Showing posts with label Christmas memories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas memories. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

REBLOG- Kitchen Christmas Wreath

Another Reblog, this time from 12/12/2009, 3 years ago to the day: I got inspired by the late great Ready Made to make a wreath for my kitchen made of a wreath form,a kitchen towel, some yarn, scouring pads and upholstery nails
A wreath for the Kitchen? Why not- a dish towel for a ribbon, holly leaves cut from scouring pads So inspired was I to make this wreath form the Dec/Jan Issue of Ready Made Magazine- I kinda like what I came up with! My berries are actually upholstery nails, and instead of string I wrap heavy yarn around my wreath form.





Friday, November 16, 2012

REBLOG: Holiday Favorites

I am reblogging this particular post,from 12/21/2011, as I plan on doing a "Grinch" Tree this year and thought since yesterday we talked about alternative Christmas tress, it would be fitting to share this post again

Every year it happens - people post some of the most creative things. Here are my Favorites for this year...

Ok, if I had seen this Grinch Tree prior to putting up my artificial one, I would have done it as well. I am loving this whimsical tree that  you can plant after the Holiday

 I have an old sled, made by my grandpa for my dad, used later for ME by my mom to cart her baby to the town grocery and post office (they installed a wooden box on it) and I still have the sled! While it is too big to use as a centerpiece in my dining room, it could be used to put my grinch tree on next year! I love this centerpiece from Tammy Hodges, one of my fellow contributors at Junkmarket Style!
This little "Solar-Powered Santa" can be found at Instructables.com. Even with a pompom instead of an LED light, he would be a jolly old elf to put on my tree!
Looks like I will be busy next year. I know how to make tied dyed looking glass ornaments with clear glass ornaments and tempera paints, but ChrysN explains how to make these cool ornaments with Sharpies and Rubbing Alcohol!
 Finally, we come to another sled- an ornament made from popsicle sticks!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

ReBlog: Christmas Tree Alternatives

From December 02, 2011, a look at some Christmas Tree Alternatives... 
 

Every year the debate starts about this time- Which is better? Real or Fake? Which is more ecological, greener or cheaper. And every year I get into the fray. Well this year i have a new answer... NEITHER!
let me 'splain... I have nothing against real trees. Just that every year the news media has a story about some poor bastard whose house has burnt down. I just don't like the fire factor. So I thought I would post a few alternatives to look into:

BOTTLE TREES- what better than a tree made out of your wine bottles? Actually these have gained some popularity over the years, and can look quite festive! The Bottle Tree store has many to choose from, including a DIY kit. And I think these are good looking enough to keep around all year!

CARDBOARD TREES- These are cool as well. You can decorate them with markers, photos or what ever comes to your imagination! You can decorate one and send it to someone special, a grandparent, a son or daughter away at college, a service man, a loved one far away.

METAL TREES Yes I said metal. I have seen a few ornament trees around and they can be pricey. But I found mine (at the top of this post) at Big Lots for $10!

Of course there are natural alternatives like Living Christmas trees, the advantage being you can plant the tree after the holiday. Or how about decorating an existing house plant? Or a smelly Rosemary plant (they can look like pine trees) I have done both of these and loved the look.


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Leash Holder frame




I needed someplace to put up a hook to place my Dog leashes after their walk. So I got this idea after perusing the internet for plaques with hooks.


  • Simple to do- just purchase an unfinished picture frame, I got mine at Michaels  Finish the frame first ( I did mine after as 1-I just used spray Laquer and wanted to laquer the tiles as well) 
  • 2- glue some Scrabble tiles for a name or message
  • 3- Add decorative hooks to frame for hanging things.


This could be a perfect gift for a new pet owner or a good friend who loves their four legged friends.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Holiday Favorites!

Every year it happens - people post some of the most creative things. Here are my Favorites for this year...

Ok, if I had seen this Grinch Tree prior to putting up my artificial one, I would have done it as well. I am loving this whimsical tree that  you can plant after the Holiday
 I have an old sled, made by my grandpa for my dad, used later for ME by my mom to cart her baby to the town grocery and post office (they installed a wooden box on it) and I still have the sled! While it is too big to use as a centerpiece in my dining room, it could be used to put my grinch tree on next year! I love this centerpiece from Tammy Hodges, one of my fellow contributors at Junkmarket Style!
This little "Solar-Powered Santa" can be found at Instructables.com. Even with a pompom instead of an LED light, he would be a jolly old elf to put on my tree!
Looks like I will be busy next year. I know how to make tied dyed looking glass ornaments with clear glass ornaments and tempera paints, but ChrysN explains how to make these cool ornaments with Sharpies and Rubbing Alcohol!
 Finally, we come to another sled- an ornament made from popsicle sticks!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Traditon

Where's my bug?
Romeo's booty

I hope everyone is having a good christmas. Last night- Christmas Eve, I drove mom over to my Uncle Art's house, per the family tradition. My Aunt Claudia always puts on a great spread, and it is great to see my cousins and their kids. "Sigh"- I remember when I was a little kid, we would all converge on grandma and grandpa's- all 35 cousins, all 16 aunts and uncles. One year we even rented the American Legion Hall in Burien. Those are the years my grandma labored in the kitchen making Lefse, fattigman, rosettes, krum kake (Norwegian goodies). And we always had turkey and/or ham. We use to have grand parties in those days, but that's Christmas past. As for Christmas present- well, my family has divided into tribes, and now pretty much does their own thing, which is good, I guess. I just miss those big Christmases of long ago. As for my little family, Romeo loves his bones and rope ball tug toy, Sammy is fascinated by the electric robot "bug" I bought for him. Martin likes his Guitar along with the "Esteban" lessons. For me I got a solar battery charger, one step closer to making my solar generator, a trickle charger for the MG, which will keep the car going in these long winters better as the battery will stay charged. My mom bought me a K-Cup coffee maker, which is not totally foreign to me as my Espresso machine also doubles as a K- Cup coffee maker, though I don't use it as a K-Cup. LOL I am also getting ready to start for Christmas 2010 as I get Ideas all the time. So I hope everyone is having a good holiday. Now to go check the rib roast!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Klub and lutefisk- as much fun to make as they are to eat!

Okay the secret is out- no matter how hard I try to hide it - I am of Norwegian ancestry. Add to it I was raised by parents from North Dakota. (I am not admitting to been born there, in N.D. mind you), but those are the facts.




Every Christmas, American-Norwegians and American-Swedes have this ungodly ritual of eating lutefisk. We or rather I am no exception. My name is Rob and I eat lutefisk. Lutefisk, that wiggly little plate of lye soaked (I am not kidding, but not so much anymore) jellied fish. Not a big deal to eat in Norway- not on their list of Holiday Fare. But for some reason it is big in this country among Norwegian and Swedes. And for some reason it is only big at the holiday season. A little melted butter and lefse (a Norwegian flat bread, like a tortilla but made from potatoes) and you have a drippy treat. Here is the story behind lutefisk.

Now Klub (pronounced CLŪB or CLOOB) is different it is basically a potato dumpling that my family traditionally will eat on Christmas Eve. I prefer butter on it, with an unhealthy portion of side pork (side belly-in the bacon family). I never thought about the amount of butter we eat. No wonder we all have high cholesterol! The great thing about klub is it can be fried the next day at breakfast. And it will stick with you in cold weather. And boy do we eat potatoes. Klub is best made with "new" potatoes (the little red ones). We usually have rather large family gatherings to eat this stuff. Some of the next generation has learned how to make it, particularly my cousin Jan, who makes it in spite of her potato hating Irishman husband. Or maybe she makes it to spite him. Anyway Klub is one of those things that go on and on. Thank God. And thank god for IKEA for there you can get a box of instant Klub!

NOW A SONG
To The Tune of O Christmas Tree
Original Words: O Tannenbaum, Ernst Gebhard Anschutz, 1824
Adaptation by Red Stangeland
Music: O Tannenbaum, German Folk SongMIDI / Noteworthy Composer
O Christmas Tree - Notes

1. O Lutefisk, O Lutefisk, how fragrant your aroma,O Lutefisk, O Lutefisk, you put me in a coma.You smell so strong, you look like glue,You taste just like an overshoe,But lutefisk, come Saturday,I tink I eat you anyvay

2. O Lutefisk, O lutefisk, I put you in the doorvay.I wanted you to ripen up just like they do in Norvay.A dog came by and sprinkled you.I hit him with my overshoe.O lutefisk, now I supposeI'll eat you while I hold my nose.

3. O Lutefisk, O lutefisk, how well I do remember.On Christmas Eve how we'd receive our big treat of December.It wasn't turkey or fried ham.It wasn't even pickled Spam.My mother knew there was no riskIn serving buttered lutefisk.

4. O Lutefisk, O lutefisk, now everyone discoversThat lutefisk and lefse make Norvegians better lovers.Now all the world can have a ball.You're better than that Geritol.O lutefisk, with brennevin [Norwegian brandy]You make me feel like Errol Flynn.

5. O Lutefisk, O lutefisk, you have a special flavor.O Lutefisk, O lutefisk, all good Norvegians savor.That slimy slab we know so wellIdentified by ghastly smell.O Lutefisk, O lutefisk,Our loyalty won't waver.

Friday, December 12, 2008

KrumKake and Potato Sausage


Abbie, The Farmers Daughter is doing a Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap, so I suppose I must waddle my fat butt into the fray.

Well tomorrow I will be making stacks of KrumKake- a norwegian cookie that heathens (non-norwegians) like to fill with whipped cream and whipped chocolate- thease are not Canolli's people. They are little cones of blood sweat and tears (well 3rd degree burns actually). My grandma "taught" me how to make krumkake- I use the word taught with qoutations because grandma would sit there and watch me make the krumkake, tell me I have to much batter on the iron and scream when rolling the krum kake into the cone- it is hot grease folks! Anyway, my mom, does the same thing- sits down and watches tv while I do the work. It is ok, I don't mind. I have learned that cotton glove liners do wonder protecting your hands from the molten krumkake when rolling. I will probably make 4 batches of delicous krumkake tomorrow. Here is a recipe pretty close to my own.

1 stick butter (1/2 cup or 8 tbsp.)
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs1 cup general purpose flour2 tbsp.
whipping cream1/2 vanilla extract
Makes about 25 krumkaker
1. Melt the butter carefully in a microwave oven or double boiler. Do not overheat.
2. Thoroughly mix the sugar into the butter, stirring well.
3. Using a power hand mixer, blend the eggs into the mixture.
4. Then add the flour slowly while blending to a smooth, consistent batter.
5. In a small bowl, whip the cream fully. Then add the whipped cream to the batter and blend completely.
6. Add vanilla extract to suit your taste. If needed, add a small amount of milk while blending until the consistency is just spoonable but not quite pourable. The mixture should drop off a measuring spoon but not pour off. This consistency will ensure a lacy textured krumkake, but you will find the baked krumkake slightly more difficult to handle without tearing while rolling onto a cone. But it's worth the effort!
7. Using the KrumKake Express™, start with the Color Control Dial at 2-1/2. One heaping tablespoon of batter will make a 5-6" krumkake. Lock the lid latch for a thinner and crispier krumkake. For a thicker krumkake do not close the latch while baking.
8. Add batter to the plate only when the green "Ready" light is ON. In about 30 seconds, the red "Baking" light will turn ON.
9. When the green light comes ON again, open the lid of the KrumKake Express™ and inspect the krumkake for color. Adjust the Color Control Dial as necessary to obtain a total bake cycle of 70-80 seconds for a golden brown krumkake.
10. Cook until golden brown and remove promptly.
11. Roll onto the Cone Form quickly while the krumkake is still hot

How to roll A krumkake into a cone

Note- if you do not or cannot find a krumkake iron, you can use a pizzelle iron as well. I have a double electric krumkake iron,

The other thing I love about the holidays is Potato Sausage. It has been years since my dad and I actually made delicous potato sausage. When he was a kid his mom and stepdad would invite lots of folks over for Potato Sausage stuffing parties in their basement. You need to find casings (ask at your butcher market. Pig Casing works best, per my dad). Then you need a grinder with a sausage stuffing attachment. They would make hundreds of pounds of sausage and probably drink gallons of booze. Lots of work and folks wonder why I buy mine. I bought 6 packages, and promptly froze them. That's a lot of sausage. Here is pretty the same recipe I use, but I don't know about the part that says about rolling them into balls- we never did that. Just remember to boil them for about 20 minutes.
Maybe tomorrow I will write about the wonders of Potato Klub! One dish that requires no special irons or sausage making equptment!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

L.E.D. CHRISTMAS LIGHT GIVEAWAY!!!


Love those L.E.D. Christmas lights? Want to get some for free? Well then you have come to the right place- I am giving away one string of indoor/outdoor multi-colored LED Christmas lights. Not sure of how many are on a string, but I know the string measures 50' in length and one string uses less than 4 watts in power. So you can have Christmas lights and be energy wise as well! To enter, just post a comment to this post. Winner will be drawn at random. Contest closes Friday December 5th, 2008 at 5PM.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

In Search of Hai Karate

See dad, if you hang on to it for a long time it is worth big $$$$!!!
Today I was thinking of the gifts I use to give as a child in the 60's and immediateley thought about Hai Karate- Hai Karate bids starts at 9.99 for a 30 year old bottle of Hai Karate. Shit- I use to buy this crap for my dad back in the 60's- he would always open it up and karate chop the piano. Just like they did in the commercials. One bottle of this has a current bid of $50.00 (thats $12.50 per ounce) Who woulda thunk that Hai Karate could be more expensive than, say Pierre Cardin (my fragrance when I am trying to hide the plumber stink)? So don't say no to aqua velva, or old spice- You hang on to it long enough it will be a valuble gift!