Homemade Christmas Crackers

These little guys have been lending a hand all week

Today we are making Christmas Crackers

You will need

Scissors, tape, paper roll, wrapping paper, ribbon, candy, ruler, pensil, paper hat, and a had written joke.

 

you will need a piece of wrapping paper oh about 12" by 6"

folded the way I have here

 

 

then fold the paper in between the ruler fold of 2" and clip it as I have so when you wrap the paper around your roll it will come together nicely.

 

I don't have ribbon on mine yet but you get the just of it.

 

I used the left over roll from the wrapping paper and cut it into 4" lengths. Then I stuffed it with candy, the paper hat, a joke and some surprises.

I'll decorate the table when the kids come for dinner on Christmas Eve.

 

I'm going to say good-bye here as I've a bunch to get done between now and the Eve.

Wishing you the best of the Christmas Holidays,

Merry Christmas

xoxo, Cindy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kelly Green SeaGlass Pendant & Earrings Set

The latest posts on Etsy

(note to self - remember to upload blog after making it)

I've been making sets and listing them, this is a new wire weave I've been doing and I can watch tv and weave at the same time, took practice at first.

 

Ghost Beads

These are Juniper seeds that have fallen from the cedar/Juniper and ants come along and chew one end off the little bead and eat the inside. The seed then dries out and artisans pluk them up and drill the other end for beading. Now why Ghost Beads? Well Ghost Bead necklaces are a Navajo traditional bead that was worked with. The connection with the earth and trees and nature brings peace and harmoney and safety to the person wearing the necklace. The Navajo women would string these beads and give them to children to wear to protect them from evil spirits, ghosts and nightmares. I started making these for little Ana and within no time at all she told me the man that grabs her from under the bed was gone. However, I recieved a crying phone call the day she lost her necklace and didn't want to go to sleep until she found it. Grandma to the rescue I had a number of them made. So I thought why not post them for others.

 

Tea, got to have something to do with tea. Yes, drip catchers. The centre is elastic so it fits a 2-4 or 6 cup tea pot. I've been selling these for about 5 years now but just posted these to etsy.

 

Well I have Christmas piano music playing in the back ground and I'm hoping Victoria doesn't ask me to go to the dollar store with her as it is so busy in the stores right now, crazy. I try not to leave anything to the last minute because I don't like crowds. Yesterday Ana's concert for tap dance was starting soon, I was on time until Victoria phoned me and said, "Mom, I need you to go to the dollar store and get Ana a pair of black socks". She is the only one with pink socks on. When I got to the dollar store there was 3 cashes lined up to the back of the store. I feared I"d be late so I did somethng no one would think me to do. Yup, I walked up to the first one in line up and begged her to let me go next. Sure I explained about the concert and the pink socks and the frantic mom and the grumbling grandchild who couldn't go on stage without black socks. She was probably so anxious listening to me she let me go ahead. So I left the change from the $10 with the casheir and told her to apply it to the ladies bill, and ran out the door, probably embarrassed.

I got there on time, Ana got her black socks and I wish I had a picture of her for you, but it is coming,

Thanks for stopping by,

cindy

 

 

 

 

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1000 Pieces

I've been doing jig saw puzzles lately and this one could be a 1000 piece,

 

What do you think?

maybe only 500

We are starting our Winter wonderland, pretty

Pretty early is all.

I love watching the snow slide off our tin barn roof. I can hear it plump the ground from my morning spot.

Thanks for visiting,

Cindy

_________

this ends my blog post and for now on I'm going to write a spoiler in point form just so I have a count of what I've been up to. Yours to read but it might be boring, it sure is one thing, realieving to just not have to put together an amazing blog post and just keep it simple.

Spoiler,

I'm still upset that my computer died.

More upset that my father-in-law is in a wheel chair over just falling in the backyard.

Deciding to blog is easy, returning has been hard, so I'm posting short content from now on.

I've never been one to be depressed, so i'm chalking this up to anger, more over and get on.

We are replacing 5 windows in the older part of the house, 2 are finished.

The bathroom upstairs will be compleated Dec 16th, I called someone in, I can't help guy with this stuff.

A trip to the emergency room yesterday to find out I have bursitis in the jaw, never figured on that.

I got my paperwork finished yesterday for the business next year, I had to re-due all reservation documents after the computer crash and I lost everything. I find a surprise each day I go looking for something.

I did a backup yesterday - learned my lesson but having a deal working off a laptop - refusing to spend another cent on a computer that will just let me down. They only last 2 years with me, what a waist.

Christmas tree up, all the macaroni, popcorn, popsicle stick ornaments the kids made through the years are in the garbage and I finally have a real tree with real beautiful ornaments. Not that the kids ornaments weren't beautiful they were also tacky. I love my blue and silver tree, found everything on sale last year after Christmas when down South at Jennifer's for a visit and I think the tree and ornaments and everything was all 70 to 90% off and did I get a car full.

end of spoiler.

 

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Harvesting Sunflowers - Tip or Trick

Once upon a time you took pleasure in watching those beautiful big flowers turn their heads toward the afternoon sun, but now it's time to harvest the seeds.

The Big Sunflower above is from our Big's collection of photos

There is no real trick to getting the sunflowers out of the ground and they have a very large root ball attached. So you want to harvest the seeds after you have watched these grow over time. You might not be the only one who wants to harvest, as squirles, birds, and field mice might have beat you to the seed harvest, as these flowers are a favourite of theirs also..

Know when to havest your sunflower seeds

To harvest your sunflowers can be an easy job but knowing when the best time to harvest can be questioning. If you pick too early you might have plenty of seed husks but the seed meat will be too small. If you wait too long your seeds maybe to dry, and waiting too long also gives your other garden friends time to do a little harvesting of their own leaving you with little or nothing.

It is best to harvest sunflowers when the flower petals are dry and weepy and the flower head will be turning from a lush green to a yellow and then brown. You will notice the seeds take on another shape, they almost swell inside and the shell of the seed will be black or black and white. Tip: if the birds and other garden friends start to harvest you can cover your flower head with a net or a paper bag when the petals fall.

Harvest sunflowers when their petals become dry and begin to fall. The green base of the head will turn yellow and eventually brown. Seeds will look plump and the seed coats will be fully black or black and white stripes depending on the variety. If animals or birds are a problem, you can cover the heads with fine netting or paper bags as soon as the petals begin to wilt.

How to harvest your sunflower seeds

If you are like me you try and get ahead of your gardening chores. This harvest is worth waiting for as sunflower seeds can be dried and roasted and enjoyed all Winter long. There is two ways you can harvest your sunflower seeds. First, let the seeds fully ripen while still on the stem and cut the stem about 4 inches below the stem and rub back and forth loosening the seeds from the head. Tip: let the seeds dry completely before storing them. Or the second way is to get the flower when 3/4 of the seeds are fully mature and the cut the stem leaving about a foot, wrap the heads of the flowers in a paper bag and hang the plants in a warm place for 2 to 3 weeks. Trick: make sure the spot you hang them in is dry and well ventalated or your seeds will turn moldy.

 

The sunflower below is half harvested by my helpful backyard birds.

Notice the flower head is yellow and the seeds are white and that depends on the variety of sunflower.

I find rubbing the yellow fluff almost as hard to resist as bubble wrap.

Time to Roast your fresh harvested sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are a great snack and a favourite to harvest for grandchildren while with grandma on those afternoons. Shell all your seeds and put into a pot with about 1/4 cup of salt and cover with water. Bring them to a boil and just simmer them for one hour. Lay them on paper towel and dry. Or you can roast your sunflower seeds in a 325F oven for 30 minutes then remove from the oven and stir in 1 Tablespoon of butter and your favourite seasoning, my girls almost always pick cinnamon and sugar mix that they can sprinkle on.

Enjoy,

Cindy

 

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Autumn & Fall Changes

This is the time of year I get back at it.  Yes, tourist season is over, the guests have gone home our B&B and Tea Room is quiet and now it is time for change.  This is when I move furniture around the house, then move it back.  I pull over-sized plants from the garden and have my French Gardener put them back in another location.  And I get busy building stock, web sites, and just making the changes that need to be done for next year, oh and I get back to blogging, something I've missed so much.  

Change #1

I down-sized the gift shop area excluding a lot of scrapbooking items so I changed my etsy account from ScrapandWrap to Seaglassing - and started listing items in my shop.

You know what happens when you change the carpet?  Yup the curtains don't match so you have to buy new ones.

Change #2

So I'm also giving up scrapbooking-in-PEI.ca and built a new site at seaglassing.ca

I like the simple clean organized look of this site

I used the KISS rule, here.

Change #3 

Hasn't happened yet but I'm working on it.

I plan to go for a drive soon and take driveway pictures so I'm positive to have a few Autumn and pumpkin pictures to share with you.  Here on the Island folks like to decorate the end of the driveway with all kinds of items making a reason to stop and take a picture. 

I'm sticking to the, "less is more rule" for now, 

so I'm glad you stopped by and I'll do my best to have some eye candy next time.

Bye for now,

Cindy

Homemade & Handmade

I'll not say, "I'm back to blogging," just in case it is weeks before you hear from me again. However I sure have missed blogging and all of you.

 

These past weeks I've had the opportunity to discover the true meaning of "Handmade"

Everything at Grandma's Tea Room is Homemade however not always made by hand. My Kitchen Aid left me in a lurch and so therefore I've had to experience handmade.

 

It should be back together soon with a new gear and a spare on order.

This means my homemade scones for two weeks have been also handmade, as well everything I baked for the Queen Street Farmers Market the cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, rolls, bread and pretzels have all been made by hand. You don't miss something until its gone, funny I should say that when my French Gardener is out of town this week leaving me high and dry as my kitchen aid did. I miss them both, not equally but both.

back to the bowl and roller

 

 

I almost had forgotten what dough felt like.

 

A special request for these pickled eggs for the farmer's market this sunday is finished

 

I was able to get around to a few blogs to find out Sandi from Rose Chinz Cottage hosted our little tea room on her lovely blog Tea Time Tuesday, thank you Sandi. I had a nice visit and next visit I'll have you for my famous scones, I promise.

 

So I'm trying to keep the KISS method and perhaps I'll be back more often If I just "Keep It Simple Sweetie" so I'll say good-bye for now.

Cindy

 

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Lunch Special PEI Toonie Tuesdays

Thank you for stopping by Grandma's

Today we posted a sign on the Confederation Trail and our Trail Lunch is Chili & Chips all day special for $2.00. Come by Grandmas and taste what Island cooking is all about - Meatless Chili and Chips for TOONIE TUESDAY

 

See you soon

Yummy borrowed photo

cindy

 

 

 

~00~ Grandma (aka Cindy) or Crafting - http://scrapandwrap.ca

 

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Lunch Special PEI Toonie Tuesdays

Thank you for stopping by Grandma's

Today we posted a sign on the Confederation Trail and our Trail Lunch is Chili & Chips all day special for $2.00.  Come by Grandmas and taste what Island cooking is all about - Meatless Chili and Chips for TOONIE TUESDAY

See you soon

~00~ Grandma (aka Cindy) or Crafting - http://scrapandwrap.ca

After the Rain

Hi my friends! I know I haven't been great at getting around to ya'll lately but I think of you each and every day. In between those hours I have been roasting coffee, pulling weeds, printing menus and watching my rhubarb grow. Yes, I'm all out of rhubarb chutney and rhubarb juice I'll have to share those recipes, you'll love them.

 

Ok, so the coffee -- The French Gardener and I received this larger than life box at the post office and got home to open it up and found there were 30 pounds of 6 varieties of coffee from Rwanda of various different washing stations - growing altitudes - soils and average temperatures. These are Fair Trade beans, rare & ethically-sourced coffee and as I sit the beans are still de-gassing and popping in front of me.

 

This morning I made a fresh ground coffee and headed out to walk about my garden. Amazed at how fast things are growing and popping out of the ground. I stood by the pond and noticed something rather unusual - last night we had a spraying of rain and although the walkway was just damp the air was magnificient. It forced me to deep breath and just caught me in one of those Aha moments where you don't hear a thing around you - the air smelled like fresh cut watermellon and new rubber boots and I couldn't get enough of it. I refilled my coffee and headed back out to take a few pictures to show you some of the aha moment.

The clematis is coming along nicely

The magnolia is almost done dropping her pettals but that big ole propane tank still haunts me, lol

Perfect fence for a paint brush while the solomon seal looks on

II've been working at getting green between the rocks and looks like this year it worked

Only a couple of the fairy gardens are out but so are the checkered tulips behind

 

Excuse the barn door it just seems to always be open. I made a garden planter for my purple wave petunias and the French gardener drilled larger holes for the wave and smaller ones and I put new strawberry plants in those

 

The pond got her spring cleaning - we won't go there it is a messy smelly job

Asparagus is weeded and growing up nicely. I have 5 coming to Grandma's Tea Room today for Afternoon Tea and they requested a Vegetarian Tea, so fresh asparagus rolled around garden herb cream cheese is on the menu

 

Speaking of the menu - got that done and also the placemats , this year they are peach and I've added 8 new recipies to the placemat and printed some nice recipe cards to sit on the table. Our tea sniffing bar has three new tea varieties

Sticky buns were also part of my week as Victoria needed to take a treat to the girls at the doctor's office.

 

Well I should get a move on. After my tea, I might have a couple of hours to play in my mini fairy gardens.

Bye for now,

Cindy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Real Key Lime Pie

I miss the times I visited Key West. On just about every street corner was a bakery, cafe, or Key Lime Pie specialty dessert and coffee shop. I have been trying to get the real key lime pie flavoured pie ever since I visited back in 2003. I guess it is time to revisit or just settle for my key lime pie.

Graham Wafer Crust

 

Graham Cracker Crust

I use the whole crackers so you will need to crush 16 of them

1/2 cup of butter

3 Tbs of brown sugar

I heat the butter and brown sugar in a pot on the stove then add the crumbs and spread into a pie plate.

 

 

The Key Lime

4 egg yolks

14 oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 cup fresh squeezed Key Limes

2 tsp green zest from the lime

1/2 tsp vanilla

 

If you use limes call it a lime pie, however if you use the itty bitty limes those wee little bitties are key limes and really you can't call your pie a key lime pie unless you use them, otherwise you'd just have a lime pie.

Juicing key limes can be challenging - that is when a husband who is always handy the computer comes into your rescue. He strolls into the kitchen and say's, "Looks like that is an almost impossible job!" Me, "you're not kidding." husband, "look why don't you try using your garlic press it might work." Me, "the key limes are to big for that." husband, "I'll cut them into four and you try it." IT WORKS!

 

 

 

Putting it all together

1. With mixer beat the egg yolks on medium speed until they are thick (don't over mix)

2. Add the sweetened condensed milk and beat until incorporated, add 1/2 of the lime juice and zest until all blended, then add the rest of the juice and continue to mix until blended.

3. Pour the pudding into your cooled pie shell (that was pre-baked for 12 minutes at 350)

4. Bake 350 for 12 more minutes until the egg yolks set and thicken.

5. Remove from oven, cool then refrigerate for about 2 hours until set.

I don't like to waste, so those 4 egg whites got whipped up and I added 3/4 c of sugar gradully and then 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar and made a meringue for the top. You could use whipped cream or leave just the key lime pie as is to enjoy as it is traditionally served. I guess I could have made some meringue cookies, but was feeling topless so added it to the pie instead.

I sprinkle white sugar on top and it crystalizes just nice

Here is the pie just out of the oven, the house smells of key limes

 

 

There you have it, Grandma's Key Lime Pie Recipe.

I like to make little tarts and add the key lime pudding into the centre and put these itty bitties in the tea room on a three tiered tray because they look so inviting and looks like I've been working for hours to juice these little bitty key limes and the compliments wow!

 

Enjoy,

Cindy

 

 

 

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