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.

It's REDNESDAY!

This is one of my RED cannisters....This is the lid to an old tin that I can't find but I love the lid so I think I'll keep it anyway......maybe a burner cover?This a thrift store find..I'm seeing a cherry theme hereOkay...no more cherry theme....these WERE my green tomatoes gone REDNESDAY!

These are the blueberry muffinsHere's the eggplant parmesanI'm new to this weekly themeing of days but I'm going to give it my best shot!  I have some RED things to show you and also some blurry pics of my dinner and dessert that I finally got to eat last night.

One thing just led to another today.....

I had no intention of cleaning my oven today but when I went to pre-heat it for my eggplant parmesan I was making....well lets just say there was a lot of smoke!  I forgot that when I made chocolate cobbler the other day that it had run over the side of the dish and made a real mess in the bottom of the oven!  I feigned like Scarlett

Ohara and told myself I would deal with it in the morrow.  What could I do anyway?  I had to wait for the oven to cool off and it was nearing bedtime.  Unfortunately, come "the morrow" and I totally wiped it off my radar until today...AHHHHH!!!!!!  Smoke filled the room and immediately I realized the error of my ways.  So.....that is why this post is late and I all I have to show for my productivity is a clean oven and some clean laundry.  To make up for it I took a picture of the clean oven and also of the books I am reading.  Not too inspiring I agree but there's always tomorrow and hopefully I'll get my eggplant parmesan done so I can have some supper tonight.  Oh!  I did clean the frig also but didn't think you really wanted a picture of that too. LOL!

Perfect Sunday!!!!

I had such a nice Sunday yesterday.  I hope you did too.  Sunday's have always been my R'n'R days....standing for rest and renewal and working around the house which is actually what I love to do....strange I know, but for years I worked outside the home and now that I don't I relish my time at home.  I am trying to slot certain activities for certain days like the old dish towels, remember?  Speaking of dish towels, I need to embroider some of those to put in my kitchen.  Anyway....I got up and took a leisurely bath and used my Philosophy Amazing Grace body wash and after bath lotion..ohhhh....I LOVE that fragrance!  It is just pure fresh and clean!  I want to get the perfume or body splash and the body butter for winter but will have to budget as it is not cheap but it lasts a long time.  After that I changed the sheets on my bed and fluffed my feather bed topper.  That feather topper is one of the best investments I ever made!  When I moved here I left my mattresses in Iowa knowing there were mattresses here from my folks.  After sleeping on their mattresses I wished I had moved mine!  I really didn't want to put out the money for a new one(s) so I decided to purchase a feather topper (much cheaper) and if that didn't do it then I would go ahead and start shopping for mattresses.  Well, it worked wonders and turned my bed into a cloud that I love crawling into each night!  After about a week though you can see where my "nest" has settled so I "fluff" it weekly and that does the trick! After that I did laundry and ironed....I KNOW...some of you hate ironing but I love it!  It is like a meditation to me but I can't stand in one place for long so I only iron 10 items a week which keeps me on top of it all.  Yesterday I watched old reruns of Bonanza and Mayberry R.F.D. while I ironed...call me crazy but I enjoyed it thoroughly.
 After supper there was a special on Susan Boyle....the overnight success story singer from "across the pond".   Her voice gives me shivers it is so beautiful which is a sign to me that her gift is directly from the heavens and she blesses all of us with it.  I must get her cd's!  I went to the opposite side of the spectrum after that and watched Ice Road Truckers on the History channel.....I LOVE THAT SHOW!  One of the things I wanted to be as a child was a truck driver so I could travel all over this beautiful country so this must be a throwback from  my childhood but I love it plus I love snow and Alaska and the North!  I quilted a printed mini-quilt panel while watching t.v.  I love handwork in the evening and I had my red apple candles burning and it was just a great evening in my little cozy family room.  Everyone joined in too...Patches my cat was sitting one side of me, Orphan Annie, a miniature dachsund I rescued last year was curled up near my feet and my great, wonderful, loyal companion and guard dog extraordinaire, Nitty (real name Serenity,a Rottweiler) was sprawled on the cool linoleum which she loves.  In my simple mind, my simple Sunday was just the best!
Oh, I ran across a little table mat I made (hooked wool) that I had set aside and forgot about after I finished it!  I found a place for it and another candle!  I do love my candles.  So......how did you spend YOUR Sunday?