Scottish Oat Scones

Yesterday I attended our bi-weekly Ladies Bible Study at the home of RuBu.  A nice time of study, reflection, discussion and ... well, food and fellowship.  

RuBu makes a habit of staying away from processed sugar and other nasties, and keeps it real with serving us a welcoming platter of fresh fruit.  Yesterday, however,  she made cookies.  Lovely, crisp dainties with only goodness as their ingredients. ... Note to self:  Get the recipe ...   They were delicious.

Yesterday morning I, too, happened to be in a baking mood, and decided to whip up some Scottish Scones and Honey Butter to bring along.  The ladies approved and ate them up.  The scones  were easy to make with ingredients I had on hand, tasty, and yet filling as well.

Honey Butter:  Softened butter mixed with some honey.

I've included the recipe in case you wanted to give them a try.

Scottish Oat Scones

1½	cups all purpose flour
2	cups rolled oats
¼	cup sugar
4	tsp baking powder
½	tsp salt
½	cup currants or raisins
1	egg, beaten
½	cup butter or margarine, melted
⅓	cup milk

Directions

1. Put first six dry ingredients into large bowl. Mix. Make a well in center
2. Beat egg until frothy
3. Mix in melted butter and milk. Pour into well. Stir to make soft dough
4. Form into two 6” to 7” circles. Place on greased baking sheet. Pat to about 1/2” to 3/4” thick
5. Score each top into 6 pie shaped wedges
6. Sprinkle with 1 tsp sugar before baking
7. Bake in 425 oven for 15 minutes until risen and browned

A while ago my friend Janet from Washington Lavender gifted me with a jar of their sugar n' lavender.  I sprinkled the scones with about a teaspoon of the mixture before baking.  Yup, put them over the top for sure. 

Gmail Motion

It has been a long time since posting here at It's A Wonderful Life blog.  Life got in the way AGAIN.

Although not much of a personal post, check out this link for Gmail Motion.  It is the wave of the future for sure.  Not only has it been proved to be easy to learn, but it improves productivity at the computer AND increases physical activity.

That latter one is a definite plus especially for us bloggers.

I give it a big thumbs up.

After watching the short video presentation, click on the TRY GMAIL MOTION to check it out.

Accuquilt Studio

Today is February 2011.  Did I totally miss January?  I can't even remember December ....

As I hold on while the world continues to spin faster, today it dawns on me that I forgot to tell you about a Christmas present I received the middle of December.  Forgetting must be a old age thing ... But my present is totally state-of-the-art ...

I got an ...

Accuquilt Studio Fabric Cutter. 

Check out the tutorial videos on the AccuQuilt web site above, and you will be as wow-ed as I am.

In essence, it is a hand cranked cutting machine to accurately cut out classic quilt blocks

and cool quilt applique quickly and perfectly

 They have many different 'dies' available, and although they are fairly expensive,

they are well worth it

 

 I haven't taken any 'in action' photographs ... Accuquilt videos are much better anyway ... 

but in a nutshell you place your layers of fabric (up to ten layers with the Studio model),

 put a plastic sheet on top and then you crank it through the Studio in mere seconds.

Voila ... accurately cut blocks ready to sew ... and many have the dog ears cut off already!

 

For your information, they do instruct you to mark where the blades are on the dies with a Sharpie felt pen.  And although black works, the metallic silver makes the pattern pop out of the die

and thus helps in proper placement of your fabric.

The 'picks' are used to pick out the occasional thread trapped in the blade groove.

The Studio came with one,

but for $4 at a local hardware store I picked up complete set as a back up.

This is my latest die ... Can you believe a fast and easy way to make Prairie Points?!

I hope to show how this works one day in another post.

And although the Studio is a new addition to my sewing room,

I thought that I would share with you an old friend.

This 'pleasantly plump' little sewing companion has been on my sewing room shelf for years.

She inspires me!

New Pressure Washer

On Saturday, Hubby opened an early Christmas present:

A brand new Honda 3000 PSI Pressure Washer

 He is thrilled.  For years we have used a small pressure washer that only had a few more 'pounds per square inch' force than a trickle out of a  common garden hose.  Not very efficient.

This was the year for the step up in pressure washers ... and early December was the exact time.

 This was such a monumental time that Hubby actually took a few moments

and READ the assembly instructions!  I had to get a picture of that.

 He removed all the parts out of the box, and assembled the power washer in record time

 Outside we went and prepared to rid the front sidewalks of years of green slime

 With miles of hose, he began his slim-ridding journey

Oh what a wonderful life is lead with proper tools and white cement sidewalks!

Fat Quarters and Smelly Candles

I have been a little 'under-the-weather' lately and unfortunately, posting to my blog has been a low priority.  Today I share with you a little this and that.  Don't worry, we are still making progress on my laundry room renovation and I will show update pictures soon.

Last night I went to a 'New Things' presentation at one of my favourite quilting stores, A Great Sewing Notion.  Two hours of showing and telling of the latest and greatest notions, patterns and must-haves.  With an incentive of 15% off last night, I purchased my first ever Fat Quarter Pack.

For those not in the know, a Fat Quarter is an 18" by 22" piece of fabric.  Four Fat Quarters make up roughly one yard (or meter ... depending where you live).  My new pack is from a fabric line by Jenny Haskins and includes 18 Fat Quarters that although vary in pattern and colour, blend beautifully together.  I hope to share with you a quilt made from the pack soon.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As a side note, if you look carefully in the pictures, you will see two recent thrift store finds.  The Christmas basket full of many different Christmas floral picks and ribbon was only $2.50.  SCORE!  The gold candle holder base was only $1.50.  I added to that a red candle and hurricane lamp to make a Christmas centerpiece.

And speaking of candles ... when I came home last night, I found this shocking display.

Hubby decided that the new 'Cedar Vanilla Spice' candles I purchased were a bit too aromatic for his liking.  Apparently the 'delicate' scent carried an overwhelming punch all the way up the stairs and into his office thus making desk work virtually impossible.

Go figure!

Storage Room - Untouched

Half a dozen times a day I enter our food 'storage room' and then it dawned on me ... I don't think that I have shown you around in there.  If I have, please forgive me.

 No, this is not the remains of our Y2K storage.  In fact I didn't really add much when the year 2000 was about to roll around.  I have always 'stocked' up.  I watch sales, use Costco, and well, it works for me to have food on hand.  You never know when a crowd it going to stay for a meal.

 I do can a bit ... that's Concord Grape Juice in the jars ... but don't have much time to do what I used to. I didn't take any pictures of my appliances ... they are white and large ... but I have a box freezer, upright freezer and second refrigerator in my storage room as well.

 As you see by the disarray of 'stuff', I didn't PLAN on showing you my storage room today.  No tidying up done here ... forgive the mess.

 These chrome shelves from Costco were a bit of an investment shock to purchase, but they are well worth their weight in gold.  Great looking, on lockable wheels, and easy to clean.

 Canned  goods are purchased generally in bulk.  I love the boxes that some items come in.  The cans roll down as the supply is depleted.

 I arrange my cereal boxes in order of purchase.  My family has long been trained to 'take from the left' ... like reading a book ... and NOT to take out of order to get at their favourite type.

 I use ice cream buckets from a local dairy to store  some items ... hair cutting supplies, clothes pins etc ... and save yogurt containers for a variety of uses.

Ice cream buckets line up on a shelf for easy display of lunch add-ons.  Notice the Halloween candy purchased November 1st at half price ... SCORE.

My new enameled Kitchen Aid cast iron casserole.  Also microwave popcorn packets fit nicely in dollar store plastic bins.

Costo spices lined in a row.

Small Rubbermaid totes store the kids toys.  Although not played with now ... my youngest is 19 for crying out loud ... one day I WILL have grand kids!

And finally, one of the most important tips that I can give.  Invest in a Shapie felt pen and label each can, box or bag that crosses your food storage room threshold.  Many items don't have a visable expiry date and yet your own date with stand out to remind you when to use by.

Happy organizing

Four Monks

Weeds Glorious Weeds

My neighbour and ourselves each have crushed gravel driveways and parking area.  Certainly not beautiful like the stamped cement ones I see at executive homes, but they do the trick for our humble rural homes.

My neighbour's driveway is winding through trees and almost completely weedless.  Ours, on the other hand, is vast and weedy.  Remember my post called Weeds Glorious Weeds?  Yep, we got weeds.

We needed help.  I called my neighbour and asked her secret.  Vinegar!

Here is her recipe for weed control:

8 cups white vinegar

3/4 cup salt

1 tbsp dish soap

~ * ~

Combine all ingredients in a bucket and fill a spray bottle with liquid.

Spray weeds on a clear day.

(Stubborn, large weeds take a few applications.)

Four Monks White Distilled Vinegar

 I generally don't use vinegar very often, and the little bottle I had was, well, little.

So during our recent Costco run I purchased a box containing two  1 gallon bottles of Four Monks White Distilled Vinegar.

I haven't tried it yet ... rain has hindered my experiment ... but she swears by it.

I also did a little research on vinegar uses and the best site I have found is Vinegar Tips.  Amazing what they claim you can do with vinegar

Church Open House

Bible verse painted on church foyer wall

On Saturday, October 16th we were invited to attend the Grand Opening of the Aldergrove Canadian Reformed Church.  Hubby and I certainly love looking at new construction ... especially churches. 

Just before the cutting of the ribbon, Hubby bumped into an acquaintance of his.  Upon introduction to his wife, I discovered that she had an integral part in the church design ... specifically the kitchen.  As I leaped inside, I asked if she could give me a private tour.  She consented and off we went for 2 1/2 hours of informative enjoyment.  Call me weird, but really ... everyone has a passion.  I 'heart' architecture and design.

With your permission, I will share some of the really good ideas that they had ...

Linoleum just in front of their kitchen serving counter that opens into the carpeted fellowship hall.

Smart thinking for those inevitable spills and mishaps.

I had inquired about this piece of counter top leaning against a wall in a side storage room ...

Celia told me that between the two islands in the center of their 'spectacular' kitchen there was a metal lip upon which the counter piece could be placed IF more island space was needed.  Otherwise, the 'between' space acted as a walk-through or for storage of garbage cans etc.  You have to see it, to appreciate it.

Lovely new appliances and stainless steel sinks

I was excited about the dishes that they purchased for their church.  Commercial bone china ... if you can believe it.

Durable but light.  The large sauce r doubles under the soup / dessert bowl AND acts in its regular role as coffee / tea saucer.  WOW!

Board room table curved OUT to enable adequate viewing of all sitting down

Lovely etched glass on bottom pane in sanctuary windows

I thought this was a good idea too.  Some of the views from the sanctuary windows are not pleasant.  AND it is distracting seeing someone walking by outside the windows during the service.  These etched panes allow the light to come in yet significantly lowers the distraction level.

And finally I
LOVE LOVE LOVE
what they chose behind the pulpit.  Muted tan coloured stone with simple pot lights from above.

In my opinion it's timeless.

Bravo

Aldergrove Canadian Reformed Church

Health Store Draw Basket

A while ago, Hubby and I attended a health fair at a neighbouring Health Food Store.  I bumped into two ladies that I haven't seen for years and so spent the majority of my time 'talking'.

Now in my books, talking is a necessity of life.  It brings joy to me and maybe even passing some degree of joy to others.

A time to share our triumphs and challenges ... and we all experience both.

But back to the fair ... While visiting with my friends, Hubby sampled organic goodies had a complimentary therapeutic neck and shoulder massage, and put his name into a draw.

He came out of it with a tummy full of goodness,

a kink-free neck and upper back,

and you guessed it ... a winning ticket!

The store phoned here yesterday and shared the joy ... see how talking spreads a little sunshine? ... and I promptly hopped into the car and sped to retrieve his basket.

Mostly organic, the items included:

Tooth paste gel

Mustard Bath (Hmm that will be interesting)

Apple chips

Lotion

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Drink (not too bad)

Dental floss

An official Ear Wax Removal Kit (Everyone needs one of those!)

A pack of  special 'guaranteed to freshen your breath' chewing gum

Some little pots of eye and face makeup

A collection of individual mouth wash packets

A little bottle of sea salt

And half a dozen sets of wooden disposable cutlery sets.  With the term 'set', I mean knife and spork ... an odd utensil that acts as fork and spoon.

A great haul.  Always fun to stretch ourselves and try new things.

Send a Tissue or Two

Check it out ... 

Follow this link and you can send a pack of  Kleenex to a friend for free.

What a fun promotion!

(Only available in Canada and the USA)

Beverage Tags

We often have a 'group' over when we entertain.  Not only is it more fun with a variety of colourful personalities, but it eases up the hostessing responsibilities for me.  Not the work part, although my friends do help in the kitchen, but the talking part.  Now I love to talk, but sometimes it is tiring to be the conversation-carry-on-er at a party.

But enough of that.

This post is for something completely different.  I'd like to share a little hostessing tip for helping your guests remember which glass belongs to who.  I have tried the ugly masking tape ... YUCK ... for picnic Styrofoam cups we let everyone write their name with pen or marker ... but for something a little special ... I have always wanted Wine Glass Tags.  (Just as a side note, we don't actually drink alcohol, we just enjoy using the pretty glasses).

I have been researching Glass Tags for some time now, and never could wrap my wallet around purchasing them.  Specular ones are about $15 for a set of 4.  Dollar Store cheap-o sets are ... well ... a dollar or two. The idea of glass tags was perplexing ...  What if I had more than 4 guests which was our entertaining case most of the time?  Do I purchase many different sets?  But each set only varied in colour not design.  Then it hit me.  Why not make my own and have EVERYONE of them different?  Easy to add to the set because they are ALL different.

First I collected 'wild' costume jewelery from my favourite thrift stores.  Three  pairs of earring for $1 and bracelets for 25 cents each.

Get a pair of snips, and cut apart the jewelery to produce a collection of beads and trinkets.

For $4.99 I bought a package of 60 wire hoops of assorted sizes.  Normally they are used for earring creations, but you have to think outside the box if you want to save $$$.

What a fun morning I had creating these one of a kind Glass Tags.

I will still be looking for more bobbles to add to this collection, but who doesn't love a good garage sale or thrift store hunt!