Crafting afternoon

 I signed up for my local Hammer and Stain class of cookie decorating and a wooden object topper in the apple theme. They do these once a month and are planned through next March. 

It was so fun! I was one of two newbies, so mine don't look as good as the rest, but they taste great. I also got a personalized one, some apple tasting gummies and a little apple cookie cutter. There was apple cider and apple streusel bread for munching on.

I had never done this type of cookie decorating, with outline and then filling. They had everything prepped and we each got 4 little piping bags pre filled with the frosting needed. We did sections and put them under the little fan to dry as we continued on. It was a lot of fun. The rolling pin might have been eaten when I got home. Chatting with the 'cookie lady' and it appears the removal of the things from the red dye - bumped the price from $10 to $60 for less product and it is not as red. So, keep that in mind for things that are red going forward. We are fortunate to not have those allergies and it appears Aldi products took the red dye additives out of their products back in 2015. I wonder if that will affect fabric dying or paints... technically they are not eaten but I'm not sure what the specific requirements are from the FDA. I was shocked at the jump in the price.... and she said looks like a pink Valentines as red will be crazy high! I hear it will be a Valentines Murder Mystery! Their Christmas one is a nutcracker, and he is pink and green =).

 

Then we moved onto the wooden shelf topper. This one had lots of parts and pieces. I did mine in the colors of the example, as so many parts and I could not think. I think it came out pretty cute. All parts were wood glued together. On the back is two sets of 3 U type wooden parts glued together, and then a quarter pie shape slides in to hold it upright. I really enjoy doing things like that... and might have signed up for next month's class. Heck, it will be my anniversary present to me!

I did cook this weekend and they get leftovers tonight! Saturday night I made orange chicken with stir fry veggies and rice. I had 4 oranges that needed using so I juiced them. I only had 3/4 a cup so used 1/4 water to get the needed amount. Aidan said it was too sugary, and requested sesame chicken next time. Greg and I like this version but I'll buy OJ next time. I'll probably just make the 2 sauces and let them choose. Sunday, Emily wanted corned beef and cabbage so she can bring it for lunches. It was frozen.... so I pulled the 4.89 pound one from the freezer and popped it into the InstaPot and cooked it on Beef/pork for the 90 minutes it said. It was ready 10 minutes after I left the house but shortly after Greg and Em were home from horses. They had instructions to pull it and pop it into the crock pot on low that I had on the counter for them. I was not sure it would be fully cooked, but it was. I used some of the 'juice' with water to boil up red potato, carrots and 2 onions on the stovetop and just the juice with cabbage in the instapot for 8 minutes on steam. I love cabbage cooked that way. I had a huge cabbage, so did half of it that way. The other half will be coleslaw with something later this week. I also made an irish soda bread to go with it. I had one slice and Emily and Greg ate at least half of it last night. I guess they like it and I had not made it in a while. Aidan was at Grandma's house and brought back leftover pizza for his lunch today. She was going through things, and he came home with a watch of a Cincy Reds player from the 70's from her Dad I think. He also got Papa Andy's Vietnam swiss army knife and flint in a case. I asked about her giving it to his kids or grands, but she said he watched my kids grow up so they should have it. She has passed on other things to his kids. Each of mine have recieved some things from him as well.

I joined Noon again on Saturday. It did help me lose weight the last time I tried it - I think I lost 13 pounds and kept it off for a bit. It crept back on the last couple of years. Stress, probably! They have improved their meal logging which is the part I really like about it. Snap a photo and they break it down. Pretty accurate and I go in and modify things if needed. I know hormone imbalance is causing a lot of issues, so hopefully being on some of those now to balance things out and eating better will help to lose a few (30) pounds and get back to a healthier me.

One kid won't be too happy with all the veggies. Oh well, he will live!

This afternoon - if not too hot will be a little weeding in the garden to get it ready for planting. It is a jungle and should take a while, but a bit each day should have it ready for planting something next weekend. I'll either cut out more Accuquilt blocks to hand piece or start sewing the Birds in the Air together into a top. Those will be the priority this week I think.