Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Earliest Daffodil


With these recent cold days and nights, the sewing machine has been kept busy.  There are new eye pillows and therapy pillows.  Once I finish up the inner pillows, they'll be listed in the shop. I really loved what recent featured seller on etsy, Odelae,  had to say:

"The idea of hundreds of thousands of sellers from around the world participating in a single marketplace 24/7 is mind boggling, yet this is what is occurring on Etsy. For me, Etsy is a rare opportunity to connect with artisans and appreciators worldwide. It means I get to live where I do and do what I love with many others doing the same, yet different thing. Also, we all are part of a shift that is happening. We’re players in a movement that’s empowering people to follow their dreams. We’re rebuilding our skill set via the DIY movement, breaking the mold of the 20th century workplace and remembering how to function as a community. The artistic trends we are witnessing suggest a shift in our mass consciousness toward a very different, invigorating way of being."   To check out her beautiful shop, click on her shop name above.




I saw this early daffodil a few days ago, shortly before the ice and sleet arrived.  There's a new shop in Asheboro, called Brightside Gallery.  A few weeks ago, they asked if I would like to create a custom soap for their shop.  Keeping a "bright" theme in mind, it has local honey, calendula petals from my gardens, organic cornmeal and four essential oils creating a wonderful lemony-scented yellow bar.



The cold temperatures have also inspired me to bake.  Last night, it was crescent rolls.  This morning, it was my friend Teresa's Mom's Rock cookies.  I always make a full recipe, which makes a lot of cookies, and freeze some.  You could halve it if you'd like.

Rock Cookies

1 c butter                                                        1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 c brown sugar                                         1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs                                                              1 lb raisins
3 c flour                                                           1 lb pecans, chopped
2 tsp cinnamon                                                  1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cloves                                                       1/2 c additional flour

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla, and mix well.  Sift the 3 cups of flour, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda and salt together.  Add to egg mixture.  Add the 1/2 cup flour to the raisins and pecans.  Stir into other mixture.  Drop by teaspoonful on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Cookies will not look done.


Wishing you a cozy weekend, with lots of good things to eat!


7 comments:

cookingwithgas said...

a good day to stay in. Tea, and reading was on my list. No cookies...but we had to give them up for awhile there were too many to enjoy at Christmas.

Laurie said...

I didn't bake much at Christmas this year... making up for it now!

Stephanie said...

Yes! the first daffodil!! Of course, I saw flowering cherry trees in Greensboro before Christmas. The soap sounds great. We were going to the opening of Brightside, but then the ice came. Have a great day! :)Peace, Stephanie

Laurie said...

Hope you can make it this Friday, Stephanie. It'd be great to see you!

Mrs. G. said...

Your cookies and soap look delicious. I have been looking at massage schools tonight, seriously considering starting in May. The fact I stumbled over here late tonight makes me wonder if the universe is nudging me.

Laurie said...

I definitely believe in synchronicity, Mrs. G! My alma mater, BTI (massage.net) is an exemplary school, & I'd highly recommend it. Hey, then you could spend more time with M & M too :o)

Jennifer said...

I love that you made a signature soap, how fun! They look great.

My daffodils (the group I just planted in fall) came up and almost (just almost) opened before the sleet hit, and now they are a withered mess.

I feel so sorry for my plants, they seem to be so confused.