December 31, 2015

My Favorite Recipes...


You'll be able to find any of the recipes I've shared with you on my blog here, in one, convenient place now. Just click on the titles below each picture to go to the original post/recipe. If you try any of our family favorites, I'd love to know what you think!


Sausage Rolls
Apple Roses Appetizer
Hopple Popple ala Liljegren



Cauliflower Breadsticks

Cranberry Cake with Sweet Sauce


My White House Sandwich Recipe
White House Sandwiches (My Version)


 Image © Our Best Bites Blog
 Peanut Butter Bars From Our Best Bites Blog 


Soft Homemade Caramels
Homemade Caramels

  
Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding
 Yorkshire Pudding


Home Canned Tomato Bruschetts
Tomato Bruschetta 


 Easy Homemade Bread Recipes
(Links to Flatbread and White Soda Bread Recipes)


Delicious Classic Caramel Corn
Classic Caramel Corn
          
Fresh Ingredients Taste Like Summer!


Sweet and Simple Cookies
French Palmier Cookies




                                                                      


    








   

Happy New Year and Giveaway Winner(s)...

Web image
I've made a few resolutions, which I'll share with you tomorrow.

Today, it's time to announce the winner of the
2015 Celebration Giveaway!!
Brynwood Needleworks - Necessary Clutch Wallets
GILL, my dear, your diligence paid off!!
Congratulations on winning a custom made Necessary Clutch Wallet. 

Now...I've decided to surprise another blog friend by drawing a second name. The bonus prize is a custom made Retreat Bag.
Brynwood Needleworks - Retreat Bag
#28 is blog friend, BRENDA!!
I will create a custom Retreat Bag to send to you in New Hampshire!

Congratulations, Ladies!!

Please contact me via my email link in my right sidebar to be sure I have a way to correspond with you to collaborate on your winning creations. Once I hear from you, I can get the information I need from you to begin work on your custom made prizes!

 Happy New Year To Our Blog Friends, near and far.
I just know that 2016 is going to be fabulous!

December 30, 2015

Last Chance To Enter The Giveaway...

 
The deadline to enter is fast approaching!
I'll be closing entries at 11 pm tonight and will announce the winner tomorrow.
CLICK HERE while there's still time to add your entry.

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve.
Handsome, Tag, Bella and I will be here to greet you and the new year tomorrow.
DonnaAcornSignature

December 29, 2015

What William Morris Said...

Brynwood Needleworks - Sherre's Second Sock
Our anniversary was lovely. We spent the day in each other's company, and had a nice dinner at a favorite restaurant. There are so many wonderful things about a life shared over decades...stability, forever love, and laughing or sweet comfort in memories we made together.

I also spent a little time in the studio...I started a second sock for my sister-in-love and set up a few projects for Destiny to embroider in the next day or so.
Brynwood Needleworks - Sherre's Second Sock
We're going to empty out a storage unit today. (Have I said how much I miss having a basement and/or an attic?) I've begun a "declutter" effort for the new year.

We emptied twenty photo albums yesterday, keeping the few photos we wanted, setting aside a few to send off and tossing the rest. After all, how many different poses do you need of the same subjects? One or two really great ones should be plenty. I found myself wondering why I'd even considered keeping so many that were out of focus? I'm married to a photographer, after all. I should have known better!
 
Our plan is to archive and share these images over the next year, rather than have the task fall to someone else "when the time comes". It's one of those love/hate tasks. I love looking at the images, but thoroughly dislike the clutter they engender. It feels great to purge all the redundancies. It also feels good to know that many of the memories will be in the hands of the rightful keepers, too.

After the storage unit is emptied and swept, we'll bring all those items we felt needed to be kept, and go through the same process. William Morris said, "Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful." I think that's a perfect criteria for making our decisions...at last.
DonnaAcornSignature

December 28, 2015

Tuesdays With Tag - Today Is Special...

Brynwood Needleworks - Hello Tag
Hi, Everybody!!

Christmas was just great. Bella and I got presents and everybody had lots of good food. Aunt Ellen and Uncle Ricky came over for the day, so we shed all over them had fun with them, too.
Brynwood Needleworks - Tag and Bella
Swell. 
There goes The Black Dog with the wrappin' paper again.This is gonna be fun.
Brynwood Needleworks - Bella, Tearing It Up
I was right. All the new toys to play with, and she steals and tears up paper.
Way to go, Bella Butt! (snort) Puppies!
Brynwood Needleworks - Tag and Bella
December and January are always excitin' months for us. Mom's Birthday, Grandson's Birthday, Christmas (yay), then TODAY...Mom and Dad's Anniversary!! They've been married for THIRTY ONE YEARS! Wow! That's like dead in dog years!

We're gonna spend the day doin' fun stuff around here, and then Dad's gonna surprise Mom with a nice celebration dinner. Yeah. We're gonna help. I'm in charge of stayin' out of the way, and Bella's job is to wag her tail and look cute.

Next up is Fireworks Night (New Year's Eve) and then it will be time for Dad's Birthday! I told you. Excitin' times. I'd better go figure out what I can make for Dad this year. Maybe Bella and I can do somethin' with paw prints (or Bella's favorite...pinecones!).

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MOM & DAD!
and
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY.

I'll see you again next year! 'til then...
"Chase A Dream - Or A Squirrel".

December 27, 2015

Kicking It Up With The Double Points...

Brynwood Needleworks - Sherre's Socks, knit through the heel turn
I love those completely lazy days when there are no demands for one's time except by choice. When there's time to put up your feet, take a deep breath and just decompress.

Sometimes, I fill that time with a good book (I got a few new ones this Christmas!), hanging out by the pool with Tag and Bella, sewing on just about anything, or getting busy with my double point needles. Yesterday, I chose the needles.
Brynwood Needleworks - Sherre's Socks
I'm moving along at a pretty good clip on this pair. as I'm nearly finished with the first one. (I just have to finish the toe on this one.) These will go to my sister-in-love when they're finished. I'm sure they'll keep her feet toasty warm on those chilly days or nights in Wyoming.

I'll be working on them exclusively, until I get them both done! Now, where did I put that egg nog?
DonnaAcornSignature

December 26, 2015

December 25, 2015

It's Boxing Day...

Brynwood Needleworks - Happy Boxing Day
Many will be out and about, exchanging gifts or taking advantage of the after-Christmas sales. I'll be at home...counting my blessings, knitting on the current sock project and otherwise relaxing. I've never been much for "town time", much preferring hearth and home. So, home is where you'll find me today.
There's still time to enter my Celebration Giveaway before it closes!
CLICK HERE to enter.
Good Luck!
DonnaAcornSignature

December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas!!

Brynwood Needleworks - Liljegrens Christmas 2015
  It's time for our annual Christmas photograph.
This year, our beautiful Bella joined our family.
 
Direct link: https://youtu.be/YI-E2FYXxq8
 
I'm adding a video I put together from one of the Christmas medleys Handsome helped perform with the Suncoast Concert Band in Sarasota on Sunday, December, 20, 2015. I hope you'll enjoy listening to it as much as I did that day.
 
Merry Christmas from our family to yours.
 

Christmas Eve

Brynwood Needleworks - Christmas Merrymakers
  Yesterday, Nifty 50s gathered for a little holiday merriment (and last-minute sewing).
It's always fun when we get together, especially when we can celebrate a holiday!
Of course, we remembered to commemorate the event with a photograph.
 
Today, I'll be enjoying time with Handsome and the critters as we prepare for our
Christmas gathering. As always, we'll keep the reason for the season in our hearts.
Brynwood Needleworks - Angel (web image)
Merry Christmas Eve to one and all.
If you're traveling, please be safe. 
If you're staying home, enjoy all the blessings of family and friends.
 
Let the angels sing. His promises are true.
DonnaAcornSignature

December 22, 2015

Gifties For The Girls...

Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)
Each year, the ladies who meet at Paneras make handmade gifts to exchange. Sometimes it's a favorite recipe (Kathy's Greek cookies or Ann's pumkin, apple or lemon poppyseed breads); a crocheted gift (Krisann's crocheted s'mores!), or even Christmas ornaments.
Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)
This year, I pulled some of my knitting sheep fabric (for the exterior) and coordinating fabric for the inside, and then I grabbed an assortment of zippers.
Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)
I asked for suggestion from my friends in my Brynwood Facebook group, and settled on Tammy's idea of Bubble Bags (these cute triangle pouches).
Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)

Each one started with two 6 1/2" squares (one for the exterior and one for the lining), a zipper and a Brynwood label.
Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouch (Bubble Bag)
Fifteen minutes later, I had a completed pouch! By the end of the afternoon Monday, I had sixteen ready to take with me to Paneras last night. (They were a big hit!)
Brynwood Needleworks - Triangle Pouches (Bubble Bags)
One can never have enough little pouches for keeping knitting, sewing, crochet or craft tools...or little accessories or any sort.

In fact, these were so simple to make that I think I'll make more in the next month to donate to our quilt show boutique in February. They're a little like potato chips. It's hard to stop at just one!
DonnaAcornSignature