The Christmas celebrating continues!  I'm in the middle of creating memories and getting ready for a second Christmas.  Much too busy for posting and such.  I'll see you all after I get back home and have to go back to real life.  Tata!

Christmas Eve

Here I thought I was doing so well, that it had only been since Friday that I hadn't posted.  And then I come here and find that Wednesday, not Friday was my last post!  What's up with that?  I'm sure someone must have taken a day or two out of last week somewhere! lol  Ah well.  Story of my life.

What I came to say is Merry Christmas Eve to "ya'll".  I Love Christmas Eve.  I love Christmas Eve even more than I love Christmas Day.  Know why?  Anticipation!  The very air is charged with excitement, anticipating what is to come the next day.  On Christmas Eve, the world just seems different, doesn't it?   I love being able to go to Christmas Eve service, to sing the carols and listen to The Story being read and remember again how The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  (With my work schedule right now though, I'd probably pass out before the first song was through! lol)  Even if there is no service, there is often family together, cozy at home, sharing food and laughter and games and music and love (and more food!).  You can hardly wait for Christmas Day to come, and yet part of you doesn't want it to come just yet, because once it's here you can't anticipate it anymore.  It's a paradox and I love it!  So enjoy your Christmas Eve.  There's a delicious holiday(or Holy Day, to put it more correctly) to celebrate tomorrow, but tonight is the night to revel in the wonder and anticipation of it.  A toast to Christmas Eve!!

Wordless Wednesday

Anyone know where this is?  =)  Merry Christmas!

Fun & Fellowship

I confess to having a hard time getting started today.  You know you're getting old when you sit up on the side of the bed in the morning and say to yourself "you really should have taken that ibuprofen last night"! lol  Why does it seem like the days you need to get the most done are the days you have a headache or feel tired or just plain don't feel like doin' nothin'?  Oy.  So while I'm waiting for my internal get-up-and-go to crank into gear, I figure why not post something?  It's time for a real post anyway---not those lazy psuedo-posts I've been doing lately! lol

There have actually been some fun things going on in this 'chere house.  I've been enjoying fantastic fellowship with friends.  How's that for some alliteration this morning?  It started 2+ weeks ago on a Friday evening with a visit from my dear cousins.  My cousin Suzanne and her family stopped by for a couple nights on their way from Pennsylvania back home to Florida.  We had less than 48 hours together, but we packed it full to the brim with fun!  We ate---and ate and ate some more!  I had so much fun getting to cook for guests that I told them they were Going to eat whether they were hungry or not! lol  While they were here,  her husband Keith and their boys raked leaves from a huge section of my yard.  What a blessing!  You guys have no idea what a relief that was!  They piled them up into a gigantic pile and then we set fire to it.  I say this with  caution, but there is something quite delightful about setting something on fire and watching it burn.  Maybe that's why I have candles lit all the time. lol  Anyway, it was a glorious bonfire---for about 5 minutes.  Leaves are like that. No substance whatsoever.  Didn't even give us a chance to get the hotdogs out.  Party poopers!  But we did have time to get a few pictures and enjoy the blaze and warmth in the cool air, so I guess that was good enough.  Then we went inside to eat some more.....=)  The leaf blaze was kind of like our time together---warm and delightful, but over far too soon.  But as Suzie said,  We will be thankful that it was, instead of wishing it were longer.  That doesn't mean I'm not hoping they'll come back soon though!  =)

Then there was last Friday.  Yes, I like Friday evenings---at least the ones before my Saturday off!  I had a dinner party.  So exciting---I felt like a grownup! lol  I really hope there is someone else out there who knows what I mean by that!  Do you ever have moments where you feel like a kid inside, but it suddenly hits you that you really are a grownup and getting to do some of the things you dreamed about when you were a kid---and then you feel a sense of amazement?  Maybe it's just me! lol  Anyway, my dinner party went without a hitch and I enjoyed myself immensely.  =)  There were 5 of us, and we ate and talked and drank coffee and ate some more and talked some more.  Then came the music.  For me, music is just a natural finish to an evening of food and conversation.  It's like dessert after a fine meal.  Just the right finish.  Of course, singing is much easier Before the meal, but it doesn't usually happen then.  Not sure why.  Maybe it's because before the meal people are busy with the prep work and have no time for singing.  Whatever the reason, it seems to be the way it is.  It just so happened that in the group were 2 "traveling minstrels" who just so happened to bring their guitars with them.  =)  So after coffee and dessert, we moved our "conversation" to the living room and spent time singing, playing, talking, laughing.  As I said, just the right finish to the evening.  The thing is, now I want to do it some more.  Hopefully there will be more, with more friends, soon.

Now we come to last night.  I know, this has turned into a small autobiography by now, but dont' worry.  I'll be back to pseudo-posts soon enough! lol  Last night was an evening that has been in the "sometime" section of the plan book for a while.  I have a couple friends that cope with a disease called Porphyria .  Because of their "allergies" (for want of a better term) to sunlight and flourescent light and chemicals (they have more than one kind of porphyria--as if one wasn't bad enough for them!), going out anywhere requires a plan!  They really love a restaurant nearby called Dos Perros---a moderately upscale Mexican restaurant near to them.  I love Mexican food, and had never been, so we decided to go together at some point.  Last night was finally "some point".  We waited until dark, called ahead to connect with the staff to make sure they would hold off on the chemical spraying (table cleaning, etc.) and set off for Dos Perros (which means Two Dogs in Spanish. I  don't know why!  I didn't name the place! lol)  It was an amazing experience really.  Fantastic customer service!  The manager there--and some of the wait staff as well, have come to know these friends, and are Very accomodating to their allergies.  The manager himself came out and seated us, addressing Esther and William as friends.  Out waiter Enrique conversed with Esther in Spanish--so fun!--and recommended dinner options that might suite our taste and yet accomodate William and Esther's allergies.   I don't know if I have ever been to a restaurant where the service was more attentive and yet completely unintrusive.  The food was yummy of course, but what made the experience was the service and atmosphere.  Fine dining--in a dressy casual way, complete with dim lighting, music, and bustling atmosphere.  Not to mention guacamole that is out of this world!  If you ever get the chance to go to Dos Perros in Durham, North Carolina, take it!  As for me, once again I'm looking forward to the next time.  There seems to be a theme here with me! lol  All these fun times leave me wanting to do them all over again.  I guess that's a good thing.  So much better than having experiences that leave you hoping to never ever do them again. lol

If you are still awake after this epistle,  I hope you are having the Merriest of Christmastides.  =)  Christ the Savior is born!  Celebrate!!

Wordless Wednesday

I almost forgot!  So here it is.  Know what it is? 

Merry Christmas!! 

Monday Muse

It's Monday again.  I know, I know, I don't like them either!  But the good news is that we don't have another one for 7 days!  lol  Here's another tidbit for you to muse upon:


It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. ~W.T. Ellis 


Here's hoping that Christmas fills your heart this week so that your air will be full of it too!

Food.........in a manner of speaking

Instead of a food review---which I technically could do since I am sitting here with a comforting bowl of  "pasta e fagioli".  Haven't eaten any in years, but this batch today is just as yummy as I remember.  Italian soul-food.  Mmmm-mm!  But today I want to ask What is your favorite kitchen gadget/utensil?  Or, if you're like me and have a hard time picking one "favorite", what is one of your favorites?  Something you find yourself using a lot, or maybe something that makes a certain task so much easier.  One of the things that I am falling quite in love with is my Pyrex 2-qt batter bowl.  You know the one the spout on it so you can mix and then pour.  I've had it for a while, but recently have found myself reaching for it more and more.  It's just so convenient!  So what do you find yourself reaching for again and again in your kitchen?  I'm always in the mood for a new kitchen gadget, so leave me some comments!  

And if you would like to get Louise Moscato's recipe for Pasta e Fagioli, aka comfort and nutrition in a bowl, let me know and I'll post it.  Just make sure you have some warm crusty bread when you make it!  You'll regret it if you don't!  =)

Wordless Wednesday

Not exactly Christmas photos, but I stumbled on them today while browsing the computer and just had to post them.  Taken at Cossayuna Lake, NY.  Don't the colors just take your breath away?

Monday Muse

Oh me.  It seems I'm destined to be a once a week post-er!  Grr!  I'm going to blame it all on work.  Just because it seems like a good culprit and because I can. lol  But in order to try to overcome this lack of post issue, I put together a sort-of schedule I can use so that I can post something even when I'm too tired or busy to write much.  So today--Monday--will be the Monday Muse: some inspirational quote to start your week out right (hopefully!).  Since we are now officially in the Christmas/Advent season it seems only appropriate that today's "muse" should be on that theme:


"Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year - and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority."  ~W.J. Cameron

Well said, Sir. Well said.


Hopefully soon there will be a post about my weekend time with some very special people.  The key word here being "hopefully"..... I wouldn't advise holding your breath--- just in case it's another week....  =)  In the mean time  CELEBRATE the Season!

Holidays and Music Memories

Oh my!  It looks like I was so busy celebrating Thanksgiving I forgot to post.........=)  How was your Thanksgiving by the way?  Obviously mine was lovely! lol  Actually it was very nice.  Quiet, but that's the way I tend to like things anyway.  I had 2 days off (the holiday and the day after), which felt like a mini vacation. Not to mention that as a nurse having 2 days off over a major holiday is a real bonus.  That's one of the perks about working in dialysis----you get the 3 major holidays off.  Anyway, back to celebrating.  I spent the day relaxing, doing a bit of crafting, a bit of shopping and a bit of cooking.  I baked a turkey breast---thought about doing a big turkey since the price was better, but 19 lbs of turkey for one person seemed a wee bit extreme...........=P---so I just did a small breast and then did some green beans and an apple pie.  I actually ate the pie before dinner so I could eat some hot.  Mmmmm!  Love, Love, Love HOT apple pie!  It was probably the simplest Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had, but it was really quite tasty.  Now, though, I'm in the mood to make a big Thanksgiving spread! lol  Funny how that goes.  Women and their moods......  I know that's what you guys were thinking so I just said it for you.  =)  The day after Thanksgiving was cleaning day.  This house has been looking like a tornado tore through it for much too long!  Besides, I have company coming this weekend and Friday was my last day off until they get here (except Sunday, but I don't clean then).  I cleaned like a mad thing!  My microwave, fridge, and kitchen sink are still getting over their bemusement! lol  I still have some to do, but was really happy I got as far as I did.  I didn't get to the dreaded bathroom, but that's good because I will do it like the night before my company gets here so at least something will still be sparkling! lol  I don't know why I dread the bathroom so bad, but I do.  I don't need a maid for anything else in my house---don't mind the dishes, the laundry, the sweeping, etc---but I would LOVE a maid for the bathroom! lol  Can you see it now?  "Merry Maids?  Yes, I need someone to come once a week to clean just the bathroom"......  *sigh*  I suppose it's good discipline for me to not do that and to just suck it up and continue doing it myself.... Besides, the money I save can be put to other, more "crafty" use, if you know what I mean!  =) 

Here's a shift in gears for you.  I've been meaning to post about this for days, but the celebrating got in the way.....lol   Several days ago I was playing a couple pieces from Handel's Messiah and it brought back memories from Thanksgivings past.  Music was always a big part of our family celebrations at Grandma's house.  And many times Handel's Messiah was a part of that music.  I have so many memories of family gathered around the piano playing and singing.  You never knew who it would be, the group was always different.  Depended on who was in what mood.  And while the ones at the piano were singing, there was probably most of the time someone in a chair resting or reading who was also humming or singing along.  Sometimes Handel, sometimes other holiday music, but always music.  We can't help ourselves, it's in the genes. =)  For some families, it's football on Thanksgiving---always and without fail.  It's a cherished family tradition and they wouldn't want to be without it.  But me, I'm thankful for the music memories made over many years.  It's a family tradition I cherish, and I'll take it over football any day.

Thanks Be To God!

Today was one of those mornings that seemed as if God was saying "Just want to remind you who is in charge here, and Who is supposed to get the glory out of this."  Let me explain.  It started out as a perfectly normal Sunday morning---until the music started.  When the praise team was practicing it seemed like the instruments just weren't lining up right, tunewise.  Then the choir practiced for our song and it seemed like we were stumbling around.  The pianist was Very nervous because she had not gotten to practice the choir song very much due to being away. During service, pastor tried to show us a video.....quit in the middle; during singing the slides got mixed up so we in the congregation lost our words for an entire verse; and again, there was some trouble with instruments and voices lining up both in tune and rhythm.  Seemed like one thing after another!  I was a little fearful how the choir number would sound after all this!  But we went up and "sang with abandon" and from all accounts it sounded good (Thanks be to God!).  Now, depending on your perspective, you could say that these were all attempts by Satan to distract us from worship---and they very well could have been.  But I was reminded that all the talents we have come from God.  Every one.  And He expects us to use them for His Glory.  That is the only reason they were given to us---to bring glory to our Creator.  The thing is, sometimes we forget.  And then we go off down the garden path thinking that we are something special, and our abilities come from our own efforts. Oh we are so grand!  That's when it happens.  A morning like this morning when God cares about us enough to let our notes go sour or off kilter in order to remind us Who really is the Grand one.   Now I'm not saying that anyone was forgetting this morning.  I don't know that.  Thankfully that is God's job and not mine!  =)  But whether we have forgotten or not (yet!), the reminder is a good one: God is the One who is "all that", and all our talents are gifts meant to bring Him praise. 

"Thanks be to God, Creator of it all."

I went to a wedding today.  It was lovely.  It was not your typical wedding, which is one of the things that made it really fun and special.  The bride and groom are dear friends from church.  They grew up together, went their separate ways, then connected again in mid-life.  Unlike young adult weddings that tend to be full of much decoration and frill---and much stress about every detail being exactly right---this event was very relaxed and simple.  Just people getting together to celebrate the Love of two people they love.  Very few frills, but much laughter---even in the ceremony.  =) The bride was glowing, the groom obviously madly in love with her.  At the reception the food was simple and delicious, the guests lingering around tables talking, the wedding couple meandering among them.  And very unlike most weddings, the couple stayed around and said goodbye to the guests as they trickled away one by one (the bride's wish).  Everything simple, but filled with joy. Exactly what a wedding should be.  In recent years weddings in particular have become difficult for me to attend---for reasons I shall not go into here.  So I went this morning a bit reluctantly.  But I wanted to celebrate my good friends---and its good for me to mingle with people now and again instead of being the hermit I tend to become. =)  I'm glad I went.  It was one of the very best.

Congratulations B&C!  The best of everything to you!

Wordless Wednesday

Bass Harbor Headlight, Acadia National Park.  One of the few still working lighthouses---this one run by the Coast Guard.  This is one of Mary (my sister) and my favorite places to sit and read when we go to ANP, especially on a Sunday. =)

I really must do something about this posting every 5 days thing!  I know, there's no rule that one has to post on any kind of schedule, it just bugs me when I don't get posts up more often.  I can't help it, its my OCD! lol  Anyway.  There is something else that I have been trying to do, and so far I have done pretty well if I say so myself.  I get so frustrated at lack of time at home to do the things that I need and want to do.  And, since going part-time is not an option at present, I decided that I really have to get myself in gear after work and do a few things.  See the problem I've been having is Facebook.  I come home from work, get a shower, and then its 'sit down at the computer to see what my friends have been up to'.  You know where this is going, don't you?  After sitting at the computer for an hour I don't feel like doing one.thing. Not.One.  So I don't.  Consequently, what is left for the days off is too much!  This leaves me weighing the options of keeping house (or doing one of the other million things that also need doing) vs playing creating instead of having time for both.  This = frustration!!!  Feeling frustrated makes me feel like not doing any of it, so I get on Facebook.  You see my problem? lol  SO.  What I decided to try to do is to make a list--plan my week if you will.  I've started penciling in the things that I need to get done each day--and trying to be reasonable about what I can realistically get done if its a work day. In order to make this work, though, I have to stay away from the computer and Facebook until after I've at least worked on my list for that day.  Notice I did not say "completed".  Key words there! lol  C'mon!  A girl can't be expected to be perfect every day!  But I am proud to say that in the last couple days I have done good!  It feels good too, because when my day off came (today), not only was I able to get a lot done, I also got to play in my craft room!  Now if I can just keep this up.  I know there are going to be days when I am just too tired to do anything, or when I just "have" to go play in the craft room even if the list says "you must clean the bathroom". lol  I am not expecting Marine Corps perfection of myself in this.  =)  My goal is just to get better at my time management so there is less frustration, more creating---and a less messy house........=)   We shall see how it goes....

Recipe Review

This is the kind of post I would like to put up more often!  I long to have more time in the kitchen, but other supposedly more important things take up so much of my time.  What could be more important than being able to try new recipes every day? lol  Anyway.  I have gone through a few of my cookbooks and written down on a sheet of paper (one for each book) the I-must-make-or-be-unfulfilled-in-life recipes.  =)  The list for each book is then tucked inside the front cover waiting for the moment when I simply have to try a new recipe.  Saves me pawing through book after book trying to find The One that strikes me (passing over the Chicken-Fried Elk and Sauteed Frog Legs with Teriyaki Glaze) until I'm tired and no longer in the cooking mood!  I have considered just picking out a book at random and taking its list one by one until its done.  You know, a Random Recipe Challenge.  But that is a little difficult because sometimes I'm not in the mood for some "foreign"(to me, I'm not bashing ethnic dishes here!) Chicken Tortilla Casserole, but rather a new delicious dessert (its usually about the sugar here, ok).  But then other times I need a great new savory dish for a potluck and am not so in need of something like Caramel Praline Brownies.... (Although how could I ever NOT be in need of such a thing?!)  So I'm thinking the pick and choose according to my mood thing might work best for me.  I mean, where else in life can you pick and choose according to your mood?  =)  And by now you're thinking "I wish she would just go on and get to the Recipe Review already!!"  Ok!Ok!  I'm going.  Don't be so pushy.  Its better for your blood pressure if you take like a little easy now and then!

The recipe is called Coconut Crunch Delight and it really is a Delight.  I made it and took it to work.  No reason, just because I wanted to.  (Of course if you despise coconut, then I'm sorry.  This is definitely not your recipe day!)  Its simple to put together, and is light and fluffy and delicious!  So yummy, in fact, that I have been informed that I must make more and take it to work. =)  Here's the recipe:

Coconut Crunch Delight

1/2 c (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted
1 c flour
1 1/4 c flaked coconut
1/4 c brown sugar, packed
1 c slivered (I used sliced) almonds
1 package (3.4oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 package (3.4 oz) instant coconut cream pudding mix
2 2/3 c cold milk
8 oz whipped topping (Cool Whip)

Combine first 5 ingredients; press lightly into a 13 x 9 in. pan.  Bake at 350degrees for 25-30 min or until golden brown, stirring every 10 min to make coarse crumbs.  Cool.  Divide in half; press one half into the 13 x 9 pan again.  Beat pudding mixes and milk (you want really cold milk and whisk pudding until it thickens good).  Fold in Cool Whip; spoon over crust. Top with remaining crumbs. Cover and refrigerate overnight.  (I don't think you would have to refrigerate overnight)

YUM-O!  Try it.  Soon.  =)
~~taken from Taste Of Home Annual Recipes 1997

Ahhhh Saturday morning!  Of all my days off, Saturday mornings are my favorite.  I don't really know why.  Maybe its the sense of freedom I feel because I have to work 2 Saturdays out of the month.  As a nurse you get used to the fact that Saturdays are a part of your work life, but it doesn't mean you have to like it. =)  So maybe its because I get to be lazy on a morning of the week when so many other people get to be lazy.  Whatever the reason, I love Saturday mornings.  I mean, even the air is different, don't you think?  =)  So this morning I'm in lazy clothes (translate fleece and jersey knit), nursing my first cup of coffee, cantina lights on, Cider Donut candle burning and CHRISTMAS MUSIC playing!!!  Yep, I finally broke out the Christmas music.  I couldn't take it any more! lol  Now let me insert here that I am all for Thanksgiving.  I hate it that Thanksgiving gets swallowed up in the mad, materialistic, "Holiday" rush that is pushed by the commercial sector of our society.  I like to savor Thanksgiving and celebrate it and decorate for it with pumpkins and leaves and corn stalks, the whole bit.  However, you must admit that there is a Real dirth of "Thanksgiving Music".  I haven't tried it, but I doubt that Pandora would recognize what I wanted if I typed in "Thanksgiving Radio"! lol  So, since I don't have Thanksgiving Music to play, I substitute with the Christmas stuff.  After all, Christ's birth is the One thing in life for which we should be Most thankful, right?  It seems appropriate then that I should play Christmas music for Thanksgiving.  =)  Of course there is the dilemma of where Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer fits in all of this.........lol 

I have wanted/intended to post more this week, but for some reason its been a week of exhaustion.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe its still from getting back into the swing of things from vacation?  Or maybe its because I'm now 40 and this is the way it is? lol  I know this is coincidental, but it does seem like I have felt way more tired ever since I hit the big 40.  Depression maybe? lol  Anyway, I hope to do better in future with the posting business.  I said "hope".  You know how I am! lol  I've been trying to think up a little schedule-type thing for posting.  I can't always think of what to write or I'm too tired to come up with something witty, so I just don't post.  So I though that if I had a few things that were sort of "pre-written", as it were, maybe that would help.  You know, like a "Blessing of the Week" or "Quote of the Week" post.  I've already started with the Wordless Wednesday---and as you saw, this last Wednesday was Completely wordless.........  I also really want to try making some new recipes, so maybe there could be a Recipe Review day.  Of course, with the way my cooking skills have been working lately, I'm not sure ANY of my reviews should be trusted! lol  (I don't know what happened, but recently I have had a hard time getting my cooking to turn out.  Maybe the skills leaked out with the 4-0 along with my energy?)  I'll see how it works out.  It would be nice to be all organized and post to a set schedule, but that's not usually how I roll, so don't know what will happen.....  But that makes life interesting, right?

Ya'll enjoy your weekend!  There are a ton of things I need to get done (you should see my kitchen......um, no you shouldn't really!), but 7 Wonders (computer game) is calling my name...........=) 

Maine Adventure

It's been quite a week.  It's always hard (at least for me) to get back into the swing of things after vacation.  Especially with work.  Someday I will do a job I love.  I will.  That's what I keep telling myself anyway.  It's not that my job is all bad.  There are some nice things about it.  I just don't love it or even enjoy it.  But someday I will find my niche and I won't dread going back to work after vacation!  =)  But that is another story.  Back to vacation. (I wish!)  This promises to be a rather lengthy post, so if you aren't in the mood for lengthy posts, you can stop here.  Ok.  Don't say I didn't warn  you.  The first day is one of the most fun days of a vacation, in my opinion.  You have excitement coursing through your veins, combined with the relief of not having to go back to work for however many days.  I love it.  This time, however, my first day was.......interesting.  (But divinely orchestrated, which I will get to later.)  The plane that was to wing me from Raleigh to Boston had some sort of malfunction (not of the wardrobe type) that was going to take at least 2 hours to fix.  This of course meant that I would miss my flight from Boston to Bar Harbor.  I called the tiny air company in Bar Harbor to see when the next flight would be and it was going to be 6am the next day.  SO didn't work for me, but I figured if that was the best I could get, so be it.  Then all of a sudden it dawned on me that the Bangor airport (which I have used before) was not far away!  So when it was my turn to talk to the ticket agent  I gleefully told her that I didn't need to get to Boston, didn't even need to get to Bar Harbor; I just needed to get to Maine!  Well that was easy.  It just so happened that I could catch a flight to NY and from there to Bangor---and all in the same day!  What a relief!  Then there was the rental car, but that too turned out to be not a problem as Enterprise was very congenial and switched everything so that I could rent from Bangor instead of Bar Harbor.  So 3 hours later than I had planned, I was on my way to Mount Desert Island---the home of Acadia National Park.  I didn't get to do the food-gathering as planned, since I was late, but it was actually more fun because we all did it together.  5 women, most of them hungry, grocery shopping for a week.........you can imagine the pile of food we left with!  I have to say, though, that we did pretty well for ourselves in using it up.....=)  The rest of the week was spent exploring--again--ANP.  It's a beautiful place.  Like I said before, if you have not seen it you need to put it on your Bucket List immediately!  Although, if you do not care for nature and the outdoors and would rather have entertainment, you would not feel at home there, so you might as well go to Vegas or something. lol  For me, the ocean crashing against the rocks, the mountains, the hiking trails that take you up the mountains so you can see everything down below, the lighthouses---everything about the place, really, is so relaxing and refreshing.  I could (and did) sit for hours watching the sea curl and crash and spray.  What is it about water, particularly the ocean, that we find mesmerizing?  I haven't yet figured it out, I just know it is.  This year we went on a couple hikes, which are great because the views at the top are just spectacular.  You get up there and feel like you are on top of the world and looking down at lakes and islands and houses---all surrounded by the open water.  Worth all the huffing and puffing to get to the top!  And yes, there was much huffing and puffing.  I said we did the hikes, I didn't say we were all in tip top shape.......... Several other days we spent most of our outdoor time watching the water--and taking pictures.   If I told you how many I took you'd probably refer me to the men in white coats!  Suffice it to say that I took some ribbing about no one seeing me all vacation long because I was constantly behind the lens.  =)  Our days generally went like this:  Lazy mornings spent drinking coffee and checking the computers (eating too, of course!).  Noon or so we would amble out of the house for whatever ramble was on the menu for that day (one day was shopping in Bar Harbor--so nice!).  Most times we only stayed out until dusk/dark, for obvious reasons.  Then it was back to our cozy house to light the fire and stir up something tasty for supper (chili in the crockpot or tacos or shrimp pasta.....)  Yum.  After which there was more lazing around, with computers or reading or photo sorting, usually accompanied by a movie of some kind.  All of this to the sound of the fire crackling.......  The house was snug and cozy with nice water heat, a claw-foot tub upstairs, firm mattresses and a lovely beadboard kitchen.  The artwork was also beautiful---an eclectic collection of photos/paintings/drawings of Maine subjects---more than one of which I wanted to "accidentally" drop into my suitcase....=)  It was really a restful week and was over far too quickly.  Before I was ready, it was time to say goodbye to my sisters (too hard!) and climb on the plane headed South again.  (Goodbyes really are so unpleasant---both the ones to sisters and the ones to Maine!!  Yucky.)  The plane is another story by itself.  Remember I said that I would refer back to my "divine scheduling" from the first trip?  Well, here it is.  The airport in Bar Harbor is small---reeeaallllyy small.  Which means, of course, that only really small planes fly in there.  Unfortunately I didn't realize just how small until it was too late........  The plane that they sent for me was a Cessna propeller deal with 10 seats.  10.  That includes the pilot!  No cockpit here or flight attendant or even overhead/underseat space.  Nope.  Just the pilot and 9 of us crazy lucky people who needed to get to Boston.  Our pre-flight safety briefing was the pilot turning around in his seat and telling us where exits were and that our seat cushions were floatation devices, etc. One of my fellow passengers sat in the Co-Pilot's seat!!!!  If I could have turned and run away I would have!  I did NOT want to get on that plane!  But there it was, so on I went.  In one sense it was cool to see the islands and mountains of Maine up close and personal, as it were.  It really was like one of those sight-seeing plane deals where you go up just to tour a place.  That's what I had to tell myself---"You're just going up on a sight-seeing flight. It's ok."  And it was fun to hear my fellow passengers from Maine talking about the sights down below, identifying islands and harbors and mountains.  It made the flight bearable.  But I have to tell you, it was scary too.  Out over the open ocean in a plane not much bigger than a tuna can........*shudder*  Every now and then the pilot would angle the flight path out further over the water and I wanted to yell at him to "get back over closer to land"!  lol  I felt kind of like a missionary----the ones that have to use little planes like that to get to and from remote areas of the world.  =)  Of course we could see the pilots gauges and hear his buzzers (NOT pleasant!).  He was quite calm and efficient and seemed to know what he was about.  At one point one of his digital readings started flashing 0.00 and I thought "Oh please don't let that be the fuel reading!"  lol  I'm kidding, of course.  I know it wasn't that, but it was a bit disconcerting.  Thankfully it was a beautiful clear day so the flight was mostly very smooth, and in just over an hour we were landing in Boston.  I didn't quite bend down and kiss the earth when I got out, though the thought did come to mind......=)  I was very thankful to be on solid ground again though!  And here's where I knew that what I thought was a scheduling snafu on my previous trip was really divine intervention.  God knew that had I taken that little plane from Boston to Bar Harbor the first time, I would have dreaded that return flight my entire vacation, and might not have even been able to make myself do it (without medication, that is!).  So He rearranged things for me to spare me that.  I am so thankful.  Once again, I am amazed at God's busying Himself with our little affairs.  He's got the whole world to run, and yet He changed things up for me just to make them easier.  He didn't have to, but He did.  Of course, He may have had entirely other reasons than that for working things out the way He did.  But these ones work for me for now.  =)  So that's it in a (very big) nutshell.  My vaca to Maine.  We have already begun thinking about next year.  That's what Maine does to you.  Pulls you in and doesn't let you go.  Try it and you'll see what I mean.  Just make sure you fly into Bangor.......=)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

I'm back from Maine, but have not yet collected my wits enough to post a proper "Vacation Monologue" yet.  I'm definitely in "Vacation Withdrawl" mode today!!  So, I'll just post another (Almost) Wordless Wednesday.  =)

This was taken from the Beech Mountain area in Acadia National Park, Maine.  Down below is Echo Lake, out in back is the open Sea.......

See why I love this place so much?

I should have posted.  I know.  But all I can say right now is that Maine is as gorgeous and relaxing as ever and I am having a blast with "The Girls".  No time for posting and things (except pictures on Facebook).  Maybe tomorrow when we stay inside because its raining........ But don't hold your breath.  I don't want to be responsible for any syncopal episodes or anything!  I want to soak in all this serenity before I have to leave it again.  Or not.  My sister is currently looking at real estate on her ipad..........So maybe I'll be moving.  =)

I'm off to Maine tomorrow! I can't believe its finally here! I will be flying and my sisters will be driving---its only fair that it be that way since they "only" have 500 miles to go, while I have about 1000 miles. lol So I fly. For once my suitcases are all packed except for last minute stuff. Usually I'm bustling about and going a million directions the night before I leave. Not this time. This time I was determined to get things done ahead of time, and I did! I was packed on Saturday night--2 days early! Whew. I think that has to be a record. =) Anyway, we are headed to Acadia National Park, which is one of the most gorgeous places on God's green earth. I have been there many, many times--so that by now its rather like an old friend. Its a fabulous place for resting and relaxing and enjoying serenity. If you ever get a chance to go to ANP, Take It! Put it on your "Bucket List". Now. Today. (We are supposed to have internet there, so I may just stir my lazy self to post a picture or two.) Its wonderful. And of course there is the whole going-somewhere-with-friends thing too. Its a great time for all of us to get together. We ramble and eat and laugh and eat and talk and eat and sleep and eat.......well you get the picture. Since I am getting there first, food-gathering is my responsibility. And when I say "food-gathering", please don't get any sweet images of me picking nuts and berries, or tromping through the woods for game! I assure you its all quite modernly done in the comfort of the nearby Walmart and Hannaford stores, and the only picking I do is plucking things off the shelves and putting them in my cart! lol  But that's tomorrow. Tonight its time to go to bed and dream of lighthouses and pines and waves crashing on the rocks.......

I really had wanted to write about something today, but then I promptly came home from work and went right to work on the computer designing some pages for my "Household Binder".  I found some printables on the net, and I probably will use some of them, but there were a couple things I wanted to include as sections and did not find any free printables, so decided to try to make my own.  =)  I've been using my Silhouette Studio program and they are turning out to my liking for the most part.  Now if I can just learn to use Paint Shop Pro or some such program, then I might be able to make more in there.  The thing with the Silhouette program is that you can only save your work as Silhouette documents, instead of saving the stuff in another format that might be more useful.  So it means I really need to learn Paint Shop Pro.  I told my friend Morado (in her words, "sounds like tornado" lol) that she needs to put some tutorials on her blog Little Bits Of Lilac since she is literally a "Paint Shop Pro".  =)  She's been using the program for like a bazillion years, though, so I told her the tutorials need to be for "wittle kids" beginners like me.  =)  Speaking of her blog, go on over and show her some love!  You're good for a laugh--or three (the trip to Walmart is a MUST read---entitled Soggy Sunday).  So anyway, long story short, the computer is why I am missing the inspirational post I was supposed to write. (Is that like saying "The devil made me do it............?)lol  Maybe tomorrow I won't forget...............yeah right! Who am I kidding?  Have a great weekend---all you lucky folk who don't have to work them!  =P So there!

Wordless Wednesday

A new camera makes anything fun......=)

I have absolutely nothing insightful or interesting to write about tonight---unless of course my turning 40 TOMORROW is considered interesting! lol  At the moment I am feeling pressed by my mounting list of things that need doing in the next week (though I can tell you that some of them will NOT get done until I get back from vaca, whether they need doing or not!).  My house is a wreck, the lawn needs mowing, laundry needs done, and of course there is my nonexistant (yet!) Etsy shop that I keep rambling about.  If I don't open it soon people are going to start thinking I'm making up stories!  I made a mistake talking about selling my towels before I got the shop open.  I should have slaved away in secret painting all kinds of deliciousness, and then got the shop in order.  Then I could have blown everyone away with my talent at a lovely Grand Opening celebration. lol  But you know what they say about hindsight.  Mine is definitely 20/20, unlike my forward vision which is about as bad as my eyes in real life (Very Bad)  Oy!  Anyway.  I'm feeling stressed about all the things that need done and not enough time this week to do much of Anything. However.  Tomorrow is my birthday, and my 40th birthday at that, and I refuse---Absolutely Refuse--- to clean house or mow the lawn!!!  So.  I am leaving all my stressing things behind and escaping to Colonial Williamsburg for the day, armed with my new Canon Rebel.  I plan to give it a strenuous workout/initiation.  The weatherman is predicting mostly Sunny with a 10% chance of rain, so I hope he is right.  I plan to get there early since if there is to be any rain it seems to be coming later in the day.  I am hoping for some fabulous pictures and lots of relaxation, not to mention just a little shopping.......it is my birthday, after all.  Yes, yes, I know, the camera was supposed to be my birthday present, but one of my co-workers told me that 40 deserved an extra present, so I'm taking her advice!  lol  I hope you all have a delightful weekend.  See you on the flip side!

Intentional Homekeeping

Its been 5 days.....Tsk Tsk Tsk!  But the days do go by so quickly when one is having so much fun (insert sarcastic tone here).  =)  It is true though, that the days seem like they are whizzing by and sometimes I have to just hang on for dear life and hope I can catch my breath at some point!  Which brings me to a subject I have been cogitatin' on lately.  Organization. Homemaking. Living Intentionally.  So, as is my usual habit when I want to know something, I've been browsing the internet looking for websites that have good tips (and free printables!) on organization and homemaking.  I really want to be more organized.  I have this vision of my house all neat and tidy--not in a sterile, furniture store way, but a cozy lived-in tidy.  Baskets on shelves all in neat rows, the hutch all decorated for whichever holiday is nearest, and the bathroom sparkling fresh.  But between living here by myself and working full time, so much just doesn't get done.  Why bother?  There's no one to see it anyway.  Sometimes it bugs me, but other times I have other things to do so I don't think about it.  But lately I've been thinking about how much I love this place in the country, how much of a sanctuary it has become for  me, and I thought Why Not?  Why shouldn't I focus on that---making this place into my cozy refuge from the "howling wilderness".  So what if there is no one to see it, no one to share it with at present.  I'm here, I see it, and I think it would make my current contentment here even richer.  It would also give me something to work on.  I don't have friends close by, so why not take the lonely times and use them to work on my "nest"?  Now don't get me wrong, I have friends.  An abundance of them.  However, many of them are far away or just far enough away so that its not easy to get together for quick little visits---like you would if you lived just across the drive or around the corner from each other.  So this makes for empty times.  So I've been thinking that if I took more time to make my house a home this might help with the lonely times--both the work and the place it creates.  It would take the focus away from the lonely times and put it into creating something.  Am I making sense? I keep running across the phrase  "Intentional Living" and I think this is what I am talking about.  Living day-to-day (and not more than ONE day at a time) instead of existing day-to-day.  To me this also includes Intentional Homemaking.  Keeping house--and dressing it up, cooking, making gardens---all on purpose.  Not just flying by the seat of your pants every day.  (Not that there won't still be days like that, but maybe fewer than there are now.)  I think this may be one of the keys to contentment I've been looking for.  (Or maybe this is all just a bunch of mishmash brought on by the fact that I am turning 40---yes, you heard me!--40 in a few days.  I don't know.  Is this what a mid-life crisis feels like? lol)  I am learning, albeit very slowly, that you need to focus on the good things in your life so that you can cope with the not-so-good things.  This place in the country is one of the oh-so-good things in my life.  So if I focus some intentional attention here, then maybe it will help me cope with the "lesser nice" things (like my job).  Surely knowing that I can run home to my cozy country cottage must count for something!  =)   And of course while I'm saying all this, please know that my first and foremost source of comfort and strength and contentment is Jesus Christ.  In all my posts and wanderings, know that He is a given.  So all this talk about Intentional Living and cozy cottages is fine, but it is completely impossible for me without having Him first.  Got it?  Okay, just so's we understand each other. =)  With my 40th looming there are lots of ideas on getting started.  You know, fresh decade, fresh start kind of stuff. lol  One thing I see everywhere are Homekeeping binders or organizers.  Yep, want one of those.  I also want to put some kind of schedule (say it with the sh sound instead of sk---shedule) to this here blog.  Not sure what it will be, and I don't want to lock myself in too tight so that I can't ramble when the mood strikes.  But something.  Maybe like a picture of the week post or recipe of the week.  I really would like to journal as well.  I've started and stopped so many times in my life, but especially for this my 40th year (I know, ain't that so special....) I want to journal.  I ran across an article about a woman who started a "one-sentence" journal.  Every day she wrote just a sentence (or 2 or 3) about her day.  This way she could keep it up without getting overwhelmed and now she has this awesome collection of snippets from her life.  Little memory word pictures.  Or there is a photo journal.  I'd love to do a photo-a-day, but I really don't think I can keep that up for an entire year.  But maybe a photo a week or something.   Lots of ideas tumbling around in my head!  Since I turn 40 on Saturday I had best be getting something honed up!  I'll let you know what I decide.  What do you do?  Do you have a Homekeeping Binder?  How do you keep organized and keep your nest clean and cozy? How do you journal?  Do tell!

Well, now I've rambled enough to more than make up for the 5 days without anything. (You really don't have to nod, you know.  T'ain't polite.)  I'm off to find something sweet to eat and wait anxiously for new Canon Rebel to come in the big brown truck tomorrow!  Happy Birthday to me!  =)

Well, there wasn't too much howling involved in getting the gumdrop 'dough' out of the pan today. lol  At first I thought it might not come out at all, because the mixture is very sticky.  But with some peeling and tugging it came out.  It was a little precarious for a few moments there, trying to peel it out of the pan without it sticking to me or anything else---or worse, sticking all to itself.  But pretty quickly it was laying all flabby on a bed of sugar on the cutting board.  At this point, before drying, gumdrops are really quite gross, in my opinion.  The flavor is there, but the consistency is rather too slithery for my taste! lol  They are much better after they have dried in the air for a couple weeks and gotten more chewy.  So now they are cut into cubes, dipped in sugar and air drying in the spare room---hopefully far enough away from the air freshener! That is my biggest concern with drying food like that in the open air--that they will end up tasting like Baja Breeze or Beach Cabana or Sandalwood & Vanilla---or whichever fragrance is wafting at the time.  =s 
See:

 Hopefully they will dry up nicely!


I also have some towel pics--finally!

                                    


The last 2 are my favorites, and I think that green one is my favorite of all the towels I've done!  Love it!  (See, Morado, at least you can see them here if I forget to bring them to Funtown!)

In other news, I finally ordered myself a DSLR camera!!  I've been wanting one for some time now and my dear little point-and-shoot is wearing out.  Still takes great pictures, but the body is starting to break.  So, I decided it was time to jump back into a bigger camera.  What better 40th birthday present to give myself?  I can't wait til it gets here, and then can't wait to try it out in Maine!  Only 20 days!  Yes!!

Black towels and Cinnamon gumdrops....

Day 1 of 2 days off!  I love having 2 days off together in the week.  It just gives you time to really decompress and leave work behind.  At least it does for me.  So what to do on my day 1 of 2?  I decided to dye some towels.  I know, big surprise there! lol   I did some in black because a friend has a black and white kitchen and wanted to see some in black.  Unfortunately, they did not turn out so good.  I should have used the whole bottle of dye, I think.  =(  They are a pretty color, but are more like a really dark gray---sort of off-black.  What I was looking for was a black black--a vibrant black, if that makes any sense!    I'm thinking that I should dye them again and see if that makes it any better.  I was afraid this might happen and was tempted to use extra dye when I started, but didn't.  Should have......Bummer!

One of the other things I did today was make cinnamon gumdrops---something I've been wanting to do for quite some time.  I've made gumdrops before, but that recipe used Jello, so you could only make fruit flavors.  I wanted spice gumdrops like cinnamon and clove and anise, etc.  I had found this recipe that uses unflavored gelatin as its base so you can use whatever flavor you want.  I just had never gotten around to trying it.  Today I did.  So far they are turning out.  The real test will be tommorrow when I try to get them out of the pan for drying............If you hear pans banging in frustration you'll know it did not go well! lol

I also made chocolate chip cookies  because I wanted them, and mowed the lawn because it needed it---or did I make cookies because I needed them and mowed the lawn because I wanted to........  Hmmm.......=)    Between the cookies baking and the fall candles burning and the windows open, this house was smelling gooood!  I Love Fall!!!

Saturdays off.........ah!

I love Saturdays off, especially Saturdays off at home.  I don't know why Saturday off is any different than a weekday off, but it is.  At least to me.  There is something so delicious about waking on a Saturday morning and knowing that you don't have to go Anywhere.  Today was one of those Saturdays---although I did make a trip in to work this am because I remembered last night--at 10pm mind you--that I had left my ipod there.  On top of the med cart.  Yikes!  I didn't know whether it would still be there this morning, but indeed it was, right where I left it.  I really must be more careful!  So other than that little jaunt, it was a day at home.  I did the dishes and laundry and ironing and then it was time to play...... I made four towels today--that is I stenciled 4 towels.  It doesn't sound like a lot, but it takes me a while sometimes just to figure out what color and stencil to use on a particular towel. You can't just plop any old stencil down and slap paint on it you know!  The stencil needs to "match" the paint and towel colors.  Or maybe I'm just OCD........Anyway, I accomplished 4 and I like all of them!  WooHoo!  That feels like an accomplishment to me, because I have spent time making towels before and didn't like them when I was done---such a disappointment.  But with these today, especially 2 of them, it will be ok if they don't sell, I like them that much.  =)  Sorry, I have no pictures yet, but soon hopefully.  Its been a beautiful day here.  Warm, but not too humid, with nice breezes.  I've had my windows and front door open all day.  I absolutely Love where I am living now.  Its so very peaceful and quiet here---makes it a pleasure to have the windows open. 1000x better than the apartment.  I couldn't begin to count how many times I have thanked God for this place, thanked Him I do not have to return to that apartment any more. I can't believe it's been a year since the first time I drove in this driveway, and felt I had been given a gift from God.  He is Good!

Well, enough rambling for one day.  In fact, I think I hear my paper calling me........=)

Food!

I tried a new recipe today.  Someone had left a couple Southern Living magazines at work, so in my few minutes of down time here and there I leafed through them looking for any recipes of interest.  Now mind you I have more recipes than I could make in 2 or 3 lifetimes---even if I made one or two new ones a day 7/365.  But does that fact keep me from collecting new ones?  Nooope.  When I see recipes I like, I can always envision myself making them, so I copy them or pull them out or save them to my hard drive.  Such was the case with these SL magazines---found some recipes that I just had to have........lol  However, once in a while I do get one or two of these stashed recipes made, and in some cases have found recipes that have gone into my repertoire of "recipes to make as many times as possible".  Anyway.  By now you're thinking "I wish she would just get to the food already!"  So here it is.  The recipe I tried was Creole-Roasted Black-eyed Peas.  Very simple. Very healthy. Very yummy.

2 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
3 Tablespoons olive oil (I just used canola because it's what I had)
1 1/2 teaspoons Creole Seasoning

Toss the black-eyed peas with the oil and seasoning (gently!). Spread onto a cookie sheet or baking pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 55-60 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes.

Now here are my notes.  You may be wondering--like I did--what on earth Creole seasoning is.  (For those of you who have known about Creole seasoning your whole life, please forgive us Yankees!)  I found it in the seasoning aisle at Walmart.  It has garlic and several kinds of pepper, and salt--not sure what else.  I think you could substitute Cajun seasoning, as they don't seem too much different. (Correct me if I'm wrong).  Also, be careful with the baking time!  The recipe says 55-60 minutes, but I should have stopped mine earlier.  I think I baked them for about 45 minutes (its harder to count when you are doing 10 min intervals), but wish I had stopped at 35 or 40 because some of mine (maybe half) were a little burned).  I will watch more carefully next time and do my own timing.

The ones that aren't dark are very yummy---crunchy with a hint of spice, a dash of heat, and salty--but not too salty.  The texture is hard to describe--a bit grainy like a bean, but crunchy like a roasted nut.  I like them because I love beans anyway, and they are incredibly healthy for you.  Its a nice change from chips and such too.  And so simple to make!  I was thinking that you could just roast them with a little salt and add them to chex mix---or any other snack mix like that.  Oh the versatility of beans.........=P  I already have them on my grocery list so I can try them again.  I want to take some to work and see how my co-workers like them.  Heh-heh-heh.......(evil chuckle).......

Hope you enjoy!

I always have these "amazing" ideas for posting---when I can't sit down and write.  Then when I have the time, either I've lost the moment or I'm just too tired!  Tonight is one of those too tired nights.  But I did find a lovely blog post from someone else that I want to share.  I have already shared it on my FB page, so if you're friends with me there then you've seen it.  But for all you other readers out there, =) , I'll post it here.  Its from a blog called Grace For The Road and the post is here.  I wish I had read this a very long time ago.  I think there are a lot of things that would have been different in my life had I learned the truth of this post then.  In fact, it applies to all of us, single or married, I think. Because really, He should be the bottom line of All of our lives,  no matter what other human relationships we are privileged to have.

I'm feeling a little giddy.  Know why?  Paint.  No, not the sniffing kind, I promise! lol  Just plain--and yet not so plain--ol' acrylic paint.  Specifically, Martha Stewart craft paint.  After all the trouble I've had with the nice-to-use, but thinner paint I had been mostly using, I decided that maybe I should go with the thicker, though not as nice-to-use, Martha Stewart paint.  So I started looking through the list, pondering which colors I should order.  It turned into a bit of a list since there are 80 wonderful colors with lovely names like Lake Fog and Sea Glass and Heliotrope and Adobo........you get the idea.  I had decided that I would go with a few at a time........but then.......then.......when I went to the Plaid website today, what should I behold, but a beautiful banner declaring all MS products to be 30% off!!  It was put there just for me---like a sign.  I Needed to buy lots of colors---being 30% off and all.....  So buy lots of colors I did.  I won't tell you how many because then you would truely believe I was crazy and send little men (or perhaps big ones) after me to collect me.  I will tell you that I did Not buy all 80.  There are some colors that seem quite light and I'm not sure if the color would be distinguishable from white on a colored towel.  Those I didn't get (did I really need to tell you that?) lol  I already have a few colors, so obviously didn't need those ones.  So I got a lot of the colors in between---with Free Shipping!  WooHoo!  Seriously, I did debate just getting the amount I had started out to get, but when I added the sale code, the paint actually came up cheaper than 30%.  I knew I would want to get the rest of the colors on my list eventually anyway and even with the $10 off code that Plaid seems to offer frequently, this was still a better deal.  And when I added up what I would save using this sale vs paying full price, I was a gonner.  So I'm feeling a little giddy because soon there will be a box at my door full of bright, delicious colors like Wild Blueberry and Love Bird and Poodle Skirt and Scottish Highlands........What?  You are thinking I need a life?  Well, indeed I might, but until I find one I'll just keep on feeling giddy about paint.  =)

I've been feeling a bit discouraged over this whole towel-stenciling thing.  Not that I want to quit making towels, but discouraged with the paint I've been using.  It seems like it just doesn't stand out on the darker towels like I want it to.  After several days of drying the design does stand out better, but still the colors are very muted.  I like them, but have been wondering whether customers will.  This brand of paint works fine on white or the lighter colored towels, just not as nice on the dark.  There is another paint that is thicker--more made for fabric, but it is more expensive (though not extremely so) and not as nice to work with as the brand I used on these towels.  I may have to use it though, especially on the darker towels, in order to get the designs to stand out brighter.  *sigh*  Its always something isn't it?  But tonight I feel a little better because I did 2 towels and they both turned out Great!  I love them both.  Hopefully I can get this stencil/paint thing down so I can really churn out some great towels and get this shop opened before I'm 90! lol

The weather has been gorgeous here.  The temperature is finally sane and the air is clear.  Finally I can open the windows again!  The mornings have been in the low 50s, which feels deliciously cool after the humid oppressive heat.  I'm so glad. I have been waiting for this!  Not only is it more comfortable, but this also means the grass will not grow quite so speedily, so more time for other things.  Yay!  Living out here in the country means that open windows are a pleasure.  Its completely quiet except for the birds and crickets and the occasional plane or car going by.  And the smell of the air......heavenly.  Makes me want to take great lungfuls (is that a word?) of it.  I love how it makes the house smell too--all fresh, instead of the cooped-up, dead air smell.  =)  Mmmmm.......

Today I wanted to make cards.  Could have mowed, could have stenciled towels, could have done a mile-long list of things.  But I wanted to make cards.  I have had very little time to sit at my "card table" (lol) and create.  So today I decided I was going to forget everything else and just make cards.  And I did pretty well......after I cleaned the house....and did laundry......and washed dishes....  Its always something isn't it? lol  But at least after I got those things done I felt less guilty about leaving other things undone for card-making.  It felt so good too, sitting there stamping and cutting and glueing paper.  Amazing what a little paper will do for the spirit.  =)  If only I could get several more years off work! lol

In other news I ordered more dye colors the other day.  There was a sale......with free shipping.......What's a girl to do? lol  I am slowly but surely getting towels stenciled so I can open up my Etsy shop.  Not enough hours in a day!  But one day I will get there.

Later!

Weekends and Water

Last day of my 4-day weekend.  I wanted to spend the day crafting, but its nearly Noon and I haven't really started.  Oy!  But I have been doodling around in my Silhouette Studio program and Store.  I love having a subscription there!  I get $150 of downloads for $16/month.  Pretty good return I'd say!  Anyway.  The weekend has been nice.  Not as much fun as I wanted it to be, but it has still been nice to have the time off from work.  4 days gives you a much better chance to really unwind and leave work behind than just 1!  I spent more time behind the mower than I did at crafting, unfortunately, but hopefully soon that will change, once cooler weather comes.  It was 55 degrees this morning!  Its clear and sunny and even now at Noon its only 75.  I have windows and doors open and the air smells SO good.  My living room windows, however, are not open right now.  I had a run-in with some sort of large bees that wanted to congregate in the one window.  I took the spray to them and now its a bee graveyard.  Made rather a mess in the windowsill and on the window, but at least the bees are not harmful anymore!  One of these days I'll have to clean the window and vaccuum everything up, but not today.  In the meantime I'll just open other windows! lol

I've been thinking about water lately.  Yes, I know, I need a life! lol  But for some reason I've been noticing--and thinking about--how much we use every day.  Have you ever thought about that?  I mean, one batch of dyed towels probably uses more water than some third-world communities use in days!  Now I'm not trying to go all world-eco and start campaigning for people to start using only 3 cups of water a day or anything. lol  Not at all.  We have water available to us here in this country and its a wonderful commodity--a gift for us to use. Not to waste, mind you, but to use to make our lives better.  And doesn't it make our lives better?  Think about everything you do each day that involves water---from your coffee in the morning to that long hot bubble bath at night.  Our lives revolve around water.  Its an amazing thing that we really take for granted---though we don't mean to.  We just don't know life without it.  Its like the air we breathe--always there and in good supply.  I don't know why I've been thinking about this lately.  Maybe its just another way of counting my blessings, thinking about all the things I can do because I have a ready supply of good water.  Or maybe I just need a life....=)

Done with the work week and I am gladder than glad!  (Can you tell I'm feeling in a Dr Seuss word mood? lol)  It was definitely one of those weeks.  The work days weren't the most chaotic, but I just struggled with them on a personal level.  Some days work is just harder than others---harder to face, harder to deal with, harder to get through.  At one point (ok, maybe more than one) I didn't know how on earth I was going to make it.  Ever been there?  But, not being the kind of person who just calls in to work on a whim, I managed to get there and get back home again.  Whew.  I'm glad its over and am hoping that next week will be better.  In the meantime I am going to enjoy my four---yes 4--day weekend!!  WooHoo!  I'm going shopping and gonna do some crafting and yes, the lawn has got to be mowed and the house needs cleaned.  But even the work won't bother me too much, because I still get the best part of every day off---not having to wake to an alarm at 4am.  That fact alone makes me want to dance with glee!  Night all!

Day 2 done.  Ooh what a day!  I do hope that 3 and 4 are Not like this one.  If they are, I will be frazzled for sure! lol  The good news though is that I got some new work shoes!  Finally!  I have been needing some for a while now.  Maybe a month or so ago I ordered a couple pair, but they didn't work and I just let it be for a while.  So by now I Really need new ones.   My feet and legs ache terribly before the day is even over with the ones I have.  So I finally got on the ball and ordered 2 to try.  I was hoping that at least one pair would work, but had decided that if both felt good I would keep both.  Bird in the hand and all that.  Well, they came today and guess what?  Both of them fit and feel great!  I am so thankful!  So tomorrow I'll be stepping out in my new sneaks.  =)  On top of this excitement we are having a birthday lunch at work.  How will I ever be able to take it all in? lol  Here's hoping for a good day!

Day One of a 4-day stretch done.........yeehaw.  lol!  BUT.  At the end of my 4-day stretch of work comes..............A 4-DAY WEEKEND!!!!  WooHoo! 

Ok, enough crowing.  =)  But I had to post something since its been 3 days.  So there you have it. lol  Hope you all are enjoying a lovely Labor Day with something roasting over a fire or on a grill, with S'mores or brownies or marshmallows or something yummy for dessert!  (I'm having tuna salad and green beans.......don't you feel sorry for me? j/k )  Ok, I'm off to start winding down for bed.  Later!

I know I need to post something, but confess to a distinct lack of inspiration.  There are topics I would like to blog about at some point, but today.....definitely not the day.  Yesterday and today have been one of those times when life goes awry and there is nothing you can do about it; one of those times that are so hard you don't know how you can deal with it.  There is little detail I can talk about here, unfortunately.  Its hard and frustrating and sad and heart-breaking all in one.  The one thing that really keeps me going is knowing that God is a God of miracles---and believe me I'm prayin' for one!  I know that God is in charge and nothing takes Him by surprise.  I know He has a plan, and whatever that plan, it is the best one. I know that if He wants something to happen He has the power to make it happen no matter how dismal or difficult things look from my perspective.  I know all of these things and they are so easy to say.  But my heart still hurts like crazy.  However.  In the midst of all this hardness I have felt that somehow everything will be ok.  I can't see the path and I don't know how I'll walk it, but maybe this is what is required of me so that I will learn to trust completely.  I read today that when God seems silent just remember that the teacher is quiet during the test.  I feel scared and overwhelmed on one hand because I like to see where I'm going, like to see ahead of time how things will work out.  But on the other hand, I do want to learn to trust in a God who is faithful and true and loving as well as being all-powerful and all-knowing.   The Amplified Bible says: "the steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]."  (Psalm 37:23)  I love that!  God doesn't just sit on His high throne and orchestrate the world from a lofty perspective.  No.  He gets right down in the trenches and busies Himself with my every step!  How can I not choose to trust a God like that?  So. Yes, my heart hurts and the path seems very hard.  But I know too that He has been down this road already, and He knows all of its curves and hills and tunnels.  Somehow He will get me through.

New Colors!

I was lucky enough to only have to work one day after vacation before I got a day off (I know! ain't it great?!), so today I did some of the dyeing that I have been "dying" to do!  =)  There has been clamor on Facebook for Apple Green and Scarlet (Denim too, but that will have to be another day).  So Apple Green and Scarlet it was.  I do love dyeing these towels!  You start out with sparkling white and end up with one gorgeous color or another.  I do mine in a big tub, stirring them round with a wooden spoon--rather like a witch with her brew.......lol  Anyway, both colors turned out lovely.  "Apple" Green seems more like chartreuse or a leaf green than apple, but it still is a beautiful color.  See?

Then there is Scarlet.  This one is more true to its name (in my opinon anyway!)  A gorgeous, brilliant red!  Unfortunately it is very difficult for me to get reds to turn out like they really are with my camera (or maybe its the operator! lol).  But here's a photo--such as it is--for your viewing pleasure.

I love rinsing them out in the sunlight, and have wished multiple times that I had a clothesline to hang them on in order to take pictures.  To see these brilliant towels all hanging in a row......ooh wouldn't that just be the spice of life?  =)

Have I made you want to dye things yet?  Well, that's ok, you can just come and buy them from my Etsy shop when it opens.  I think I found a name--unless someone else has already stolen used it.  Nope, I'm not going to tell you yet until I can find out if its available.......Yes, I'm naughty like that!

Now I really must go mow the lawn....

Back to the land of the living, I mean internet!  I decided I needed to post today since I have done no posts for a week.  All it takes is getting used to not posting and poof! there goes the blog.  Someone comes by in 2014 and there have been no posts since August 2012 and everything is dusty with spiderwebs. lol  I have been there done that and am trying not to do it again. 

My week away was lovely.  Much food-eating and visiting with family and old friends, some of whom I haven't seen in quite a while---like my cousin Gina who I haven't seen since her 4th child was a baby.  She now has 6.....  The first part of the week was Alumni Reunion, spending time with friends from school.  Because the school was so small we don't have "Class" reunions.  We have an all-encompassing School reunion.  I like it that way, actually.  In this case it means I get to know people that went to school with my parents, people I've heard about all my life.  We had our usual hotdog roast (a very long-standing tradition there), the time filled with laughter and old stories.  At other times there were games and singing and many conversations and Much picture-taking.  And of course there was the food.... We had 3 meals a day whether we needed them or not, plus snacks in between.  Its a good thing this happens only once in a few years and then for only 2 days!  This year was smaller than others, but only the number.  The enjoyment factor was large.

The rest of the week was spent with family, specifically my mother's side of the family.  My grandparents were visiting Mom and Dad, so some of the cousins and aunts and uncles came to visit too.  It was so fun to be together with cousins (like Gina) who I have not seen in a very long time.  We spent time wandering down memory lane and enjoying the present as well.  There was baby-holding, child playing, gabbing, laughing and again, much eating!  (After a week of this eating thing, you see why I had to come home! lol)  Very special.

It was a full week, made even more wonderful by the fact that we were spending time in Upstate NY--in the Adirondacks--where the air is clear and smells lovely, and you are surrounded by mountains and trees.  No matter where I live or where I travel, this place will always be "Home" to me.  Its beautiful.  If you ever get the chance to go there (The Adirondacks), do it.  You will not be disappointed.

It was lovely to go away, to see friends and family, to be in the mountains.  But it was also good to come home to my quiet Carolina Cottage in the country.  =)

Going to be offline for a few days.  This should be interesting.  Can I survive?  lol  I hope I don't go into withdrawl!  Seriously, I'm sure it will be good for me to be without the time expense of the internet for a while.  But I will miss the convenience and 'connection' of it (pun intended) for sure! Ya'll don't have too much fun without me!  =)

Food Review--and a wee small miracle

The other day I tried something new.  I picked up a bag of Voila! from Birds Eye.  Its one of those dinner-in-a-bag things and its in the freezer section at the grocery (or Walmart in my case!).   The flavor I tried was Cheddar Chicken Potato.  I ate it by itself, but you could easily have served it with pasta or rice on the side, or maybe even mashed potatoes.  Sometimes those pre-bagged things are over-spiced for my taste, but this one was just right.   And I thought it relatively inexpensive--as those type foods go.  There are 2 other flavors--at least so far.  I can't remember exactly, but there was another chicken one and then one with shrimp.  I wouldn't want it all the time, but it does make a nice quick meal when I'm in a hurry---or lazy......=)

On a completely other topic, I was reminded yesterday that God does care about the very littlest things in our lives.  I was at Michael's and I went there specifically to get some Martha Stewart acrylic paint and fabric medium.  I got the paint, but when I looked for the fabric medium there was none to be found.  I Knew I had seen some there a week or two ago (and began to Very much regret that I had not bought it then)!  I had rushed to Michael's trying to get this errand done and still have time to meet some friends for supper before prayer service and there I was, stuck with no fabric medium to be seen.  It was disheartening because I had made plans to use it and the paint to stencil on towels on my days off.    So in the midst of my frustration I was talking to God like I always do, and decided to get right down on the floor (no not prostrate or anything! lol---the products were on the bottom shelf) hoping desperately that there was some of this stuff in the back.  I took bottles out and peered into the depths of the shelves as best I could and didn't find any.......sigh.....But I kept looking, hoping, and suddenly there it was!  One lone bottle on its side behind other bottles of something else!  It was a little sad looking--a bit of its liquid had spilled out and run down the side at some point, but I didn't care.  It was fabric medium and it was going home with me!  =)  It really made my day.  On top of that, I still had time to go eat with my friends before church.  We had a great time too.  =) I am thankful that God is there to help us--even with the little things.

Food!

Today I did something I rarely do:  came home from work and actually cooked dinner.  And by cooked, I do not mean something from a mix or heated in the microwave.  For once I actually put pans on the stove and cooked! on a weeknight! after working all day--and having to work tomorrow!  I am so proud of myself!  I really wish I would do this more often.  There are so many recipes I want to cook, crafts I want to make, cards I want to stamp, etc,etc.  But its hard to fit all those things in on my 2 days off in the week, let alone when some of that time is spent cleaning, doing laundry and mowing!  Sometimes I feel stressed about how to fit more into my days.  I get up at 4am.  Those of you who know me well know that 4am is NOT my best time of day.  Never has been, never will be.  I am way better at it than I used to be, for which I am thankful, but it doesn't seem to matter how much sleep I get--5 hours or 8--when that alarm goes off at 4 I am NOT ready.  But this is the job I have for now and it pays the bills and is close to home, so I try to be grateful.  So there is this constant stress of getting up early that nags at me when I'm trying to do other things.  The nerve! lol  If I go to bed early to try to get enough sleep there is little time after work to do much of anything before I have to hit the rack---stressful.  But if I stay up later and get some things done (either work or play things), then I feel even worse than usual when the alarm goes off and have to think about running around at work---again, stressful.  So its stress any way you look at it.  Grr!  I wish I could find the balance between the stress.  Have a bit more time for doing things and yet still get enough sleep.  Not sure how to do it though.  Sometimes I wish I didn't have so many interests and hobbies!  Then I wouldn't have the stress of when to fit them in! lol  Not really though.  I am glad that I find all these creative things interesting.  They keep me out of trouble....=)  Anyway.....by now you're thinking  "I thought she said this was a post about food".  lol  It is.  Sort of.  Food---and miscellaneous ramblings that the food created.  =)

What I made for dinner was............

Can you see the steam off the beans?  As I mentioned before, no glam photography on this blog!  Just keepin' it real here. lol  In case you can't tell, its chicken fried steak--minus the gravy.  I didn't want to take the time and didn't really need the calories tonight, so I just did the steaks.  And lest you wonder why I have Two on my plate, I'll tell you that the meat I bought was very thin.  (Do I sound defensive? lol) Probably not really the thing for this, but its what I got.  Ate it (them) too!  =)  This is the first time I have ever made chicken fried steak and I think the first time I had ever eaten it as well.  It was pretty good, though the meat, as I mentioned, was a little too thin, and the seasonings in the breading were not quite as distinct as I would like.  But all in all pretty good for a first try.  On a weeknight.  With not much time.  =)  Thanks to Pioneer Woman for the recipe--and the inspiration.  I've been watching past episodes of her cooking show that I downloaded from iTunes, and I want to make pretty much Everything she shows! As if I needed any more recipes! lol

So now I'm off to bed with my belly full so I can drag myself  hop out of bed when the alarm goes off.  Nighty-night!

Towels Again

I finally got some of my towels stenciled---and 2 new colors dyed!  It's been a productive weekend.  =)  Here are the stenciled ones:

I like them all, though I am very partial to the gray one.  Something about gray and red together looks so classy and this leaf design so old-fashioned.  I love it.  I feel like they all turned out very well, though, for my first attempts at the stenciling (stenciling on towels, I mean.  I have done a lot of stenciling of various things in my time!).  Its fun to do too, except that my back gets very tired from bending over the table and my left index finger is sore and going numb from pressing down the stencil.  =) I tape the stencil down, but still press it with my finger while I paint.  What I need to do for the back is find a way to raise my table.  I could probably find something at Lowe's.  As for the finger issue, I think it will just have to get toughened in---I hope!

Now for the new colors.  My friends on Facebook voted for Purple and Teal to be the next ones, so here they are:

They are both nice colors, though definitely not my favorites.  I'm still stuck on the gray! lol  Though I really like the orange ones too.  Anyway, this evening I stenciled on one each of the new colors.  Those pictures will have to be later, since they are in the drying phase.  I know, I know!  I'm teasing again.  Actually I'm just helping to grow your patience......=) 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!