Dirtroadteam on Etsy - Valentine Fiber Arts

Welcome blog friends.  I hope everyone is getting a break from the heat!  I have another shop from the great Dirt Road Team for you to visit.  Please stop by Donna's shop called Valentine Fiber Art.  With over 900 hearts and over 300 sales, you will see why she is so successful.  Donna makes the most incredible one of kind owls, pot holders, jewelry Kanzashi, crochet cotton cloths.  Check out the crochet trivets for your table.  Donna does amazing work, and you will be very please with what she has to offer.  Remember you can type "drat dirtroadteam" into the search bar to find more unique shops from a great team.  Come back next Friday to find another great shop.

Monday Market with Old Farmhouse Gathering

Welcome blog friends.  I have three more wonderful shops from the Old Farmhouse Group for you to check out.  Get something cold to drink, and have a great visit.  The first shop is Choose Moose Primitives Designs, where you will find ornies, bowl fillers, from candy corn to candy canes all made from fabric. What has been made from fabric is amazing!  The next shop is Country Primitives, where Nikki makes very large pumpkins, witches boots and make do's.  The pumpkins are very large and would add to your fall season decor. The last shop is Crow Ridge Hollow, here you will find a large collection of hand painted items.  Check out the cell phone charging station.  This would make a wonderful Christmas gift, and we all have those cell phones, and I pods!  When you are done with your visit remember you can type in OFG Team into the search bar for more amazing artist from the OFG Team.  Come back next Monday for three more great shops.

By Your Hands Blog Party

By Your Hands is having a blog party.  Click on the the picture on the right hand side, and come join the fun!  Great way to show off what you have been working on and also check out all the goodies that are out there!

Dirtroadteam on Etsy - Fisher Art Work

Hello blog friends.  Hope everyone is doing well with the heat, and storms.  Get something cold to drink and visit the Dirt Road Team.  Today please stop by the shop of T.L. Fisher, called Fisher Art Works.  You will find a large collection of wild animals.  Original done in pastel and acrylic, you can order a print in the size that would work for you home.  Starting her art  career in the Virgin Island, and now in Idaho since 2004, there are many pictures for you to pick from.  Take a look at the Eagle Eyes, you will get the feeling he is watching over you.  Maybe is watching over this great country!  Also type in "drat dirtroadteam"  into the search bar on Etsy, and find more artist and their amazing work.

Havest Moon Primitives Giveaway

Stop by the blog of Harvest Moon Primitives, and enter this wonderful giveaway.  Some lucky person will win both of these primitive items.  Please follow the rules and have fun!
http://whimseythoughts.blogspot.com/

Christmas from your garden

Bread in a Jar

To make you must use a jar with no shoulders, they are sold here has freezer jars.  

Using your favorite quick bread, bake in a jar, and enjoy later, with out freezing.  First mix up your bread.  Using clean jars, spray cooking spray on the inside of the jars.  Sprinkle sugar on the inside, and coat the sides of the jar.  Add you bread mix, and bake 30 - 60 minutes.  Watch to see when it is done.  Depending on the size of your jar the time can vary.  While the bread is baking, boil your lids for about 3 minutes.  When the bread is done carefully remove from oven, place lid on top, the screw on the rings.  The heat from the jar, and the lids will seal itself.  Add a cute label and enjoy.  Great gift to give to some one who is moving into a new home, shipping overseas, or at Christmas time.

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs

2 cups peeled and grated raw zucchini

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups shifted flour

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup chopped nuts 

Beat eggs until foamy.  Beating oil, sugar and vanilla, and mix well.  Beat in grated zucchini.  Shift flour with salt, cinnamon, soda, and baking powder.  Beat into 1st mixture, and then fold in nuts if desired.  Bake in jars quarts 60 minutes at 325.  Loaf pans 60-70 minutes at 325.

Enjoy and save money!

Bette's Tomorrows Treasures - Give Away

Please stop by the blog of Bette's Tomorrows Treasures and sign up for this great give away!  Some lucky person will win the lost sock fabric basket.  How does a home end up with so many lost socks?  Follow the link below to Bette's blog and follow the rules to enter. The winner will be picked August 8, 2010.


http://bettestomorrowstreasures.blogspot.com

Monday Market with Old Farmhouse Gathering

Hello friends!  With the heat wave going around, please be careful!  When you come in from the heat please get something cold to drink and visit the three shops I have for you today!  The first shop belongs to Joy from Bee Joyful Quilts.  You will find quilt patterns, and my personal favorite is the Joy of Sudoku.  I love doing Sudoku puzzles and this is a fun quilt to put together.  The next shop is Briar Patch Primitives.  Filled with prim dolls, please take a good look at the prairie dolls, made from new material, aged to perfection.  The last shop is Cats Designs, where Charlene makes signs, hand painted items, totes, and Raggedy Annie.  After you visit these shops remember you can type ofg team into the search bar on Etsy, and finds more wonderful shops with handmade items.  Great way to cool off!

Firecracker Kid Giveaway

Firecracker Kid is having a give away!  Sign up and vent about the heat!  That all folks!!!  How much fun can this be!  The winner will be pick August 1.  Good luck to everyone!  Here is the link!





http://www.firecrackerkid.blogspot.com

Dirtroadteam on Etsy - Wize Owl Handprints

Hello!  It is time to meet another member of the Dirt Road Team on Etsy.  Please take a minute to visit the shop of Wise Owl Handprints.  Amy does block printing from her own designs that she carves.  Her wild life is so life like, and amazing.  Her cards will be in a gallery in the south of France that is opening 8/14.  So if you are in France next month, stop by for a visit.  Check out the beauty and grace of the lilac swan, and if you can not decide which one you like the best, look at the great assortment pack.  Amy carves wolverines, toads, whopping crane, eagles, owls, bison, and many more.  Enjoy your visit and remember you can type in drat dirtroadteam into the search bar for many more amazing artist.  Have a great and wonderful weekend!

Times are Tough Thursday

Tools are for women blog is hosting another blog party.  Follow the link over and post some of your goodies, and share with others on your blog.  Have fun, see some new items, make some new friends.


http://toolsareforwomentoo.blogspot.com/

Look at what I won!

I won this beautiful peace from Adorable Country Classics.  You have to stop by Jody's shop on Etsy and see her wonderful work.  Here is the link to her shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/adorablecc  or you can go to her shop by way of the Etsy mini I have on the side bar.  Thank you so much for picking my name, and having this wonderful give away! 

What is it Wednesday

Welcome to another what is it Wednesday.  I hope everyone is surviving the heat and the storms.  To day I have wooden boxes that American Cheese (processed cheese) would come in.  The one on the top is from Windsor Canada, and the bottom one from Kraft.  Both would have been behind the glass at the meat counter.  You had to talk to the butcher, who would help you pick out your meat, weigh it, and wrap it up in paper.  The cheese would be sliced for you on the spot, and wrapped up.  When the cheese was used up, they would turn the box over, and inside added index cards, or paper slips.  If you did not have money to pay for your items, you could ask if you could put this on your account.  At the end of the week, and you where paid, you would go in and pay on your account.  Imagine long before the plastic credit card, and debit cards, you could get a line of credit at the meat, produce, or dry good stores.  Remember we did not have the super size grocery stores.  You bough what you could use up in a couple of days.  Refrigerators may have been the ice box, and food would spoil fast.   The store owners where you neighbors, friends,  most where honest, and so where their customers.  Simply needs for a simply time.

Monday Market with Old Farmhouse Gathering

Hello! Each Monday I find some shops from the Old Farmhouse Gathering team for you to visit.  So get something cold to drink, and have fun visiting these shops.  The first is Artbyme, where you will find one of kind Halloween make dos.  Next we find Ashley's Trinkets, with great key fobs, some vintage items, and home decor.  Last we will stop at Bear Mountain Prims and find some primitive pillows, grubby jars, and a Prairie Bonnet.  Remember you can type in OFG Team into the search bar for more great shops from a great team.  With the holiday coming fast, great way to get some shopping done, while sipping something cold to drink, and in your slippers.  Does not get any better!

Tootls Are For Women Too!

Hop over the the blog -  Tools are for Women Too!  It is a blog party showing the best of what is on Etsy.  Everything handmade!  Great way to get some ideas for the Holidays!  Here is the link:
http://toolsareforwomentoo.blogspot.com

Dirtroadteam on Etsy - Art by Donnarose

Hello, and please take a minute to visit the shop of Donnarose.  A self taught artist working in acrylics, water colors, and oil, Donnarose paints wonderful flowers, pet pictures, and  fan blades. This is a great way to add color to a room, if you do not have the wall space for a picture..  Plus she also works in jewelry, making crocheted wire cuffs bracelets, earrings and bookmarks.  Everything is original made by her.  You will find more great shops from the Dirt Road Team, by typing drat dirtroadteam into the search bar on Etsy.

What is it Wednesday

Welcome to what is it Wednesday!   Yes these are old potato chip cans.  Potato chips came into fashion in 1910, with them being delivery by horse and wagon, or sold from under glass shelves.  The first bags where made from was paper with the ends ironed shut or stapled.  About 1930 they where sold in tin containers with paper labels, then during the war years, added to the scape pile for ammo.  During the 50's they where sold in tin containers to restaurant and bars.  The deposit on the tins where between $1.00 to $2.00.  Big, big money for the time.  The Superior tins I have came from a local potato chip company in Detroit.  Today I have plastic bags inside with sugar, flour,  bread flour, and crackers.  I never had a bug problem in twenty years of using them.  Great way to save money.  They hold 25lbs of sugar, flour, or 3 lbs of chips.  Check to see if you have a local chip company.

Monday Market with Old Farmhouse Gathering

Welcome to Monday and the Old Farmhouse Gathering.  I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th, and enjoyed some fireworks.  Please visit the three shops I have for you today.  The first shop is Adorable Country Classics, where you will find many hand painted items, plus a shop banner.  The next shop belongs to Apple Tree Cottage with hand painted items also.  The last shop is Art Pod Studios where you will find copper plant tags.  The holiday season will be here soon, so if you are taking a break from the heat, stop by for a visit.  Get something cold to drink and enjoy your visit.  The Old Farmhouse Gathering has over 100 shops offering everything from soup to nuts.

I Won, I Won

Thank you Jody from Adorable Country Classics for picking my name!  I have won this wonderful clock!  This will look wonderful in my living room!  Well I'm having a great 4th of July!  Thank you again Jody!

Happy Birthday America

Happy Birthday America!


Have a safe and fun filled day!

Why Do I Love America

Matt Clark will be asking this question today on WAAM 1600, Ann Arbor, Michigan.  You can listen to him on the inter net.  Call Matt and tell him why you love America!  This is a great country even if we are having some problems. The reason I love American is because we are different from Alaska to Florida, from Maine to Texas.  From Moose to Cat Fish, from Long Horn Cattle, to White Tail Deer.  From sandy beaches to deep snow.  We have it all, and should celebate it every day!  Happy Birthday  America!

Dirtroadteam on Etsy - Mountain Home Pottery

Welcome and I have to wish the USA a Happy Birthday.  Be safe this weekend, and enjoy your time with family and friends.  Before you run off to the picnic and firework show, stop by the shop of Mountain Home Pottery.  Liz working with clay, a potters wheel, makes one of kind pottery.  They are similar in shape and size but the firing gives each one its own markings.  Check out how she presses old doily's into the clay to make an impression.  Then look at the bowl with the fall leaves around the outside edge.  This would look wonderful on your table for the autumn season.  Enjoy your visit with Liz, and remember you can type in drat dirtroadteam into the search bar on Etsy for more great shops.

Chirstmas in July

Today is the 1st of July, and Christmas is less then six months away!  Let's get busy and start getting ready.  I have made berry syrup this week, great on pancakes, waffles, French toast, and ice cream.  On the left side is blueberry syrup, and on the right a mixed berry syrup.  Very easy to make, and with some pancake mix would make a wonderful gift for someone this Christmas season.  

Pancake Syrup

12 cups berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc)  Use one kind or mix them up.

5 to 7 cups sugar

Wash all fruit, place in a pan, mash well (potato masher works well).

On low heat start to cook down, when the juices start to flow start adding the sugar. After you add the 5 cups check to see how sweet it is, if you use the full 7 cups it will also be a little more thicker.

Cook to it starts to boil, and the sugar dissolves.

Remove from heat and let cool.

Place in a blender, or run though a food mill.  A food mill will leave you with juice, the blender will give you some pieces of fruit.  I like a little fruit in mine, but this is up to you.

While the syrup is cooling down, get your jars and lids ready.

Return the blended juice to your pot and heat to boiling again.

Fill each jar to about a 1/2" from the top.

Water bath 1/2 pints 10 minutes, pints 15 minutes.  Remove from canner, and listen to your lids pop.

There are great web site with basic canning directions if this is new to you.

Pancake Mix

12 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

4 cups powder milk

2 tablespoons salt

3/4 cup baking powder

Mix together, and place in a tightly sealed container.

To make pancakes use

1 1/2 cups of the above mix

1 egg beaten

1 cup water

2 tablespoon salad oil

Mix well, cook on a hot grill, serve hot with butter, and your homemade syrup.

Some of the mix, with syrup, would make a wonderful gift to a co worker, neighbor, friend, or a elderly person on your list. Place in a basket, gift bag, or wrap up in a dish towel, with a new wooden spoon.   The best part is you can read what you are eating! 

Some gifts done!  I will have some more fresh from the garden or farm market ideas for the holidays.

Enjoy!