Custom-made Mini Book Presses

I have a larger book press but was wanting something for smaller scale books. After mentioning my dilemma to my sweetie he handmade these custom mini book presses just for me! What a sweetheart!

 

Miniature Bookcase

Had fun working on this project building a miniature bookcase. It measures : 7"W x 11"H x 3"D . Made the cute little specimen boxes and mini books too! 

Tutorials and specs for all of these can be found over at Nik the Booksmith on YouTube. As her name implies she also shares tutorials on bookbinding as well as eco printing, paper marbling and more!

Traditional Ukrainian Christmas Foods

A few of the traditional Ukrainian foods I enjoy making over the Christmas holiday.

Khrustyky are Ukrainian fried cookies dusted with powdered sugar.

Holopchi are cabbage rolls stuffed with ground beef, rice, buckwheat groats, onions and butter seasoned with salt and pepper with stewed tomatoes on top.

Borscht made with beets, cabbage, onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes and beef stew meat. Season with dill, bay leaves and vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste.

Babka bread was not only a holiday tradition but a staple growing up.

          

          Then there's the

'Lazy Cabbage Casserole'

Layered like a lasagna and bit less

labor intensive not having to stuff

the cabbage rolls.

 

On The Menu

What's for dinner?

How about a Stacked Burrito ?

Maybe a Deluxe Cheeseburger ?

Perhaps a Blue Plate Special Meatloaf!

Can't beat good 'ole home cooking!

Cooking is just another form of creating for me!
 

As Good As The Deli?

Yummmm... Not Bad!

Grilled Reuben and 

Grilled Ham and Cheese on Rye
 

Who Knew?! 

 Deli is a short form for the German word delicatessen, which basically means 'delicious things to eat' or 'delicacies' Originally used to refer to the food itself, it began to be used to describe the stores selling the food.

... according to Google!

In These Woods

 

Early Blooms

 The Flowering Cherry Tree in our front yard is blooming early this year.  I believe it is Prunus sargentii, commonly known as Sargent's cherry or North Japanese hill cherry. A species of cherry
native to Japan.

 It produces a mass of large, pretty pink flowers in spring which are complimented by lovely reddish-bronze new foliage that turns a glossy green before bursting into vibrant shades of yellows, reds, oranges and maroons in early autumn.

Our ‘Temple Bells’ (Pieris Japonica) is also blooming early this year. It is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with tiered branches and leathery deep green foliage that emerges apricot.  The dense drooping clusters of fragrant flower buds emerge in
summer and persist through winter before finally blooming pure white in the spring. 

It is native to eastern China, Taiwan,
and Japan, where it grows in mountain thickets.