warm your soul with... Oatmeal

simplicity

plain . simple . humble . oatmeal 

And, did you know it "sticks to your ribs?"
That's what my mom always said when serving us huge bowls of oatmeal as she often did .

I like oatmeal ~ it's healthy, inexpensive with a comforting, chewy texture.

There are many preferences for topping your oatmeal.
A little butter (or a few pumps of a zero-calorie butter spray), some brown sugar, light cream and berries is my favorite.

John always has buttered toast with his ~ since childhood.
Bet you have a favorite way to eat your oatmeal porridge!
And, before your coffee is finished brewing, you can have a wholesome breakfast ready too.

Oatmeal

(kind of silly to post directions for making oatmeal when it is right on the container of oats, but if you store your oats in a jar, as I do, and have a husband that occasionally makes oatmeal, you might want to print it out)

PRINT RECIPE

1 cup of water or milk ( use milk to increase the protein and calcium)
Dash of salt (optional)
1/2 cup of quick cooking oatmeal, or old fashioned oatmeal

Add oats and cook for about five minutes, stirring occasionally.

For creamier oats, combine water (or milk), salt and oats in saucepan and then heat water to boiling.  Cook over medium heat for five minutes, stirring occasionally.

Spoon into bowl, top with a pat of butter, brown sugar and drizzle a little cream.  Add fresh/frozen fruit, if desired.

For double serving, increase water to 1 3/4 cups and oats to 1 cup.

Basket of Felt toys

Chloe Shiloah will soon celebrate her 1st birthday.

Since she is a leap-year baby, her birthday will be celebrated March 1st.

 I made her a basket full of brightly colored, soft felt toys. 

 Chloe is fascinated by our schnauzer, Raider. One of her first words was dog. She even tries saying, "Raider."

This sweet Softie Scotty pattern from Jenny Harris @Allsorts works as a schnauzer too, and because I think it so cute, I plan  making one (or many) for me.

Be sure to secure buttons and supervise children or omit buttons and embroider eyes.

 Another pattern from Jenny @Allsorts is her cute Bounding Bunny pattern. Her project is for an adorable, tiny pin, but I enlarged the pattern to make it just the right size for baby hands.

The star pattern (see collage below) is from Jenny as well.

Other shapes, I drew myself.

Draw or print out your patterns, cut felt shapes and stitch using embroidery floss and the blanket stitch. Stuff with fiberfill; embellish as desired. I used French Knots and Lazy Daisies. 

Simple toys that help with identifying shapes, colors and words.