I have WAY too many projects going on!!!

I made up this little notebook to try and stay on top of just one area of my life and projects.   Hopefully, it will help me remember which material is for what project!?!?  It may take me a while to figure it all out and some material I may always wonder about.

OH....so pretty!!!!  New material!!!!  Now that's gotta make a girl feel good!  I have a class to teach (long story) on a sewing project I've never done (a little misunderstanding somewhere along the line) so I found the pattern and got some material and need to get going on it so I have a "finished  item" to show and can demonstrate my knowledge and mastery of the topic (choke).  How DO I get myself into these things?

Trying to organize bills and budget.....I didn't pay them but they're organized!  There was a money program  on Oprah one day that stated that no more than 35% of your income should go to housing and the cost of living there, 15% to transportation, and 25% to the rest of your life.  You should be saving 10% of your income and only have 15% monthly debt.  You can check her website at www.oprah.com for details.   Easy for Oprah!  I'll check MY numbers tomorrow...enough for today.

Here he is again...evidently wanting me to focus on my Brocante Home Housekeeper's Planner which is actually not a bad idea!

The Roaming Gnome is bossier than he is helpful!  He just stands around with his hands in his pockets and stares at me reminding me subliminally of all my unfinished projects...pick up a paintbrush bro!

Okay....where are those people that complain about being "bored"?  I would be more than willing to SHARE with them because I have never been bored in my life!  I could live 9 lives, like a cat, and STILL never get it all done!  I have too many interests is the problem on top of the fact that there are things that HAVE to be done if I want to keep the neighbors, the government and the IRS away from my door.  I do love my life but servants would be nice.

My sweet tooth was calling.......

All my BEST recipes are in here!  Mary Englebreit...no less!  I think this was my first ME item I ever got.....LOVE!!!!!

Ingredients at the ready!

My trusty Kitchen Aide mixer creaming the butter and sugar.

Fresh out of the oven....need to cut into squares while still warm.

Ta Dah!  All ready to eat!

These are my Jan Hagen cookies that I have made for over 30 years I think....one of my fav's.  If anyone out there knows who the heck Jan Hagen is I would be interested....I have no idea who she is or where I got this recipe!   But if anyone wants to make them, here follows the recipe:

Jan Hagen Cookies

1 C butter
1 C sugar
1 egg yolk
1 egg white
2 C flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I always use pecans...another fav)

Cream butter and sugar together.  Add egg yolk and mix. Sift flour and cinnamon together and gradually add to mixture.  Spread dough on a cookie sheet ( my cookie sheets are HUGE so it only covers about half but any port in a storm you know....if you have a regular sized cookie sheet like any normal person would it will work just fine).  Brush on a film of egg white.  Sprinkle on the nuts and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes.  Cut into squares while hot and let cool.  (If you don't cut them while hot you will never get them out of there without a big mess on your hands....guess I how I know that.)

Do you love "before and afters" like I do?

This is the "before " picture and I know it doesn't look that bad but it was....in fact it took 2 coats of white because I realized after I got going that they had never sealed the ceiling!  AHHH!!!!  What were they thinking!  Of course I washed it first but I kept wondering why the paint was coming off....it wasn't paint it was drywall skim coat or whatever they call it. 

See how much better it looks!  It really does...trust me on this one!  And I washed the light and even was able to fit a CFL bulb in there.

Okay....here is a better before and after/side-by-side picture....that wall is really mint green,,,,BOY!  Do I ever need a new camera or is it my pc?  I think it's the pc although it's fairly new too!

This is my new YELLOW wall.....I thought it would be more a cream yellow and actually it looks that way in the picture but it is more a lemon soufle color and now I am thinking maybe I should have gone more golden.....hmmmm?  And the whitish glow is evidently from the sunshine coming in across the room....it really looks better in person....really.  AND...it feels clean, looks clean and just knowing it is clean is a motivation in itself!

     I ran out of batteries on my camera so was delayed in posting but it is just as well since I did not have the "after" until this morning! LOL!  I am painting my hallway ceiling and walls but can only manage to do a little at a time since I have 50 BILLION other projects going at the same time but I was determined to get something slapped on those walls!  I always us TSP (trisodium phosphate) to wash the walls and ceiling first.  It cuts through grease and grime and literally dulls up the surface a bit so new paint adheres really well and since these walls and ceilings have not been done since the house was built some 30 or more years ago you can imagine how badly they needed it.  I painted 2 coats of ceiling white on the ceiling after washing and  "cutting in" and I used this new ceiling paint that goes on pinkish/purplish so you can tell where you've painted and also when it is dry it turns white so you can tell when you can recoat....not worth it.  It's actually sort of a pain.  The only thing that was nice was the new lids they come with.  This was Dutch Boy paint I got at Walmart and the lids are screw on and off and a pour lip and no drip spout!  That was worth the price of admission right there!  I had to put 2 coats on the ceiling because I don't think they ever sealed it!!!!  What were they thinking???  I will keep you up to date on this project as it keeps me motivated if I know I have to answer to my blog friends! LOL! 

Sorry I haven't been here......

That little knome has been a little high maintenance but I think he's settling in and his traveling days are over....he's decided to stay here.  One of his cousins is taking over for him at Travelocity so you'll probably be seeing a lot more of him around here.

Maenwhile, life has been very exciting and emotionally charged for me lately.  I came in contact with my Father's family who I never knew.  I really never knew my Father either because my parents divorced when I was 18 months old.  He has since passed and I never even had seen a picture of him but once and it disappeared under mysterious circumstances.  Anyway my new family is SO NICE....they are just delightful, so kind and receptive and welcoming and I hope to meet them all some day.   AND.....I found out (this is pretty exciting for an only child)...that I have 2 half-brothers too!  One has already passed away but there is one still living out in California and I have his phone number but I'm a little hesitant to call since I am sure he doesn't know about me and surprises at our age could send you to the hospital!  LOL!  But here is a picture of my father, the only picture I have....pardon the candlestick in front of him.  He is SO handsome!  I think he looks like George Clooney!!!!

You'll NEVER guess who stopped by yesterday!?!?!?!?

Do you believe it????  The Roaming Knome from Travelocity!!!!!  I heard a knock at the door and there he was!  We visited awhile and then had a light supper and he retired early.   All that traveling around the world I imagine does tire one out.  He didn't mention how long he's staying but I have a feeling he likes it here so we'll see.   I need to go the grocery store...does anyone know what knomes like to eat?  Any special dietary requirements? 

Moving right along......

I forgot to take the BEFORE picture!  So I had to take it after I placed it in the oven...almost melted my camera!  I LOVE before and afters and hope you do too!  I will try and do more of them especially decorating and cleaning and landscaping! 

YUMMO!  As Rachel Ray would say.   Actually, I haven't eaten a bite of this YET!!!!  But I have made this before and there is not a quicker, faster, more delicious, easier, warm from the oven over ice cream dessert on the face of the planet!  See if you don't agree.....here follows the recipe...I make a small pan but you can double for a regular rectangular pan and you can change the fruit or pie filling and the cake mix flavor:  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Into a 8 x 8 inch pan or 9 x 9...whatever....I put a regular size can of pie cherries with the juice, then I sprinkle over that 1/2 box of yellow cake mix, then I cut a stick of butter into 16 pats and place it on top of the cake mix in the pan, then I sprinkle on 1/2 cup chopped pecans and pop it in the oven for 45 minutes!  I feel like Samantha on Bewitched!  Too cool and tastes divine!

 

 

 

 

 

Okay....I'm reading more books!  I went to the public library and got the first 2.   I finished Anne of Green Gables book #6 and tonight will start book #7 Rainbow Valley.  I have the whole set in paperback. I couldn't sleep last night ...VERY rare for me....uh oh...is this old age?  Anyway...I tossed and turned and finally gave up and started reading Into The Wild which is the true story of Christopher Johnson McCandless who walked into the Alaskan wilderness and met his maker at a very young age.  I could not put the book down!  I read half of it last night,,,very well written and it was made into a movie so I'd like to see that after I finish the book.  I've been reading Sylvia for years and her prophecy book was written in 2004 so she was RIGHT ON in a lot of her predictions and more to come!  

Cleaning.....it's too hot to do anything else.

Summer in Arkansas is like Winter up North....you close the curtains to keep out the heat as opposed to the cold, all the windows are shut because you have the AC on 24/7 and so I light candles too!  Just like Winter in the North....too cozy!  Of course, the heat from the candles is probably not too energy efficient but it smells GREAT!!!

This is the salad that I made this morning in my Lock n' Lock ....after all these years I have finally learned from the great chefs of the world to prep in the a.m. so by evening when I am exhausted, either my dinner is ready or it is so "prepped" that I can just throw it together with little or no effort!  Tonight is leftover stuffed pasta shells with shrimp accompanied by this great looking salad!  The shells were Bertolli frozen dinner and I was going to have garlic bread with it but I made tomato bread for lunch ( little french bread slices with tomato slices and parmesan on top under the broiler) so I don't need any more carbs for today.

This is just one of my collection of Lock n' Locks...way better than Tupperware which if you have arthritis like I do is impossible to work with...in fact I'm thinking maybe Tupperware caused my arthritis...LOL!  Just joking Tupperware Corporation....don't sue me but I LOVE Lock n' Lock....easy on the hands, quick and I DO SWEAR my food keeps way longer in this stuff!  You can get it at Walmart and also more sets and options and deals on QVC.

This is my linen closet...I know....you're not impressed...I really should have taken a Before and After....trust me....it looks much better now.

Ok..usually my Sundays are R n' R days but I couldn't STAND my linoleum floors anymore so I vacuumed the laundry room, kitchen and family room and washed them all and the rugs that adorn them....WHEW!  My dogs and cat shed more than is normal and the cat throws up and until just recently the dog that I SAVED and wasn't house trained just got with the program...FINALLY!!!!!   I won't even tell you what the carpeting looks like.  Did I tell you I abhor carpeting with a capital "A"! 

I had a social life this week!

We order craft, quilting, and needlecraft books from Edward Hamilton Booksellers.....they have some REALLY great LOW prices!  They're on the internet too...check them out!  We send all our orders together as one so we save on shipping....smart huh?

This lady is SO talented!  Everything she does is beautiful.  She's inspiring and oh, how many unfinished cross-stitch projects do I have waiting in the wings?  Woe is me....

Here is a wall hanging that is in-progress but SO CUTE!!!!  I love crows and primitive styles and those colors of Fall are right up my alley.   LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

This is GORGEOUS in all neutrals.  The picture doesn't do it justice and of course the blocks are not together yet.  But it's going to be a beauty!

This is all hand -done and hand quilted by a woman who judges quilts...they told me this AFTER I showed my first hand quilting attempt....but she gave me some tips and I learned from her....after I crawled out of the hole.

This is a sewing machine cover....I want it!!!!

Wow!  I was gone 2 days this week!  I had Fit n' Sew, a group of all ages and all stages of needlework and fiber arts of all kinds!   It's pretty much all day at the fairgrounds and sponsored by the county extension.  We bring whatever we're working on and lots of "goodies" of the edible type and there is always someone teaching some type of skill or project which you can partake in or just watch and work on your own project.  It meets once a month and I love it!   Here are some of the people, projects and talent at this month's meeting.

Another collection???? HELP!!!!

Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana!   Only 45 more to go!

This is a LARGE plate and will probably take center stage.  It is very well done in different shades of sepia.  The back says England......are we even importing our state plates now?  Actually, it really can't be classified as a state plate but it was so gorgeous I could not pass it up! 

Okay...so when did you start collecting state plates you ask.    When I saw these!!!!!  This is exactly how these things snowball!  I was just browsing when all of a sudden I found one, then another, and another and pretty soon  I knew I was on to something....this was NO COINCIDENCE!  I was MEANT to have them. So now I will probably spend the rest of life searching for the other 45!  This is much worse than the state quarter thing.  Woe is me.  (There are still 50 states right?  I haven't really been watching the news lately.)

Whoops!!! Forgot the pics

This is a cheesy imported yellow lucite necklace but I LOVE IT!  Does that mean I'm cheesy?  Cheese IS yellow and I love cheese too.....hmmmm....

Okay...now don't laugh....oh you can laugh...I can't hear you anyway!  I have been wanting to learn woodworking and I saw this little kit for children and I have also been wanting a chalkboard in my kitchen!  Double Whammy!!!!!  Of course if I ever get it made it will get painted red!  LOL!  Mostly to cover up my mistakes I think.  But if that little guy on in the picture can do it....stand back!  I will also wear my Wonder Woman bracelet just to make sure it all works out and I don't hurt myself.

Still has the plastic on it and thought I would use it for my pictorial dream journal.  What is a dream journal you ask?  Stay tuned for upcoming developments and announcements!

The tiniest birdhouse in the world!  Going in a plant for sure!  It's about 2 inches tall...too cute!  And crackled...who knew?

Since I AM the star of my own life, the stars were totally appropriate and who wouldn't love the retro red button earrings?  The little star and sun are charms....I guess I need to buy a charm bracelet now!

4 watches...what can I say...I couldn't make up my mind and the prices were SO LOW!  They need batteries and some cleaning....tarnish is a good thing! 

Here's the GOLD!  2 bracelets, a necklace and 2 pairs of earrings

There's the red tablecloth and some cute little potted plant decorations...so cute they are!

Rednesday...not an original idea though.

Rednesday was started by www.suelovescherries.blogspot.com  and she does it beautifully!  Please check out her blog and Etsy shop as she carries lots of vintage items and is a big Mary Englebreit fan.
I went to the thrift shop again.  I have got to watch it!  My theory was that if I went more often I wouldn't buy as much...WRONG!!!!  Here's what I got today and some things for Rednesday too.
BTW...all of a sudden I am getting into jewelry...I have never been much of a jewelry person other than to wear things that have meaning or have been passed down.  But all of a sudden I want some BLING!  I think it is because I am aging and I need SOMETHING to brighten me up a bit.  I am SO sallow and bluch just isn't doing it.  Also, I've been watching jewelry shows on QVC and love it but I can't afford that stuff especially if this is just a fickle fad with me and also where would I wear it?  To Wally World??? Plus, I watched Rachel Zoe on QVC with her FAB accessories which is another area I could use improvement in....I am so conservative...BORING! I heard she has a show on Bravo which I want to check out.  She is so cute and has such great ideas. So..... with thrift store prices I figure I can splurge a little to see if I can possibly "gussie" myself up a bit and experiment without spending a fortune.  I apologize about the blurry pics...I think my camera is going downhill since one picture is clear and the next is blurry and they all look good through the viewer until I download them....what's a girl to do?

Got the lawn mowed! Whew!

I am SO BLESSED!  It was the perfect day to mow!  All my neighbors were out mowing yesterday while there was a heat advisory and I knew I should mow but I'd already taken a bath so I figured I would mow today and LO & BEHOLD.....no heat advisory, I got an early start this morning and there were breeezes!  I barely broke a sweat...miracle of miracles!  It has been so hot here and don't get me wrong...I did not turn my ac off....but it was actually nice out and I enjoyed it and the lawn looks SO NICE now!  I would have taken a picture but after I mowed I watered outside and then promptly came in and took a bath and now I'm in my jammies!

So, I took pictures of a few items I got at the thrift store the other day that I never posted.  

This is a clay bird from Mexico that I will stick in one of my plants for a little decoration....under a $1.00

Isn't this little bluebird cute?  These types of decorations are so cute and are a VERY inexpensive way to add a little decoration to your potted plants.  I got the idea from an all-time GREAT thrifter....Nancy-Jo....check out her blog at www.nancy-jo.blogspot.com

This is a solid soapstone candle "platter"?  It still had the label on it and I don't think it had ever been used.  I think it was about $2.00 for soapstone!  You could also use it to set a plant on it as it is about 8-10 inches across.A little smaller but less than a $1.00 in my FAVORITE color...YELLOW!  I will probably use it as a candle stand.

I was just starting to check out when one of the gals started unloading a box with this basket in it...I said "I'll take it"!!!!!!  It is in really good shape with just enough paint missing to look "shabby" and in RED!  Now don't we just love us a bit of RED!!!!!  I probably should have saved it for REDNESDAY!  This was $4.00 I think but well worth it in my book!  It is about a foot across and at least a foot high and stands up perfectly.  I will probably use it for magazines.

It's MONDAY!!!!

This is one of my first quilting projects....Grandma's Flower Garden paper piecing.  I loved doing it and I made it into a pillow with hand embroidery and some embellishing with little tiny buttons.This is my little heart mini-quilt that I've been working on with those great binding clips I was telling you about!Can you believe it!  A candle actually called SUMMER?  This is Crabtree & Eveleyn...ahhhh....let SUMMER begin!

This is my wonderful OLD cat Patches.....she is 18 and "hangin in there" 

Sorry to all my followers....you are out there aren't you? LOL!  I took the weekend off, not really, but I was clearing and cleaning and trying to get a routine going around here which is actually working but doesn't give me as much interesting blog material....no wonder I have no followers....I"M BORING!  But I don't bore myself so I guess that's the important part.
I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I did and it was very nice because it was more balanced than usual....ie; a little cleaning, a little clearing (my thrift store box to take is growing and I've started a garage sale box now too)!  I saved Sunday for Rn'R and REALLY TRIED to relax and I did....a little.  I sew baby quilts for our Quilt Guild and I got one almost finished.  I try to have both regular sewing (sewing machine) projects and then hand sewing projects for the in the evening when I watch t.v.  I got my guest room cleaned up and part of the hallway and started on the linen closet.  I found some great summer candles in the linen closet that I had forgotten about!
I love that when that happens...it's like a surprise gift!
I'm almost finished with my little heart mini-quilt.  I finished hand quilting the hearts and used my new binding clips to keep the binding in place while I hand sewed it.  I should be able to finish it tonight!  Those binding clips are SO NICE!  It makes the whole process much easier.  If you're a quilter (I'm just a beginner) you will love these!
For some reason my pictures sometimes turn out clear and sometimes blurry.  I think it's the "shaking" syndrome but I have a Fuji 4.1 mega pixel digital camera but maybe it's time to "upgrade"?  If anyone has any solutions or suggestions please let me know meanwhile I apologize for the "sad" photography.