The most beautiful things in the world are not seen nor touched. They are felt with the heart.-- Helen Keller



Welcome!

Welcome! to my little corner of Gods earth.

My intent is to share faith, food, family & friendship. I want to give you a little insight as to what goes on in our daily lives. The different 'seasons' in our farm life and with every change of season brings something new. Feel free to visit often!

Blessings to all,

Laura

Down on the Farm Tabs

Monday, January 30, 2012

Knitted Chevron (ripple) Afghan

Chevron Ripple Afghan
CO multiple of 15sts plus 4. 
Size 9US cabled knitting needles
(my gauge is 5 stitches = 1 inch)
for a baby afghan or lap blanket (36" wide) I cast on 184 stitches

Row 1   K2, *K1f&b, k5, sl1 (knitwise), k2tog, psso, k5, k1f&b* (repeat from * to * to the last 2 sts) K2

Row 2    Knit

Repeat Row 1 and 2 until you reach the length that you want.

BO after row 1

I use this pattern as a stash buster, so I do not have accurate yardage, however here is a link that can get you close.
http://cache.lionbrand.com/faq/96.html?language=

**If you wish to alternate colors always change colors on Row 1. The afghan pictured has alternating stripes after 10 rows.


**Optional tip: I always slip the first stitch, as if to purl, at the beginning of every row. This makes a very nice smooth edge.


**If you are new to the chevron pattern, in order to keep your place, I put a marker every so often in between the last k1f&b and the first k1f&b.  If I get to this place and I am 'off' it is easier to fix immediately.

**Tutorial for K1f&b  This is an excellent video tutorial by Knit Witch on youtube that demonstrates K1f&b.

**Tutorial for PSSO This is an excellent video tutorial by VeryPinkKnits on youtube that demostrates PSSO

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies are PaPa Bears favorite. Over the years and with a little tweaking, this is the recipe I have come up. It is a little crunchy, little soft and a whole lotta YUMMY!

3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Butter (or Margarine)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 8oz package Bits O Brickle Toffee Bits
2 Cups all purpose flour

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl mix sugars, peanut butter, butter, and eggs until well blended.
Add baking soda, baking powder, vanilla extract, pudding mix and toffee bits.  Mix well.
Mix in flour a bit at a time (I add 1/2 cup, stir....add another 1/2 cup and so on)

Refrigerate dough for about an hour so it is easy to handle then shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.  Using a fork, make a checkerboard design on top of the cookie (I dip my fork into the sugar canister prior to making the checkerboard marks on each cookie).  This will flatten the cookie.

OR if you are like me and do not want to wait an hour, I use a tablespoon to scoop the dough and drop it onto the cookie sheet, then proceed to make my checkerboard design. The cookies don't turn out as perfectly round as they would if you would go through the refrigerator/ball method.

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until the edges are light golden brown

(If you wish to put a chocolate kiss on top of the cookie immediately after it comes out of the oven do not flatten prior to baking.)

Makes about 5 dozen