Source for Amish supper plates

A commenter asked if I had found a source for the Amish plates and YES I sure have.

I was able to get a dozen more Amish supper plates from my Amish friend Simon.  He has a botanical company.  I know he ordered a few dozen more than the ones I bought.  You can write to him and ask him about the supper plates and or ask for his bulk herb and spices catalog here:


South Texas Botanicals
4156 Gaitan Lane
Beeville, Texas  78102

Being Amish he does not have internet or a phone.  I buy my bulk herbs from him because his prices beat anywhere else that I can buy certified organic that I have found.  Plus he is local to me and I can pick up my order.

Crunch stitch pot holder

Materials:
•Two balls Lily Sugar 'n; Cream, or other 100% cotton yarn (approx. 2.5 oz./ 120 yds per ball); 2 balls Hot Green (MC), one ball Lime Stripes (CC)

•Size G crochet hook

•Yarn needle

Instructions:
Gauge: 15 st and 16 rows in pattern stitch = 4 in. x 4 in.
Stitches used: Ch, sc, sl st, hdc.
Finished measurements: Approx. 9 in. x 9 in.

Potholder Panel (Make 2):
1.With MC, Ch 31
2.Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *hdc, sl st across, with sc in last st. 30 st.
3.Row 2: Turn. Ch 1, sc in sc, *hdc in sl st, sl st in hdc, with sc in last sc.
4.Rep row 2 for a total of 28 rows, or until piece measures approx. 6 ½ in. from beg.
5.Fasten off.

Assembly:
1.Row 1: Crochet two panels together evenly with a row of sc, working 3 sc in same st at corners. Join to beg sc. Switch to CC.
2.Row 2: *Sc, ch 3, sk 2 sc, sl st in next sc* around. Join w sl st to first st.
3.Row 3: *4 sc in ch-3 sp, sl st in sl st* around. Join w sl st to first st.
4.Row 4: *Ch 4, sk sc and sl st in sl st* around. Join w sl st to first st. Fasten off and weave in all loose ends. Yum!

source:  http://www.favecrafts.com/Kitchen-Crochet/Crunch-Stitch-Potholder/ml/1

Bloomin flowers dish cloth

Materials:
•Lily® Sugar‘n Cream® (Solids: 70.9 g/2.5 oz; 109 m/120 yds; Ombres: 56.7 g/2 oz; 86 m/95 yds) (Note: 1 ball of MC and A will make 2 Dishcloths.)

•Version I: Main Color (MC) (01740 Hot Pink) 1 ball, Contrast A (00010 Yellow) 1 ball

•Version II: Main Color (MC) (01742 Hot Blue) 1 ball, Contrast A (00010 Yellow) 1 ball

•Version III: Main Color (MC) (02739 Over the Rainbow) 1 ball, Contrast A (00010 Yellow) 1 ball

Size 5 mm (U.S. H or 8) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

GAUGE: 13 sc and 14 rows = 4" [10 cm].
Instructions:
1.With A, ch 4. Join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.



2.1st rnd: Ch 1. 8 sc in ring. Join with sl st to first sc.



3.2nd rnd: Ch 1. Working in back loops only, 2 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. 16 sc.



4.3rd rnd: Ch 1. Working in back loops only, 1 sc in first sc. Ch 1. (1 sc in next sc. Ch 1) 15 times. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.



5.4th rnd: Join MC with sl st to any sc. Ch 3 (counts as dc). Working in both loops, (1 dc. Ch 2. 2 dc) in same sc as last sl st. Miss next ch-1 sp. 1 dc in next sc. Miss next ch-1 sp. *(2 dc. Ch 2. 2 dc) in next sc. Miss next ch-1 sp. 1 dc in next sc. Miss next ch-1 sp. Rep from * 6 times more. Join with sl st to top of ch 3.



6.5th rnd: Sl st in next dc and ch-2 sp. Ch 3 (counts as dc). (2 dc. Ch 2. 3 dc) in same sp as last sl st. Ch 1. Miss next 2 dc. Dcfp in next dc. Ch 1. Miss next 2 dc. *(3 dc. Ch 2. 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp. Ch 1. Miss next 2 dc. Dcfp in next dc. Ch 1. Miss next 2 dc. Rep from * 6 times more. Join with sl st to top of ch 3.



7.6th rnd: Sl st in next dc. Ch 3 (counts as dc). 1 dc in next dc. (2 dc. Ch 2. 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp. 1 dc in each of next 2 dc. Ch 1. Miss next dc and ch-1 sp. Dcfp in next dc. Ch 1. Miss next ch-1 sp and dc. *1 dc in each of next 2 dc. (2 dc. Ch 2. 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp. 1 dc in each of next 2 dc. Ch 1. Miss next dc and ch-1 sp. Dcfp in next dc. Ch 1. Miss next ch-1 sp and dc. Rep from * 6 times more. Join with sl st to top of ch 3.



8.7th rnd: Sl st in next dc. Ch 3 (counts as dc). 1 dc in each of next 2 dc. 5 dc in next ch-2 sp. 1 dc in each of next 3 dc. Ch 1. Miss next dc and ch-1 sp. Dcfp in next dc. Ch 1. Miss next ch-1 sp and dc. *1 dc in each of next 3 dc. 5 dc in next ch-2 sp. 1 dc in each of next 3 dc. Ch 1. Miss next dc and ch-1 sp. Dcfp in next dc. Ch 1. Miss next ch-1 sp and dc. Rep from * 6 times more. Join with sl st to top of ch 3. Fasten off.

source: http://www.favecrafts.com/Kitchen-Crochet/Blooming-Flower-Dish-Cloths-from-Lily-Sugar-n-Cream/ml/1

How I keep my kettle clean

A while back I purchased this 1.5 gal. kettle from Lehman's non electric. It was around $37.00. The large size if great for canning or everyday use. Mine stays on the stove top all the time. I use it often. I found that the outside became grease spattered and dull. Washing with soap and water did not solve the problem so I bought some Bar Keepers Friend. It shinned my kettle right up. I do have some lime deposits on the inside so next I am going to pour vinegar in and let it soak. I want to take care of all my things so that they can last for years and years.

If you would like a kettle like mine go here: http://www.lehmans.com/store/Kitchen___Helpers_and_Accessories___Teas___Large_Spout_Kettles___lgSpoutKettle?Args=#

Pictures are from the Lehmans's site where I bought my kettle.

kitchen

I was reading a post and I looked over at my kitchen and realized I am working up a storm. LOL My rice cooker is cooking brown rice with a little bit of wild rice and chicken broth for lunch. My washer and dryer and doing my clothes. The bread machine is making a loaf of bread for supper and I am able to work on my computer at the same time.

I deep cleaned my stove this morning. Whew what a mess.

Its a beautiful cool day. I turned on the water for the greenhouse. Cleaned the kitchen.

The girls are doing their school work. Joy's geometry books came in and she is excited. They are teaching textbooks, they have ACT and SAT test lessons built right in. Every single problem is explained. She thinks they will be good.

Kefir

My kefir multiplies like crazy. I send some to friends and still it goes crazy. I finally had to put some to dry again to store in the freezer. I have never tried to use from the freezer because mine is more than enough. It takes up the space in the jar and I have to keep using bigger and bigger jars. I wanted to take a picture to show how I dry mine out to put in the freezer. I just spread it out on paper towels and place paper towels over it to keep out pesky flies or whatnot. I stir it every day with clean hands until it is very dry. I then label it and keep it in the freezer.

I would be glad to send anyone in the continental united states some kefir for $5.00 to cover postage and packaging. Email me at bootstrapdko@yahoo.com please write kefir in the memo section so I will know its not spam.

pot holders

I made some new pot holders for my kitchen. I didnt try to match anything I just made bright colors that make me happy.