Hobby collections

Pictured is a portion of collected model kits and work area. More models are in the cupboards and under the work area.

Many of those who do any kind of hobby usually have a collection of unfinished or not-yet-started projects. We were looking at an online plastic modeling site recently where modelers show off their latest project or post comments and questions. One person said they had about 20 or so unbuilt model kits with all the after-market extras, but has yet to build them. Did anyone think that was too many to have stored up? Replies varied from “Intrigued by this question I decided to count my stash. At best I can tell I have 211 untouched non-railroad theme kits stuffed in my apartment. The railroad stuff is another story and for another forum. I think I need to sign-on to a couple group builds!!!” Another reply “I have about 250 to 300 unbuilt kits (includes accessories and updates/resin sets). I have been collecting various kits for about 15 years and intend to build each and every one of 'em.” It seems that we are not the only ones to have unfinished projects around. One of our readers commented that their favorite projects were to make things with “yo-yos,” but they also knit, crochet and do other crafts as well, many of which are works in progress.

Besides our shelves having a number model kits on them, we have HO-model train kits, fabric, stitchery kits, rubber stamps, fabric, trims, yarn, patterns and more. Then there are the home-improvement projects. We have great plans of fixing up and painting all sorts of things. Sometimes we will even purchase the materials and paint. We just know we can do the job and save money in the process, but sometimes they come to a stands

Flavored nut recipes

Spicy Cocktail Nuts recipe
2 T butter/margarine, melted
¼ t garlic powder
¼ t paprika
¼ t onion powder
Dash Tabasco sauce
1 lb. walnuts

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
Mix butter and seasonings.
Add nuts and coat.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Drain on paper towels.

Roasted Nuts
1 lb. walnuts
¼ c maple syrup
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Mix syrup and walnuts.
Sprinkle on dressing mix and stir.
Spread on greased cookie sheet.
Bake 20 minutes.
Cool on foil.

Quick and easy meals

Pictured is a stir-fried vegetable and bean salad for two.

Fast food is a way of life in America. Many get in the habit of going through the fast food drive-through lane on the way to work, at lunch and on the way home in the evening. Some stop at the store for pre-packaged frozen meals or similar items.

We have developed our own fast food at home that is not only quick and easy, but include better nutritional choices than most stop and go places. Not to mention a great savings to the budget. There is just the two of us at home for meals now, but quick and easy can happen for any family size.

Our latest favorite is stir-fried salad. Any vegetables can be used; even pre-cut assortments can be purchased in the stores these days. Here is a sample of what can be done.

One carrot, sliced; one onion and half of a green pepper, chopped. Stir-fry vegetables in olive oil, when they are cooked, add one cup pre-cooked black beans and cook until heated. Divide on two plates and top with Italian dressing. Serve with tortilla shells or rolls. The amount of vegetables used depends on the number of servings desired.

Other favorites of ours are scrambled eggs with cheese in tortilla shells, little pizzas made on bagels or rolls, quesadillas, baked potatoes with toppings and chili topped with cheese. All can be made in a matter of minutes and some are even easy to eat on the go.

Stir-fried vegetables can be added to the scrambled eggs. Little pizza toppings can include a choice of vegetables, meat and or cheese. Potatoes can be baked in the microwave and topped with pre-cooked vegetables, chili, cheese or other favorites.

Vegetables can be easily prepared for quick snacks. Carrots, celery, broccoli and cucumbers are a few that come to mind.

Salads made in larger batches and stored in the refrigerator for single servings to be used at a later time are also something we like to do. Some choices are shredded carrots with raisins, potato salad or macaroni salad. Chili is something we make a large batch of in the crock pot and then reheat in single serving sizes when desired.

Preparing food at home gives us the control of what ingredients go in our meals. We can choose things like no-fat or low-fat dressings, amount of salt or other seasonings we want in place of salt and the amount and type of sweetener. We can also choose dried, canned, frozen or fresh ingredients.

Fruits and nuts are other fast and easy foods. Buying them in season from local growers is when the best quality and price can be had. Nuts are harvested all the way from August to November and can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 18 months. Some growers store nuts that are available for purchase all year long. A variety of fruit is also available locally all year long.

Winter fruits include Kiwi, lemons, oranges and grapefruit. Citrus is available through the spring months along with strawberries. Later in spring comes cherries, early peaches and apricots. Summer brings more peaches, nectarines, blackberries, elderberries, pears and plums, just to name a few. Late summer grapes and some apples are available. Fall brings more apples, pomegranates and persimmons. Most fruit can be dried, canned or frozen to be used at a later date. The length of time fruit can be stored depends on the type of fruit and method of storing.

Snacks that can be carried anywhere include dried fruit and nuts. Seasoned or candied nuts are also great snacks. This week we will post a few of our quick and easy nut recipes on our blog site at the address below. While grabbing those quick meals and snacks, make healthy choices and enjoy. Happy eating!

Vegetable garden plans

Pictured are tomato and pepper plants from the nursery along with seeds and peat pellets to start other vegetables.

Spring is here and the weather has been warm enough to start planning our vegetable garden. For our garden we usually buy starter-plants in six-packs for peppers and tomatoes. The rest we start from seed in little peat pellets that we later plant directly into the garden.

We went by the nursery the other day and picked up some plants for our vegetable garden. Jalapeno is one of our favorite hot peppers, but we also like less fiery types like Anaheim. For sweet peppers we choose several bell varieties. This year, the variety of tomatoes we choose was Celebrity, Big Beef, Champion and Beefmaster.

The peppers can be used fresh in salads, to spice up other vegetable or main dishes. Tomatoes are something we like to eat fresh, add to main dishes, as well as to make juice and sauce with. When making our tomato juice and sauce we include a variety of peppers to suit our taste.

This year we are changing to a new area for planting the tomatoes. They need to be moved to a different area every few years to get better production. Tomatoes are deep-rooted plants and once established they can usually tap into underground moisture. The peppers we put on a drip-irrigation system to water them as needed. Drip-lines are added to other vegetables if needed when they are planted.

We constantly battle gophers and Johnson grass, as well as weeds in general. Using raised planters and wire baskets have reduced the impact of the gophers. However, controlling Johnson grass requires digging up the roots or it will reestablish itself seemingly overnight.

Vegetables we plan to plant from seed include melons, summer and winter squash, cucumbers and carrots. We plant several types of each to give us a chance to have something different coming ripe all summer long instead of everything coming all at once. The winter squash are mostly grown to last us through the winter.

Growing fruit is another part of our gardening. This year we started eight blueberry bushes to add to our raspberries, boysenberries, rhubarb, wild blackberries and elderberries. We also added a new nectarine tree to our variety of fruit trees.

Our goal is to have fresh vegetables and fruit from our garden through as much of the year as possible and to can, freeze or dry enough to last us the rest of the year. We try to plant more than enough to compensate for what the wild animals, birds and insects eat, but it is always a guessing game. If we end up with a surplus our friends and family are happy to help us with that.

Happy gardening to all those who venture to dig in and give it their best.

More items made from yo-yos

Pictured is a window valance, flower magnets, watermelon magnet, birdhouse magnet, Christmas tree and angel, all made from fabric yo-yos.

Angel yo-yo craft

Pictured are back and front view of yo-yo angel with circles to make another.

Easter is almost here. Many celebrate it as a time for bunnies, egg hunts and candy. For Christians it is a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and their choice of a new life through Christ.

This year we decided to make little angels to use as decorations and gifts for Easter. They are made of graduating fabric yo-yo circles for the robe, a 25 millimeter glass ordainment for the head, a ribbon bow and gold cord for the wings and halo. The fabric we used for the robe is a sheer white with a small white flower print. Two angels can be made from a fourth yard of fabric.

The yo-yos are made from eight fabric circles starting at 2 1/2 inches going up to 5 1/2, making each circle 1/2 inch bigger than the last and making two circles of the last size. We made the circle templates from the lids of disposable containers, cutting them to the desired diameter. Using needle and thread we sewed around the circle with running stitches; pull the thread to gather the fabric up until it is as tight as it can be gathered, forming the middle of the finished yo-yo.

The ribbon bow is made out of 1/8 inch ribbon. The wings are cord looped three times and secured with ribbon in the middle, finished size of wings are about 4 inches across. The halo is a 1-inch diameter circle made from cord.

All pieces are hot glued together to form the angel. The finished height is 3 1/2 inches.

People ask us how we find time to do projects like this. While many people choose to watch TV or go to a movie in the evening, we usually do crafts or play games. Sometimes one of us is working on a craft and the other is reading out loud, a book of interest to us both. Currently we are working on a fiction/historical trilogy by Francine Rivers called the “Mark of the Lion.” The first book is “A Voice in the Wind.” It is set in the first century following a Jewish slave girl from Jerusalem to Germania, Rome and Ephesus. It also describes the training of a gladiator and his terror as he faced his foes in the arena. The description of how the society lived during this time period is very vividly told.

There are TV shows we do enjoy watching like “Extreme Home Makeover” and “California’s Gold.” The evenings these shows are aired the crafts and games are set aside in favor of the TV. Our TV watching days may be numbered though as it was reported in the news a few weeks back that our TV will be obsolete in 2009. At this point we are not convinced we should get a new one. There are always plenty of games, crafts and books to keep us busy.

On the subject of other crafts, a picture of more items we have made will be pictured on our next post.