Broomstick Lace Panel Bag

I made this bag for one of the ladies I work with. It will be her Christmas present. It is crocheted. It is huge. This bag would be great for that woman who carries everything but the kitchen sink. LOL I hope she likes it.

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

I made these the other day because I had a couple of over ripe bananas. My Dad used to make these. I made them Gluten-free.

1 1/2 cups oats
1 cup all-purpose flour*
1 1/2 tsp baking soda*
8 tbsp butter (one stick)**
1/2 c packed dark brown sugar
2 over ripe bananas, peeled
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the oats, flour, and baking soda.

In a large bowl using a mixer set at high speed, cream the butter until fluffy. Gradually add the brown sugar and beat until blended. Beat in the bananas until mixed. Add the egg and vanilla; beat until thick and light. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Drop onto cookie sheet and bake in 350 oven until done.

*To make GF cookies I used 1/2 c quinoa flour and 1/2 cup rice flour. Add another 1/2 tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp xanthan gum.

**No, you may not use margarine or shortening. They are both transfats and VERY bad for you! You may use extra virgin coconut oil for half, but that will give a pina colada taste.

80 Ways to Save the Earth Tote Bag

I stumbled across the pattern for this tote while doing a web search. It is a tote bag knitted with yarn and plastic grocery bags cut into strips and tied together into yarn. The strap for the bag is soda can tabs strung together. It is is coolest thing I have seen lately, and a great way to keep those plastic bags out of the landfill. It was quick and easy to do. I used a variegated yarn, but any will do. If you want to try it yourself the pattern is at :

http://www.darngoodyarn.com/2009/06/80-ways-to-save-the-earth-tote-bag/

Update on Brandon

Sorry this took so long to update. Brandon died August 14th. He was only 17. His heart never recovered. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Prayer request

Would anyone who happens to read my blog please pray for a family friend. His name is Brandon French. He is 17 and had a massive heart attack yesterday. He is in a coma at the U of M hospital right now. He is a good kid and like family to my best friend. He is her son's best friend. They are going to try to bring him out of the coma tomorrow. Please pray he will be healed and for strength for his family. His parents are not doing well right now. They are refusing to eat until they know how he is going to turn out.

Baby Shower Gifts

These are pictures of a baby shower gift I made this month. I made a bag for the expectant mother to carry all of her things to the hospital, a travel bathroom bag, and a sleep mask. They are all coordinated. I filled the bathroom bag with trial size shampoo, conditioner, etc. All she has to do is add her clothes and she is good to go. One less thing to worry about as the time approaches.

Save Money on Vanilla Extract

I make my own vanilla extract. It is easy and far cheaper than buying teeny bottles of it at the store. Imitation vanilla flavoring is made with an ingredient of paint thinner, so making your own is healthier too. I just made a fifth of vanilla extract for about $13. I bought 2 vanilla beans at Meijer for $6.99 and a fifth of cheap vodka for $5.75. Just put the vanilla beans in the vodka and let it sit for a couple of weeks. Vanilla extract. If you look at the store bought bottles of real vanilla extract (not imitation vanilla) it says vanilla beans and alcohol are the main ingredients. I stumbled across a website selling a bunch of 25 tahitian vanilla beans for $29.99(1.20). That is far cheaper than what I paid at Meijers($3.50 each). Next time I need to make some I will order the beans from them and have it even cheaper. The link for the beans is:http://www.fotvn.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=13 Hope this helps y'all live more frugally.