Chicago: Sears Tower

One of our top priorities on our visit to Chicago was the Sears Tower. Friday turned out to be a great day for visiting. The visibility was great, and if we had gone on Saturday, we would have seen a lot of rain clouds. (Click on the pictures to enlarge them)

Looking way, way up!


Some great views from the top:




Just hanging around:

Chicago: Buckingham Fountain

After lunch in the Sears Tower, we walked over to the Buckingham Fountain. It's a gorgeous fountain, I believe I read that it's the largest fountain in America. If not, well, it's still pretty big! =)

On the steps to the fountain. Yes, Chicago is very windy!

Chicago: Interesting "Thing"

LOL I have no idea what this sculpture is called, but it was very fascinating, and many people were crowded around having a "jolly good time".

Chicago: towards the end of the day

We walked, walked, and walked some more. Upon seeing this marvelous bench, I promptly sat down and handed my camera to Kevin. I was being goofy--I could have cared less about the picture--I just wanted to sit down! LOL

So many blogs, so little time!

Blog hopping is one of my favorite things to do online! I have accidentally hit on a few blogs that were absolutely wicked (from what I could tell in the few seconds that I saw them), so I try to do my blog hopping in a safe manner. One way I find interesting blogs is to click on the blog links of blogs that I already read. If I find some of interest, I add them to my list at Bloglines.com. Currently, I am subscribed to 57 blogs. Several of those are people who do not post regularly...but I still want to read what they post. Bloglines is wonderful for this type of blogger--I don't have to keep checking on these blogs to see when they have been updated.

Bloglines also allows me to control my online time. If I only have a few minutes online, I can quickly open a few blogs that have been updated. If I want to come back to them, maybe to comment, or to follow some links that they have posted, I click a little check box at the bottom of the post (on the Bloglines screen), and it keeps it as new.

And finally, a lot of my subscribed blogs are on "test". I'm testing them out to see if I really want to be subscribed to them. After a week or so, if I'm not enjoying a blog like I thought I would, I unsubscribe them from my list.

I do a fair amount of "lurking", especially on a few larger blogs. However, I do try to make comments now and then to be polite to the bloggers. After all, it's nice to know who your readers are!

I highly recommend Bloglines for blog-reading ease!

I'm back...

Kevin and I went away Thursday for our anniversary, and got back yesterday evening. We had a lovely time together, site-seeing in Chicago. I took a lot of pictures, and I'll be posting some of those over the next few days. Thursday evening I realized I hadn't packed my spare batteries for my camera, so we bought some cheap batteries. We didn't realize how cheap they were until we got up in the Sears Tower. Every four or five pictures I had to change the batteries! We fixed that problem when we left the Tower, by buying some decent batteries! =)

Big cities are always enjoyable to visit, but we're so glad that we don't live in a large city!

Don't look at the time...

I'm posting rather late, or early, depending on how you look at it!

Hopping around the Blogging Trail, I've read these lovely posts:

Deb shares about finding a new friend. (Also, a hearty congratulations to the new mother-in-law! Check out the beautiful wedding pictures while you are there.)

Mrs. Wilt is making a Homekeeping Journal. Such a good idea!

Mrs. Blythe's daughter is all set to get married. I hope that when she gets old enough to marry, that she'll find someone closer in size. *Wink* By the way, Mrs. Blythe's blog is delightful! I love how "English" her writing is. I learned a lot about the customs of English tea from her blog!

Check out this blog: Bagaholics Anonymous! Wow, such a source of temptation to make a "gazillion" bags! After the two bags I've made, I've been itching to make some more, especially after finding this blog.

Another blog that I've been enjoying as of late is Dawn's blog (4:53 am) Very delightful! I found her blog by doing my favorite thing to do online: blog hopping! *Smiles* Dawn posts about gardening and crafting and smocking (OH MY, smocking! I have to learn how to smock! Such gorgeous creations I've never seen before!) Dawn has also accomplished something that I have not: how to say a lot in very few words!

Still with me? One more blog to look at? Ruth and Jessica from SewChic have started a new blog with a few more ladies: The Little Red Hens, a cooking blog. Cooking blogs are not my "thing" but this blog just looks too cute to not read!

Enjoy! (And yes, I KNOW you ALL looked at the time! Shocking, isn't it? *Yawn*)

Follow the Recipe!

Have you ever done this?

I didn't have potatoes, so I substituted rice.
Didn't have paprika, so I used another spice.
I didn't have tomato sauce, so I used tomato paste.
A whole can not a half can -I don't believe in waste.
My friend gave me the recipe
She said you couldn't beat it.
There must be something wrong with her,
I couldn't even eat it.
-source unknown

Well, I have! It turns out to be Bad Food!

My dad's mom, on the other hand, never follows a recipe, and she's a wonderful cook. It's all in knowing what NOT to substitute!

Hat tip to Rachel

Found floating around the blogosphere...

About me:

1) FIRST NAME? Tammy

2) WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No.

3) WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I can't remember, it's been a while.

4) DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Most of the time.

5) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Plain turkey.

6) KIDS? None.

7) WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Oh yes, then I'd have someone to do crafts with. LOL

8) DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Right here!

9) DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Hmmm, not too much!

10) DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.

11) WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No. Never. Period. The end.

12) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cheerios or Grape Nuts.

13) DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Sometimes. But when I don't (most of the time) I can hear my dad telling me to untie my shoes before I take them off! LOL.

14) DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Nothing remarkable.

15) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

16) SHOE SIZE? 7 1/2

17) RED OR PINK? Pink

18) WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black skirt, black shoes.

19) LAST THING YOU ATE? A Jr. Whopper...my packed lunch is sitting in my refrigerator at home!

20) WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The hum of the air conditioner.

21) IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Burgundy.

22) FAVORITE SMELL? Yankee Candles!

23) WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? At home, my sister Holly. Here at the office...a guy named Darryl. LOL

24) THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? For my husband, the first thing I liked that attracted me to him was his aftershave/cologne. :D

25) FAVORITE DRINK? Water and herb teas.

26) FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? I'm not a sports fan!

27) HAIR COLOR? Brown

28) EYE COLOR? Blue

29) DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No

30) FAVORITE FOOD? Mashed potatoes. Mmmmm

31) SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings

32) WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Coral

33) HUGS OR KISSES? Both...from my husband!

34) WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Hidden Art

35) WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? No mouse pad.

36) WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Nothing.

37) WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? November 2, in Greenville, South Carolina.

I have a question for you...

I have had so many lovely comments recently, many of you whom I haven't been "introduced" to yet. I'm guilty of doing the same thing on other people's blogs. You know, leaving a post that says, "Oh how cute!", which in turn leaves the blog owner saying to themselves, "WHO is Tammy?" *Grin*

So my question for you is: if you read my blog, and haven't introduced yourself, will you do so? I have gained some new blog friends even recently, and I'd love to get to know my readers better!

Thank you!

Lasagna recipe

Tonight I made lasagna for a couple across our street who just had a baby. When I took the casserole over, I only got to speak to the husband. I was really hoping to get to see the wife, but I'm sure I'll meet her one of these days!

Here is the recipe I used, which I got from my sister-in-law, Rebecca:

Four-Cheese Lasagna
Lasagna takes time to assemble. To avoid last-minute preparation, make this casserole early in the day or the night before and refrigerate. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
2 cans (4 oz each) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon fennel seed
1 carton (16 oz) cottage cheese
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 eggs, beaten
1 package (12 oz) lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

In a skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic until beef is browned and onion is tender; drain. In a blender, cover and process the tomatoes until smooth. Stir into beef mixture along with mushrooms, tomato paste and seasonings; simmer for 15 minutes. In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan, cheddar, ½ cup of mozzarella and eggs. Spread 2 cups meat sauce in the bottom of an ungreased 13-in x 9-in x 2-in baking dish. Arrange half the noodles over sauce. Spread cheese mixture over noodles. Top with remaining noodles and meat sauce. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake 15 minutes longer or until cheese melts. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting. Yield: 12 servings

I've made it several times for us, and several times when we had company. It turns out so good every time! I don't put the tomatoes in the blender. I like the consistency of the crushed tomatoes just fine. Tonight I left out the mushrooms, since that is a food that many people dislike.

Contest Results

I am pleased to announce the winners of Contest #2:

Nikki
MJM
Mrs. Blythe

Please send your mailing address to: mrstammys AT hotmail DOT com. I will be sending your bookmarks out as soon as I get your address. If one of the bookmarks caught your eye, and you really, really want it, let me know when you send me your address, and I'll do my best to see that you get the one you want! =)

Encouragement, part 2

My mom commented in the Contest post, and I have copied her comments here, so that everyone would get a chance to read them:

As a child, my mom taught me to do things for others when I was down in the dumps. It worked then, and it still works today! Doing something to encouage someone else always encourages you, too!

I love to do things for others, but I want to share some ways I have been blessed by other people's encouragement to me. When my husband was teaching in a Christian school we didn't have money for extras, so it was a special treat for one of the ladies to take me out for pizza or to have me come to her beauty salon for a complimentary haircut.

At another church, the ladies got together and came to my house every day during a difficult pregnancy. They would clean and do anything I needed done. Some of them would bring a meal. One lady took my laundry home with her each week, the whole time I was sick. She would bring it back clean, ironed and mended. There was another lady that would pick me up and take me to yard sales. We would search for nice clothing for my little girls. When we found good things, she would buy them for me. At other times she would stop by the house with a roasted chicken, a bag of Pampers, or some storybooks to read to the little ones, so I could have some time to myself. The encouragement these ladies gave me was priceless.

Someone once gave me this idea for the pastor's wife. On a given day, each of the ladies in the church sent her a card of thanks and appreciation. Enclosed in the card was a one dollar bill, with the words to "spend it on something for yourself." Imagine the fun she had when she went out to check her mailbox, and it was packed with notes of encouagement, and a whole stack of one dollar bills!

There was an older man in our church who would bring us huge bags of produce. The girls and I would put it all up and it was a blessing. The most touching part of it was that this man was partly crippled, and he would have to crawl on his hands and knees to harvest the fruit and vegetables he brought us. It really meant a lot to me.

Once the Lord impressed me to "go shopping" for my pastor's wife. So, I went to Wal-mart, and went through the store and picked up all the little things that I routinely buy for our home and family. I stuffed them al in a huge gift bag and took them to her. She took each item out and said, "How did you know? How did you know?" What type of things did I buy her? Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toilet paper, dish soap, hand soap, bandaids, Pampers, Q-tips, tape, paper towels, napkins, stuff like that. I had wondered how my gift would be received. Might she be insulted? She wasn't. She was very grateful, and it was because God had led me to do it that I bought just the things she needed at just the time she needed them.

Thank you, Mom, for the great ideas. I remember most of the things you've mentioned, with the exception of the pizza. DID I GET LEFT OUT OF THE PIZZA TRIPS??? *Grin*

Encouragement

I have to say that all of the contest entries truly inspired and encouraged me! Not only did they encourage me to be an encourager, it also encouraged me that others are being an encouragement to their friends and family!

Here is a summary of the wonderful ideas:

• Plate of goodies out of the blue.
• Homemade card.
• Send a card, praying that the Lord will speak through you.
• A card, phone call, e-mail when the Lord lays someone on your heart.
• Blogging about something that is on your heart.
• Care packages.
• An invitation to your home for a DEstressing time of fellowship (not distressing, as I originally read it! LOL)
• Thinking of and thanking your child's Sunday school teachers.
• Books that have blessed you.
• Bake extra when you bake, as a chance to give to a friend, or freeze for those times someone stops by.
• Take pictures of your church family, and frame, put in albums, for friends.
• Take time for people.
• Make sure people really know how you feel about them. (LOL good feelings only, right, Mrs. B?)
• Note dates on your calendar of death anniversaries so that you can encourage the one who is grieving.
• Pick up something for someone as a little surprise.
• Hand made gifts for newborns.
• Add a packet of tea to your notecards.
• Give people your full attention.

Wow, such great advice, and wonderful ideas for the next time the Lord lays someone on my heart! Actually, the Lord has laid someone on my heart, and I need to act on it!

Saturday evening when Kevin and I came home, we were up front looking at these incredibly long disgusting earthworms (LOL). Suddenly, a German Shepherd came running up onto our porch. I am so fearful of dogs, especially big dogs, but after the initial routine of clinging to my husband, the dog proved to be friendly. *Grin* Soon, the dog's owner came up, apologizing that his dog had gotten away from him. He said that his wife had just had their first baby, and that he was home from the hospital to let the dog out.

We haven't met this couple yet, so it was nice to get the contact. What I'm planning on doing is making up lasagna tomorrow evening, and taking it over to them (after dinner). I won't bake it--that way they can freeze it for later (if they have friends/family giving them meals), or they can bake it the next night for dinner.

When God lays someone on your heart, follow through! I can't begin to tell you what a blessing it is to know that God is working through you to touch someone else's life!

I think I'm addicted!

Would this give you a hint of my addiction?

Last night Kevin grilled steaks for dinner. Mine grew cold while I worked on my knitting!

A girl has to have her priorities! *Smiles*

Six years ago today...

I married the most wonderful man in the world. *Smiles*

Gardening!

Today was primarily a gardening day! I worked outside from 10 a.m. till about 2 p.m., getting my flowers planted in the second flower bed, and planting a little vegetable garden.

I came inside, and was so exhausted from all my work, that I took a shower and then laid down for a nap. I was awakened by a rain storm! We got quite a gullywasher!

Before:


After:


There used to be a barrel on the corner of the house, but it fell apart when I tried to move it. Oh well...

Kevin worked hard too--one thing he did was put the border down the side of the house. Because of our basement windows and the air conditioner, we're not able to put the stones two high, like the front border. I like it just the way it is. Now I need to clear out all the weeds, and get a few more flowers planted. I'm not going to do anything major on this side of the house this year. Perhaps next year, I'll plant a few low-maintenance shrubs.

My Little Garden

This is my first vegetable garden since I've been married. The first four years that we were married, we lived in apartments. The past two years, the timing of our moves didn't work for planting vegetables, even though we had the room to plant vegetables.

Here's my sweet little garden (after the rain storm):


I planted:

• Two varieties of tomatoes (one is an early producer)
• Red and yellow bell peppers
• Red and yellow onions
• Green beans
• Mint
• Lemon Balm

We'll see how they grow! The soil isn't the greatest, and the bed doesn't get full sun all day. I can't wait for my veggies!

Encouraging Others: Contest #2

Edit on Monday, 9 p.m.: The Contest is now closed, but feel free to add your ideas! Many wonderful ideas have already been shared!

My little contest last month was so much fun, that I decided to have one each month. Guess what? It's time to have another contest!

This month's theme is "encouragement".

Just recently, I got a card in the mail from a lady in my church. It was a very sweet note, and it was such a tremedous encouragement to me. I have it on my kitchen counter, and have read it through several times, and been encouraged all over again!

What are some small things you do to encourage others? These "others" can be members of your family, church family, friends, neighbors, etc. For this month's entry, just give us some ideas that you use. It doesn't have to be BIG, and it can be something LITTLE, but let's gather some ideas, so that when God lays someone on our heart we have some different ways to encourage them!

Oh, did you want to know the prize? I thought you might! This past week I've been working on the prize in the evenings. This month I am pulling three names out of a hat (and yes, last month, I really did use a hat to draw the name out of! *Smiles*). This contest is for all to particpate in, no matter what country you live in! Each prize will be two cross bookmarks. One will be for you to keep, and the other one will be for you to give away as an encouragement to someone else!

Last month, I got so excited about finding out who was going to win, that I didn't give much time for entries. This time around, I'll restrain myself. *Giggle* The contest will close this coming Monday evening, at 8 p.m. EST. I'll announce the contest winners on Monday evening.

Finished at last!

Tonight I finished my Jaywalker Socks! It seems as though every blogging knitter has made this pattern! It wasn't terribly hard, but it did present it's challenges! The first challenge was the thin sock yarn. Since I'm used to crocheting and tatting with thin thread, it wasn't too difficult. I started the first sock at least four or five times, and finally got it underway. I didn't have any problems with my second sock until I got to the toe. I finished it, tried it on, and found out it was about 1/2 inch to short!

As you can see in the picture, they are not identically striped. The yarn that I used did not lend itself to making two identical socks. However, I've seen many, many stripey socks online, and quite a few of them do not match perfectly! I'm just glad that the striping is very subtle. (The flash brings out the lighter colors.)

It's a good thing I finished them, now that we're having such freezing weather. *Grin* It feels good to get projects finished, no matter if I'll be wearing them right away or not!

Aprons: Show and Tell

Thank you, ladies, for the wonderful participation in this show and tell! I've enjoyed seeing everyone's aprons this week!

Here you go:
Rhonda posted her apron picture, noting that the stains are on the apron, not on her clothes!
Kelleigh poses as the modern June Cleaver, showing that housework can be accomplished in pretty clothes, when you wear an apron, of course!
Courtney found a darling apron at Goodwill, and her blog readers got a sneak peak of it here.
Mrs. Wilt showcases her "serendipitous thrift store find", and in an earlier post, her readers were treated to an Ode to Aprons.
Awww, look at this "Berry" special apron worn by a "Berry" special mother, Kristi! Kristi and her daughter show us her grandmother's two aprons (what a treasure!)
Jennifer recently purchased a vintage serving apron. What a great find!
Dawn's friend gave her a gorgeous vintage apron. What a sweet gift!
Inspired by this show and tell, Cindi sewed a vintage looking apron, using some lace that she made herself. (Wow, now I want a fancy sewing machine! Hehe)
Lori has quite a collection of aprons, from her grandmother and great-grandmother. What a collection to treasure!
Deb (in her brand-spankin' new apron) and her daughters share their lovely aprons.
Edit to add: Lora's daughter is busy making her an apron, using overalls and bandana fabric. Cute! Once you're there, click on the picture to get a better look at it!

In previous posts, I've shown my aprons: here and here.

*Sigh* There's nothing that says "homemaker" more than an apron!

Don't forget...

Don't forget about our apron "Show and Tell". If you left a comment under the original post, or you e-mailed me with the submission, I have it on my list! I'm excited about the aprons that have been blogged about, and can't wait till tomorrow evening!

Pink Roses Handbag

Another pattern:


Another handbag:


The inside bottom portion is lined with the same fabric as the decorative tie.

Word Cloud

In pink, of course!

Get your own here!

Flowered Handbag

All I needed was a pattern:


Some pretty fabric:


And some time this afternoon.

No more handbag woes for me!

A Film for Friday: The Shop Around the Corner

Friday nights just seem like the perfect night of the week to curl up on the couch and watch a film, don't they?

My all time favorite film is The Shop Around the Corner, played by Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan. The actors and actresses all did a fantastic job; so fantastic, that I usually watch this movie several times a year! *Grin*

The review on Netflix.com says:

In Ernst Lubitsch's charming, Budapest-set romance -- later remade as You've Got Mail -- Klara (Margaret Sullavan) and Alfred (James Stewart) fall in love, even though they've met only as pen pals and don't know each other's names. Over Alfred's objections, Klara is hired in the shop where he works. As they continue their loving correspondence, they embark on a combative working relationship. What will happen when the truth comes to light?

Wednesday Prayer Meeting: a mid-week “refresher”

Wednesday nights are always a bit rushed. Can I get dinner ready before we have to leave? As we rush out the door, do we have our Bibles?

The busyness of the evening is well worth the refreshment we receive at church! Our pastor leads a Bible study (just recently he concluded a fascinating study of the book of Daniel) and then we break for prayer. The ladies and men pray separately, and break into small groups. Our prayer time is a time of knitting hearts together as well as praying to our Lord. If I decided to skip our Wednesday night services at our church, I would have missed out on so much! I’m thankful for our church!

Gerber Daisies!

Flower bed border

Here is the finished flower bed:

I got my impatiens planted on just this side. I still need to get more dirt in the other side before I start planting.

Aprons: Show and Tell

Do you remember "Show and Tell" from when you were in school? Everyone got to bring something to school and tell the class about it. My favorite Show and Tell was when my mom brought my baby sister to my classroom!

As ladies, it's still fun to show off a bit, isn't it? *Grin* That's why I'm organizing an Apron Show and Tell. It's similar to a carnival, but it won't be recurring.

If you'd like to participate, it's simple! Within the next week, post a picture on your blog showing one or more of your aprons, and tell us about them. After you've done so, send me an e-mail with the link to your post. If you don't have a blog, you can send me a picture, and I'll post it along with the entries. Next Tuesday evening, I'll post the entries. If you have your entry in by 6 p.m. (EST), Tuesday, May 30, it will be included! How easy is that?

I have recently found out that being in carnivals and the like is a fun way to add more traffic to your blog, and maybe gain a new friend or two in the process! Feel free to post about the Show and Tell on your blog, so that we have a lot of participants!

Yard update

Last night Kevin got the other side of the flower bed completed. It needs a little more dirt in it, since it's raised more than it was previously. As he was outside working, some of the neighbors walking by were giving very favorable compliments to his hard work, asking if he's done it before. He hasn't done this type of work before, and it turned out so nicely! I'll share pictures tonight!

Now all we have left is the border on the side. We're only putting one layer in on the side, since the basement windows and our air conditioning unit determine the ground level.

Living in Michigan means a short summer season for growing flowers and vegetables. Next fall, I'm going to plant a lot more bulbs around the house, especially some crocuses. I think it is safe to plant now; however, there was a frost advisory for some parts of Michigan last night. I'm just glad that we were in a safe area, because I didn't want to lug in all my plants!

TTFN~have a wonderful day!

Edit: OOPS! I forgot to take a picture, and now it's dark! Well, I'll get one taken tomorrow! =)

Announcing...

My new photo album!

I post so many pictures, and wanted a place to keep them all. I found an easy to use website maker, and have started loading my pictures on it!

It's finished for now, however, I'm sure I'll be updating it periodically. (I will post when I do so.)

There is a link on my sidebar as well as the link above.

Handbag Woes

One day while Susan and I were instant messaging, she gave me a link to a pattern. It was an adorable handbag, and I bookmarked it because I wanted to make it. Susan hadn't yet made it.

The instructions are on the JoAnn's website, and for a company that sells fabric and patterns, one would think that they could write a decent set of instructions.

Wrong.

I have been sewing since I was eleven years old. For those not interested in doing the math, that means I have been sewing for over eighteen years. I have followed many patterns; and have made up my own patterns, both from instructions and of my own design.

I bought the cutest fabric for this bag. Since the pattern called for twice as much fabric as necessary (that, I think, was a conspiracy as well LOL), at least I still have fabric to make a decent bag with. The pattern drafting instructions are very unclear, and the sewing instructions are even more so. Oh, and Susan had trouble with it too, but her bag turned out nicely! (unlike mine, which looks like a terribly silly attempt at a purse!)

But, now that I'm interested in making handbags, I think I shall buy an actual printed pattern, and see how that goes. After all, I've got some adorable fabric that needs to be made up!

Alternately, if anyone knows of a good pattern online, please do share with me!

Chili recipe

Roberta is hosting a Carnival of Recipes that are easy to double and freeze. Here's my submission:

Mike's Grandma's Chili
(I have no idea who either Mike or his grandma are...this recipe is taken from Gooseberry Patch's book Celebrate the Seasons.)

1 lb. ground beef
1 c. onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
15-oz. can kidney beans, undrained
1 qt. tomato juice
1/2 t. cumin
1 t. chili powder
1 t. oregano
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed (I usually use less sugar)

In a large soup pot, cook ground beef, onions and garlic until meat is browned and crumbly. Drain meat, return to pan, add remaining ingredients and simmer on low for 30 minutes or longer. Makes 6 1/2 cups.

This recipe makes a small amount of chili. Often, I will triple it, and we'll have the leftovers for lunch the next day, and freeze the rest. This chili freezes very well.

Very easy, nice and quick!

Yard work

Rebecca e-mailed me on Friday and asked if we had a busy weekend. "No," I said, "I'm going to sleep in, but other than that, we don't have plans."

Well, that's what I thought.

We decided to do a little home improvement today. Our flower bed borders were wood, and were quite rotted away.

Before:

In progress:


The herbs Holly bought for me:


And the flowers that will be going in the beds once we get them finished:

They match the geraniums perfectly!

Two Vintage Aprons

My grandma made this when she was a young college wife. She made them to sell, and for some reason, this one didn't sell. One year, she gave it to me for my birthday.

If you look at it, you can tell that it was made out of handkerchiefs. I looked at it last night, and it appears that it took four hankies to make. This must have been somewhat popular to do at the time, because I've seen hankie aprons here and there in antique stores.


Another apron that I have in my collection is a handpainted Christmas apron. I'm guessing it's from the 60's or 70's, since fabric paint was popular back then. Rebecca, my sister-in-law, was given some vintage lines, and she passed it on to me. I haven't worn it, but I did bring it out at Christmas time, and hang it on my apron hook.

I forgot about these aprons when I made my original apron post. I have quite a few aprons, hmm? And yet, I still want to make more! *Grin*

The Apron as a Gift

In February, 2001, I decided to make aprons for all of my sisters (7), mom, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law. (Yes, that's right...a total of 10 aprons!)

It started out with an apron pattern in a library book that featured lots of lace and insertions. I went off to the fabric store and came home and made the apron, all in one day. The others were made using various patterns that I either had or bought.

I had planned to make an apron a month, and be finished in November. Hahahaha...have I mentioned before what a procrastinator I am? I had four to make the week before Christmas! But I got them all done! The older girls are all saving their aprons in their hope chests, and my mom uses hers.

The apron makes a lovely gift, whether hand made or purchased. It is something fun to receive, and most ladies do not wear aprons these days, simply because they do not have one.

Apron Links

Tonight I've done a little online research, and come up with some apron links for your enjoyment.

Apron patterns
Make a Colonial Apron out of a dishtowel
Gardener's Apron to make
Child's Fun Time apron
BBQ Apron
Garden Apron and Gloves
Cleaning Apron
I love the apron patterns that Paisley Pincushion sells! One of these days, I'll buy them!

Aprons to purchase
Ooh, la, la...Red Polka Dot apron I think this apron is adorable! Check out the other aprons linked on this page.
Apparently even Desperate Housewives need aprons. Having *never* watched the show, I do not endorse it in the slightest bit. However, the apron they are selling is cute...
Real Simple's retro apron

Hillbilly Housewife talks about aprons.

Tie One On--a blog dedicated to aprons. Each month, the theme is different, and readers share their creations.

And even an apron for your dish soap bottle! LOL My grandma had one of these when I was a tiny tot, and I thought it was the neatest thing!

The In Grandma's Attic book series has a very memorable story about aprons in it. The jist of the story was that the mother had been so busy that day, that she put a clean apron on about 6-8 times...she didn't even have time to take off the dirty apron. So at dinner time, as she took off each apron, it told the day's story.

The above links are not an endorsement of any website.

~My Aprons~

I wear aprons often for cooking and cleaning chores. Wearing an apron puts me “in the mood” to cook and clean! Each of my aprons has its own story, thus the lengthiness of this post!

The apron that has seen the most wear is the cream colored apron. I use this apron when I’m canning or cooking something really messy. I made this apron using a vintage thrift store apron as a pattern. My mom bought the original apron, and I liked it so much that I made a pattern from it and made one for myself. I showed the back view as well, since it is a little unusual.

When I was engaged, I bought materials for two aprons, and finished one before I got married, and one afterwards. These two aprons are the half aprons—the pink flowered one with rick-rack and bias tape; and the blue gingham with rick-rack and cross stitch.

The denim apron was made out of a jumper that I had. It got a little worn out, yet I didn’t want to part with it. So I made an apron!

I acquired the blue striped apron at a church yard sale. It was free, since it was the end of the day and we were taking everything that hadn’t sold to a thrift store. This apron seems to be the apron I wear the most! It covers me well, and since it had a few stains on it to begin with, I’m not worried about ruining it.

I bought the green gingham apron at an antique store. It still had the original price tag sewn into the seam. I haven’t worn this apron. I have it on a hook in my kitchen; it makes a nice decoration!

And lastly, I made the apple-patterned apron out of just one yard of fabric, using a new “vintage” pattern. This is an apron that I tend to wear when we’re having company. It looks nice, and goes well with my kitchen. =)

The vintage aprons have more detail in them, and make use of lots of bias tape! I don’t really like applying bias tape, but I love the finished product, so I persevere. *grin*

The power of scent

This morning I dabbed on some perfume that I normally do not wear. I bought this perfume, Spring Rain, when I was a teenager, and I wore it into my early twenties. I stopped wearing it when I got a different perfume, but I still kept it. I didn't wear this perfume on a daily basis; usually just on Sundays.

Today I have been thinking of~
the church my family attended during that time period
the exact pew my family and I sat in (yes, it was the same pew every Sunday!)
playing flute with another lady for the congregational songs
people I haven't thought of in a very long time
my first job as a church secretary

Isn't it interesting how something like perfume can evoke such memories? All morning long, my thoughts have been turning towards that time period in my life. Little snippets of memories have been popping up here and there as I go about my day.

I read once in a book that when you go on vacation, buy a new perfume, and wear it every day of your vacation. When you get home, the author said, do not wear the perfume. Instead, save it for occasions when you wish to remember your vacation. At the time I read that, I thought it was interesting, and wondered if it would work that way. I think it is safe to assume that it would work!

What are some of your favorite scents (perfume, candles, food, etc.)?

Image from arteffects.com

Found Treasures

A few weeks ago, I went to a thrift store and found a beautiful dresser scarf. It fits very nicely on my dresser, and goes with my decorating scheme very well.



Here you can see a close-up of it:



When I was a little girl, my mom had a sugar and creamer hot pad set that her grandmother had made. We had a screened in back porch, and we had it set up as a "house". My mom let us play with those hot pads. A move later, and a different back porch...they got wet and then moldy. :-(

Every time I go into an antique store, I look for hot pads like the ones I played with. When Holly, Shelly, Kevin and I were in Ludington, we browsed through stores, and one of those stores was an antique store.

I found some that were made with the same pattern! I was SO very excited! They are a different color (the ones my mom had were blue and white), and they are a little bigger, but they go with my kitchen so well! I was just thrilled to find them!

Here they are:

Yawn! No coffee today...

As I was sitting in church Sunday morning, struggling to keep my eyes open, it dawned on me that even though I had gotten a good night's rest, I was still tired. Then I realized that I had fallen into a habit of having a cup of coffee each morning...at work. I do have a coffee maker, but it is in a lower cabinet, and I use it only when we have company. Yesterday and today I have resisted the urge to drink coffee in the morning, and instead have had a few cups of herbal tea. I don't want to be "addicted" to caffeine, so now's the time to nip it in the bud!

*Yawn*

I'm still tired though. One cup wouldn't hurt...would it? ;-)

Image from sharkyscoffee.com

Prayer reqest...

This Mother's Day has been one of anquish for a family in my home church. Their 2 1/2 year old son fell into a pool last night, and died this morning at 4:30. Please be in prayer for this sweet family.

~My Mother~

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mother!

Courtney AND Nikki tagged me on this one. Last week was a whirlwind of a week (and a wonderfully fun whirlwind at that!), so I've waited to post this till I had the time to think about it!

Fourteen Things About My Mother
1. She was born in Ohio.
2. She met my dad in college and got her "Mrs." degree.
3. She had me when she was 22 years old.
4. She told us "Lulabelle" stories. I didn't figure out for many years that she was really telling us stories about her childhood. "Lulabelle" had a naughty streak. LOL
5. She almost lost her own mother when she was six years old...but God miraculously healed her.
6. She likes to do crafts and do creative things.
7. She has nine children, eight of whom are girls.
8. She is a good listener.
9. She has been married for 31 1/2 years.
10. She doesn't like public restrooms (I know, who does? Well, I guess I should have said "She HATES public restrooms.")
11. She loves the Lord.
12. She taught all of her children to love the Lord.
13. She really knows the Bible.
14. She is a wonderful mother, and I'm glad she's mine!

Crazy Weather

In our little corner of the world, we have a weather system that is circling over us. And over us. And over again. It's been raining since Wednesday night, with no sign of it letting up!

My New 'Do

Here's my new hairstyle:

More fun!

Today Kevin had off work as well, so we all went to Ludington. We went shopping downtown, and browsed through some cute shops. Afterwards, we went out to the lighthouse. This time we went all the way to the lighthouse. It was raining, and very cold, but the waves weren't as choppy as they were Thursday.






After our excursion to the lighthouse, we found a bookstore/cafe and had a nice, warm cup of coffee. Warm again, we headed home.

Now we are home, we've just finished dinner, and then we're going to watch a movie. Tomorrow...*sniff, sniff* they fly on home. It has been such a nice week with them!

Fun, Fun, Fun!

Yesterday afternoon, Holly, Shelly, and I went to Muskegon. There is a large antique mall which we enjoyed browsing through, and a store called Heart and Hand that has country decorations. After we went shopping, we went to Lake Michigan. Not only was it raining, but it was cold. The lake was quite boistrous, so we didn't venture out to see the lighthouses. But it was fun to see them from a distance!





In the evening we got a picture of our pedicures. This picture was harder to take than it looks. *Giggle* We had to link arms so we wouldn't fall over!

~Thursday~

Today it is raining! Not a very cheery day to go sightseeing...but we'll have fun anyhow! =)

I broke my glasses a few days ago, and I'm using my glasses from the time before. So this morning I went and got my eyes checked. I still have to pick out frames, but at least I have the exam out of the way!

~Hello!~

These last few days have been so busy, I haven't had a chance to update my blog! My sisters and I are having a wonderful time together!

Monday afternoon we went to a greenhouse, and bought flowers. The greenhouse is owned and operated by a lady in our church, and it is just gorgeous! Holly and Shelly took over 100 pictures between the two of them. LOL Afterwards, I got my hair cut! I'll have to post a picture. It is drastically different! The things my sisters can talk me into. *smile*

Yesterday evening we went to a Japenese restaurant where they cook the food right in front of you. (Again, more pictures!) Afterwards, we went to a bookstore. Once home, we girls did pedicures. =)

Tonight is church, and then tomorrow and Friday we'll do some sightseeing type of stuff.

Have a blessed day!

Oh Canada!

We picked up Holly and Shelly from the Detroit airport, and since we were so close to Canada, we went over the border and walked around for a little bit to say we've been in Canada.

Here we are:


The area we went to wasn't very impressive. There were a lot of nightclubs, bars, and cheap gift shops. We found that the exchange rate varied from store to store, apparently they can charge tourists whatever they please. *Grin* We stopped into Starbucks, a pizza shop, and a gift shop for Shelly to buy a charm for her charm bracelet.

But now we can say we've been out of our country, if just for an hour!

There was a very pretty park that we went to, right on the river. Now that would have been nice to spend a little time walking in, but we didn't realize how large it was, until we were driving by it. There were a lot of interesting sculputres in it.

Holly, Shelly, and I each have a digital camera. I can see that a good portion of their visit will be spent in comparing pictures. Hehe

It's fun to have them here! I'm looking forward to this week!