Homemade--Handcrafted--Handmade

I was reading online today about how words define who we are and what we do.  Take "homemade" for instance.  When I hear the word homemade, I think usually of food.  This isn't just because I like to eat good food, but is a statement of superior goodness of the food because it is "homemade" instead of store bought or a mix.  Homemade chicken noodle soup, is one of my favorite things to eat when I don't feel well.  Now there is a certain brand that makes chicken noodle soup that I grew up with as the standard for "get well" eating, however I have to tell you, it is nothing compared to the veggie rich, thick noodle, goodness of a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup.  One is food that feeds you--sort of--the other feeds not only your tummy, but your soul.  It just plain tastes and looks good. 
When I was growing up, I thought that "store bought" clothes were the ones to aspire to.  Somehow I felt that my homemade clothes were inferior.  And yet when I think back, it is the clothes that my mother and grandmother made me that I remember the most--my black concert dress--my mother made me, that was tons prettier than all the other girls concert clothes (I still have it), my mittens lovingly made each year by my grandmother, to keep my hands warm.  Each item, and I still have quite a few, has a memory attached to it.  It took time and love to complete, time that they thought of me the entire time they were making these things for me. 
So today I came upon the word "handcrafted," which was used to describe a person who knits items.  This person was called a fiber artist.  The word "handcrafted," elevating the work to a piece of art.  The funny part was that in this little shop online, this person had 2 items up for sale.  The first one was described as "homemade" and had a price of $5.  The second one said it was "handcrafted" and was priced at $15.  In the description of each item the same materials and pattern were used.  They were each identical, the only difference being the term "homemade" and "handcrafted."  As I sat here debating back and forth between the two, the "handcrafted" item sold.  What made it better than the "homemade" item?  Just wording.  The power of words to entice one to buy the "better" item.  So do I make things that are homemade, as my mother and grandmother before me, or am I an artist who creates handcrafted items?  I usually use the term "handmade."  Does this combine the two terms "handcrafted and homemade"? Do these terms make me feel better or worse about myself?  I don't know. . .why should it matter.  Actually it doesn't really matter to me.  I knit, sew, bead, tat, quilt, and embroider to suit myself--to give myself joy.  And if it happens to give someone else joy as well so much the better.  They can decide whether it was "homemade" or "handcrafted" for themselves. 

Very Blessed

My surgery went very well and I am feeling that Heavenly Father has greatly blessed me.  Going in I was told by my surgeons that there was a slight chance that part of the surgery could be done laprascopicly (bad spelling) but not to count on it.  Then the morning of the surgery the 2 surgeons got together and has an idea how it could work.  They would make 5 incisions using the larger one for the hernia to extract the masses that needed to come out.  Well it worked!!  What a blessing to only have 4 little 1 1/2 inch insisions and one that is 3 1/4 inches long instead of a huge insision.  So far the pathology says that everything is good.  It will be another week before we get the final report.  I am optimistic that all will be well.  I am feeling pretty good and am now up and about a bit.  Next week will be even better.  Oh and I lost 11 pounds.  Not the best way to loose the weight, but it is my current silver lining.  Best news is that my doctors said that I can go back to the swimming pool on March 5th.  As that is my birthday, I can't think of a better present.  I can hardly wait!   

Abundantly Blessed

I have my bag packed, and have left very detailed instructions for my family on 3x5 cards--it took 26 of them.  Tomorrow I have my surgery.  This morning when I woke up I felt anxious and even apprehensive about tomorrow and then the blessings began.  So much love, good wishes, I can't explain.  I have recieved calls from all over the U.S. from friends and family all letting me know their prayers are with me.  Many emails wishing me the same.  Some of these from people I don't even know, but "oh you helped my daughter, or little sister or brother, when you lived in ________(I have lived in so many places) and well just wanted you to know we are praying for you."  So many people from so many different places and faiths.  So to all of you...Thank you!  You are an answer to my prayers!  Thank you for your prayers.  Thank you for taking time to call, email or PM me.  I had no idea that so many people even knew me, let alone cared.  I am overwhelmed and humbled by your good wishes and prayers.  Thank you and may our Heavenly Father bless  you and your families in all you do.  With my faith and the faith of so many of my friends, I know I will be watched over and blessed during my surgery.
With much love,

Stretching Myself

Lets see if this works.  So I thought this would look cool at the end of my blogs.  I find html writing frustrating, difficult  exilerating, (even with a wizard program doing it)  and now my head hurts.  Actually it wasn't the getting the signature that was so difficult, it was making it work in my blog.  Computer people are so smart in my book!!  Me, well I can put together a scrapbook page, but computer code . . .not in this lifetime

Prayer

I found this wonderful and inspirational mini video on prayer and wanted to share it. Thank you for all the prayers that have been sent for me and my family. Prayer is everything. Heavenly Father has richly blessed us.
Prayer

It only takes a couple of minutes. . .and makes you feel better.

One Day To View Them All

On last Saturday one of our Libraries hosted the annual "One Day to View them All" Lord of the Rings Day.  Usually we make time to go to this event as it is fun filled and we love not only the movies but the books.  However this time we had too many conflicts and could not attend.  So today being a day off from school we decided to have our own "One Day to View Them All" day.  We will be watching the extended versions of all 3 Lord of The Rings movies.  Along with that we will be having themed food all day.   Begining with Hobbit Porridge this morning. 

Hobbit Porridge:

Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats - or if you really want to be authentic, Steel-cut Oats

Whole, shelled almonds, or sliced almonds. Pecans or Walnuts, chopped

Flax seed
Raisins and/or dried, sweetened cranberries. (apple also works!)
Brown sugar, molasses or real maple syrup
Cinnamon
(Salt)
Whipped cream (from the can is the most fun)
Stovetop: Cook a goodly batch of the oats according to package. Make it as thick, chewy or gloopy as you prefer. Add as much of all of the above as suits your hobbity tastes. Stir well, top generously with whipped cream and a dash more of cinnamon. You will never think of oatmeal the same way again!
Microwave: Dump a scoop of oats into your bowl - at least a cup. Shake in a little salt. Add as many of the above listed goodies to your oats as you prefer. Fill the bowl with water just a little over the oats. Microwave about a minute-and-a-half. Stir well. Top generously with whipped cream and a decorative dash of the cinnamon


Lady Hobbit's Version: Also add semi-sweet chocolate chips to hot oats and stir until melted.
For younger hobbitlings, be sure the grown hobbit controls the amount of salt they shake into their bowl, and help them with the cooking, of course.


Dwarf's Version:  Just top it with lots of brown sugar and a pat of butter!


For lunch we will have Fellowship traveling pockets:
Pita bread filled with any of the following
carrots
celery
bell pepper
lettuce
mushrooms (a must)
sprouts
cheese
your favorite salad dressing


And finishing up the day, we will have Rosies Shire Pie


Rosie's Shire Pie (we will double for 2 pies--big family)
1 pound whole mushrooms
1 pound ground sausage (We use turkey sausage--we don't double meat)
1 red onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 Tb. flour
1/4 Cup  white grape juice
1 1/2 Cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon sage
Salt to taste
Clean mushrooms and cut into quarters. Crumble the sausage & place in a large, deep pan. Cook over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, celery, and carrot, and cook about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook 5 minutes more until vegetables are tender. Stir in flour and cook and couple of minutes, stirring. Add wine and half of the stock, stirring and working out any lumps. Add remaining stock and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low, add herbs, salt and pepper and cook 10 minutes. Pour into deep pie dish or 8x8 baking dish and set aside.
Cornmeal Crust (makes enough for two pies)
1 3/4 Cups flour
3/4 C. yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound cold butter
1/4 Cup shortening
1/3 - 1/4 Cup ice water


Mix flour, cornmeal, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter. Add shortening and continue to work dough until texture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle water over dough and knead with hands. Refrigerate dough 30 minutes to 24 hours (can also be frozen). Roll dough on a floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Place dough over top of filling in pie dish.
Bake pie at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or so, until crust is lightly browned and filling is bubbly.


We found this great website a few years ago with fun recipes.  www.lotrscrapbook.bookloaf.net/other/recipes.html#6  over the years we have tried many of them. 


Oh time to go, we are begining. . .

Funny!!

It is a fact that my children have been doomed to have Bill's an my quirky sense of humor from birth.  But I have to tell you that sometimes they just make me laugh. 

Fact 1:  We have 3 cats that we live with and love. 

Fact 2:  I love the Books of Narnia.  We read them to our children when they were small, and enjoyed the movies as they have come out.

Fact 3:  I have an enormous amount of yarn.  Most of it has been given to me--not a small amount left on my doorstep in big garbage bags. 

So then I recieved an email from one of my daughters exhibiting afore said quirkyness. . .

I love being a parent.  It just gets better and better!!