Hollyhocks

More Faux Food

 

 

 
 
I told you. Felt food making-palooza...such fun!

The Second Sunday in Advent

 

The twins now have an advent calendar. I made it from my favorite Santa fabric ever! @#$%$*! Why didn't I buy the whole bolt? The numbers are printed onto iron-on fabric. Simple and bold because we have people here who are just starting to learn their numbers.

 

The calendar was pretty easy to make. I just made tubes (so the pockets are lined and strong), backed it with denim for strength, top-sewed the tubes onto the gingham to make the pockets and voila, advent calendar. I have been collecting ornaments and little books and toys for the twins to "find".

One thing I am still looking for is an advent wreath. When I was a child, we made them at church. I need the ring with the candle holders. I will probably just call around. We already missed one Sunday. It's such a nice tradition. The twins love candles. Sometimes on the weekend, they ask for "candles mama" as they eat their breakfast. Those two know how to live!

Happy second Sunday in Advent. Don't forget to light your candle at dinner tonight.

You Can't Catch Me...

 

When I was on my Mommy Getaway a couple of weeks ago, I saw this book...

 

At a wonderful little independent bookstore in Clarence, NY. It's called Monkey See, Monkey Do, and it's a sweet little homey place. They have tons of fun activities on-site and little rooms for parties and activities. When I see a book that has a handmade (or baked) tie-in, I'm sold. So, today I got special pan out and baked and  we are going to read the story to the twins after dinner tonight as they eat their Gingerbread Babies.

 
The pan is from Williams-Sonoma. Happy baking. Every house should smell like gingerbread...

 

Snow Too Cold

 

That's what I heard from this guy after he insisted that I give him a handful of snow to hold on the way home today. So, I drove a block or two with his handful of snow until he looked away and it "melted" and "went bye-bye" onto the floor mat!

 

We've been preparing for the snow with warm clothes and this book...

 

Which I just love. Grown-up poems for little ears. We have our "Reading Blanket"  that we put over our legs to snuggle up.

But, alas, our snow didn't stick. We'll have to get by on handfuls for a few more days. Still, it was so nice to see the flakes floating by.

Happy winter reading! I would love to hear what you are reading. I am still working on Buddism for Mothers, recommended by Josie.

Holiday Hotscakes

 

I was a "Green Acres" TV show fanatic in the seventies. Eva Gabor's fancy peignoirs, with their feathers and flounces were pure magic to a little girl.

 
Her character, Lisa Douglas, was always trying to make pancakes..."hotscakes" and failing...miserably. But I digress (I think the psychiatrists call my kind of thinking "loose associations"). I have been a felt food making fool...as you'll see. My favorite so far has to be the pancakes, complete with...

 
Detachable butter pats! I am having too much fun making these for the twins for Christmas. Now, if you want to make the BEST DARN PANCAKES YOU HAVE EVER EATEN...go to Stonewall Kitchen and order some of their pancake mix. Don't believe me? Google the online reviews. OMG these are yummy pancakes. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out if I could recreate this heavenly flavor and I've decided that it's the malt that is so mouthwateringly delicious.

So, now you know what to do. Let me hear from you about how doggone good those pancakes are. I will be anxiously awaiting their new "Coconut pancake mix", so I can try it and the Gingerbread mix...Boy do I love breakfast...You're welcome!

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks...24 days to go.