Don't worry... I talk a bit about being in a slump, but it's not about the show. It's just a regular ol' creative slump. It happens to the best of us. Besides, I think I'm about over it!

~ new paintings for the winter art show at the elementary school
~ two bookmarks for the read-a-thon
~ Spencer and I talk about Matthew's dragon
~ Spencer paints his cards
~ a new thematic creative prompt: "Light"
~ tagging photos (and interview with Dane Sanders on Scrapcast)
~ a photographic reading record (a la Prairie Poppins)
~ a bunch of must-read books from the kids corner

• Three Questions
  
• Zen Shorts
  
• Stone Soup
  
• Marie Louise Gay titles
  
• Henry Builds a Cabin (and series)
  
• cCam Jansen and the U.F.O.'s photography contest
  
• Dorothea Lange biography
  
• Russell the Sheep wins me over [cool Russell screensaver]
  

Featured Podsafe Music:

Intro Clip: Jim Fidler ~ All I Really Wanted [PMN]
Jennifer Richman ~ Better Days [PMN]
Heavy Mellow ~ Midnight Chimes [Magnatune]
Sherby ~ Blue [PMN]

Posted by Amy at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Where did the month of February go?!?! The next ATC Exchange begins on March 1 - and the theme will be announced in the next episode (Monday). There's still time if you want to sign up. You can find out more and register here.

Also, if you need to remove yourself from the exchange, please make sure you deactivate yourself before March 1 so that your name isn't included when the next assignments are made. (I hope you stay "in," but I know there may be reasons you need to take a breather.) To deactivate, go here.

You can also take a look at some of the ATC's that were created for this and the previous Creative Mom Podcast ATC exchange in the Flickr gallery.

If you have questions, please let me know.

Posted by Amy at 11:02 AM | Permalink

Featured Podsafe Music:

Intro Clip: Jim Fidler ~ All I Really Wanted [PMN]
Adrienne Pierce ~ Making Angels [PMN]
46 Bliss ~ In a Long Time [PMN]

Posted by Amy at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Many of you have asked for this, and I've been slow in dragging my flour-dusted copy of the recipe into the office to type it in. But, here it is! I still need to update the cooking time more precisely. So watch that carefully. But, I highly recommend these. We loved them in cake form, and we had good luck with them in mini muffin form, too. Plus, they've got a bit of a healthy edge with their flax seed and applesauce. You can also try them with all or part wheat flour.

So... Here's the awesome apple butterscotch recipe we're using these days... We made them last month for kindergarten snack without the butterscotch chips, and they turned out great - very moist and very apple-y!

Double Apple Butterscotch Muffins

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup flaxseed
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
1 cup applesauce
2 cups coarsely grated or finely chopped red apples (approximately 2 apples)
3/4 cups butterscotch chips (optional; less is fine, too)

1. Heat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray 9 x 13 inch cake pan or muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Mix together dry ingredients (except butterscotch chips).
4. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in applesauce and then apples.
5. Pour liquid mixture over dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.
6. Stir in butterscotch chips.
7. Pour batter into pan(s).
8. Baking time varies by pan type. Bake until top is golden and toothpick comes out clean. Cake can take 35 minutes or more. Start checking mini muffins at 12 minutes; regular muffins at 15.
9. Transfer cake or muffins to rack to cool.

Enjoy!

Next month, I'll share the oatmeal pumpkin recipe which has become my defacto preschool snack day mini muffin (I take in somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 at a time).

Posted by Amy at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Hey Creative Mom Podcast listeners... Nutmeg from Material Mama left this info in a comment. But I wanted to raise it up here so you all would see this. Depending on the age of your children, you probably have a bin of gently used dolls and stuffed animals that might be on the "outgrown" side in your house but still have a lot of love and comfort to offer and could be given to a good home -- in this case, passed out to children in Iraq. You can find out more here:: www.parenthacks.com/2006/09/spread_the_word.html

Help if you can. (If you read the post, you will also find a link to how to request a free mailing kit from the USPS.)

Posted by Amy at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Featured Podsafe Music:

Intro Clip: Jim Fidler ~ All I Really Wanted [PMN]
Collin Raye ~ All I Can Do Is Love You [PMN]
Jon Schmidt ~ All of Me [PMN]
Shane Jackman ~ Moonsong [Magnatune.com]

Posted by Amy at 7:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

~ many sewing stories... including a glimpse into the story of "Jack" the doll, the quilt my mother made from my childhood clothes, and the quilts that will someday be...
~ power-laden and cool birthday invitations for the one who is soon to be 6
~ a pinch pot and time spent with the kindergarteners
~ real bears, "stuffed bears" for Math, and "bear" books spotted in the classroom (Zen Shorts and Drawing Lessons from a Bear)
~ a few sewing and quilting-themed stories for kids as well as the wonderful fabric illustrations of Clare Beaton
~ The Crafter's Companion, a wonderful and inspiring title for sewers and crafters that features self-profiles, patterns, and creative discussion from 17 female sewer/bloggers
~ a new thematic creative prompt -- Threads that Bind
~ ATC update
~ Digi-Scrapping Moms at Flickr
~ The Company Store drawing contest
~ Project Spectrum gallery for kids
~ On My Desk
~ and more... Plus, as always, handpicked podsafe music. (Length: 55 min)

Featured Podsafe Music:

Intro Clip: Jim Fidler ~ All I Really Wanted [PMN]
Katy Pfaffl ~ Halfway There [PMN]
Green Druid ~ Dignity [PMN]
Josh Woodward - Learn to Fly [PNM]

Posted by Amy at 10:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)