Things to keep you Cozy!

Rainbow Ear Flap Hat, available on my website.

My crocheting habit hasn't stopped in weeks, and I have been hooking up a storm!  Crochet is so easy to create and shape items, I love it!  Here are some of my newest creations.  Ear Flap hats are great for winter activities, skiing, snowshoeing, etc and keep you oh, so warm.
I have also been crocheting super thick neck warmers, or cowls, whatever you'd like to call them.   I love the cowl for hiking, it doesn't add too much bulk or weight, plus they are so tall and cozy that I can pull them up to cover my ears on a windy day!  Keeping warm with less bulk is always key on a hike, or snowshoe expedition.

New Crochet items great for Fall and winter!

Maroon hand warmers and hat, size small, youth

I have been busy crocheting this fall, and I am in LOVE with this craft!  I learned to crochet years ago from a gal I worked with in Ann Arbor at an Assisted Living home.  Her name was Elena, and we worked in the lock down Alzheimer's unit together.  Our female patients all used to know how to crochet or knit, but their dexterity and memory was so affected that they weren't able to craft anymore; but they sure loved to watch us crochet!  So, Elena taught me and I started a project to make a blanket; I brought that blanket in each day I worked and the elderly ladies "oo'd and aah'd" over it each time.  Even though the blanket was 7-8 feet long and only a few inches wide; what was I thinking?  To this day, I never finished that blanket; it's about 4 feet wide now and makes a comfy dog bed :)

I stopped crocheting after college for several years, and started knitting for a period in between, but didn't love the knitting.  Recently, I came back to crocheting and I am again 'hooked'!  Crocheting offers a lot of variety, you can modify patterns easily, if you mess up it's easy to take out, and it's just so, so, so fun!

My current line of handmade goodies are crochet items that you can use for the outdoors; hand warmers, neck warmers, ear warmers, hats with ear flaps and many of the items are lined with ORGANIC BAMBOO FLEECE!  One of my customers is quoted saying; "The fleece is so soft, I think this is what a cloud feels like."

Here are a few of the newest items, more to come!  Message me if you are interested!

Hot Crab Dip, from Aunt Chris

My sister and I :)

Josh and I went home to Michigan this past weekend for a friend's wedding and to visit with family since we aren't going home this holiday season.  We had a great time even though it was a very quick trip, from Thursday night through Monday night.  

While we were there my grandmother was asking what to do with some crab meat she had in the fridge.  I love crab, it's one of my favorite foods that I rarely get to eat.  She wanted to make a dip from it to use as an appetizer when she and my grandfather make the trip to Newaygo this weekend.  I suggested this recipe from my Aunt Chris (I had a recipe wedding shower and use some religiously).   Here is the recipe:

Hot Crab Dip
7 1/2 oz of crabmean, frozen, or can or imitation.  (Much better with anything but imitation)
1 Tablespoon milk
8 Oz cream cheese
2 Teaspoon Worcester sauce 
2 Tablespoon green onion 


Combine Cream cheese with milk and Worcester sauce.  Drain crabmeat. Add to cream mixture along with green onions.  Put into small baking dish, back at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until heated through, serve with crackers. 
This is for 1 serving of the dip; if you are serving more than 4 people then double the recipe. 
I also often add sauteed garlic and onion, or I just throw it into the mixture when baking 
You can also serve with chips or bread.  Very yummy and a party favorite!