Thrifty Holiday Bazaar - December 8th

We will be setting up at this event - one booth with flea market goodies and another with clothes and vintage jewelry.  

Jamie is setting this one up, it is the first year.  I hope it is a huge success!  Here is the link to Craigslist:  http://wausau.craigslist.org/gms/3387973096.html

Hope to see some of you there. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

 

Cranberry Crumb Cake

So, you know you are "pinning" too much when...your daughter runs down the steps, looks all over in the kitchen and says:  "hey, where's the cranberry cake."  She saw one of my pins and thought I made it....silly girl...did you smell it?

With our watching what we eat, not a lot of baking going on here.  However, with the excitement of the cranberry cake, I decided to make one.

I did copy the recipe from my pin.  When I looked for all the ingredients I realized I didn't have some of them, so I revised it to fit what I had.

 

Cranberry Crumb Cake:

Preheat oven at 350 (while heating, add 1 C chopped walnuts to toast in oven for few minutes)

3 eggs
1 1/2 C white sugar
1/2 C brown sugar

Beat together till light and fluffy - like 5 minutes.

3/4 C soft butter - cut in cubes

Slowly add to the fluffy mix a few cubes at a time.

2 t. vanilla
2 t. almond extract
1 t. fresh grated nutmeg
2 C flour

Blend together.  It will look like cookie dough

3/4 C apple cider

Whip together.  Take off mixer.

3 C cranberries

Fold in cranberries.  Dump into a prepared 9 x 13 pan.  Spread evenly - this will be thick. 

Melt 1/4 C butter, 1/4 brown sugar together and toasted walnuts and drizzle/sprinkle on top of cake.  Bake for 40 - 45 minutes.  The almond extract and nugmeg make this a great smelling cake.  Like a coffee cake. 

(Before baking)

Enjoy!  (my family LOVED it)

(After baking)

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Creativity - Any Original Ideas Left???

The word of the day on 89Q radio station yesterday: 

"But let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another."  Galations 6:4

I relished in those "words" yesterday.  I ALWAYS find comfort in scripture!  I'm in a business that is very competitive.  You have to "out bid" someone at auction for an item you might want to resell.  You have to "beat" someone in line at an estate sale to be first at the bargain.  You have to be the "first" to paint or recreate something to "stake your claim" to the look or process of the creation.  Silly...isn't it!

Are there really any original ideas left?  Pinterest - which I love, Etsy too, come on...one can spend a few minutes on there and find an idea that you had too.  

So, as I work away on my paper mache', painting and repurposing, I will "rejoice in myself" and not worry about what others are creating. 

More baby steps in my "Evaluate Your Life" post.  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-19th-evaluate-your-life-day.html and http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2012/11/month-1-progress-report-evalute-your.html

Here are a few pictures of my "naked" paper mache'

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Shop Small Business Saturday - Grand Repeats, Wausau, WI

Here are a few pictures of my booth at Grand Repeats in Wausau, WI.   The shop has 20% off entire store Friday and Saturday. 

 

Shop "small" save "big".

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Ratty Tables - Before and After

I had a few "ratty" tables that needed some TLC.  Step 1.  wash and wipe down.  Step 2  sand them down so that paint will stick.  3.  wipe dust off...

 Before: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 After:

TaDa...

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Happy Thanksgiving

It is early, still dark outside.  I creep down the stairs to the smell of turkey slowly cooking all night long in the Nesco.  Coffee brewing; I step outside to the early morning air.  The cats follow behind to see where I was going.  The sky filled with stars, I lift my hands to the heavens...I wonder if google earth can see me...I know my God can.  Thank you Lord for all YOU have given me. 

Blessings to all who reads this!  Happy Thanksgiving.

Month 1 Progress Report -- "Evalute Your Life"

I'm just over 1 month in my "Evaluate Your Life".  Read more:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-19th-evaluate-your-life-day.html

Progress Report for Month 1:  Top 10

1.  Lost 15 lbs. (actually 8 weeks)
2.  Cleaned out enough room for trailer in my pole building.
3.  Worked on 3 different estates, some "buy outs" some
      appraisals.
4.  Changed both of my booths 2 times (things selling
      really well!)
5.  Let myself say "no" to stuff.
6.  Kept many opionions I wanted to say to myself!
7.  Date night with hubby - concert in GreenBay.
8.  Barter chores for cow.
9.  Eating better - "a NO to food is a YES to me."
10.  Painting, creating, sewing, crafting - expressing
        my artistic self!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Small Business Saturday - November 24th

This Saturday, November 24, is Small Business Saturday.  Shop  local, support small business and help your community.  I sell at 2 small shops:  Once & Again Consignment Shop in Birnamwood, WI



My blog post:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2012/02/once-n-again-consignment-shop.html

and at Grand Repeats, in Wausau, WI



My blog post:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2012/04/grand-repeats-wausau-wi.html

If you happen to be in Wausau this weekend, we are having a storewide 20% off Small Business Saturday Sale.

Support your neighbors...shop small. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Do You Barter?

Do you barter?  In case you didn't know, barter is the exchange of goods or services for other goods and services without using money.  Bartering is a mutual benefit that enables those who are lacking hard currency to obtain goods and services. 

When I was little, my friends and I use to barter all the time.  We didn't know that is what we were doing.  "I'll trade you this for that."  I'm sure we all have done this as kids. 

However, I have made a practice of doing this.  When I first moved out to the country many years ago, I was approached by my neighbor, Gail to barter something.  At first, I will admit, I thought she was cheap.  I now have come to actually enjoy doing this. 

This past Summer, we bartered 4 wagons of hay for a "fair raised" hog (one that didn't make weight).  We had too much hay for our barn - and now we have pork in our freezer - for nothing more than our gas and time. 

I am working on the next barter - a heifer.  My friend has an angus farm and when they go to shows my girls use to work for her.  Now that they are older, and she has a hard time finding help during the school year, I do them.  I have traded her my working the chores for the heifer.  I would normally take a steer, but her bulls are really nice this year and worth more than the heifers.  We will still raise her with intentions of butchering. 

I was thinking about the state of our country's economy.  I know times are tough for many.  I would much rather have those in need and healthy enough to do so, barter for benefits.  I do that, so I'm not asking for more than what I do or am willing to do. 

The work ethic in America is on the decline - for real!  I'm all for a movement of  "Barter for Benefits".  Anyone else with me? 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin!
 

I Trust In Jesus!

What can I say today...."I Trust In Jesus" - Third Day song ringing in my head.  I can't trust in my government, politicians or president.  Only Jesus!  Pray for our leaders, government and president - God Bless America!  God has a plan - we are living it - trust in Jesus!

http://youtu.be/2BtaCeJYqZA

For song....

This is the only comment I will make about this.  I don't want my blog to be political.  However, I do want my blog to glorify Jesus. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

A Handmade Christmas - Project 1 - Burlap Runner

A Handmade Christmas - Project 1 - Burlap Runner

This was a very simple inexpensive project that took me about an hour to complete.  Here is how I made it.

Buy or find some burlap.  I actually bought this piece from Goodwill.  I ALWAYS check out the fabric at thrift stores.  This piece still had the store tags on.  The whole piece was $1.99.  I have enough to do several projects. 

Decide on the width of your runner.  Cut it at least 2 inches larger on all sides.  Then start to fringe it by pulling apart the weave.  Don't throw those strings away, even Winter birds like to use this for their nests.  :)

I wanted to do holly leaves, so I made a paper template and traced it on different color felt.  Cut them out and lay out your design. 

Thread a darning needle with yarn and stitch the holly on with a simple running stitch. 

I added a button for the holly berry.

I thought it needed something, so I ran a running stitch along the edge of the runner.  Your stitches don't have to be perfect, that's the beauty of homemade! 

And there it is.  I like it.  This could be for your home or as a gift for someone.  The whole runner was less than $1.  The fabric stores have many different colors of burlap.  I could see a blue one with snowmen, a green one with cardinals, tan one with fall leaves....so many possibilities. 

Good luck and happy crafting.  Remember Christmas isn't about gifts, rather giving....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

November Interesting Facts

November

Birthstone:  Topaz

 

 

Flower:  Chrysanthemum


November is:

American Indian Heritage Month
Peanut Butter Lover's Month
Inspirational Role Model Month
Military Family Appreciation Month
Sweet Potato Awareness Month

Week 1:  National Fig Week
Week 2:  Pursuit of Happiness Week
Week 3:  National Bible Week
Week 4:  Church/State Separation Week

Each Day is:

1.  All Saints Day
2.  All Souls Day
3.  Sadie Hawkins Day
4.  Daylight Savings Time Ends
5.  Job Action Day
6.  Election Day
7.  National Bittersweet Chocolate and Almond Day
8.  Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day
9.  Domino Day
10.  Marine Corps. Birthday
11.  Veteran's Day
12.  World Orphan Day
13.  Young Reader's Day
14.  National American Teddy Bear Day
15.  I Love to Write Day
16.  International Day for Tolerance
17.  Homemade Bread Day
18.  Micky Mouse Day
19.  Have a Bad Day Day
20.  National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
21.  World Hello Day
22.  Thanksgiving
23.  Black Friday
24.  Small Business Saturday
25.  Blase' Day
26.  Cyber Monday
27.  National Day of Listening
28.  Electronic Greeting Day
29.  Computer Security Day
30.  Stay Home "Because You're Well Day"

"Dull November brings the blast, then the leaves are whirling fast."  Sara Coleridge

"November comes and November goes with he last red berries and the first white snow. 

With night coming early and dawn coming late and ice in the bucket and frost by the gate. 

The fires burn and the kettles sing and earth sinks to rest until next Spring."  Elizabeth Coatsworth

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.