A Diet Plan for 2014

Happy New Year everyone !

Saturday Santa...

Earlier this week Tonya Turvold sent out an email and it  reminded me that I always liked to make her Santa pattern called "Olde Saint Nick".  You can check out "Back Porch Pickins" for her other designs and she also sells finished products.

Don't be afraid of the eyelids, they are much easier to do than looks like. ( Jordan says Santa Claus doesn't wear blue eyeshadow.)

I am thinking of my Kentucky friends and family  this morning, it looks like they have had some awfully bad weather.  Stay safe and warm. 

Tuesday Smile

Is this red or what?  Olde Country Cupboard pattern for Candy Cane Annie with
added  gingerbread boy instead of candy cane.

November 22nd

Do you remember when the Ladies Home Journal was a big 10" X 13" ? Probably not, you are not old like me.  I saved this issue which was 10 years after President Kennedy's death...now it is 50, and seems like yesterday sometimes.  She still looks like her mother.

Happy Friday.

Snowlady

Her star is an old pin from my stash.  Not sure I want to give it up for her but she is calling me unfair to snowladies that I think such things.

She started out as a Moonchild's Primitives design but I think I got the heads mixed up as hers is a little larger maybe.  I like Donna Veal designs and she is from my hometown, Paducah, Kentucky.  Lots of artists are there in one downtown section of restored old homes.

I gave her some special pearl buttons too and the trim is some cotton batting.  She wouldn't stand up on her own, so I put her on a small
picture frame and hope for the best.

If you have snow, I hope it is the good kind that just makes everything beautiful.  We have some too in the forecast but it could be two flakes or two feet, no one knows.

Happy Thursday morning everyone.

A surprise in Mammy's old Bible....

I found this in Proverbs, along with a cartoon of "Herbie".You can find such fun stuff tucked away, I wish it didn't have the crease.  I may use it anyhow, and  no, I have no idea who the child is.  The guy with the beard is Santa tho.

Hello friends, hope you are well and happy this November day.

Hospital Craft Show....

I'm getting one of these for my next craft show.  When I saw her bringing it in I thought it was for ME!

Things I liked about the show, seeing new people (hospital employees) old friends, like Sue and Tom, ELEVATORS! and selling Stella's afgans.  Oh yeah, this is my friend Jackie and it was nice spending the day with her.

Lindbergh PTA Holiday Boutique

Saturday November 9, 2013, 41st Annual juried show, 500 North Waverly, Dearborn, MI,
9:30 to 4:00.

Always good to see old friends and new!

Monday morning....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGUzkUMXNCc

Kynda sent me this and made me laugh.  If you are familiar with gospel quartets this will be so funny to you and make you laugh too.

Little black bags

Old trims and thrift store bags.  To carry or not?

Geraniums

These are doing their best because they may have heard the Channel 7 news.  Ms. Gloom and Mr. Doom are saying any day now the weather will turn to the thirties.

I bought these at Lowes for 74 cents and although I have never liked geraniums, I do like 74 cents.
Now I am thinking I might try to overwinter them.  Just wondering if you have tried this.  It is from the Iowa State University Horticulture and Home Pest News:

"Dormant Storage

Geraniums are unusual and unlike many annual flowers, they have the ability to survive for most of the winter without soil. If properly stored, they can resist extended dry periods due to their thick, succulent-like stems. To overwinter geraniums in dormant storage, dig up the entire plant before frost and gently shake the soil from the roots. Place the plants inside open paper bags or hang them upside-down from the rafters in a cool, dark location for the winter. Ideally the temperature should be between 45-50 F. Two or three times during the winter, take the plants out the bags or down from the rafters and soak the roots in water for 1 or 2 hours. At this time, inspect the stems. While many of the leaves will die and fall off, the stems should remain firm and solid. Discard any geraniums with shriveled stems, since those plants will most likely die. Pot up healthy dormant geraniums in containers in late March or early April. Water plants thoroughly and cut back the dead stem tips. Place potted plants in a sunny window to initiate new growth. It often takes several weeks for plants to initiate growth after dormant storage.
No matter how geraniums have been overwintered, they should be healthy, free-flowering plants for spring. After being indoors all winter, your geraniums may be as anxious as you are for spring planting. Plant them after the danger of frost has passed and enjoy their colorful blooms all summer. You can invest your savings in new geranium varieties to overwinter next year."

Just saying..

Mid October Garden

This is why I like zinnias.  This is only one plant.  The blue behind it is tall Ageratum.

When I walked out this morning, with my coffee, the birds were singing like they do in spring.  Maybe they are grateful, as well as we are, that we have these extra days of enjoying the garden. I don't think they are Tiger fans. 

Brussel Sprouts is a plant I never tried. My neighbor gave this plant to me, and now he needs to eat them.

This is a mystery plant.  It is about 16 inches wide.  I'm sure it is a weed.

Just hello.

Everyone seems to be excited that it is October.  I think we get pumpkin-fever about this time.
Have a sweet day.

old photos

I like making things, what-cha-ma-call-its, from old photos and bits and pieces.
Old photos are hard to find, especially those that say things to me, like this one.

I was just laughing to myself, if this were PJ and Ray or Kynda and Mike,, the caption might be quite different.   Have a wonderful Wednesday all.

O Happy Day

I make these because I love old hymns.  I guess this one is a "gospel" song, written in the 18th Century using a melody from the 17th century which was  changed in the 19th century.  We're still singing it sometimes.  Aretha does it.

Guess I should have taken the picture before I framed it, if you are looking for good photos they aren't found in this blog.  I just say "Oh, you get the idea".

Good thoughts on this Tuesday beautiful fall morning.

Mary Fisher design, a post by Peace and Applique

This morning I stumbled on this post on  Facebook.  For those of us in Michigan, Mary Fisher is a familiar name.  You might like to check it out.  The fabric is beautiful. It was posted by Peace and Applique, a wonderful little quilt  shop near Kynda's in Springfield, Illinois.

Peace & Applique Quilt Shop

These beautiful fabrics are from a collection by Clothworks Fabrics called Belle. The designer is Mary Fisher.

Mary's powerful works in fiber, sculpture and handmade paper have established her among the nation’s leading artists. Mary’s earliest work as an artist was with fiber, including intensive work as a tapestry weaver at Cranbrook Academy of Art in her native Michigan.

She was a thriving artist and mother of two young sons when she was diagnosed HIV-positive in the summer of 1991. Within months, she began working to raise awareness of and dispel stigma about the disease. In the years since, she has used art and advocacy to improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, especially women and girls.

If you need ideas, there's a pattern available using fabrics from this collection -

http://clothworks.com/pdfs/patterns/bellequilt.pdf

Sculptures of horses at Meijer Gardens.

Can't miss him, he is one big horse. The tiny person in the picture is PJ

He had a very large shoe size.

I would quickly get out of his way.

This one looked like driftwood.  We saw it from the tram ,our driver explained that it was made by the artist in wood, then taken apart and the pieces cast and then put back together.  I asked if the sculptures were protected in our Michigan winters and he said no, only a very few of them.  Guess that horse would need a big tarp.

I worked all day cleaning up my garden, it was a beautiful day today.  Hope you had the same.

Pumpkins at Meijer Gardens

So many of us say this is our favorite time of the year. Meijer Gardens is in Grand Rapids and I have lots of pictures, just started with my favorites.

I have been a little absent lately, I hope everyone is doing well and your garden is beautiful too.

Little pumpkins, big sunflower...

I never had a sunflower like this one which was planted by the birds.  The bees loved it and the birds have been feasting also.  It is 12 inches.  I am going to save it for their thanksgiving dinner.

John helped me pick my pumpkin crop, since the squirrels had torn up the plants.  He is holding Little Octobers and the others are Jack-be-Littles. John started kindergarten this week.  Happy Friday which is almost gone, a beautiful day.

Ray's Bar-B-Que

"They keep saying it is better than Starnes.  I wonder what kind of meat is Starnes?"  Only people from Paducah, Ky. will know. 

I hope your weekend was wonderful too. 

Got cabbage?

We made Neen's recipe for stuffed cabbage casserole last week for Blessed Hope.

The easy recipe is:

Brown    two lbs. ground beef with two onions, we used med. large ones
add 1 and 1/2 cups uncooked rice
2 cans of tomato soup
2 cups hot water

Simmer it for about 10 minutes and pour it over a nice layer of cabbage.  I just sliced the cabbage.
Cook it for 1 and 1/2 hr at 350 degrees.  We covered it while it was baking. Everyone liked it and Rose and I made three recipes that filled the oven with a small one left over, which we took to Neen, after all it is her recipe.  Have you ever made it?

Like my bag?

This is my new bag that PJ and Jeff brought me from Whole Foods.  I love it, but it makes me want THIS.........


Fab-U-Lous "Go-To Dip

l can of artichoke hearts in water or 2 small jars marinated in oil (chopped).  I always used the water packed ones.
1 block of cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo (Use Hellmans)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese (not grated) Picky, Picky...
a few dashes of garlic salt

Heat the oven to 350 and mix all until well-blended.  Pour into oven-safe dish (duh) and cook for 30 minutes.

I have lost the source of this recipe but it came from a blogger and she says if you make it,
everyone will fall in love with you.  Okey-Dokey-Artichokey!

My flowers 2013

This is tall nicotania, Only the Lonely.  I have a feeling it won't be lonely next year because the seeds are a fine powder (like snuff, if you know what that is....my grandma, Minnie B.  King dipped it). I never tried it myself.  Love from Michigan.

MAJOR REMINDER

Be sure to check your listings for the re-run of last week's episode of Major Crimes.

It comes on here at my house at 8 oclock on TNT.  I will be disappointed if it isn't on!  Let me know if you like it!

Talkin' 'bout my girls....

 Good morning all, a cloudy Thursday here in Michigan.  Our weather is usually like that box of chocolates.

I haven't been posting my handmades but these are so easy and sweet I thought maybe someone would like to make them too.  It is a Chestnut Junction pattern, if so.

I have recently discovered "trombones".  I have no idea what to do with them but I am fascinated by them.  I put a PJ flower on this one and I will try it out to see if I can find a use for it.  I don't think Rebecca was impressed and you may not be either.

Major Crimes....Major Fun last night.....

I hope you didn't miss last night's episode of Major Crimes.  Old TV stars including Tim Conway, Doris Roberts and Ron Howard and more.  A zany story of retirees living in a complex operated by a landlord they all wanted dead. 

It was cornball at its best,  and  I totally loved it.  Rebecca did too (and she's just 19).  You can catch it next week (usually)  one hour earlier than the new episode  on TNT.  I'll be reminding you next week.

Button fever, new virus going around....

Symptoms are anxiety i.e. itching, sweating, trouble breathing in areas of thrift stores and/or yard sales.  PJ says "it's a sickness". 

The Gingham Dog Tot Lot....

 Twenty years ago I took Jacob and Jordan to the Gingham Dog to play.  I thought today would be a good day for John Michael to enjoy this sweet little neighborhood park so we packed a lunch and headed over.  

Sadly, it has changed a bit,  and although the grass was cut , it is now a playground for a group of ducks....

 We have had a lot of rain but I think there's more to it, perhaps the city of Allen Park doesn't have the money to maintain it.  You can see the ducks and how happy they are.

John said it's okay GG.  We ate our lunch at the same picnic table as Jake and Jordan and I did and John enjoyed his Bigby smoothie. I told him Jake and Jordan never had smoothies when they were five but they did get to play on the merry-go-round, their favorite.

Love to all.

Green Beans

I haven't had good beans in two years so I picked a new one from Park's.  They are called Cobra and maybe because of the rain, they are extra good.  They are big but tender.

I also have a favorite cucumber "Cool Breeze" and seeds are kinda hard to find.  They are a bit fuzzy which washes right off.  I made some summer pickles for our dinner at Blessed Hope and they really liked them.  I just didn't make enough.  John Michael and I ate some that I had just sliced and put in cold water overnight.  I would like to make some sun dills also.  If you have a favorite recipe, please send.

And  please say a prayer for Austin, a young man (teen) at Blessed Hope, who is really struggling.  We had about 25 or so people and it was so hot I'm sure some just didn't try to get out. Rose and Val, our chief cooks, always have plenty of food.  I try to be the chief bottle washer but mostly I just enjoy being with everyone. 

Some new books....

I was reading Sandcastle Girls by Chris B. when Rebecca brought me the new Hosseini book. Then I returned a movie at the library and they had the other one for me.  I sat down and read the first chapter while John colored a picture and haven't been able to leave it alone since then.  So much for the sewing I intended to do.

The rain has gone away now and the sun is shining, everything is growing and the Michigan crop of corn is just in.  I am so happy for the farmers this year, their crops are going to be abundant.  Happy Saturday everyone.