Holiday Rush!

Every year I wait until the last minute to start thinking about Christmas. I hate to do Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving, it just seems to early. I have my list ready and will be hitting the stores soon, although some of my presents this year will be handmade. I like making things for family and friends. It makes the giving seem so much more special and thoughtful. I hope you have your holiday season underway!

My Etsy store has been plugging a long very well and I have been busy filling a few orders! Yeah! Here are a couple of photos of my latest additions to the store. You can click the photos to get more info.


Christmas Tree Skirt!
These have been flying out the door! I have already received orders for three of them.





















Christmas Stocking!
This is my first stocking. I plan on doing a few more later this week.

A Cutie Pie and a Delicious Soup!

First, let me show off my darling granddaughter sporting the pumpkin knit hat I have in my store. It is great for those fall photo shoots or a day out in the park. Click on the photo to take you to the store.

Second, most of you who know me well, know that I am not a cook. But from time to time, I try to do better and cook a meal or two. Today I have prepared a wonderful crock pot chowder. If you are a fan of Chunky's Creamy Chicken Corn Chowder, then you should try this recipe. I found it on the web here, but I'll repost the recipe for you as well. My only comments about the prep are that you should dice you potatoes pretty small. Mine were not completely done in the six hour time frame. They took another hour to get edible. I used frozen carrots that were sliced instead of diced and they worked fine. It think it would not have crusted on the sides if I had been home to stir it but even the crusty bits were good!

Crock Pot Chicken Chowder Recipe

½ cup chopped carrots
1 cup skim milk
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 potato, peeled and cubed
½ lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" pieces
2, 15 oz. cans creamed corn
¼ cup dried potato flakes
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Combine all ingredients except dried potato flakes and cheese in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until potatoes are tender and chicken thoroughly cooked. Add potato flakes and stir well to combine.

What's in store?

A couple of posts ago, I told you that I had opened an Etsy store. Well, I have dusted off a lot of old items and have posted them in my store. I have added my current note cards and a few other odds and ends. I still have one more set of Christmas cards to add before I launch off into a new direction. I am thinking about dusting off the old paint brushes and making a few ornaments to sell for Christmas. Ideas are always welcome. I seem to have gone into a scrapbooking lull and am having a hard time doing anything creative in that line. Here are a few photos from what's available in the store.