Barbara's Hat

Terry's Wrap

Seen at the Christmas Party: Blankets by Val and a Sweater by Pat

Cindy's Christmas Project

I checked in with Cindy in the room next to where we knit and found her busily filling Christmas gift bags for the church's preschool. She shops all year for the presents; these bags were filled with art projects, cookie cutters, and other goodies. 

Every bag contained a special hand sewn Christmas-themed pillowcase, all made by Cindy and guaranteed to bring sweet dreams to the children nestled all snug in their beds...*

*A Visit from St. Nicholas

by Clement Clark Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house  
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;  
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,  
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;  
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;  
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,  
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,  
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,  
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,  
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.  
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow  
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,  
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,  
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,  
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.  
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,  
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!  
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!  
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!  
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”  
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;  
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,  
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.  
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof  
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,  
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.  
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,  
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;  
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.  
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!  
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!  
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow  
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,  
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;  
He had a broad face and a little round belly,  
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.  
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;  
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,  
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;  
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,  
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,  
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;  
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,  
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,  
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

Our Christmas Party 2015

For those of you who were unable to be with us this year, please know that we miss you and wish you a very merry Christmas!

Cathy's Salmon Spread

2 cups salmon (broiled, baked or canned)
1 8-ounce package low-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated onion
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke (may use Worcester sauce)
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, almonds or pistachios
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley


Flake salmon and combine with cream cheese, lemon juice, onion, horseradish, liquid smoke, and pickle.  Mix well.  Put mixture in a serving bowl and top with nuts and parsley.  Chill well.
Serve as a spread with crackers or vegetables.

Cathy's Savory Thumbprint Un-Cookies

The Un-Cookies

1/2 cup butter
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 - 2 tsp. red chile powder
Pinch of salt

Cream together the butter and cheese, add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Form the dough into a long roll about one and a half inches in diameter. Wrap in foil, chill well for several hours.

Cut dough into slices about 3/4 inches thick. Place on greased cookie sheet, dent each slice gently with your thumb.

Bake at 250 F. for one hour. Remove from cookie sheet. While still warm, fill the thumbprints with Cranberry Chutney (recipe below).

Cranberry Chutney

(This will make several jars, giving you lots left after you've made the first batch of un-cookies).

4 lbs. cranberries, chopped

Chopped together:

1/2 lb. raisins

1 clove garlic

1/2 cup onion

2/3 cup finely chopped fresh ginger

Pinch of cayenne, or to taste (optional)
2 tbl. each red chile powder and mustard seed

1 tbl. salt

1 pint apple cider vinegar

1 - 1/2 lbs. brown sugar

Put all ingredients together in a stainless steel (NOT aluminum) pan. Simmer for one hour or until quite thick and brownish in color, stirring occasionally. 

Fill clean, hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes. Let jars cool well before storing in a cool, dark place.

You can always spot the well-loved recipes!

~~~~~~

Notes from Clair Z.:

1. Here is a website with good information about processing in a hot water bath, especially if you don't have a water bath canner. See it here: http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/water-bath-basics-101/.

2. If you don't have a scale to weigh the brown sugar, here is a handy converter to help you get the right measurement: http://www.traditionaloven.com/culinary-arts/sugars/brown-sugar/convert-pound-lb-brown-sugar-to-us-measuring-cup.html.

Pat's Cowl

Karen L's Blanket in the Old Shale Pattern

Susan's Cat Basket

Sturdy handles allow for the possibility of carrying a basketful of cats
(but not Susan's cats)

Cindy's Pajama Doll

Cheryl's Socks, A Sampling of Recent Work

Curse of the Spider Woman

Terry and Diane

Thanks to Cathy K. for the post title

Carolynn's Hat

Susan is Writing About Big Bend

Susan and Karen B. will be traveling soon on a guided trip to Big Bend National Park in West Texas. According to the park's reservation page:

This United States national park is home to more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 75 species of mammals and 56 species of reptiles. Big Bend is named after a stretch of 118 or so miles of Rio Grande river, one part of which forms a large bend in the river at the Texas-Mexico border. The park, which covers over 801,000 acres, is the site of a variety of Cretaceous and Cenozoic fossils, many estimated to be 9,000 years old.

Big Bend National Park is the location of a variety of outdoor activities for the outdoor enthusiasts, including backpacking, river trips, horseback riding, mountain biking, and more. Over 150 miles of trails gives visitors the opportunity to venture out on a day hike on your own or participate in a ranger-led program with a ranger as your guide, teaching you about the science, history, nature and culture of Big Bend National Park. There is a little bit of everything for those visiting this unique part of the world.

For more information about this unique park, see its page on the National Park Service website at http://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm.

Susan has started a blog about the trip. Go to http://www.travelpod.com/members/susana50 to follow along on the journey. Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts (look around on the page for the form to subscribe) so you don't miss any of the adventures and be sure to leave a comment so Susan knows we're reading! 

Val's Brilliant Baby Blanket

Photo by Karen

Susan's Vest

Fused glass buttons by Jean Harris Fused Glass

Photos by Karen

Pat's Lacy Shawl

Jeff's Afghan

Shown by his wife, Diane

Photo by Karen

Cathy's Latest Doll Ponchos and Socks, Too

Photo by Karen

Cindy's Dolls Win Prizes at the Fair

Val's October Blankets

Kathy's Seahawks Hat

The 12 on Kathy's hat refers to the Seahawks fans, known as "the 12th man" on the team.

You can read the history of the 12th man here.

Cindy's Halloween Dolls

Cathy's Latest Doll Accessories

Cathy Gets Carried Away at the Yarn Barn in Kansas

From Cathy, who is on the road in Kansas:

Lynda (the other grandmother) and I just happened to be walking by the Yarn Barn.  We decided to just go in and pet a few skeins and see what's new.  Look what happened!!!!  

Yes, that's my yarn she's winding.

Wish you all were here to intervene.

P.S. We're going to JoAnn's today. Only looking at buttons and beads for doll ponchos. You believe that?  
We've had a great time with the families.  Spent time with the turkey brothers, Thanksgiving and Christmas, at the farm in Toronto, KS

Barbara's Halloween Hat

Cindy's Latest Doll

Hair accessory

This doll comes with a skirt as well as with pants