Who could ask for anything more....

Lisa, my DIL on the far right was making a road trip to Kentucky to adopt a beautiful dog she fell in love with online.  Did I want to go???  Of course I did since my great-grandchildren and grandson and Rachel, my granddaughter in-law live there!!!  I haven't seen them in about five years.  What a joy it was.  That's Betsy, between Lisa and myself and Kyle in his "Go Blue" shirt in the front.  They are just precious. 

The next morning we went here to pick up Macie.  Isn't the building sweet?  They were really busy adopting dogs and really work hard on behalf of dogs that don't otherwise have a chance to live and be loved.  It's Molly's Mutts if you would like to see more and you might need a dog sometime.

This is Macie, wearing her new Michigan colors. ( Forgive us Kentucky Wildcats Blue).

And this one, you can see she has had her left eye removed and is in the process of healing.  Lisa said that made her special and made her want to help her by giving her a loving home.

It's Christmas Eve, my second cup of coffee and I am looking forward to John coming to visit me today and seeing the rest of the family tomorrow.  Merry Christmas all my wonderful blogger friends, you have also been very good to me this year!
 

Sunday Soup

Miss Sandra Boynton's drawing, I will never get too old to love her books.
But about the soup .....

We all like hot and sour soup so I worked out this recipe that Lisa and I thought was good enough to make again. I took several different recipes from the internet and this is what I came up with.

Thinly slice and chop pork and saute with a tablespoon of garlic in a little oil.  I used a large pork chop for the meat. And I use the garlic in the jar because I am lazy and hate peeling garlic.

Then combine and add 2 and 1/2 cups of chicken broth
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. sesame oil
1/2 t. black pepper
1/2 t. red pepper flakes
1/2 t. ginger or 1 t. fresh minced
1 T. sriracha sauce ( or more to taste.)
2 teas. Swerve
Simmer a few minutes and add 2 large green onions, chopped
and 3 medium mushrooms, sliced thin. Simmer a few more minutes
and then add:

1 well beaten egg  while the soup is simmering.  Kinda like in  egg-drop soup. It has been soup weather for over a week now.  Hope you had a good Sunday. 

Thursday blessings and silly questions

 One out of twenty has to be different.

Kynda found this frame for me.  It goes perfectly with the Norma Schneeman print which stays out year round.  Are you familiar with Norma's work?

Why would there be pumpkins under the tree?

 Why are these babies not frosted?  And should I add a nose?

Why would anyone put this in a thrift store?

And can you do a blanket stitch this neatly?  These came from the Farm.

One of my blessings is I don't have to go out on this cold day, the other is I have Eddie, Buddy and Jenny to keep me company (family dogs, not mine) and in the crockpot is a venison roast that is smelling so good.  My cousin Mary's recipe, a big old roast, a packet of Ranch Dressing, a stick of butter and a packet of brown gravy.  Hope all is well at your house.

Happy Sunday

At PJ's house, more pottery from Prairie Springs, The little Santa that was made by Nancy.  He looks a little perplexed like, "I'm standing next to a bear."  The bear is made from a pattern by Sweet Meadows Farm.

As for this this snowy day I am dog-sitting while the family goes to the Lions game.  These are my charges:

 Buddy says I don't care...I'm just here for the snacks....

Eddie says ..I will just look out the window until they come back from that dumb old Lions game, and bark at anything that moves.

Jenny says...I don't care either, I got my quilt.

I hope you are warm today and have someone to shovel for ya!

Visit to Prairie Springs Pottery Open House

In spite of iffy weather PJ drove us to Nancy's for her Christnas open house.  Her studio is in Reading Michigan and she was having a good crowd when we got there.  Everything was beautiful but we are sorry that she had a broken arm from just getting out of the car at church.  Ice is not good.

We have known Nancy from the craft shows and we love everything she makes. These are two of the things I brought home.

I had a picture of the three of us but the photo-taker wasn't familiar with the camera and made a video and all three of us were talking at the same time.  Nancy will have surgery and we hope she gets well soon and back at the pottery wheel.  Thanks for visiting us today.

Miss Mabel Mitchell

Now don't go thinkin' I knew this lady the year it was made.  I did know of her when I was in high school 1953.  She was a teacher but I don't think I was ever in her class; but I certainly remember her.  One of my classmates posted the article a little while back and right away I knew I wanted to make something with Miss Mabel. 

I love frames with a vintage look, old photos, old buttons, old lace so this is what I came up with.  The ribbon looks a little big in the picture but it really isn't and I had to choose to crop off her shoes or the headline, I couldn't see not showing those shoes.

It's been a rainy day in Michigan.  I went to the library after they were closed for four days. I was overdue for my book fix.  Happy day everyone.

Crafty Friday Fun

 This is Barbara's iris folding art.  She will probably sell this one at the show.  It is at Lutheran High West on Cowan Road in Livonia.  Large show, beautiful displays and variety with children choirs singing, poinsettias for sale and a big Maurice salad for lunch.  

We stopped at the craft mall (Town Peddler) to add some more snowmen to Jackie's booth.  I asked her  to get in the picture because she has worked really hard on her booth. I want to take a copy of her booth  to her mom Stella at American house.  She always loved going to the craft shows 

 This was something I liked at Town Peddler....

and this vintagey snowmen were only 5.99.  Speaking of vintage, we did not see much of that at the craft show in Westland.  A few snowmen but no primitive dolls at all. There were lots of fabric items but nothing shabby-chic except for Donna's hats with flowers.  I don't take pictures at the craft show unless I know the exhibitor.  I didn't buy anything today but my friend found several things for gifts.
I have to concentrate on keeping myself upright and moving along.  I hope your Friday was also fun. 

Ashley's Apron

This was Ashley's apron for November.  She has a new one today (a Grinch one).  Can't wait to see it.  No deer for her hubby's trip up north, but they had a safe and well-fed venture in the woods.

Snowmen at Town Peddler Craft & Antique Mall

 Wishing for snow? 

 They are doing their snowman dance!!

 Up close this one has lots of character.

I really liked this one.  Jackie's prices are very reasonable for handmade, and you can zoom in and see Stella's beautiful crochet. Happy lookin' and shoppin'!

Porch cats and 57 degrees

 I don't know how this collection started, maybe with Walker, my indoor-outdoor cat, who chooses not to have his picture made today.

Rusty Cat was made by my neighbor Bob just for me.

 

And this one was made by Janice, Prims by the Water.  Isn't he the cat's meow!

 The grass is green and so is the ground cover, even the pesky creeping charlie.  My creeping flocks have a bloom and below the sedum is already sprouting.  What a funny time of weather ---even the plants are all confused.

These look like little brussel sprouts.  I did a few bags of leaves but decided I would rather post.  Happy Tuesday!

Cindy's booth at Lindbergh

 Cindy does little slate signs and other unique little things to decorate your home.  She does this show all by herself since her Dad passed away.  She works really hard and has a huge display.

 If you zoom in you can see better.  She likes bicycles and once she painted a full size one for an outdoor show.

 She also usually has rosemary plants which go really well with the Christmas things.

 I like "It's a Wonderful World".

I would go crazy trying to put all this together. I must have the one that says "I think my guardian angel has a drinking problem."

Happy Saturday everyone.  A turn of weather, 70 yesterday, brrr. today.

Opening Day Deer Season Apron by Ashley

Yesterday when I was at Joann's this young lady told me about her opening-day apron so I went back this morning to take a picture for you all.

Today she told me about all the food she had prepared for her husband to take on his hunting trip, so I hope they don't spend all their time eating instead of hunting.

I have to envy all the energy she has and how kind and helpful she is to us when we have no idea what we are doing.  I will have to take my camera with me from now on so you all can see her aprons.

Iris Folding by Barbara

 These are her new ornaments for this year.

 Her display looks really nice.  Too bad she wasn't in the picture.

 She works really hard, bringing in all these frames is not an easy job.

 One of my favorites

 And this one too, she has a variety, something for everyone.  Nice gifts.

 Very elegant ones too with lots of bling.

I think this would be very tedious art so I give her lots of credit.  I can't imagine the patience it takes.
Tomorrow I have some pictures from Cindy's booth, she does slate signs and more.  Thanks for stopping by.

The craft show

 Everyone likes angels so we sold some of those, all the little stockings with the green tree on them, and the snowmen ornaments in the black hats.  I thought the ones in red hats were girls, but they called them men.

The white stars were my fastest seller. The trees I had last year so had a few left.

We sold lots of PJ's pins and badges.

 A favorite was the nurse (pattern by Chestnut Junction).. I put a bandage on her mouse and some of that curly hair that I made out of jute.

They liked my deer but would have preferred them to have four legs, much harder to make those.  Well that's it for this year's boutique.  The parents and the kids help us unload AND load up when the show is over; they have great food and the best raffles of any event in this area.  (there was even a kitchen aid mixer in one basket).   Next post I will show some of my friend Barb's iris folding which was new to the show this year.  Thanks for lookin'.