I Found it! Also an Upcycled Skirt, and a Monster Cookie recipe

I found my camera cord, right after I stopped looking for it, of course. I had a weekend filled with precious grand children, the weather was awful so we baked a little, had a tea party, and played indoors.

Here is the recipe for the Monster Cookies we made:

1 stick butter

1 cup each white and brown sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cup pnt butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp maple syrup

4 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup wheat germ

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup M&Ms

1 cup craisins

1 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350

Cream butters and sugars

Add eggs and mix until blended

Add baking soda, vanilla, syrup and blend

Stir in remaining ingredients

Drop by rounded tsp onto lightly greased baking sheets

Bake 12-15 minutes until edges start to brown.

Some where in between I made a skirt from three jeans pants legs. The photos of this are not great, and I haven't decided if I'll actually wear this out of the house or not, but here it is anyway. I still plan to embroider it or applique something on it. It needs a little doctoring up, but I had fun just playing around with something that didn't cost me a thing.

Blog Laryngitis

Can't find my camera cord, so you know I can't talk without my hands or my camera.  I guess it's sorta like blog laryngitis.  Here's hoping I find my "voice" soon!

Bombed

Well, no pictures today.  You should be happy about that.  I had a day of leisure today so I thought I'd try a couple of new recipes, both bombed.  Okay, there was plenty of day left and I was still feeling ambitious so I tried to make myself a new dress......mistake! After making major adjustments and taking up 2 inches on each side, you could still hold a small circus in that tent of a dress!  I finally put the dress aside,  maybe I'll work on it another day.  I'm thinking on my next day of leisure I'll just stay in bed.

I Won Again!

Wow!  I can't believe I won another giveaway!  Look at these great gifts!  (picture from Nicole at 60 Piggies. To see the full photo click on it.)  I've been looking longingly at Sarah Jane prints for quite a while.  My problem is I love them all!  So when I saw the giveaway at 60 Piggies I got really excited.  Along with the print are these amazing raindrop earrings.  The print is so appropriate because when my daughter was a little girl a friend of my parents pegged her the Rainy Day Girl, and every time he visited he asked about her.  The first time he met her she was singing "it's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring..." so she was forever the Rainy Day Girl to him.  Those raindrop earrings are just perfect for the mom of the Rainy Day Girl don't you think?

You really should check out Nicole's blog.  She is a photographer, jeweler, seamstress, mother, whew, I get tired just listing all she does!  Check out her etsy shops here and here, and her photography here.  Be sure to read about her family's plans to give a needy child a home.  If you'd like to be a part of that all of the proceeds from her etsy shops will go toward their proposed adoption.  How's that for Retail Therapy that you can really feel good about?

Thanks so much Nicole!  

I went for a little walk in what used to be a boggy area near where I live.  It hasn't been burned off in years and is more woody overgrowth than bog at the present.  I wanted to find some pitcher plants to photograph and paint.  They used to be plentiful around this time of year.  I didn't find any, but I did find these miniscule carnivorous plants instead.  I don't think I want to paint them, but I'd love to know more about them.  Anyone out there have a clue?

There were some lovely ferns, and some other feathery greenery along with a few little flowers.  I'm constantly amazed at the vast array of creation, so much to delight the senses.  Here are just a few photos I took.  The grandkids are fascinated with these crayfish or crawdad chimneys, at least that's what I've been told that they are.  We have never seen the little critter that builds these fascinating little structures.   Anybody know how to get a glimpse of one?  

Sewing, Sewing, and the Bag I Won

I've been a little under the weather lately, but I've found time to sneak a little sewing in here and there.  I whipped up a cute apron that came in my "Poor Mindy" box a while back.  It was an easy one where the pattern is printed right onto the material.  I think it turned out really cute.  It has a kind of vintage feel to it, and it is a full apron which I need 'cause this girl is a messy cook. 

I also made another diaper bag, and I love the lining in this one.  As a matter of fact I wish I had kept it to line a bag for myself.  It was one of my end of the bolt bargain buys from the shop hop last month.

And I finally took some pictures of the bag I won from Becky's Sew in Stitches Blog.  I love the fabric!  It's reversible which I also love so you can change it up when ever you want to.  

Here it is filled with my stuff.  It has the greatest hidden pocket right at the top by the handle so I can quickly get to my phone, debit card, or tissues without having to plunder through everything else.  As an added bonus, she sent this matching tissue holder, so wipe my not so dainty nose and be trendy doing it.  The bag is soft so you can fold it up and stick it in another purse to use for a market bag as well.  Thanks Becky I just love it!  If you haven't been there you should check out her blog.

Signs of Spring

Picnic Time

Spring usually doesn't last very long here.  We go from winter straight to summer in a matter of days, however last year we had a very nice spring.  I am hoping it will be the same this year.  Today is gorgeous!  Wouldn't you know it, I left my camera at my parent's house.  

Not only is the weather picture perfect, but the morning was one of those I wish I could hold on to and savor for more than just the fleeting time it took to pass.  My daughter called and asked if I would ride with her and the kids to get some strawberries from a local farm.  I said, "Of course!"  She and I kind of reminisced about when she and her brother were young and we would make an annual trek to a cheese farm and then to a strawberry farm and then to a park for a picnic.  She thought really quickly and said, "I have a loaf of homemade wheat bread.  Do you have a blanket?"  

"I sure do!"  I replied and off we went.  The cheese farm is so quaint, and the people that run it are very nice.  The kids loved it because when we pulled up there were guineas, chickens, and a big ole' Tom Turkey right there to greet us.

The store is very small, but full of wonderful delights, not only do they carry cheese, and local honey, but all sorts of delicious things like Turkish figs, imported chocolate, sesame candies, and tons of other yummy stuff.  We left with a basket full of goodies, and no big, bad wolves in sight.

The azaleas and bridal wreath are in full bloom, dogwoods are everywhere, and the scent of wisteria perfumes the air so much you can almost taste it. 

Then there are the strawberries, oh, don't even get me started on them!  They are the deepest red you can imagine, and so full of sweetness and juice that runs like a river down your chin at the first bite.

The kids played so sweetly at the park, and even had a nice attitude when it was time to go.

Days like this that I want to brand into my memory and never forget.  I hope they always remember tool

Diaper Bag

This is the forth diaper bag I've made by this pattern.  I line them with very heavy stabilizer which makes it really difficult to sew the bottom piece into place, but it makes the bag so sturdy.  I always say when I finish one that I'm not going to do another one like that again, but they stand up so well I just can't make myself try it any other way.  I love the fabric on this one.  It is some I purchased on the quilt shop hop.  I have another one cut out and ready to go.  Now I just have to get to feeling better so I can sew!

The one above goes to a really sweet friend who is expecting a little boy just anytime now.

Sweet Parts of Sunday

After changing from their Easter dresses the girls set up a tent in my parent's living room and began doctoring my brother's dog with a play veterinarian kit. Of course the kit came with stuffed animals which were the maker's intended patient, but this crew had other ideas.  Poor Attie, after traveling for six hours she had to endure  being poked and prodded by a harem of preschoolers.  She was a really good sport, even when they tied her to the refrigerator.  Thankfully for Attie, they didn't know that dogs don't get their temperatures taken orally.  Notice that Sweet Cheeks has even donned gloves, no medical gloves were at her disposal so being the innovative girl that she is, she uses the oven mitt.

After the vet's office closed Sweet Cheeks decided to give us a shoe fashion show.  You should have seen this two year old walk in her mom's spiked super high heels.  She maneuvered in them much better than I could have.

Angel Eyes and Scooter enjoyed as many stories as my dad could tell before dinner.  Angel Eyes hung on every word.  This girl loves a good story, and my dad is a great story teller.  Some of my fondest memories are of waking early and pattering barefooted down the hall and jumping into bed with my parents and Daddy  telling me story after story.  I'm so glad that my grandchildren are getting to share some of those same stories with him!

Springtime

The joys of finding Easter Eggs,

   ...being fascinated by the ants found working in a tree, full of awe at the wonder's of nature,



carefree days of youth, I wish I could feel that way again.  One good thing about being a grandmother is that I do get a glimpse into that from time to time through their eyes.

  

One drawback may be that tomorrow when I go to church and ladies around me have perfectly manicured hands with impeccable nails, I will be trying to hide my food color dyed fingers underneath the hymn book.  It's a small price to pay for the wonderfulness I enjoy.