Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Look What We Cooked Up!

Some days we just need to cook up some fun!

Five ingredients....


Five minutes on the stove...



Five minutes to cool...


(Food coloring optional)


and hours of fun!







I started making this Cooked Play-Dough when Friendie's Mommy was a little girl....26 years ago...how can that be????

Cook up some fun for the special little people in your life!!!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

What Does A Good Dad Look Like?

Today he looks like a FROG!

He has taught her...
encouraged her...
 invested his time...
loves her...
and was willing to be The Frog for his Princess as she/they ran 13.1 miles and finished the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando this morning!!

That, my friends, is one very good Dad!




Saturday, February 25, 2012

Packed and Ready!

What does a tutu and tiara...

Minnie Mouse....


and running shoes all have in common?


They were all packed for Emily's big day!!

Disney's Princess Half Marathon

Sunday, February 26, 2012
5:45 a.m.
Start/Finish: Epcot®
Think you've got the commitment, perseverance and determination to be a true princess? Disney's Princess Half Marathon gives you the chance to prove it.  Grab your best friends and  register today for a royal quest through 13.1 miles of the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.
This race experience is fit for a princess earning her glass running slippers or a woman who runs her kingdom already. Gather your girlfriends for a magical getaway now, so you can all earn your Princess Half Marathon Tiara Finisher Medal!


Thursday, February 23, 2012

Mouse Play

You know the old saying,
"When the Cats away....
the Mice will play!"

Well, this Mouse has been playing!!!!

I have been messing up playing all over the house!

Doing a little online shopping!


Knitting instead of cooking or cleaning or laundry!


And spending time with Friendie.....
now that little Mouse really knows how to play!!!!

What do you do when the Cat is away????

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Twin Booties

Today I am joining Ginny for her weekly Yarn Along.

A family from our church is expecting twin girls.



I bought some really sweet pink Angora yarn....


and found a free pattern for tiny feet....


and knit up these super easy booties.

If the twins are born with bigger feet than these booties....I will gladly knit them each another pair!
These girls need our prayers....
many, many prayers.


I am half way through reading House Of Secrets by Tracie Peterson.
I confess I started skimming through the last chapter I read, so I am hoping the second half keeps my attention.  :)


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Kitchen Dust

My KitchenAid Mixer gets a lot of use.
Some weeks it isn't worth putting it away in the cupboard.
Because it is the bigger size mixer, it doesn't fit neatly underneath my upper cupboards or in my special mixer cupboard.
It sits by the sink.

Now I know some enjoy open shelving for their dishes and pans, but I have a thing about dust.
Why would I want to have to rewash something before I can use it?

These plates are my solution for a couple things that frequently sit out on my counter. 


I have also been known to hide things underneath those plates.  :)


Now if I could just hide this....

I have this small side countertop....
which I tend to throw place things on....
until I am forced to find a place for the items....
or find the mail to pay the bills.  ;)

Monday, February 20, 2012

Elvis

My girl likes Elvis.


She freaked out when she found Elvis fabric.
She made herself a blanket.


She has done an Elvis report for school.


And listens to Elvis music.
Including this old album that once belonged to her Great-Grandpa.


She plays Elvis songs on her guitar.


And for Christmas she received a trip to Graceland.


She and her Dad are there right now.


Thursday, February 16, 2012

Ginger Cookies on the Stone

My house was chilly.
I was drinking a lot of coffee.
I decided a cookie (or two) would compliment both!



I pulled out my favorite Ginger Cookie recipe....
because the required ingredients are always in my pantry.

I decided it was a good day to triple the batch!


I am not sure why I thought it was a good idea to bake the cookies on my baking stone.
Maybe because they turn out so much better.
Maybe because then there wouldn't be as many dishes to wash afterwards.
Maybe because I really wanted to spend 3 HOURS in my kitchen.

I can only bake a dozen at a time,
but it was worth it -- 
except for the pan I forgot about left in a little too long.
2 batches are tucked away in the freezer....
the other batch just disappeared.  :)

Ginger Cookies

2/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
4 TBSP molasses
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ginger
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon

Make into small balls and roll in sugar.
Place on ungreased cookie sheets
(or preheated baking stone)
Bake 8-10 minutes in 350 degree oven.



Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Quilter's Cookbook Give-A-Way

Spend more time quilting and less time cooking!
This book has lots of great recipes that won't take long to prepare -
which leaves more time for quilting....
or knitting....
or reading...
I think you get the idea.  :)


If you want your name dropped in the basket, just leave a friendly comment.
 A name will be drawn on Sunday evening....right before I go to bed.
And I will post it right here.  :)

 Comment #5 (Brooke) was drawn.
Thank you for your comments....
I wish I had a book to send to each of you!



Monday, February 13, 2012

Pantry Pickles

I had hoped to can many quarts of pickles this past fall.
I planted plenty of seeds.....
but unfortunately, very few grew.
So instead of quarts of tiny little pickles (my favorites),
I ended up with quarts of sliced pickles - thanks to those who passed on their cucumber excess to me!

I canned two different varieties.
Regular garlic dill for my husband's burger obsession....
and a sweeter dill variety for my pickle nibbling obsession.  

Because who would want to eat a sandwich without a pickle???


Friday, February 10, 2012

Thoughtful Gifts and Great Bread

Some thoughtful gifts that I received this Christmas.
From some very thoughtful people.  :)


The Deli Style Rye bread from the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day book is delicious!!!
(And just as yummy the second day)



Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Knitting

I planned on joining Ginny today for her weekly Yarn Along because it is a motivator to get a knitting project underway!
I started this extra wide basket weave scarf a while back.  I tucked it away in a basket because our winter was so mild that I didn't think I would use it.
Well....
winter has arrived!


I purchased some economy wool to knit this scarf for myself....I will knit until I run out of yarn....not sure about adding fringe yet.  I am making it extra wide because I do not care for wearing hats (they do crazy things to my curly hair), and I plan on wrapping the scarf around my head and neck on those extra cold days.

As far as what I am reading....well...it was TRASH!
And that is exactly where I put it this morning!!!!
I think I need to read a little farther than just the dust jacket to see the content of the book before I purchase it!

Enjoy your day!  I have a scarf to finish!!!


Monday, February 6, 2012

Please Don't Judge Me

They were so bright....

and fun....


and I still had some room to cram keep them in my hutch...


and they were only $4.99 for the whole box....
and this girl just likes vintage dishes!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

I Did IT -- And Liked IT


Yesterday I decided I needed to challenge myself.
I needed to quit freaking out at the thought of knitting the heel of a sock.
Christine had sent me this little sock kit to encourage me.
I packed it in my bag for Arizona....
and you know I didn't accomplish anything in Arizona!

I dug it out of my unpacked bag and cast on 28 stitches on size 1 needles.
I was stumped when I needed to turn the heel because there were still a couple stitches left on my needle, so watched this video to guide me along.
Really????
It was that simple????
And I was this freaked out???
Thank you Christine!!!
I have already started another one....
baby size this time.





Friday, February 3, 2012

The Coral Quilt

A couple years ago I purchased a kit to make this quilt.
I cut it out and sewed the top while at my annual Quilt Retreat this past October.
Jill quilted it for me in December.
I finally stitched down the binding so we can use it!

(sorry about the blur....I thought it was just my vision without my glasses....)


When Jill dropped it off at my house, Friendie was so excited....right away he asked if it was for him!
(He loved the coral Minkee I put on the back)


After I disappointed him with my answer, I tucked the quilt away until I got around to binding it.


On Wednesday he walked in the door, saw the quilt and with great enthusiasm shouted, "My blanket!!!"


Since I made it to put on the back of the sofa, I told him he could use it whenever he was at Grammie's house.

And since I bought it to match the wall behind that sofa, I need to put it to use.....because that wall just might become a different color one day soon!

The pattern is called Slide Show.
I am sorry I don't remember the fabric line.