Martha's Elves and Vicki's Rolls

Good morning everyone
I've been working on a silly Christmas craft from Martha Stewart. You can find in the instructions in her Dec. magazine and also online if you are crazy as me and want to hand sew inch long elf shoes.

The first 3 finished elves.

I cut out enough hats, shoes, scarves and mittens for 12 more elves. I put them on a cookie sheet so I can hold them all on my lap and do hand work while I watch TV with Jeff in the evening.

I know Vicki in Utah from a homemaking list on YahooGroups.com. She does not have a blog so I can't link to her site.
Last week, she shared a freezer crescent roll recipe. The rolls are frozen before baking, then when you need some rolls, you just thaw out however many you need, let them thaw and rise for 4 hours and bake.

my first batch freezing on trays


all bagged up and ready for future meals.


This is what Vicki wrote-----
Here is my Freezer Crescent Roll recipe. It turns out great, I get asked to bring these to nearly any potluck function I go to. I have never know this recipe to fail for anyone I have given it to.
Someone on another list was asking for a roll recipe that could be frozen ahead and baked Thanksgiving day, so I sent my Freezer Crescent Roll recipe. Although it is not aimed at being a bread machine recipe, if you cut it in half, it works in a bread machine to mix it up and then roll them out and bake them. They are perfect for Thanksgiving if you freeze them ahead, because you can just pull them out of the freezer 3-4 hours before you plan to eat, let them raise, and bake them. They are my kids' favorite rolls.

Freezer Crescent Rolls
2 c. warm water
2/3 c. dry milk
1/2 c. instant potato flakes (potato pearls work if you make sure they dissolve)
1/2 c. butter or margarine (i use 1/4 c.)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. sugar
1 Tbsp. yeast
2 eggs
4-5 c. flour (from Rhonda - I needed more flour, probably 6 cups)
Mix ingredients, knead about 8 minutes. Let rise one time, about 1 hour. Punch down. Divide in 2 or 3 pieces (depending on how large you want your rolls; I usually do 3 pieces). Roll each piece into a 12-16" circle. Brush with melted margarine. Cut each circle into 12-18 pie shaped pieces. (I cut my 3 circles into 16 pieces each). Starting with the wide end, roll each piece up, tucking point underneath. Place on greased baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze. Transfer to plastic bags when frozen hard. To bake, remove from freezer 3-4 hours before baking. Let rise. Bake at 350 degrees about 10 min. or until golden brown. Makes 24-36 rolls.


"Peace can be possible in any situation, but we cannot produce it on demand. It is a fruit of the Spirit."
From Beth Moore / Praying God's Work Day By Day, December 1st entry.

My homekeeping schedule

Because I like to craft & sew & blog, and I also like to have a clean, organized home, I came to the conclusion that I need some sort of a plan or schedule to keep me on track.
Sometimes I have been deep working on a sewing project, and then starting wondering about homekeeping chore and felt guilty for sewing when maybe I should be cleaning a bathroom.
I started looking online for a house cleaning schedule but did find any kind of printable schedule. Then I remembered that Sharon at Keeper of the Home has a her schedule on her blog. So I started with hers as a guide. But her home and goals are not exactly like my home and goals so I used added and deleted and customized a plan for me.
I've been working on it for about a month, trying to find a balance and an order.
None of the days are too full that if I miss a day or two, I can catch back up or even work ahead.

So, here's my plan as it works for me right now

homekeeping schedule

Monday
Clip and organize coupons
Laundry –clothes, towels - ironing as needed
Kitchen – deep clean and declutter
Errands if needed

Tuesday
Bathrooms – deep clean and declutter both
Vaccuum and mop all floors
Dust all furniture as needed
Baking and freezing as needed

Wednesday
Pay bills every other week
Dust and clean craft room-computer area
Empty all trash cans
Bank and errands if needed
Water plants

Thursday
Trash to curb
Laundry – clothes, towels
Plan menus, shopping list – Errands if needed

Friday
Laundry – sheets and remake beds
Bedrooms- dust
Floors – vacuum and mop as needed
Bathrooms – touch up
Bath for Theo depending on how stinky he is and weather permitting

1st week of month
windows and window seals as needed, shampoo carpet as needed
2nd week of the month
clean all appliances and set oven to self clean
3rd week of month
garage and vehicles
4th week of month
corners and baseboards

This schedule is just for the chores that keep our home running smooth. I don't schedule in things that I do everyday like dishes, cook supper, exercise, Bible study, things that I just do without reminders.
And if you are looking for a schedule of your own, please just use mine or Sharon's as a guide and work out one that works for you and your family. We are all different with different family sizes, home sizes, different incomes, different preferences - but I hope this plan can help get you started if you are looking for ways to get things done.


this is a picture of my Grandma, age 86 or so here, and my daughter Nina.(Nina is 25 now) They are both shelling peas - young and old. And can you see all the peaches in the background waiting to be put up?
I come from families on both sides that have always been busy and got lots of things done.

My Monthly Goals

it is a new month and I've got 3 little goals for this month. (well, besides all the wrap presents, decorate the house, bake cookies, getting ready for Christmas goals)

1. Use a reusable bag every time I purchase something. I have several very nice bags but they seem to stay in the trunk and I don't remember them until I check out.
Today, I went to 4 stores and used a reusable bag at every one of them.

isn't this bag the cutest? I got it from Audra at Frugal Missus


2. Drop a little money into every Salvation Army bucket that I pass when I enter a store.

3. Whenever possible, buy everything either on sale or with a coupon or both. I did good on this one today.
At Hobby Lobby, my 3 little craft supplies were 40% off and I used a 40% off coupon on a big bottle of Mod Podge.
At Walgreens, I used coupons on everything and picked up my free collage print.
At Walmart, some of my grocery purchases did not have coupons but I got chocolate chips for 78 cents with an internet coupon and balsamic vinegar for $1.08 using $1 hang tags found on the bottles. And balsamic vinegar was even on my list!
Then to Braums, they had some coupons they mailed out last month, I used one today for $4 off a $20 purchase on their grocery items. I got milk, romaine, grape tomatoes, apples, pickles, jam, even free range eggs. They have very good prices and with coupon, it made for great deals.

So, how about you? Do you want to join me in my goals or do you have some of your own?