Merry Christmas!!

Peanut Butter Cups!

I came across this recipe for Reece's Peanut Butter Cups a few years ago. Ever since, I've made them at Christmastime and give to my kiddos. You can freeze them, however, I would be unable to tell you how long they last in there because my kids devour them so fast! ;o)

~ Below is how they look in progress ~

From left to right:

* bottom and sides filled with chocolate *

* center filled with peanut butter mixture *

* top chocolate layer *

Ya, I'm a little messy

 

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter (creamy)

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 (12oz) pkg. chocolate chips

1/4 teaspoon salt

In small bowl mix the peanut butter and powdered sugar until firm. Set aside.

Melt chocolate chips in double boiler over hot, not boiling water. You may also melt them in microwave on high, stirring every minute. Add the salt.

Grease muffin tin cups/papers and spoon some chocolate into each cup, filling about halfway.

With spoon, draw chocolate up edges of each cup until sides are coated. Cool in fridge til firm.

Spread about t. of peanut butter onto chocolate in each cup, leaving room for final chocolate layer. Pour or spoon chocolate on top of each candy and spread to edges.

Let sit at room temp or covered in fridge. Turn out of pan when firm.

************

I double this recipe and get a good 42 or so of the small p.b.cups.

I've tried them in the big muffin tins - whoa - way too big and way too much!  But if you don't have the mini, just fill tins half way, unless you want giant mutant p.b.cups! hehehe

So, I'd suggest the mini muffin tins - use the papers and spray them with butter cooking spray.

If you don't have the papers, you can use just the tins and spray them too.

I just think they store better and look cuter in the little paper cups.

Enjoy my friends!

Just Sharin' * And Happy Friday!

Morning all! Wanted to share a couple of scriptures from my morning devotion.
Have a blessed day my friends!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord

Colossians 3:23

 

 

 

Christmas at Early Works!

 I almost forgot.....
there's a little bit of Christmas in my


MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5

 

*** PATTERN SALE ***

**Sale runs through midnight December 1 ** 

 Click Here for MY WEBSITE

BUY 1
GET 1 FREE
E-PATTERNS
PAPER PATTERNS


**Sale runs through midnight December 1 **

ETSY SALE!

**** ETSY *** SALE ****

Hop on over to my Etsy shop for 50% OFF!

In case you miss the coupon code on the site - type in :

Nov50BP

at checkout!

On the right sidebar of this site, go down to ETSY and it will take you to my shop!

Expires Nov.17

Have a blessed day my friends!

*******************************

*** Big 'Ol Sale ***

........C R O S S R O A D S.........

We all have times in our lives where we come to a cross road. I think I'm there right now. I've been having some health stuff lately, cracked my tailbone somehow, (yep, I'm a klutz) .... back problems now, etc... and it makes it very difficult in the crafting part of my life. And from my hand surgery 2 yrs ago, well it's still messed up a bit and not as flexible,etc. I'm not one to whine and complain, so I have been silent on my blog and newsletters about this.

My husband and I are also fixing up a bedroom and making a bathroom for my 91 year young  father in law....who sooner than later, will be moving in with us.

  I find myself  re-evaluating my biz, Barefoot Primitives. I've created my baby from nothing years ago, but I'm at a point where I'm just not sure which direction - if any - I should go now. Do I sell my baby and walk away or give it a little more time. For right now, I think I will give it a bit more time.

So I will start off a little liquidation of my website first. I'm having a sale beginning now  - everything on my website (excluding patterns) - will be 60% OFF, shipping still applies. No matter how much something might already be marked down, everything needs go. If you would like patterns, I will be having a sale on them soon.

So I'd be honored if you would hop over to my website and help yourself to some great deals - a little Christmas shopping spree!

Coupon Code:  60BP

Have a blessed day my friends!

 Click Here for MY WEBSITE

Early Works tonight!

 I almost forgot.....
this little Christmas Pear will be in my


MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE

tonight!

Halloween

It's almost here! 

** H a l l o w e e n **

I'm sure some of you reminisce to your own Halloween's past at this time of year.... where you could trick or treat half the night and never worry about anything bad happening.

 We'd get a brown paper grocery bag... get it full, drop it at home, grab another and get busy again! We always had some sweet neighbors that would have fresh home baked treats for us! At that time, I never realized that my dad would dig through my loot and pick out some prime pieces for himself before I got back! And I was so excited by the night's activities, I would never know what I got until it was all over anyway!

It's funny how that tradition carried on with my own kids... the part about digging through their goodies. ;0)   However, when they were little, it was just starting to, or we were just getting aware of, some people that weren't very nice.  So we created an alternative for our kiddos....

Since houses are farther apart around here, we'd hitch up the trailer to a tractor or Jeep. It would be decorated with hay bales, blankets (I mean seriously, you can't spend all that time on a costume and show up at a door in a parka just because it might be cold!),  and plenty of hot chocolate in thermos' would be on hand. We'd load it with our midgets and some neighbor kids and drive all over the place, mom's or dad's taking turns hopping off the trailer to stand guard over all the little goblins, witches, fairies, angels and super heroes.

Now a days we go to our church for Trunk or Treat!
We load up the '55 Chevy with candy and join in with a bunch of other cars in the parking lot.
Last year there was over 300 kids from what I heard!

So no matter what your Halloween plans are... be safe and have fun!

Trick or Treat!

Early Works punkin!

Fall is finally here! Yeah!
I love the colors, cooler temps, etc!
I've got a new white punkin' in
 Early Works shoppe -
is live  now

Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE


I do have a couple othe punkin's I'm working on but simply couldn't get the time to finish them before now. So they will be on my website soon!




 

Crocks!

Oh lookie lookie lookie!

I just had to show you what my ma gave me today....

I have coveted these big 'ol heavy crock mixing bowls for years and she said she hasn't used them in forever .

I can remember all the wonderful from scratch cake batters and cookies and such that came from these babies!

 Would I like to have  'em? 

 Would I! 

Heck Yeah! You just made my day!

What do you think! I love them!

We Remember

New Early Works Creations

New Early Works goodes!



Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE

Harvest Season

It's been a busy summer... chasing grandkids (my favorite hobby now)... trying to get veggies to grow in this wetter summer weather.  Seems like no one's tomatoes are doing that great this year... sniffle sniffle... but I still have plenty of canned salsa from last year's bumper crop (yes, even in a drought!).

Last year we got the biggest apple harvest ever and this year... well the raccoons hit all my trees and carried all the GREEN apples off! Seriously! What's up with that. So fortunately, I still have plenty of applesauce from last year's canning.

On to the grapes... the last few years, the deer, wasps, birds, bees, bugs and critters of various crawling and flying stages... cleaned me out before they were fully ripe. This year, I'm seeing the deer hit the vines in the early morning again. Their own personal buffet, thank you very much! So I got out there yesterday and picked quite a few and ended up getting 6, one gallon ziplocs full that I'll put in the freezer until I have more time to make jelly! Yeah! Hopefully the local wild life will leave me some to pick in the days ahead, since they aren't all ripe yet!

We're also finishing up months long kitchen remodel... the tile in the background got put on last Saturday and the guy is coming back tonight to grout it! We're almost done! It's been a long few months doing what we can as we can... but it's beautiful. I'll have to share before and after pics soon!

Oh and back on the grand kiddos... my 4 year old grand son started pre-school... 5 year old grand daughter in Kindergarten.... 9 year old grand daughter in 3rd grade  and 11 month old grandson took off walking!  Wow!

Okay, off to start my day.. have a blessed day my friends!

Early Works coming soon

Can't believe July is almost over!

So I'm getting something "fallish" ready for my
 Early Works shoppe -
Goes live  TONIGHT!

Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE

Ok... here's a little peek...

and....

Vacation Bible School

Our church just finished up 3 days of VBS this last week and it was awesome!

It was the first VBS for our church too and so it was quite the learning experience. 

How many kiddos will show?

Can we get enough volunteers to help?

Will we have enough stuff? etc...

With a lot of prayer and stepping out in faith... we all pulled it off and it was a great success!

We've only been going to this church for maybe 4 years and there's never been a VBS. I've helped with them before at our previous church... but was a tad reluctant to mention VBS because, well, someone always says... "Great idea! YOU run it!"  YIKES!

When there was an all-call for this a few months ago... I felt God tugging me to jump in. I volunteered right off the bat.  Before our first meeting I kept praying God would put me where HE wanted me to serve. I wasn't sure about the teaching but was thinking about the snack part. :o) 

Low and behold.. guess where I ended up -  

organizing the CRAFTS!  hahaha

Another prim crafter,...

  Allison of Sew Many Girls

 also goes to this church and we ended up doing crafts together, along with the help of several other wonderful ladies! We ended up needing every single one of these awesome gals! We had quite a few kiddos and more every night!

We had a great time and I loved all the songs, games, etc.,  and you could feel and  see God working in these little one's and in the adults! 

The theme was the SonSurf Beach Bash. One short video showed a young guy talking...Dr. Cool. Have you ever watched Finding Nemo? This guy talked exactly like the big 'ol turtles! hawhawhaw.  Kids caught on to that too and loved it!

  It was a lot of work and planning, but I know I'll volunteer next year! 
Again, thanks for all the gals that helped and it was awe inspiring to see God working!
I'd highly suggest sending your kids or even helping with a VBS! 
It's not just for the little one's... YOU benefit too!

Have a blessed day my friends!

Surf's Up!

3 Legged Cat

Have I told you the story of the three legged cat?  Well, sit back and listen to something that is pretty amazing --- to me anyway.

Last Fall, we came home from church and someone noticed a cat perched on top of one of the back fences by the barn. We wondered why this little guy didn't run off and very quickly, it became apparent he was in quite the bind.

His back right leg was stuck down in the fence slat and he was pulling and spinning (yes! spinning!) with all his might trying to free himself. Lord knows how long the poor little guy was up there! My husband grabbed the long gloves and a crowbar, spread the fence and he took off like a shot toward the woods. Well we figured that would be the last of him and we felt pretty bad that he had suffered so.

Now jump forward about 2 months... I'm outside and I see this black cat hopping!  I'm like.. no way! But yes folks, it's the same tough little cat minus one leg. (It may be hard to make out, but in the picture above, his right back leg is gone, oh , about where a knee would be).

I'm thinking, wow, if this little guy is that tough, I'm gonna help him through the winter. There are feral cats that come around off and on through our 20 years in this house, but I've never fed them. This guy is an exception. I felt so bad for him. And also figured he had one tough will to live!

So I started leaving food and water out for him and he made it through a pretty tough winter.

Sometime around late Winter/early Spring or so, I started noticing another black cat, a little bigger and pretty sure it's male.  The male has a messed up eye and he's teamed up with little 3 legs. I guess these two misfits had paired up. Then I didn't see 3 legger around for a bit and next thing ya know... her SHE comes with 1 little black kitten.  Now, I'm pretty sure cats usually have more than one, but this is all that's around. You have to be vewy vewy quiet to try to snap a pic of these leary guys, but that's what keeps 'em alive. Here's ma and baby enjoying a little breakfast.

I figure the good Lord must have sent these critters my way at just the right time.  If any of you read my blog, back in February, out 18 year old Simba cat passed... and I truly feel that tending to these local misfits, helped me through that grief some.

Well that's the story...I still can't hardly believe it myself, but I've seen this 3 legged 'lil mama run/hop so fast she beat a dog under the deck to safety. It was a truly amazing sight how she could fly like that!

* I said stay hidden until I tell you to come out! *

* Always on the look out *

I know we all have a purpose and we may not always know what it is... but next time you're having a bad day... think of the life of a wild 3 legged cat with an little one to care for... wow... makes a pity party run a lot shorter.. for me anyway! ;o)

Blessings my friends!

Happy 4th of July!

Stay safe my friends and have a wonderful day!

Gramma Memories

She was born in 1904.

She's the child with the huge grin and long braid.

She's in the next to last row, third from right.

She was my gramma.

She's been gone 11 years today, she was 98...but it feel like just yesterday when I'd  call her up to yak or ask a question. She taught me so much... how to grow and can produce...all the little shortcuts and such that takes a lifetime to learn. All the home remedies from treating  sunburn and bug bites, to keeping those pests off your veggies 'n flowers! She taught me a lot about cooking and baking. To this day I'll look at recipes and try to find the words:  

"A little of this, a touch of that, oh a heaping tablespoon and a little more...etc" 

She was a young married woman through the depression and learned how to "make do" and make "somethin' outta nuthin' ".  This she also passed on to me. My children never went hungry through our lean times either! The only way to explain it is by the grace of God and remembering what gramma said.
Her sewing info was and still is invaluable.
Patience was taught in all her lessons.
I wonder if she even knew she was teaching because I sure didn't realize I was learning until much later! 

There can be so much more I can say, but the main thing is...

Gramma I miss you and love you and will see you again someday!


Enjoy your pre-4th of July day my friends!

Early Works

 New Early Works goods

Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE

** WEBSITE ** SALE **

We're starting to really heat up around here so....

 I figure it's time for a 

Sizzling Summer Sale 

on my website!

I'm having a little sale over at Barefoot Primitives on all

 FINISHED GOODES !

 40% OFF ALL FINISHED GOODES

This includes everything on my site, 

handmade or not

~ not patterns at this time please ~

 Click Here for MY WEBSITE

Have Fun!


 

Father's Day

More Garden Stuff.....

Sounds like we'll be starting this week off like a full blown summer. Gonna get pretty toasty, but not triple digits... and so much cooler than last year's heat wave!

Years ago, I used to have mega gardens around here. And when harvest time came for the veggies, the canning would go on and on until the pantry was over flowing! Great memories and lots of hard work.

I always tried different things to keep my tomato plants up the easiest... tried all kinds of different cages and my husband would even get creative on some. We ended up just putting in cattle panels and as my 80 or so maters would grow, I'd just tie them to the one big fence. Worked super!

Well the point of this is... I'm only doing about half dozen maters now and I've got them in big pots. So I'm asking my husband if he has some rebar around or something to stake them up and he remembers one of our staking efforts and dug 'em up for me. They are pieces of rebar with cut fence pieces spot welded on. This will be perfect for what I'm doing now!!

They were rusty...yep I forgot to take a pic of the "before", but ya'll know what rusty is... ;o)
I sprayed 'em with some Rustoleum rattle can paint to keep them from rusting ...then to add a little fun, painted them red, white, blue, and had some green paint handy too! Stuck 'em in the pots or into the ground behind them and walla!

 

 Okay, break time's over... back to it! Enjoy the sunshine!

Gardens and Pattern Sale

Happy Tuesday!
First off, I'm still having my BOGO Pattern Sale 
on my website!


Click Here for MY WEBSITE

 *~~*  ** *~~*

 

And I thought I'd share a few garden pics with ya.
Every year is so different, the weather really keeps ya on your toes! And of course, everything is still itty bitty.
Last year, we couldn't buy rain, this year, 
you can't pay it to stop and warm up. 

Baby Apples

 Wee Cherries

 Little Pears

Tiny Tomatoes

Pee Wee Peppers
Keep lookin' - he's in there! 

 
Microscopic Grapes

 And a few flowers

 Below the flowers are in an old coal bucket

HAPPY BEGINNING OF SUMMER MY FRIENDS!

PATTERN SALE!

It's time for a PATTERN SALE!

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

(same or equal value)

Simply go to my website and purchase an e-pattern OR printed pattern. At checkout write the name of the FREE pattern you want in the comments box and I'll get them both to you after payment.

If you purchase an e-pattern, the free one must be an e-pattern. If you purchase a printed pattern, the free one must be printed.

STARTS NOW!

Click Here for MY WEBSITE

** ~ ** ** ~ ** ** ~ **

Also... tonight my new Early Works creations go live!

Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE

Trust, Strength, Grace

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.                               ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

Nothing is too difficult for God. He uses our weakness to accomplish His purposes. It's designed to open you up to His Power. So don't fear your limitations... talk to Him, rely on Him, trust in Him, depend on Him. He isn't a careless God. He equips us to handle difficulties ... relax in His Presence, trust in His Strength.

 You don't always have to bow your head to talk to God. He's your best friend and ally. He walks beside you every day... sometimes in front of you when needed. Talk to him everyday.... all day long... while you work, while you play, while you go through every little minute of the day. He longs for a relationship with you. 

Have a blessed day my friends!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day To All!

Have a blessed day with family and friends!

 

Early Works updates

 New goodies at my Early Works !

Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE

 This month there are several sets of prim 

Americana blank notecards!

Here's just one of the sets:

Sleepless again....

Maybe it's my age... maybe it's the few zillion power surges I get at times... maybe I just can't shut off my poor little brain like a hamster running on a wheel full tilt boogie... but last night was another sleepless night. It started out such a perfect a night too. The weather has finally warmed and the attic fan was on lulling me to dreamland... but sleep wouldn't come.

As I sit with my coffee i.v. this morning, I was reading my daily devotional book: Jesus Calling.

Well it smacked me right between the eyes and I just had to share....

"When some basic need is lacking - time, energy, money - consider yourself blessed. Your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto Me in unashamed dependence. When you begin your day with inadequate resources, you must concentrate your efforts on the present moment. This is where you are meant to live - in the present; it is the place where I always await you. Awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing, training you to rely wholeheartedly on Me.

The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success. Health and wealth can disappear instantly, as can life itself. Rejoice in your insufficiency, knowing that My Power Is Made Perfect In Weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9     But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

 

Have a very blessed day my friends!

Penny Rug give away!

Awesome give away at Harvest Moon by the Lake!
Click the pic to go there!

Braggin' Rights ;o)

I just had to share... my 30 year old, married daughter, mother of  3 year old and 7 month old boys, and owner of her own daycare.... has gone back to college to be a nurse.  She's very glad she got her Associates after high school, that cuts the time down considerably.  

I simply do not know how she juggles all this. 

We all try to help out wherever needed, but she's always been one that if she didn't get an A, she was upset with herself.

Well let me tell you... (now comes more braggin', so hang on).... last Friday we went to a ceremony for her induction in the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. When my son in law heard of some of the scholarship monies aimed at PTK, his mouth literally dropped open. My husband calmly put his hand under his chin and closed it! ;o)

Ok that's it.We're all so very proud of her! 

Thanks for listening to one proud mama!

 

Barefoot Blog Winners!

Okay ladies... I've heard from all of the winners and everyone's goodies are in transit!

Thanks so much for joining in on this! Hope you like your goodies.
  Here are the winners and thank you all so much!
Hope you enjoy your goodies!

Wendy of Ravenwood Whimzies

Lisa of The Moonlit Stitch

Hollie of A New Beginning

Danice of Homespun Hannah

Cyndy of Crafty Stitchers

Lori of  Apple Grove Treasures

 Amy of  Bumblebee Lane

  Allison of Sew Many Girls

  Christina of Pendleton Primitives

  Jody of Cobblestone Corner

Thanks again!

I had fun! Hope you did too!

Blessings

Debbie

Applegrove Treasures give away

Applegrove Treasures is having a give away! How cool is this!

 

 As for my giveaway.... next post... check your email to see if you're a winner... then I can get your goodies out to ya!

BIG 200 Followers Give Away!!

Whoo-Hoo! Now that I have 200 followers...

 here's the goodies I'll be giving away:

I'm going to keep it pretty simple... just leave a comment here AND on your blog/website with a link back to this blog. Make sure I will be able to contact you via email. I will start choosing winners on April 14. I figure there's enough goodies here to have at least 10 winners or so!

Have fun!

Early Works updates

I almost forgot... I have new creations in my Early Works Shoppe!

I'm trying something new.... paperdolls printed on material and stuffed... and with little outfits! 

Here's just a few I have to offer:

Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE