Cotton Candy

Back Soon

2010-10-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

I live in a high-traffic tourist area. And tis the season; for tourist and company. So for the moment I am trapped in the land of fanny packs and tourist traps. Meaning I am entertaining "the relatives". Will be back soon.

A dead car, cake interrupted, and screaming hot sloppy joes

2010-10-07T22:13:00.000-07:00

It has been one of those kind of days that makes you want to pull your hair out, stomp your foot in disgust, and just throw in the towel. Rinse and repeat.

Company's coming. I like to "put on the dawg" when expecting guests. My house, a 100 year old beauty, really lends itself well to this kind of show. But it is a 13 room old girl and the four of us that call this place home manage to live in every room, every day. Throw into the ring a big black dog that in a week sheds enough hair to make Elvis wigs for everybody, and it all makes for a level of clean, that while it isn't a health hazard, it sure wouldn't get Mr. Cleans approval. I know I should clean a little house everyday (at least that is what I was told when studying home economics), but I am a project kind of girl with at least 3 or 4 going all the time. And they take a lot of my attention. A lot. Add a tiny part-time job, the laundry, the cooking-well cleaning somehow gets overlooked a lot of days. That means getting ready for company finds me in a cleaning "fit".

So, I've been in a fit all week. The whole nine yards. I will spare you the details. Let's just say it involved a lot of Liquid Gold, Swiffer cloths, and it's companion, the Swiffer Mop. I chased one glob of dog hair so big I thought it was a kitten when I first saw it out of the corner of my eye. Who knew a dog with hair only 1/2" long could shed half his body weight in the stuff every day. I think he is secretly embarrassed about it too. He always gets that guilty look dogs are so good at whenever he sees me break out the Swiffer. You know, head kinda down, that slinky bowed back walk as he attempt to hide all 60 pounds of himself from me.

But, I got it done (with help from other residents), and as always, this old place cleans up good. I was looking forward to today. It was to be my shopping and baking day. I have a recipe for a pumpkin spice layer cake with browned butter frosting and today was the day to try it out. All perky from two cans of Coke and two cups of coffee, I grabbed my list and headed out the door for the grocery.My car is not quite so perky. It is dead. Really, really dead. Not even a click when I turn the key. I could call AAA, my husband suggests ,but I decide to just wait til my daughter gets home later in the day, borrow her car and do my shopping then. I'll do my cake baking in the meantime. I get all the dry stuff mixed together, grease and flour the pans, brown the butter, add the pumpkin, the buttermilk and the eggs. Eggs, those were on my shopping list. Because I don't have any eggs! Luckily, I realized this just in time to halt production before the point of no return. Now I decide AAA is a good idea after all. I can at least run to the convenience store and get some eggs, come home and finish my cake. An hour later the guy from AAA pulls up. He has multiple piercings, which would make you think he is really macho to endure all that pain. But the minute he sees my big black dog come charging at him, he jumps back in the truck. I hope he doesn't hear my snorting and snickering. It makes all that dog hair kinda worthwhile. Jasper the big black dog is on the job!. Since I really need that car now what with the state of affairs in my kitchen, I put the dog back in the house so this guy can boost my car. No such luck. My battery is going, going, GONE. When he told me, I seriously toyed with the idea of asking the guy for a ride to the store. I mean he seemed nice enough and all. And I could take Jasper just to make sure he stayed in line. I resisted the temptation and decided to just leave the cake til later. I could at least start something quick and easy for dinner. I love Pioneer Woman's recipe for Sloppy Joes so I threw the ingredients in the pan and since I really like Chili powder , I used the 2 tablespoons she calls for plus a little more. Boy they smelled good! I finally got something right on this day, I am thinking.

Dinner time came and I bit into my buttery-toasted bun dripping with Sloppy Joe filling. That tangy, slightly sweet taste I was anticipating was a little over-shadowed. Actually a lot over-shadowed. I went to the spice cabinet and grabbed the jar labeled "chili powder", opened it and tasted it. Seems the Cayenne pepper had gone undercover as chili powder. An hour later, as I was cruising down the rode in my daughter's car in pursuit of eggs and other edibles, the corners of my mouth were still burning and my nose had such a persistent drip, I was tempted to put a wad of Kleenex in each nostril.

I did get the eggs and the cake was eventually baked. I know it is going to be very good. I know because I licked the bowl and it was dee-lish. And the frosting? Oh Lordy! Browned butter, cream cheese, brown sugar and powdered sugar. How could it not be good? So at least my day ended on a sweeter note.

My Little Black Book

2010-10-06T11:52:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make me happy. Case in point; old-fashioned black composition books. The stores are full of them this time of year and at 25 cents a piece, I can buy all the paper happiness I want. One hundred blank sheets of wordy potential. I love to open a new one and run my hand over the smooth, blank page with all those lines just waiting to be filled. The inside back cover is full of Useful Information. In fact that is what is written at the top. If you are weak in the math department the multiplication table is there for you along with all kinds of conversion charts and different measurment tables. Frankly, I don't see how anyone gets by without one of these little workhorses. I have several beside me right now. I use them for everything. A few nights ago, in an organizing mood, I made out my Thanksgiving menu and shopping list and got it all down in one of my "little black books". Sometimes when I am feeling all crafty I cover them with fancy paper and ephemera and then I call it "my journal"

I usually have one reserved for scrawling out quick thoughts and observations about things that at some point I may want to write about in more detail. While cleaning the table beside my chair I came across one these and looked through it. I had some pretty good stuff written there and some that I am glad the only witness to my musings were me and the paper.

As much as I enjoy the physical aspect of my composition books, I also enjoy writing on my laptop. You can get your thoughts down almost as fast as you think them and if it doesn't "sound right" you can just as quickly erase them. I have found myself missing my blog lately. It can be time-consuming, but it is such a great way to keep family updated. It is also a creative outlet. For me, it is fun to see how I can express something as simple as "I baked a cake today." in a way that makes my readers want to knock on my door and say, "Cake please!" Leave no pharase unadorned, I say.

I think I am jinxed

2009-02-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

when it comes to putting up a new post here. Seems everytime I want to write, something comes to distract me or prevent me from doing so. Like just now. I've been cleaning and sorta re-arranging stuff in my kitchen and what I thought was the perfect little floral thingy going on on my kitchen table. three white Gerbera daisies, each in a little vase all sitting atop my antique cake plate in he center of the table. Grabbed my laptop and set it on the table and when I did, the entire thing fell over making a huge wet mess. Luckily my laptop was spared, but I had to stop everything, clean up the mess and head to the basement with wet soppy towels and tablecloth.

Sigh...I don't really think I like to clean house anymore(no commenouts on the "anymore" please).I live in a 13 room house and it seems like all I do is clean the same 3 rooms over and over. There are only two of us living here not counting the dog and I don't see how we can make such messes.

The diet is going well. Although, I have to admit, the past 2 weeks have been hard. For some reason, I am really much hungrier now than I was when I first started. But I've lost 10 pounds! Hot dawg!

I try not to deny myself everything I love all the time. I would definitly be doomed to failure if I did. I just plan ahead and eat accordingly. Like tonight. I am having a serious crave for BBQ. You can't seperate a Southern girl from her BBQ-ed pork for too long. Things could get ugly. I once cracked one of my friends up by confessing to her that when I read the Old Testament and it is describing all those burnt offerings going up to God, I start to crave BBQ. All the those poor critters being offered up for the Israelites' transgressions and I'm thinking to myself, 'Where's the BBQ sauce and the cole slaw guys?' So tonight, I am treating myself to a little burnt offering Southern style.

the days are going by too quickly

2009-02-11T18:20:00.000-08:00

as I spend them with my youngest granddaughter and her new baby brother. Time spent reading stories to Sophia as we cuddle on the couch . Blowing bubbles in the tub. Sneaking bites of food into her picky toddler mouth. Chasing her down to change a diaper. Buying yet another helium balloon to add to her collection. This girl does love her helium balloons.

Time with Max is more mellow. Cuddling and rocking, putting him on a blanket by the fire just to watch him stretch his little bird legs. Listening to those precious coos and laughing as he crosses his eyes as he attempts to hone in on a familiar voice.

Yes, the days are going by far too fast.

this is what I've been doing

2009-02-07T17:22:00.000-08:00

the last few days. Max made his entrance to the big wide world on Thursday morning. Perfectly healthy, by the way, and thank you Lord. The MOTH and I have been staying with Max's big sister, Sophia. She is the best little thing. Playing in her own little world, stopping to pick up a book and holding up her arms for a cuddle and a read. She is not the least impressed by this brother buisness. Not really acknowledging him at all. On the premise that if you ignore it, it will go away I guess. She does like all the balloons that came with him tho. While we were playing today, I tied her rainbow playsilk around her neck like a cape and she toddled all around the house. Her daddy snapped this picture of her with one of Max's balloons. I think it is my all-time favorite picture of her.
In typical fashion, Max has turned the house topsy-turvy. But no one is really worried about it. We are all just wallowing in the new baby smell, the sighs, and the tiny little mouth wide open in a yawn. And when we aren't doing that, we are reading to Sophia, blowing bubbles, and just stopping for cuddles and catnaps on the couch.

Rosemary in the snow

2009-02-04T21:34:00.000-08:00

I gathered fresh Rosemary in the snow! It has snowed here off and on for 3 days and I couldn't be happier about it. Not a huge amount but enough to satisfy the winter lover in me. Sunday it was in the 60's and we were out hiking and by Monday it was snowing. Tonight it is supposed to be 11 degrees for the low. Southern winters!

The Rosemary was for herb crusted lamb chops. Oh boy! They were so good! Rosemary, Sage and Parsley all chopped up and rubbed into and onto the chops and then cooked to medium rare. What's not to love there? I also braised cabbage in white wine and bacon and we had a feast.

NEWSFLASH! We may be having a baby tonight! A grandbaby that is. I am sitting up waiting on a telephone call. I should be in bed asleep just in case I have to go to work tomorrow instead of go to a birthin' but I'm too excited to sleep. So I am going all over the house, packing stuff up and trying to not forget anything. Maybe tommorow there will be pictures of Max here!

Taking a little break

2009-01-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

from all the domesticity going on around here today. Cooking, cleaning, knitting, and washing. Sitting on the stove in a big blue granite pot is 2 gallons of vegetable soup soon to marry up with a pan of crispy cornbread. i love the fact that it makes so much. I put lots of it in the freeze for times when I don't want to cook or the MOTH needs a little snack. I'm thinking maybe I should take some with me to Virginia for the birthin'. That would be good to have after aday with a busy toddler and a newborn.

I am knitting so fast right now that when I quit my fingers twitch. I am almost finished with the socks/booties for Max. They are made from yarn left over from a pair of socks I knit for myself. Maybe we will model our look alike footwear after he gets here.

I made blueberry muffins from my wonderful

Eating Well cookbook last night. I've wanted a blueberry muffin for a while now. On Day One of my diet we happened by our daughter's house and she was making said muffins. From a cookbook by the Barefoot Contessa. Of course, it being Day One and all, I was as fired up as a new church convert and refused to eat one. But those little purple-speckled dudes have haunted me ever since. So I found a recipe in my cookbook and went to work. I got a little suspicious when I realized that the strusel for the top was put together with 1 T. of Canola oil. What self-respecting strusel is held together with a dab of veggie oil? Well, the diet kind, of course. Not to be discouraged, I added extra vanilla in the hopes it would make up for the lack of butter. Not really. The rest f the recipe was o.k. and after they were baked and sampled, I have to say that they won't be on the "keeper" list of recipes. Still, if you eat just the middle out of one, you kinda feel like you had a blueberry muffin.

Well, after 3 days, I have finally decided that the 3 loads of laundry lurking just beyond my peripheral vision as I sit in my living room is not going to fold itself. Sigh...guess I will just have to go and fold the hateful stuff. I guess Pollyanna would say, "Just be glad you have stuff to fold."

I'm still here

2009-01-25T21:35:00.000-08:00

but there is mega knitting going on, leaving little time to blog. I am working on a project that floundered a few months ago due to a poorly written pattern. I've completely switched gears and am bound and determined to finish it this week. Therefore, it is my constant companion. Getting unmired on that, has got me all hot and ready to knit some more. Got a cute little pair of booties going for the babe that will be here in a matter of days and a mind full of ideas for other things too. Not to mention a yarn order with yummy stuff and a couple of kits that should fill my mailbox any day. Ooh I just love to get a package by post. But who doesn't?

On the diet front-I am doing really well so far. And today while out shopping with my daughter, she said she could tell I had lost some. Yahoo! I've been really good so far. I cheated tonight and it was President Obama's fault. Hey he might as well get used to being blamed for everything from earthquakes to diet cheaters huh? It really was his fault tho. The MOTH and I were watching the AirForce One special on the National Geographic channel and at the end they showed the new president on the plane for the first time. He was ordering his dinner-a cheeseburger and fries. It sounded so good the way he was telling the steward how he wanted it. It had been hours since I had eaten a large chef salad and I really wasn't hungry but it sounded really good to the MOTH too and he looked at me and said, Man that makes me hungry for a cheeseburger, wanna go get one?" It was 9 o'clock at night but suddenly that sounded like the best idea in the world. So off we set two middle agers eating like kids way too late. Let's just see how we sleep after eating like that so late. If we have tummy trouble we can blame that on Obama too. LOL

Yippee, Skippee I got snow!

2009-01-21T19:00:00.000-08:00

Oh yes! Finally some snow! It was a huge one, but there was enough to glitter up the landscape and slow things down just a bit. I have had a cruddy, cruddy cold and was so stopped up and not so great feeling, but I thought some fresh air might do me some good. Besides, I am like a 6 year old when it comes to the white stuff. You have to hog tie me to keep me out of it. In fact, a few years ago, a day in the snow landed me in the hospital and when I left I was sporting a mega cast to my thigh which was my constant companion for the next several months. But if I had had a sled yesterday I would have been out there all alone with my dog yipping and yelling like a 50 year old kid. Well, maybe not, because I did feel awful, but the air did make me feel better for a while so I walked around and took some pictures of all the ordinary things I see everyday that look so pretty with their sparkling new cover. Even looking at the pictures, I can feel the quite that snow brings to everything.

Jasper of course, was beside himself with excitement and played and chased a toy like a crazy man. In the picture, he is running so fast that his normally very curled tail is straight out. You can also tell he is a boy (eh, eh maybe they should make some kind of sports underwear for the active dog) He would purposely bury his toy just so he could put his face deep into the snow and come up with a white snuffle . I wish I could say that I am content now that I have had a little winter weather, but alas and alack! (love that phrase) . It just left me wanting more. Besides, I didn't get the full benefit of this one
since I was under the weather. Nope, the next time, I just might take myself a little slide down the hill on the sled.

My daughter got the graphic

2009-01-21T18:32:00.000-08:00

up for me that represents the award my friend Kelly gave me. I know Kelly from a forum we both frequent and she is a real sweetheart. As we have gotten to know each other we discovered that we had both lived in the same town years ago and so we just made a nice little connection. Thanks Kelly for the award!

Part of receiving this means I pass it on to other bloggers. I've been thinking about all the blogs I read (lots!) and chose just a few to give out, not because I am being "stingy" but maybe just a little bashful about making acutal contact with some of these folks? I don't know! But I did choose three:

Peach at PeachesandPosh

Tami at Shine'sThyme

Joni at Yummers

These are 3 blogs I read everyday and always feel better for it! All 3 are funny, inspiring and creative.

Hey I got an award and now I gotta try to get the graphics

2009-01-19T10:25:00.001-08:00

on my blog. Obviously, the award is not for technical excellance. O.K. I'm gonna try and see if I can do this. "This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are extremely charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award."

Cool! I got the text inserted even tho it is not where I wanted it. Baby steps, baby steps...

Now for the graphic.

Shoot I can't figure it out. Kelly over at belle ame is the blogger who gave me the award and I am just thrilled she thought of me. She has a great blog. Check it out. Now I choose 8 blogs to give this award to. Let's hope I can figure out how to do it! I am stupendously inept with technical stuff.

2009-01-14T18:56:00.000-08:00

Every week when I shop for groceries, I nearly always grab myself a bouquet of some sort. I love flowers in the house year round. I grow my own in the Summer but Winter time I treat myself. When I stopped at the store last week, they had bouquets of 20 roses that were just a little past their prime for $5.00! Of course I grabbed some. I have a tray on my coffee table that contains this little tableu of things that make me happy.

Last night grandprincess Hilary spent the night with us. We took her out to dinner which meant Chinese food because that is her favorite. After finishing our meal, we were reading our fortune cookies aloud to each other. The MOTH's said, "You will soon be top of the world." Hilary's ears perked up and she said, "I'm coming with you Grand daddy!" I just love that. If you know of someone in your life soon to be on top of the world, be sure you go with them. It should be the trip of a lifetime.

Another "Hilarity" Today while driving through town, Hilary spotted a "for sale" sign on an empty lot that has a huge old tree growing all alone near the sidewalk. Hilary, puzzled, asked her grandfather, "what are they selling, Granddaddy?' When he told her the land, she was even more puzzled and asked, "How do you tkae the land with you, and does the tree come with it?"

Max's quilt!

2009-01-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

I am working on it! The original plan was a quilt with a hoot owl theme, but the more my daughter and I talked about it, the more we liked the idea of a scotty dog theme. For one thing, scotty dog accesories are really easy to find. Also, they are retro and in our family we have a soft spot for scotties as we had one when the kids were growing up.

So Friday while at work at the quilt shop, I picked my fabrics, which I really like-just basic, black, white, red, blue and a touch of a retro aqua-ish green. I've got all the scotties appliqued on and looking at them, i think they need a collar around their necks to break up all the black and to pick up the colors in the background fabric..Whatever I do,it needs to be quick so I can get this to the quilter this week.

Sewing on this I always think of Max and wonder what his little face will look like. Will he look like his sister, his mom, his dad, someone else? I remember when I was pregnant with my girls, it was always their faces that had me the most curious and looking at them for the first time after all the months of "knowing" them by their kicks and squirms, was the most indescribable joy. Little watery blue eyes trying so hard to look at me too as if to say, "Finally I get to see what you look like after alll these months of hearing your voice, and the rhythms of your body."

Being the first boy, he has a heavy responsibility. Having not had one of these in our family, we have no idea what to expect. It seems that the boys we females in the family remember the most are the horrid ones we knew in school or the bully cousin who was always making our lives miserable at family gatherings. But I don't think it has to be that way does it? In a family of women can we tame that naughty streak? Or then, again, maybe you shouldn't try. I think I had the world's best father but to hear his sisters talk at family reunions, he was one of those horrid boys. I kinda think my husband, who is very well behaved now, might have been one of those boys too. Maybe that is just part of their identity when they are young, and with a little admondisment through the years, the most horrid of boys grows up to be the best of fathers and husbands. Max, you've got a load on your shoulders, but I suspect all of us women in the family will be more than willing to cut you a little slack as you grow up.

Not a lot going on around here

2009-01-11T18:53:00.000-08:00

that is really blog-worthy. We had a pretty quiet weekend. Spent Saturday in Knoxville. The MOTH received a wine making kit from me for Christmas, so we headed to the city to get some of the supplies not provided in the kit. He is hard to shop for so every year I really use the old brain cells trying to come up with something he will enjoy. I think this is the first year I have ever given him anything that he really likes. Last year's metal detector was only used a couple of times, which was a little disappointing becasue he had always said he wanted one. But this wine making thing seems to have caught his interest. Can't wait to taste the results!

Today was low-key too. Went to do a little shopping at Wally World and just as we walked in the door from that errard, the phone rang. It was our daughter B asking us to meet them for dinner. How can you refuse that? Especially since with daughter B comes the grandprincess Hilary too? Can never see too much of her.

I need to be really productive this coming week. Grandson Max is due in 3 weeks and I am just now starting on his quilt! Yikes but I better make that sewing machine smoke! It (the quilt) is goiong to have a scotty dog theme and done in blue, red, white and black. Really cute and I think relatively quick to make. It is going to be so fun to have another newborn to cuddle and smell little sweet baby smells again.

Herbal berbal

2009-01-08T19:34:00.000-08:00

Well, I did something I have wanted to do for a long time. I signed up for an online herb course. I've always been fascinated with healing plants. I think I got it from my Aunt Mac. She grew all kinds of herbs and was always concocting something. Over the years, I have amassed a good collection of books on herbs-craft type, identification type, and medicinal type. I love making all kinds of potions! I have used them successfully to treat minor aches and pains over the years. Right now, I am making up a diaper rash salve we have used for years in anticipation of a new baby in the family. Sometimes my family likes my remdies, like the salve, and other times not so much.

lampshade re-do

2009-01-06T18:19:00.000-08:00

This is the lampshade I wanted to cover with feather boas. When I went to purchase the number I needed the store let me down. They only had one in this gold color I wanted. I already had two at home and knew one more wouldn't do it, so I didn't buy it. I decided to just do the bottom but now that I look at it, I think that is enough anyway. Although maybe at the top too? Not sure. I am also mulling over maybe some type of bead fringe at the bottom.

I have the livingroom all aglow tonight with a fire in the fireplace and candles everywhere. Our weather for the last few days has been rainy, rainy, rainy, 'and gloomy. I don't mind the gloom because it makes everything so cozy feeling inside. But man, I wish this rain was snow! I would love to have a big snow. At least when you have all the gloom with the snow you end up with a beautiful landscape with everything covered in that quiet white silence that snow magically brings. With rain all you get is brown, oozy, slimy, nasty mud.

I wish I could be all whiny about the diet that I am on, but unfortunately I can't. It's not anyone special diet. I am just counting calories and fat grams and watching portion size. I am allowed an adequate amount of all of these everyday. I did, however, arm myself with a couple of really good, "healthy lifestyle" type cookbooks and I have to say, so far the eating has been good. The only thing to whine about is having to get on the %&#/ treadmill everyday. Hate it.

Jasper news: he does not like thunder. No surprise there I guess. But it was funny the way he discovered it. As mentioned above, it has rained all day. Mostly just a steady downpour all day and all night. Suddenly late today though there was one very bright flash of lightening followed by a very loud, very long, window rattling clap of thunder. Jasper, resting quietly at my feet jumped straight up in the air and rushed to every door giving them all his very angry dog bark. Eh, eh.

not the best picture,

2009-01-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

but here is a shot of the gorgeous glass heart I found yesterday at TJMax. Only 7 bucks. It was the only one. I wish I had 3 more. Yep, that's me ol Greedy Greedystein. Give me something and I want more! But who can blame me? This thing is so pretty. It's about 12" from top to bottom.

I also wanted to show you what I made last night. Homemade beeswax tealight candles! i made 20 or so and tonight have used two of them. Aren't they cute? I don't know why, but I am and always have been attracted to anything that was all natural, herby, or organic. I think I have a crunchy gene. But then again,, I AM a child of the 70's, so maybe it's inevitable.

I happened to have 10 lbs. of raw beeswax lying around the house (what? you don't? And just why not?) and had seen these little sweeties selling at $10.00 for a mere dozen. So like any crunchy middle-aged woman worth her beeswax, er, I mean salt, I made my own. Being a do-it-yourselfer from way back, I even saved all the little tin cups and wick tabs from a bag of cheap paraffin tealights. I had to use a rather fat braided cotton wick, because the thin kind in most tealights wasn't right for the beeswax. I found this out through trial and error. I let them set up for 24 hrs before using and they work like a charm in my aromatherapy scent diffuser. My house is diffused with the scent f lavendar and sandlewood and just a hint of honey. My kids say it smells like I am trying to cover up the scent of a certain "plant material' very popular in the 70's but I promise it's not.

In case you are wondering why I have so much raw beeswax just lying around my house, well, that's another story for another day. Maybe tomorrow?

Hi All!

2009-01-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

I wanted to give a head's up to a really cute idea over at InpsireCo As some of you know, I've got stuff for sale there and Amy has up a new issue of her emag "Inspired Friends" . It's always full of really fun, creative, inspiring ideas but this month there is the cutest little paint with water book you can make yourself. My granddaughter Hilary loves a good paint with water book , so I immediately got myself some watercolor paper and watercolor pencils and got busy. I think I am going to put the little pictures in a homemade portfolio type deal and include several new paintbrushes when I present it to her. It's really cute. Y'all should head over and check it out.

Lots of nest feathering today.The family gave me a hefty gift card from TJMax for Christmas (love that store) and I hit that place hard today. Got some gorgeous pillows and linens for one of my guest rooms and have been puttering about in that room this evening fixing up the place. And I found a very unusual and quite lovely large glass heart that I am going from room to room with trying to find just the right spot for. I really want to hang it from a candle chandelier that I have but need to get some chain or fishing line or maybe ribbon to do that. Still thinking.

I have some things I want to photograph before I blog about them and I have a fun project I have been working on-homemade beeswax tealights-(well it's fun to me) that I also want to tell about , but will wait for the camera to show pictures.

The diet is going well, but what kind of loser would I be if after only two day it wasn't going well? Well, if the truth be told, I have screwed up before on day two of a diet, but I won't be sharing that tale of woe.

See that sweet little birdy there?

2008-12-31T16:36:00.000-08:00

Wanna see more? This is an exciting day for me. For those you follow Amy Power's blog and online store InspireCo,you know what kind of really cute, really unique wares she specializes in. Guess what? This month I am her featured artist!

Months ago, when Amy invited me onboard, I was pleasantly surprised and honored. And immediately in panic-mode. Me? I knew the kind of artists Amy had signed on and I certainly didn't feel like I belonged in this group. I've watched every month as artists appeared with their creations and been amazed at what I saw. And I'm still pleasantly surprised and honored to be featured.

If you want to see more of my birds head on over to Amy's, and see what's up. Most of my stuff is made with re-purposed old linens that were otherwise unusable in their present condition. Most can also be used as a recepticle for a small gift giving you two gifts in one! Two for one is always good isn't?

Thanks Amy for asking me to create for you. I've learned a lot along the way and it has stretched me in really good ways. O.K. guys get yourselves over to InspireCo and get shopping!

Does anyone else feel like they

2008-12-30T16:18:00.000-08:00

need to de-tox? Whew! I am more than stuffed. I feel like I could explode. I am so weary of all the holiday foods. If I see another sausage ball or Christmas cookiie I will turn green.

When my daughter was here she kept talking about doing a de-tox. I teased her about it, but I have to admit that it sounds pretty good right now.In a perfect world, I would go through a good herbal "cleansing" and arrive on the other side about 5 pounds lighter and committed to a nearly vegetarian diet. But it's not a perfect world and I don't see that happening. When I see my doctor in March I am supposed to be 15 pounds lighter. That's 5 lbs. a month! Yikes! I see a cancelation in my future... I once read a cartoon that said, "I like to make appointments so that when I want to feel in control of my life I can call and cancel." Yeah that's me with this 15 pound thing.

Christmas

2008-12-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

was, as always, a happy, joy-filled, food-filled day. As always on Christmas Eve, someone read The Night Before Christmas. Being a new reader, Hilary was anxious to help read ,which was so sweet. Sophia was content to sit and listen.

Christmas morning was full of fun as we all opened our gifts. Hilary would open a gift and put it in her stash and go for the next one. Sophia was happy playng with the first gift opened for her and would have played happily with just the one. Maybe that is a lesson for the rest of us?

After a breakfast of baked french toast and candied bacon, we all sort of settled in for the day some electing for naps.

3 days after the Big Day and everyone here is sick of holiday food, and the decorations are just of a rude reminder of all the work to be done getting them all down. Oh well.

Immediately after the holidays, I get in this major cleaning mode and want to clean and re-paint everything in my sight. I have lots of cleaning projects on my list and some fun decorating ones too.

I have this idea to cover the barrel style lampshade on an antique floor lamp in my living room in cream colored feather boas. I think I cut them where they are joined together and then pin/glue them all arond the shade to cover it. I think it will look fantastic. I already love using different colors of boas on a favorite pair of candle sticks so a lampshde isn't such a far stretch I think. I'll take pictures.

Since we did not have internet service a great part of December due to a faulty sattelite (which is still not quite right), I didn't reach my goal of blogging everyday in December. I am going to try again in January!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

On the longest night of the year,

2008-12-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

Hilary and I made Christmas candles together. The purple one is her favorite. It looks a little like a candle you might find in Dr. Seuss's Whoville I think. She loves this project everytime we do it, but doesn't want to give any of them away! She is spending the night with us tonight. We took her shopping for so she could choose gifts for her Mom and Pop. I am going to let her do the wrapping and everything. Tomorrow we will meet up with Mom and Pop at church. The weather is still crummy and nasty and I am still on the old dial-up, so I don't want to write an extensive post here just it case it bumps me off, so I'm keeping this short.

O.K., so I am NOT impressed

2008-12-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

with Hughes Net. We only got it a few months ago (in the summer) because we were so tired of dial-up and it's painstakingly slow response time. It's looking pretty good right now. At least it works. Our skies aren't really that cloudy this week, but apparently enough to keep the satellite from receiving its signal. The MOTH finally got our old desktop to connect but who knows for how long? Till a cloud passes over I guess. All my pictures are trapped in my laptop which will not connect, so I can't post any of my Christmas pix. I feel like I am cut off from everything without my internet! Phooey. I know I could have worse problems but I just hate that we are paying mucho money and not getting anything in return about half the time.

a clear view of the southern sky

2008-12-14T14:41:00.000-08:00

I have NOT had most of the week. Hense my disappaerance. We live in the boonies and the only way to get high speed internet is with satellite. When you see the Hughes Net commercial and they say all you need is a clear view of the southern sky to have access to high speed internet, believe it people. Most of the week our sky was a deep dark leaden gray that sent rain by the bucketsfull all day. I was offline so long, I was going nuts. Couldn't email, couldn't keep up with world events, couldn't shop. I wasn't starting to ascquire a nervous tick, and felt myself twitching convulsivly. Well, not really, but I sure didn't like it.

On the advice of my internest whiz son-in-law, I called IT support just to be sure it was only the weather and not something more serious. I had never done that before but desperate enough to try.

I bet you know where my IT support is. India. I knew I was in trouble when the voice on the opposite end said, "Hello my name is Deepak and I am here to help you." Oh, lordy all I wanted was a Kevin or a Susan, or anything remotely pronouncable by this southern girl.

I was concentrating very hard in an attempt to understand D. as he asked me questions about my computer. Finally D, says to me, "Ceendy (that's my name in Indian), type what I am going to say.

"O.K., I am ready." I say fingers poised over the keyboard.

Then D. says to me, "Deh Blue, Deh Blue, Deh Blue."

Total silence on my end, but my brain is in a panic as I frantically looked for a "Deh Blue" key. Then I started thinking it must be French and I don't speak French. What to do? I asked D. to repeat his instructions. Politely he did. I was still clueless and finally sai, "Could you spell 'Deh blue' for me?"

This time D. was silent. Finally he said in a slow, painstaking way, " Deh Blue, as in WHISKEY!"

Embarrassed, I said, "Oh dub-ya, dub-ya, dubya!" I said in my best southern accent.
Talk about being mortified! Thankfully, the rest of our conversation went a little bit better with the final diagnosis being no clear view of the southern sky. Puh.

a clear view of the southern sky

2008-12-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

pretty!

2008-12-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

I subscribed to Teresa McFayden's "Paper Bella" ezine, The Twelve Days of Christmas and am having so much fun with it. Just as it sounds, for 12 days in December, you get a fun holiday related project. This little star was day 2. I love, love, love bottle brush trees and since I have a huge supply of them knew I had to make this. It is hanging from a vintage cloth covered lampshade in my kitchen and looks so sweet there. I think I want to take large trees now and make a really big one, but first I think I will bleach the trees and then dye them pink. Wouldn't that be pretty?

looky here!

2008-12-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

What a village of sugared up glittered up houses! I wish my pix weren't such poor quality and that I could have gotten a picture of the entire set-up but you get the idea. I just love the little house in the close-up. When my daughter and I visited my sweet friend Amy Powers of InspireCo she taught us how she makes her little houses for her line of houses she calls Sugarville. We had so much fun! Amy had snacks (love that St. Andre Triple Creme Brie-I ate most of it), and manner of crafty cutesy thing ready and waiting for us. We spent a couple of happy hours painting, glueing and glittering our little houses. If you look closely at my little house, you will see a cute little guy painted by Amy herself. I think he is wanting in that little house and I don't blame him.

Speaking of houses; oh buddy is Amy's cute! It's just like her. Warm, cute, welcoming, and happy. Every corner is a feast for the eyes. Ever so often my daughter or I would stop what we were doing and go and look at some other little corner that had just caught our eye. No doubt about it, Amy knows how to make a house a home.

After I returned home, I was inspired to make another house or two for my little glittery village to go with the few I already had. I think I will add to it every year. maybe Amy would be honorary mayor?

The hot light is on!

2008-12-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

Isn't this just the cutest little ornament? My sil Pop got it for me. The little light just blinks away. Makes 'ya want a Krispy Kreme doesn't it? Come on, you know you want one...

It's just not Christmas around here

2008-12-06T19:37:00.000-08:00

until this little guy is displayed somewhere safe in my house. On the underside he is dated "1962" with a black magic marker. His brilliant paint job mostly gone-rubbed away by little fingers hoping that just by holding him would make the great day come sooner.

Poised on a high shelf, the first time I look at him every year, I remember just like yesterday the day I first saw him. I was 4 years old and sitting under our silver aluminum Christmas tree looking at the bright red ornaments on the tree and all the equally bright packages under the tree. Even as a 4 year old, I was a tradionalist and longed for the popcorn garlanded, icicle laced, magnificent green firs I saw depicted in all my storybooks.

What was wrong with my family? All the story books showed happy families bundled up and packed in their station wagon with a GREEN Christmas tree tied down on top. Or better still they were tramping through the woods with a tree they had actually cut themselves. And us? Daddy would go to the attic and re-appear with a longish box that contained a bare skinny pole with holes all over it. Then, one by one, daddy would remove flashy aluminum sticks from their paper sleeves and stick them in the holes. In 30 minutes time we would have a "tree" that was a testment to the times: the space age and all that went with it. The crowning touch was not a beautiful angel or a shiny star for the top, but a color wheel that sat on the floor and revolved reflecting red, yellow, blue, and green onto our alme uminum fir.

I've oftetn wondered what went through my daddy's mind as he contructed this tree every year. My mother loved it. I don't know what he thought of it. But the day he brought home this little Santa and handed it to me, it was though he was saying to me that he understood and hoped this little traditional icon might take the edge off the aluminum tree for me.

The irony in all of this is that every year as I put out Santa I wish I had that old silver tree. I would gladly set it up and decorate it and probably display it right next to my gorgeous, real, live, green tree.

Just a few pictures tonight,

2008-12-05T17:12:00.000-08:00

.
I'm pooped. Got lots and lots of fabric cut at the quilt shop today. A fun, productive day though.
I love the JOY ornament is my newest favorite. It started out life as a plain kinda ugly copper colored metal ornament from Wal-Mart. I added the vintage glass glitter and the pink ribbon. Love the why it looks hanging from the jar filled with antiquie ornaments.
Just one of 20 poinsettias I bought this year. Yep, 20, but hey they were only a buck a piece at Lowe's. I have them everyshere! wish I had thought about having to water all those flowers tho before I bought so many.
Hollie Hobby says Merry Christmas! That is vintage 1977. I had two and don't know what happened to the other one.
More on my Christmas decorations tomorrow!

the trouble with pink

2008-12-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

is that it comes in so many lucious shades and I love them all. Yep, there is lots of pink on the needles these days. I just finished a pink scarf to go with my pink coat. I do love that color.

No more singing out loud while home alone

2008-12-03T16:53:00.000-08:00

well, maybe.

As my family can attest, I LOVE to sing. I know a line or two from oodles of songs and can belt one out for just about any situation.

Yesterday, I had the Christmas music going and I was singing along at full volume in my best off-key warble. Actually, my off-key warble is the best I've got, but it doesn't stop me.

Anyway, I was giving it my all as I walked back and forth through the house tidying up. From front of the house to back I went, Jasper following me barking away. What we must have sounded like! i just thought that Jasper was joining in the fun, when suddenly, I heard someone knocking on my door. I was instantly silenced as the person knocked again. There is no way they couldn't have heard my music making. I was so mortified that I couldn't answer the door. I finally managed to peek out the window and saw a woman walking down my driveway back to her car, which had its hood up. I felt really bad about not helping her, but my embarrasment overcame any altruistic feelings I had.

It felt kinda strange around the house today as I went about my daily chores quite as a mouse. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold to my new vow of silence.

for once it's good to be a follower!

2008-12-02T12:02:00.001-08:00

and not the leader. At least, that is what blogspot is telling me. I am trying to learn more about using blogspot as it relates to my blog and I saw this new gadget you could add. I am learning as I go and I hope this is a good thing to add. I guess if it is not, I can delete it. So if you read my blog, become a follower, just don't ask me how you do it!

I've been tagged by KellyMaria

2008-12-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

at Belle Ame. I have to post 6 things about myself and tag 6 others.

Here goes.

1. I hate to have my picture taken. Really hate it.
2. I love to be all alone all day long in my house cooking, crafting, and decorating
3. I like to shop online
4. intense, high strung people drive me nuts. You know the kind? Everything and I mean everything is IMPORTANT, especially if it pertains to them.
5. I would spend my last dollar on a book or a craft supply
6. My favorite Christmas movie is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

sorry I've been MIA

2008-12-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

No reason for it really. First I skipped a couple of days, then another, then I was out of town, then I was busy, busy with babysitting, and the longer I went without posting, the guiltier I felt and the guilt was so great that I didn't even want to look at my blog becasue I felt so badly about not posting.

My December challenge to myself is to post everyday this month. Even if it is only a sentence, I hope to get something written here.

We had a week with our granddaughter Sophia while her parents were in Hawaii. Whew! She kept us busy! Plus our other granddaughter Isabella was here too. We were in toddler mode for over a week. I went back into survival mode. quick! she's asleep, get something done! For a week I took very fast baths, cooked very little, stayed dressed in sweats, pretty much stayed at home, and cuddled and sang, and kissed little toes, and inhaled the sweet smell of baby.

Thanksgiving was good, although we only had one of the grands here. We still had a good time and ate too much. We were lucky to get to spend some time with old friends that were vistiing.

The decorations are up! I love decorating for Christmas but this year, I went for a leaner, more traditional look. Lots of red and gold. I will be posting pictures over the next few days.

Now for the shopping! I've done a little, mostly online. I love shopping online and scoping out the etsy shops to see what unique things I can find. am trying not to buy so much "junk" that only ends up unused and unloved just a few days after the big day.

I am also working on some cute stuff for Inspireco. I will be featured in January and I am trying to get my stuff finished and mailed to Amy in record time. I have some really cute little birdies that I can't wait for everyone to see. Maybe I'll give a little peak!

So, hello everyone! I'm home!

I'm pretty sure it's not santa claus...

2008-10-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

i just went outside to check my mailbox. As I was walking up the hill back to the house I happened to glance up at my roof and there on the chimney was a HUMONGUOUS bird! I ran inside to grab my camera hoping he wouldn't fly away before I could get back out. Luckily, he accomadated me.

I snapped dozens of pics and this was the best I could get. My house is 3 stories tall so even on zoom this was the best I could do. I am just glad this is not the chimney we use. Sure would hate to have roasted big black bird one evening if he fell in while we were enjoying a fire in the fireplace.

Good thing I am not superstitous cause this looks like the perfect bad omen. Big black bird perched on your chimney.

new fiirepit

2008-10-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

We got a good deal on it. I've wanted one for a while now. So tonight the MOTH and I tried it out. It was pretty cool outside, so I made Chai Tea Lattes with whipped cream on top and we sat with our feet propped on the rim and just enjoyed the crisp fall evening as we talked about this and that.

On the home front the youngest is home from Hawaii safe and sound. We are enjoying getting to know all over again the red-haired babe that comes with the daughter. She is a delight and reigning toddler chaos everywhere. Jasper the dog is really enjoying all the snacks thrown his way as she learns to feed herself. His once slim frame is showing shades of portlyness.

Lots of sewing going on. Will try to take pictures. Christmas stuff mostly. A quilt and a table runner from the scraps. Also doing sewing for Amy over at InspireCo because after the first of the year I will be featured on her blog! I'm trying to focus on "needful things" done up pretty.Seems like in this economy we gals are looking for pretty at a pretty good price. I'm doing some re-purposing in some of my stuff and so far those who have seen my wares have liked them, so we shall see. Amy if you are reading this are you curious?

More later.

spooky house!

2008-10-14T16:34:00.000-07:00

This past week-end while my niece was here she and my daughter B, and B's daughter Hilary decorated a spooky Halloween house from a kit I purchased. What a time they had! I bought extra candy thniking Hilary would want more and sure enough she did. As they worked, I snapped pictures and listened to their conversations and would sneak candy when no one was looking. By the time they were finished their hands and their tongues ( I wasn't the only one sneaking bites) were stained black from the frosting that came with the kit. Funny for sure, but probably not so great from a health stand point. Anything that black can't be good for you. but the three of them had a good time and Hilary took the house home with her to occupy a place of honor I am sure.

I just had the best weekend!

2008-10-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my big sis and her daughter came for a visit. There are about 8 hrs. worth of driving between us, so we don't get to see each other often so when we do we try to pack it full. And pack it full we did. Lots of shopping, some crafting, lots of shopping, and well, we managed to eat a lot too. We ended each day on the front porch, swinging and rocking, looking for stars and having a glass of wine. While waiting for the stars, we swapped stories, recounted memories, talked about favorite books, and just generally packed those evenings full. It all just basicly left me wanting more but savoring what I had.

Lots of fun things have been going on

2008-10-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

around here lately. Fall just gets me so busy! Last week my friend Theresa, aka "decorating extroidinare friend" came over for a day of sewing. There were supposed to be 3 of us but one couldn't make it, but I still called it my "sewing circle". All week I went around saying to myself, " I need to tidy up for my sewing circle, I need to cook for my sewing circle, I need to", well you get the idea. It just sounded so old-fashioned and so PRODUCTIVE.

It did end up being productive. We sewed all day while an early fall rain made everything so cozy and snug. We broke for a lunch of homemade pimento cheese sandwiches and a chaser of homemade cream of tomato soup. Somewhere along the way a pot of tea was thrown in too. At the end of the day we both had a quilt top pretty much finished. We were making the same pattern using the same fabrics but they still managed to have our own stamp on them. A few finishing rounds and they will be ready to pack up and send to the quilter!

I'm sure once we have them back we will be so proud of them and every time we throw those quilts on our lap not only the quilt but the good memory attached to them warm us heart and soul.

goody, goody, I won!

2008-10-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

I just love bloggers and the blogging community. Last week a fellow blogger gave me the heads up on a giveaway on her blog so I went over and left the required comment. Guess what? I won! So fun and exciting to find that out. It was a fall-themed giveaway over at belle ame. Go there. It is lovely. Kelly Maria has really created a lovely place to visit with a cup of tea in hand and maybe a bite of sweet to go with it. I don't know how to link in a post, but check out my faves cause she is there.

Here is the really neat part. We discovered common history of sorts. Turns out she lives in a town I used to live in and we were able to connect over a coupld of landmarks. Isn't that just the coolest thing? Who would have guessed?

Oh the goodies in my box? Fantastic! A poem Kelly Maria had written herself about our friend and Autumn icon the scarecrow, a lovely scented candle which I plan to light and enjoy as I listen to the presidential debate, a cute harvest pumpkin, a lovely vivid oraange "faux" pumpkin I am going to find a home for tonight, a gorgious magnitized fridge calendar for '09, and notecards. Doesn't it all sound like a giveaway right down a bloggin' girl's alley?

Thanks Kelly Maria! You made my day!

p.S. Kel even addressed the box to

nap, interrupted

2008-10-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

O.K. so night before last, I did not sleep well at all. After dragging around all morning I decided a nap was in order. Soon I was blissfully tucked in, covers piled on, and fan blowing cold air at me.

I had probably been asleep about 2o minutes when suddenly I became aware of a noise. It was kind of growly, rumbling, throbbing, and very loud. I kept trying to wake up to investigate and when I finally did to my chagrin, I discovered the noise was coming from me! Even those I was alone I was embarrassed! I really thought the MOTH was making it up when he said I snored.

No wonder Jasper, who was in the room with me, wouldn't settle down. I was aware of his pacing and prowling even as I slept. After waking myself up in such a nasty way, I peeled off my p.j.'s and climed back into the clothes I had been wearing. Glancing in the mirror I noticed what I thought was a piece of pink trash or something perched on the bosom of my favorite black t-shirt. Glancing down, I was aggravated to discover what had kept Jassper so busy as he indured my noisy sleep. He had chewed a large hole in a very strategic place on my shirt. Talk about revenge. That will teach me to throw my clothes in the floor maybe. I just hope the MOTH doesn't follow Jasper's lead and start eating my clothes in retaliaion for my noisy sleep "songs"

days of perfection

2008-10-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Ah Autumn! I wish you could hear the sound of bliss in my voice. Only 11 days old, already I feel it slipping away only because I love it so. Is there anyone who doesn' at least like this season.I can't imagine not finding something to love in this season of brillian hues, celebrations, and transistion to a slower, calmer time of year.

I find myself wanting to savor every moment of every glorious day. The swirly clouds, the squawky ducks flying over in their miraculous "V" on their way to the duck Riviera, and the tentative early leaf falling. The leaves shimmer in the light breeze wanting to let go of their perch, but not quite willing to call it quits. Enough have fallen already that you just make out the browns and grays of the boulders that make up the bones of the ridge across from my house. Soon, the entire foundation will be exposed covered only here and there with evergreens.

Today is a real beauty and I have lots of house chores to do. I go about them indifferently until I promise myself a reward. "Do two more chores, then make a pot of tea and head outside for a while" I tell myself. It works, I pick up the pace and before you know it, my tea kettle is whistling and in minutes I am out the door to park myelf in the porch swing. Jasper, in his friendly, companionable way, stretches out on the floor at my feet.

Sitting there I start to get the itch to go camping. It is a favorite way of ours to enjoy this time of year. But we've packed so many house projects and so much fun already into the next several weeks, that I am worried it may not happen this year.
If all else fails, I just may set up the tent in the backyard for a night. Just one evening of sitting around a campfire may have to do this time around. I mean we could hike the ridge, cook steaks over the fire, sit up late around the fire and head for the house when nature called. Hmmm...I may have hit upon something here.

see this little

2008-09-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

puddle of blue? This is the pieces to Max the boy's first sweater and matching hat. The yarn is lovely stuff-bamboo and wool and just glides through my fingers. I love the hat with the jaunty little pom-pom on top. Too cute. Just the outfit for someone entering our all girl world. No female alive will be able to resist that pom-pom.

how cool!

2008-09-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

wow! This evening I watched a Moonflower open into full bloom. i just love Moonflowers. They look sorta like giant white Morning Glories and bloom at the oppisite time of Morning Glories. Maybe that is why I like them so, for I am definlitly NOT a Morning Glory. Just like a Moon Flower, I come alive in the evening and scurry about doing all kinds of things.

But back to the flower. I was outside filling my bird feeders when I noticed a bloom getting ready to go into action. So I just stood there and watched. First there was a little split along a petal and then ever so slowly it puffed up and a little star-shaped opening appeared at the tip. The frangrance from a Moon Flower is very, very subtle and just before the flower I was watching burst into full bloom, it gave a little puff of fragrance and there it was! Beautiful, pure white with a star shape in the center and a good 6 inches across, it was worth all the mosquito buzzings and bites that I got as I waited.

Autumn's Up!

2008-09-16T15:41:00.000-07:00

I've got all my fall decorations up and am really pleased wtih how it all looks. I love my dining room mantle especially. the floral arrangement was done by my decorating extroidenaire friend as was the cute crow on the shutter in my kitchen. I made the "thankful" plaque hanging over the mantle. It was super easy. I bought a large package of "grungeboard" by Tim Holtz at the scrapbook store. There are 8 different fonts in 8 sizes in the pack. Good deal! I used the biggest font and glued them to my scrapbook paper covered board. I used the ModgePodge to adhere the paper to the board. (I primed it first with paint). Then I used Tacky glue to stick the letters down. Oh and I painted the letters white and then put on a coat of pearlized white. Add a sawtooth hanger and voila! I only have one other thing I want to do. I have a very ornate cut glass punch bowl in the middle of my kitchen table that is sitting inside a beautiful wreath of autumn leaves. I want to fill it with water and add floating candles but I can't find any. See them all the time when I am not looking for them. Anyone know where I can get some?

Today

2008-09-15T20:24:00.001-07:00

I cleaned the upstairs bathroom really well. As in moving stuff and dusting, mopping and washing all the clear glass that holds bathroom stuff.

Vaccumed up a ton of dog hair. Asked myself if I would have kept this cute stray a year ago if I had known how much he would shed.

Took the above mentioned dog out at least 10 times.

Did 4 loads of laundry. And acually put it away.

Cooked a really good dinner.

checked my email 3 or 4 times (who knows why)

Worked on two quilts. One just a little, the 2nd quite a bit.

Made a pattern for a pillow.

halfway cleaned a 2nd bathroom.

cleaned off the dining room table

did a little thinking

talked to 2 of my daughters at least twice

talked to 2 of my granddaughters.

knitted

had a glass of wine on my front porch (o.k. I had two)

a stranger in our midst..

2008-09-13T20:18:00.002-07:00

It was bound to happen eventally. We got the news this week that our estrogen-rich world is going to be shaken up come February with a male child. It will be the first male to appear in our little family in almost 31 years.

The MOTH and I had 3 daughters and these 3 have each produced a girl of their own. Girls are familiar, girls are 2nd nature around here, girls just "fit" at our house. Now that one of the daughters has broken with tradition and got herself a little male child, we are all wondering how this new world will be. Will he be intimidated by all the estrogen? Probably not. I imagine that as he grows amongst all the women in this family, he'll learn all the finer points of getting along with the fairer sex and be able to play the aunts, girl cousins and grandmother like a fine violin.

So, welcome, little dude. All I can say is you gotta lot guts busting in on this bunch! but we'll be ready and waiting for you when you get here.

Really good recipe

2008-09-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

As much as I love to cook, I don't really post that many recipes here. But this one is so good and so s1
imple that I had to share it. I got it out of the sept issue of MS Living. With summmer squash, fresh corn, and green onions, what's not to love rifht? The buttery taste of the squash and the sugar sweetness of the corn combine with everything else to make a absolutely delish pasta dish.

1 lb. of penne pasta or some other tube pasta
coarse salt and coarsely ground pepper
2 T olive oil
2 Zuchinni sliced 1/4" thick
1 yellow squash, sliced 1/4" thick
2 1/2 c. fresh corn kernals ( about 4 ears)
3 green onions, white and pale green part only
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 jalapeno pepper, minced (note I did not have a jalapeno, so I used crushed red pepper flakes and I think I prefer the pepper flakes)
1/2c chicken stock
4 T unsalted butter
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Cook pasta, drain and reserve 1 cooking water
Heat oil in large deep skillet and add squash, sauteing until light golden brown. Add corn, green onions, garlic, (or pepper flakes), chicken stock, and 2 T butter. Cook until corn is tender, about 5 min. Add pasta, remaining butter and enough water to keep moist. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until is well coated, Garnish with cheese.

I'm tellin' ya, you gotta try this. It will be one of my "go to" recipes whenever I don't know whaat to make for dinner.

We just got back from a really quick trip to NE Arkansas. That means lots of car knitting for me. I finished a pair of socks and my new sweater now has only a few rows to go! I can't wait to finsih it

While in AR, the MOTH and I did a little driving around to old familiar places. Or I should say we tried. Both of us spent most of our kidhoods and teen years within miles of each other but didn't meet til later. We drove to the sites of our homes. I say sites becasue both had been torn down and cotton planted over the very spots where we had fought with siblings, had parties, baked cookies, had boyfriend/girlfriends over, argued with parents, eaten countless holiday and birthday dinners and yet, it's as tho it never happened. Kinda weird. Where once people grew, cotton now claims the growing space.

The worse part was driving by the little house the MOTH and I re-did and spent so much dream time and labor making it into a warm, happy, inviting place. We didn't get to spend many years there, but the ones we had were filled with kids, Christmase, my first Thanksgiving dinner that I prepared, and meals with friends. It's obvious the current owners don't share the same feelings for this house that we did. What was once happy little yellow cottage is now a tumbled-down, almost derelict shell. Sigh...I guess not everyone has the same idea of dwelling place that I do. The next time I go to Arkansas, I'm staying away from the memories and hiding in the hotel where they can't find me.

I'm back!

2008-09-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, high speed internet! Let's hope it solves some of my problems.
This week I am deeply entrenced in the activities of the Republican Convention. Evenn tho I think it is a worthy way to spend my time this week, I can't help but feel a little guilty sitting in front of the boobtube for hours at a time. So to assuage my guilt, I have taken on a large knitting project. I guess as a nod to the campagne goings on I should knitting in red, white, and blue but instead I'm honoring my favorite season (hurry up Autumn!) and am nearly buried in a froth of Autumnal colors. The yarn is super fuzzy and the official color name on the yarn band is "straw into gold" Love that. What is it? It's a sweater for me! I hope by the time the convention winds up on Thursday to have it almost completed. I know my fingers are hoping that, because they are starting to get a little bit sore. We'll see.

The fall decorations are going up around here slowly but surely. I bought a couple of new things this year. I need to take pictures of them. Both were made by a decoration extroidanere friend of mine. She and I spent a fun morning browsing in the Old Time Pottery store choosing lots of really nice autumn silk flowers and berries to make fall arrangements with. At the check-out it was mucho$ but luckily since she has a business, she got a discount. And for me it wasn't so much because we did a little bartering in the side. She requested a pair of hand-knit wool socks for the winter and I was happy to oblige since I like to always have a pair of socks on the sticks to pull out when in the car with the MOTH or just to keep my hands busy when I am waiting somewhere.

Jasper is behaving himself pretty much right now. He likes to lie at my feet when I am knitting with his head on my feet. It's a nice cozy feeling I must say. His new snack food of choice is Cheetos. He can catch one of those things thrown from a mile away. he hears the bag rattle when you open the cabinet and he is johnny on the spot!

The dog ate my homework

2008-08-19T12:47:00.002-07:00

No, really, he did. Last week the ladies at the quilt shop decided to have a potluck lunch and my assignment was to bake my marvelous herb bread. Got it baked the night before, wrapped tightly and carelessly perched it near the edge of the kitchen counter. Now, I know better than that. But it was late and I was tired. Next morning the MOTH lets the dog out of his kennel in the back kitchen hall and heads to the shower. Jasper, troublesome sort that he is, spies the bread, grabs it and eats half of it. When I came downstairs I met a very happy dog with garlickly herb breath and a very waggy tail. I don't think the ladies at work are going to forgive him anytime soon. Can't say I blame them.

The dog ate my homework

2008-08-19T12:47:00.001-07:00

Sorry about the silence

2008-08-19T12:44:00.001-07:00

but my computer is driving me nuts. Half the time it won't let me publish pictures with my posts and sometimes it won't publish anything, In fact, this is the 3rd time I have tried to publish this particular post and so far, no luck. But the good news is we're getting high speed internet next week! Yippee! Maybe that will solve some of these problems, we'll see.

I am so bad, and a new kitchen toy

2008-08-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

O.K., so this is just the plain ugly truth. I am really, really, really bad about letting this happen to my flowers. Gross and yuck! I don't know why I do this. Everytime I pass by, I think to myself, "Get rid of those dead flowers!" Hasn't happened yet tho. I'm thinking that revealing so a nasty thing might shame me into cleaning up my flower act. Probably not. And the really sad thing is, I have oodles and oodles of thriving flowers right out in my backyard that I could just go a replace this pitiful things with. It's hot and my garden flowers are bursting with petal-ly beauty right now. Tommorrow, I promise I'll do it tommorow.

New kitchen toy! My hairdresser is Mexican. One day while in for my cut and color she was making homemade tortillas for everyone's lunch. She let me sample them and boy oh boy, were they good! I haven't forgotten it and have been on the look-out for a tortilla press. Found one the other day at World Market. I also got a bag of the special corn flour you need. I made a practice batch today. Very simple and straight forward. And good! So tommorrow I am going to make a big batch of them, and then do up some stuff for tacos, some homemade salsa, fresh avocado...I wish it was tommorow night's dinnertime now!

Crafting and cleaning

2008-08-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

that's why I'm not posting so much. I am trying to clean out my workspace. It is just about impossible to work in right now, it is so messy. Problem is, as I am cleaning, I get distracted so easily. I'll run across something I bought weeks ago and forgot I had or just plan lost it in the chaos, and I'll stop my cleaning to play with whatever I found. Happens over and over as I sort and trash stuff. All sorts of creative rabbit trails.

Just yesterday as I was cleaning, I stopped to try my hand at rolled fabric roses. Then I ran across some vintage crochet work and I had an idea to use it so I spent a good hour fooling around there, then I got the idea to put a really cute rub-on on a small wooden mirror my husband made years ago. Then I found some great old ribbon and wanted to put a bow on the mirror's handle and put it in one of my guest rooms, well you get the idea I think. No, I'm not usually ADD. Unless I'm cleaning my creative space.

I'll try to do better, but until I get this place cleaned up, I can't promise anything....

I've been tagged!

2008-07-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

Kelly over at belle ame tagged me to blog about 5 things I love the most.
1. Well, of course, my family is a given.

2. Creating. I love to create all kinds of things using all kinds of mediums. Sewing, quilting, cooking, gardening. I can't imagine going through a day and not creating SOMETHING.

3. My home. I am a die-hard homebody. I can go for days without leaving my house. After a few days of being out of town, I really start to miss all my "stuff".

4.Autumn. Oh how I love a crisp fall day, the sky full of migrating birds, the trees all aglow in reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. I love the energetic feeling that fall gives.

5. Winter holidays. I love planning meals, decorating, the excitement and anticipation of having my family under my roof, finding just the right gifts for everyone. Sigh...I can't wait.

Now I have to tag 5 people and I sure hope this works. I am going to try and post their blog links here.

http://treasuresfrommyheart.blogspot.com/

Peaches and Posh

THE B HIVE

BeadnTat

Wings of Eagles

The more things change....

2008-07-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

So today daughter B and granddaughter Hilary came to my house loaded down with peaches wanting a lesson in making peach butter. It had been years since I had performed this task, but it was fun and I remembered almost everything without having to do too much consulting of cookbooks. We ended the day with jars of glistening gold butter seasoned to perfection just waiting for its meet-up with some good bread and liberal spread of creamy butter.

At one point as we worked, I remembered something. I asked B if she remembered years ago in our Arkansas house making jam? "Oh yeah, I remember that." I think we both had forgotten it but the fragrance of the bubbling peaches triggered the memory for me.

On that particular day 20 years ago, I had the presence of mind to write down rather quickly on a sheet of onion skin paper our experience. I am going to re-write it here just as I jotted it down that day.

"June 10, 1988
Today Kelli and Brittainy and I made plum butter from plums gathered in Papa's orchard. Kelli and B washed the plums and picked out the wormy ones for me to take care of. Then we cooked them and put them through a sieve. When we were through, we had enough pulp to make butter and enough juice to make jelly!

Kelli and B helped to stir the butter as it cooked and that was a big help because it takes a very long time(about 45 minutes). As the butter cooked, we added 1 cup sugar for every cup of pulp, a dash or two of mace and two gratings of nutmeg. Next we poured the butter into sterilized jars and sealed them. Nana came to see us and took a jar home with her. It made 6 1/2 pint jars. For breakfast we will have toast with homemade plum butter. Next we plan to make raspberry jam."

Pretty staight forward, just the facts, but I sure am glad I wrote that down and stuck it in my recipe file. For some strange reason, I stick a lot of my writing in there. Or did. Before I began to blog. Now it's all pretty much here.

In the Pink

2008-07-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

Nothing much really going on here. Yesterday was the MOTH's 54th birthday, so we celebrated at my daughter's house. She makes really good fajitas and we always request those when does the cooking. While she labored in the kitchen, I walked around the house, chatting with Hilary and just taking pictures of different little vignettes around the house. Hilary is the queen of pink let me tell 'ya. Right down to her cowgirl boots. I guess she had her cowgirl going yesterday, because that was her footwear of choice, with shorts. Love the dresser top arrangement and the memory box packed full of littles.

the middle age woman and the yarn

2008-07-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

See this pile of lovely sock yarn? My camera does not do the colors justice. They are bright, deep, and rich. And limited idition colors for what it's worth. Never again will Lorna's Laces produce these colors once they are sold out. Kind of a good sales gimmic I think. We sock knitters hit the web site the first of the month when the new colors are added and quickly snatch up enough for a pair of socks. What a tragedy if you miss that month's limited edition! That stuff pretty much flies off the shelf of the yarn shop.

Blueberry was June's color. It's beautiful blues, lavendars, purples, and rich almost black blue. I chose a lovely lace pattern for my socks. It has driven me crazy. I have ripped out, picked up dropped stitches, re-read directions until I can't stand that pattern anymore.

It has begun to remind me of the horrid story that was required reading in high school. The Old Man and the Sea by Earnest Hemmingway. Frankly, I've always thought he was over-rated. I hated, hated, hated anything I was ever required to read of his. This is coming froms someone who loves literature and always has a book going. But back to the issue at hand. I remember it was just the old man, the boat, and the sea. That's all there was. It's just me, the yarn, and the pattern.

I had the first sock within one inch of completion when things went horribly wrong. I studied the thing, I studied the pattern and the longer I looked the greater the horror grew. A dropped stitch 6" down that I somehow never saw,and poorly written directions. So I began to rip hoping to be able to fix things. Nope. I now have my lovely blueberry limited edition yarn rewound and am seriously considering burning the pattern as a cleansing ritual of sorts.

After perusing some other sock patterns I picked up July's limited edition "Fireworks" and cast on and so far I am knitting happily, no horrible story analogies coming to mind. Perhaps "Blueberry" will be used for something else. But then again, I may be completely over the blue stuff for a while.

gifts from the sea

2008-07-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

and my friend Amy. Amy, of Inspireco had a brainstorm and silver-leafed some seashells. Then, being the giving girl that she is, had a give away on her blog. I won! I won! Somehow I refrained from saying, "I never win anything!" Today I received them in the mail along with some grains of sand still attached. They are beautiful and are now living in a milk glass bowl on my coffee table. Good sweet Amy didn't stop there. She knew I coveted these bird charms you see and sent me some of those too! I have no idea what I will use them for yet, but that's not the point now is it? I've met some of the nicest people in the blog world and Amy is one of my favorites for sure.

girfts from mother

2008-07-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

nature that is. This is what I harvested today from my little garden beds. I get such a huge kick out of this. The flowers are Cosmos, green Zinnias, Snapdragons and orange Cosmos all freshly cut today. And the best part is they are just getting started! I'll have a fresh bouquet everyday til frost if I mind my p's and q's and keep everything watered. And the cucumbers and beans! I only have a short row of beans so I have to pick over a period of a few days to have a "mess" as they say down here to either grill or saute and sometimes cook them the southern way. Which is to put them in a pot with some onion, a little oil, maybe a little bacon, salt, pepper, and cook the life out of them all afternoon. Probably not the healthiest way but very good none the less. The cucumbers were marinated in a sweet,sour vinegar marinade. I love peeling cukes. Within seconds of removing that first bit of skin, the refreshing, melon like scent hits my nose and immediately gives me a buzz like no other veggie can. Soon I will have tomatoes. Right now the vines are laden with green lumpy orbs that grow just a little everyday. I love the way tomato vines smell too, but not as much as cucumbers. Whenever you touch one of the vines you get a peculiar sort of moist sensation and then the smell wafts up and tickles your nose as if teasing you with the promise of sweet, juicy, redbliss to come. Oh yes! I do love to grow stuff.

before and after

2008-07-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

This lamp was in my kitchen and I was just tired of the old dark look of it. So I changed it drastically! I spray painted it with Krylon Ballet Slipper and then needed to do something with the shade. I had this old vintage pillowcase that was in pretty bad shape but I loved the hem on it. So I cut it off about 10" above the hem, made a casing and ran ribbon through it. Voila! My new lamp. And no the tiny holes in the pillowcase don't bother me. I don't want anyone to think I didn't see them or something. I don't know where I will put this. Right now, it is in the kitchen. My favorite tablecloth has a little pink in it, so I may just leave it where it is. I am so much happier with it!

Here's the picture I was referring to..

2008-07-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

Sheesh! I am having major posting problems right now. That is one of the reasons I'm not posting much. It is so frustrating!

2008-07-07T20:31:00.001-07:00

I think this picture

[Photo]
pretty much sums up the 4th for all of us. That strawberry soda stained smile just speaks of the joy of a summer holiday spent eating good food, playing outside and topping it all off with a fireworks show. It was as hot and sultry outdoors as we waited for it to get dark enough to pull out the sparklers, the bottle rockets, the Roman candles, and things that made a loud "boom!" and sent shards of color into the night sky. The mosquitoes were out too of course and we all came inside with an itchy bump or two. All the while the fireworks were blazing, the fireflies flickered and showed off their own little glow.

Like most people, we pretty much always eat the same things, and drink the same things every year. And later, as we sit ruminating over our full tummies, someone usually starts to snigger, giggle, and then all out guffaw as they remember the year that I was the star of the fireworks show at our house.

We've always lived in the country and in years past when we all had young children, everyone bought their share of the fireworks and converged on our place for the big show. This particular year was no different. Our kids, all girls, were pretty young and a little afraid of the boom and flame so they had all packed themselves inside our car to watch the show from a safe distance. My husband and I stood beside the car while the other guys took care of the lighting of fuses.

It was all going well until someone lit a whistling chaser. I was at least 60 feet away from the thing when suddenly, with a shrill scream, it made a bee-line for me! It landed at my feet so quickly that I didn't have time to react. If it was moving at the speed of light, I was definitly in slow motion in comparison. But it wasn't finished with me, no siree. Suddenly, it went straight up the full skirt of my sundress! I was no longer in slow motion. At a distance a whistling chaser has an unpleasant scream, when it is traveling up your leg it sounds like a demon. It's demonic scream coupled with my pyrotechnically induced dance of frenzy had everyone spellbound. Every few seconds that horride piece of gunpowder packed cardboard would produce sparks as it screached its way further up my leg. I was twirling, jumping, screaming, trying to run, and get the thing off of me all at the same time. Finally, my husband came out of his frozen state of horrible fascination to come to my rescue. He mangaed to catch me and at the same time wrap the skirt of my dress around the cardboard tube and just hold on for dear life as it came to its grand fianale. Three very loud pops, each accompanied by a jump and scream from me marked the end of the show. There was a total horrified silence for about 30 seconds and suddenly my audience burst into uncontrollable laughter. Slightly affronted by this reaction, it took me about another 20 seconds to join in the fun. In hindsight it truly was very funny. But only in hindsight.

I thought only my own family would remember this incident but alas, no. It seems my reputation as the hot little July number will always be with me. We've moved far away from the original show and never see our old friends anymore. But a few years, I was talking on the phone with one of them and she said, "You know what my husband always talks about if your name comes up in conversation?" I couldn't imagine and said so. She answered, "You remember that 4th of July when the firecracker went up your dress? That is what he remembers and laughs his head off." Oh well, as least I left'em laughin'.[Photo] draft 8:13:00 PM by Lovie Delete
Edit Grrr....

I this picture

2008-07-07T19:43:00.001-07:00

In the moment

2008-06-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

Last week I read a post on one of my favorite blogs about living in the moment and at the same time looking forward. I've been thinking about it ever since and have been trying to get my thoughts together to write my own post on this.

I'm really big on looking forward. So much so that I often miss the immediate here and now. I've always been this way. As a child, I had to know what was going to happen next and after that and after that and...well you get the idea.

As I get older I seem to be getting worse. And at no time is it more apparent than in the summer. Summers in the south can be an evil thing. Temps. and humidity combine day after day to give a heat index hovering at 100. The air shimmers with heat, all the plants wilt in the mid-day sauna, and all I can do is sit inside under the AC counting the days until the most malevolent (at least to me) of seasons is just a sweaty memory. You would think the gardener in me would be wallowing in the verdant promise of everything I sowed in the blush of springtime. The very act of planting anything is the epitomy of looking forward. Tomatoes planted in April won't give up their gifts until July. Likewise for anything else you plant.

But this summer I am trying very hard to live in the moment even as I tend my garden and look forward as I do so. I even managed to enjoy the cicadias as they droned on and on for weeks and because I really listened this year, I was able to distinguish their last buzzings as they completed the noisey stage in their life cycle. I am taking note of when certain insects appear and writing it down for next year. (See I just can't help myself). I sit outside late at night and really enjoy the fireflies as I enhale the perfume from my Petunias and the Basil as a warm breeze brings the scent to my nose. It does seem to be working. I can't believe July is this week. Let's see, that means only about 10 more weeks til Autumn right?

silly us...

2008-06-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

On summer evenings after the sun goes down and I've developed the habit of going out for a "sit" on my front porch swing. It's much cooler at this time and I love the quiet. Some evenings you can see flashed of lightening and thunder off in the distance as it grumbles its way across the sky. On cloud-free evenings, the starts look like diamonds on deep dark blue/black velvet. So pretty.

As I sat and enjoyed my time outside last night, I remembered a funny memory involving me, my oldest daughter and my youngest. The middle daughter had married and left home. Every night late we would meet in the kitchen for some kind of midnight snack and then head to the porch. The MOTH was already in bed, so we felt oh-so-brave even being out there in the first place. We would swing and rock in the rockers goofing off and talking about just whatever. And then suddenly, one of us would say, "What was that?! Did you see that/hear that?!" Total silence would fall as we each imagined some scarey SOMETHING lurking at the edge of the woods, ready to rush our front porch and carry us away. Ummph, fat chance of getting this particular 3 females. We all would jump up, squeeling and nearly knock each other down trying to get to the front door first. Motherly love never even entered my mind at those times, I just wanted IN. Once safe on the other side of the locked door, we would ponder what must be out there, then laugh at our goofy antics of trying to get inside first vowing never to do THAT again. Fast forward to the next night, same 3 females, same old ending. Silly, silly us.

There is nothing

2008-06-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

really blog worthy happening around here, but I need to try and post at least a couple of times a week, or I feel guilty. Blog Guilt just what I need.

We had a quiet Father's Day. Our youngest called with well wished and tommorow night our middle daughter and her family is taking us out to dinner. I gifted the MOTH with a hefty gift card to one of his favorite stores, so he was a happy camper.

I think I may be harvesting beans later in the week from my little bean patch! They are growing so fast you can almost watch 'em do it. And this evening I cut a huge bundle of lavender from my bush. I want to make some lavender wands if I can scrounge up some narrow ribbon from my stash.

Yesterday I bought gorgeous red and white fabric to have a wing chair that has seen better days recovered. It will look so pretty, perky, and cottagey when done.

The week ahead may contain a short roadtrip, not sure. That will break up the routine somewhat. I stay home much more than usual with the gas prices being what they are, so it will be nice to get out and about. Plus I will be visiting my sister and we always find ways to entertain ourselves. And so the summer begins it long, steamy, slow-paced march. Days sometimes broken by sudden rainstorms that leave everything a little greener and the air perfumed with that earthy aroma of dirt-splashed plants and revived grass blades. It is not my favorite season, but it helps me appreciate and look forward to my much-loved Autumn. For now, I'm sitting in the air conditioning and looking ahead to September.

gr....hopefully 3's a charm

2008-06-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am so frustrated with Blogger right now. I have written out long posts 3 times now and each time, it has all disappeared into cyberspace. Very aggravating let me tell 'ya. So here goes again.

See this cute little ensemble? That's for my 5 year old granddaughter. The pattern is from a book of Japanese children's wear and I am loving everything in it. You can't tell from my picture, but the pants have a real Asian cut to them. They are made from pink linen to match the flamingoes in the top. The top is kinda long-maybe knee length. The whole thing is so over the top cute on my girl. I think I will make more. I may make some to sell on my friend Amy's site Inspireco next spring because...

Amy has asked me to be in her online zine at ther website!!! Wow, I am so excited and a little nervous that what I make may not sell. I want it to do well for her sake. As for me, if it doesn't sell, I have plenty of little chickies that would take it in a hearbeat. Amy features a different artist (no I'm NOT an artist, but most of the people she features are. I just couldn't think of another word to use) every two weeks. They get to sell their wares during that time and also provide an easy to do project for her readers. Have no idea what I will do in that department.

It's so hot here! And gas is pricey! So I am hunkered down in the house, doing laundry, cooking, and cleaning . In between I am sewing and knitting lots of little delectablbe wearables for some delectable little girls in my life. Can't wait to finish some of it and show everyone. In the evenings when it cools off some, I go out to do a little poking about in my little garden patches that are here and there in my yard. Last night we had our first broccoli from my garden! I get so excited over stuff like that. "I grew this" I'm thinking the entire time I am preparing it and eating it. So fun.

Thunder! It has started to thunder here so that means I've got to unplug the computer because bad weather can really mess my dial-up big time. Hopefully, there will be some rain to go with that thunder.

Looky here!

2008-06-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

I just found a neat blog/etsy site. Here's the link: http://zuill.us/andreablog/
Oh, and thanks to my big sis for teaching me how to put a link in a post. I am a dumby I know, when it comes to computers. The prints and embroidery patterns are so unique I want them all! I'm thinking these prints would be a neat thing to start as a collection for my grandgirls.

Housecleaning has been the rule of the day here. Hate it. Love the effect, but hate the process. Boring. Cooking mostly I love. Somedays not. Tonight I am trying some recipes from Marhta Stewart. Summer Bread Salad and Salt and Pepper Grilled Chicken. Sounds so good and summery.

I only have four more yo-yo's to make! Then I can start putting together my little Idea. I hope after all this cutting and gathering of circles that I like the finished project.

My dining room table is absolutely covered with fabric. My tables in my sewing room are so covered wtih stuff that I have to use the diningroom table to cut stuff out. That should tell you a little something about the state of my sewingroom. And it's a big room. Lucky me. Messy me. Anyway, there is fabric and patterns for about 4 or 5 garments on the table. All for my little grands. I have a new Japanese children's pattern book and I am using it for actual patterns and inspiration. I have something cute going for the 5 year old that I can't wait to finsih. You wanna know what she is most excited about tho? The cheap Hannah Montanna satin I got at Wally world to make her a pair of Muu-Muu pants from. Go figure.

"romp and circumstance"

2008-06-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

Only one thing would have me sitting in a smelly gymnasium on rickety bleachers at 8:30 in the morning. That one thing being watching a granddaughter graduate from Kindergarten.

Kindergarten age kids have it all figured out. They know when an occasion calls for exuberance and they aren't afraid to show it. As we watched all 60 or so kids walk through the arch and receive their "diploma", it was fun to see how some of them expressed their feelings regarding the occasion. Some skipped across the gym floor, one or two waved, there was even a curtsy, and some walked soldier-straight, but they all were wearing big smiles as they enjoyed their brief moment in the sun.

After graduation, the MOTH and I took our little graduate out for breakfast and enjoyed listening to her commentary regarding the morning. Her mom and pop took her to Dollywood for the afternoon and then we all met at a fantastic icecream parlor this evening.

And just in case you doubt that the kindergarten set doesn't have the best outlook on life let me relate a little experience my daughter had this past week with our favorite 5 year old. She was cleaning out the goldfish bowl, when one of the little slippery orange things accidentally went on the swim of his life down the kitchen drain. Horrified, not so much at the fish's fate, but at Hilary's reaction she nervously told her what had happened. Hilary's reaction caught her mom by complete surprise. On hearing the news, she said, "Well, he just grew up! I am so proud of him!" I don't think she'll have any problems with empty nest syndrome when her own children take their swim down the drain if this reaction is any indication.

this little piggy went ow, ow, ow

2008-05-29T16:12:00.000-07:00

all the way to the ER! Early of a morning I am not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed and this morning it proved detrimental to one of my extremities. Today was my day to work at the quilt shop so I was up bright and early. I left ourroom and crossed the hall the the darkened bedroom across the hall where my clothes were laid out ready for me to jump into. that was when my little pinky toe on my left foot made contact with a flip-flop that was against the wall. The only thing that moved in this collision was my little piggy. OW! Did it hurt. Immediately a funny numb/burning sensation shot through my foot. I was sure it was broken. I couldn't put any weight on it and it was all floppy.

Resigned, I grabbed a good book and headed to the ER. By the way, if you need to go the ER, early weekday mornings are a good time. There was only one person ahead of me. The entire process only took about an hour. Xrays say I am suffering from a contusion. That's a fancy bruise. I am not so sure. Not that it matters. Whether broken or severely bruised the treatment is the same. They use the buddy system. The injured toe is taped to the toe next to it so that it acts as a splint. I was told to keep it elevated and ice. So noquilt shop for me today. Puh. My poor little toe is a study in technicolor and I am limping about.

My one consolation: I am going to go through all my herb books and see what I can come up with to help my little piggy get better so it can go to market...

mission accomplished!

2008-05-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

Whew! Am I glad that's over! I've been painting my kitchen cabinets and it seemed as tho I would never be finished. I don't like to paint, but I sure love the feeling that a fresh coat of paint in a new color does for a room. I'm being all extra careful when I'm in there working so that I don't get anything on this new grayish white paint. That probably won't last for long.

I got some of my cabinets cleaned out along the way too and threw away or gave away a lot of junk I don't want anymore. And no, daughters, I did NOT get the one cleaned over the microwave. You just about need protective head gear anytime you open that set of cabinets. They are not large enough for what they are required to store, so when you open them out jumps something ready to land on your head or fall to the floor. Maybe I will do that soon...maybe not.

Now that is out of the way, I have some sewing I want to do for my little grandbabies. Cute stuff. Appliques, monograms, lots of pink. Can't wait to get on that project. And of course those infernal yo-yo's. Must finish the yo-yo project.

My little garden plots are growing. We have eaten Swiss Chard, radishes, a few strawberries, and in a couple of weeks, we will be eating our own home-grown broccoli! The beans look nice too. All of my flowers are up and thriving so that soon I will have bouquets galore. I already have had peonies and those lovely little spicy carnations in a tiny little vase. Today I have Snapdragons and wild Honeysuckle gracing my kitchen cabinet.

The seventeen year Cicadias (I think that is the correct name) have come alive and boy, are they loud. They keep up a loud buzzing all day which bouces off the ridge across from our house and the echo makes this peculiar sound that can best be discribed as a flying saucer. It's weird and I'll be glad when their life cycle completes itself.

Under the heading of "Aw, isn't that sweet!" I have tell you about another little bouquet I am admiring these days. The other evening after the MOTH and I finished doing the dinner dishes, he disappeared. I couldn't figure out where he was. He was in none of his usual spots. A few minutes later he came in the house with a fistful of wild daisies. He had seen them growing when he was working outside and had gone back and cut them for me. Those are the best kinds of bouquets in the world.

Another attempt at posting my hootowl pictures

2008-05-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

I'm crossin' my fingers these post this time. I am having lots of problems with Blogspot lately and my pictures.

What a hoot!

2008-05-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Creepy, huh? Looks more like something that belongs on a totem pole than a child's soft toy. I don't know what possessed me to make these. The pattern was a free download from Kauffman Fabrics. While at work one day, I had fun choosing the fabrics to use along with those yo-yo makers you see in the photo (more about those in a minute). The big one is really big. It took almost an entire bag of stuffing. Where these will end up is anybody's guess.

As for the yo-yo makers. Again I wonder what possessed me when I purchased these. I think I have an evil sewing spirt possession going on. Anyone who has ever made a yo-yo knows how mind numbing it is. If you've never made one, don't worry, you'll be fine. We have these at the shop and since I get a good discount I decided what the heck, and bought them. Even with this little gadget, they are still mind numbing. But since I bought them, discount or no, I feel as though I should use them. I am about over that thought. For the project I am working on I need 96. I have made about 48. The whole time I am making them I am wondering how anyone in their right mind could set out to make enough for one of those yo-yo coverlets you see.

What a hoot! I think I am a yo-yo for attempting either of these projects. I know, I know, bad pun.

after a dry spell

2008-05-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

I'm gettting all project-y again. Sometimes you just don't feel creative you know? Part of the problem was that sewing machine was out of commision. At , it is repaired and yesterday I sat down to get acquainted again. I didn't really have anything in mind. But a few weeks earlier, I had mixed up an herbal moth repellant to pack with my hand-knit woolies when I put them away til next winter. I needed some bags to put them in, so I grabbed up a large piece of linen and set to work. I love linen and never throw away a garment that is passed its usefullness if it is made of linen. (if y ou have any old linen you don't want, send it my way). This was an old blue shirt and I sort of thought a little design might look nice on it.I never use the built-in ornamental stitches that are on my machine but thought I would give them a try. One thing led to another and I just kept making pattterns on the fabric. I also made the design on the cream colored grosgrain ribbon. I think my favorite one is the one with the little scrap of pom-poms on it. They are roughly 5x7 in size and I put about 2 cups of potpourri in each. I think these would make good happies ( a little gift for no reason
The green stuff in the picture is Swiss Chard. I guess you could say it is a project of mine too. After all, I tend it everyday, checking for growth, bugs, and just waiting for the day that I could harvest some. Yesterday was the day. I like the assertive flavor it has, but truthfully, my favortie thing about Chard is the colors. They are so vivid and they keep their color when cooked. This was steamed with crisped proscuitto and walnuts and pstachio crusted tilapia was served on top. This is a very rich dish.

I am also knee deep in paint as I am painting my kitchen. The color that my cabinets have been for the last few years could only be discribed as "what was I thinking?".It is slowly disappearing under coats of a very pale dove gray/white. I can't wait to finish. I do not like to paint. The dog is enjoying it though. He stays right with me and is now sporting a large white dot on his nose. Wonder where he stuck that thing sniffing out my paint. One day I will be sitting in my kitchen and there on a cabinet door I will spot a dog-nose size smudge...

mother's day

2008-05-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

O.K.,I juust can't resist so I'll ask forgiveness right up front for what I am about to say; for Mother's Day I got "lai'd" Snort, snort, lol. My daughter living in Hawaii had a beautiful fresh flower lai fed-exed to me for MD. She told me once when you are given a lai you are supposed to make the above statement. It is so pretty I think I just may wear it to work tomorrow to show it off. I guess I could put it in the fridge to prolong its life. I remember my mom doing that with her MD corsages.

The entire MD holiday was a good one for me. Me, the MOTH, our daughter, her husband and our granddaughter all went to church together and then out for a lovely meal. Lots of funny cards were sent my way.My bunch knows me when it comes to cards. No sap please. Hit below the belt and hit hard. I love a good belly laugh. The loot wasn't too bad either. Godiva in a gold box and Godiva in a bottle to make some sort of fancy schmancy drink. Maybe a chocoloate Martini. I'm saving it for something special.Thanks to the MOTH I increased my library by 5 new books, and he threw in a gift card to Bath and Body Works too.

I am off to the kitchen now. Not to cook, but to paint. I am painting my cabinets and everything is topsy-turvy. I have lots of little projects going that hopefully I will blog about tonight.

Happy list

2008-05-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

There is more than enough stuff to go around to make any of us unhappy. Just thumb through the catalog I say. But why waste a good day? For some reason I was just sitting thinking about stuff that makes me happy and decided to blog about it (of course!) Here's my list in no particular order of importance.

Icy cold diet Coke

the frangrance of a Dianthus bloom: so spicey!

The fragrance of a Petunia: so sweet!

The frangrance of a Peony: out of this world!

Growing all three of these in my garden

the freckles on my granddaughter's nose

the little gap in her teeth that she so proudly exhibits

creme brullee

a big juicy t-bone steak

the red hair on my 11 month old granddauter's precious little head

fresh strawberries

a new book

the excitement when the UPS man or the postman leaves me a package

knitting

the picture of my 9 month old granddaughter wearing bunny ears

a good glass of wine

going to the movies

my goofy dog

talking to my girls

Making something crafty and it comes out just like I want

Starbucks coffee with lots of half and half

camping with my husband

the smell of fall leaves

a foggy day

a stormy day

a snowy day

lemon curd

cupcakes (especially the ones MC and B make with the grocery store frosting)

a new gadget

a really good recipe

learning new stuff

That's it for now!

Friends from the past

2008-05-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

So last night the MOTH and I had a big shindig to attend. It was a gala celebrating the 100th anniversary of the company he works for. Let me tell you, they pulled out all the stops when it came to feeding their 1500 employees. We dined on fillet mignon and loboster tail, fancy schmancy pastries and birthday cake all washed down with wonderful wine. This was followed by a concert by Martina McBride. I am not a fan of country music, but I managed to get through that part. o.k. Well, except for the "screamer" beside me. She was one of those who experience country music concerts in an almost spriitual way. She spent most of the concert eyes closed, swaying and mouthing all the songs. And then the spirit would move her and she would let out a scream. She was 2 feet away frm my right ear. The first time I jumped and hoped it was only because the star of the show had just come on stage. Uh uh. It went on all 1hour and 45 minutes of the show. I was just about ready to reach over, grab her ear and scream in it by the end. It was hours before my right ear quit ringing and I could hear in it again.

There was a bright spot in the evening for me though. I was anticipating running into someone who had played an important part in my life years ago. He was the doctor and family friend who had delivered my first child. Between him and my first child they made me what I had always wanted to be: a mom.

In anticipation of running into him at the celebration (he is married to one of the board memebers of the company) I had grabbed a picture of the new baby of the child he had delivered. I wanted to show him the 2nd generation. I don't have any recent pictures of this grandchild, so I took a personal favorite; in Februrary I had bought her some bunny ears and gotten several really cute pictures of her wearing them. So I printed that off and when I saw Dr. Workman, i introduced myself (he remembered me and he is 87!) and then proceeded to show him the picture. Of course, he didn't know who my Sophia was, but he seemeed genuinely pleased at the connection to him in a round about way. Full circle in way I guess.

Ahh...Pesto

2008-05-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

So today I was at the grocery wandering around, picking up this and that and planning meals based on what I threw in the cart, when I hit the produce section. Next to the organic lettuce, was a clamshell of organic Basil. I had never seen it packed that way and was thrilled at the amount of Basil in the container. Into the cart it went as my mouth watered in anticipation of thick golden noodles robed in bright green Pesto. I grabbed a big chunk of good Parmesan, and some Pinenuts. Tonight it will go in the processor and in just a few minutes I will have a few jars of absolute pure green bliss.

morning glory

2008-05-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

Not the flower just the morning. I don't see early morn that often (I'm more the Moon Flower type), but I sure was glad I saw this one. It was one of those mornings when everything goes great. I slept well, so I felt great, I knew what I was wearing to work so no hassles there and I had a chilled Diet Coke waitin' for me in the fridge. I took the dog out and there was the glory. All the trees have leafed out and this morning there was heavy dew on everything. The green was so brilliant that it looked as tho the trees were dripping emeralds.

Got to Starbucks and as I was sitting there savoring my half&half enriched jolt of caffiene, I suddenly had the nagging feeling I had left my flat iron on in the bathroom on a stack of bathtowels. Oh brother! I had to retrace my 12 mile trip back home. I got there and guess what? The flat iron was off. Well shoot! I refused it let it ruin my perfect morning. Got to work just a little late which was not a problem and the day was great. We always have so much and laugh so much that customers sometimes tell us we are having far too much fun for people who are supposed to be working.

We are now in the midst of a cool, cloudy evening. I just watered my little baby beans and gave them a pep talk. My strawberries are blooming and I have some berries that will soon be showing their redheads to me-perfect for a scone, some cream and a cup of tea.

And now the end to the perfect day. Last night the MOTH and I watched a show on the Sundance channel about a biodynamic vineyard. He is very curious about growing grapes and hopes to someday have a small vineyard. So today he found a wine shop that carried the wine featured on the program and we are heading to the front porch to try it out.

Life-when it's good it's good.

New toy

2008-04-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

Wow, can't believe it has been a week since I last posted. I have been busy reading about compost, cuz, well compost happens...I bought a book and have reading and learning all about composting, because I want to do it right you know? Now I am more confused than ever. Actually, I wasn't confused before I read the book. I just thought you put gunk in there and voila! rich black compost.The author does go on to reassure that just about anything you put in the black box will turn into compost. So I've dumped in weeds, and grass, and scraps, and dirt-maybe I need to get a life?

Speaking of life, my little bush beans are sprouting! It always amazes me to see those delicate little stems shoving heavy soil out of the way as they seek the sun and its warmth. Most of my other plants are doing well also. Except my Petunias. They look a little puny. I have to have Petunias, I love Petunias and the way they smell. Someone should formulate a perfume that has a Petunia base.

This blog writer is in a bad mood. I had to go shopping today for an outfit to wear to a big shindig at the MOTH's (M-O-T-H stands for man of the house)place of work. Shopping almost always leaves me in a foul mood. The body just isn't what it used to be and trying on clothes just serves to remind me of that fact. Unless I'm shopping for shoes, the feet are the last to go. The rest of me may expand, but the feet stay pretty much the same size.

I always come home from shopping grumpy and determined to go on a diet. And, of course, what do I do when I get home? Grab a bag of salad crutons and eat the whole thing. Not good. At least I washed them down with diet Coke. So now I'm fat, grumpy, and have really bad garlic breath.

A glass of strawberry tea and time with Hilary

2008-04-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

I think I mentioned earlier in the week a cute little cookbook my sister sent me as part of my birthday celebration. It is written by the fabulous tea room near her home. I was looking through it and found a recipe for strawberry tea that sounded so good that I decided to make it to take to work today along with other goodies to celebrate my bday and a co-workers. Oh boy! that recipe is a keeper. It was so divinely delicious. I am going to give the recipe here for anyone else who would like to have a glass of strawberry tea.

Steep 3 family size teabags in 1 1/2 qts. boiling water for 5 min. Add 1/2 c. sugar, one large can of thawed lemonade, and 1 10 oz bag of thawed, pureed strawberries. Chill. When ready to serve, add a 2 litre bottle of lemon-lime soda. That's it. You gotta try it.

When I got off work I had big plans with my granddaughter Hilary. She recently lost 2 teeth and had a stash of $ from the Tooth Fairy and wanted to take me out to eat Chinese food and then go to my house to do make-overs on each other. The dinner ended up costing more than she had so I paid, but that was o.k.

We headed home and for the duration of the 25 min. drive we played, "guess my favorite number, Lovey" It was always "6". Every single time, all 15 miles.

The makeovers were a lesson in color theory. I ended up looking rather bruised and battered as it turned out because purple was the favorite color of the day (along with number "6" of course.).Then we moved onto water colors, then bubbles outside that she and the dog tried to bite. That was followed by a bit of singing from my "50 Songs for Children", also a gift from my sister. Next was watercolors (again), a snack, and behold! What did my ears hear? It was the sound of her parent's car in the drive coming to pick up the little general. I think that girl could whip an army battalion into shape.

All of this was accompanied by running commentary about life in the kindergarten fast lane, the boy she is "absolutely crazy about" (her words), why she thinks I should get some pet mice, what should we play after we finished playing, and the clincher, "Lovey, you are my favorite Lovey." After that little affirmation I was just about ready to start all over again. Almost.

missing you...

2008-04-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

spreading the birthday joy

2008-04-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

Well, my OLDEST sister has come up with novel way to celebrate her YOUNGER sister turning 50. And I must say, I am thoroughly enjoying what the old girl came up with. Everyday since last Friday she has been mailing me a little something. Lots of times the theme is "50" Today's, for instance, was the fantastic vintage songbook. When I opened it, I was so captivated by the illustrations and the songs that it completely went over my hoary old head that the book was titled "50 Songs for Children". I am spending some quality time with my 5 year old granddaughter Thursday and it is my plan to sing everyone that I know the tune for. That would be about 45 of them. Fun huh?

The same day I got the book, I also received this little packet of Morning Glory seeds from her. I thought she was making reference, in a tongue in cheek way, to my sleeping habits. I AM NOT a Morning Glory. Rarely see it. I AM a MoonFlower, however. I work late and sleep late. It's always worked for me. I should be an all night securtiy gaurd or a stocker at Wal-Mart. So anyway, the seeds are soaking in anticipation of being planted tomorrow, altho I will probably never see them.

I am going to spread the birthday joy in my own way at work Thursday. Another gal I work with also has an April bday so I am making chicken salad to serve on croisannts and a coupld of kinds of cookies. I think maybe green tea shortbread and Madelines. In a super cute cookbook the big sis also gave me I found a recipe for strawberry tea that sounds so delish that I think I will make that too. Everyone will be so surprised.

So thanks, Sis, for all the birthday joy!

just one more day

2008-04-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Just one more day to hold Isabella, to smell her baby smell, to shovel babyfood into that little rosebud mouth that opens like a baby bird's when she sees the sppoon. Just one more day to hear all her little baby babble taht sometimes sounds exactly like words. Just one more day to try and hold onto the squirmiest baby I have ever held. Just one more day to ask her for a kiss and receive one of those slobbery open mouth kisses. Just one more day to watch her splash about in the tub and one more night to watch as she sits in her mother's lap and listens to her bedtime story.

I want this last day to be special. But, how much more special can it be to just experience all these things one more time and tuck them deeply into my heart and hold them dear until the next time? The next time being Christmas, for we are flying them home for the holiday. i can't think of a better gift.

Oh, and I'll miss her mom too. :) I'll miss the sound of her running down the stairs, clattering in the kitchen, and singing all the goofy songs she knows in all the goofy voices she has created. She is a total goof-ball. I'll miss watching movies with her late at night and I'll just plain miss the sight of her everyday.

For after tomorrow they will be winging their way back to their naval base home in Hawaii. I dread the jet lag and the exhaustion of taking care of an active baby on an airplane for such a long flight. I am praying for a safe flight and an empty seat next to her so she can put Isabella in it for a nap. She's one spunky girl and it's a good thing. I hope her husband realizes what a prize he got when he married her.

happy birthday Louie?

2008-04-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

o.K., so yesterday was my 50th birthday. I find that absolutely hysterical. I CANNOT be 50! I still like to bake cakes in my Suzy Homemaker Oven. If it should snow, I would be the first one flying down the hill on the sled, I LOVE a good story book. I still like dolls, and I like to eat "kid" candy. You know, stuff like Laffy Taffy and Tootsie Rolls, oh, and sour candy. I love sour candy.

But, yes, I AM 50. And yesterday I celebrated the fact with some of my favorite people. The funniest thing was my cake. My granddaughter Hilary chose it for me. She made sure that it said "Happy Birthday Lovie" because that is what she
christened me a few years ago. But when my daughter, Hilary's mother, went to pick it up it said, "Happy Birthday LOUIE".Oh my goodness! We all got such a kick out of it! It was worth every penny my daughter paid for the mistake. All evening everyone called me "Louie" My daughter said it sounded like a gangster's cake.

See my presents? I love them all. J.Jill is one of my faves so I cannot wait to use the gift card from their store. That will take all of 15 minutes I am sure. The other boxes contain something I have hankered for and just wouldn't buy: everything for creme brulee! The torch is awesome! i think I will be trying it very soon. As in this week.

There's nothing better than extending the birthday joy over several day's time. Today, protruding from my mailbox was a box from my friend Amy at Inspire Co. If you have never visited her website, you simply must. Without any doubt she is the giftfairy herself just as her website proclaims. I could barely contain myself as I opened up the box from Amy. Inside was a tower of gifts discribing how I stay young. Each box had a little gift representing a secret to youth. Things like "She has a sweet tooth" Inside was some sour jawbreakers. I do love sour candy. Another box said, "She celebrates her birthday all month long" Inside was the sweetest little pin. It went on and on like that for 13 gifts. Even now, hours later, they are still spread over my dining room table. I plan to keep each little typed "secret" to look at for the days when I don't feel so young.

All in all, I think turning 50 was a pretty grand thing. I'm still young enough to be young and just old enough to get the Senior Citizens' discount at the grocery.

What are we doing?

2008-04-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

We are squeezing in all the good times we can with our daughter MC and granddaughterIsabella before they have to leave next week for their navy base home in Hawaii. It is bittersweet fun tho because we are not sure when we will see them again. Christmas hopefully, but you never know.

Earlier this week we took the whole gang and dined at our favorite Italian place,Carrinos. We had a great time. Outside it was pouring rain but inside all was merry and bright at our table. The daughters and I love Sangria so we ordered a carafe and split it 3 ways. It was just enough. Love that stuff.

Today we headed to Knoxville to allow MC and Isabella time to visit Isabella's great-grandparents then we headed to the mall for a little shopping. No trip to the mall is complete without a stop at the Godiva store. We all go in and choose our favorite truffles then walk down the mall swooning over our choices as we dip into the little gold bags that contain nirvana for chocolate lovers. Even little Isabella got in on the act today with a white ganache enrobed in white chocolate. And let me tell you, she can swoon with the best of them when it comes to good candy. She gnawed and squeeled as she leaned back in her stroller with her sweet treasure.

Tomorrow? Well tomorrow is my birthday! So there will be cake! And steaks grilled outside, and Sangria! I told you we like our Sangria! And presents! It's not a bad way to turn 50 let me tell 'ya.

My thumbs are gettin' all green.

2008-04-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

It always happens every spring. I trade in my pink polished winter thumbs for thumbs with a greenish tint to them. I start out guns a blazing of course. I talk the husband into tilling up every speck of ground we've got me following behind with some potted treasure picked up at a nursery somewhere. Trouble is, the days get hotter and the weeds tall and my blazing guns barely resemble a fire cracker, and a dud at that. I really want to do better this year. I am thinking small and lots of containers. I almost succumbed to the pricey ones at Lowes, some of them wooden and some in that plastic that looks so realisticly stone. But in a few months the wood gets a little rotty and the stone-looking ones don't look so hot anymore, so I went to Big Lots and picked up a bunch of cheap ones for the price I would have paid for one fake stone one from Lowes. I am going to try growing lots of different things in the pots. One year I grew broccoli in a pot. It did pretty well. but I do have a couple of small strips of tilled up space that I am going to use in the traditional way. I mean you have to have a few tomatoes growing or it's just not summer ya know?

I'm getting all herby again too. I use to have about 50 different herb plants-culinary, craft, and medicinal. I am the family witch doctor and am just fascinated with herbs for health mantenance and even for health related things that aren't serious. I made herbal massage oil for my pregnant girls' growwing bellies last summer and they loved it. I want to make some diaper rash salve and a few other things.Right now the only herbs I really have are culinary so I need to replenish my stash of medicinal ones. I know just the place to go too. It's an herb farm in NC. Getting there is an adventure in and of itself and I am going to try and talk the husband into taking me soon. I think the promise that he can use the 4x4 before journey's end might be an incentive to him. I can always hope.

Speaking of herbs: I've been reading and did you know that most of us have a goldmine right in our lawns? The humble dandelion my friends is an herb you should know. Plus, if you have a whole lot of them growing in your yard, ( and I do) on a sunny day they smell like butter. Everyone knows that you can eat them (unless you sprary your yard), but did you that the plant everyone loves to hate is also a natural diuretic? It is also a tonic and said to be good for gout,rheumatism, and stiff joints. One of my herb books even has what is called the "dandelion cure". Personally I think the malady that dandelion have the biggest effect on is the winter blahs. One of the first plnats to trumpets spring's arrival who can resist those sunny yellow flowers followed by the puffballs that are a mainstay of most childhood memories. So don't curse your dandelions folks, go outside, smell their fragrance, blow a puffball, throw some in your salad and have a little dandelion tea. It will be good for whatever ails you.

'

daughters: bane or blessing?

2008-04-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

Well, they are a blessing, of course. God blessed me three times. That or He just likes a good laugh.

When they are young, it's pretty simple. Lots of cute clothes that you get to choose, dolls, baby buggies, pony tails and hair bows. I was always sewing or crafting something in sets of three. Now, they don't all have the same taste but if I make something for one, news travels like lightening and I had better get busy and make something for the other 2.

As they grew the estrogen began to flow around here like water over Niagara Falls. We survived the estrogen overflow and now they are all grown-up married, with one daughter each "benefit" as the mother of grown daughters is that suddenly they see themselves as the imparters of all manner of advice for me their mother. Mostly it's on the fashion front. I'll admit to being a little weak in that area. As each decade passes, I get a little fuzzier in that department, or maybe smarter. Comfort is key.

Example: A few years ago I discovered the sports bra. It was love at first wearing for me. A sports bra keeps the "girls" firmly attached to the chest-no jiggle and the straps do not fall off your shoulders. Two great features for a chest that has grown quite a bit over the years. Another plus, you can get them at Wal-Mart and they are cheap. Well, a few weeks ago I found myself in a Victoria's Secret boutique with my youngest. I haven't been in one of these stores in years. Vic. doesn't really cater to us Rubenesque types. As I waited for my daughter as she chose teeny tiny snippets of fabric that pass for panties in these places, I wandered over to the hardware/underwire bras and was surprised to see my size and even more surprised at the price. The daughter, hands full of cutesy printed bits, comes over and proclaims, "Mom, you should try one of their bras. Those sport bras are NOT a good look for you. It makes your boobs look like another fat roll." I tried to ignore the fat roll comment and hoped she would lower her voice a decibel or two as I argued that the thing was way too pricey. Finally, she talked me into it
and I left Vic's only slightly pink-faced with my little bag telling all the world
where I had been.

Once home, I tried on my new armour. Gosh, I hate when I'm wrong! No shoulder straps falling and two girls that look as though they have had a face lift.

Daughters-I think I'll keep mine. but now way will they get me in those stilettos they wear.

more scenes of home

2008-04-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Home; I love it so. Ask my girls and they will tell you what a homebody I am. I can stay home for days and be quite content. I love making things look pretty with flowers and plants and little arrangements here and there. I love the little blue grape hyacinths all nestled in their pot with the pewter bird keeping watch. It sits in a corner of the vanity in my downstairs bath.

The flowers in the cut glass punchbowl pack a different kind of punch I think. i love the colors. It is just 3 bunches of grocery store bouquets. 5 bucks each. So far they have lasted a week. The tulips are living a faster paced life I am afraid. Just 3 days ago they were just buds, now they are full-fledged gaudy gals all decked out in red and black. I'll tuck something else in there as soon as these girls wind up their show.

The pink thing that looks a little like one of those frou-frou things ladies used to put on rolls of toilet paper to, well disguise the toilet paper? That is the cake I made for my middle daughter's birthday today. It was so pretty! So very girly girl I think. I was at Michael's last week and came across a cake decorating book published by Martha Stewart and when I saw this cake, I knew I had to make it. So I bought 3 of the 6" pans that the recipe called for, stocked up on butter and eggs and went to work. i am not usually that great a cake baker, but this one turned out great-nice and level, all 3 layers. The Swiss Meriingue Buttercream was tricky and I almost lost faith that it would work, but yes! it did.The ruffle decorating technique was very quick and easy too. It was very impressive in the end i think.

We had a great time celebrating daughter B's birthday. Good food, a pitcher of Wild Plum Tea and lots and lots of laughter with the antics of the granddaughters and the dog thrown in. We never pass up an opportunity to laugh and act goofy. My favorite proverb says, "A mery heart doeth good like a medicine" That is so true.

Go Fly a Kite!

2008-04-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Granddaughter Hilary and her pop saw the last days of March out in a timely fashion. Although March made her entrance lamb-like, she said good-bye in the same way. No lions in my part of the country anyway. Just cool and brisk.

It was a crazy month for us. We have been having lots of company and the house has been filled with all manner of conversation, laughter, and unfortunately, almost everyone has been in some stage of the crud that is going around. I think I am the only person who hasn't had it.

March always brings out the wanna-be gardener in me. I start out swell, but choke along the way, usually once the going gets hot outside. A little sweat on my brow and I wimp out quick. But right now when everything is new and green, I am gung-ho. A pea patch would be so sweet, tomatoes superb, and zuchinni-well we won't talk about those little monsters will we? Maybe I'll manage a few container crops and just call it a day.

I think I wore corduroy

2008-03-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

for the last time today. It was still a little nippy outside, that is why I drug out my favorite pair of corduroy pants, they just felt so cozy. But the sun was shining and when I was out and about I felt a little silly sportin' my cords. Sigh...I love me a comfy pair of cords.

It truly was a glorious day. We did a little antiqueing. Spent lots of time on the wrap-around porch swinging in the porch swing and the rockers singing with thegranddaughters and throwing the dog his toy. The husband mowed the lawn for the first time in preparation for the Easter egg hunt on Sunday. All 3 grandprincesses are here and it is so exciting to have them all here for the first time.

I spent a little time out exploring in my gardens. The drought last year was really hard on my growing things. I did see lots of Day Lilies strutting their stuff. The
Peonies are seeking the sun too. I gathered a bunch of Catnip and sent it home to my son-in-law's cats. In just a matter of weeks, the Redbuds will be gracing us with their pink prettiness and the Dogwoods will be next. Southern Springs come early and leave far too soon. It's hard to believe, but soon we'll be waiting til evening to sit on the porch, fanning ourselves and longing for Autumn.

It's a good thing

2008-03-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

I am not being graded on this blog writing business, because lately I think I would earn an "F" for non-productivity. Sometimes I can't think of anything to write that I think anyone else would interested in and sometimes I am just so busy I don't have time to sit down and compose my thoughts.

Like this past week. Whew, was I busy! There was a ginormous quiltfest in town "The Smokey Mtn. QuiltFest" to be exact and the quilt shop where I work was bursting at the seams with quilters from all over the country. I've seen more quilted vests, jackets, purses, and yes, quilts in the last week than I usually see in a year in the little shop where I work.

A lot of the work I've seen has been artistic masterpieces and some of it has been, well, an honest effort at doing a good job. But regardless of the quality of the finished piece one thing they all have in common is the joy and pride that they have brought the person who created it.

The history of quilting fascinates me. In the beginning, it was purely functional, but humans being what we are, it was just a matter of time before we began putting our person stamp on our work turning the mundane into the beautiful. After all, if you are going to be spending a great deal of time at something, make it beautiful or make it fun.

The geometry of the pieced quilts has always been a marvel to me. That women, sitting in humble cabins often with nothing more than some scrap of paper saved here and there and probably a stump of a pencil could design these beauties and make them come out mathematically perfect just astounds me. They must have had a proclivity towards math to begin with to be able to do this. If the times had allowed, they probably would have studied to become engineers and scientists. As frustrated math whizzes did they work out their frustrations with needle, thread, and fabric? Engineers and mathematicians are great things to be but I can't help but think the world got a better deal with these quilts. Beauty, function, and art all in one piece, just like a bridge or a skyscraper. The difference is that eventually someone wants to tear down the bridge or the building to build a better one or a bigger one. With quilt, we pack it away in reverence, bringing it out to show on special occasions. And instead of wanting to build a bigger or better one, we go to the quilt shop and look for the exact pattern to create our own fabric legacy.

scenes of home

2008-03-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

A pretty quiet day. All rainy, blustery, and chilly outside, warm and cozy inside.

Scene 1: Hilary's profile with her new haircut. This little wedge cut makes her look more like her mother than ever. The older she gets, the more she favors her, even her eyes are taking on a gray cast like her mom's.

Scene 2. Hilary and her Aunt Peach baking Pillsbury pink bunny cookies.

Scene 3: The view from my porch. Winter (if you can call it that around here) slowly loosing its grasp on daily affairs as Spring blows in.

Scene 4: An Easter makes its appearance.

The prettiest scene of the day and one I don't have a picture of was the rosy-hued cheeks of my little red-haired Isabella as she slept in my lap this evening. Why do their little cheeks do that when they sleep? Her little hands opened and closed as she slept and I watched her throat move up and down nursing her pacifier. Red hair all messed up and sticking ever which way as she turned her head back and forth in her sleep. Little sighs. Feet sticking out from under her blanket thrown over her to ward off the drafts that the March wind was all but pounding through the walls of my old house, rattling windows and shaking trees. Loved it.

In like a lamb....

2008-03-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

The first 3 days of March have been glorious. As much as I would love a rip-roarin' snowstorm, I have enjoyed the spring-like weather. Today's walk with Jasper produced a slight sunburn on my fair skin.

The trail where I walk was dotted with people. It seemed as tho everyone wanted to get their share of the sun's warming rays. I was stopped several times by adults and children wanting to pet my dog or just to tell my how handsome he is. He's sporting a new haircut and you can really see how muscled he is becoming.

The afternoon was so warm that I took my sweet little grandprincess Isabella out for a ride in the porch swing. She loved it. As we flew through the air she smiled and caught her breath with every movement. It was a picture perfect moment-unfortunately I was not prepared.

Of course, this weather is not going to last, that's the nature of the southeast at this time of year. By evening the air had taken on that unnatural windy warmth that we in this part of the country call "storm weather". Sure enough, tonight and tomorrow have been earmarked for storms according to the weatherman.

As a child I was terrified of storms. A faint rumble of thunder and I was stage 1 hysterical. Add some lightening, louder thunder and my mother was looking for a straight jacket to put me in. I kept that fear all through my adolescence and into my adult years. A rumble of thunder before bedtime meant I walked the floor all night, ready to pick up my children, wake my husband and head for the storm cellar. My kids still talk about Mom's stormbag and how much fun it was to sit in the cellar and draw on the walls while their father and grandfather watched the clouds roll in. In all fairness to myself, I did live in tornado alley all those years. Now I live in the Appalachian Mountains down in a valley surrounded on all sides by hills, ridges, and mountains. It's rare for a storm to actually get severe where I am. In fact, I hear thunder so little now that when I do, it causes a strange sort of energetic excitement to stir around inside me. I guess it's a holdover from those years of pick up your stuff and head for the cellar...

50 things

2008-03-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

I thought this was kind of fun, plus you learn things about your friends you never knew. You simply copy and paste this to your blog then tag the people you think might respond. Here's my list.

1. Do you like blue cheese? I like blue cheese dressing with hotwings

2. Have you ever used heroin? Are you kidding? I am the original goody-goody!

3. Do you own a gun?
Yes

4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
cherry all the way

5. Do you get nervous before Dr. appts? not reallly, unless I thought I was pg, then I would be VERY nervous

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
I think I like them

7. Favorite Christmas song White Christmas

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
A Starbucks coffee or a diet Coke
9. Can you do push ups?
Nope

10. What do you order at Starbucks?
Regular coffee or a fat-free Chai tea Latte

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? A large amber heart my husband gave me.

12. Favorite hobby?
Knitting, papercrafts, quilting, reading

13. How do you eat your eggs? Sunny side up

14. Do you have A.D.D.? I don't think so

16. Middle name?
Leenora

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment...
1. I want a snack
2. i wishh MC could figure out to post on my desktop to her blog
3. I want a snack

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday.?
1. yogurt, diet coke, cd's to burn pictures onto from my computer

19. three drinks you regularly drink?diet Coke, coffee, more diet Coke

20. Current worry right now? Whether or not I am going to break and snack

21. Current hate right now? flying

22. Favorite place to be?
At home

23. How did you bring in the New Years?
At home, a bottle of wine, and a movie
24. Where would you like to go?
Ireland if I didn't have to fly

25. Name three people who will complete this?
IDK

26. Do you own slippers?
Yes

27. What shirt are you wearing?
A Liz Claiborne tank under a jacket

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?Never have, but don't think I would like it.

29. Can you whistle?
Yes

30. Favorite color?(s)
I like most colors especially pink, green blue, red, black, white, etc

31. Would you be a pirate?
Nope, not even with Johnny Depp

32. What songs do you sing in the shower?
Whatever comes to mind

33. Favorite pet's name?
Tuny, Jasper and Maddie

34. Favorite boy's name? Max or Carson

35. Whats in your pockets right now?
nothing

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
My dog Jasper

37. Best bed sheets as a child? the ones that had been hung out to dry on the clothes line.

38. Worst injury you've ever had?
Leg broken in 3 places below the knee

39. Do you love where you live?
Yes I do.

40. How many TV's do you have?
One's enough.

41. Who is your loudest friend?
My youngest daughter

42. How many dogs do you have?
One, but he is big and rambuntious he seems like 3.

43. What are you thrilled about right now? that my youngest daughter is home and my oldest is coming and then I will have all 3 under my roof for a few days..

44. Do you have a crush on someone?My 3 granddaughters

45. What is your favorite book?It's a series "The Outlander"

46. What is your favorite candy?
I like most of it

47. What is your favorite sports team?
I hate, hate, hate, destest, destest any sport

48. What song do you want played at your funeral? "Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead"

49. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Talking to my kid

50. How many secrets are you keeping?
None right now.

I am tagging Bebe from Peaches and Dreams, and Amy at Angry Chicken

This is my apron

2008-02-29T20:44:00.000-08:00

for the Sassy Apron Swap. See my entry below for explanation.

Busy, busy, busy.

2008-02-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

Well, in between refereeing the battles between my daughter and my dog, I have managed to get a little crafting done. I have finished the knitting on Hilary's felted clogs and just need to felt them. I am waiting for a time when she is here so that I can be sure to fit them correctly.

In the papercrafting department, I have made a few more cards. I would love to get all my bday cards to friends and fambly made and stored away so that I can acknowledge yearly milestones in a timely fashion.

Yesterday, at the quilt shop where I work I bought everything to make a really cute and quick quilt. It is made entirely of charm squares and jellyrolls. Once I piece the top, I am going to cut into squares and quilt those to make pillows for my porch swing and rockers. I also plan to paint those as soon as the weather warms up a little. We have had lovely 100% wool at the shop for $19.99 a yard and it was not selling so yesterday the owner marked it down to $4.oo a yard. Guess which employee scored yards and yards of that???? I have no idea what I will do with it, but that's not the point is it?

The Sassy Apron Swap: I signed up over at My Byrd House for an apron swap. The theme was Spring. You had to make an apron with a Spring theme. It had to have a pocket and you were supposed to include a recipe. I got mine in the mail by the deadline and am now waiting to receive my apron from my swap partner. Can't wait.

Late today I took MC and Isabella to Knoxville to visit her husband's family. I spent a few precious hours looking at everything in Jo-Anne's fabrics. I really didn't buy much, just some lovely pink and green fabric to recover the seat in the little sette I found at the thrift shop in Orange, VA. Oh, and some yarn. Almost always yarn. Later we met the Husband at a great restaurant for dinner. I had scallops with polenta. Oh boy! So good! And for dessert the 3 of us shared a cannoli. So, obiviously, all the projectc I have listed that I am working on to the right of this post are going along great-except maybe for the diet. Actually, I am doing o.k. with it. NOt spectacular, but o.k.