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Wee Knit Giveaway!!

If you know us at all–you’ll know that we–as a family–just aren’t into the noisy, flashy, spinny toys that seem to be all the thing these days. I swear, some of them seem kind of…possessed…ummm…I mean, a bit over the top. Which is why I love, love, LOVE these sweet little finger puppets from Wee Knit.

No, this is not a paid endorsement, I just really love them.

Years ago, I bought a little Gingerbread Man at Mormon Handicraft in Salt Lake City. He was so sweet and tiny and adorable that I couldn’t help myself. I soon found that he fit very nicely on top of a knitting needle that was poking out of my pencil cup. He has lived there ever since.

So then one day, I’m dinking around on Etsy (the online shop for all things Handmade) and I found the WeeKnit shop–where my little cookie man came from! Wahooo!

I contacted them to see if they could conjure up an Edward and Jacob finger puppet for our New Moon party. Jennifer was wonderful with my silly special order. As you can see–they did an incredible job!!

(Wait until you see what I’m going to order for Christmas! hee hee…)

You need to visit the shop–seriously. These gals–Tracy and Jennifer, a mom and daughter–have thought of everything. Movies, TV shows, Story books.

Recognize these little guys?

You need animals? Circus clowns? Ninja Turtles?

Pirates? Easter? Nativity?

Trust me…they’ve got them.

They even have a Valentine set—and it’s on SALE!

What a great gift for your little Valentines–hint, hint.  ;]

Now–since it’s been such a long, long time since we’ve had a giveaway AND because, again, I can’t help myself–we are giving one lucky reader this adorable “Little Red Riding Hood” Finger Puppet Set–from WeeKnit.

Sooo. Dang. CUTE!!

To enter, simply go to the WeeKnit site and tell me in the comment section below, which set is your very favorite. Oh, and it has to be one that I haven’t show here.

I’ll announce the winner Monday morning January 25, 2010–first thing.

Good luck my dah-lings!

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Butternut Bread

I loved the idea of a bread made with Butternut Squash–especially when no one can tell  it’s in there. So fluffy and tender—all the while also being very sneaky indeed. Sneaky bread.

Doesn’t that just make you want to eat it?

Heh, heh.

Buttercup Bread

Ingredients

3 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
2 tablespoons sugar
2-1/2 cups mashed cooked buttercup or butternut squash
2 cups milk
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 teaspoons salt
13 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

In a very large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the squash, milk, brown sugar, butter, eggs and salt; mix well. Add 6 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.

Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours.

Punch dough down. Divide into three portions; shape into loaves. Place in three greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 3 loaves (16 slices each).

 

Buttercup Bread
 
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Ingredients
  • 3 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
  • ½ cup warm water (110° to 115°)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2-1/2 cups mashed cooked buttercup or butternut squash
  • 2 cups milk
  • ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
  • ⅔ cup butter, softened
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 13 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
  1. In a very large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
  2. Add sugar; let stand for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the squash, milk, brown sugar, butter, eggs and salt; mix well.
  4. Add 6 cups flour.
  5. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.
  6. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
  7. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
  8. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top.
  9. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours.
  10. Punch dough down.
  11. Divide into three portions; shape into loaves.
  12. Place in three greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pans.
  13. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
  14. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.
  15. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

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Jesse’s T-shirts!

My sweet nephew, Jesse–has been blessed with an amazing artistic talent. Lately, he designed this awesome T-shirt for Threadless–a company that will produce and promote an artist’s work based on the scores each shirt receives from viewers.

We are so excited to show you his designs and ask that you click on the icon below. It will take you to the site where you can score and vote–for his, and other shirts–if you’d like.

Please, please–do check it out…

strength from the roots - Threadless T-shirts, Nude No More

Spellcheck - Threadless T-shirts, Nude No More

Thanks~ We love you…

Good luck Jesse!

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A Successful Mode of Living

“As with all commandments, gratitude is a description of a successful mode of living. The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us. President J. Reuben Clark, said: ‘Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them’

~James E. Faust

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The Big Eclipse…

Remember the night that we did this crazy thing?

And remember these?

Yum…and these?

Ok, I’ll get to the point…

We had so dang much fun at the midnight showing of “New Moon” that we are planning our own “Eclipse” party on June 30, 2010. The last time our Gracious Rain crew took up an entire row—-that wasn’t enough for us. Now, we haven’t picked the actual place yet, Salt Lake, Lehi or Orem, BUT we are looking to book the whole darn theater.

Yes, we’re serious.

No, we’re not kidding.

You won’t want to miss this.

Now here’s what we need from you…

How many of you–our friends and family and blog pals and readers—whoever you are, want to join our sweet little party? We will need a rough idea of how many are potentially interested in coming–in order to book the right size theater. In the comments please let me know if you want to come and how many tickets you would likely want. That’s it. So easy.

Thanks.

Trust me…

this is gonna be riot.

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