FRY...DAY - SUGAR THE BITTER TRUTH

Watch it...I guarantee you'll learn a lot and be in for a rude awakening

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

I wanted to try to make my own Easter Bunnies and chocolate eggs so I did. Of course this was my first try at molded chocolates. Real experimental food.

First I washed out the molds just to make sure no dust or unseen grime was hiding inside the plastic.

I air dried the molds to make sure no unwanted cotton tails or cotton fuzzies were stuck inside from the dish cloth drying method.

I let the silky, shiny chocolate cool down to about 90-100 degrees and I made sure by using a candy thermometer to double check the temp.

I poured the chocolate inside the molds (trying to be careful not to spill the chocolate all over the molds.

The chocolate I accidentally drizzled on top of the mold, I wiped off with a wet paper towel so I'd have a little less cleanup.

I let the chocolate cool for about 8 minutes before I put the molds in the fridge.
Then I had to unmold the eggs and bunnies


One of the bunnies didn't make it. The unmolding was too much for him.

I had to fit the egg pieces together but first I heated a knife and scored the edges of the egg by running it between the two halves to warm them up. Carefully I put the two sides back together



But first I had to stick some peeps inside and a few jelly bellies for a hidden surprise.


This was a fun experiment and I learned a few things so the next time I make more chocolate (probably this weekend) I'll have a better idea what I'm doing.

I thought the dark chocolate egg turned out pretty but then I wanted to try a milk chocolate bunny (my favorite) rather than the dark chocolate rabbit.
We'll have to wait to see if he survives the unmolding process. Keep your fingers X'd that Peter Cottontail survives or kids may not be getting any colored eggs in their baskets this holiday.

Green Knitting

Okay so it doesn't go with the outfit but I wanted to get a picture of my little button shawl before I had to head out for work. So I had my daughter snap a quick photo. And this is a seriously "green" shawl. My husband says it looks like a baby cape. . . okay, maybe it does but I still like it.

I wanted to make a shawl/scarf that was a little different than all the other ones I have. So I made this. It's clipped at the throat with a large green button.

Here's how I made it: first I have to cast-on and I start by making one loop

Then I do it over and over again

Next, I simply start knitting one loop after the other




Finally I was starting to make a little progress on my project...green knitting just in time for St. Paddy's Day.

Solutions

I love to put flowers on my front porch but the vases (stands) kept falling over. The wind here can be wicked.

So my husband said, "I can fix this." He took some scrap wood and put the scraps together
He fit the flower stands and cut the perfect size hole

and this is what he made.

Now, hopefully, my flowers won't fall over.

SEW SIMPLE

I have a friend who's expecting a and those of you who read my blog know I can't feel too good about giving a store bought gift. Sew.... I had to make a handmade gift. These crafting experiences don't always turn out but this baby blanket was sew simple I couldn't help myself.

First I made a quick trip to my local fabric store and bought the batting and the fabric. Then I started sewing.



I lined up the batting with the front of the blanket, cut it to size and pinned it down.



After that, I had to line up the front to the back and make sure they were lined up properly.


After I had the batting sewed in and the front and backs sewed together, I had to flip the blanket right side out (the batting made it sew super thick) it looked like a big ball of cotton.


After it was flipped right side out, I did a little hand stitching, including the yarn tie-downs, which keep the batting from slipping around inside the fabric.

I hate to waste, even tiny strips of left over fabric so, when it was all finished, I sewed the scrap fabric into strips. I used those strips to keep the blanket rolled up tight but the new Mama can use them to tie a bow in her baby's hair or to decorate the room, or . . . I'm sure she'll come up with some great ideas.

Going Green by Growing Green - in the Garden

Foxglove isn't really a plant that you want to eat but it is a helpful plant. Digitalis is made from this plant and it can be dangerous but it can also be a helpful plant that provides medicine for people with heart problems.

And, March is a difficult transition time in the garden. It is a month where temperature changes make it difficult for plants to survive. Sometimes it warm, sometimes it's cold but the worst time is when it's freezing. And not knowing is what makes it difficult.

March is the best time to start thinking about going green by growing green. And, you can plant seeds to help prepare your own food. It's simple. Start picking out your seeds then plant them inside in some little peat pots so that after the last frost you can plant your new veggies outside. By the summer you'll have your own food to eat.

You can also plant crocus and snowdrops. They are one of the plants that will flower and survive during the cold weather.

A New Job

It's always scarey starting something new, trying something different or doing a new thing. Well . . . I'm starting a new job on Monday. So, no surprise, I'm a little nervous. This will be something entirely different than what I've done in the past but my friends have made the move easier. A couple gfriends even made me a beautiful cake, and I know it's hard to believe, but it tasted even better than it looks.

Another gfriend bought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

In fact it was so pretty I had to take two pictures.

And then a few friends and I went out for margaritas. No better way to end a day than with good friends, good food and a margarita!

Now I've got my fingers X'd that I'll love my new job.