Wearing Aprons

I don't have a real extensive apron collection. The red one with the rooster was my dad's, he ran the Senior Nutrition Site and one of the ladies made the apron for him to wear while serving lunches. The denim one on the left Jerry just bought for me this past weekend. It has the Bisbee Farmer's Market logo on it and I'm going to start wearing it at the Farmer's Market on Saturdays. The second one from the right was the apron I made when I first started reading MaryJanesFarm magazine and participating in the forums. The second one from the left is a MaryJane pattern called the harvest apron. The entire yellow panel is a large pocket. I LOVE it! The one in the middle is my favorite apron though, and it is the one I have been wearing at the Farmer's Market for a couple of years. I even had to patch one of the pockets because I wore a hole in it carrying quarters in it! LOL!!

Since I now have a new apron for the Farmer's Market, I have started wearing my old favorite here at home for my baking and housework. There was a wonderful post floating around awhile back on Hillbilly Housewife entitled Apron Evangelism but, sadly, the link no longer exists. I was able to come up with a couple of quotes from the original article on other sites.

"One day Maggie, in the midst of a couple of vexing household/parenting issues, asked her mother for advice. Her mother told her she needed "a uniform or costume which would reassure myself and others of my intention and status in the home....It would remind me of my duties, inspire me to greater levels of cleanliness...and reaffirm my authority."

"Boy howdy, was I in for a surprise. In the mirror I saw a vision of the homemaker I have always strived to become staring back at me. Her cheery face glistened in the sunshine. Her hair tied up neatly in a bun looked authoritative and compassionate all at the same time. The apron covered several figure flaws and accentuated the fertile curves of the woman I saw in the mirror. This woman had purpose. She had status. She had clout. I stood there, contemplating the wonder of the homemaker that shone through my image in the mirror. “This is who I want to be” I told myself. “This is the Keeper of the home, with a capital ‘K’. ”

One of the issues I had with wearing an apron was where to store them so that I could get to them easily. Oh, and actually remembering to put one on!! ;) I just don't have any space on the walls in the kitchen for hooks so I got one of those over-the-door hooks and put it on the laundry room door so my aprons are now easily accessible.

How about you? Do you wear an apron? Do you think it helps to validate your position as the Keeper of the home to yourself and others?

Sharing with The Country Homemaker Hop, the Down Home Blog Hop, Farmgirl Friday, the Farm Girl Friday Blog Fest and the new Rurality Blog Hop with Madge at The View From Right Here.

Cranberry Jam

So, ya'll did buy extra cranberries and stash them in the freezer for later use during the year, right? Well, if not, there should still be some available in the supermarket. I always buy extras and freeze them because I really like making cranberry sauce throughout the year to go with my homemade cottage cheese.

I found this recipe for Cranberry Jam in a Taste of Home Canning magazine I bought earlier this year and decided to give it a try. This is the second batch I've made, it is sooo good and isn't overly sweet like a lot of jams and jellies. Several people commented that their jam didn't set up but mine has set up really nicely both times I've made it. I have been using it as one of the fillings for the Rugelach I've been selling at the Farmer's Market too, yum!! I just can't bring myself to buy jam from the store anymore because of the price and the fact that I'm not overly fond of some of the ingredients used, even in the more expensive ones.

I know THE Holidays are over but what a nice gift this would make for Valentine's Day tucked in a basket with some homemade Buttermilk Biscuits. :)

Linking up with Deb, Dolly and Heidi for Farmgirl Friday and the Farm Girl Blog Fest at Fresh Eggs Daily.

Yule Cookies

How are you celebrating The End of The World the Mayan Calendar? Carolyn at Krazo Acres and Lamb at Frippery Farm had a great idea, let's all make cookies! As Lamb said, "If the Apocalypse comes, you have cookies. If the Apocalypse doesn't come, you have cookies. Either way, WIN!" :)
I made up a batch of my Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies and to celebrate the Winter Solstice and Yule, I cut out moons and stars to represent the shortest night of the year and a sun to celebrate the return of the light. I also just had to make some Yule Goats to go under the tree!
I'll see you all tomorrow! ;)
Linking up with Farmgirl Friday and the Farm Girl Blog Fest.

Rosemary Wreath

I'm having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I think it's the 70-degree, no moisture weather we have been having. (sigh) Although, we do have a wintery storm heading our way for tomorrow.
I saw this idea on A Healthy Life For Me last week and since we have an entire rosemary hedge all along the front of the porch, I figured I could manage it!
I used an 8-inch grapevine wreath and cut sprigs of rosemary and just stuck them in between the vines of the wreath overlapping them slightly as I went along, no wire required. I added a red bow and called it good! It would also make a nice candle ring for a pillar candle. Quick, easy, festive, cheap and, as an added bonus, it smells really good! Making this and the Preserved Snowman did help lift my spirits a bit! :)
Linking to the Country Homemaker Hop, Farmgirl Friday and the Farm Girl Friday Blog Fest.

How To Preserve A Snowman

Is this not the cutest use for an old canning jar?!? I saw this idea awhile back on Maple Grove's blog and just had to make one of my own!!  I probably could have used a bigger jar but found this old "Hormel" jar at the thrift store recently for $4 and that included the zinc lid. I had the snowman and the little tree was $1 down to the WalMart. Make sure you hop over to Katie's blog to see the ones she put together, they are waaayy cuter than mine! :)
Linking up with the Country Homemaker Hop, Farmgirl Friday and the Farm Girl Friday Blog Fest.

Gingersnap Cookies

I have been selling these cookies for awhile now at the Farmer's Market and they always sell out. It took a bit of fiddling around with my recipe to get it to where I was really happy with it and wanted to share it with all of you! :)

Gingersnap Cookies               **Click here to print this recipe**

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 3/4 cups Baking Mix
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Sugar for rolling the dough in (I use Turbinado, or raw, sugar)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light. Add the egg and molasses and beat well. Stir in the Baking Mix, cinnamon, ginger and cloves, mix well.
Shape the dough into balls and roll in the sugar to coat.

Place the balls of dough onto a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned and crinkly on top. Let cool slightly before removing to a rack to cool completely.

These are a lovely, spicy, softer cookie. The Turbinado sugar adds a special touch and a little crunch. I hope you get a chance to try these for the upcoming Christmas cookie baking season! :)

Linking to The Country Homemaker Hop, Farmgirl Friday and the Farm Girl Friday Blog Fest.