Childhood Memories

I remember when I was a little girl during the summer we would work in the yard, cleaning it up cutting grass and tending to the flower beds and gardens. Yes we were country folks and when summer came around, thats all we did for that entire time-we just worked in the yard and gardens everyday, keeping the yard up. We would plant and we would harvest. The jobs we had to do weren't always something we leaped for joy all the time. The fun part of it was that we were allowed to take breaks on some Saturdays and of course Sunday's were always a day off. That day we went to church. The most fun and favorite time that we loved was, after we finished working in the yard and finishing up our time in the vegetable and flower gardens, our dad would take us to the side store and buy us some icecream and a cold soda-along with one of those cracker snacks for later to eat. That was the best time of my life. My dad would award us and take some quality time with us after our work was done for that day. Although we all were working together, we didn't had time to just sit and chat, so dad made sure that after the work was done, we got to spend the rest of the evening together chatting and having fun. He would even give us and talk to us about life lessons and how to live right. His number one advice that always stuck with me into my adult life, was that he would say, "alway's live right and treat everybody fair and you'll get along fine." I carry that lesson with me today, and as I put it into practice, I reaped the good results that my father said I would. Besides some life problems that life throws at you for everbody anyway-I did get along fine, and I notice that when I treated people fairly, people looked out for me when I really needed some help. I'll never forget those good times and moments. Have a great day everybody and make wonderful memories with your family today. Good memories, I believe, keeps us grounded through out our life. Until next time, Crafty Ann

Grandmother's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Here's the recipe that I promised. It came from this cookbook.
The recipe is called, Grandmother's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

Prep: 15 Minutes

Bake: 15 minutes Per Batch

Makes about 24 cookies

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine (1 stick) softened 1/2 cup granulated suar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
3/4 cup dark seedless raisins or chopped pitted prunes

*Note: It's optional, but I like to add about a 1/2 cup or 1 cup of walnuts in my oatmeal cookies. Directions: *Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. *In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla until blended. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture just until blended. With wooden spoon (I just use a plastic spatula), stir in oats and raisins. *Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 2 inches apart, on two ungreased large cookie sheets. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes, rotating cookie sheets between upper and lower oven racks halfway through baking. With metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire racks to cook completely. *Repeat with remaining dough. Have fun making these delicious oatmeal cookies, and share with someone. If you would like to share a recipe, leave it in the comment, or e-mail me-I'll be happy to post it. If you have a memory behind it, please share. Good memories help lift up one another,and it is a part of journeying on in the the present. Stay creative, Crafty Ann

Crochet Class

**Just a note to let you know, I'll be posting a yummy recipe. So get your measuring cups, spoons and mixing bowls with the basic essential ingredients and get ready to try it. I'll be looking forward to hearing how your recipes turned out. So keep checking for that, while you work on your crochet scarf project. Enjoy your day, and craft before it's over. Enjoy the craft project below. TTFN. Crafty Ann

How to make a basic crochet scarf.
Materials:

*Red Heart, Worsted Weight Yarn
*Size G or H Crochet Hook

Abbreviations: ch (chain)
dc (double crochet)

Instructions:

*CH 120
*(dc) in 3rd chain from the end.
*Continue to double crochet on the first row, at the end chain 3 and then turn. Double crochet in same chain at the end of the 1st row.
*Continue to repeat this patern until your scarf has at least 7 or 8 rows of dc.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I'll try to respond as soon as I can. Or if you see that I may made a mistake, let me know and I'll make corrections.

If you have a craft that you like to share with instructions, please let me know. I'll post it as soon as I get chance.

Stay Creative,
Crafty Ann

Crochet Scarf

Hi everybody, all you crafty and baking lovers. I'll be doing a simple tutorial on crocheting a scarf. I'll be posting the directions of it sometime later, so keep checking. I'm still putting this blog together, so if you don't see your name, and want to be added to my "Hobby Circle of Friends" just let me know. There are other things I'm working on to get this blog as comfortable for you to enjoy when you visit. Please feel free to e-mail me with recipes, craft instrucions of any sort, and I will post it here on Hobbies and Collectables. Please feel free to also leave a comment on any hobby you would like to share with us. I welcome memories behind the craft, baking, cooking or hobby that you do to share with me and my blog readers. So again make yourself at home and I look forward to hearing from you. Don't forget, please check back before the week is out for the Simple Crochet Scarf Tutorial. Also by the way, I may also host Craft Swaps and Crochet Alongs for all of you crocheters out there. So stay tuned for that in the future. Stay Creative, Crafty Ann

Make Yourself At Home

Hi everybody, welcome to my newest blog. I hope this blog will bring you some sense of peace and comfort away from the busiest of life. Come and take a breather here to share your craft ideas, projects, recipes and all things down home fun. Even gardening and healthful things to do to help one another to achieve ease of life. I hope you will visit often and share many great stories and memories as well. So when you come, sit awhile with some tea, lemonade and a sandwich so that we can get converse about fun things to do. Again, welcome. Crafty Ann