Christmas Crafts

These are the crafts we did yesterday in our mother/daughter craft workshop. Each mom brought a craft to share.

Our recycled cards/flat marble magnets. Nancy's potpourri sachets, Ann's cinnamon applesauce ornaments.

Linda's scented soap.

Ruth's orange/clove pomanders.

Ana's holiday risotto and Maria's hot cocoa mix.

Sandy's beaded ornament hangers, and Caitilin's earrings.

Craft Central!

Our house was Craft Central yesterday. We hosted a mother-daughter craft/gift making day with my friend Ana and her girls.

Christmas cheer abounded!

Each family brought a craft to share and the girls rotated from station to station making and wrapping gifts.

We had a great selection of crafts...

...and a great selection of friends to do them with! The house was full and happy all afternoon!

Annie, L. Isa, Rachel (her niece JoJo), Hannah, Cassandra

Myself and Friend Nancy, Ana and Friend Caitilin

By the end, the moms were crafting, the house was scattered with goodwill, the goodies were still being happily downed and evening (teen) plans were in the works. A most successful and satisfying day with our homeschool group.

White and Silver

The tree is up. I bought the large white round ornaments last year and built around them. Tinsel was a fun addition that we have not used for years. I think this tree looks both modern and traditional.

Winter Chorus/Art Show

Last Friday was the last day of our co-op for this semester. We had our choir/art show.

The girls really enjoy choir.

M. and L. are also in the women's choir.

Here are my classes art offerings-Illuminated Letters and Scherenschnitte (German Paper Cutting.)

On Saturday, we had the girls's piano recital. All of our girls go to the same teacher, including D's wife, Mac. This was W.'s first year. Piano teacher Nancy was also my sister's piano teacher for years.

Red Birds

Daughter M and I have been working with felt to make friend gifts. I made these larger red and white bird ornaments for my girlfriends. They all brighten my life with their friendships, so a bright red bird seemed appropriate. M. made tiny birds and leaves and hot glued them onto ribbon to make bookmarks for her girlfriends.

Almond Bark Goodies

Sweet Popcorn

1 bag white popcorn (do not get the White Cheddar kind!)

1/2 package almond bark

clean paper grocery bag

Break the almond bark into squares and place in microwave safe bowl. Microwave 1 min. on high. Stir and let sit 30 seconds. Stir again and micro another 30 seconds. Stir until smooth. Pour bag of popcorn into the paper grocery bag. Pour hot melted almond bark over popcorn. Fold top of bag over a couple of times. Hold top and bottom of bag and shake vigorously in every direction until popcorn is coated. Pour out coated popcorn onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Let cool. Break apart. Eat! Store covered.

Candy Cane Hearts

Unwrap small candy canes and arrange to make hearts on waxed paper lined cookie sheet.

Melt almond bark according to package directions. Spoon into candy cane hearts. Smooth with spoon and be sure points of heart are pushed together. Let harden. Eat!

Cinnamon Pretzels

Cinnamon Pretzels

2/3 c. vegetable oil

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 c. sugar

16 oz. small pretzel twists

Microwave version: Mix the oil, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Pour over the pretzels in a larger bowl. Stir to coat. Take 1/2 the pretzels out of the large bowl and reserve them. Cook the large bowl of pretzels on high in the microwave for three minutes, stirring every minute. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Repeat with remaining pretzel mixture. In six minutes you are done!

Oven Version: In large roasting pan, stir together oil, sugar and cinnamon. Add pretzels, stir well to coat. Bake, uncovered, in a 300 degree F oven for 30 min., stirring every 10 min. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container. Makes 12 cups.

Cooking Up A Storm

We've been cooking up a storm this week.

Not that kind of storm!

This kind of storm. We made some cut-out cookies.

And a new Cinnamon Pretzel recipe. Easy. Quick. Six minutes in the microwave. Really!

And two simple, quick, delicious recipes with almond bark:

Sweet Popcorn ,

and Candy Cane hearts.

We've been packing them all up for teachers and friends today, and will haul it to our co-op music concert/art show tomorrow morning. There will be a great flurry of handing out of gifts, practicing of music, hanging of artwork, reception of friends/family with pizza and cookies afterwards.

I am in a bit of a flurry myself tonight after all the prep, so I will post the recipes at a later date.