Christmas Blessings to All.

My favorite picture.  I think it really captures Christmas.

And in no special order

A few more pictures of our Saturday Photo Shoot.  It was such a fun day.  Do not think I will be posting all 102 pictures, but there are more I want to post at another date.

Kris, Joe and boys with Rebel
Daughter #3, Child #4

Tricia, Dave and Boys
Daughter #4, Child #5

Stan and I

Karyn, Jon and Boys
Daughter #1, Child #2

Gina, Sebastian and Family.  Looks like one was not too happy at the time.
Daughter #5, Child #6

Angie, David and Girls
Daughter # 2, Child #3

Bryan, Darla with three daughters and one son
Only son, Eldest Child.

My Husband and I at the Beach

In West Seattle

Today, the entire family

Went down to a park in West Seattle near the Fauntelroy Ferry dock.  We went with a professional photographer who spent about two hours with us taking tons of pictures.  Some candid and some posed.  We had a great time and I am sure there will be many pictures I will want.  My son in law shot a few behind him.  This is one Jon took.  All of my Grands.  You can click on the picture for a larger view.

The tree is decorated!!

By the way, I am very thankful Stan vacuumed the tree.  See yesterday's post.  I am not fighting little critters in my house

Cannyn putting up my outdoor lights

The elf that has been a part of our Christmas tradition for the past 46 years.

Caleb hiding the pickle

Jesse just being Jesse

It took me from Saturday to today, but it is done.

Last year when I was out Christmas shopping with my mother, I picked up a box of these ornaments.

I told her how much I loved them.

And how they reminded me of my childhood.

They were my last gift from her.

My children accuse me of having OCD

Brrrrrr

On Friday, December 2, Stan and I left our house at 5:30 PM.  Went to dinner and then drove to SeaTac to fly to Bethel Alaska for the weekend.  We left SeaTac at 9:30 PM, arrived in Anchorage at 12:30 AM.  Our connecting flight to Bethel was at 6:40 AM.  Arriving in Bethel just before 8 AM.  I did not get many pictures taken because baby, it was cold outside!! What I got are below.

This snowman was standing in a yard of one of Cooper's friends.  All of the white beyond is the  tundra.  AKA a field.

A barge on the Kuskoquim river.  Size relationship is shown by the mobile home on top of the barge.

The frozen Kuskoquim River.  One of Tricia's neighbors said he went out with a four foot auger and drilled into the river ice.  He broke through right at the four foot measure.

These are docks that the fishing boats tie up during the fishing season

You see boats all over like this one.  Once the river thaws, they will refloat it.

The real reason for our trip though was because our grandson Ben had a few parts in the Bethel Theater production of Annie.

Here he is playing the part of Mr. Bundles schmoozing Miss Hannigan.

In the song and dance rendition of New York, New York.

Another New York New York shot.

Holding the applause sign for the "live" audience.
He also had an invisible part as a radio announcer.

As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Curtain Call.

We got into Bethel on the first and last plane of the day.  Other flights (2) were canceled because of wind and ice on the runway.  Of course that gave me reason to worry about getting out on Sunday. Sunday was a bright new day with flights back to normal so we caught the final flight out. Were able to upgrade that flight to first class.  I must say, I could easily get comfortable with first class, very easily:)  We were trying to catch a 10:30 flight to Seattle, but it was full.  We were able to get seats on a 12:30 flight.  Arrived in Seattle at 4:30 Monday morning and home to our house at 6:30.  Needless to say, we slept until one o'clock that afternoon. From Tricia's front door to our front door was 11 long hours. I will do it again, without hesitation.

Gramma told him no

But he was just to darn cute.

Another Headband

Angela Juergens at Absolute Knits has designed the cutest headband.  I have knit three so far, with orders for three more.  I am thinking my model Shaylene Aspen #3206 is pretty durn cute too.

Three finished headbands

These are the headbands I was talking about in yesterday's post. They are knit in the round, very simple. One skein of worsted weight yarn.  I used Cascade  220 Superwash.  Makes three headbands and three sets of leaves.  I used size 8 circular needles. Cast on 76 stitches. K1P1 for 5 rows. Stockinette stitch for 16 rows.  K1P1 for 5 rows and bind off loosely.
For the flowers and leaves, I just went to Ravelry and looked up Crochet flowers.  The two bands Olivia is modeling has the same flower.  The light pink one is quite a bit larger because I used a larger hook.  The bottom band has a flower that is not quite as dense.  I actually prefer the top two flowers.  The leaves are very simple single crochet and sewn onto the band after they were crocheted.

Now I am working on a headband by this designer.  I love her work.  You can purchase her designs online.  She is also on Ravelry.  I am loving this band.  It is a little more like the ones you are seeing in the stores these days.  I am sure I will use the same flowers I used on these bands instead of the flower she uses.  Just because I really am very happy with how they look.  I think I will also add leaves to mine.

Been knitting, knitting, knitting.

Usually I post all of my knit projects on my other blog.  However, I have been working on some headbands that have turned out so cute I will just have to share them here. Also, these are not for sale. I have one completely finished and two knit, but not put together totally.  They all three have crocheted flowers and leaves that go on them.  I just finished the flowers and leaves for the two unfinished headbands.  I need to sew them on and weave in loose threads.  I am sure they will be finished in the next day or two.  I will post pictures then.
I am trying to ramp up my sewing also.  I have a very cute teddy bear downstairs in my sewing room.  All I need to do is finish the stuffing and sew his appendages onto his body.  My original thought was that it would be a Christmas gift for our "Bonus" grandson, but as I worked on it, I decided it was not a baby teddy bear.  It is not soft and squishy enough.  More of a big kid bear that sets on top of a bed or bookshelf and looks cute.  I also bought said "Bonus" grandson a squishy teddy bear this weekend and he does not like it.  He chewed on it for a couple of hours right after I bought it but totally rejects it now.
I also noticed that I have reached the magic 100 followers.  I wonder how many really do take the time to read my blog on a regular basis though.  I have been planning a give away when I reached said number.  However, with the approaching Holidays, I am going to postpone my give away until after the first of the year, so stay tuned.  It will be fun to see who enters.

Cinnamon/Dinner Rolls

This recipe comes from my 90 year old aunt.  Her cooking prowess was well known in the Yakima Valley of Washington State.   She was published several times in local newspapers.  It is my go to recipe.  My copy is handwritten in the center of a letter from her.  On a now, very stained piece of yellow legal sized tablet.
2 cups of milk scalded.  Aunt Deb uses 1 can of canned milk with enough water to equal 2 cups.
                                     I did not have any canned milk when I made these so I substituted 1 cup of milk and
                                     one cup of very heavy whipping cream.  Can you say RICH!!
1 T salt
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 pkg yeast proofed in 1/4 cup warm water and 1 T sugar.
2 eggs
7 cups flour

Scald milk, add salt, sugar, margarine and 3 cups of flour.  (I have a kitchen-aide so I use it and the dough hook to mix all together.)
Be sure the milk is not to hot.  It will kill the yeast if it is.  Add yeast and eggs and beat again.  Add the rest of the flour.  At this point you may have to knead by hand if your mixer is not strong enough to mix the dough.
It is a VERY soft dough.  You may need to add a little flour to be able to knead it by hand.  Do not add to much though, you want the dough to be soft and not stiff.
Place into a greased bowl and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  It should be very close to double in size.
It is at this point that you either pinch it off into rolls or roll it out into cinnamon rolls.
If you are rolling into cinnamon rolls, roll into a rectangle, about 3/8th of an inch thick.
For the filling, I melt 1 cube of real butter, add brown sugar.  (I don't know how much.)  You want it to be kind of thick yet spreadable.  I think I may add close to 1/4 cup of cinnamon.  Play with this, it is dependent upon what your tastes are.  I spread this over the dough.  You can add nuts and raisins if you like.  I prefer them plain.
Roll into a roll like pictured in the blog below.  Slice into about 3/4 inch slices and place into a greased pan.  Do not crowd.  If I am using a 8x13 pan, I put 3 across and 4 down.  Or 12 per pan. I usually have more dough than one pan, but not enough for another large pan.  I think I get four more rolls from my measurements.  I just bake those in a smaller pan.
Cover and let rise for almost an hour.  In a warm place.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 20-25 minutes.  I am kind of vague on this one because I go by smell and not time.  When you take them out, just pull them apart a little in the middle to be sure the dough has cooked through.  If not put them back for a few minutes.
For the frosting, I use one cube of butter.  (I like butter)  1-8 oz pkg of cream cheese, 1t vanilla.  Mix this all together until smooth and creamy.  Add powdered (10X) sugar until spreading consistency.  This makes a huge amount of frosting, but what you do not use can be frozen.  Spread over warm rolls, pour a glass of milk and ENJOY:)

I might say Aunt Deb is still with us, but she has slowed down a bit in her cooking.  She does still live in her home and is sharp as a tack.

I could share the recipe, but it IS Wordless Wednesday

Check back tomorrow, there may be a recipe.