February 14, 2012

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!! 

So.. are you doing anything special for Valentine's Day?  I have no clue what we are doing... probably not much.  I have to drive up to Georgia and pick up my sewing machine.. Lisa and I are going together... it was time for a well baby check-up. Her machine needed new feed dogs...she's used it so much making her rope bowls and beautiful totes they were just pooped out.

Look at our "GREAT" picture today!!

I just love raccoons... I know they can be real pests... but I think it's because Vicky and I both had a baby one when we were little and lived on the farm.  The mother had been killed on the road and my cousin found the 2 babies and caught them.  He brought them to us knowing we would take good care of them.  Now... the funny thing is... My dad was a coon hunter!!!  Yep...had the dogs and the whole thing.  They would sell their pelts... ((sniffle))... but it did come in handy with keeping us all fed and clothed!  He worked in a factory and I really don't think the wages were that great.

HOWEVER... the two little fellows we had were adorable...we fed them with a bottle and nursed them into their "teen-age" life (for the lack of a better term).  Then we released them.... 

This little fellow is having troubles hanging on.....  hahahahahaha!

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Hey... I know it's not fall... but I just saw this great planter idea and had to share it with all of you.  Isn't this pretty?  I think I read somewhere that if you take oil (like cooking oil) and put it on the inside and outside of pumpkins they last longer... won't rot as fast. 

I have just purchased the ingredients to make this new recipe!!  I think it looks yummy!!  Creamy white chicken and artichoke casserole.  mmmmmmmmmmmmm  We'll see how yummy it is... I'll report back.  Here is the recipe:   Chicken and Artichoke casserole

Ok...another one of my loves are COOL LAMPS!  I remember when we would do our shopping at the Atlanta market... I LOVED to look at the wonderful lamps.  They were so expensive and we did our best at trying to find pretty and unusual lamps that were affordable.  I love to find things to make lamps out of ... and then Jack makes them for me.  I currently have one made from a tall OLD flour tin ... plus an adorable small one made from a child's green lunch box... you know the kind that our dad's used to carry to work.  Only mine is smaller.

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What do you think of this adorable hooked snowman?  Isn't he something else... I sure do LOVE him!  He would look so cute in my foyer.... open the front door and there he will be.. .welcoming you to our home!!!  Of course...if you step on him... "I'll have to smack you!"   .... NOT... no not really... wool rugs are MADE to be WALKED on... they will out live me... so I'm not worried about it.

I also love to use old antique boxes for planters... is this not the sweetest thing?  They have such texture and warm appeal.  Look at this one....

This one says it all... doesn't it?  It was used as a centerpiece at a wedding.  How easy it would be to purchase some templates and make one of these... so precious.  The nice thing about the wooden boxes... they can transition well from inside to outside.  This looks gorgeous with pastel flowers and baby's breath... but how wonderful in the fall full of mums and pumpkins... sitting on your front porch!

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Well...I'm on my own for breakfast this morning...Jack drove to Valdosta to visit a friend .... the never of him to not fix me breakfast first... NOT..(just teasin').  I'm leaving you and fixing me some scrambled eggs...doesn't that sound good... with a little sausage...mmmmm...

Hey...here's your tip for the day!!!

Dig under the sink or in your cleaning closet and get rid of cleaners you don't use... old sponges... Clean it up... I put everything in plastic tubs... or carriers... so when it's time for me to clean, I grab the carrier tote and it goes with me throughout the house.  It has window cleaner, paper towels, dust cloth/spray, sink cleaner... you know...all that 'stuff' we have to use to keep our home lookin' and smellin' GOOD!  Plus... take a big laundry basket with you.  Put those things that are in the "WRONG ROOM" inside your basket...then when you travel from room to room... put them in their correct spots!  Makes for faster cleaning and a lot less steps... then you'll have more time to sew!!!

YIPPEE!!

Later taters!!!!   Gloria

February 13, 2012 - Happy Monday!

I've decided to make a pot of soup today.  I'm not sure what's gotten into me lately... but soup just tastes so good and I normally can take it or leave it.  Every since I made that onion soup at Christmas... I've been on the soup binge!.

Today... I found this recipe on Pinterest (of course....) and it just looks so yummy!! 

Yum...Yum... give me some!!  Creamy Tomato and Basil Soup!

2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice

1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced onions
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano
 1 T dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
 4 cups chicken broth
 ½ bay leaf
 ½ cup flour
 1 cup Parmesan cheese
 ½ cup butter
 2 cups half and half, warmed
 1 tsp salt
 ¼ tsp black pepper

 1.  Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to a large slow cooker.

 2.  Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.

 3.  About 30 minutes before serving prepare a roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour. Stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup. Add another 3 cups and stir until smooth. Add all back into the slow cooker. Stir and add the Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper.  Add additional basil and oregano if needed (the slow cooker does a number on spices and they get bland over time, so don't be afraid to always season to taste at the end).

4.  Cover and cook on LOW for another 30 minutes or so until ready to serve.

So... what do you think?  Doesn't it sound yummy?  The reviews were fabulous...!! 

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Hey... you gotta see this!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  Isn't he cute!  Just a 'bakin' in the sun!! 

Have you ever been to a pig farm?  wwwhhhhhoooiiiieeeeeeee.... is it stinky!!  Can't get it out of your clothes either!!!  DON'T GO!!!  TRUST ME!!!

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I just read a really cool way to sew a ton of squares together... like below....

go to this blog:  Bloom and Blossom

She has step by step instructions on how to make these squares pieced together - quickly! 

 It is so cool!

Why...can't I think of these things?

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You know how we all seem to like to collect things?  Well... here is a strange thing to collect... I think anyway!!!

These are vintage cake candle boxes...

with the candles still in side them!

Why is this so strange?  Well... most of the time the candles would have been used... nothing but empty boxes!  now... I must tell you... I've done a ton of antique shopping in my 62 years of life... and I don't EVER remember seeing a collection like this.  Actually.... I don't ever remember seeing candle boxes at all.  Of course... it's not something I would necessarily be looking for.

I just thought it was cool and unusual...

Now I suppose I'll see many of them while antiquing... YOU may see some too!  Hey... that way we'll all keep thinking of each other as we're looking for our favorite antiques!

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I just want you all to know... I'M FREEZING!!  I don't know what the temperature is outside at the moment... but it's 64 in the house and I REFUSE TO TURN THE HEAT ON!!

I don't know about you... but for some reason when the heat is on... my electric bill is MORE than when we run the air conditioning.  Does that happen to you too?

I know.. if I would get up and get busy... straightening, vacuuming, dusting, doing dishes, laundry... I would warm up real fast.

NNNNAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH.... not yet... it's just too early for that!

I'm sitting here typing with sweats on, woolly socks and a quilt wrapped around me!  ((It's not a pretty sight... I'm telling you...))

The coffee still hasn't warmed me up yet.... what is a girl to do???

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Hey... check out this pillow... it's made from place mats!!  I think it would be adorable for Christmas pillows...don't you?

They really don't have to be classified as Christmas pillows... more for the WINTER SEASON!!  What a fast way to make this happen.. they look hand stitched - you don't even have to do that yourself!!  How pretty with a red and white quilt thrown across the couch...

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Here's one of my favorite scrappy quilts - from Bonnie Blue Quilts !!!  I think it's still one of their top sellers!! 

Glory Bound

If you would like to order this pattern from them... here is their website!

Bonnie Blue Quilts

They have such fabulous patterns.  They both will be joining us again at our September, Camp Blanding Retreat.  Paula will be teaching this time!!!  YIPPEE!!!  PLUS... Faye Heyn will be teaching also!! 

Two wonderful instructors... love them both to death.

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Ok... I give in... it's time to get up and moving so I can warm up.

Here is  your Organization tip for the day -

Clean off your kitchen counter! 

Do you have a counter that has everything on it?  You DO KNOW that makes for a cluttered, small kitchen... right?  Only put those items on the counter that you use on a DAILY basis... everything else can be stored away.

You'll be surprised how much orderly your kitchen will look.  Try it for 2 weeks and see what you think.... then let me know!

Later....  Gloria

February 12, 2012 - Sunday

Hi everyone!!!  How is your weekend going???  Mine is wonderful... I DID NOT spend it in the garage yesterday... I ran some errands and then decided to rent some movies... bought some scallops at the fish market (man..that place was mobbed...) - came home and flopped on the couch and watched movies and did some hand sewing.

It was a wonderful day!  Then I fixed my yummy scallops!  They were sooooo very good.  We had some baked chicken too with a new coating that Jack found at the grocery.  NOT my favorite but it was edible. 

I wanted to share with you some NEW button cards I found!  I just love these things.. I wonder if I was a button maker in a past life?  That could be why I love buttons so much!  Take a peek...

Isn't this adorable?  I wonder why manufacturers don't take the time to make cute button cards like these anymore?  Probably to time consuming and expensive.

Now this is something else!!  Wouldn't it be so pretty framed and hung in your sewing studio?  Especially in mine since I have a collection of blue and white antique platters (on the walls) and blue and white quilts!!

Or... this sweet Luckyday baby button card.  Check out the price of the buttons - 10 cents!!!!  WOW... that's cool.  Yesterday... I was checking out the buttons at the BIG Joann's here in Orange Park.  I got so excited when I found some AWESOME bling-bling ones (that I wanted to use on a bracelet)... well... I turned over the button card to check out the price and I almost dropped them!  2 buttons - $11.95.  Poopie-doopie!!!  I was not a happy girl... and hung them back on the rack! (((sniffle)))

These black buttons... I remember my Grandma Rawley having button cards similar to these.  She could sew anything and worked in a women's dress factory. 

This is another wonderful button card!!!  I love when they incorporate the buttons into the printing of the card.  It gives it so much more character...it just makes you WANT to buy the buttons whether you need them or not! 

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Have you ever ordered this from Applebee's????  It's so good... I could actually skip the chips for dipping... just give me a SPOON!  It's also good on BAKED POTATOES!!!  TRY IT... you're gonna love it.....

Copycat Applebee’s Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip

 

◦10 ounce)frozen chopped spinach , thawed

 ◦1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts , drained and roughly chopped
 ◦1 cup shredded parmesan-romano cheese mix
 ◦1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
 ◦10 ounces prepared alfredo sauce
 ◦1 teaspoon minced garlic
 ◦4 ounces softened cream cheese
 ◦1 tsp pepper

 1.) Preheat Oven To 350

 2.) Mix in a bowl – Parmesan, 1/2 cup Mozzarella, Alfredo Sauce, Cream Cheese
 3.) Mix in – Garlic, Pepper, Artichokes, Spinach
 4.) Place mixture in 8×8 greased pan. Sprinkle 1/2 Mozzarella on top
 5.) Cook for 30 minutes.
 6.) Enjoy

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I know this may look like paper.. but imagine it as scraps of fabric... let's say you've been working on blocks and the directions now tell you to cut them down.  You've finished that part of the project and you have this pile of fabric cuttings that is good for nothing... WRONG... Take them outside on your patio deck... you can kind of roll them into a ball....before you know it.. the birds will be taking pieces away!!!  They love to use them in their nests.  Squirrels like it too!  Isn't that a sweet idea? 

They also like the lint stuff that comes from your dryer!!!

They will now have some 'high-stylin' nests!!! hahahahaha!

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Aren't these clips adorable?  I can see them made with every type fabric in the world.  So much more fun to use than those silly plain black ones.  Here is the link that shows you how to make them:

Covered Clips

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Okay... these have no significance at all... except... THAT I WANT THEM!  I just think they are adorable!!!!   Wish my honey would make them for me.... NOT... that will not happen.  Ok...I think this goes on my "personal" bucket list!  Of course... I have no clue where I would put them in my house... but I've decided that doesn't have a single thing to do with wanting something... right?

LOVE THEM!!!!

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Look at my 'funny' picture for the day.... I simply burst out laughing when I saw this silly fox!!!

Isn't this a hoot?  I wonder if he was chasing a bug.... ???  Or just plain having a GOOD time!  He's adorable.  I know when we would be traveling the roads - going to quilt shows - we would every so often see a sweet fox that would have been hit by a car... so sad.  They are such gorgeous animals!

Hey... let's get organized!

Since I'm going to the garage today (such pain....) it's time to look at all of your yard tools.  Get them all in order... install a rack on the wall and hang up the shovel, hoe, rakes.  OR... an even better and faster idea (if you have room... I know what some of these garages look like...) get a sturdy - TALL - garbage can... it could even be one that you've been using (that needs to be replaced).  Store all of your long yard tools (rakes, etc.) handle down in the garbage can.  This will keep them from falling all over the garage...easy for the kids to put away (should they EVER use one of them)... and make your life so much nicer in the garage!

Oh... and speaking of garbage cans .... is it time to get rid of those that are a MESS???  Have you ever tried to get the garbage men to take away an OLD, BEAT UP CAN?  They won't do it... they simply don't get it!  Jack had to finally pound the stew out of one and put it inside another one so they would take it.....  Now.. they have NO PROBLEM beating the crap out of the good ones we use... or ... who knows where the lids disappear too? (we now have cans with attached lids). 

Ok... I've bashed the can issue enough...

It's time for another cup of coffee!!

Tomorrow.....  Gloria