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Monday, April 30, 2012

Sandal Toes

Sandals are my shoe of choice all the time. The only exception is when there is fresh, cold snow on the ground. Then I'll wear boots. Just had to do that one time this past winter - hooray...... I think some of you may just now be starting to think about breaking out your sandals. If so, you need snazzy sandal toes. I often give myself a $50.00 pedicure right in my own bedroom. I start by putting a huge beach towel on the floor because I have been known to dump over a bottle of turquoise nail polish on the white carpet (not good). I have an vintage enamel basin that I use as a footbath. I fill it up with bubble bath warm water and have a nice soak. Next come the pumice for nice smooth baby skin, followed by a soothing rub of cream. I attend to the cuticles and nail length. Then the fun part. After a base coat, I pick a color. I've been using a lot of turquoise and also very dark, dark purple (almost black). But for Springtime and Summer...........strawberries.
Hot pink polish with white polka dots. OK, OK, I know strawberries don't have white dots. The strawberry seeds, which are on the outside of strawberries, are sort of black. I tried that and I didn't like it. I like white dots better. If you happen to hang out with any little girls and they see these strawberry toes, they'll want them too. Go ahead and give them a treat.

Monday, April 23, 2012

When Sammy Gets Big She's Gonna Get Married

One day Sammy told me a "story". I'm gonna marry Matthew (her classmate at pre-school) when I grow up, Grammy. (Me) Oh, you are? (Sammy) Yup, and I'm gonna have 12 boys and twelve girls !!!!!!!! (Me) Oh, you are? What will you name all those children. Without hesitation, she proceeded to spout out 12 girls names, then 12 boys names. Boys and girls are terms I use loosely. Here they are: The girls names will be........... 1- Ariel 2- Belle 3- Sleeping Beauty 4- Cinderella 5- Melody 6- Snow White 7- Strawberry Shortcake 8- Ginger Snap 9- Apple Dumpling 10-Angel Cake 11-Amanda 12-Rainbow And the boys names are: 1- Brandon 2- Eric 3- George (after Curious George, I'm sure) 4- Mickey Mouse 5- Sponge Bob 6- Squidward 7- Patrick 8- Gary 9- Alvin 10-Theodore 11-Simon 12-Huckleberry Pie She told me Matthew doesn't know about this. She wants to surprise him !!!! She already has her wedding ring. The hairdresser gave it to her for being a good girl while getting a haircut.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Not Your "Run of the Mill" Breakfast

On Easter Sunday morning, I woke up at 5 a.m., not for a sunrise Easter service but because I was in "caregiver" mode, staying with my niece who had, two days prior, heel surgery to repair a disconnected tendon, turned in foot, incorrect arch, etc. resulting from a 2011 car accident. She needed to take pain meds every 4 hours, including during the night, she needed her ice pack changed and fresh water to drink.

Her husband had emergency appendix surgery just 4 days before, therefore, we were interested in him recovering and getting some good rest and recuperation and leaving the care his little bride to the two aunties (my sister and myself). Try as we might to stand in for her own mamma (our sister), who now resides in glory with Jesus, we did the best we could to cherish and cared-for her like her Mama would.

She does continue to mend and heal day by day as does her hubby (our nephew in law). Is there such a term? I like to just think of him as my nephew.

At 5 a.m. on Easter morning, after I had attended to my niece, my heart told me - this family needs a special Easter breakfast. I didn't want to make something ordinary. But I wasn't at home where I keep all my recipes so I had to "wing it". I made a favorite family pancake, as well as I could remember without the directions.


FAMILY PANCAKE

2 cups of flour - 1 tsp. salt - 4 beaten eggs - about 2 cups of milk (remember I'm, "winging"). Enough of the egg and milk mixture to create a batter with the consistency of a thinnish pancake batter. (like gravy, honey, etc.)

What makes it special is: to cook in a large metal handled skillet 2-3 peeled and thinly sliced apples - 2 tbs. butter - 2 tsp. cinnamon - until apples are soft - add 2 tbs. brown sugar to apple mixture and keep cooking until sugar is melted. Pour the flour-egg-milk mixture over the apples and put the whole skillet into a 350 degree oven for about an hour. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into pancake. If no uncooked batter is on the toothpick, it's done. Let it cool about 5 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar,then slice it in wedges, garnish with a sliced strawberry and serve with a nice hot cup of coffee.

Unbeknown to me, she took a picture of it for her facebook page........




When I make this at home near my recipe box - I make up the batter the night before and store it in the fridge in a glass 4 cup measure. I also cook the apples and store them in a plastic container. In the a.m., before guests are awake,I put the whole thing together in a PAM coated skillet, oven at 350 and bake the pancake along with little link breakfast sausages. I usually invert this one and sprinkle powdered sugar on top - then serve in wedges.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

MY FIRST EVER PAPER BAG SCRAPBOOK

Making a paper bag scrapbook is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I don't know why I waited so long. It was so much fun to do that once I got started I could not stop until it was finished. But, of course, that's how I am with every new venture I try. I cannot wait to see the end product.

I did watch a youtube video to get the general idea of what needs to be done.

I used 3 regular brown paper lunch bags, folded each one in half having the top and the bottom of the bag matching. I placed them one on top of the other, like the video showed. I punched 3 holes on the "spine" of the book. I did use reinforcements for each hole. Later I will bind the book by tying ribbons through each hole.




I folded each page along the inside of the row of holes, leaving me page surface for scrapping, of 4.25" by 4.75". I glued pretty scrapbook paper to all the pages.

Then I began to gather all the photos for my little story. I wanted the scrapbook to tell the story of my March visit with my granddaughters. The book is actually for them. I don't want them to forget all about Grammie while we're separated. They are engraved on my heart so I carry them with me always. But they are little and are busy as little bees, scurrying here there and everywhere, living life at full throttle. This paperbag scrapbook will be a remembrance, for them, of our time together.



Because I used 3 bags, I have 6 pages and there are 3 slots where special goodies can be tucked. I used tags to write little legends or paste pictures to tuck into the slots. I changed the string that came on the tags, with ribbons to pull the enclosures out of the slots.

This will go in the mail and be a little Easter present for the girls.