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
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
THANKS - GRACIAS - MERCI - DANKE
You know how you bring along a book with you on vacation just in case you get bored or, perhaps, to read while sunbathing on the beach? I brought along with me ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp. My interest was piqued when I read an article in our town's daily newspaper written my our religion columnist. She encouraged her readers to buy the book and join in one of the several book discussion groups forming around town. She also pointed her readers to her facebook page where she will conduct a live interview with the author on March 13th.
I am about one third through the book and I honestly, don't ever want to finish reading it. The concept is so amazing, yet so simple. How could we have missed it?
I highly recommend this book to you. All the local bookstores have it. Amazon has it. I got mine at ChristianBookDistributers.com. It's a New York Times bestseller.
I'm including a link to author, Ann Voskamp's blog where she journals daily. This is todays post. Have a look..
http://www.aholyexperience.com
I am about one third through the book and I honestly, don't ever want to finish reading it. The concept is so amazing, yet so simple. How could we have missed it?
I highly recommend this book to you. All the local bookstores have it. Amazon has it. I got mine at ChristianBookDistributers.com. It's a New York Times bestseller.
I'm including a link to author, Ann Voskamp's blog where she journals daily. This is todays post. Have a look..
http://www.aholyexperience.com
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
THE FUNKY CHAIR
I had "writers bloc" for a while and couldn't think of a single thing to blog about. But this morning, as I was encouraging a cast teammate and offering her suggestions on how to more economically produce her product............a brainstorm !!!
I was taking pictures to show her what could be done with a simple wooden ball cabinet pull, when voila !!! my subject matter was right before me.
Enter: THE FUNKY CHAIR.
This particular chair had five exact replicas. It was one in a set of six that paraded around our kitchen table when I was a child. Handmade by my Daddy (I guess I come by this inclination naturally!!). My dad was a school teacher. Wonderful profession for a dad. He was home early, had weekends off, all school holidays off and the whole summer. He had plenty of time to doodle on his hobbies. He made us lots of wonderful things. I'll share more about them in future blog posts.
My dad died when I was just 14 years old. I am the oldest of four. All my siblings were each a year younger than the the preceeding one. Just six months after this, we moved to another state, lugging all our earthly belongings - the chairs included. Moved again a year later - but the chairs came too.
My mom stayed in this final house until she died. Then followed the bittersweet distribution of our family heirlooms. With the blessing of my siblings, I inherited two of the chairs.
Of course, when were were actually using the chairs every day in our childhood home, they did not look funky. The looked like normal, everyday chairs. My dad was fond of decals and he plastered a "kitcheny looking" decal on the back splat of each chair.
When the chairs came to live at my house, I wanted them to have a place of honor. I wanted people to admire them. I set about to repurpose them.
At this point in time, there was a local arts movement - spear-headed by a local potter named Victoria MacKenzie-Childs. Her pottery was so whimsical, funky, and colorful, that she soon became a household name. Her wares were carried in posh giftshops all over the country. Even Neiman-Marcus carried MacKenzie-Childs work. There were TV shows featuring her and her home. Her production plant overlooking Cayuga Lake in upstate NY became a destination. Tours were offered, her work was for sale, you could get seconds, have lunch there, browse through the gardens......
I decided to embellish my chairs ala MacKenzie-Childs. What you see is a homage both to her style and to my Daddy.
If you have inherited a precious heirloom, give it a place of honor, make it the star of the show............
I was taking pictures to show her what could be done with a simple wooden ball cabinet pull, when voila !!! my subject matter was right before me.
Enter: THE FUNKY CHAIR.
This particular chair had five exact replicas. It was one in a set of six that paraded around our kitchen table when I was a child. Handmade by my Daddy (I guess I come by this inclination naturally!!). My dad was a school teacher. Wonderful profession for a dad. He was home early, had weekends off, all school holidays off and the whole summer. He had plenty of time to doodle on his hobbies. He made us lots of wonderful things. I'll share more about them in future blog posts.
My dad died when I was just 14 years old. I am the oldest of four. All my siblings were each a year younger than the the preceeding one. Just six months after this, we moved to another state, lugging all our earthly belongings - the chairs included. Moved again a year later - but the chairs came too.
My mom stayed in this final house until she died. Then followed the bittersweet distribution of our family heirlooms. With the blessing of my siblings, I inherited two of the chairs.
Of course, when were were actually using the chairs every day in our childhood home, they did not look funky. The looked like normal, everyday chairs. My dad was fond of decals and he plastered a "kitcheny looking" decal on the back splat of each chair.
When the chairs came to live at my house, I wanted them to have a place of honor. I wanted people to admire them. I set about to repurpose them.
At this point in time, there was a local arts movement - spear-headed by a local potter named Victoria MacKenzie-Childs. Her pottery was so whimsical, funky, and colorful, that she soon became a household name. Her wares were carried in posh giftshops all over the country. Even Neiman-Marcus carried MacKenzie-Childs work. There were TV shows featuring her and her home. Her production plant overlooking Cayuga Lake in upstate NY became a destination. Tours were offered, her work was for sale, you could get seconds, have lunch there, browse through the gardens......
I decided to embellish my chairs ala MacKenzie-Childs. What you see is a homage both to her style and to my Daddy.
If you have inherited a precious heirloom, give it a place of honor, make it the star of the show............
Monday, February 6, 2012
Dress A Girl Around the World
This past Saturday, February 4th, the women's ministry at my church had an old fashioned "quilting bee". Only we didn't make quilts, we made dresses for girls in impoverished nations. We brought sewing machines, ironing boards, irons, scissors, all kinds of notions and trims, etc. and we brought ourselves.
There were specific stations set up. Two tables of sewing machines, 3 ironing stations, 2 cutting tables, a doll making station, assembling of dress kits station.
A dress kit contained the two pieces for the front and back of the dress, elastic for the front and back gathering, seam binding for the arm holes and to tie at the shoulders, a pocket, and an embellishment or two. This was all color co-ordinated.
These kits were packaged in plastic bags for women to take home to put together. Of course, we also put together as many as we could on Saturday. All together we made 40plus dresses in sizes 3 to 12 and an ecology doll to put in each dress pocket.
(doll completely made from fabric and yarn scraps)
The rationale for a girl having a pretty dress in a third world nation is: she is then perceived to be well taken care of by her family (even though she may have no family). There are many, many children orphaned by the aids epidemic who are street waifs. Often the girls are transcripted into the sex trade and forced into prostitution in exchange for food and lodging. Even children who do have parents may live in ghettos made of cardboard boxes. A dress may enable a child to attend school. At the very least, it will lend her a little self respect.
The dresses are always hand delivered to the villages by missionaries. Two families from my church will be delivering dresses - one to Tanzania, Africa and the other with a Young Life mission to S. America. Dresses will be delivered by both of these families to the girls in the villages where they will be ministering.
If you're interested in learning a bit more about this ministry, Here's the link:
http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/
There were specific stations set up. Two tables of sewing machines, 3 ironing stations, 2 cutting tables, a doll making station, assembling of dress kits station.
A dress kit contained the two pieces for the front and back of the dress, elastic for the front and back gathering, seam binding for the arm holes and to tie at the shoulders, a pocket, and an embellishment or two. This was all color co-ordinated.
These kits were packaged in plastic bags for women to take home to put together. Of course, we also put together as many as we could on Saturday. All together we made 40plus dresses in sizes 3 to 12 and an ecology doll to put in each dress pocket.
(doll completely made from fabric and yarn scraps)
The rationale for a girl having a pretty dress in a third world nation is: she is then perceived to be well taken care of by her family (even though she may have no family). There are many, many children orphaned by the aids epidemic who are street waifs. Often the girls are transcripted into the sex trade and forced into prostitution in exchange for food and lodging. Even children who do have parents may live in ghettos made of cardboard boxes. A dress may enable a child to attend school. At the very least, it will lend her a little self respect.
The dresses are always hand delivered to the villages by missionaries. Two families from my church will be delivering dresses - one to Tanzania, Africa and the other with a Young Life mission to S. America. Dresses will be delivered by both of these families to the girls in the villages where they will be ministering.
If you're interested in learning a bit more about this ministry, Here's the link:
http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/
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