Today is National Homemade Bread Day!

Today is National Homemade Bread Day, so I thought I'd share a favorite recipe for baguettes! I received baguette pans a few years ago for Christmas, so I found a recipe on-line which I use, but I do not steam the bread - I like a soft crust, not crunchy. I know, not a "true" baguette, but it is tasty for sure! You will find the recipe at this link.

Let's look at some fun bread facts, did you know . . . 

crafting with grandma - Christmas Wind Chimes!

If you are looking for a craft you could help your grandchildren make for their mom for Christmas, consider this one I found on Pinterest  . . . wind chimes!!! They will be able to decorate the clay pots however they like - just give them permanent ink pens . . . yes, I know the potential for getting ink on them is quite high, but you'll be able to remove or cover their shirts and have anti-bacterial hand gel available because a little of this takes ink off of hands . . . and arms . . . and faces . . . pretty much any skin which they may get "decorated" as well! And yes, they are more likely than not to get ink on their skin!

crafting with grandma - Glowing Snowmen!

If you are planning to have your grandchildren to your home for a Christmas party or other special time this year, consider surprising and delighting them with Glowing Snowmen I found on a blog called - "Stuff by Ash" - in your yard to greet them! (This photo is from Stuff by Ash.)

crafting with grandma . . . a Cute Giraffe to Crochet!

I know Christmas is a a month and a half away, but if you would like to get started on gifts for some of the sweet people in your life . . . or for a birthday or "just because", I have an adorable pattern for a cute giraffe you can crochet! You will find it a this link and I am delighted to share it with you!

Today is World Kindness Day!

Today is World Kindness Day - if ever we needed kindness in our world it is now as thing about kindness is, it is contagious, and it does truly change everything. So, today make the choice to be kind to yourself - give yourself a break. Then, be kind to the people around you - take time to smile, say hello, say thank you, let someone else go first. These are all simple ways to be kind - and easy ways to be kind.

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Upside-Down Doll!

  

When I was a child, my family often vacationed in the Smokey Mountains. One year on our trip, I was browsing in a "souvenir" store with my mom and saw an Upside-Down doll. It was something I had not seen before and my mom said I could have one. The doll became one of my favorites; what's not to love about two dolls in one???!!!

This Week is Anti-Bullying Week

While it is true, this week is Anti-Bullying Week, all weeks should be Anti-Bullying Weeks. A child I dearly love is dealing with bullying at school - it is so frustrating, sad, and heart-breaking when someone you love is bullied. So, today, and every day be sure to communicate how much you love the children in your live AND be crystal clear in communicating to them how bullying anyone is NEVER acceptable.

Today is World Origami Day!

Daysoftheyear(dot)com says for all of those folks who look at a flat sheet of paper and dream of all of the exciting objects which could be made out of it, simply by folding, today is the day for them to celebrate as today is World Origami Day. Before we look at ways to celebrate, let's learn some fun origami facts, did you know . . . 

Today is International Tongue Twister Day

One day twelve years ago when my grands were at my house, my then four-year old grandson sat down and read several books . . . as you might imagine, there is no shortage of books at this grandma's house for boys to read! It made my heart happy to see him choose to take some time for himself to just enjoy reading books!

After a bit, he found me in the kitchen working on fixing lunch and said; "Grandma! I just read, Fox in Socks and my tongue is NOT numb!!!" If you have not read this classic book lately, on the back cover it asks, "Is Your Tongue Numb?" My sweet grandson was pretty happy he had read all those tongue twisters out loud and did not end up with a numb tongue! It made this grandma happy, too, and remembering this today it makes me happy again - because of the wonderful memory and because today is International Tongue Twister Day!

Pumpkin Oat Cookie Bars!

I'm making some tasty pumpkin, oat cookie bars today for a special event, so I thought I'd share the recipe with you - but these tasty treats are sure to be enjoyed by anyone at any time - special event or just because! And, to add to the fun, I'm sharing some fun pumpkin facts - did you know . . . 

It is Peanut Butter Lovers' Month

I love peanut butter and think every month is a month to celebrate the tasty treat, but since November is apparently peanut butter lovers month, it is a great time to share a simple way to turn a favorite recipe into an even better recipe . . . peanut butter toll house cookies!

crafting with grandma - Bell Candy Cane Ornaments!

Several years ago my grandsons participated in my church's mid-week Children's Ministry when they were younger, and they made ornaments for each of their teachers. One year they made, melting snowmen ornaments - white glitter in a clear glass ornament with a felt triangle for a nose, two tiny black pom-poms for eyes and stick arms - very cute and a lot of fun to make and receive!

Today is National Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds Day

Mmmm! I do enjoy dark chocolate and almonds, so a day to celebrate these delightful treats sounds like a good idea to me! Especially since dark chocolate is good for you and almonds are good for you . . . combining the two has to mean this sweet treat is actually good for us . . . right??!!!

I thought it would be fun to share some almond fun facts with you on this delicious day - so I looked on-line for some info to share! Did you know . . .

November is Manatee Awareness Month

Swimming in just a few places in our world is a unique and recognizable  mammal - the Manatee.   They are able to live 50 or 60 years and while they are known as "seacows", they are most closely related to elephants and hyraxes. Let's take a look at a few more fun facts about these wonderful animals and then some ways to celebrate them this month . . . 

Did you know -