Only Four Left

I made a batch of decadent brownies the other day and now they are almost gone. My purpose in making them was to use up a bit of leftover buttercream icing from, oh, maybe August. That was our last birthday celebration, so that's what the icing was probably left over from.

First I used a brownie mix for the bottom layer (purchased on sale with a coupon, of course), but I baked it in a 9"x13" pan. Then I stirred a little cream cheese into the leftover icing and spread it over the cooled brownies. Finally, I melted about half a package of chocolate chips with a little shortening and poured and spread it over the icing. A little chilling in the refrigerator and they were ready to eat.

But~we found them tastier after sitting in the refrigerator for a day.

Samantha Has New Clothes

Samantha models a few of the new doll outfits I made this week. I will be trying to sell them at an upcoming craft show at a ladies event at church. Heather hopes to make a few things for the craft show too.Here is a cranberry wool sweater and black suede skirt. I felted a wool sweater and cut it down to itty-bitty to make the sweater. This is a knit jumpsuit, but it still needs some trim. I'm thinking a little fabric rosette on the bodice, then Samantha is off to play.

My current project is creating a pattern for a riding outfit for one of the historic dolls. It is taking me awhile to make the pattern and a prototype jacket, then I will make the whole outfit in dark green suede cloth. A little girl I know will be getting it for her birthday.

Later ~ Here is the riding outfit, complete except for the tiny gold buttons accenting the gold braid. I haven't found those elusive buttons yet.

Decorating for Fall

Fall is not my favorite season, so I usually procrastinate on adding some fall color to our house. But it's rather cold now (that means I need a sweater sometimes), so I finally got in the mood to let the fall colors show inside as well as outside.

Here is the buffet in our dining room, about the only place where I can safely add seasonal decor because clutter usually doesn't get plopped here. In the background is a Pilgrim couple that Heather made out of cardboard and paper many, many years ago. I love it! I see that Mrs. Pilgrim lost her bonnet somewhere along the line. Maybe Heather can make her a new one this year.

October Freebies

I like to keep a list of what I get free, or costing me just a few cents, every month. This is a great reminder to me of how God blesses our family in my efforts in being a true Home Economist. We were on vacation for 2 weeks, so my purchases were lighter, but here are my deals for the weeks I was home in October:

Publix Mystery Coupon Items:
loaf of white bread (turned into croutons)
TP

Rolling CVS Extracare Bucks:
2 12-packs TP

Rolling Walgreen's Register Rewards:
4 lb honey
tub of wet wipes

Great Sale Prices Combined with Coupons Makes Free:
Canola oil
fresh pineapple
2 6-packs grape juice
tortillas
3 lb cheddar cheese
2 boxes Swiss Miss
2 4-packs Activia yogurt

Free Deals:
4 lb bag oranges (Kroger's price guarantee)

Given to Me:

End-of-Summer Sewing

I did a couple of quick sewing projects at the beginning of the month, just before we went on vacation. We were headed to the tropics, so I made two cool cotton skirts. The white one is made from a piece of fabric I have had for years; it has a woven-in floral design. I have used the pattern several times before; it is one of my current favorites because I like the way the inset triangular godets give fullness to the hem while keeping the waist and hips more fitted.

The blue tropical print is a remnant I bought on summer clearance. The pattern for this one (Butterick 3134) I had never used, and, after tweaking it, I really love the style and fit. It has 8 gores, which flare out at the hem, but not as full as a trumpet hem. (Please pardon the hair; we had just been snorkeling.)

My Free Items for September

I like to keep a list of what I get free, or costing me just a few cents, every month. This is a great reminder to me of how God blesses our family in my efforts in being a true Home Economist. Here is my list for September:

Publix Mystery Coupon Items:
Nilla wafers
6 pk bottled water

Rolling CVS Extracare Bucks:
Cascade dw detergent
4 bottles Tide laundry detergent
Dawn dish detergent
Cottonelle bath tissue
Softsoap Nutri-serums body wash
Johnson's Forever Fresh body wash with free lotion sample attached
Aquafresh Iso-Active toothpaste
Neti Pot sinus wash kit
2 pkgs chocolate covered peanuts
2 tubs Mom's Best oatmeal

Rolling Walgreen's Register Rewards:
Breathe Right strips
Rembrandt toothpaste
Colgate 360 Actflex toothbrush
Carefree 16 count
Sinus Wash refill packets
2 bottles Pepto Bismol
ThermaCare heat wrap
2 Oral B toothbrushes
Ibuprofen
3 tubes Airborne
Herbal Essences shampoo
Softsoap Spa body wash
Emergen-C immunity booster
drain opener
facial tissues on clearance
4 lb honey
2 bags nut crisp things

Great Sale Prices Combined with Coupons Makes Free:
4 bottles A-1 Steak Sauce (10 cents each)
Philly cream cheese
4 small boxes Whitman's Samplers
candy bar
3 Reach floss
4 Glade soy candles
10 lb potatoes
1 qt plain yogurt
1 lb corn meal
2 cans Parmesan cheese
6 cups Yoplait yogurt
2 pkg Ballpark franks
4-pk Activia yogurt
4-pk Danactive yogurt
2.65 lb fresh tomatoes
1.35 lb fresh broccoli
4 lb noodles

Free Deals:
beef jerkey

Given to Me:
homegrown chili peppers, and more, and more
Nilla wafers
pizza

Sunday Dinner

Sunday at noon, we suddenly had more people for dinner than I was expecting. On top of that, our pork roast had shrunk during baking more than I expected. My quick fix:

I used all the side dish ingredients I was already planning to serve but I layered them in a casserole dish. First a layer of mashed potatoes, then the pork roast diced and combined with gravy, cooked carrots, and peas. It all seemed to stretch farther this way, and it was yummy.

The only side dish I didn't stir in was the pear-and-melon salad.