, use:  lavender, chamomile, calendula and rose petals.  Mugwort may also be used, as it is supposed to help someone sleep.   

What are your ideas?

by Lori Seaborg

I've been a bit chatty (or, posty) today (scroll down for those posts), but thought I'd add in one more recipe for Recipe Day.  I probably can't blog tomorrow, because we're going to watch our hometown Navy Blue Angels fly here over Pensacola Beach.  It's always an exciting, very patriotic weekend for this area. 

Tim (dh) has been the general manager of several pizza restaurants over the years.  He could eat it every day, I am not exaggerating. We make pizza once a week at our house.

Here is our favorite crust. Tim likes the crust because it is soft and has a "hand-tossed" thickness. I like the crust because the recipe is easy to memorize and easy to make. No rising is needed.

2 cups warm water

2 Tablespoons yeast

2 teaspoons sugar

Put the above in a bowl and leave alone for about 5 minutes, or until foamy.

Add:

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup oil 

Flour

Stir the salt and oil into the yeast mixture. Add the flour, half cup at a time until it is not too sticky to knead. Knead in more flour, until the dough is smooth and elastic (about 4-5 cups total?), like a bread dough.

This makes TWO LARGE pizzas, or THREE MEDIUM pizzas, or about 10 PERSONAL pizzas.

At this point, Tim cuts the dough into half for two large pizzas. He immediately "slaps out the pie," which is his Pizza Man term for flattening the dough into a pizza shape. He tosses the dough into the air, twirls it around his fist, and pokes and stretches it into shape. When he is not around, I have to slap out the dough. I am not nearly as interesting to watch with my awkward movements that break rips into it frequently. If you don't have your own personal Pizza Man, you can still get the job done. Just somehow get it into a pizza shape.

Place the pizza crust onto a pizza pan (we use a stone for a soft crust and a metal sheet for a harder crust).

Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. You are prebaking the crust so it won't get as soggy when the sauce and toppings go onto it.

Now you're on your own with sauce and toppings. You'll need to bake the pizza again for about 10-15 more minutes. The cheese will bubble and become slightly brown when the pizza is done.

This pizza is wonderful the second day, too, either cold or microwaved.

Mmmmm, mmmm.

by Lori Seaborg

Gena is hungry and is asking for food posts.  I have almost no recipes that are original, but I know how to follow one!  Here is what I made yesterday: 

This recipe comes from the back of the box of Barilla Jumbo (pasta) Shells:

Barilla Stuffed Shells

Cook 1/2 package of Jumbo Shells (about 18 shells); drain.  Preheat oven to 350degrees.  In large bowl, beat egg.  Stir in 15oz.  container of ricotta, 1-3/4 cups of shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan, and 2 T fresh parsley or oregano (or whatever you have; or 1-1/2 t. dried)

Next:

1.  Spread 3/4 jar (26oz.) spaghetti sauce into bottom of 13x9 baking dish.

2.  Fill cooked shells with ricotta mixture.  Arrange filled shells in baking dish, filled side up.

3.  Pour remaining 1/4 jar of the sauce over shells. Top with 1/4 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan

Bake, covered with foil, until bubbly, about 45 minutes.  Uncover and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese is melted.  Recipe makes 6 servings.

Note:  Sometimes I double this recipe, cooking the entire box of Jumbo Shells. It freezes very well. 

by Lori Seaborg