Building Snowmen

It's already getting dark and it's only 4 o'clock!! How depressing!! I've spent my day being crafty. After a slow start this morning, I finally got with it and began finishing projects that have been strung out all over the house. Got to love going on a hunt for this part here and this other part there!! I don't think I'll ever change though.

In my mind I'm starting to switch gears towards spring. But I'm not quite ready to give up santas and snowmen for bunnies and chicks. It's not that I don't want to see spring and green grass and play in the dirt...it's just I don't enjoy making those things quite as much as I do wintery things!! I sure know, I don't like the pastels of spring, ick!!

Thought I would share the few things I finished up and the pillows that now just need stuffed, the easy part!!

I hope the sun is shining where you are!! It sure didn't shine here today, even though it was 40+!!

 In the kitchen we can build a snowman!!

Fanny Farmer Fudge

This has kind of become a tradition at our house. Last year when we made this fudge, it pitted our cook top, whoops :(

I thought I would share the recipe with you. It's one we used at the bakery where I worked, and really learned how to cook/bake!!

Fanny Farmer Fudge

4 1/2 c. sugar
1 can evaporated milk
3 sm bags of choco chips
1 lb butter
1 tsp. vanilla
chopped nuts (opt)

Combine sugar and evaporated milk in heavy saucepan; bring to boil. Boil 10-12 mins, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips and butter. (Can use 1/2 lb of butter and half lb of margarine.) Pour in bowl and use electric mixer and mix approx. 15 mins, until candy has lost some of it's shine. Add 1 tsp of vanilla and nuts, if desired. Pour into greased 9x13 inch pan and let set until firm.

I use all butter, it just tastes better. And thank goodness I have a KitchenAid mixer!!! This stuff is fabulous!!

 Don't you just want to dive in??  :)

It would be fun, until the tummy ache set in!!

Until next time!!
Erin

Christmas At My House 2011

This year I was so excited for Christmas to come!! That was in late September, before hubby fell and broke his leg. Then when that happened everything just kind of went out the window. Between decorating the shop and trying to make a few things, I just felt like I didn't care. I knew I had to do something with Missy Pete still being so young and watching her face fill with magic everytime she rediscovered things!!

I've slowly gotten things out and put up. We had the tree up for a week before I decorated it :) I was so frustrated with lights not working this year, it kinda killed my mood!! I did a few things outside, more fresh greens then anything. Oh well, simple is good. I almost fell off the ladder myself, so I guess we'll stop at what we have, we both don't need to be down :/

I snapped a few pics, I thought I would share!! Enjoy!!

Still Plugging Away, Thank Goodness For Those Helpful Elves!!

The weather was beautiful this morning. It was 50 at 9 but unfortunately, the wind came up and it got gloomy. My mom was up for the weekend and was such great help getting more done at the shop. I think we are about half done, awww, I only have less then 2 wks left before we open for the holiday season!! I'll have to keep myself motivated this week :)

I thought I would share a few more pics of what got accomplished!! Have a wonderful week!!

Working Like Elves To Be Ready In Time

I thought I would share a few pics with you of all the work we've been doing. My mom has been up 2 weekends now, and she's helping a lot!! We have less the 2 wks before we open again for the season and less then 3 wks until our Christmas Open House!!

The weather is much too nice right now, being it's mid-November. I'm not asking for snow, but I would mind a dusting just before our open house, always puts you in the mood :)

Enjoy!!

Counting the Days til Our Open House

I never thought my hubs breaking his leg would drain me or take so much time. I'm slowly transforming the shop for the holiday season. We will open for Black Friday and Saturday (Nov 25 & 26) Our Christmas Open House will be the weekend of Dec 1-4. Thursday-Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-4. I'll post pics as soon as I get a few.

Hoping the snow holds off until atleast after Thanksgiving. I could go for a dusting, but only a dusting to put people in the christmasy mood.

Have a wonderful weekend! You know I'll be working away, either crafting or working at the shop :)

Erin

When Life Comes To A Screeching Halt

So we didn't make it to the mall this weekend. About 20 mins before we were to head into Mason to set up, my husband fell off a ladder and broke his leg. The last 5 days have been a blurry, overwelming mess, to say the least!! We are slowly moving into a schedule. Hubs came home Sunday after surgery on Friday morning. They put pins in, took some fragments out and put bone putty back in. I am thankful it wasn't his neck or his back!

After a summer of constant going, overdrive, if not faster. We are now left standing at a complete halt! As the caregiver of everything and everyone, I fall into bed every nite exhausted, but yet can't sleep. I'm use to snoring next to me, give him an elbow every now and then...and now, he's not there. The next 6 wks until he can put weight on it, will be trying to say the least for all of us. I am not a patient person, but I will have to be. I've also learned that all these things I've been waiting for Hubs to have time to do, I can do myself or I can now toss them in his lap and he has more then enough time to do them :) I know I'm not the one laying in bed, I'm already going stir crazy. So I will try to keep him entertained and busy as best I can.

Just thought I would let everyone know why we weren't there. We'll be ready to go in Nov on Black Friday though! I've got most of the fall/halloween packed away and I'm ready to get the Christmas out! I just better give the place a thorough cleaning before. You'll once again have to look past the lack of window trim and base board and my paint job not being quite done. My contractor won't be back on the job for some time and I am not even attempting some of these things!

Have a wonderful evening, and be thankful for each and every day!!

Erin

Join Us This Weekend At The Mall

Ohhh, I've been falling down on the job! The job of blogging that is! I've been so busy getting ready for my fall open house, and then 3 weekends of my open house. My, where has the last month gone? If you missed us at our open house, you can join us this weekend at Southbridge Mall in Mason City. We'll be inside the front entrance. I'll share a few pics from my open house. Enjoy the beautiful fall weather we've been having. Off to make some more snowmen!

We Have Drywall

Things have been crazy around here!! Hubs is working hard to get my back room of the shop done. He has 2 wks from today, and I don't let him forget. They've started prefiling the drywall and I've been trying to get the front half done, so as soon as my poly is dry on the floors, I can start working in the back!! We've been putting in long hours up there and we are working on doing spagetti sauce tonite and probably salsa in the coming days. I have a load to take to Waseca, MN on Saturday. Geesh, fall brings the busy season!! I do love fall, but it seems like I don't really get to enjoy in until about mid-Oct!

Well I best be on my way. Here are a few pics of what I've been up to