After moving to California only two weeks ago we were all forced out of our homes with only the clothes on our backs. Fortunately, we were able to return to our homes intact. Not the case for so many others. You all are in my prayers!!!
Bloomington, Mn Treehouse Youth Group Member Finally Faces Charges For Multiple Sexual Assault Victims
Apologies Poured into a Glass
Apologies Poured into a Glass
Bitter-sweet irony washes away the burn of your words with each swallow of my pride.
This glass is neither half empty nor half full. It overflows with your disgust, resentment and on the rocks. Ice in suspended animation, slowly diluting the contents. Much like love and the sickness which destroys it.
Drink #1:
Your guilt appears in the form of deafening silence which, lends a moment to gather myself.
Drink #2:
Rinses down the lump in my throat.
Drink #3:
Your lips move but, selective hearing prevents anything audible from emerging.
Each subsequent drink:
Temporary immunity to your madness makes you so much more attractive And let’s me love you again.
Hitting rock-bottom from my addiction to you, I place a hand over the rim of my glass and say, “I’ve had enough!”
1st Sobering Truth:
It’s been easier to quit drinking than to quit you.
2nd Sobering Truth:
Each day that passes is another day I’ve grown stronger.
3rd Sobering Truth:
All the kindness given me and the enormous amount of laughter I’ve experienced since leaving is more powerful than the pain of missing you.
Non-Midwesterners React to Midwestern Food LOL
Perfect Slipper Socks *Pattern Only!
Keep the piggies warm with these stash-busting Sock Slippers!!
Worked in the round and has after-thought heel- The stitch used for these slippers makes them wonderfully warm, soft and wearable!
Deer… They Really Exist!
6 inches + … WHY? LOL
WIP: Update
McCormick’s Buffalo Wings Are the BEST!
McCormick’s Buffalo Wings
1 – 4 lb bag frozen wings and drummies
2 pk McCormick’s Original Buffalo Wings Seasoning
You may follow the directions on the McCormick’s Original Buffalo Wings Seasoning package but, this is how we make ours. Btw- we love ours very browned. I’ll give directions for our version and a golden brown version.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Line entire surface of large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In large bowl place frozen wings and both packages of McCormick’s Original Buffalo Wing Seasoning mix. Toss with hands until chicken is completely covered. Place wings in a single layer on lined cookie sheet. With remaining mix left in bowl, sprinkle over wings.
For golden brown wings bake 2 hours. Do not turn wings.
For dark golden brown bake 3 hours.
Serve with celery sticks and Kraft’s Roka Blue Cheese Dressing
Autumn Mexican Stew
1 pkg Bear Creek Chili mix – do not prepare as directed
1 pkg Bear Creek Tortilla Soup mix – do not prepare as directed
1 pkg Ortega Taco Seasoning
13 c water
2 pkg Kielbasa Ring Sausage roughly chopped
5 lrg peeled, roughly chopped potatoes
3 lrg celery stalks roughly chopped
1 lrg onion roughly chopped
3 cloves garlic finely minced
Directions: Bring 13 cups of water to boil in large stock pot. While stirring with whisk slowly add chili mix, tortilla soup mix and taco seasoning. Carefully add remaining ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to lowest setting and simmer 3 hours.
Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.
FICO MN Heavy-Duty Never-Ending Reversible Bedspread *Crochet Pattern
A Christmas Present for my Hunny Bunny 🙂 This afghan took me from July of last year to almost Christmas to complete. It is worked in a revised reversible stitch pattern which, is the equivalent of making two identical afghans and quilting every single stitch together to create one heavy blanket. However, it is only worked as one piece.
The skeins of yarn it took to complete: 32
Red Heart Heather 12- 5 oz. skeins
Red Heart Black 10- 7 oz. skeins
Red Heart Burgany 10- 7 oz. skeins
180 rows by 281 stitches times 2!
The number of stitches involved: 101,160
It weighs approximately 15 lbs and is half an inch thick!
How’s that.. to beat the frigid and brutal temps of a Minnesota winter???!!!
It even fits perfectly in the washer when set in length-side down!
Best Stuffed Green Peppers on the Grill
3 lr green bell peppers
1 sm omion, diced
1/2 tbls minced garlic
lb ground hamburger
Prepared Spanish rice
1 cup shredded mozzarella/Parmesan chesse
Preheat grill.
Chop one green pepper. Set aside 1/4 c for stuffed pepper mixture. Refrigerate remaining chopped green pepper for another meal.
Remove stems of remaining peppers. Lay peppers on side and slice in half. Remove seeds and ribs. Place peppers cut-side-up on plate.
Cook hamburger until almost done. Add chopped onion, 1/4 c chopped pepper and minced garlic. Continue cooking until hamburger is no long pink. Set aside and let cool until warm to the touch.
Prepare any Spanish rice or use 15 oz can of heat and serve Spanish rice. Set aside and let cool until warm to the touch. Mix hamburger, rice and 1/2 c shredded cheese.
Firmly pack rice mixture into peppers enough to create slight mound above cut edge of peppers. Place stuffed peppers in preheated grill off coals and cook with lid on for approximately 15-20 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and heat until cheese is melted.
Remove from heat and let rest about 5 minutes before serving.
Alyssa Winter Set *Crochet Pattern Only
Alyssa’s Winter Set is a brightly colored and beautifully textured headband, fingerless mitts and scarf combination that will make every little girl feel like a princess.
7 oz. Red Heart Shocking Pink
7 oz. Dark Orchid
H and J hooks
Goldie Oldie Doggie Sweater *Crochet Pattern
Keep your four-legged babies warm and cozy this winter with the Goldie Oldie Doggie Sweater!!This cute doggie sweater is made for a small-medium size male dog, a dog slightly larger than a chihuahua. It can be made with 8oz of any worsted weight yarn and an I hook.
Happy Crocheting!!
Strasburg, North Dakota
Forest Gump
Mr. & Mrs. Northrup
6*6*14 The Wedding!!
My oldest boy, Jordan and my new daughter-n-law, Amanda!
Wedding Day Shrug
Wedding Shrug is now complete! Hope she loves it 🙂
He called me, “Auntie”!
You made my heart skip a beat, Kid! Thank you!
The Most Amazing Thing Happened Today… Happy Birfday, Sis!
No words.. just thankful!
Guitar Pickin’ Pete
Check out Peter, self-taught guitarist tearing it up for all his fans!!
Guitar Pickin’ Pete
Refrigerater Pickles
Need a project to help induce summer into your blood? Make these tasty refrigerator pickles 🙂
2 lrg cucumbers sliced to desired thickness
1 lrg onion thinly sliced
1-2 tbls minced garlic
2 tbls salt
2 tbls dill seed
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 c white vinegar
1 c boiling water
Dissolve salt in boiling water. Set aside to cool. Mix cucumbers, onions, garlic, dill seed and red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Pack mixture into 2-2 quart jars. Combine water and vinegar together. Pour equal amounts into both jars. Liquid should just cover the tops of the cucumbers and onions. If it doesn’t, add enough additional water to cover completely. Place lids on jars and give a little shake to incorporate well. Place in frig for at least 24 hours before serving.
Tick… Tock!
Tick…
The time between seconds stands still.
Heightened sensory chokes a person
with it’s absorption of otherwise,
the invisible and mundane until one
is consumed. Weighted down by an
overpowering need to express
the important, the not so important.
Gravitational forces steal others away
from their regular lives and bring them home again.
For a moment. It’s not the ugliness
that kills us. It’s the over-
whelming beauty blinding us with
it’s light even through the shadows.
It leaves a craving and an ache so deep
other vices will not fill the void; an addiction
with no relief, no cure and no solace
except to surrender to it’s awesomeness. Sharing
in the delight of others and appreciating
the impact they make, hoping you’re just as
important. Reminiscing of the past leads to the road
of now. And now, will be yesterday, tomorrow.
Tock!
WIP: Wedding Day Shrug
For my soon to be (in 1 week) daughter-n-law on her wedding day. Still a work in progress but close to finished. No pattern.. just winging it 😉
Spinach & Artichoke Dip
9 oz package frozen spinach, thawed, rinsed and drained
14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
4 green onions, chopped
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 tbls minced garlic
2 c parmesan cheese
1/3 c mayo
1 c sour cream
Cream together the cream cheese, mayo, sour cream and cheese. Mix in remaining ingredients and place in baking dish. Bake in preheated over @ 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers. Enjoy 🙂
Minnesota’s Unisex Summer Cologne
You know you’re from Minnesota when the only spray that comes in contact with your skin is sunscreen or Deep Woods Off!
Pinwheels
Summer is finally here and today I did not feel like firing up the oven or the grill! So, today was the perfect day to enjoy some delicious and healthy pinwheels.
My Hunny Bunny called them delicious and refreshing!
Ingredients:
4, 12 in. flour tortillas or flavor of your choice
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1-2 tsp of Webber’s New Orleans Cajun Seasoning
20 slices thinly sliced roast beef
20 slices thinly sliced smoked turkey
4 slices Kraft American cheese, cut in half
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 lrg tomato thinly sliced
4 green onions very thinly sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
Prep: mix cream cheese, seasoning and green onions. Split evenly by four and spread on tortillas. Layer remaining ingredients on the four tortillas. Be careful to not over fill. Lightly salt and pepper. Tightly roll tortillas. Cover with wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Remove wrap, slice into 1-1 1/2 inch pieces. Place on serving plate, sliced side facing. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Evolution of the Circle Jacket *Crochet Pattern
Manly Circle to Square Jacket
Manly Circle to Square Jacket
Sock Yarn Circle Jacket
Sock Yarn Circle Jacket
Heavy Weight Circle Jacket
Heavy Weight Circle Jacket
Evolution of the Circle Jacket is a pretty basic pattern. Pattern is written to accommodate any yarn but is not a stitch by stitch instruction. Must know the basics of crocheting in the round.
Sweaters
Simple Striped Turtle Neck Sweater
3/4 Sleeve Cowl Neck Sweater
Just a couple of scrap sweaters- no patterns available.
CrochetRie 