Slow Lane Ramblings

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #12

2012-01-18T20:30:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been thinking about some friends that are dealing with some difficult times in their lives. This has really made me stop and thank God for the many blessings I have. We can't change the past, but we can build a better tomorrow.

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Inspiration Point...Runners and Toppers

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

Want a quick project or two? How about creating a table runner or topper. If you are like me you have plenty of scraps that can be incorporated into this type of project. Here are some runners and toppers I have on my to do list:

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Remember When?

2012-01-16T11:07:00.004-05:00

Do you remember when playing outside in the cold and snow brought delight? And how about the layers of clothing your parents insisted that you wear? I always felt like a mummy, but somehow all those layers of clothes didn't hinder you from romping in the snow. It didn't matter how cold it was. Young kids seem to have their own heat shields. Shoveling snow wasn't considered work at that age. Old age has it's way of changing your perception of snow and cold temperatures. I'd rather stay inside and watch the snow fall.

But grandkids have a way of making you feel that delight all over again...

Helping dad shovel the driveway is fun.

Dad even bought me my own shovel.


Faster Dad; this is fun.

Howdy, folks. Oops where are my gloves?


My first sled ride with my big sister.

Hold on tight.

Inspiration Point

2012-01-13T20:30:00.001-05:00

It's been a busy week. I've babysat the grandbabies three days this week and yesterday my mother had knee surgery. So no crafting has taken place this week. I did find some time at the hospital to read some of my favorite blogs and as usual was inspired by what these other ladies have been creating. Here are some of my favorite finds this week:
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Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #11

2012-01-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

Project Life

2012-01-07T09:50:00.000-05:00

Do you have boxes of photos or digital photo files that never get looked at? Photos are a terrific way to save special moments, but they are totally useless unless you find a way to make them easily accessible. I use to do the traditional paper scrapbooking. I still love the look, but found it very time consuming. So.......I have many years worth of digital photos that I haven't done anything with. I've been reading about Project Life by Becky Higgins. I thought this approach might work, but it still involved traditional scrapbooking. Then I read this article and viewed the following video at the DailyDigi on Project Life going digital.

I knew immediately this was just what I was looking for. I purchased the Cobalt digital papers and journaling cards from Jessica Sprague and the Action Pocket Pages from Studio Girls. I decided to go this route since I already had Photoshop Elements.I can also use the other digital products I own. I'm also going to use some divided pocket pages so I can include some memorabilia and regular 4 x 6 photos. They can be purchased from Amazon. If you are interested in the the traditional version of Project Life it is also available at Amazon.

I sat down this morning, installed my files into Photoshop Elements and created my first page. Oh so easy. Maybe now I can get caught up on years of photos so they can be enjoyed. I'm planning on creating one or two pages per month. I'll be getting these printed and then placing them into a 12 x 12 binder.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #10

2012-01-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

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A New Recipe...Raspberry Salad

2012-01-03T07:30:00.000-05:00

My mom brought this salad to Christmas dinner. It was a hit with everyone. My husband even had me get the recipe from my mother. I love jello salads. They are easy to prepare, can be made ahead of time, and go with just about anything.

Dissolve 1 large box (or 2-3oz boxes) of raspberry jello with 2 cups boiling water. Do not add cold water.Add 1 can Cherry Pie Filling and 1 can crushed pineapple with juice. Pour inlarge pan or 2 small pans and chill.

Topping:

8 oz cream cheese softened

8 oz sour cream
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat together and spread on jello after jello has becomesolid. You may want to add a little cool whip. It makes it easier to spread.

Books I Read in 2011

2012-01-02T18:56:00.001-05:00

I love to read and I'm always on the lookout for books to add to my reading list. The Nester recently did a post on the books she read in 2011. A wealth of ideas can be found in her post and in the links other readers posted. So here's my list...
If you have a great book that you have read please suggest it to me in the comments section.

Books I Read in 2011

State of Wonder
A Walk on the Beach
A Thousand Tomorrows
A Turn in the Road
Remarkable Creatures
That Summer Place
Family
1105 Yakima Street
Cherries in Winter
Safe Haven
Summer Secrets
The Knitting Diaries
The Water is Wide
Betrayal
Heaven is for Real
Just Beyond the Clouds
Presumed Guilty
Sarah's Song
I'll Walk Alone
Summer Island
Journey
Bride on the Loose
Born in a Small Place
Homeplace
The Wyoming Kid
Navy Baby
The Way Life Should Be
1225 Christmas Tree Lane

Books I Want to Read in 2012

The Help
The Tiger's Wife
The Hunger Games Trilogy
Water for Elephant
Have a Little Faith
The Paris Wife
Caleb's Crossing
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven
My Name is Mary Sutter
The Butterfly's Daughter
Time is a River

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

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Hope your 2012 is full of adventure and joy.

Want to be Inspired? Then read this...

2011-12-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

Do you like to read? Ever since I can remember I've loved to read. My parents said I used to sneak books to the dinner table and when it was bedtime I'd hide my book under the covers. Later I'd get my flashlight out and read until I either fell asleep or was caught by my parents. I guess it's no surprise that I ended up becoming a reading teacher and librarian. While working my reading consisted mainly of children's books and books by a few of my favorite authors. Now that I'm retired there's a whole new world of literature to discover. I've even joined a book club. A couple of years ago I started to keep track of what I read. I now keep track of what I'm reading through Shelfari. I visit the public library on a regular basis and even bought myself a Nook.

Recently I finished reading A Walk on the Beach by Joan Anderson. A friend loaned this one to me, but I've ended up purchasing my own copy because this will definately be a book I will revisit and read again. Joan Anderson, the author of this book, recounts the discoveries she made during the year she decided to spend alone on Cape Cod. One day while out for a walk on the beach she meets Joan Erickson, wife of psychoanalyst, Erik Erikson. They develop a close personal bond. Erikson reminds Anderson of the importance of continuing to learn, grow, change and, most notably, play as one ages, to be surprised by life and where it leads. Life is all about transformations. I found this book to be personally inspiring and full of wisdom. It is a must read (again and again) book.

Easy Peasy Fleece Blanket

2011-12-30T10:18:00.001-05:00

A perfect winter evening consists of curling up on the couch or in the recliner with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book to read. Of course one has to have a cozy blanket too. I spotted this easy blanket idea on Hanging on by a Needle and Thread. Not only would these make great gifts, but they would great to donate. You will need a piece of fleece, some matching yarn, and a special skip stitch blade for your rotary cutter. I'd never heard of this kind of blade until I read Susan's post. You can purchase this blade from Project Linus or directly from the Skip Stitch website. Directions on how to use this special blade are posted on both sites.
My granddaughter loves to watch television curled up on the couch, so for Christmas I made her her very own blanket. You can make your blanket any size. For her blanket I purchased 2 yards of fleece fabric. I then crocheted a shell pattern around the edging. I used the directions I found here.

I also made my grandson a blanket too. Since he's only one I used 1 1/2 yards of fleece. He also needed a small pillow for his crib, so I picked up a travel size pillow from Joann's and a coordinating fabric. I don't remember where I found the pattern for this project, but just do a search and you will find plenty of choices.

I really liked how they turned out. The skip stitch blade is so simple to use. I might just have to purchased the smaller size blade that can be used on flannel.

Now it's off to Joann's to pick up some more fabric because Grandma (meaning me) needs her own blanket too. While I'm there I'll pick up some fleece to make blankets for Project Linus. Joann's has all their fleece marked down so this is the perfect time to pick up some bargains.

I've linked up this post to:

Show and Tell Fridays @Romantic Homes

Home is Where My Story Begins

Simply Sweet Home: Friday Favorites

Sew Many Ways

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

Skip to My Lou

The Shady Porch

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #9

2011-12-28T09:13:00.000-05:00

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Finally a Christmas Post

2011-12-26T10:22:00.001-05:00

Our family enjoyed another wonderful Christmas season. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I love decorating the home for this special holiday and getting ready for celebrations with family and friends. Several years ago our family decided to stop the gift exchanges for the adults in the family. We really don't need anything and this takes away the stress of trying to figure out just what to buy. Shopping for the grandkids is even more special. While some may find this strange, it has allowed us to focus on the real meaning of this holiday.

We enjoy experiencing the holidays through the eyes of our grandchildren. Ethan loved the lights on the tree and playing with his sister. Addison will be three in a few short weeks. She's at the stage where Christmas is starting to make more sense to her. Though she still won't have anything to do with sitting on Santa's lap. It was a joy to read holiday books with her and watch some of the old classic holiday specials. Her favorites were Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and the Charlie Brown Christmas. She loves Charlie Brown and Snoopy. We also took an evening to take in the holiday lights. We are fortunate to live near a state park that goes all out in decorating the campground area with special light displays. They outdid themselves this year. On Thursday prior to Christmas we celebrated with our son and his family and my parents. We enjoyed the evening watching the grandkids opening and playing with their new toys.We went to the Christmas Eve service. The music by the choir was wonderful. Christmas dinner was at my son's home. As usual we ate too much, but we also enjoyed our time with family members.

Shelley at Prairie Cottage Rose recently asked are you a keeper upper or taker downer.I am definitely a keep it upper! I love the festive decor of Christmas and enjoy it even more after all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas is over. Once New Year's Eve is over, I'm ready to pack it all away. Usually a few snowmen find themselves nestled amongst the normal decor at least through February.

Since I was such a poor blogger before Christmas, I thought I'd share a few pictures with you now.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T15:56:00.000-05:00

Christmas is such a special time of the year. I hope you are having an enjoyable time with family and friends. It is easy to get caught up in the commercialism of the season, so take some time to reflect on the real reason for the season.Here's a digital rendition of the Christmas story. The means may be different, but the meaning is the same.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #8

2011-11-30T08:12:00.000-05:00

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All Around the Christmas Tree

2011-11-25T09:25:00.000-05:00

It's time to pull out those Christmas decorations and deck the halls. I love decorating for Christmas and I'm always on the lookout for simple, handmade decorations. Well,once again Pinterest provides all the inspiration you need. I've posted some links for decorating the tree. If you want to see what else I've found check out my Christmas board at Pinterest.

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I've joined 5 Minutes Just for Me's linky party. Check out what others have found inspiring.

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #7

2011-11-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

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Hooks and Needles

2011-11-21T07:44:00.001-05:00

Crisp, cool evenings bring on the urge to pull out the yarn basket and create. I've posted a sampling of projects I found on Pinterest. If you want to see what else I've found head on over to my link at Pinterest. I love doing crochet and knitting projects on cold winter nights especially while watching television. With Christmas right around the corner you might consider one of these projects for a gift.

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I've linked up with 5 Minutes Just for Me. Click on the image below and be inspired.

Wesnesday's Words of Wisdom #6

2011-10-19T14:30:00.000-04:00

Inspiration Point....Burlap

2011-10-16T23:41:00.000-04:00

I use to think of burlap as a stiff, coarse fabric that was only good to use in landscaping and for making bags for produce. But times have changed; burlap seems to be quite the rage now in home decor. I have been busy "pinning away on Pinterest and this week I have found some great crafty ideas using burlap. If you would like to follow me on Pinerest just click on the red Pinterest widget on the side of my blog.

Dry Erase Board

@ Jill Ruth and Co.

Art for the Laundry Room

@Domestically Speaking

Burlap Wreath

@It's Just Laine

Burlap Pillows

@Tater Tots and Jello

Thankful Pennant Banner

@ Kara's Creative Place

Fringed Burlap Table Runner

@Cottage and Vine

Burlap Stocking

@ Cozy.Cottage.Cute

Check out what others have been pinning this week.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #5

2011-10-12T21:44:00.000-04:00

A Little Fall Decorating

2011-10-11T15:09:00.001-04:00

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Here’s a peek at the decorating touches I’ve added for fall. I still would like to add a few pumpkins around the fireplace and on the front porch. I think I’ll buy some of those fake pumpkins you can find at Joann’s or Hobby Lobby.

Pinspiration

2011-10-11T11:17:00.002-04:00

Crocheting has become a favorite past time, especially in the evening while watching television. I've been thinking about creating some granny squares with the yarn leftover from other projects. I turned to Pinterest for some inspiration. Who knew there were so many types of granny square projects? Here are just a few:

source

A Granny a Day

source

Follow me on Pinterest by clicking the Pinterest Button on the right.

Want to see what others are finding on Pinterest? Check out these blog parties.

Inspiration Point

2011-10-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

Crafter's OCD/ADD??? Is there such a thing? Do any of you have problems getting projects finished? Okay I must confess. I'm addicted to reading blogs and Pinterest. I love the organization that Pinterest allows in keeping track of all of those great ideas out there in blogland. I also have notebooks filled with patterns and pictures of craft ideas. I also have a craft basket and table filled with UFO's. I need an intervention technique to motivate me to finish some of these projects. I was used to multitasking in my job, but projects were always completed. Now that I'm retired, there's no deadlines to meet.

Here's what's been added to my growing list of projects...

Doesn't this look yummy?

Who can resist chocolate, pumpkin,

and butter cream frosting?

Lots of great recipes on this blog.

Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

@Picky Palate

Want to learn how to crochet? Check out the tutorials

on this blog. I've been teaching myself to crochet.
I wish I'd found something this when I was getting started.

Crochet School

@Crafty Minx

Kaaren @ The Painted Quilt has done it again.
She's posted another wonderful Friday Freebie.
This time it's a sampler
showcasing the fading days of summer and the start of fall.
Perfect for hand stitching on a crisp fall night.
Fall Sampler
@The Painted Quilt

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #4

2011-09-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #3

2011-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #2

2011-09-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Inspiration Point

2011-09-12T07:30:00.000-04:00

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” — Albert Einstein

What inspires you to create? I spend quite a bit of time each week reading blogs and viewing Pinterest. I find much of my inspiration from these. As Albert Einstein wisely put it, creativity is meant to be passed on. I've decided that each week I'll post what I've found that inspires me. I hope you will be inspire too.

Redo 101

I recently stumbled across this blog. I was taking a look at blog rolls on some of the blogs I follow and discovered Mary's blog. Mary loves thrift store/yard sale shopping, vintage items and sewing. I spent quite a bit of time reading her blog and found several things that are now on my DYI project list. Here are three of them.

Americana Wreath

What a great way to use up some of those fabric scraps! I've seen other wreaths made from fabric scraps, but it never occurred to me to create a patriotic one like this.

Burlap Table Runner

Can't wait to get to Joann's for some burlap. I think this will be the perfect runner for my fall tablescape on my dining room table.

Mod Podge Table Redo

I have a small little table my mother picked up for me years ago that I never did anything with. I'm now using it in a kitchen playarea I made for my granddaughter. Hmmm.....wouldn't some vintage recipes look good decoupaged on a table?

Scrapping With Liz

This is one of my favorite digital scrapbooking sites. Liz has some great ideas to share about scrapbooking. You can purchase templates from her site, but she also has great freebies. If you are new to digital scrap booking you will find her tutorials easy to understand and very helpful.

Recipe Book Templates

This has been on my list of things to do for quite some time. I just purchased this set and I'm anxious to get started on creating a book of family favorites. I love that this template set came in an 8.5 x 11 size that will fit into a three ring binder. What a great way to also organize all those recipes that have been clipped from magazine or printed from the web.

Alphabet and Number Flashcards

I think I purchased these even before I had grandchildren. I just knew this would be a great idea. I'm working on these now and hope to have them completed before my granddaughter's third birthday in January. Each card can be personalized with photos of people or things the children is familiar with.

God Bless America

2011-09-11T09:31:00.000-04:00

We Will Remember

Give Away

2011-09-08T08:10:00.000-04:00

I was asked to review My Memories Suite. If you are like me life is busy and there never seems to be enough time to scrapbook our memories. This digital scrapbooking software just might be the solution for you. I was able to create a couple of pages within a few minutes. It's as easy as a click of the button. Just drag and drop your photos and page elements such as embellishments, backgrounds, and layouts.

You can scrap a page rather quickly using this digital scrapbooking software. You can create an entire album using a variety of templates that are provided or you can create your own. My Memories Suite allows you to print pages as a traditional scrapbook or you can have it professionally printed as a hardbound book. My Memories Suite also allows you to create a movie to watch on a DVD or to view on an iPOD. You will also have the capibility to post a movie of your scrapbook on your Facebook page.

My Memories is going to give 1 of you a FREE copy of their software. Yea!!!

This is what you need to do to enter the contest:

Check out their software and tell me what you like most about the software or choose your favorite layout from the gallery. Leave your comment here.
Mention this give away on your blog for a second chance to win.
You have until September15th at midnight to enter the contest. I'll announce the winner on next Friday's (September 16) blog post.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom #1

2011-09-07T10:54:00.000-04:00

Come and Sit a Spell

2011-09-07T06:50:00.000-04:00

When we made the decision to build our home, a front porch was a must. A cozy front porch says come on up and sit a while. We were lucky enough to find a floor plan we liked with a front porch big enough to encourage neighborhood friends to stop and visit. It has also proven to be a great place to play with the grandkids. It's also a favorite place to enjoy a good book and a cool drink. After our house was finished then we had to make decisions on how this spot would be decorated. Here are some photos that provided some inspiration:

Picture taken at local Parade of Homes

Love the black rockers against the white siding.

Between Naps on the Porch

All decked out for the 4th of July

Country Glamour Home

Can't you see yourself sitting here sipping your ice tea or lemonade?

Primitive Pond Homestead

Love all the primitive accents.

At Home With Amy

Love the black wicker and red accents.

Yesterday Once More

Inviting Front Door. Love the red.

Censational Girl

All ready for fall. Love the rustic bench.

So what did we end up with? We actually purchased some black rockers, but once they were assembled they didn't prove to be very comfortable. It seems the floor models were from last year and this year's chairs were slightly different. So they were loaded back in the truck and returned. We ended up choosing these Adirondack chairs. They are very sturdy, easy to clean, and very comfortable. Since they are made from poly-lumber we won't have to worry about painting them every year. The table in between the chairs was actually from a previous patio set, but has proven to be quite handy. There is enough room to hold flowers and candles and also our drinks and books. I'm thinking about spray painting it to match the chairs. What do you think?

Come on up and sit a spell.

Hmmm....going to have to make some pillows for these chairs.

I've had this bench forever, but I think it needs a makeover. I think it's going to end up being painted my favorite county cranberry red. I've added a few primitive accesories and flowers. The galvanized watering can is quite old. It belonged to my husband's grandmother.

It won't be long until mums and pumpkins replace the summer flowers.

Do you feel it?

2011-09-06T04:30:00.000-04:00

After several days of intense heat and humidity finally behind us, it was nice to wake up to some cool, crisp air. I love everything about fall. It sort of rejuvenates me. I feel like getting out more and being more active. It also puts me in the mood to do some crafting. Here are a few projects I have on my list:

Fall is in the Air@

The Painted Quilt

Funky Pinkwheel Table Runner@

Inspiration Point #3

2011-09-03T04:00:00.000-04:00

I may not have been keeping up with my own blogging, but that hasn't stopped me from reading other blogs.
There are many creative people out there in blogland. Inspiration for a new project is just a click away. I guess that's why I spend so much time at my computer. Here are three sites I enjoy:

Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

Jaime is a stay at home mom. She has posted some great craft and sewing projects, craft projects for kids, and recipes.

Tiered Pillowcase Dress

Isn't this cute? What a great way to use up some of your scraps from other projects.

Meadowbrook Farm

Beautiful flowers and beautiful photography

(Inspiration for me to learn how to take better pictures.)

Twelve Days of Creative Fall@

Deck the Halls of Home with Joy

Starting September 1 Brenda will be sharing creative fall inspirations.

Since fall is my favorite season

I will be following along daily. I hope you will too.

Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies

2011-09-02T05:36:00.000-04:00

I must admit I don't do much baking in the summer, but as soon as there's a hint of fall in the air I feel like getting in the kitchen and doing some baking. My husband's favorite snack is cookies. I found this recipe at Hershey's Recipes.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup Reese's Creamy Peanut Butter

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup Reese's Pieces Candy

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, egg and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in candies. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned; remove from oven. Cool slightly; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

If you are a fan of peanut butter then this is the recipe for you. I think they would taste good with a cup of hot apple cider.

Vacation Time in Vacation Land

2011-09-01T14:01:00.001-04:00

We made our annual trek to Maine in July. We had a wonderful and relaxing time in Bar Harbor, Maine. Acadia National Park is located here. We've been going here for the last 20 years. People often ask us why we go to the same place every year. I think the pictures speak for themselves. We love it's natural beauty. We find real peace here. If you get off the beaten path, you can explore this park without the normal congestion of tourists that you might experience elsewhere. I particularly like it because of its cooler summer temperatures and low humidity.

View From Top of Cadillac Mountain. This is the highest point along the Atlantic Coast.

Shore line in Acadia National Park

Harbor view on Mt. Dessert Island

Bar Harbor Inn is our home for the week. Our room looks out over Frenchman's Bay. The balcony is the perfect place to read, relax, and soak in the beauty of this place.

One of the stone bridges in Acadia National Park.

One of the carriage roads in Acadia National Park. There are 45 miles of carriage roads in this park. These roads are reserved for walkers, bicyclists and horse back riders.

Another cobblestone bridge. There are 17 unique cobblestone bridges in Acadia National Park.

Quick Dinner - Taco Salad

2011-08-31T08:47:00.000-04:00

One of the things I've been doing recently is going through my collection of cookbooks and marking recipes I want to try. I've also bookmarked several blogs that post recipes. One of those is Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom. I recently tried this recipe for Taco Salad. Since I prepared this for just my husband and myself. I didn't mix in the entire meat mixture. That way I was able to make several meals out of this. This was super simple to make and delicious. It will definitely end up in my keeper files.

Ingredients:

Chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce

3/4lb to 1lb of ground turkey or beef

package of taco seasoning

1 can of black or pinto beans, drained

1 cup of corn

2 tomatoes, chopped (I used a can of chopped tomatoes.)

1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese

2 cups of Fritos

Catalina Dressing (Use your judgement on the amount.)

Directions:

Brown the ground meat, adding the taco seasoning in towards the end. Remove from heat and drain if needed. Add your beans and corn to the meat, mix well. In a large bowl, mix every thing together, adding the the Fritos and dressing last. Combine well, making sure everything is coated with the dressing.

I hope you will hop on over to Jamie's blog, Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom. She's posted some other great recipes. On my list to try next is Crock Pot Pulled Pork. She's also posted some great craft tutorials and craft projects for kids.

Bad Blogger

2011-08-30T22:08:00.000-04:00

I've been a very bad blogger. Two months have passed without one blog post. Summer has been filled with the usual yard chores, family gatherings, and vacation time. It has also been a time for me to focus on my word for the year - Discover. Earlier this year I picked the word discover as my focus for the year. I had a former coworker, who is now also retired, tell me that retirement means reinventing yourself. I've discovered this to be very true. For 35 years my life was focused on my teaching career. My circle of friends consisted mainly of my coworkers. Between family life and my job there wasn't much time to explore other interests. This summer I've been busy discovering and exploring new interests and a new community. Yes, I do miss certain aspects of my life before retirement, but I also cherish the time I now have to spend with family and new friends. I'm loving life!!! I hope to share some of my discoveries with you in future blog posts. I will try to be a better blogger.

I'm hooked on Pinterest

2011-07-01T14:16:00.001-04:00

No, No, No. I don't need another website addiction. I kept telling myself to resist, but I was curious to find out what all the buzz was about Pinterest. Well, after taking a look and finding out what a great tool this is for storing all of my favorite web finds I signed up and now I'm addicted. It's also a great tool for finding inspiration. I've found some great recipes and DIY projects. This is so much better than bookmarking your favorites. I found I just didn't utilize my bookmarks well.

If you would like to see what I have pinned on my Pinterest page, click here.

A Great Day!

2011-06-29T05:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was an absolutely perfect day in many ways. Finally we got a day without rain and the temperatures were very comfortable. It was also the day my husband and I were taking care of our two grandchildren. We were able to spend the day outside playing. Addison really enjoyed playing with her new water table on the front porch and Ethan enjoyed watching her. On the way home, Addison said, "I'm tired." I asked her why she was tired and she said she had a great day. Just melted my heart. I had a great time too. I feel so blessed to have these two precious children in my life. Being a grandparent is just the best.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2011-06-28T14:47:00.000-04:00

It's been ages since I've sat down to blog. I didn't really plan a vacation from blogging, but May and June have turned out to rather busy and my time to blog ended up being sacrificed. My parents moved in May. They are both 78 years old and have moved from 9 acres to a small ranch with a small yard. You can only imagine what a big job this was. I'm sure they miss their old place, but this is going to be much more manageable for everyone. My husband and I had already been through this in December with our own move. Now they are only a 5 minute walk away. This also puts us only a short drive away from my son and his family. We love being near the two grandbabies.

We've also had a very rainy spring here in Ohio, so everytime there is a nice day we are out in the yard trying to get things planted and whipped into shape. We have a small tree preserve that borders two sides of our property, so we have been trying to get it cleaned out. We've added a few perennials and our trying to naturalize this area. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.

Crafting time has been pretty nonexistent also. I have been keeping up with my blog reading so I have plenty of ideas lined up. Check out my link on Pinterest. I hope to get back to crafting after our vacation this week. So keep checking back.

Enjoying the Sunshine

2011-05-06T20:43:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The sun was out and it was a perfect time to enjoy a walk in one of the nearby metroparks. I'm fortunate to live near several metroparks. This particular park is a 121 acre nature preserve with some beautiful gardens. The pictures speak for themselves.

Inspiration Point #2

2011-05-01T18:04:00.001-04:00

Between doctor's appointments and preparing for weekend guests, not much got accomplished this week in the craft room. I'm hoping to spend some time in there this week. I did find time to do some blog reading and web surfing. I thought I'd share some of the things I found this week.

On my list of things to do is to work on some Mother's Day gifts. My mother and father will be moving in about 3 weeks. They will be about a 5 minute walk away. Since they are downsizing my mother doesn't need more things for the house, so I think I'll try to whip up one of the strippy pouches that I posted about last week. Inside I can tuck in gift card from one of the local garden centers and one of these small notebooks. Aren't they cute? I spotted this post over on Sunshine Yellow's Blog. She found the directions at Obsessively Stitching. What a great way to use up some of those scraps.

Covered Notebooks

Big Picture Classes

Do you have a gazillion digital pictures you need to get organized and printed? I love using a digital camera, but one of the pitfalls for me is that I procrastinate in getting them organized and printed. In the days before the digital camera, I would get the film printed and immediately put the photos in a photo album. Then I got interested in scrapbooking. I love how the pages turned out and are personalized with journaling, but scrapbooking also takes a lot of time. Then I ventured into the world of digital scrapbooking and took a few online classes. I've fallen into a rut the last couple of years and need to get back into the swing of things, so I signed up for a couple of online classes at Big Picture Classes. Check out their site if you are interested in learning more about digital scrapbooking. They have some great freebie classes being offered right now.

Felt Food

Susan@ Hanging on by a Needle and Thread posted this picture of the food she made from felt for her grandchildren. She found patterns and tutorials here. I think my granddaughter would love this. It sure beats the cheap plastic kind found at the department store.

Butterfinger Cake

I spotted this recipe at Southern Charm. Butterfingers are one of my favorite candy bars. Doesn't this cake look yummy? I can't wait to try it out.

Parade of Homes Tour

@ Bowl Full of Lemons

You just never know where web surfing will take you. This is a new to me blog. I couldn't even tell you how I ended up at this site, but I'm sure glad I did. Check out Toni's fantastic pictures. I love her creative uses of old wire baskets.

Gobble, Gobble and Where's the Beef?

2011-04-30T08:38:00.001-04:00

Who says turkey is just for Thanksgiving? I love turkey and this recipe is oh so simple. The turkey is so moist. I don't remember where I got this recipe, but it's become a family favorite. The leftovers make for some great sandwiches.

Orange Cranberry Turkey

1 turkey breast

1 jar of orange marmalade

1 can whole cranberry sauce

Mix marmalade and cranberry sauce. Place turkey breast in crockpot. Pour marmalade and cranberry sauce mixture over turkey. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Another recipe I tried out this week was Cheeseburger Flatbread Melts. They were delicious. While you are visiting Kevin and Amanda's blog be sure to check out some of the other recipes Amanda has posted. She's some cook. I wonder how she stays so skinny?

Cheeseburger Flatbread Melts

Kevin and Amanda

Spring Envy

2011-04-29T23:46:00.071-04:00

One of the downsides of having a brand new home is there are no spring flowers to enjoy. I live in a fairly new subdivision, so the other homes in the area are also void of flowers. The front of the house was landscaped before we moved in, so there are some shrubs and a few trees. I also have sod, which is a hugh improvement compared to some who only have yards of mud. All of this rain has added to the problem of working outside. Ohio has experienced the 5th wettest April in history. So I've been gathering ideas and enjoying the pictures that many of you are posting on your blogs. Our new home is situated in an area with a tree line preserve at the back and side of the house, so I will have to do some research as to what to plant since the yard is mostly in shade. I love the natural woodsy appeal and want to keep things very informal and relatively easy to maintain.

I thought I'd share with you a few blogs that have given me some ideas of what to do. If you have a favorite plant or gardening tip, please let me know.

Circa Home Living

I loved the barrel in this picture. I had a couple of trees that had to be cut down, so that left me with just the stumps. I think a rain barrel filled with impatients might look nice perched on the stump.

Cozy Little House

Since red is my favorite color, this pot caught my eye. I have several plastic pots that could use an overhaul. I wonder if they made a red spray paint for plastic.

The Charm of Home

I actually have a stone frog similar to this one. Ferns would be a perfect addition to the tree preserve at the back of my property. The patio sits close to this area, so I'm thinking natural plants and perennials would be the perfect addition.

The Painted Quilt

I've always liked Bleeding Heart, but have never had a place suitable to grow them. After doing my research I found that this plant grows best in partial shade and blooms in April and May. I must get to the garden store this week, so I can enjoy the pretty blooms this plant has.

A Latte Quilts

Paula at A Latte Quilts plants Coral Bells to attract hummingbirds. What plants do you have in your garden to attract hummingbirds?

Sunny Simple Life

Elaine at Sunny Simple Life uses lots of containers in her garden. Check out her post. She has some excellent gardening tips and her containers are beautiful. I love the flower combinations she uses.

Saturday is suppose to be sunny and warmer, so I will be heading to the garden center to pick up a few plants. Next week's forecast also shows some days with sunshine. Yeah!!!!! Can't wait. I'm ready to do a little puttering outside.

Mantel Makeover

2011-04-25T18:30:00.003-04:00

How long should it take to make over a fireplace mantel? I spent most of the morning trying out different arrangements. Usually my mantel is very plain.

Before

I wanted to use what I already had, so off to the basement I went to dig through some boxes of things I never found a home for when we moved in. I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby for some silk flowers to fill the crock. This is what I came up with.

After

Close Up - After

I also put away all my Easter decorations and added some new decor to the kitchen counter/bar. I purchased these silk geraniums several weeks ago at a little shop nearby called Prairie House. It may be raining outside, but it's starting to feel a little little like spring indoors. And the best thing about these geraniums is that they don't have to be watered or deadheaded.

Linking to these parties...

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Front Porch

Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle

Inspiration Point

2011-04-25T05:25:00.002-04:00

Ever have one of those nights where you just can't sleep? Well, last night was one of those nights for me. So after tossing and turning for several hours, I decided to get up and do some web surfing and catch up on some blog reading. Some of my best inspiration comes from the ideas posted on other people's blogs. I thought I would share a few of my finds with you.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Pretzel Salad

I love raspberries and jello salads, so this sounds like the perfect combination. I can't wait to try it. Jamie at Jamie Cooks It Up has some wonderful recipes on her site. If you are looking for something different to prepare this week hop on over to her blog.

Posh Pillowcases

I've been wanting to make some new pillowcases for the guest bedroom. This tutorial caught my eye because it combines my newest addiction.... crochet. Check out Cassie's tutorial at You Go Girl.

Serving Tray Makeover

Janet posted this simple makeover at Today's Fabulous Finds. I have one of these trays stashed in the basement just waiting for a makeover. It has a duck painted on it. Remember when ducks were the decorating craze?

Strippy Charm Pouch

Kim posted this tutorial at Moda Bake Shop. Isn't it cute? I think I even have all of the materials to get started on this project.

Mantel Makeover

My mantel is in desperate need of a makeover. Debbie's makeover at Debbiedoo's has provided me with some inspiration.

Well, it looks like I have my work cut out for me this week. I guess I better get some sleep before starting on these projects.

Cross Stitch Chemo Cap

2011-04-23T09:04:00.001-04:00

This hat is a variation of the pattern I posted about yesterday. You can find the pattern at Crazy Cappers. The change I made was in rows 9-11. I used this special cross stitch in these rows.
Rows 9-11 -- Skip one stitch, 1 half double crochet in next stitch. Now go back and make 1 half double crochet in skipped stitch. Continue this pattern around the hat.

This picture shows the hat made with the original pattern. It's the one laying flat on the cutting mat.

This picture shows a close up of the hat with the special cross stitch variation.

Happy Easter

2011-04-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hope everyone has an enjoyable Easter weekend with family and friends.

Head Huggers

2011-04-22T18:51:00.003-04:00

I have a basket full of yarn left from previous projects. I think I’ve found the perfect project to use up the yarn. Most of us have known someone who has had to deal with cancer and the hardships of chemotherapy. If you check out the Head Huggers website you will find knitting and crocheting patterns to make chemo caps. There’s also a link for local groups. I found a local group called Crazy Cappers. I used the pattern they had posted to make the three hats on the bottom. Don’t you just love the shell edging on this pattern? The red variegated hat is made with a cotton yarn called Sugar’ n Cream. Cotton is the perfect weight for summer. The other three are made from a medium weight Red Heart yarn. The hat on top is made from this Cross Stitch Skullie Pattern. This pattern uses a half double crochet stitch and a crossed stitch. The hat worked up rather small. I like the cross stitch in this pattern so I’m working on adjusting the pattern from Crazy Cappers and adding this cross stitch into it.If you like to knit or crochet, then you might want to try making a few of these hats. This is the perfect project to do while watching television and benefits a wonderful cause.

Another Finish

2011-04-20T23:11:00.001-04:00

The calendar may say spring, but the temperatures say winter. So instead of working out in the yard, I’ve been doing some more crocheting. This will be another charity afghan. I used a pattern from the Project Linus website called Baby Bobbles. I wanted an afghan a little bigger than what the pattern was written for. Instead of casting on 101 stitches, I cast on 150. This made this afghan more of a lap size which will be more appropriate for an older child. This afghan is heavier than the last one I made, but will be perfect to cuddle up with on a winter night. Again I choose to use a variegated yarn. I love how these variegated yarns work up.

Blueberry Cheesecake Bread

2011-04-19T22:33:00.001-04:00

I’m working on organizing all those recipes I’ve clipped from magazines or found on the Internet. When I ran across this one, I decided it would be a good addition to dinner.

Easy to prepare and delicious. This one is a keeper!!!

1 large box blueberry muffin mix (I used Duncan Hines Whole Grain)

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 egg

Topping:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375º. Prepare muffin mix per package directions. Pour half of batter into greased 9x5 loaf pan. Combine filling ingredients and beat on medium speed until well combined. Spread filling over muffin batter and top with remaining batter. Prepare topping and sprinkle over batter. Bake for 45-55 minutes. Cool and store in the fridge.

Another UFO Finished

2011-04-12T11:26:00.000-04:00

I've had this cross stitch piece laying around for years. I just added some scraps and made it into a small pillow. I have quite a few cross stitch pieces that need to be finished into wall hangings or pillows. Many of these will go into the gift bin.

My Retreat

2011-04-08T18:45:00.001-04:00

Follow me up these stairs to my retreat. I’m so lucky to have a room in which to do my crafting in. This room also serves as a family room/office.

On one side of the room you will find the crafting/sewing area. The oak library table is used for sewing and digital scrapbooking. When I’m not sewing, I can just slide the machine to the back of the table and pull out my laptop to blog or to do my digital scrapbooking. To the right of the cutting table is a bin that is holding my UFOs. I’d like to eventually either purchase or build a more sturdy cutting table with storage below for the projects I’m working on. Out of photo range is an oak secretary that holds office supplies and craft books.To the right of that is a bathroom. This is a major asset. No more running up and down the stairs.

Storage in a craft room is essential. This room has a large walk in closet. On one side of the closet I placed a bookshelf on the back wall. This shelf is used to hold my scrapbook supplies and quilting magazines.

To the left of this shelf I had wire shelves installed. My husband thinks I must be the plastic bin queen. I’m still sorting through my supplies, but hope to eventually have each bin labeled.

On the right side of this closet is the attic access. We aren’t using the attic space for storage, but I wanted something on this wall that would be easy to move in the event we needed to get into this space. This is where I put my two rolling fabric bins. Above this is a wire shelf that I have batting stored on. I think this closet is my favorite thing in this room. There’s plenty of room to store supplies, but now I can just shut the door so all the clutter is out of sight.

Across the room from the crafting area is the family room area. This is the perfect place to do some hand sewing and to browse craft books and magazines.

Tasty Breakfast Casserole

2011-04-06T19:10:00.002-04:00

I'm always on the lookout for easy and tasty meals to prepare. I love breakfast foods, but when you are working breakfast usually ends up being a bowl of cereal. So sometimes, breakfast foods end up being served for dinner. If Bob Evans can do it, then why not at home. This casserole needs to be prepared the night ahead.

1 lb. lean bulk sausage
6 slice white bread, cubed
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
5 eggs, beaten
2 cups half and half
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard

Brown sausage and drain excess fat. Toss bread cubes with melted butter and arrange in greased 9" x 13" baking pan. Top with sausage and cheese. Combine all remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour over casserole dish and chill overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

This would be the perfect meal to enjoy on Easter morning, especially after the early morning sunrise services. Enjoy!

I'm Hooked on Nook

2011-04-04T00:38:00.001-04:00

Ever since I was a child and I learned to read, I've loved books. (No surprise that I ended up with a career as a reading teacher and librarian.) I love books and probably always will. After moving box after box of books in our latest move, I decided it was time to limit the books I buy to craft and decorating books. There's just not enough room to store all of these books. First I had to purge my collection by selling some at Half Price Books and donating the rest.

Of course, I'm still going to be a reader so many books will be borrowed from my local library. I also decided to join the e-book craze and purchased a Nook. It's not going to replace the feel of holding a real book, but it does have other advantages that I enjoy. I can have immediate access to e-books if the public library doesn't have the book available. I also like the convenience of being able to download samples of books before I actually decide to purchase a copy. Why a Nook instead of a Kindle? With the Nook you can download e-books from the public library and transfer them to the Nook. And just think, now I'll have more room in my luggage, instead of packing it with four or five books. It's just the right size for tucking into my purse. Have any of you jumped on the e-book bandwagon?

No Idle Hands Here

2011-04-03T10:00:00.005-04:00

In the evenings I like to watch a little TV, but I'm not one to have idle hands. I also decided when I retired to use some of my free time for charity work, so I decided to pick up my crochet hooks and do a little stitching while watching televison, but first I needed a little refresher. I purchased Teach Yourself Visually Crochet. It is a great book for the beginner or for someone who needs a refresher like me. The directions and pictures are easy to understand. I found a local charity that makes blankets/afghans not only for babies but for children of all ages going into foster care. Then it was off to Joann's to pick out some yarn. I found this purple varigated yarn I thought would appeal to an older child or teenager.

I decided to go with an easy pattern. I used a size I crochet hook for this project. I started with a chain of 150 stitches. I used the half double crochet stitch for the entire afghan. Once I had the size I wanted I did a border of four rows of single crochet around the entire afghan.

Easy-Peasy and a great way to be productive while watching TV.

Spring Decorating

2011-04-02T10:00:00.003-04:00

The sun is shining, but it is still pretty chilly outside. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of winter. I'm ready to get outside to putter in the yard and do some front porch sitting. Since I can't do anything about the weather, I decided I could at least bring a little spring indoors.

Come on In

2011-04-01T14:01:00.001-04:00

Moving to a new home is hugh decision and a ton of work. It has been almost four months since we moved into our new home. The boxes have been unpacked and for the most part the decorating is done. We are finally at the stage we can enjoy quiet evenings at home or spending time exploring our new community. We are absolutely loving everything about the community and home we have chosen. There were two factors that sold us on this house; the location and floorplan. We moved from a small community that offered very little to do. We now have plenty of cultural and outdoor activities and shopping choices. Plus we are now only 15 minutes away from our son and his family. This is also a home we feel we can grow old (older) in. It is basically a ranch with a bonus room upstairs.

Come on in for a peek.....

This house has a large front porch. We will be putting a couple of black rockers on the porch as soon as it warms up. This area gets a lot of shade. I can't wait to spend time out here rocking and reading. As you enter the front door you are immediately drawn into the great room/kitchen. The open floor plan was a must for me. In our previous homes the kitchen was closed off from the living area. On the right of entryway are two bedrooms and bath. To the left is the dining room.

The great room is the area where we spend most of our time. It is a comfortable space to read, relax, watch television, and spend time with family. I do most of my blog reading and hand stitching in the recliner by the windows.

This area had to be child friendly, so anything fragile is put on the shelves in the television cabinet. There is also a child size table and kitchen center for our granddaughter to play at.

Missing in Action

2011-03-31T00:14:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I've been away for so long. I didn't plan on taking a blog break, but it seems mother nature had other plans. I'd like to tell you that I've been some place exotic like.....

but the truth is I've spent the last couple of months battling one illness after another. January brought on my annual case of bronchitis, but this time it hit with a vengeance. Then I was hit with the worst case of stomach virus I have ever had. I think just about everyone in the family was hit with this. Since then it's been one cold after another. I'm finally feeling normal, but I just found out I need to have some minor surgery to get a hernia repaired. Geez... will it ever end?

The good news is I have been able to get some reading and crafting done. I also finished up sorting the last of the boxes from our move. Stay tuned for pictures in upcoming posts.

Sick as a Dog

2011-01-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

Life sometimes has a way of slowing you down. I've been dealing with bronchitis this past week. It seems like every January I get hit with this. This go round, it seemed to hit me harder. I can't remember a time I've coughed so much. Needless to say, last week wasn't productive. After the cough started to subside, I ended up with a killer sinus headache for several days. On top of all this, my mom ended up in the hospital with some heart issues. She ended up having to have a pacemaker. Since I was so sick, I wasn't allowed to even go to the hospital. She's home now and doing great. I'm on the mend, and I'm anxious to do some crafting this week.

One Little Word

2011-01-04T22:16:00.000-05:00

A new year often prompts many of us to reflect on the past year and to make resolutions for the new year. Unfortunately most of us (including me) don't do a very good job of keeping those resolutions. Instead of making specific resolutions I've decided to follow Ali Edward's lead and choose one word to focus on during the year. My word for this year is discover. Several big changes have occurred in my life (particularly in the last seven months). I retired after teaching for 34 years, built a new home, moved to a new town, and welcomed grandbaby #2 into the world.

I like this quote by Mark Twain. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

2011 promises to be a year of discovery on several different levels (personal, physical, and spiritual). Let the journey begin!

It's a Glorious Time of the Year

2010-12-29T19:03:00.000-05:00

I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Now it's time to slow the pace down

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T07:33:00.003-05:00

The gifts have been wrapped, the house has been decked out, and the baking is complete. Now it's time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Hope each of you have a wonderful Christmas Day.

The Best Toys are Free

2010-12-21T17:26:00.001-05:00

What kid can resist playing in a box? Addison found that the moving boxes were fun to play in.

Making a House a Home

2010-12-20T19:10:00.002-05:00

We are finally moved into our new home. We moved on December 8. I have spent the last twelve days from morning to night unpacking boxes and trying to get things organized.I can’t remember a time I’ve been so exhausted. Even though I got rid of lots of things beforehand I’ve discovered I still have too much stuff. This house has three less rooms than the previous house so the purging continues. It’s amazing how much we can accumulate. Our new motto needs to be, “Simplify.” On top of unpacking, I’ve also managed to decorate for Christmas. It’s starting to feel like home. This week I think I can finally get back to a more relaxed routine. The only thing left to do is wrapping presents and a little baking. I hope to post some pictures of the our new home this week, so keep watching.

Tis the Season to……

2010-12-03T14:30:00.002-05:00

Decorate or Undecorate?
Normally I’d be decorating for the holidays. I love making the house festive, but instead this is what I’m doing…
Moving day is next Wednesday. Every room in the house has a stack of boxes in it. The craft room has been packed, so there hasn’t been much creative going on including blog writing. The only room left to pack is the kitchen. I guess we will either be eating out or eating on paper plates for the next few days. I have been taking breaks in between packing and have managed to finish the Christmas shopping and also get my Christmas cards and newsletter prepared.
For someone like me with a Type A personality, this is the hardest part, but I’m looking forward to getting settled into our new home. One of the advantages of this move is we will only be about 15 minutes away from these two little cuties.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T10:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the many blessings that each of us enjoy. I hope each of you are able to enjoy time with family today and reflect on the blessings you have been given. I am thankful for....

My Husband - I am fortunate to be married to a wonderful man who is not only my husband, but my best friend. He is a man that has always been supportive and kind. We enjoy spending time together.
My Son and Daughter-In-Law - God blessed me with a kind hearted and hard working son. I feel fortunate that he met a such a wonderful girl. I enjoy spending time with them. They are also terrific parents.
Grandchildren - Addison and Ethan are the light of my life. I'm so glad I live close and can enjoy watching them grow up.
My Parents - In the last two years my parents have both had open heart surgery. I'm thankful that they both have recovered from their surgeries and are enjoying good health. I'm thankful that we live close enough that we can enjoy spending time together. Not many grandchildren get to experience spending time with great grandparents.
Living in the United States - I feel blessed to live in a country where I enjoy the freedoms we have. I am thankful for the men and women who serve our country and work to maintain these feedoms everyday.

Closing Date

2010-11-22T18:23:00.001-05:00

The house is finally finished. Sod was supposed to be put down today which is a good thing since rain is in the forecast. Our closing date is set for December 7th. I’m really anxious to get some normalcy back into our lives. I’m usually a really organized person, so the stacks of boxes and clutter are driving me crazy. I finished up packing the craft room and basement today. Geez… I can’t believe how much stuff we have accumulated. I have way too many craft books and magazines. I kept out a few hand sewing projects to work on. That will be my therapy and relaxation over the next two weeks. I’m also going to finish up the Christmas shopping for the grandchildren.

I’m looking forward to making this house a home.

Cookies in a Jar

2010-11-12T08:09:00.000-05:00

Need a gift for a neighbor, teacher, or friend? These cookie ingredients can be packed in a jar. To decorate the jars, just cut a piece of fabric into a circle (about 9" in diameter). Screw down the jar ring to hold fabric in place or hold down the jar ring to hold fabric in place with ribbon, raffia, or yarn. Create a card with the cooking directions on them. Punch a hole in it and attach to the jar with string or ribbon.

Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix

2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 1/2 cup sugar

Layer the ingredients in the order given into a wide mouth 1 quart canning jar. Pack each layer in place before adding the next ingredient. Attach a gift tag with the mixing and baking directions.

1 jar Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the butter until light, add the eggs and beat, until the mixture is smooth. Add the Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix and continue to beat until the dough begins to form. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Arrange on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until light tan. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.

Candy Bar Cookie Mix

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup of your favorite candy bar, chopped

Layer the ingredients in the order given into a wide mouth 1 quart canning jar. Pack each layer in place before adding the next ingredient. Attach a gift tag with the mixing and baking directions.

1 jar Candy Bar Cookie Mix
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the butter, eggs and vanilla. Add the Candy Bar Cookie Mix and stir until the mixture is well blended. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies.

Need more holidays ideas? Check out Colleen's blog, And Baby Makes Five.

I’m a Big Sister Now

2010-11-11T22:53:00.001-05:00

Today has been a day for rejoicing. Ethan Franklin arrived into this world this morning at 9:01. He weighed 9 lbs. 2 oz. and was 21 inches long.

Here’s the proud daddy and great grandfather. Ethan’s middle name is after my dad. Kevin has always had a special relationship with his grandfather. Addison is going to make a great big sister. She was so good at the hospital and loved looking at her little brother. I’m sure she will be trying to teach him everything she knows. They will keep us all on our toes.I think we should keep him, dad. A kiss for little brother.

A Scrappy Surprise

2010-11-10T14:53:00.001-05:00

I just received the most wonderful gift. I won a prize from Regena at Quilt N’ Quilt Things in her recent give away. She included this cute little zippered pouch and a huge stack of precut holiday fabric squares. I love the scrappy look and can’t wait to figure out what to do with these beautiful scraps. I just started blogging last year and this is the first gift I’ve won from a blogger. Thanks again, Regena!

A Good Holiday Read

2010-11-08T11:07:00.001-05:00

Every year around the holidays, I try to read several holiday themed books. Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors so I couldn’t resist reading Call Me Mrs. Miracle. This is Debbie’s second book with Emily Merkle (aka Mrs. Miracle) as the main character. In this book Mrs. Miracle is working in the toy department of Finley’s Department Store. Her boss is Jake Finley, the owner’s son. Christmas for Jake was destroyed many years ago when his sister and mother were killed in an auto accident on Christmas Eve. For him Christmas is all about making a profit. This Christmas proves to be different after Jake meets Holly, who is caring for her eight year old nephew while his father is in Afghanistan. Mrs. Miracle loves making children happy and helping others, even if it involves a little matchmaking.
This book has also been made into a movie and will be aired on the Hallmark Channel November 27. If you missed Debbie Macomber’s 2009 Christmas book, Mrs. Miracle, last year then you will also want to watch it. It will also be shown on that day.

Peppermint Meringues

2010-11-07T20:37:00.002-05:00

2 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup sugar
2 peppermint candy canes, crushed
In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Sprinkle with salt and cream of tartar. Beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar.
Beat until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. Drop by teaspoon onto ungreased foil or paper lined baking sheets. Sprinkle with crushed candy.
Bake at 225 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Turn off heat; leave cookies in the oven with the door ajar for at least 1 hour or until cool. Store in airtight container.
I’m linking up with Colleen’s Weekly Holiday Recipe Swap. I can’t wait to try some of the recipes that are posted this week. Check it out for yourself by clicking on the picture below.

Blankie Time

2010-10-28T23:55:00.001-04:00

Did your children have a favorite blankie? My son had a yellow and white receiving blanket he carried with him everywhere when he was little. I kept that blanket even though it is pretty ratty looking, but it holds many fond memories. I’m thinking of trying to make a couple of stuffed animals or toys from it.

When my granddaughter was born I made her a flannel blanket and she uses it all the time, so when my son ask if I could make another one for her that was a little longer I went in search of the perfect material. Hers is the green one. The other side is the same print in pink. I also made a pillowcase for her travel size pillow.

My new grandson is due to arrive in two weeks, so I also made him a flannel blanket. His room is decorated with a transportation theme. I hope that each of these two special little ones feel a little of grandma’s love everytime they are wrapped up in these blankets.

Cute as a Bug

2010-10-28T23:32:00.001-04:00

….a ladybug that is. Holidays are more fun when children are involved. Addison wouldn’t wear her ladybug hat and preferred passing out candy and seeing the other kids. But isn’t she the cutest ladybug you ever saw? (Grandma is a little biased.)

No Guilt Here

2010-10-23T18:41:00.001-04:00

I hate clutter, but when one is preparing for a move and also trying to get some crafting done, the piles seem to accumulate overnight. I've spent the last two days trying to restore order to the house. It's now presentable and the layers of dust have been removed. So, when I went to the mailbox this afternoon and found this.....

I didn’t feel a bit guilty about sitting down to look through it. The photos are amazing. If you like primitive decor then you must head on over to A Primitive Place and order this magazine.

So after preparing a quick pot of chili and wrapping up the dinner clutter, I’m ready to settle in and read the articles. This is the best magazine around. It’s filled with great articles and tips on primitive decorating.

Enjoying Fall

2010-10-22T19:56:00.001-04:00

The weather this past week has been absolutely wonderful. We took advantage of these final days of good weather to do some exploring of the area where our new home is being built. When we decided to make this move, a lot of time and thought went into where we would relocate to. Not only did we want the cultural and shopping experiences a large city could offer us, but we also wanted to be close to outdoor activities. Our home is located close to several large metroparks with plenty of hiking trails.

We also will be about 20 minutes from a major zoo. This will be a perfect outing for the grandchildren. On our last visit we saw the polar bears.

Addison enjoyed petting zoo.

Hmmm… I wonder where the country shops and fabric stores are? I can’t wait to get the move completed so I can explore more of the area.

Applesauce Raisin Cookies

2010-10-17T17:07:00.000-04:00

Cooler weather gets me in the mood to do a little baking, so I went to one of my favorite cookbook, Favorite Recipes From Quilters, and picked this cookie recipe. Nothing is better than a hot cup of apple cider and a good cookie!

8 Tablespoons margarine
1 egg
1 cup white sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 cup raisins
1 cup oats
1 cup applesauce

1. Cream together margarine, egg, and sugar. Add all other ingredients and mix well.
2. Drop by teaspoonsful onto greased cookie sheet.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.

Beware.. Yard Sales can be Hazardous

2010-10-12T08:05:00.002-04:00

This weekend I helped my mom with her yard sale. This is her second sale in the last couple of weeks. I was suppose to be selling things, but I ended up bringing home several items. Since we will be moving soon, I should be concentrating on getting rid of things and downsizing. Mom said take whatever I wanted, so I took some crocks and baskets. This past weekend I brought home a rocker and a little rustic bench. The rocker (no picture yet) was the one my mom rocked me in when I was born. Sentimentality won out, and I decided I couldn't see it going to someone else. I will have to find a place in the new house for it so I can rock my grandbabies.

The little bench found a place here...

The watering can also came from the yard sale. I purchased the wooden pumpkin this weekend. I'm loving these fall temperatures. It looks like it's going to be a beautiful week here in central Ohio. You will probably find me in the yard doing a little fall clean up.

I’m in love…

2010-10-11T18:03:00.001-04:00

with my new walking foot. My quilting experience is very limited. I have a friend who helped me get started. Most of my learning comes from reading your blogs and quilting magazines. Terry from Terry’s Treasures mentioned she used a walking foot. I emailed her and she explained how it worked and how it had made her quilting experience so much easier.

I ordered my quilting foot and it arrived last week. I have been so busy that today was the first time I had to do some practicing. There were no instructions included, so I watched a couple of videos on You Tube. Then I took one of my string blocks and did a little practicing. Wow! I’m impressed with how easy this was. Now maybe some of those UFO’s will get finished. For now I will just do some straight line quilting. I can’t wait to get started.

New House Update

2010-10-11T12:39:00.001-04:00

The building of our new house is moving along rapidly. Last week the cabinets and tile in the bathrooms were installed. It looks like things will be completed by the end of November.

This is the view from the kitchen into the dining room. The dining room is located at the front of the house. The door on the right is to a pantry. I’ve never had a pantry before. I think this storage will be quite handy.

This is the kitchen area. It looks out onto the great room. There will be a counter installed on the wall at the front of this picture. No more being stuck in the kitchen alone while everyone else is having a great time in the living room.

This is a view of the great room. The kitchen eating area will be in front of the sliders. To the right of the windows is a corner fireplace.

This is a the back of the house. A patio will be installed. Can’t wait to do some relaxing there next spring.

All that’s left to do on the outside is the installation of the porch railings, having the driveway installed, and landscaping.

I’ve been decorating in my head and trying to finalize a few decorating choices. I dread the packing up, but I’m getting excited for the actual move.

You've Got Mail

2010-10-07T17:04:00.003-04:00

Don't you just love the sound of the doorbell and the UPS truck driving away? While doing my dusting today, I heard these two sounds and knew the book I'd ordered had arrived. Without hesitation, I put the dustrag down and went to the porch to retrieve my purchase. (Afterall, what's more important? The dusting could wait.) I've been following Camille Roskelley's blog Simplify for quite a while. I just love her quilt patterns and fabric. I knew I just had to have a copy of her book, Simplify, Quilts for a Modern Home. I'm a newbie at quilting and this book is just perfect. The first chapter of her book is on quiltmaking basics. Since I'm mainly self taught the information Camille provides should be of immense help. Her books is chock full of cute quilt patterns and the photos are beautiful. And the best thing is they are all made with jelly rolls, charm packs, and fat quarters. I love using precuts.

So, instead of finishing my housewhole chores, I spent some time enjoying this new book. Afterall what's a few wrong with a few dust bunnies?

Want a Kiss?

2010-10-06T17:12:00.001-04:00

The picture speaks for itself.

Fall is in the Air

2010-10-06T14:50:00.001-04:00

Fall is my favorite season. I love the cooler temperatures and the beauty the season provides. Here's a peak at a few fall decorations you can find around my house.

Cute Little Punkin

2010-10-05T20:23:00.001-04:00

Today was cold and overcast day in central Ohio, but we still had fun in the Pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin Roll

2010-10-03T20:57:00.009-04:00

Fall is in the air. A perfect time to do a little baking. This recipe was given to me by a fellow co-worker. Oh so yummy!!!

Grease and flour cookie sheet.

Mix together the following ingredients:

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. Baking Soda

3/4 cup flour

2/3 cup pumpkin

1 tsp. Cinnamon

Pour onto cookie sheet. Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Put a dish towel out and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Let roll cool on pan for 5 minutes. Then put on dish towel with powdered sugar. When warm roll up like a jellyroll. Leave rolled until cool. Then unroll and spread the filling on top and reroll and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Store in refrigerator.

Filling

1 package 8 oz. cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Check out Colleen’s blog, And Baby Makes Five, for more yummy recipes.

Where in the World is Mrs. B?

2010-10-02T22:57:00.001-04:00

I wish I could tell you I’ve been vacationing somewhere exotic, but truth is I’ve just been extremely busy at home. I’ve made time to read blogs I follow, but have done little writing or commenting. Hope to get back to this soon.

The construction of the new house is moving along quite rapidly. Drywall is now installed and painting will probably begin next week. The siding is almost finished. The front of the house is a combination of brick and siding. That will be going up next week. We also have been making lots of trips to check things out. The new house is located in a community about an hour away. If I could put my car on autopilot it could drive itself since we have been making this trip at least twice a week. We have also had to make decisions on landscaping, the deck, and closets.

Packing things up for a move can be quite a daunting task. I decided to get started packing up things that aren’t being used. I’ve been working in the attic, the upstairs bedrooms and the basement. I’m trying to pack carefully and label precisely, so that things will go smoothly with the actual move and unpacking. Lots of this is helping.

I’ve also been babysitting my granddaughter. If you have a little one then you know trying to get anything done while they are around is almost impossible. I’m not complaining though. I’m loving the time we spend together and am enjoying watching Addison explore and learn new things. She’s such a joy!

Sour Milk Cookies

2010-09-25T19:42:00.001-04:00

Yes, you read it right... sour milk and cookies. I got this recipe years ago from my mother-in-law. They are one of my husband's favorite cookies.

2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon soda in 1 cup of sour milk
Pinch of salt
2 teaspoons baking powder

Use enough flour (2-4 cups) to make the dough stiff enough to drop from teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees.

This recipe is linked up with Colleen's Weekly Recipe Swap.

WOW!

2010-09-13T09:00:00.001-04:00

As a a "newbie" quilter I'm always on the lookout for techniques to make the easier. I love using precuts so when I spotted this video on Sarah's Prim Treasures I knew this was something I wanted to try. So, I've added this to the project list and I'm on the search for the perfect charm packs. You must watch this video on how to create fast and easy pinwheels.

Special K Bars

2010-09-12T11:12:00.002-04:00

If you have kids or like rice krispie bars then, this is a recipe you need to try out. You can make this with either Special K cereal or Rice Krispies. Either way, they are yummy. They are perfect for lunchbox treats.

1 cup white corn syrup
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 teaspoon salt
8 cups Special K or Rice Krispies
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine syrup, sugar, and butter in pan. Boil one minute. Remove from heat and add peanut butter and salt. Pour over cereal and mix. Press into 13 X 2 pan. Melt chips and spread over cereal. Cool and cut into bars.

I've linked this recipe at Colleen's weekly recipe swap at And Baby Makes Five. You will find other delicious recipes there, so go take a look.

Boxed In

2010-09-04T15:40:00.001-04:00

The weather here is central Ohio is glorious today. It feels like fall, but instead of being outside I’m feeling a little boxed in. With the hubby’s help we decided to tackle cleaning out the attic since the temperatures were reasonable. I like going to yard sales, but I hate getting ready for my own. We did make a dent though which will really help when we have to pack up for the big move in December. The rule is what goes to the yard sale doesn’t come back in the house. It will go to the thrift store.

This is what got carried to the garage. There’s still another big pile in the basement. The garage sale will be at my mom’s house so it will soon be relocated to her garage for the sale in two weeks.

I’ve been putting this task off, so I’m thankful it’s finished. At least the rest of the weekend can be enjoyed. Looking forward to dinner out tonight with friends and a cookout tomorrow at my son and daughter in laws.

Chicken ‘n’ Biscuits

2010-09-04T15:11:00.001-04:00

If you read my blog on a regular basis, then you already know I’m always on the lookout for easy to prepare recipes. Casseroles are a favorite in my household. Add a salad or fruit, rolls, or another favorite side dish and you are all set. I’ve become a fan of Taste’s of Home Fast Fixes and Mixes. Here’s a recipe I recently tried out.

1 package ( 16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables

2 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

3/4 cup milk

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled, optional

Biscuits:

1 1/2 cups biscuit/baking mix

2/3 cup milk

1 can (2/8 oz.) french-fried onions

In a large bowl, combine the vegetables, chicken, soup, milk, 1 cup cheese, and bacon. Pour into an ungreased 13 inch x 9 inch x 2 inch baking dish. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in another bowl, combine biscuit mix and milk. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls onto chicken mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 20-22 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Top with onions and remaining cheese. Bake 3-4 minutes longer or until the cheese is melted. Yield: 6 servings.

I’ll be linking to Colleen’s weekly recipe swap over at And Baby Makes Five. Hop on over there for some other new recipes to try out.

House Progress

2010-09-02T19:15:00.001-04:00

This week the rough plumbing and electric were completed. The concrete was poured for the front porch and garage. The front door was also installed.We are going to be able to use the furniture we already own. The only piece we will need to purchase is an entertainment center. We found one we liked this weekend at Amish Originals. It will be in a darker more rustic cherry.

Will Power = None

2010-09-01T19:14:00.001-04:00

Today I got up early and took the car in for some service. They gave me a loaner so I headed to Joann Fabrics. I really only needed some needles, thread, and a new seam ripper. My seam ripper seems to have vanished. (It’s probably underneath a pile of UFO’s in the sewing room.) Well, you know how this goes. There were lots of other goodies there to tempt me. I found some fat quarters that I liked and I spotted a copy of Create and Decorate. I’ll admit I bought it just because of the project on the front cover. I didn’t even bother to look inside. On the way home, I decided to go by way of Lancaster, Ohio so I could stop at the Farmer’s Country Store. I knew they would probably have some wool felt for the project on the cover of Create and Decorate. The Farmer’s Country Store has the best fabric selection. I not only purchased some wool, but I also spotted some fat quarters that I liked. They are aqua ones. I don’t decorate with this color, so I have no idea what it will end of becoming. Hmmmm…….. maybe I can figure out how to incorporate this color into a room in the new house. I’m planning on keeping the dining room fairly neutral (tans and country red/burgundy) so maybe I could use a table runner in this color. If not that, then it may find it’s way into a bag I want to make.

Did you spot that cute little pincushion with the mouse on top? I just couldn’t resist. He’s so cute. I see a new collection starting. I have several pincushions. How many do you need for a collection?

School Bells

2010-08-26T09:59:00.003-04:00

There have been teacher meetings all week and today is the first day of school for students. And....... I haven't been there. It's the first time in 34 years I'm not swamped with school activities and I'm loving it. Retirement means no more alarm clocks and getting up at 5:30 every morning. I usually get up between 7:30 - 9:30. I babysit 2 or 3 days a week. Addison has brought a lot of joy into our lives. I had no idea that being a grandparent would be so special. Yes, I miss the interaction with students and other teachers, but I'm also enjoying other interests like reading, sewing, and scrapbooking.

Floor Plan

2010-08-25T09:56:00.000-04:00

Several people have expressed an interest in the floor plan of the home we are building. Click here to view the plan. Our plan is reversed. The garage is on the left. We also extended the wall on the great room side by 2 feet. The garage has a four foot extension that will provide a place to store the lawn mower and bikes. We are also having the bonus room built. It has a large walk-in closet and bath.

Here is the builder's rendition of what the front will look like.

Treasure Hunting

2010-08-22T15:58:00.002-04:00

My mother is getting ready for a yard sale, and I spotted a few goodies I wanted. I’ve been wanting to make some pinwheels since I spotted the pattern at the Moda Bake Shop. I also wanted to make some fabric eggs Easter. Won’t these look cute in a wooden bowl? I also like white Fenton milk glass. It doesn’t really have that country/primitive feel, but my craft room in the new house will have a more rustic cottage feel, so I thought they might find a home there. I also love crocks, baskets and wooden boxes so they came home with me too.
A few of these treasures were paired with a couple of things I recently painted. On the back patio is the bench I repainted in a cranberry red. It shows up much better than the tan it originally was. A ceramic flowerpot and a crock found a home here.

I’ve had this little pine bench for ages, but it was just stained. I also painted it a cranberry red, then distressed it and add a walnut stain to it. Thought this old crow looked cute on it.