Play Dough

So Mike has fire training tonight and the kids went to bed at a decent hour (8pm which is weird because they normally wont go to sleep till 9:30pm). So I found myself with some unexpected spare time. Rather than do anything truly useful with this amazing gift like work on the new budget or read up some more on potty training, I decided to make some play dough. I made it for Abram so I can justify my waste of time. I got this recipe from an old ward cook book my mom had when I was a kid, so I have no clue where it originated from. It is a super basic recipe.

1/4 c flour
1/8 c salt
1/2 t cream of tarter
1/4 c water
1/2 t oil
2 drops food coloring

So first off, I saved up a few of those plastic baby food containers. They turned out to be the perfect size too. (I was a bit surprised).

You add all your ingredients in a small sauce pan. Then you mix over medium heat.

Keep mixing until it becomes stiff and pulls away from the sides of the pan (aka turns into play dough). I should of picked a different color to use for my examples, this looks like cream puff dough to me. Oh well.

After it turns to dough, lay it out on the counter and work it till the dough cools.

And there you have it. Play dough.

Just stuff it into the container (preferably an air tight one) and it will keep for up to 3 months unrefrigerated. I don't know how this recipe compares to the store bought variety (my parents never bought us any). This kind is soft and a little grainy, but it works great for the intended purpose. The way I see it, play dough is, by its nature, disposable so I don't see the point in spending more than a dollar or so on it.

Well I hope the kids reap  some enjoyment out of my bored night antics. I certainly did.

Budding Independence

It has been a while since I have posted, so there may be more pictures than normal. I've been working on a couple of projects, mostly Penny's Halloween costume. It is taking quite a bit longer than I thought it would. When I get it finished, I will have to show pictures. Hopefully it will look as cute in the end as I hope it will.

This is the night gown I made for Penny. It has raglan sleeves and a button down front (partially sewn up). The neck was a bit smaller than it should have been but it worked out well. Penny seems comfortable in it anyway.

Sorry the picture is so washed out on this one (I am not sure what was going on with the camera). This is just a basic tube with an elastic waistband. It really should be shorter than it is, but it works.

The fabric is awesome. It is denim with ribbons stitched in a swirly design. The ribbon had to be re-stitched in places, other than that, it was pretty easy. Looked good with very little effort.

I tried one of the sweaters I knitted on Penny today. it looked pretty cute, though her little pot-belly filled it out more than it should have. She actually has thinned down some since she started crawling everywhere. I will really miss her rolly-polly self when she starts walking.
 

I made a new hat for Abram (his old one was getting too small and worn out). It actually is a bit too big and I don't think I like the seed-stitch brim, but the colors look great on him. (they match his eyes). Abram has actually been becoming more and more independent of late. He has started to insist on dressing himself, getting his own food, etc.

In fact, earlier today I heard someone in the kitchen to find Abram making himself a jam sandwich. He was so proud of himself, I couldn't even think about the mess. If you are wondering how he got up there, we have an empty bucket that he shuttles anywhere he wants. If he doesn't have it he finds more creative methods. (The other day I found him on top of my mother's baby grand piano. I haven't figured our how he does it yet. He is pretty sneaky).

Abram has also been building his own "towers" lately. This one is the biggest he has done, on his own, yet. (it got even bigger after the pic was taken). He says his colors and some of his letters now, too. I think I will take all of this increased development as a sign I should start potty training again. (Wish me luck!)

I can't resist sneaking in a pic of Penny's face painting today. How did I get such a stinkin'-cute baby?

Food Preservation

So our whirl-wind summer is over, but it seems like we are in for a whirl-wind fall now. (does it ever really stop?) Anyway, so here is the update. Mike is currently in D.C. (or Maryland rather) doing a firefighter training course through FEMA with their volunteer incentive program. I hate having him gone for very long, but he was so excited about the trip, I couldn't say no. So I have been trying to keep myself occupied while he is away, but I think I may be over doing it. I have made a new nightgown for Penny, a new skirt for me (I hope I can put together a tutorial on that one), cleaned my whole house (though you wouldn't guess it looking at it now), and I have been canning the harvest.
Mike and I have been a little tighter than usual with our finances that usual and so I have been trying to find ways to cut back. Lucky for me it is harvest time and I have family with big gardens.

My grandparents have one of the most incredible gardens I have ever seen. I was able to get lots of carrots and summer squash from them. (Best tasting carrots ever by-the-way). We also have been enjoying summer squash from my mother-in-laws garden. (I turn green with jealousy every time I see her garden).

Grandma and Grandpa D. were also able to give us some beats. I know some people think they are weird, but I love beats, and these are the best. They are in high demand so I tried not to take too many.

Were were also able to pick some onions. These ones are just sitting out to dry. I use onions so often that I wanted to pick more, but guilt over my greed held me back.

My mom bought me a box of Peaches from... I can't remember. Anyway, these went several ways. Some were baby food, others frozen for smoothies, and more for peach jam (yummmmm). I wanted to make some peach pie, but I ran out of peaches. If anyone has extras, you know were to send them.

We also were able to go out to Layton and pick tomatoes. I only got half a bushel this year (I still had some left over from last year and didn't need a whole one). The smaller jars in this pick are my peach jam jars.

I use a different kind of pectin than I usually use. I think it turned out okay, but I think I will save this kind of pectin for when I make jellies instead.
All in all it has been a very productive two days of food. I took a class through the extension office on freezing foods. I think I will give some of the things I learned there a try if I find the time. Well I hope you all are enjoying your own harvests.