Monday, December 9, 2013

New Website

OK, so I finally did it. I started a new website! You can visit here: The Blueberry Bee. I want you to know that all won't be lost when this blog is deleted. Any pertinent content, as well as tutorial uploads will be made visible on the website. I'm probably most excited about the addition of a print button, so that you can freely print recipes & free patterns without hassle. I'll be leaving this blog in play until after the first of the year, but I won't be adding anything new. All new offerings will be on the website. Thanks! Have a great holiday season!

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Easy Soap Pump Cozy Tutorial

Cozies are all the rage. You can find patterns for cozies for just about anything, from coffee mugs to mason jars and a whole lot more. This project is easy, inexpensive, fun. Use colors to match the decor of your home or simply make a statement. Everyone will wonder where you got these. . . and you can proudly say, "I made them."




Friday, December 6, 2013

Christmas Bow Wreath

This project idea came to me suddenly, as I was trying to decorate for Christmas. Usually, the kids & I don't get started decorating until it's almost too late to enjoy it. And, quite frankly, I just wasn't in the mood last year. We were all still grieving over my Father-In-Law's passing, so the holidays didn't hold as much cheer for any of us. This year will still be hard, especially for my husband & Mother-In-Law, but the kids & I seem more able to get into the Christmas spirit. 

I've been in a Christmas music buying frenzy. I got a Bing Crosby CD (because I'm not sure what happened to the old one), Mannheim Steamroller, The Chipmunks, & 3 Harps for Christmas, Volume 1. I'm really happy about the 3 Harps CD. If you haven't heard it, you should give it a try. It's very pleasant & soothing. It's not down at all, though. It's lively & upbeat with that Christmas-y twinkle you would expect from a fine harp player (Sylvia Woods). I purchased mine through Amazon, but you can find it on iTunes, as well. I also purchased the second volume & downloaded it to my iPhone, so I can have it wherever I go. This is arguably the best Christmas music I have ever owned! I plan to listen to it often, especially mixing it in with The Chipmunks & Francesca Battistelli while we decorate the tree!

So, I wanted an easy fix for my front door & came up with this. I hope you enjoy it, as it's easy, quick, inexpensive, & fun. To keep it on the cheap, you could skip the plastic canvas & use cardboard instead. It would be a bit sturdier, too! Add jingle bells, ribbon, glitter, or whatever you can come up with. You could even do lots of them & have a Christmas fund-raiser -- a great way to raise money for your church or favorite charitable organization. Have a great Christmas!


VACATION!

We finally did it! Our first vacation in 10 years! I don't think we'll ever be the same. We had so much fun, except on the narrow mountain roads that never seemed to have an end! So I took some pictures & I'm sharing them with you. Enjoy!

Image The Blueberry Bee 2013

Image The Blueberry Bee 2013

Image The Blueberry Bee 2013

Image The Blueberry Bee 2013

Image The Blueberry Bee 2013

Image The Blueberry Bee 2013


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

An Apple for the Teacher

Here's a cute & quick little gift for any teacher in your life.


Cherry Coconut Dumpling


I had a mind to come up with something tasty the other day. So I went to my cabinet & pulled out some different things. This is what I came up with. (You can find the whole recipe sans pictures on the "Recipes" page.) Everyone in my family enjoyed it. This recipe is enough for 6 average appetites, but it really depends on what size portions you're used to. It weighs in at about 240 calories per serving (based on 6 servings).

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Cherry Coconut Dumpling
A Crock Pot Dessert by The Blueberry Bee


Gather your ingredients:
1 can (20 oz.) cherry pie filling (mine was light)
1 can Pillsbury Grands Jr. Honey Biscuits
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon allspice


Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces.
(My cutting board looks pretty rough, I know. It's stained from making play dough.)


 Place all the ingredients into the crock pot & combine well.


Put the lid on & turn it on low for about an hour.


Serve it up with some vanilla ice cream or sweet cream. 
Mmmmm. . . delicious!

If you don't know what sweet cream is, you're missing out! It's really good over cobblers & dumplings. To make it, simply combine a can of evaporated milk 
(or a small carton of heavy cream) with about 1/2 cup of sugar. 
I pour mine into a canning jar & shake, shake, shake! 

This recipe was a winner in my house & I hope it will be in yours, too.

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