Several years ago I decided for Mothers Day I wanted to do a photo shoot for our family.  I would take the photos and since it was Mothers Day they ‘had’ to do what I asked.  This was such a huge success that I’ve been trying to do it each year since.  Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t always cooperate and it’s real easy for other things to get in the way so the family doesn’t have to trek all over town to appease the mom in the weekends that follow.  But this year, I was successful in getting all the planets to align.  While we did have a few hiccups, such as the dog almost dying, it all ended good; no fatalities and lots of good shots.  Here are some of my favorites!

Popularity: unranked [?]

This bulletin board can be created without a frame, the hardware would simply be added to the bulletin board backing.  But since I happened upon an amazing 38×50 ornate frame with hardware already in place at an auction for only $10 I decided to create one of these (minus the price!).  

Materials & Equipment:

• Frame (optional)
• Homasote (cut to frame opening size or size of choice)
• Fabric of choice; unbleached muslin, linen or burlap are good choices
• Staple gun & staples (3/8″ is perfect!)
• Hardware for hanging bulletin board

Instructions:

• The bulletin board backing is a material called Homasote.  Homasote is actually a brand name that has become synonymous with the product generically known as cellulose based fiber wall board — which is similar in composition to papier-mache. It’s made from recycled paper that is compressed under high temperature and pressure and held together with a glue. It is ½ inch thick and comes in sheets that measure 4′ by 8′. It can be found in lumber stores although our local Lowes and Home Depot didn’t carry it.  I used the Homasote website to locate a local retailer based on my area code.  The cost was $29.99 for a 4×8 sheet and I had the lumber store cut it to the final width.
• Fabric of choice.  I used linen.
• Lay the material on a table and center the homasote on top of the fabric.
• Using the staple gun, beginning in the center of an edge, wrap the fabric around the back and staple.  Continue around creating tension with the material as you wrap it around the edge.  Trim any excess fabric.
• Place the bulletin board into the frame and secure with hardware. 
• If you are not using a frame, you can use two eye bolts secured to the top edge of the bulletin board.  Run a ribbon through it to hang it or at hardware to the back to hang like a picture.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Found a new recipe at Allrecipes.com called Snow Flake Cocoa which was a huge hit at our annual Halloween bonfire last night.  Although I did decide to change the name to Hot [White] Chocolate.  If I would have told everyone I had made some Snow Flake Cocoa they would have said, “What?”.  So I decided to avoid any confusion and give it a more descriptive name.  Speaking for all of my neighbors, we have decided to give this recipe a rating of five stars. (I can speak for them since they drank my entire batch!)  I will definately be making this again and look forward to tweaking it to see what other flavors we can come up with.  Although you could just follow the link above I’m going to repost it here to make things a little easier on you.  I’m also going to share the tips I learned throughout the night.

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups whipping cream
6 cups milk
1teaspoon vanilla
1 (12 oz) package white chocolate chips

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS:
whipped cream
candy canes or peppermint pieces
bailey’s mint chocolate irish cream
peppermint schnapps

DIRECTIONS:

1. Stir together the whipping cream, milk, vanilla and white chocolate chips in slow cooker,
2. Cover and cook on low for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, shirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and chocolate chips are melted.  Stir again before serving.  Garnish with whipped cream, candy and/or liquor as desired.

I doubled the recipe which fit perfectly in my 6 qt slow cooker.  The initial batch did take 2 1/2 hours to melt the chocolate chips, with multiple stirs.  Once melted I filled a 3 litre thermos with the hot chocolate, leavng a small amount in the slow cooker.  Since I had picked up a few more bags of white chocolate chips I decided to go ahead and add one more batch to the slow cooker.  Since it had been on for 2 1/2 hours this second batch melted the chocolate much faster.  Turned out by the time we had emptied the first thermos full the second batch was ready to go!  

Oh, and by the way, I highly recommend adding the Baileys Mint Chocolate Irish Cream.  It was soooo good!  The whipped cream and one small peppermint piece just topped it all off.  YUM!

Popularity: 16% [?]