Wordless Wednesday : Scarlet and Snow

image copyright 2011 : sew gracious : all rights reserved

Snow Ice Cream Recipe

One of the joys of snow is simple treats like Snow Ice Cream.  Around here, we only get to make it once every 100 years or so because we rarely get enough snow to make it.  In honor of the blizzard sweeping across the nation, I wanted to share the treat we made during our snow storm in January of this year.

Like all good, true Southern cooks; I didn't measure anything.  This is strictly a "throw it together and tweak it til it tastes right recipe".  If you are an engineer or one who has to have detail instructions, this recipe may not be right for you.

Anyway, here we go . .

You need clean snow. {insert joke about avoiding the yellow snow here}  Put out a clean bowl to catch some,  if possible.  My bowl was an 8 cup Pyrex dish.  It was just about right to make enough snow cream for us.

8 cup Pyrex bowl.  It was full the next day after overnight snowfall


Bring in the clean snow indoors and dump into a large mixing bowl.  You will also need some sugar, milk & vanilla extract.

Add sugar; about 1/2 cup or to your taste

Add about 1 teaspoon {or a capful} of real vanilla extract

Add enough milk & stir until mixture resembles soft-serve ice cream.

ENJOY!

eat it now because it won't keep!

February 1 . . . really?

Ok, where did January go?  Wasn't it just Christmas last week?  Seriously!  I've always heard that the older one gets, the faster time passes.  Just because I had a birthday in December doesn't mean that time has to hop on a freight train and zoom right past me.   I promise, I haven't been slacking in 2011.  Things have been pretty busy.  As I looked back over the pictures I took in January, I realized just how busy.  {apparently a little too busy to blog much!  LOL}

We started the month off with a huge snow storm.  I know you folks experiencing this right now may not have much compassion; and that's OK.    Our 6-7 inches of snow is nothing to compare with what you all are dealing; however in Alabama, those things don't happen often.  School was out for a solid week and that is unheard of.  A FB fan asked if our school system didn't have built-in snow days.  Well, not that many.  If we do have to miss school because of weather, there is a day here or there to make it up.  As it is now, we have 6 days to make up . . . 5 from our snow week and one from a previous bad weather day in 2010. 

The rest of the month was busy too.  We visited the Rick and Bubba show, attended a sports banquet, celebrated a birthday, participated in our first ever pageant {no, we are not and will not be pageant people; but it was a good confidence builder}.  Oh, and I did a little sewing along the way too!

Here's hoping that February will be another busy, fun, productive month for us all!  Happy February! {stay warm and get ready for Valentine's Day!}

December 16 is a good day to be born

Happy Birthday to all of my Birthday Sisters & Brothers born on this day!

Click here for past birthday posts! :)

{The post from 2008 is one of my favorites}

Wordless Wednesday : Lone Star in the snow

You Say It's Your Birthday

It's my birthday too, yeah!

Today is the 350th day of the year. There are 15 days left in 2009. I was wondering who else was born on December 16. Thanks, Google!

• William "The Refrigerator" Perry : NFL defensive back
• Billy Gibbons : ZZ Top
• Benny Andersson : ABBA
• Steven Bochco : producer of LA Law, St. Elsewhere, Hill Street Blues
• Arthur C. Clarke : author 2001:A Space Odyssey
• Noel Coward : playwright
• Ludwig von Beethoven : composer
• Jane Austen : novelist
• Catherine of Aragon : 1st wife of Henry VIII
• 1773 The Boston Tea Party : that was a birth of sorts :-)

It's such a busy time of year. I've been sewing like crazy, as you can imagine. I hope you enjoying the beauty of this season and if you know someone who has a birthday today, wish them a Happy Birthday!

life is good! xo :)

Christmas Shopping Deadline 12.12.09

Tick-Tock . Tick-Tock . . . time is running out

The deadline for ordering from the Sew Gracious Etsy Shop is
Saturday December 12

Any orders placed after that date, cannot be guaranteed to ship in time for Christmas gift giving. It's time to cut off orders so that I can enjoy family time, Christmas parties at school {yes, I'm the room mom this year and am planning the party for the entire grade -- 4 classes. Yes, I'm crazy! LOL} do some baking, get ready for 2 family gatherings at our house, wrap gifts, attend a spelling bee & chorus program, coach a scholar's bowl team, celebrate a birthday, go to Jr. Beta club initiation . . . well, you get the idea. I've got a busy few days ahead. All that, plus finish my orders. :-) Life is GOOD!

I'm so thankful for my customers every single year. I know the economy is concern for everyone, but I'm so pleased to be able to offer quality, affordable gifts to return customer as well as the droves of new Etsy shoppers! Yea!

So, go ahead and order now. Knock out those last minute teacher gifts, secret pal presents or just treat yourself. I know you've are busy & working hard these days too!

Merry Christmas! Only 14 days til Christmas! Remember the real reason for the season

ox :)

Teachers Love Lanyards

and key chains . . . and anything else from your little sweetie! Why not give them something special . . . something handmade. It's the time of year to think of our wonderful hardworking teachers. Classroom parties will be happening within the next couple of weeks so it's time to shop for your favorite educator! Most of these items ship within a day or so of your purchase. Rush orders can usually be accomodated as well . . . just shoot me a convo.

Teachers not only teach our kids everyday, they also take care of them, nurture them and influence them in a mighty way. They put in countless hours for class prep, graduate classes, grading papers, etc. that many of us never consider.

As you know, most teachers need to wear ID these days, which is a very good thing. They also need to keep some keys handy as they go throughout their day. Show them a little love and give them something pretty to keep up with those necessities.
We are blessed with THE MOST WONDERFUL teacher this year. Her enthusiam is contageous and she truly makes learning a fun experience. It's all hands-on in her room and the kids love her.

Your teacher would love a new lanyard, wristlet key fob, mini key fob or even a tissue case. She might also enjoy an organizer bin. What a cute way to collect papers and keep her desk tidy.

See these and all the great teacher gifts {most $8 or less} at the Sew Gracious Etsy Shop! And show your teacher some love! Don't forget the school librarian, administrative assistants, teachers aides and the school nurse!

Snow Day!

We don't see snow here very often. A couple of times a year is alot, but today was one of those days.

We got what weather people call a dusting, but it's still snow.

I enjoyed looking out and seeing the snow . . .

while I was in our nice warm house, in my nice warm flannel nightgown, drinking my nice warm coffee this morning. In the spirit of all honesty . . . these pics were from a previous snow, but it looked JUST like this today. I wanted to share, but didn't want to get out in the cold to snap new pictures! Just being transparent, here! ;-) Don't hate me 'cause I'm honest!


I hope you've had a lovely day, with or without snow! :-)