A Very Expensive Walking Stick

This spring we discovered that one our our Shumard Oaks had died in last years severe winter.  So we called our arborist and he suggested that we try a Chinkapin Oak to replace it.  He searched around and found a really good looking tree in a hundred gallon barrel.

We arranged to get it delivered and he removed the old tree and planted the new.  We ran a new bubbler from the nearest sprinkler head to insure that it was properly watered.  Well in the process we also got new neighbors who had their sprinkler system fixed and actually used it.  Long story short it appeared the tree got too much water and I walked out one morning to see a dead tree.

My tree guy replaced the tree and this time we decided to go with a Bald Cypress.  They like water (So now it looks like we are going into a drought).  Anyway I know that he likes walking sticks so I told him to save the trunk and I would carve him a rustic walking stick.

I let the trunk dry for several months then broke out my new Lancelot Power Carver.  It is basically a chain saw on a disk that fits an angle grinder.  The chips were flying and I noticed other things were too.  It seems the tree had been hit by borers and two and bored right to the heart of the tree.  So I basically performed and autopsy on the tree,  Bald Cypress are not prone to borers so the decision is looking better all the time.  Any way I rough out the stick and set it in the garage to cure further.  After several weeks I fill the holes with plastic wood and sand away.  Apply a clear finish, a leather hand grip and a braided leather strap.  Added a few bear claws for good measure.  And we have a very expensive walking stick.

Hopefully I have gauged the height right or a few inches may need to be removed from the stick.  Chinkapin in not a commercially viable wood though it is a part of the oak family.  It was fairly easy to carve but I was not trying to achieve any fine details.  It finishes well.  By the way the Lancelot tool chops borers up real well.  Though it does smell a bit.  There were two that escaped the carnage only to die when I treated it with bug killer.  They dropped to floor.  They were about the size of my little finger and about as long.  Nasty little devils with and expensive appetite.  But the stick was fun to carve so now I am looking for another suitable candidate.

More later

Bruce

Christmas Projects

Well I finally finished the last Angel and have it installed in the yard.

And in my return to woodcarving I finished a small pine Santa.

He was carved from a piece of 2x4 scrap.  Not the best carving wood but I had intended just to get my feet wet again.  He has however already been spoken for.

I finally finished my office curtains as well.  Blaze has bestowed the title of best cat project ever on his window seat.  He comes and asks for the blind to be raised in the morning and spends a big part of his day watching the world from his window.

After taking a break to bake and make some projects for Pam to give to her teacher friends as well as some of my friends.  It has been a surprisingly busy holiday so far and I already have projects lined up for next year.

Pam is now off for the Christmas holidays, so there are several projects we want to complete before she returns to work.  New Years will be here before we know it.

More Later

Bruce

When The Weather Is Chilly It's Time For Chili

If you are from Texas you know real chili does not have beans in it, just meat.  Here is my recipe for Real Texas Red Chili.  You can adjust the spiciness to your taste.  I make it as a mild chili.  This chili won first place at a local chili cook off.  It was entered in the contest as Howl at the Moon Chili (we had to come with a name and that one seemed as good as any).

1 lb lean chili grind beef
1 lb your favorite breakfast sausage ( I use Jimmy Dean)
1 lb lean ground pork
1 1lb Ground Turkey
1/2 cup bacon bits (real bacon not the artificial bits)
1 lb finely diced beef or pork stew meat (optional)
1 can hatch diced peppers mild (small can)
1 can tomato sauce
1 can Rotel tomatoes (mild)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 cup V/8 Spicy tomato juice
1/2 cup beef broth
1 can of tomato paste
1 onion finely diced
1/4 cup chili Powder
1 tablespoon Chipotle Chile powder
1 tablespoon  Onion Powder
1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 tablespoon dried cilantro
1/4 cup dried chives
1 teaspoon creole seasoning or old bay seasoning
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon black pepper (white pepper will increase the heat)
2 tablespoons smoked paprika (helps the chili turn out a deep red)

Brown meat and drain grease before starting.  Add all ingredients to a large crock pot and cook on high for 2 hours then reduce to low for six hours.  Before serving mix several spoons full of broth with several teaspoons of flour to form a roux and add to chili to thicken broth.  Bring back to a boil for several minutes chili is ready to serve.  This recipe will serve 10-12 people.  Garnish finished chili with cheese, sour cream or chives.  Adjust heat of chili by using the hotter Rotel and green chilies.  You could also add diced jalapenos. 

This is great served just as chili or serve over Fritos for a great Frito pie.  Also good on hot dogs and hamburgers.  My favorite is to make chili mac.   Serve it over your favorite pasta like spaghetti sauce.  I also use it to make a spicy lasagna.  This freezes well so when I make it I will put a quart in the icebox and two quarts in the freezer.  There is generally two and 1/2 serving to a quart and we will eat a quart for dinner.  My Crock Pot is a five quart oval model.  If you are making in a four quart Crock Pot you will want to cut back on diced tomatoes to one can and cut beef broth to 1/4 cup as well as only use the pork sausage and leave out the ground pork as well.

While there are a lot of ingredients it is quick to prepare and then just stir it a few times.  It is a great meal for having friends over as it does not require a lot of fussing over leaving more time to visit.  You don't have to make it in a crock pot but that is the easy way.  If you want to make it on the stove make sure you cook it for at least two hours for the flavor to fully develop.  Just don't tell me if you add beans.

More later

Bruce

Some Holiday Recipies

Its Holiday Baking Time.
Here are some of our favorite recipes for entertaining and for giving as gifts.  I have added these as JPEGS if you right click and save image to your hard drive you should be able to print it out complete with graphic and if all went well it should be recipe card size.

This is a very old recipe for basically Chex mix.  It predates the kind found in the store by many years.  We have had it for 30 years but believe it to be closer to forty years old.  Our original is printed on the old mimeograph favored by teachers until the late eighties when copiers took over.  The old mimeograph machines used a blue or purple master and had a very distinctive smell when just printed.  This recipe was hand written and you can tell from the hand writing that this was a teacher.  Ah typewriters, mimeo machines and handwriting you could read.  I am definitely feeling old.

The next recipe is one of my adaptations of the old Rice Krispie Treats but done with a twist.

And finally for this post My Kitchen Sink Oatmeal Cookies.

Pam named them as it seems I have added everything but the kitchen sink.  They are good and relatively healthy.

Hope all is well

Bruce and Pam

Lack of Recent Posts

I have not posted anything for the last week.  The reason was a computer problem.  My current computer was originally a Windows Vista Machine.  When Windows 7 came out I upgraded to that as Vista had quite a few problems and I seemed to be having them all.  While the upgrade was successful it seems that I had set myself up for the problem that came to head a little over a week ago. 

My registry (The part of Windows that keeps track of where everything is and how it is supposed to work) had become corrupted beyond repair.  Since the original computer was Vista I had bought an upgrade to Windows 7.  You cannot do a fresh install with an upgrade disk. (Or so I thought) After trying every registry repair program I could find I tried the next step use the disks supplied by the manufacturer and reinstall the original system.  Well as you would expect they did not work.  They could not deal with the new operating system on the computer. 

So I decided I would buy a new hard drive and try.  So a visit to our local FRYS yielded a Hitachi 1TB drive that met the specs of my machine and was only 54 bucks, what a deal.  So I happily went home and put the drive in the computer.  No luck the Acer disks expected the 320 GB that had been installed in the computer.  Another trip to FRYS.  The original disk a 320 was in stock but it was 160 dollars.  As luck would have it there was one employee in that department that had more than a blank stare on their face.  He looked at me quite incredulously and said just call Microsoft they will give you an unlock code for the upgrade and you can do a clean install.

Could it really be that easy.  I went home and called Microsoft and got Tech Support in India (of course).  After going through the screener that determined who I needed (10 minutes of interesting conversation) she sent me to a tech.  Another 10 minutes to get through what I wanted to do and the light bulb finally dawned on the technician and he said oh its easy just call us back when you have your computer ready and everything laid out for the install.  By now I am dreading calling back and going back through the maize and reexplaining my problem.

So I again dial tech support.  Again I get India.  However this time the screener seems to be both alert and quick in comprehension.  45 seconds and I am to a tech.  My luck has to change right.  The tech comes on and is a very pleasant Indian woman.  I explain my problem and she gets it on the first try.  Leads me step by step through the process and we have a pleasant conversation while we are waiting for the computer to do its thing in the install.  The best part was she never tried to cover up the fact she was in India and was a skilled conversationalist to boot.  20 minutes later (most of the time waiting on the computer the operating system was installed and up.

My hats off to Microsoft, this was the first time a tech call fielded in India had not ended up we me wanting to jump through the phone and strangle someone.  A few days of configuration and moving data as well as, installing programs.  I did go buy the newest versions of the programs we use most to insure no registry problems in the near future.  My computer is finally back. 

I was able to recover almost all of our data (Some emails were lost) but I am pleased to say I am back and will have more posts later this week.

Bruce

Christmas Decorations Part 5 Santa is Done

Well Santa is complete.

And Hanging out with Rudolph.

The last Angel's body was carved today.  Got a late start as Pam and I worked on cleaning up the leaves in the yard and then treated our selves to lunch at Jason's Deli for our hard work.

This one is a little more ornate than the first.  We are supposed to get a cold front tomorrow so I am not sure when I will finish the wings.  I think I will move inside for a few days and work on some indoor projects.

Here is how the yard looks at dark.

Pam and I also added a few more lights today.  Now there are 800.  I cannot imagine how many are in some of the yards around.  We also put out the spots fore the decorations. I have everything tied to timers.  We will see what is does to our electric bill.

More Later

Bruce and Pam

Christmas Decoreations Part 4 Santa

So now I need a Santa.  It will be made from Pine of course.  1x/12 common pine.  Four foot tall.

So here is the rough cut.

Now to carve him.

Now for some paint. (Santa took about 3 hours to carve).

Tomorrow I will put on some stakes and a final clear coat and he will go in the yard with the others.  Only one angel left to complete.

Hope your decorating is going well

More Later

Bruce and Pam

Christmas Decorations Part 3 Angels Part 2

Well the first Angel is done.  Here the body is painted

.

Now for the wings.  Gold of course.

 Put them together and you have an Angel.  Hand carved from pine.  Total time about 5 hours.

 Installed in the yard.

So far one Angel, one JOY sign and one reindeer done as well as forty red stakes.  Next Santa.

More Later 

Bruce

Outstanding Baked Beans (Crock Pot Recipe)

I was in the mood for baked beans to go with a Turkey breast I smoked this week.  Both turned out well.

Here is the Baked Beans Recipe.  I make it in a slow cooker.

Soak 1 pound of Great Northern beans overnight.

In a crock pot that has been sprayed with cooking spray add the following to the drained  beans and set to low (8 hours cook time)
1 can of tomato sauce
1/2 cup of real bacon bits
1 can of tomato paste
1 cup of beef broth
1/4 cup of Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon of salt
1/2 tablespoon of pepper
1/2 tablespoon of garlic
1 medium onion finely diced.

At the halfway point 4hrs
Add 1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of agave syrup (agave is a healthier sweetener)(1/2 cup is as sweet as 1 cup of sugar)
Finish cooking

I like the slow cooker as I can put things on in the morning and they don't require much attention during the day.  You will want to cook the beans for eight hours on low or for two hours on high and four hours on low.  You can put the sugar and agave in at the beginning but the cooker will require more attention to make sure the beans don't stick.  It does take about 4 hours of cooking in the sugar mix for the beans to thicken up.

Enjoy

Bruce

The Best Laid Plans

I had intended to work on the angels today but for some reason I could not get past two unplanned projects.  Santa and a Reindeer.  The Reindeer seemed to want to be done first. Now I had not set out to make a Reindeer but apparently some one wanted me to.  So here he is.

Cut from 1x12 Pine like others Rudolph came together pretty quickly.

Now for some carving and some paint.

And he is ready to put out.

Hopefully I have one more day of good weather left so the plan is tomorrow to finish the Angels and Santa.

All of the patterns for the yard decorations are mine.  They have been drawn directly on the wood so I did not maintain any paper copies.  If you wish to make your own versions I have given the basic dimensions. Rudolph is 4 ft tall.  His hooves nose, eyes, antlers and sign were cut from scrap.  He has two stakes 1and1/2 inch wide and 2ft tall to anchor him in the ground.  You can get pre-made surveyor stakes at the lumber yard that will work just fine.  He is painted brown his nose of course is red his hooves black and his antlers are gold.  For the antlers I used a gold spray paint.  The other colors are latex house paint available in the lumber yard in pint cans.  It holds up better outdoors than the craft paint you get at hobby stores.  He does have a coat of clear spray after everything was assembled.  His parts are held on by screws attached from the rear.  I have given him some detail by carving but you could just paint the detail on as well.

More later

Bruce

Christmas Decorations Part 3 Angels Part 1

So now I need some angels to go with the JOY sign.  Again I am using 1x12 common pine.  Which from the prices today is not so common.  The angel will require an 8 ft section. the body is cut from a four foot piece and the wings are each cut from a 2 ft piece.

Here I am laying out the angel.  You can see my scale drawing.  Yes I lay it out with a marksalot marker.

Now lets cut it out.

Now comes the fun part carving some detail in the body.

I have shown the head as it is easiest to see the detail there.

Now for the wings.

In the next installment I will carve the wings and paint the angel.  Then I just have to do it all again for a second angel and Pam's Yard decorations will be complete.  Thankfully she likes it simple.  So no inflatable anything.

More Later

Bruce

Christmas Decorations Part 2

Of course we cannot have just some lonely lights more decorations are needed.  So back to the garage and here is a simple sentiment for the season that I made.

Using common pine 1x12 and a jig saw I cut out JOY.  Here I am working on the O.

I find it easiest to work out a scale sketch first.

Here are the letters are cut out.

Now to add a way to anchor them.

I used stainless steel screws to mount the stakes.  I had also considered making each letter separate but is hard to keep them from turning in the wind when they are put in as separate letters.

Now to add some color.  Red of course.

And installed.

Next I need to make two Angels.

More Later

Bruce

Christmas Decorations Part 1

We have not done much decorating of the house in the last few years so I was surprised when Pam asked me to put up lights this year.  Up is actually a misnomer as she wanted them around the flower beds in the front.  After visiting a number of stores I had no problems finding the lights she wanted but could not find the stakes that we have used in the past to put them around flower beds.  Of course she was not worried as I have a garage full of tools (her words).  So here is my solution.

I took 1/2 inch PVC pipe and cut them into 1 foot sections.  I put a 45 degree cut on the bottom to make them easier to insert and cut a 1/4 slot 1.5 inches long at the top to hold the light strand.  A 1/2 inch PVC cap will hold the strand in place.

Here is the PVC before slot and after slot as well as cap.  The red to the side are the caps I have painted with PVC compatible paint.

Here I have painted the PVC stake.  You don't need to paint all the way down as these will be inserted in the ground about 4-6 inches.

Here is the finished product in action.

I made 40 of these to put out 200 ft of lights.

To make forty I bought 4 packages of 10 caps and 8 5ft sticks of PVC.  With paint these ran 15 dollars in materials.  Or about 1/2 of what I expected to pay for the stakes at the store if I could have found them.

More to come

Bruce

Easy Holiday Treats

Its that time of year again.  The Holidays are upon us.  No matter your background some holiday is looming.  For most of us it is Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It means lots of get togethers and not much time.  Want to impress your friends and family with your culinary skills but, don't have many, here are a number of easy and fairly healthy candy ideas and can be whipped up in a jiffy with just a few ingredients and your microwave.  No cooking, really!

Now, I said relatively healthy as we will be using no sugar, shortening, corn syrup or preservatives.  All the ingredients have been shown to be beneficial in moderation (with the exception of the marshmallows and Lorna Doones).  So just don't scarf these down by the handful and you will be fine.

You will need a few basic ingredients.  First a good melting chocolate.  I prefer Ghirardelli and get mine in 2.5 pound blocks at Sam's.  One block will go a long way.  I buy one white chocolate and one dark chocolate. Depending on your choice you will need pecans, almonds, cashews, dried cranberries, dried pineapple, coconut and or marshmallows and Lorna Doones. (forget the healthy on this one.)


First the Mounds Clone

This candy is very easy to make.  Take your coconut and using a melon baller make small balls of scoops of coconut.  Place them on a piece of waxed paper on a cookie sheet  then press down slightly to make two sides that are flat.  Once you have about 20 or so of these place the cookie sheet in the icebox for about 30 minutes.  Once the coconut  chunks have chilled take about 3/4 of a pound of chocolate (three strips of the Ghirardelli) and break in small pieces.   Place in  a glass bowl and put in the microwave for 4 minutes at 1/2 power.  At about 2 minutes begin to stir the chocolate every 30 seconds.  by the end of the four minutes you should be ready to make your candy if the chocolate is not completely melted add time in 20 second intervals until the chocolate stirs easily and is completely melted.  You have a limited amount of time to work so move your melted chocolate to the area with your coconut and start the magic.  Drop a chunk of coconut in the chocolate and gently roll it around with a spoon dipping it out and  placing it on the waxed paper.  Repeat for all of your coconut chunks.  Take any remaining chocolate and drizzle it over the candy you have just made.  Viola Mounds.

Prefer Almond Joy

Follow the directions above but add an almond to the mound of coconut your form in to the coconut chunks and you have Almond Joy.


How about Chocolate Covered Pecans

Melt your chocolate as above.  Add a cup or so of whole pecans and scoop out three or four pieces at time onto waxed paper.

Chocolate Covered Papaya

Same a chocolate covered Pecans. You can use large chunks and spoon them out one at a time or small chunks and spoon out several into a cluster.

Chocolate Covered Dried Pineapple

Same as Chocolate Covered Pecans and Papaya.

Chocolate Covered Marshmallows.

I used the big ones and found they were best cut in half but this will work with the small ones as well and just spoon them out in twos or threes in a small clump.

Here is the recipe that got me started in the madness.  I found this in a Southern Living a few years ago.  Made it and gave it to friends and every one waits for the holidays to get some in their goodie box.

White Chocolate Holiday Clusters

For this you will need salted cashews, dried cranberries and white chocolate.

I a bowl mix one cup of cashews with one cup of dried cranberries.  Melt one cup (3/4 lb of white chocolate) and pour in bowl.  Mix well and with table spoon scoop out small mounds onto wax paper.  Let chocolate set (you can accelerate by putting your waxed paper on a cookie sheet and slipping it in the refrigerator.  Makes about 24 clusters.

All of these are super simple and take less than 15 minutes start to finish including clean up with the exception of the mounds because of the time to refrigerate the coconut.  However your friends won't know that because people believe candy is hard to make.  And it can be but not these.

Now a couple of notes.  All of the above done in dark chocolate including the mounds and almond joy clones can be done in white chocolate.  However the Cashew clusters do not work well in dark chocolate.  They taste fine but don't look great.  Lets just say Pam christened them "Reindeer Poop".  Especially the ones I tried in butterscotch flavored chocolate.

Now for the final and sneakiest one of all.

Black and Whites

For this you will need a package of Lorna Doones and 1/2 1lb white chocolate and 1/2 lb dark chocolates.

Prepare your cookie sheet with waxed paper and open cookies because you will have to move fairly quickly on this so the chocolate does not set up on you.  Melt the dark chocolate.  Dip one end of the cookie in the dark chocolate and place it on the cookie sheet.  Repeat for all cookies.  Place in refrigerator for about 5 minutes.  Melt white chocolate.  Dip the other end of the cookie in the white chocolate and place on Cookie sheet.  Repeat for all cookies.  Place in refrigerator for 5 minutes.  Put in container and you are ready to go.  Watch these disappear.

Look out you now too  are on the slippery slope of candy making madness.  What else can you cover (The candy makers call it enrobed); Pretzels, Oreos, Animal cookies, dried banana, chunks of brownies, Chocolate chip cookies.  Who knows what you will come up with, let me know what your creations are.

Bruce

So What Do You Do With a New Craft Room?

You Make stuff!  Here is my First Attempt to Post a How To

How To Make a Microwave Potato Bag

Pam and I have seen these at craft shows and I have tested the concept with a cotton towel and indeed they do work.   After seeing patterns in the quilt stores that we visit for 9 or 10 dollars I decided I could figure this out on my own.  This is prototype #2.

To make this you will need the following (Really enough to make four)
2 colorful 100%  cotton fat quarters (These are sold in most fabric stores and are pieces of fabric 18"x21")
1 contrasting 100% cotton fat quarter for top.
2/3 yard of 100% cotton muslin
1 craft size package of warm and natural batting (100% cotton)
1 spool of 100% cotton thread

It is important that all parts of this project are 100% cotton.  Using other types of material could result in a fire in your microwave or a shrink wrapped fabric potato.  Most polyester fabrics and threads will melt in the microwave. Directions for use will be given at the end of this tutorial.  If you make these as gifts you should be sure to include the directions.

Start by cutting your 2 fat quarters into two pieces each measuring  10 1/2" by 21".  There will be no waste.  I use a rotary cutter and a cutting mat but scissors will work fine.  Then cut your contrasting fat quarter into four pieces that are 7" x10 1/2" consider the direction you want the pattern to run if there is a design to this fabric.  Next cut you Muslin into into pieces that are 10 1/2" x 24 inches.  Finally cut your batting into four pieces that are 10 1/2 inches by 24 inches.

Your pieces for one bag should look like this.

Iron the fabric.  Place the colorful fabric and the contrasting fabric good side to good side and set up for a seam.  Pin and sew with a 1/2" seam

Press seam open.  Then sew seam open.  I have found the easiest way to do this is to place the seam at the middle of the foot and move the needle to the right.  Using the center of the seam as a guide it is easier to sew a straight stitch down the fabric.  When you reach one end turn fabric as sew other side of seam open.

Needle moved right and foot set at center of seam.

When one side is done turn material and do next side of seam.

With seam completed place muslin and front together good side to good side.

Now add batting on top of Muslin.

Next pin and sew.  Use a 1/4" seam leaving about 4" unseamed so you can turn the sandwiched fabric right side out once you are done.

Trim corner before you turn fabric.

Turn fabric right side out through un-seamed opening.  You can use a chop stick to point the corners.

Iron the assembly at this point to make the next step easier.  Sew all the way around using about 1/8" seam.  This makes the next step easier.

I then switch to another sewing machine that has a walking foot on it to quilt the bag before final assembly.  I use a straight across pattern for the bottom of the bag and a diagonal pattern on the contrasting fabric.  I like to use the machine with the walking foot as it is heavier duty and the foot has an adjustable gauge on it that makes keeping the lines straight as you sew.  These feet are inexpensive and can be added to most machines.  I ordered mine from Sewing Machines Plus on the internet and got free shipping and no tax.  You just need to know what type of shank your sewing machine has.  You can also do this with a normal foot and a careful eye.

I think you can see the diagonal pattern on the top.  Clicking on the pictures should give you a larger image.

Now we are ready for the final assembly.  Once again working good side to good side.  fold down the top and then fold up the bottom.

Pin and sew down each side. using a 1/2" seam>

Turn the bag right side out.

Use your chopstick to point the corners (fully turn).  Your bag is complete.

Instructions for use.

Scrub Potato dab excess water off with paper towel.  Wrap potato(es) with same paper towel and insert into bag.  Do not pierce potato.  This bag will hold two large or four small potatoes.  Works will with carrots, sweet potatoes and tortillas as well.  Just adjust your time based on what you are cooking.

Place bag in microwave and cook for 4-6 minutes.  This will depend on your microwave so some experimentation will be necessary.  It takes 6 minutes in ours for 2 medium size potatoes.  I also find it works best to cook for three minutes let it set a minute or so and cook for three minutes then let it set for a couple of minutes before removing potatoes from bag.  Potatoes will be hot.  Open with fork and season to taste.

Bag can be washed on normal cycle and dried on cotton setting to keep it clean and sanitary.  In other words throw it in with your towels.

By the way it also makes a good pot holder in a pinch.  You can use the scrap batting and fabric to make a pot holder as well.  But that would be another story for another day.

The materials for this project should cost you about 10 dollars for enough to make four.  The batting will be the biggest expense.  We buy when it is on sale at Jo Ann's or Hancock.  Both post coupons all the time.  Sign up for their loyalty program and you will always have a coupon to use for 40% off.  You can also cruise the sale table.  There is nothing that says the lining has to be muslin you can use the same fabric as the exterior if you wish or make the exterior one pattern and the interior another.  Just be sure that all fabric is 100% Cotton.    With a little careful shopping you could spend as little as 5 dollars for the materials for four.

The first bag took me about an hour and a half.  That included a lot of playing around deciding exactly how I wanted to put these together.  The second took about an hour ( I had to check on dinner several times messed with the flow).  Set up to make several at a time it will probably take about 30-40 minutes per bag.  From start to finish.  But then you have your very own ecologically sound  Potato steamer bag for your microwave.  And three to give as gifts.

Happy Crafting

Bruce and Pam