One Perfect Little Miracle

A New Year!

2012-01-01T15:25:00.000-05:00

This is how quickly 2011 went- in a complete blur! Why is it that the older we get the faster time flies? I'm not so sure I like it. When I was a little girl I would try and figure out how old I would be, say, in the year 2000. Or 2005. I thought I was going to be ancient. Yeah, not so much.

Instead, I find myself armed with the knowledge that age is really just a number and I am at that place where I get to do what I want to, like paint and quilt. And play with this little girl.

Because, really, I'm still just a kid.

Keep Your Eye On The Pie

2011-12-31T11:54:00.000-05:00

The boy left this morning to go back to Texas. I really do not like saying good-bye to that kid. I miss him already. Last night I made him two apple pies to take back. Nothing like celebrating the New Year with a little bit of home, huh? Better than what the mess will offer, I'm sure.

One of the perks of making pies is using up the leftover pie dough. When my grandmother would come to visit the thing we looked forward to the most was the little pinwheels she would make while the pie was baking. She would roll out the dough very thin, spread it with melted butter, sprinkle on some sugar and give a dusting of cinnamon. Then she would roll it up, slice it into pieces, set the pinwheels on a baking sheet, pop them into the oven and thirty minutes later greedy little hands would grab them off the plate tossing them back and forth until they were cool enough to eat. I made some last night and ate them for breakfast this morning. They were delicious.

I've been thinking about this New Year that will arrive tomorrow and what it will bring. The past few New Years I have chosen a word to focus on instead of making resolutions that I knew I would not keep. Last year's word was Appreciate and this year, my chosen word is Enough.

I have been greatly blessed throughout this past year with good things- the safety of my son, my beautiful granddaughter and her sweet parents who are raising such a joyful child, watching JA grow in responsibility as he undertook his tasks at work with enjoyment and helping my dad in more ways than he will know, my good husband, dear friends who are there no matter what, family that loves me and that I miss, a place where I can be creative, understanding how much I am truly loved by my Heavenly Father and the Savior.

I got to meet two adorable people that I had only known through my computer screen. I love these women, their creative genius and their outlooks on things. They just make me happy.

There is much more, of course. Too much to list here but, suffice it to say, I did appreciate every day that 2011 brought for me. And now, for 2012, I will focus on Enough and all that it encompasses.

Enough comes with Gratitude tagging along beside it. They are inseparable. I have so much to be grateful for and I have discovered that the most simple of things are really all that I need.

Happy New Year, dear friends. I hope that your 2012 is all that you desire to be.

Since I MIssed Merry Christmas.....

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

I will begin by wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

A few weeks ago I helped my dad organize the little back room of the garage. It's where my mom had stored all of the boxes full of Christmas decorations. I emptied the room, swept it clean and then, before I put everything back in, I peeked inside the boxes to make sure that nothing was living inside of them. You know, spiders and the like. Each box held memories of Christmases past, including the discovery of some things I had made for my mom way back in the day.

Little paper people made with scissors and a hole punch. There was no such thing as a Cricut back in 1987 when I made these! Some of them had been eaten by silverfish but these four survived. I had actually forgotten about them.

A Santa doll stuffed into a jeans pocket and decorated with bits and bobs that were kept in my craft box. Back then that's all I had- a box. Now I have a whole room and I still gravitate back to the same simple things that I have always used- scissors, a hole punch, paint, ink, cotton balls, Qtips and two paint brushes. I'm pretty simple.

I made these mittens the same year I made the Santa- 1992. They are wool and decorated with fabric paint. I made a ton of these and sold them in a neighborhood craft show for $3 a pair. I loved doing things like that.

Along with my trip down memory lane I spent time working on a Christmas present for the oldest boy. He writes poetry and for his gift I put them all in a book and painted around each one.

There are 46 poems altogether.

Each one beautiful in its own way.

I learned a lot about him while reading his poems and deciding what to paint. The painting part was a challenge for me. But, after the first two or three poems, I found myself stretching myself creatively. I think it's because I was so inspired by his poems.

He's pretty talented, that kid. Pretty talented. :)

Feels a Bit Like Death.

2011-12-05T11:28:00.000-05:00

Well, my friend loved the Quilting Elf! I am so glad. Now I want to make another one! But that will have to wait until I get over this stinking cold! Grrrr. It all started last Tuesday with an achy body. Two days later my head filled up and gained 50 pounds. Then came the searing sore throat. Really? Thanks so much. I have been gargling with apple cider vinegar, drinking copious amounts of water, stuffing myself full of Advil cold and sinus pills, drinking fizzy concoction of minerals, vitamins and probiotics and blowing my way through boxes of Puffs with Vick's which, in my honest opinion, are the greatest invention ever! I think it's on the waning end of things. Today I am actually getting the house cleaned, a little bit at a time.
I did get to run out to Target on Saturday, where I found the most beautiful tinsel. It's a very warm silver, soft and vintage looking and, it was on sale!

Isn't it beautiful? I have big plans for this.

Once I get over this stupid cold.

The Quilting Elf

2011-12-03T16:25:00.000-05:00

This is the year of the handmade Christmas. I haven't made totally handmade gifts in many, many years. It's just easier to shop, truthfully. But, I am determined to craft each gift specifically for the recipient and this one is my first:

It's for a friend at work. Our party is tonight and this cutie is all wrapped up and ready to go. She has everything she needs to start making quilts- or to inspire my friend to do so.

Here she is in the spotlight! I haven't given her a name. I figure that my friend will. But, we've bonded this little elf and I. I'm glad she's going to a good quilting home. :)

Like a Big Foofy Petticoat.

2011-11-25T22:59:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things to do, when I have the time, is to wander about Pinterest. You can find the most amazing things on there! Like this little gem offered by Little Miss Momma:

Ah, finally a use for coffee filters that does not require coffee! I chose this as my Thanksgiving craft for this year. Usually there is lots of family here to gather and make a craft after dinner. Not this year, so it was just Ainslie and I who started on our craft project together. A tired baby cut our session short so I made mine tonight. Here it is hanging in my living room window.

And a little closer.

I used a little over two 160 count packages of coffee filters to make mine. I found them at the Dollar Tree. The 12 inch wreath form came from Wal Mart and was $4.50. That and a little hot glue (well, maybe a lot of hot glue) made this a very inexpensive project done in about 2 1/2 hours. A very inexpensive gorgeous project!

This is the kind of craft my grandmother liked to do- transforming the most humble objects into something extraordinary. I think she would have loved making this wreath. I know I did.

Now to find an excuse to make another one!

Rolling Along.

2011-11-23T16:13:00.003-05:00

No self-respecting Thanksgiving preparation day would be complete without the making of pies. It's a tradition I have carried on for the last 30 years, when I first ventured into the pie baking world. The past 20 years I have done so with the help of my great-grandmother's rolling pin.

Her name was Lottie Collins until she married my great-grandfather, then she became Lottie Asquith. Lottie had two daughters, Margaret and Bernice, my grandmother. I don't remember Lottie at all. But this rolling pin connects me to her and, in a way, I know her because of it. Her hands held those handles. smoothed flour onto the pin, rolled out pastry that would cradle apples and hold hearty meat fillings.

My grandmother, Bernice, carried on that tradition. She made the best apple pies. Truly. I can still picture her standing in our kitchen carefully peeling each apple, slicing it with a paring knife towards her thumb. I slice mine the same way, probably from watching Grammy doing it for so many years. She never cut herself and neither have I. Which is a bit of a miracle because I am somewhat of a klutz! Grammy's pastry was superb- light and flaky and delicious. There is no recipe for me to replicate it- she never measured anything. It was all done by eye. You can't compete with that. My mom was able to make her apple pies just like her mother's. I did not inherit that talent.

So, I put my own twist on this family classic. I peel and slice my apples, put them in a heavy-bottomed pan and add butter, sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, a little salt and, my secret weapon- a little ground black pepper. It adds that little something that causes you to think about what you are eating. A nice little surprise that you can't quite put your finger on. The apples cook until just fork tender and then I put them in the shell. My pie dough recipe? Betty Crocker pie crust mix in a box. Don't judge me. The result is the same- a yummy apple pie. That's all that matters.

I love using the tools that were used by my family. I love that my hands fit where their hands did. I love that the traditions that they started are still being done today and will, hopefully, be carried on for generations to come.

I also really love apple pie.

I hope all of you have a very happy Thanksgiving!

National Tie One On Day!

2011-11-21T20:26:00.000-05:00

I wear an apron every single day. If I'm at home, I have one on while I hang the laundry, cook our meals or wash the dishes. If I'm at work, I wear my gray apron with the big pockets so I can stuff them full of tiny things that might get lost. You don't want to lose tiny things in a quilt shop. Trust me. So, when I received a message from my friend, EllynAnne, letting me know about this year's Tie One On event, I had to jump on over and see what she had in store for this year. Well, it's so awesome!

What do you do on NTOOD? Well, you grab your favorite apron, tie it behind your back and whip up some kitchen magic for someone who needs a little lift. Wrap your offering in an apron (homemade, store bought or vintage) and deliver it with a smile and a whole lot of love. That's it! Simple, huh? Head on over to EllynAnne's blog to read all about some fabulous things that are tied to this event. I think you will be very happy when you do.

Now, go tie one on! An apron, of course!

Starry-eyed.

2011-11-03T21:39:00.001-04:00

What a trip! I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun I had at market- even though it was some pretty hard work! Here's a shot of a portion of the floor looking through one of the huge round windows in the convention center. It does not do this bit of craziness justice! Picture it- Row after row of quilts, fabrics, patterns, accessories, software, notions and everything else you could think of laid out before you. Crazy. The rows were numbered 100-2200, if that helps you envision the enormity of the whole shebang. Good night above.

One of my favorite things was to meet the women that I have "conversed" with over the past couple of years through their blogs. Two of my favorite people happened to be at market:

Like Anna, from Thimbleanna, whose blog is one I make sure to read, every day.. I actually got to meet her at sample spree (pretty much a madhouse!) and we had matching, wrinkle brown paper bags for each other. Not just paper bags, but paper bags with treats inside. We're kindred spirits, that girl and I. And, obviously, connoisseurs of wrapping supplies! I'll have to share what she gave me when my camera battery recovers!

The other girl I had to meet was Pam Viera-McGinnis from PamKittyMorning. She is adorable! If you don't read her blog, you should! She has such a fun outlook on things and she makes the most adorable stuff in her sewing room- from quilts, to bags to pot holders. You name it, she makes it. The girl is a genius! I just loved getting to chat with her.

Once I sort through my photos, I'll share more. There was just so much to see and do. Schoolhouse on Friday, with classes from 9:00-6:00 with some of the most creative people, walking through the market floor for 3 days and trying to look professional (ha!), eating kolaches every morning we were there and loving every bite, spending time with some of the best people I know- Karen, Wendy and Angela, and soaking in every bit of creativity I could find.

Houston, you were a blast!

I'm Leavin' On a Jet Plane!

2011-10-26T21:40:00.000-04:00

My bags are packed and I am so ready to go! Where am I going? To Houston for the Fall Quilt Market! Eek. I am so excited. Especially since I will get to meet Anna- in person! It's going to be a great trip.
Catch you on the flip side. :)

More CL Fair Photos.

2011-10-24T21:18:00.001-04:00

And not too many words because, really, you can pretty much tell what everything is. :)

Every turn held something more beautiful than the last. It was such a feast for the senses. Eye candy everywhere, amazingly creative displays and tons of inspiration. Add to that the smell of Fall, the sun warming us through the trees, icy cold water to quench our thirst, and a hot, salty pretzel to fill our tummies and it was pretty much a perfect day.

A Day at the Fair.

2011-10-23T16:34:00.000-04:00

The day was picture perfect in every way. Temps in the 60s, sun shining all around us, crowds of happy people and a friend to share it all with. Dawn and I had such a good time!

We had to wait in this line to get in but not too long. It went rather quickly in fact.

Our first stop was the Country Living General Store. It was beautifully decorated.

Everything about this quilt is gorgeous- the colors, the pattern, the setting. Uh-huh. It's pretty sweet.

Beautiful Autumn-colored gourds piled in a wagon.

Gourds were everywhere, even on this cute stand!

There is such beautiful simplicity about these pumpkins stacked in a chair.

If there are chickens, I will photograph them. Even if they're fake chickens.

This sweet girl was at the first booth we came to after the CL pavilion. She makes these gorgeous paper wreaths sitting at her breakfast table. They are so elegant.

A ruffled heart pillow and a fab ruffly purse behind it. Oh. So. Cute.

Darling pumpkins filled a giant Longaberger basket. There were even basket making demonstrations going on, from splitting to weaving. Fascinating.

Just a few more of the lovelies that were on view-

old handwriting in a frame,

and a creepy doll head/stand thingy used to hold some pretty cool jewelry.

British subway (tube) signs.

Galvanized wind turbines rusted to perfection and made into light fixtures. Want.

Tiny little pillows for tiny little heads to lay upon. Night, night, sleep tight........

And this was just the first area we walked through! Really.

There's loads more photos waiting to be shared. I just need time to get them all on here. I'm thinking that I have about two or three more posts worth of pics of fascinating things to show you. And, don't forget to visit Dawn's blog to see the photos that she took. Some of them might be similar to mine as we had a tendency to say, "Oh, my gosh! I need to get a photo of that for the blog!" and we were looking at the same thing.

Can you say, "Kindred spirits?"

A Day for.......Me!

2011-10-22T08:03:00.001-04:00

I could just copy my friend Dawn's blog post, especially the beginning- I rarely go any place! Between work and doing things here and, of course, playing with The Bean, there's not too much time left for moi. But, this morning, Dawn and I are heading to the Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain!! Yippee! I cannot wait.

I haven't seen Dawn for ages. We are going to have so much fun. How can we not? A beautiful Autumn day, fair food, beautiful things to look at and a friend to share it all with. Yep, it's going to be perfect!
I'm bringing the camera, so you know there will be pictures to share. Lots of pictures. Just a warning. :)

The Walker.

2011-10-06T08:07:00.000-04:00

Oh, those chubby little legs.......:)

One.

2011-10-02T22:02:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that a year has passed by and this little girl is 1! One- how did that happen?

This look captures Emma's personality perfectly- a whole lot of sweet and a little sassy. If you meet her, she will immediately say "Hi!" to you. Please answer, or she will say "Hi." until you do. If you don't, she will not give you the time of day. Trust me.

She will be celebrating her 1st happy bee-day this coming Saturday, when her uncle can be here to celebrate. Her mommy made the most adorable invitations so all of her special friends and family will be here. Beehive-shaped cupcakes are on my list to make. My house is going to be abuzz with activity. Yes, yes, I did go there.

Because I feel the need to torment myself, I thought it would be fun to make a tiny Twister quilt. And, of course, the tiny Twister quilt needed to go on a tiny bed. And the tiny bed needed to have tiny bedding. Oy.

I hope our little doll likes it. :)

Pantry Antics

2011-09-30T14:13:00.001-04:00

Last night, at our Relief Society meeting, we ventured into unknown territory! Actually, it could have been very scary territory. What did we do? Well, we created meals from things in our pantries. I know, frightening!

I forgot to bring my camera so you will have to use your imaginations as to what our meals looked like. Sorry about that.
Here's a short list of the things that were put on the table to create with:
Canned crab
Canned chicken
Frozen spinach
RoTel
Stewed tomatoes
Cream of mushroom soup
Lots of canned beans
Canned pears
Bisquick
Powdered milk
Creamed corn
Cake mix
Chicken broth
Canned pineapple
Canned mushrooms
Canned green beans
Canned corn
A box of bow tie pasta
A can pf pasta sauce
Instant mashed potatoes
Eggs
A can of Spam
An onion
Garlic

We had plenty of spices, but no one brought oil or butter! Oops!

So, what did we make? Well, for starters. there were crab cakes made with the canned crab, powdered milk and Bisquick. They were more like crab pancakes but they were delicious!
Next up, a cake made with the cake mix, eggs and canned pears whirred up in a blender in place of the oil. What is it they say, necessity is the mother of invention? Yep, it is!
A casserole was made using the canned chicken and cream of mushroom soup, adding in canned corn and green beans and topping it off with the instant mashed potatoes made with powdered milk. A quick turn in the oven and done! It was very tasty!
Of course, there has to be a pasta dish. How about this one? Bow tie pasta with sauce, spinach and black beans! Really, it was good!
Two soups were made, one using chicken broth, canned chicken, canned beans and tomatoes. The other used RoTel, stewed tomatoes, canned beans and chickpeas, onion, and red pepper flakes. Both of them were very yummy!
So, what did we do with the Spam? We sauteed it with half an onion, added in canned mushrooms and creamed corn, some powdered milk (reconstituted), salt and pepper, made a few biscuits and voila! Dinner! It was surprisingly edible. And, good. :)
Dessert was canned pears that had been heated on the stove top so the juice made a syrup and the cake served with canned pineapple.
What started as an exercise to use what you have turned into a night of fun and friendship with a little culinary magic mixed in. We had the best time in that small kitchen, laughing and cooking, watching the sisters become inspired by what was placed in front of them and turning out meals fit for queens. It. Was. Awesome.
I would totally do it again.

Home, Safe, Home.

2011-09-13T21:31:00.001-04:00

After a very long year, this boy is back from Iraq. For 9 days he was here, at home not just in the US.

He's not really a boy. He's a man- a handsome, intelligent, funny-to-the-bone, caring and kind man. And, he gives the best hugs. Which is good, because we all had lots of them for him.

Even if he did come home with new tattoos. Oy.

Nine days went far too quickly. They were filled with trips to Ikea, Delia's Chicken Sausage Stand, the shop, baseball games with his dad and brother, family dinners, visiting friends, all the fun stuff. And, of course, playing with Emma. Lots of playing with Emma.

Also, I don't think he should let me give him haircuts before he goes back to the Army any more. Really.

It was hard to say goodbye but at least he's only a couple of hours flight away, not halfway around the world in a terrible place where terrible people do terrible things.

I can breathe now.

How Do You Spell Exhaustion?

2011-08-29T13:36:00.000-04:00

I spell it E.M.M.A.

We had the Bean here this past weekend- Friday morning to Sunday night. Her mommy and daddy took their first little vacation to Key West. They were so good- they hardly called at all to check on her! I am so proud of them. While they were busy exploring, snorkeling and visiting Ernest Hemingway's home, Emma was busy wearing out Ese and Mimms.

She looks innocent enough, doesn't she? Don't let those sweet eyes fool you! She is like a tornado.

We played and played and played. We read Beatrix Potter, watched the chickens, sang songs (both in English and French), ate lunch out with Great-Grammy, learned about art, saw the Temple, stacked cups, tossed bean bags, yelled at the tops of our lungs, giggled endlessly, took a nap or two, played chase, went to church, made banana bread, "walked" all over the house and had tons of fun. Tons.

Except when she saw this-

This is the bane of Emma's existence right now. She hates this little cat door stop. Hates it. Its usual home is tucked in this little space between the dining room and the living room bookcase. I had to remove it because it caused such a problem! As we were getting ready to turn the corner on one of our walking journeys from the kitchen to the living room, she poked her head around, saw the cat was there, shuddered and would not budge. This cat creeps her out.

But, once I put the kitty away in a place where she can't see it, she was back to all smiles and happiness.

And being the busiest baby on earth.

Back Home.

2011-08-01T11:50:00.001-04:00

I've missed you! I've been home a week now, actually. But, as you know, life carries on even when you've been on vacation.

I had a wonderful time with my family, seeing cousins I hadn't seen in years, far too many years. A trip to Plymouth allowed me to catch up with my two best friends from high school. They are lovely women and don't think I really realized how much I missed them until I saw them. It will not be another 15 years before we get back together, I can assure you.

The real purpose of the trip was to bury my mom. At long last she is home, where she wanted to be, with her mother, father and grandfather nearby. It's been a long year.

My sister, niece, dad and I drove to Massachusetts. Two long days up and two long days back. We stopped in Antietam on the way up. I am always struck by how still and peaceful Civil War battlefields are. I find it difficult to even conjure up and image of what it must have been like there for the men who fought- on both sides. But, on a hot, still summer day, it was a place of beauty. Lush corn fields still grace the roadside. Homes and barns stand like silent witnesses to what occurred there. My dad wanted to see the bridge where his great-grandfather fought. It was good for all of us to see in real life what has only been "seen" through stories.

The girls took a trip to Plymouth on Thursday. We had lunch at the Lobster Hut- fried clams (with their bellies- the only way to eat them!), fries and cole slaw- while looking out over Plymouth Harbor. Boats dotted the water, seagulls clamored for treats and the sun shone down just like I remembered. I probably gained 5 pounds sitting out on the patio but I didn't care. That was a meal I was not going to miss. I mean really, could you pass this up?

On the Saturday, our last day in Mass., we had a family cook-out at my aunt and uncle's house. It was fun. Good food, shared memories and laughter rang through her yard. We had the best time together staying long into the evening playing games. I miss them all.

Have you ever had freezer pickles? I hadn't until that cook-out. I've missed out on so much! They are fabulous. Crispy, crunchy and delicious. You start with paper-thin sliced cucumbers, add vinegar, sugar and celery seed and freeze them. How easy peasy is that?

From this:

To this. In no time!

Here's the recipe. (I'll type it out for you below.) This copy is written by my grandmother. The recipe is from my aunt Louise. I had to take a photo of it. It's sweet and special. You never know what you will find when you go home.

Ready to make some pickles? Let's get started.

You will need:
3 1/2 cups paper-thin sliced pickling cucumbers
1 Tablespoon salt

Place cucumbers in a bowl and add salt. Work well with hands and allow to sit for at least one hour, more if possible. Drain well.

Thinly slice 3/4 cup onions, if desired. My aunt didn't and we didn't miss them.
Mix together 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup white vinegar and a good pinch of celery seed.

Put cucumbers (and onions, if using) in a large freezer-type zip bag. Pour liquid over top and zip. Write the date you made your pickles on the bag and freeze. That's it! These pickles are good for up to four years in the freezer. If they last that long. ;)
Serve at your next family cook-out.

As much fun as I had, it's good to be back.

On My Way Home.

2011-07-19T07:27:00.000-04:00

I'm on my way to Massachusetts for a week to visit family. It's going to be nice to go home. :)
See you when I get back!

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch.

2011-07-11T14:27:00.000-04:00

I've been working on a little project this week. Mostly because I am procrastinating on quilting a quilt. I'm not very good at quilting quilts so I put that task off as long as possible. I know, I know.

Anyway, back to the other project. We recently started carrying embroidery floss at the shop. I cannot resist tiny drawers filled with little skeins of possibilities. The colors are beautiful and enticing. I bought myself some as a treat.

Here's what I'm working on:

It's a copy of an antique flourish from a book. I've had this photo saved in my pictures for a couple of years now and I cannot remember where I found it. It is lovely with that sweet bird clutching swirls and swoops.

I printed the photo onto copy paper, taped it to my window- I'm so old school- and traced it with a Frixion pen (you can iron it away when you're done!) onto a plain white cotton. It was just something I grabbed from the sewing room.

I worked on the bird while watching Harry Potter last night. Well, more like listening to Harry Potter. My eyes can't do two things at once. I started the flourishes at 12:30. Not a good idea. You can tell they're a bit on the rough side. But, a nice backstitch outline will clean them up perfectly.

I think this is going to take me a while. Gee, that quilt will just have to wait!

This Baby....

2011-07-09T15:08:00.002-04:00

....has magical powers. She can make the bluest day brighter with one sweet smile. She has made her uncle's time overseas more tolerable just by being her. Photos and videos posted on Facebook are a tiny miracle. They are like a little hug for Nathan from thousands of miles away.

There is nothing like a hug from Emma. Chubby baby arms make for the best ones.

9 months old.

Curious.

Happy.

Sweet.

Loved.

Hand to Mouth

2011-06-28T21:53:00.000-04:00

I have a closet full of cans filled with wheat kernels. It's part of our food storage and I thought it was about time I put it to good use. My children bought me a new kitchen island for my birthday. It's lovely. Shiny stainless steel shelves, butcher block top, a place to tuck away stools and, most importantly, a nice little spot for my wheat grinder.

Up until yesterday this wheat grinder has been living on a small microwave cart in my bedroom. Don't ask. It's been unusable because the cart was much too flimsy and would not hold up to constant grinding. It's quite a workout, grinding wheat. No electric powered motor here, I use good old-fashioned woman power.

Grind, crack. Grind again. Grind again. It's a process that makes my arms hurt and sweat break out on my brow. And, I love it. Why?

Because I am making food for my family. This flour will become pancakes and bread. Freshly ground flour has an amazing taste. Full, nutty and rich, there's nothing like it. That I get to be a part of the entire process of making food is a simple joy that makes my heart sing.

Plus, it's really good exercise!

Whirlwind.

2011-06-13T20:58:00.000-04:00

My family just got back from Florida where we celebrated the high school graduation of this girl:

My sweet niece, Alyssa. I just love this kid.

My sister and I hit a few quilts shops on Saturday morning while the hubs and John went to the beach. Give me a quilt shop over the beach any day!! Saturday evening we partied and celebrated our newest graduate in style. There was so. much. food. Deviled eggs, sausage rolls, hot wings, mild wings, baked beans, meatballs, tiny sausages, a cheese ball, a fruit tray, a veg tray, crackers, chips, dip- you name it, it was there. Yum.
Sunday morning we rested up for a big trip to Ikea in Tampa. We all piled into the truck and drove, and drove, and drove. Can you believe that I did not buy one thing? Well, we do have an Ikea here in Atlanta. That could be why. I love how they set things up in their stores, though. Each one is different and so very clever. My sister did a bang up job of buying out the store. We filled up the back of the truck like a jigsaw puzzle, strapped it all in and headed home.
We had every intention of going to the beach last night. One look out the window at the blackest of clouds looming towards us changed our minds in a jiffy. So, what do you do when you have nothing else to do? You play Cheez with Friends! Trust me. Look:

This is how it starts. You go to the grocery store and see the above box of crackers. The light bulb goes off in your head and you take them home. Then......

your niece draws out the game board like the iPhone game, Words with Friends- the game that consumes most of my family's time lately. Hmmmm. The little plates are the "trays" to hold your letters. It's that necessity is the mother of invention thing.

Hint- don't use paper the same color as the crackers. But, if it's all you have....go ahead.

A few rules:

1. Pour all of the letters into a bowl. Do not eat any unless they are broken. You choose 7 ~~crackers~~ letters. Each letter is worth 1 point. All of them. It makes things fair.

2. Choose the first player by stealing the dice from your Yahtzee game. The person who rolls the highest number goes first.

3. You can pass a turn but, if you do, you have to eat your last word. It makes things interesting.

4. There are double and triple letter spaces and double and triple word spaces, just like in the real game. Use a calculator if you must.

5. The player with the highest score wins. Simple.

Our completed game board.

You play just like any Scrabble game. It's really easy. Finding the right letters? Not so much. I think we pulled 13 Q's and 40 C's from the bowl. (That may be a slight exaggeration, but, there were lots of them.)

Who won? I'll never tell.

Oh, and when the game is over, you have to clear your tray.

My dad happily obliged.

I have to say that playing Cheez with Friends was awesome. Hilarious. Ridiculous. Next to Alyssa's party, this was the best two hours in Florida, hands down. Go buy yourself a box and see if I'm right!

Bugged.

2011-06-08T17:59:00.000-04:00

Helloooooooo! It's been ages since I've been able to do much of anything on my computer. Why? We had a nasty virus and our little comp had to spend a few weeks in the hospital. It's back but, there is a whole lot of stuff that I need to put back on it like- Photoshop, so I can keep track of my photos; EQ7, so I can start making quilt patterns again; an updated Windows program; addition virus software to back up what we already have; so many things.
I really, really wish that people would not create things to hinder the lives of others. Gee whiz, don't they have anything better to do?!

One.....................Point Five

2011-05-03T08:38:00.000-04:00

One thing about raising chickens- they can be pretty unpredictable. One week you're getting eggs every day and the next you get one, or none. Or, they go through a moult and you go without for a couple of months.

Or, sometimes, you get little surprises. Very little surprises.

Like these:

Aren't they adorable? This week we've been getting 1.5 eggs per day. I think that it's Mavis who is laying the tiny eggs. The only reason I think that is because, when they started laying, Mavis was the only one who laid a "test" egg in the nesting box. I have six of them now, collected over the past three years. They are on a shelf in my living room in a nest to keep them safe. I think I want to put them in a shadow box and hang them on the wall. You know me and things teeny-tiny, I love anything that's been miniaturized!

The hubs asked if I was going to crack one open to have a look inside. I don't think so. I love them just the way they are- sweet and special gifts from a sweet and special hen. I'm good with that.

Over?

2011-05-02T07:59:00.000-04:00

I awoke to the news that Usama bin Laden has been killed in a swift military strike in Pakistan. The chanting of "USA! USA!" is ringing from my television set. The jubilant celebration is electrifying.
That his death came in such a way seems to be poetic justice. He didn't expect it. It took him completely by surprise as it did for the nearly 3,000 people who died in his diabolical airplane attacks almost ten years ago. You would hope that his last thought would have been one of repentance and sorrow for the people whose deaths he caused. I'm pretty sure that they were not. Defiance, pride and hatred were what drove him, fueled him, as he did his best to squelch the freedom and lives of others who did not believe as he did. They did not serve him well.
I am glad to hear of his death but, as the mother of a son who serves in the US military, I am cautiously optimistic of this news. While the head of the Al Quaida octopus has been severed, the many tentacles are still there, ready to react to the loss. Retribution will be their battle cry.
So to you, our military men and women who bravely carried out this delicate mission, well done! To all of you who serve, we will continue to stand behind you in support. We will continue to pray for you and your families until you safely step back on American ground. You will never know the depth of our gratitude to each and every one of you. Thank you does not seem like enough.

What on Earth?

2011-04-25T16:48:00.000-04:00

I spied something tiny scurrying across the side porch this afternoon. Very tiny, only about a quarter of an inch long. For some reason, it stopped long enough for me to take a close-up.

Here he (or she) is from far away.

Here he is close up and personal.Creepy. But, wait, it gets better!

Apparently, whatever it is, he's a bit of a show-off!

Those are some seriously pasty legs. Somebody needs a little time in the sun!

Has anything creepy been to visit you?