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February Ten Things

2012-02-10T20:55:00.000-05:00

Ten things I know I am blessed with....

My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and a loving and caring Heavenly Father.

My wonderful husband

My children

Having been raised by two very wise parents who I know are with the Lord now

My 7 siblings

A healthy, happy family and extended family.

Feeling young for my age

A job that is enjoyable and wonderful ladies to work with

Having been able to travel extensively in the last few years

My "Apple" toys ;)

10 Things

2012-01-19T20:16:00.001-05:00

I'm a late joiner to the "Ten Things" posting group over at Shimelles so here goes:

Ten things I am working on this year

1. Closer walk with my Heavenly Father

2. Develop healthy habits that I do without thinking

3. Get all of my VHS tapes, dvd's and books, papers and patterns all digital

4. Simplify my belongings

5. Start learning Italian

6. Become a home-based entrepreneur

7. Work in my journals and art techniques more

8. Get all my UFO's done (unfinished sewing projects)

9. Get my 3 miles of walking in daily

10. Become skilled in Pilates

Seeking my Heavenly Father

2012-01-08T18:17:00.001-05:00

In this new year, rather than the regular new year resolutions, even though reading thru the bible has been one many a year. I want more than the regular. I want to seek my Father's face more fully. I want to be in His presence. All my other attempts in my own strength have not produced very much. This year though, I plan on moving forward in my Father's strength and not mine.

Mary Ann Moss is going to have a new class soon.....

2011-05-22T17:32:00.001-05:00

I found these two great little cabinet albums on ebay for Mary Ann's new class, but I think I am going with another book I already have. So I am selling these two.

On My Mind...

2011-02-11T20:33:00.000-05:00

Over at Down To Earth Rhonda is having her blog readers post what is "On Their Mind" today. Well, this is what is on mine....

Yesterday I went to one of our local libraries and took out a few Organic Gardening magazines and got out my folder of pages I've torn out of other magazines. I really want to concentrate on the landscaping in the front of our house this year. We removed almost everything from our landscape in front of the house last fall and I want to give it a flowing, draping look with different kinds of shrubbery. Please check back at Down to Earth to see all the comments and visit all the blogs!

Wow, its been awhile!

2010-10-23T18:37:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in quite awhile, so following the previous post from months ago, I thought I would give an update photo. Here is Hunter almost a year old now.....

VERY ornery!!! Can you tell? My iPhoto needs updated. I am still using iPhoto 06 and it is sooo slow which makes me put off downloading pictures to use for the blog. I just updated my computer from Tiger to Snow Leopard and they just came out with iPhoto 11 which is what I was kind of waiting for, and its only $79 for the family, that used to be the price just for a single computer. So will have to be getting that update along with some memory to keep this lovely computer going till next year, when I am planning to get a new one.

2010-03-15T20:56:00.000-05:00

It has been some time since I have posted! Even at that, not a whole lot has really gone on. Went through the holidays, went through some blizzards.... But the one fun thing that has happened is that we got a lab puppy! We named him Hunter. My daughter adopted his brother and named him Brady. They have their bad moments, but then they turn around and are so good....Ahhh, puppyhood! He is almost 15 weeks old now and is getting bigger every day. He will probably be at least 85 pounds at adulthood. His paws are huge. Its fun watching him experiencing new things. That was of the things that I loved with my children. Its almost like you get to experience every thing with them.

2009-10-13T13:26:00.006-05:00

Well, today my dear hubby and I have been married for 25 years. My wedding ring is gold and I wanted a white gold ring for our 25th. When I was a little girl, my brother went to the "service" and ended up living down south. He came across this jewelry artisan, James Avery, in Texas and over the years had bought me a few things. On our tenth anniversary I asked my husband for the ring of two hands coming together and looking like they are holding a diamond chip that was made in James Avery's workshop. Now on our 25th, there is another ring that has caught my eye once more and I have just not gotten around to ordering it. I'm not too much of a jewelry person, so that's part of the procrastination, but I really did want to have it for today, but, alas, I don't. When I do get it I will take a picture and post it. Right now, here is a picture of the ring from our 10th.

2009-10-09T19:31:00.004-05:00

I just love my Hug Mug swap sister, Barb Graham! Here is a picture of the mug hug and mug mat that I received on Monday. We were participants in the Hug Swap ran by Jenny and Vicki. She did an absolutely beautiful job. My daughter's loved them! My quiltin' mommas group loved them. The cup is actually a gift from my friend Lynn, who is in our little group along with my sister. She brought it back from England for me. Oh, Barb, I just love them! Thank you soo much.

2009-09-22T00:14:00.007-05:00

We had a pretty good harvest for the small little garden we had this year. We haven't had a garden for a couple of years because it fought us so much. We have a clay based dirt around here and we have put mushroom compost, topsoil, and some other kind of good soil, but it just didn't want to grow good for us. This year, a friend gave us two different types of tomato plants and some green pepper plants and they grew wonderful. I make this family dish called "potato and tomatoes." It tastes its absolute best when tomatoes are in season. I've never tried it with home canned tomatoes but I'm sure that would taste good too. Would have to adjust how you put it together, but it would still taste good. I just spread some oil on the bottom of a baking dish and layer thinly sliced potatoes on the bottom. Then you put seasoning on them. I used McCormick's Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper, and grated parmegian or romano cheese. This particular time I poured a little olive oil on each layer, but I think that was too much. From now on I just put the oil on the potato layers and it works better. Then you layer sliced tomatoes on and season them the same way, and just keep layering the potatoes, tomatoes and seasoning till you get to the top of the baking dish and make the potatoes the last layer, or the tomatoes, whichever you want to do, season the same, cover with foil and bake for an hour on 375 degrees until potatoes are done. I make it a day ahead, put it in the fridge and let the seasonings do their thing overnight. My husband can't get enough of this. Have a look.....

2009-09-20T20:04:00.005-05:00

We love our labs. Labrador Retrievers that is. Ducks Unlimited's Pymatuning Waterfowl Expo was today, so we took a ride up to see it. There was a guy demonstrating how to train our puppies and dogs. Another guy who had a litter of pups with their parents there. Also at Pymatuning there is the Spillway, "where ducks walk on fishes' backs." Here's a few photos from today.

2009-09-09T21:10:00.007-05:00

Went to the fair on Friday. Took a picture of this cute pig sleeping on his friend. Doesn't he look happy in his sleep.

Then on Saturday we went to the Pittsburgh and Cardinals game. Unfortunately, the Pirates lost 2-1. But we had great seats. We sat straight across from the city's skyline and the fireworks after the game.

2009-09-06T21:03:00.001-05:00

Just a real quick post. Please go see this on youtube. It is so cute and funny!!

Panda Mom and Baby

2009-08-30T19:55:00.007-05:00

I don't know why I have trouble posting more than one picture to blogger!!! ugh!! So here is the rest of today's blog...

I also made my self a little chicken pincushion. I think he is just the cutest thing. I haven't named him yet, but I will. He is made of some of my favorite fabrics. I love Moda and I like the Autumn Journey, kind of primitive and yet not primitive style. I don't quite know how to explain my style and colors, except to say a cross between primitive and some kind of country. In furniture and decor I like the walnut stained furniture with a touch of the ironwork. There is some furniture at a local store that is just calling my name everyday! I hope to be answering its call in the next few months....;)

2009-08-30T19:34:00.014-05:00

I have been steadily doing a job that I really don't like, but has to be done....cutting and prepping things to sew. I had bought a few (twelve to be exact) new fq's for three quilts I'm making and had to wash and cut all that fabric. Then I am in the Hugs n Kisses Stitcher's Angel swap and have been ........ to be revealed later (just in case).

2009-08-24T18:17:00.003-05:00

O Boy, o boy, o boy! Look what I got in the mail today! I..Love..This..Fabric! I think it is just the cutest fabric for childrens' projects. I'm going to look for it and buy some more. My Stitchin' Angel is the just the sweetest. We have a exchanged a few emails and she is so nice and interesting to talk with.

I'm going to be sending my secret sis a package shortly. Another sweet lady. We have a lot of things in common. This is such a nice swap. I'm so glad I found it.

2009-08-10T08:42:00.005-05:00

I made myself this art/travel journal and needlework purse from a picture I had seen in the book, Designing with Fabric. I found the woman who had made it and emailed her if she had a pattern. She said she just laid out the things she wanted to put in it and designed around that. Hers was more for art journaling. I think she named it "Have Art Will Travel." I wanted to be able to carry my travel journal supplies as well as hand sewing things. So this is what I came up with:

It was not too user friendly. I have since taken it all apart and have started designing a new one for myself. There are more pictures of this bag on my flickr.

2009-07-15T20:26:00.004-05:00

And the Fourth of July open house. My town goes a little crazy for the 4th. Almost everyone has some kind of party or picnic. In this picture is my house and the neighbor's house.

Had a shower for my daughter Whitney, who eloped in December.

Went to Kentucky to visit my brother and his wife and we drove down to Paducah for the quilt show.

At the gas station one day met these fine equines. The fourth one down waited till I snapped the picture then put his head out...there's one in every bunch!

My husband and I cut grass as a business in the summer months. He is retired and I am semi-retired.

2008-11-22T19:52:00.009-05:00

Haven't spent much time near the computer the last few days. Trying to get the house cleaned for the holidays, and once I sit on the computer, I tend to get sidetracked. I've been concentrating on drawers and cupboards first. I love to clean out! I don't know why I like to get rid of anything that is excess. In July I totally cleaned out my upstairs. My house is a "ranch" style and all my rooms are on one floor. The basement is finished and I have a laundry room with a small bathroom down there also. Everything that I wanted to organize and put away went downstairs. Well, now I'm working on that load of stuff. Pictures to be scanned, material to be gone thru and cut in pieces for crazy quilting, all my craft stuff...... you get the idea. Actually the craft stuff kind of has to wait till we fix up the one area of the basement for me to have my own little "corner of the world." (Being a child of the sixties, when I think of having my little corner for crafts and sewing, I always hear that Cinderella song in my head, "...in my own little corner, in my own little chair...") The first picture is of my computer desk. My BIL built it for me. I bought two vintage industrial singer treadle sewing machines

for their legs and used them for the desk. Then my husband painted it. Right now it's a mess because I'm scanning pictures, but then stopped to put our Alaska video on iMovie so that my SIL can see it on Thanksgiving. The only thing is I'm slow at what I'm doing, because I'm learning as I go. I thought I was going to have to buy the new iLife to be able to download, but one of the Apple phone techs walked me thru it. The picture to the right is of "my corner." We've sold the TV stand and put together the new one that is lying on the floor in the box. The walls were textured and my husband smoothed them out for me to be able to do the painting technique I want to do. The next step is get our ceiling tore out and the cable guy in to run computer and TV lines. I'm also changing out the switches and electrical outlets. I found these gray ones at Lowe's that are rectangular and they look really nice. It's not really as much construction as it seems and actually will not cost a whole lot, but the little details like the light switches and electrical outlets that aren't really necessary, make a big difference in the overall look and don't cost that much. Can't wait till everything is done!

2008-11-15T18:59:00.008-05:00

Last night I made pumpkin cookies. This is one of the two most favorite recipes from my mother-in-law. The other one is her nut roll. I have yet to tackle that, but I will. The picture above is the bowl of batter that is in the freezer for the batch of cookies that will be baked for Thanksgiving. This recipe makes ALOT! The other half of the batch that I baked last night is almost gone. My daughter and her boyfriend went to dinner with my niece and her fiance and they came back to our house to play Wii with my other daughter. Well, the fiance really liked the cookies. It always makes the baker feel good when they ask to bring some home! (I am having the worst trouble trying to upload pictures. It lets me upload one or two and no more.) The recipe for anyone who would like it:

Pumpkin Cookies

1 large can of pumpkin

3 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups oleo (margarine) (3 sticks)

2 eggs, beaten

5 cups flour

3 tsp baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon

3 tsp baking soda

3 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

12 oz pkg chocolate chips (we prefer semi sweet and I usually put in another half of bag)

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Cream first 3 ingredients. Add eggs. Sift together dry ingredients. Add vanilla, then add dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop on ungreased cookie sheet w/tsp.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

ENJOY!

Oh, and update on the spreadable butter....it firmed up and tasted pretty good. Can't remember where I got the recipe or I would give credit.

2008-11-14T21:41:00.007-05:00

Well, here is my first attempt at stretching my butter and making it spreadable. I used the recipe of: 1 pound of butter,1 cup of canola oil, 1 cup of water.

It tastes pretty good and even after having sat out to soften and being beaten with the oil and water, it has a pretty good consistency. Tomorrow I'll check and see how stiff it gets after being in the refrigerator all night.

Now here is my first attempt at bread dough in about

14 or 15 years. I used to make my own pizza dough, but got a better outside job and had to work further from home, so my making pizza from scratch went by the way of buying it from a pizza shop. Ended up making pizza from this dough instead of a loaf of bread. It's a recipe from Emeril and it called for cake yeast. All I had was dry yeast. I read some of the reviews of this recipe and others had used dry, so I attempted it. Every review was good so I thought this would be a good one to try. It's a Rustic Italian Bread. You spray the crust three times while it is in the oven to get a really crusty crust. I am making a loaf of bread out of it tomorrow, but I bought cake yeast and will try it that way. I also made pumpkin cookies but for some reason I can't upload the pictures. I'll post them tomorrow.

2008-11-12T14:25:00.006-05:00

For the last month and a half, I have been reading the archives of the blog called, Down to Earth.

It has reminded me so much of my upbringing that I have decided to go back to my mother's (picture to the left) and grandmothers' ways. It is a healthier and more productive way to live, somewhat frugal, with the perk of being environmentally sound. Our family's frugality belief was that you cut back one way, to be able to have better quality of life in other ways. Like for example my mother always watched how much she was spending in food, everyday expenses, utilities, etc in order to be able to buy for example, a nice, high thread count sheet set. It lasts longer, washes up better, looks nicer on your bed and generally makes your everyday life feel rich. Its all about the quality of life. Unfortunately, my generation had or has the philosophy that you have to have designer everything, and the greater amount of everything to feel rich. When in reality feeling rich is about love, comfort and peace of mind, of having a home that is well taken care of, where it is a haven from a sometimes mean and hard world, where you can be yourself, and can show that self in your surroundings with the fabrics, paint, pictures and furniture that you choose, the creativity that you do to make it "personally" yours, and the food, comfort and self that you share with friends and loved ones.

I am going to join Rhonda at Down to Earth in the electricity and water meter readings. I have wanted to do this for some time, but, of course, have put it off. So tomorrow you will see my readings.

I have also spent this last month copying and pasting recipes for homemade soaps and detergents. I finally found washing soda after a few phone calls. Not readily available, but not that far away either. So I stocked up and when my Tide is gone, I will make my first batch. I am looking for a fabric softener recipe. I seen it once in my researching, but forgot to copy it. If anyone has a recipe, please let me know.

2008-10-05T21:00:00.006-05:00

This blog is part of my starting new everyday adventures. A month ago, my husband and I went on a two week adventure vacation to Colorado and Alaska. Actually, we spent about 12 days in Alaska, and had a day and a half going and coming back in Colorado. Beautiful landscapes with breathtaking views of mountains, trees, streams, glaciers, animals and fall foliage. We flew into Denver and drove to Golden, Vail and Colorado Springs. That got us in the mode for the traveling we would do in Alaska. Once in Anchorage, with rented car, we spent the next 11 days traveling through Alaska on all their major highways. Cities and towns visited were Anchorage, Homer, Seward, Valdez, Fairbanks, Denali Park, Talkeetna and Wasilla. We then flew back to Colorado and stayed in Boulder. Loved it there, too! If you ever get the chance, go to Alaska! And Colorado!

We seen this beautiful rainbow on the way back from Vail.