The Cutest Snowman

This picture is from the magazine "Create and Decorate" but unfortunately it was not hooked by me. I'm planning on hooking it because I love it!!
I forgot about the pattern that was in "Create and Decorate" magazine February 2008. It is the cutest pattern by Tina Payton. I was reminded about the pattern while I was looking through the Colonial Quilt Shop. http://colonialquiltshop.com/store/WsDefault.asp?

~:~Cold and Snowing Again~:~

Today, in Ohio, it is snowing and very cold. We've almost made it through January and I'm glad that it is going by fast. Feb. usually goes by fast for me also. By March, I've usually had it with winter.
I was looking through my pictures from last summer. I remember looking at some of them and thinking they weren't very good. Now in the winter, looking through them, I think WOW! Everything looks so green and colorful. You really take things for granted in the summer.
Last week I had a comment from Min Eden, she asked if she could use a picture from my blog. If you like gardening, check out her blog. I have her blog on my blog list. You have to have it translated to English because she is from Finland and it is written in Swedish. Just go to the right side and click on Google translation.

~:~ Antique Vine Runner ~:~

I just finished hooking this rug and I'm going to list it on Ebay tonight. The pattern is out of the book With These Hands. It is an appliqued runner in the book but, I hooked it instead.
I hope everyone is staying warm. It is so nice here because it is NOT -0. The cold air this week was BRUTAL. The temperature today was in the 20's.

~:~ Winterfest ~:~

This weekend they are having Winterfest in Loudonville, it is the 3rd year they've had it. The last 2 years they've had warmer temperatures and the ice sculptures were melting. This year they finally got the cold but, it's so cold that weren't many people attending. It is very cold here, this morning at 6:00 AM my thermometer read -13. Hopefully more people will visit this afternoon because it is finally supposed to warm up a little. My mom and nephew, Joey met me there. I didn't stay long because my feet were freezing. The ice sculptors carved Joey's name in the ice and gave it to him. He didn't want to put it in the car because he was afraid it was going to melt. Finally, my mom and I convinced him it wasn't going to melt in the car. Joey couldn't wait to show it to his mom and dad.

~:~ 1849 Heart Make Do ~:~

I just listed this 1849 heart make-do on Ebay. This is the first hooked make do I've made. I love the antique skeleton key, I bought it yesterday at an antique store.
It is hand sewn and displayed on an antique wood bobbin/spool. The little heart is a pin that can be removed and worn.

~:~ What's For Supper? ~:~

That's the question I get everyday. Tonight we are having stew. I got the recipe from our newspaper. The newspaper features local people in our area. I've made this over and over again, it always turns out good. I cook it in a crockpot but, you can put it in the oven and bake it. This is a layered recipe so put the ingred. in as listed.

Five-Hour Beef Stew

2 to 3 lbs. beef, cubed
4 Med. potatoes, cubed
1/2 pound baby carrots or chopped regular carrots
1 cup celery, chopped
3 med. onions (I just used 1 whatever you like)
1 (10 oz.) box of frozen peas or green beans
3 Tablespoons instant tapioca (dry)
pinch of sugar
1 T. salt
pepper to taste
1 t. rosemary
1 t. thyme
1 t. marjoram
2 oz. cooking wine (I don't put in wine, I usually don't have any on hand)
1 (28 oz.) can of diced seasoned tomatoes

Do not brown the beef. Put all the ingredients in a 6 qt. crockpot or pan, adding in order listed above. Cover tightly and bake at 225 for 5 hours or use your crockpot like I do. Makes 8 servings

~*It's So Cold In Ohio*~

It is so cold here in Ohio and is supposed to get colder. Tommorrow it is supposed snow. I still have some of my Christmas decorations up outside. I'm planning on taking them down this weekend.

~:~One of My Favorite Rugs~:~

I think I have creative brain block. Do you ever have so many things you want to do and end up getting nothing done? That's me.

There have been alot of websites having sales, one is www.simplefolk.com. The patterns that I have been buying are just coming in the mail. I'm expecting more patterns in the mail this week.

This is one of my favorite rugs that I hooked in 2006. It is out of a Need'l Love Book.

~*Recycling Our Tree*~

Every year we take our Christmas tree outside and stake it up by the bird feeders. We don't take it down till spring. I was surprised that our Christmas tree didn't lose that many needles.
One of our friend's dad has a pond and sinks discarded Christmas trees in his pond. It creates habitat for fish.

~*Seed Catalogues*~

Last spring I was busy trying to get ready for Lindsay's graduation. We spread mulch but, planting annual flowers wasn't a priority. So this spring I will be in the mood to plant lots of flowers.
I've already started getting seed catalogues in the mail. This year I will start many of my flowers from seed. Growing your own flowers really saves alot of money.
Dahlia's are one of my favorite flowers. I have collected several varieties. It is so weird to go outside and see that the flower beds are bare. Then when I look at my pictures from summer it's unbelievable that the flower beds look the way they do in the growing season.

~*Polly The Cat*~

Today I started hooking a new rug. I've had it drawn on the linen for awhile. I haven't hooked for a month, so I'm really in the mood to hook. My little cat Polly has to get right up on my frame, she loves attention.