Crafting, Camping, Cooking and Life! (with RA!)

Good morning all! Yesterday was a bit crazy, so didn't have time to share. Plus, my hands still hurting from my wood carving attempt. Lesson learned to limit time on skills as such to about 15 minutes and break. My Ghirardelli brownies were super yummy, however, had left them in to back about 3-4 minutes too long. It's been hard to judge new recipes in baking in the Instant Omni oven, but didn't want the house warmed too much as the weather has been decent outside. Definitely worth it though. I tried a new recipe yesterday for cream horns. Miserable fail! The recipe I used for the pastry was a rough puff. I will take the hit on that one. Though the recipe didn't call for the dough to be refrigerated prior to baking, I still know better than that. The filling, ouch! I should have definitely read through it prior to attempting to make. The ratios were off a bit and seems a couple of ingredients were missing. Not sure I will remake today or not, but I will try again with a...

Good evening all! Long day, spent the morning cleaning. Swept and mopped kitchen and bathroom, cleaned bathroom, dishes, laundry and a little organizing. Really had fun finally playing with a Christmas present from my father. The BeaverCraft Wizard Carving kit! A lot of fun, purchased on Amazon and BeaverCraft sends you a link for a full tutorial for this. Comes with 3 pieces of wood, a knife, finger wrap, pencil, bandaids (thought this was funny! but not the brand Band-Aid) pattern and instructions. Struggled a bit, my fingers weren't very happy with holding everything and the grip on the blade but definitely fun. I like trying new crafts, you never know what resonates with you. Unfortunately, just realized I had a blister and it pulled open. So, will be a bit before I can pick it back up. The quilt guild I belong to has an annual Block of the Month. This year, it is just to make blocks based on the month/holiday. Really running behind. I have the February block cut out and the fa...

  Good morning all! Wanted to add my photos from our camping trip at West Branch State Park in Ravenna, Ohio. Big park, lots to see! Drop off to the rear right Lovely patch of ferns growing Water with cattails growing Canal lock images Water was teaming with tadpoles! Pretty blossoms Queen Anne's lace I loved seeing the beams of light shining down Fungus amongus! Another patch of ferns Stream running Research area Water running a little more here Saw this first then.... Waterfall! Path to get closer to the waterfall

 Good Monday morning all! BEAUTIFUL out today! So excited that we're going to be having a few days in the 60's this week. Seriously need to get my garden planned. I grew up in rural Ohio and we always had a vegetable garden, as well as fruit trees and plenty of flowers. My favorite fruit tree was this huge mulberry tree in the yard, next to the driveway. It was big enough to climb too. My sister and I would climb it and stuff ourselves on mulberries, great childhood memory there. But, we always had to help in the garden, whether big or small tasks. My dad had a "special" hoe. He had measurements on it marked with electrical tape so as to be able to mark the row distances and mounds. We also measured out spaces for the more finicky plants too. I've never felt there was a lot to gardening and canning since it was a way of life. Canning. The kitchen always got too warm, having to clean the messes, but the food was always great. My mom had us helping with this as well...