Deep Fried Strawberries

I love strawberries but have never tried deep fried strawberries. I guess they deep can deep fry almost anything now. Im sure that it is really good but not to good for the diet! I know I couldn't stop at just one. I found the recipe on http://www.driscolls.com/recipes/view/7474/Deep-Fried-Strawberries There is 152.38 calories,total fat 7.22g,saturated fat 0.55g,cholesterol 0mg,sodium 198.96mg, fiber 1.44g, protein 2.29g. 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast 1/4 cup warm (110°F to 115°F) water 3/4 cup club soda or lemon lime soda 1 package (16 ounces) Driscoll's Strawberries (large or long-stem if available) Canola oil 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar Fresh mint, for garnish Instructions Whisk together flour and granulated sugar. Set aside. Combine yeast and warm water in a large bowl and whisk until yeast dissolves. Whisk in club soda or lemon lime soda. Whisk in flour mixture until smooth and blended. Cover loosely and let rest 1 hour. Meanwhile, remove calyx (green leaves on top) from strawberries but do not hull. Pat strawberries dry. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Set aside. Place extra flour in a small bowl. Heat 2 inches of oil in a large heavy-duty saucepot to 375°F to 380°F (use a candy thermometer). Dip strawberries, one at a time, in bowl of flour, dusting off excess. Dip floured strawberries in batter and turn to coat (batter will be very thick). Carefully place in oil (using tongs or a long skewer) and fry until lightly golden all over (carefully stir with slotted spoon to evenly cook), 1 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining strawberries. Place fried strawberries on a platter, dust with confectioners' sugar and garnish with mint leaves. Serve immediately. 6 - 8 servings

Carmel Banana Bread Trifle

I was watching Sandra Lee Semi Homemade Sunday,an Sandra Lee made this Carmel Banana Bread Trifle OMG it looks so good!I have got to make one,I should probably make a trial one before I make one for one of the holidays.I'm sure that it will not last very long either.She made the trifle with butterscotch pudding,Crown Royal,heavy cream,mascarpone,banana bread,zucchini bread,pecan pie,caramel sauce,Chopped pecans, for garnish.

Hats

Have started making hats again. Just finished one plus the pink owl hat was made in Sept and I am working on a third one.I made a little dipper hat for my granddaughter,and a key hole scarf for her when she gos sledding.She wont have any excuses now about losing the scarf while she was playing out in the snow or sledding now. The other two are Owl Hats pink one and a brown one. Have also made a pink beanie will add a bow or crochet flower on it. The pink owl hat has bows on the ears and at the end of the braids. The pink one that Im showing is the one I made for our youngst granddaughter.The brown owl hat I just need to add the ears and braids

Been Busy

Have been busy putting all the yarn that Iam not using into plastic tubs. Didnt realize just how much I really have!! and of course I didn't buy enough tubs, I do need to get a couple more. Plus when I was out the other day what did I do but stop by the local craft store! Went in and yes I did I bought more yarn! Need to get back to crocheting soon :),now that it is getting a little cool and we stay indoors more maybe I will have more time. I found a several cute hat patterns on etsy that I want to make. Santa Hat with Diaper Cover,Poms and Stars Hat, Daisy Bonnet, Pink Bell Baby Hat Photography Prop,Green Tassel Hat,Blue Bell Hat I bought them from http://www.etsy.com/shop/JTeasycrochet. Then Sheepearflap hat from www.etsy.com/shop/BeezyMomsCreations.These patterns are so cute and are easy to make.If you are on etsy stop by these shops and look at the patterns that these ladies have for sale and maybe buy a couple :)

Getting Ready For Fair

I have made a "what to do list" for this weekend, I hope that I stick with the list. I need to block the matching baby afghan and hat plus the pink owl hat, so they will be ready when I take them down Wednesday morning to the fair. Not sure if I will enter anything else, need to decide cause I have to have everything there Wednesday by noon. I need to go through some of my bags to see just what all I do have. I really need to put my hats back on etsy and start selling things again. Maybe I can do that this weekend.Oh thats not on my list better write that down:). I want to make some Santa Hats, they make such cute first pictures for the newborns at Christmas time. Guess I need to make a list for my crocheting projects to!

Yarn!!!

A co-worker has given me a trash bag full of yarn!!! It is old and musty smelling, so I'am going to try to wash the yarn. You have to put the yarn into hanks, so far that is the only part that takes any time.So after I get the yarn already I will have to wash the yarn in tsp of dish liq. and a little bit of vinegar. If the smell is to bad you have to leave your yarn soak for about an hour or longer, depends on how bad the smell is. I have just washed a few and they are drying so far I don't notice any musty smell. The website that I found that explains how to wash yarn hanks is: http://knitting.about.com/od/yarn/ht/washing-yarn.htm

Adventures of a Middle Sister: Ooey Gooey Turtle Bars

Ooooooh I found this recipe on blogspot.com. I love turtles I need to try this recipe!!

Adventures of a Middle Sister: Ooey Gooey Turtle Bars: It was about time for me to make a drool-worthy dessert- and what better time than the Bachelorette finale?! (Side note: Jef and Emily a...

Tulip Baby Set

Ok this year I think Iam ready for the fair!(Bellville Street Fair starts Sept.12). I have my baby blanket and matching hat, that I crocheted, ready to enter in the craft show plus if Iam allowed I will enter an owl hat that I made. Tried to do this last year and didn't meet the dead line. I love the way the blanket and hat have turned out. So pretty and easy to make. The blanket didn't really take that long to make. The yarn that I used is Bernat Softee Baby light ( light worsted) weight yarn #3. I got 4 balls of white and 1 ball soft peach and soft fern for flowers, I used a G hook. The blanket measures 33x 36. I found the pattern "Tulip Baby Set", Designs by Jennifer Cirka, in April 2010 Crochet World. I plan on giving this blanket to my new granddaughter that was born in May.

It has been a very tough year for me so far. I hope that it gets easier for my family. I know this doesn't have anything to do with crocheting, but I just need to write this.Monday Aug.27 2012 my mother passed away. She has been very sick this year. She fell in the night in Feb.4th at her place, and that seems like when everything just started to fall apart. Mom didn't really know how or when she fell but she knew that she had gone to bed after that. She didn't want to call me when she realized what happened, because she didn't want to bother me. So she waited all night and then called the next day. I remembered that call so clear," Vicki can you come over I fell and I think I need to go to the hospital". I got over there and she was still in bed with her pj's on. Mom told me that she had fell in the night. I felt so horrible, why hadn't she called me, why did she think that she would bother me. I called the EMS,they rushed her to the hospital. The hospital did x-rays and everything that was needed to be done. They didn't see any broken bones, Thank God! So mom did get to go home. My sister and I began to notice little things that just didn't seem right. She couldn't remember things sometimes didnt realize what day it was. Plus she kepted telling us that she still hurt bad, her back hurt. Then her stomach hurt. Doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. Finally they order a bone scan, which showed us that spots where on her spine, her cancer had gone into remission so many years ago had reappeared on her spine. We decided to start with Hospice at her home, wich I can't say enough good things about. Those ladies were so helpful. Don't know what we would have done with out them. They came from day one till Sunday Aug 26th. My sister and I did move mom to The Manor House at Wedgewood Estates in Mansfield which is close to both my sister and I. She did very well adjusting to her new place. Made new friends and seemed like she was enjoying herself. Then on August 7th she fell in her room cut her head so we were back up in the emergency room. No broken bones but she did get 10 stitches on her forehead. She did get to go back to Wedgewood that night. She went to breakfast the next morning said she didn't know what happened didn't remember how she got that cut on her forehead and she wasn't sore! On August 14th she got her stitches out looked good everything was just fine. Ok I thought we are going to be ok now no more miss haps, right. August 18th Hospice nurse called and said that mom had had a mini stroke.That we didn't need to rush up there cause mom was sleeping and she was very tired. I went up on Sunday the 18th mom is still in bed she cant talk right isn't making any sence. Wouldn't eat finally my sister and I did get her to drink water and eat alittle pudding and later she did eat some broth. The next day she had some scrambled eggs but wasn't really much better when I got there after work. Then everything just start to snowball, she went downhill everyday. My sister called me away from work on Thursay the 23rd mom isn't breathing right, I went over and told her maybe its just the medication doing this. We both agreed that that was what it was. Hospice nurse came she said no that isn't what is going on your mom is dying this is one of the many steps and she is in the last one.She probably wont make it past the weekend. We called the family in, we stayed with mom everyday all of us all weekend. I ended up getting the flu Saturday night was sick all day Sunday so I couldn't be with her. I got up Monday moring drank my coffee called off work got cleaned up and came down stairs. My husband told me that my sister just got there and that the nurse told her that mom was gone. Mom died before we could see her sometime between 6:00-7:00 a.m. We were told that a lot of people do that. That they will not die with there loved ones around them. That they want to go when they are alone. I'am just so thankful that I did get to spend her last days with her and to tell her I love her. To talk to her about when I was little and about dad when he was alive. I know my mom is in a better place, "Heaven", that she and dad are finally together again after 30 years. She has waited so long for that day.Now she isn't in anymore pain she can rest and be in peace. Someday I hope to see them both again, see my grandparents, Aunts, Uncles. God Bless you mom, I love you

Finished Luna Scarf

Have finished the Luna scarf. This pattern wasn't all that difficult once I figured the pattern out. But I still should have used a lighter weight of yarn, but doesn't really look that bad. I didn't have enough yarn to do the last round but it still turned out ok. Since I have finished my first Luna scarf with the worsted weight yarn I remembered my husband had bought me some alpaca yarn last year. So I decided to try the scarf pattern using my alpaca yarn, I didn't make it as long as the other one because I didn't really have enough yarn to make a real long one. I think that it turned out nice,and was much easier this time using the alpaca yarn.

Windmill Bag

Well I haven't really found a purse handle that I really like for this bag so I decided to just crochet one for the bag. I'm using Peaches and Creme to finish the bag. I have trimmed the bag in dark taupe and use the same for the bag handles. I first did a single crochet around then did a half dbl crochet for the handles. Then have trimmed the purse and handles with a crab stitch. So now I have a big bag to carry my crocheting projects with me when I'm away from home.

Above is the trim with reverse stitch below the finished bag

Luna Long Scarf

Ok I said that I wanted to try some nice scarfs to sell this winter. Well I have found the Luna Long Scarf pattern from Harry Potter Movie. I love long scarfs and this one is so pretty. Right now I'am making it out of some yarn that I have here at the house. Guess you could say I'm doing a test drive. The pattern that I have says that it is 5.9'long. Now that's a long scarf! Don't know if mine will be that long, but it might. Well the pattern is confusing so I have had to use the picture and the pattern together to make the scarf,so far this is what I have came up with. Don't think it is to bad. I will use a lighter yarn the next time I make it. This one is kind of lumpy because I have used ww (4) yarn.I do like the pattern of the scarf. Will look good with a nice jacket or without one. I found the pattern on http://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/showthread.php?p=927415

I think that the scarf that I'm making is pretty close to the one in Harry Potter

Scarfs an Cowls

I have started getting some ideas for this winter. I want to sell more at the Chic Boutique and I have also found another store that sells items that you make. I was thinking that maybe I should lean more towards the adults and make scarfs maybe some cowls. The cowls,I really like the ones that button around the neck. I have found a lot of free patterns on Raverly.I love that website! If you are looking for some really great patterns and don't really want to pay for a pattern then go there they have everything. I still like to buy some of my patterns on etsy. They also have a lot of crochet or knitting patterns. Most of the patterns don't really cost that much on etsy either. So I need to start making my list of what I want to make. I still want to make the baby hats they are so much fun to make. Since I'm getting a new granddaughter I will have a real model that I can use from time to time. So I plan on being more organized this year and I'm going to really start pushing my crocheted items. At least that's my goal right now :)

Baby Shower/Cuddle Sack

Well most of my things have sold on etsy. So now I need to finish my cuddle sack for a baby shower that some friends are having for my daughter-inlaw. Plan on making a diaper baby,I also need buy something for the diaper baby to wear. I think that I will use cloth diapers and disposable diaper to make the baby. I have never done this before so I hope the baby looks ok :). My daughter is buying all the extras (baby lotion,shampoo,wipes etc..) which we will put with the diaper baby. We plan on putting the diaper baby in a basket(if I can find one I like) or maybe use a flat piece of heavy cardboard and cover with some receiving blankets.I will also need to find something clear I can wrap around this basket. I have also made a baby hat and blanket for my new little granddaughter which I will give to mommy and baby at the hospital. I can't wait! Still have the Cuddle Sack and Newborn Ballet Slippers in my etsy shop.

New Cuddle Sack

I have just finished a lemon yellow cuddle sack or cocoon for a newborn baby. I had the yarn from a project that I was working on this summer, so thought making this little cuddle sack would be a good idea(need to use up some of this yarn anyways). I am going to make one to give my daughter-inlaw at her baby shower in April. These are so neat, what great way to cuddle with baby when nursing or just rocking baby in your favorite rocking chair. Wished I would have had one when my two children where babies. I'm selling the sack on etsy.com Stop by and check it out: https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/VickisCrochetShop I made it from Simply Soft Caron Yarn. Cuddle sack measures 17 1/2"w x 17" L,Hat measures 12" cir. and is 6" L. The cuddle sack pattern is from http://amidorablecrochet.blogspot.com. The beanie hat is just a standard pattern that I have not sure where I got it.

I have just listed some new baby hats and slippers in my Etsy store. Newborn Ballet Slippers One pair of handmade white with lavender ribbon ballet slippers. Made these slippers are crocheted from Bernat Yarn for babies. The ribbon is weaved around the top of the slipper so you can adjust the slipper to fit your newborn. Then there is a ribbon to tie around the ankle/leg.The slippers are 3 1/2 inches long. One pair handmade mittens and one pair crocheted slipper. The slipper and mitten is white and has a pink ribbon threaded around the top so you can tighten the slipper/mitten to stay on babies foot and hand.The mitten will keep your baby from scratching the little faces.The slipper is 3 1/2 inches long, and the mitten is 5 inches long that includes the cuff. I Probably should have made a hat to go with the slipper and mitts. Maybe I will. These hats are so cute and would be great for Easter. They are crocheted by me and are ready to be shipped out. Great little hat for your newborn baby. The hat is made from Lion Brand Yarn.This hat will fit 0-3 mo.I have two more that Iam working on Just have to finish the ears.

Have decided to make hats to go with the booties that I have made. Hopefully people will want to buy a hat with the pair of booties instead of just booties. I need to figure out what they want. I think the pink Owl hat will sell on its own, so won't make any booties for the Owl Hat right now. Will just wait and see how the Owl Hat does by itself. Have sold two Owl Hats and one Santa Hat with booties so far on Etsy. I have just listed today a newborn hat and one pair booties that I'am selling on Etsy. They would be perfect for a spring/summer baby or a nice shower gift. I'm thinking of trying some other crocheted items also. At least my shop name doesn't limit me to just baby items "vickiscrochetshop". Right now I'am making some coffee cup cozy's, I have four made now thinking maybe I should sell them in pairs. Plus maybe just do a made to order coffee cup cozy. Want to make some teapot cozy's also. Maybe someday I will be able to sell some yarn, hooks etc.

I have also added these hats to Etsy. Need to go through some of my crochet stuff upstairs who knows what I will find :)

Happy New Year!!!!

Oh what a year 2011 has been! I'm so glad that this last year has gone. There has been so many problems this year. I hope that things settle down and will start an upward swing for all of us. People have lost their jobs due to businesses shutting down or moving their companies out of state or worse to another country. Thanks Obama!!!! People have lost homes and families over all this mess. Right now in my neighborhood we have six homes that are in foreclosure just because of the economy. We live in a neighborhood that isn't rich we are just normal everyday people trying to work to pay our bills and to survive in this crazy economy. They say that unemployment is down, well I hate to tell them this but it isn't down. People have just given up, they aren't looking for jobs anymore cause there aren't any or if you do get one it is only a temporary job that will last maybe 3-6 months. Maybe some other states are doing fine, because that is where our businesses have relocated to. But who can afford to just pack up and leave, unless the company that you work for can help you sell your house and move you. I feel for everyone that has had to endure the problems that our economy has put on them. I wish I could help everyone that is going through something like this. Who knows I may be in their shoes someday too. I pray and hope that everything will change for the better for all of us. Happy New Year Everyone!

Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. Joshua J. Marine