Life At The Little Cottage

Curls!

2011-07-05T14:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Diary,

I jumped on over to the other side. Instead of only using all natural products, I bought some Tresseme mouse, and spray gel and went to town on my hair. I’m glad I did. It brought out all of my natural curls. What a nice change.

I owe it to the beautiful sales rep. that came into the office with her gorgeous bouncy curls. Every curl was well defined without an ounce of frizz. Perfect beautiful curls. She was such a beautiful lady. The receptionist I work with mentioned that she probably uses a lot of product in her hair.

That’s all I needed to hear. I only wish my hair could be just as beautiful. But I’ll take what I can get. I took this picture to see whether my curls looked like curls or messy hair. I never knew my hair could get this curly …or …. er… messy ….haha!! I still have to figure out what to do with the top. I wish I didn’t have those two “cowlicks” in the front. More experimentation is needed. Maybe I need to part it at the side more? I do have some of the top pulled back.

One plus is that it looks thick and curly and full in a high pony tail.

What a beautiful week off of work this week.

Handsome

2011-04-25T15:19:00.001-04:00

Dear Diary,

I think I have the most handsomest son in the world.

I have neglected to write. I am very tired when I get home from work. And weekends are busy with house cleaning and grocery shopping.

I am enjoying my job. I like the people that I work with and for. They seem to be very caring and down to earth people. I am blessed to be working there. I am still learning something new every day, and I still make mistakes. But there are more good days than there are bad days. I want to learn all that I can, the more I learn the better it will be for me.

Easter was different this year. I had started learning a song with my class, but nothing seem to be going right. Something seemed amiss, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I tried to think of what it was that was wrong and couldn’t come up with an answer. There was just something about the whole thing that bothered and bothered me.Than, one day I was driving to work and I heard a song that touched my heart. An old song, made new. I wished that they would play it over again. I realized that was the song that I would love to do for Easter with my class. But there were only 2 Sundays left to learn it. Could we pull it off? I thought about saving the song for next Easter. I prayed really hard about it. The song just seemed so right. So I took a step out in faith and presented the song to my class. We learned it in 2 Sundays and it fit in exactly with Sunday nights service. The other song wouldn’t have fit in at all.

Thank you Jesus, for helping me and gently guiding me in the right direction. I need Your help continually.

Experimenting

2011-02-27T16:14:00.002-05:00

Dear Diary,

Over night sponge curler results.

It’s 4:00 p.m. and the curls have held well, but have loosened up a bit. I am going to church tonight and I’m really hoping that I can put it up in some kind of nice looking up-do. Up-do’s are challenging as I don’t think I look all that nice with my hair up.

It’s back to work on Monday. The office will be closed but I will be answering the phones and hopefully learning more. As a matter of fact, I hope that I can learn a lot this week. It’s hard being the newbie and feeling incompetent. I really don’t like that feeling. At all.

Open the Eyes of My Heart, I Want to See You

2011-02-19T18:12:00.012-05:00

Dear Diary,

This evening Crickie and I were talking about the black holes in the universe. He was trying to teach me about them. We got onto the subject of the stars.

How big are the stars in the sky? Are they the size of tennis balls?

No, that would be impossible! We wouldn’t be able to see them if they were that small. So we researched the size of stars. One website stated, ….

“Now, lets look at some objects that are so unbelievably large, that if they replaced our Sun in our Solar System, they would extend out, beyond the orbits of many of the planets. These super-sized stars are billions of times larger than our home planet, and millions of times larger than our Sun. "

Make note of the arrow pointing to the sun in this picture. Look how small the sun is compared to some of the stars out there.

How big is the universe? Of course it cannot be measured..That's impossible

We were onto something because immediately our thoughts were directed on God. The next question … Can you imagine how big God is?

And in a small moment our eyes were opened. I mentioned to Crickie that we must be like ants compared to God. He disagreed. “No, Mom, we are much smaller than that compared to Him.”

I just looked at Crickie and thought about what he said. And as the eyes of my heart remained opened I kept asking myself with awe and wonder. It really was with awe and wonder as I thought about Him ..Who am I that He even cares and thinks about me? Why did He robe Himself in flesh and let those nails pierce His hands and feet for my sake?

Your love Lord, I can not comprehend.

You are too wonderful to me.Open the eyes of my heart, again and again. Never, ever stop doing that. I want to see You over and over, over and over.

Easy Up -Do

2011-02-16T10:00:00.010-05:00

Dear Diary,

I'm thinking that my hair, dear Diary, might be too long to wear down when I work. It might get in the way.

So here's a practice do for today. It took about 5 minutes to do. This will be an experiment. It’s a pony tail that’s not pulled through all the way.I wrapped the ends around the elastic and put the remaining ends behind the pony and clipped everything with a Flexi8 through the pony loop. I kept the front really loose and the top of my football head (as Crickie and the Handsome Man kindly like to point out to me every now and again) poofy. There are no worries about the football head comment. The Handsome man has a pumpkin head and Crickie has a soccer ball head ..hehe!

Unfortunately, it was very hard to capture clearly with the camera all by myself.I will see how well it holds today. It feels really secure.

Not sure if I like it or not. I do think that it’s practical and easy.

While I’m in the picture taking mood. A jean skirt made out of 2 cheap pairs of GoodWill jeans.

I need to make more. Maybe a little shorter for relaxing around the house in the summer time.

Also a new beautiful song I learned recently.

One of the hardest things to do, is to give myself away. It’s not about me, not about my feelings, my desires, it’s all about You, Jesus.

Keyboard

2011-02-10T10:22:00.001-05:00

Dear Diary,

Something is happening when I am playing my keyboard. After 12 plus years, I am finally learning to play by ear. It’s as if I have been awaken out of a very thick fog and now I can seem to play almost anything I want. It takes awhile to figure the song out, but the more I practice the more I seem to figure it out faster and faster. I can only play the melody. I can play the melody … my way. The way I sing the song. I put my own spin on it. I never thought I would ever be able to do this. Not ever. Yet it’s happening.

Perhaps in the future, if I can achieve better quality of music, my Handsome Man will let me get a real piano.

Shopping

2011-02-09T09:36:00.002-05:00

Dear Diary,

Looking through the slim pickings in the closet, I think that it’s time to go shopping for some clothes now that I have a job.

I need to find dressy comfortable shoes. Maybe I can find nice flat shoes? However, I have yet to find a nice pair of flats. Maybe I will get lucky. I need a few more skirts and dress shirts. And I’d like a skinny belt, since I only have wide belts.

I am allowed to wear scrubs every now and again with running shoes, if I choose. And if I want, I can wear a lab coat here and there too.

Shopping is not my thing.

But yet it excites me at the idea of getting some new clothes. What a treat! I must shop wisely. Perhaps 3 different outfits will do. Then it’ll just be a matter of mix and match and then rotating them through out the week.

The van is at the garage. There will be no shopping today. Perhaps tomorrow.

Thank You Jesus

2011-02-07T13:24:00.002-05:00

Thank you friends for all your prayers and your kind support.

Dear Diary,

I got the job!

xoxo

So-So

2011-02-05T18:01:00.005-05:00

Dear Diary,

The interview today was just so-so. It was rushed as they were behind on their interviews, impersonal, and to the point. There were surprisingly two doctors that asked me a whole bunch of questions and will let me know whether there is a job offer for me in a few days time. I know I could do this job with ease, but it was so impersonal. Both doctors shook my hand, but one didn't even bother to introduce himself.

My nerves are shot.

I have to tough it out as I have another interview at a cardiologists office on Wednesday. They are conducting their interviews 1 hour away from home. I wasn’t going to go, but what do I have to loose? They will be moving to a new location near me soon, so it might pay off to travel the distance.

I am going to weight 200 lbs when this is all said or done. I found out something about myself. I eat sweets when I am nervous and anxious. And I can’t sleep.

I need to relax! But I can’t. I need some chocolate. Now!

Goodies

2011-02-04T12:19:00.005-05:00

Dear Diary,

I have not applied for any jobs this week. There really hasn’t been anything interesting to apply to. I will keep searching today to see if anything pops up.

Tomorrow, I meet with the surgeon for an interview. I researched the doctor online, and she specializes in mastectomies, and lumpectomies, laparoscopic surgery, cholecystectomies, hernia repairs, splenectomies … etc. etc. I am scheduled for a 15 minute interview, I hope it goes well. The last interview-at the medical center-we talked for around 45 minutes. So this one will be fast in comparison.

I also have a second interview at the medical center on Monday. So, I'll have to see what happens there.

My nerves are pretty much shot. How much interviewing can this shy gal take? I have butterflies in my stomach and my arms feel very weak as I type this.

All because of April and her desire for some brownies, it got me thinking on those chocolate treats! So on Saturday, I made some sugar-free brownies from the website Healthy Indulgences. I was pretty impressed. My children thought they tasted like nothing, but Crickie didn’t seem to mind them. I, on the other hand, thought they were good-not like regular brownies of course, but they did the trick for me. They needed the walnuts, that’s one ingredient, I wouldn’t leave out. For some reason they seemed filling. I miss having them around to munch on.

Dolly made regular chocolate chip cookies with minimal help from me. I was proud of her. It won’t be long until she will be baking all by herself! I still had to give her little tips, but she did well.

It’s no wonder she didn’t care for the brownies.

Another Interview

2011-02-02T09:12:00.002-05:00

Dear Diary,

Last night I received an email giving me the opportunity to schedule an interview on Saturday with a surgical doctor. I can hardly believe it! I hope the snow lets up before then!

Interview

2011-01-27T13:12:00.006-05:00

Dear Diary,

I have an interview to go to on Monday. Pinch me real hard! I may or may not be dreaming. Hehe! Thank You Jesus! Thank you friends that pray. I am excited. I am very, very nervous. Will I survive? Will I be blundering and stuttering, sweating and shaking? Most likely. I'll probably laugh alot. I hate when I do that. Nothing says airhead more.

It’s for the Medical Centre. Pays well. Only a one year contract. It’ll be great experience. My Handsome Man was right. They really did call!

I submitted another resume today. It’s for an ophthalmic medical assistant position. I have the computer skills and they will train for the rest. I would be thrilled to try out for this job!

I need to submit one more resume today. It’ll be for a dental receptionist position. No experience necessary. It’s permanent part-time. Also weekend work. And I have to be on-call. I don’t mind Saturdays, but Sundays? I can’t see them being open on Sundays. I’ll give it a try and see where it leads-if anywhere.

A Glorious Day That Will Be

2011-01-25T12:10:00.001-05:00

Dear Diary,

We had meatball soup for dinner last night.

Tonight we will have left-over soup with breaded chicken.

So far there are no job listings today.

Crickie asked me what it was like to die. “Will I go to heaven Momma?”

Dolly was listening in.

We talked.

~ What a day that will be, when my Jesus, I shall see. When I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace~

Tell Me About Yourself.

2011-01-24T14:03:00.002-05:00

Dear Diary,

I am thinking about potential interview questions today. I can think intelligently when it’s quiet and I am by myself, and I have all the time in the world to think-but talking off the top of my head, out of my comfort zone, the brain becomes dead space. It goes completely empty. I become an airhead. I say those silly things. I mean those really silly things. I sweat. I hate when the sweat runs down my back. I hate getting soaked with sweat. I blush.

How am I going to survive an interview? Jesus, You’re really going to have to help me.

Today I applied at a medical center. How wonderful it would be to work there. It’s good pay. Only a 1 year contract. Yet the experience would be exactly what I need.

Handsome Man read the copy of my cover letter and thinks it’s a good possibility the phone will ring. I appreciate his up-lifting words. He has no idea, how much his words mean to me today. Funny how the right word in the right season of time, can mean so much.

“It’s like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

The Wonder Of It All

2011-01-20T20:24:00.005-05:00

Dear Diary,

The girls and I decided to decorate our Sunday school classroom in a flower theme. It’s been a long time since we have been able to decorate. I spent some time today coming up with ways to bring some interest to the walls and ceiling of our classroom. I need to go to the Dollar store to see what they have! I want to some how give our room the “wow” factor. I have a long ways to go to get to that point.

A flower always makes me think about the beauty of the Lord. The beauty He made for everyone to enjoy. Even the smallest of things made by the Master’s hand brings me pleasure. His love is amazing. The wonder of it all.

I made this mobile today.

This mobile will hang above our table. I think that I will add more flowers. Maybe. I made these tissue flowers too. Note for future reference-make these for presents some day. They are so easy to make.

I wish I would have known how to make them when I got married!

This past week, I've learned to play some chorus's by ear. I can hardly believe it. No notes, no music books! It's such an answered prayer. I pray I get better at it. I must keep track of what I have played. Standing On Holy Ground. Cover Me With Your Spirit Holy One. I Have Decided To Follow Jesus. Enter The Chamber Sweet Holy Spirit. and Jesus Loves Me. I pray there's more to come.

I applied at an ultrasound imaging office today. They take 3-D and 4-D images of babies in utero. The pay is minimal and it’s only part-time work. Still it would be a foot in the door. And how exciting of a job that would be! There is nothing more precious then the joy of new life. That’s what I put in my cover letter. I was excited.

Cry!

2011-01-19T16:13:00.002-05:00

Dear Diary,

I could just cry! I sent in my resume via email for an office assistant position. It took a long time to perfect my cover letter and decide what format to attach my resume in. After I sent it, I saw that I had an extra empty line in my cover letter. How could I do that??? So much for insisting my keyboarding skills are an asset. How unprofessional and embarassing. I guess that I won’t hold my breath for this job. Wah!

I better finish making dinner. It’s boneless stuffed chicken and whatever else I decide to make.

Wholesome Bread

2011-01-18T14:01:00.004-05:00

Dear Diary,

I picked up a small loaf of natural whole-grain raisin bread today. It was on sale. I love it. No additives or preservatives. Flax seeds, oats, poppy seeds, sunflower seeds. Sweetened with raisin juice and honey. I made an exception with the honey. Mmmm! I could eat the whole loaf right up. All by myself. I probably will. Over the next few days. Lightly toasted, with butter. With a tea. For lunch. This is what I call bread. This is how bread is suppose to be made. Why don’t they make more bread like this? Why does healthy food have to be so expensive?

I am headachy today. I feel like curling up on the couch and sleeping. No job listings yesterday or today. Anxiously waiting for my certificate. Trust, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct your path.

Cold

2011-01-17T09:34:00.005-05:00

Dear Diary,

It’s extremely cold outside. It’s –7 C today. The school buses have been delayed, I assume it’s because they have had a hard time starting up in this freezing weather. I drove Dolly to school.

This morning, I noticed the inside of my cheek is all bit up and very sore. I must have been biting down and chewing on my cheek very hard in my sleep. I need to wear my retainer. It’s just that I have chewed up my retainer and it’s all cracked. I won’t be getting a new one for a long time. Maybe it will be cheaper next time since I still have the mold for my teeth. I will have to ask next time I get my teeth cleaned.

I hope that I can apply for more jobs today. I am bringing my school books back out. I am afraid that I won’t remember what I have learned. Especially medical terminology.

We had 17 visitors in church yesterday, and 2 more last night. I was extremely excited before I went to church last night. I couldn't wait to go.

Maple Snow

2011-01-15T15:11:00.002-05:00

Dear Diary,

I always warn them not to eat yellow snow. But, today Crickie ate yellow snow. Now Dolly wants to try it too. I was not worried. He poured pure maple syrup over top and ate it. He assured me that it was clean snow.

I tasted it. It tastes like cold maple syrup.

He tells me that this was dessert in the Pioneer Days.

I sent out another resume. To the “Foot Clinic.”

Excited!

2011-01-14T16:38:00.003-05:00

Dear Diary,

I just applied for a File Clerk job. It's only a temporary government job. Yet I am excited.

Discouraged

2011-01-14T10:29:00.004-05:00

Dear Diary,

Today I am feeling discouraged. There are no job listings again today ….at least not yet. There is doubt in discouragement. Thoughts are going through my mind, that I will never be anything more than I am right now. That I will never get a good job. But, the Bible says, the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. I must not rely on my own feelings. I will cast down these thoughts and continue to trust my Lord. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

I fixed my hair in an updo and was about to change my clothes to look professional and start handing out resumes-anywhere. But after I fixed my hair, I stopped myself. I will wait until I receive my certificate. I hope my final marks come in soon.

That is not all. Handing out resumes is totally outside of my comfort zone. I am nervous. I know that I have to step outside of my comfort zone to proceed ahead. It’s the way of life. I’m trying to teach Dolly that. Life isn’t always “feel-good”. Sometimes, no-a lot of times, we have to do things outside of our comfort zones. I have to push myself continually. Dolly is extremely shy and quiet. She is like me. But success is sweet, when we push outside of our comfort zones. It’s worth it. I wonder if I will be able to teach Dolly that.

When I hand out resumes, I think I will wear my straight black skirt and low heels. I will put my hair in a head band, with a cinnamon bun and with hanging loose ends. I need to find a nice top to wear. Dear Lord, calm my nerves. Go before me, as I step out of my comfort zone.

I am going to make different styles of resumes. So I have more than one. And different cover letters. Some medical, some dental.

Esther

2011-01-13T16:32:00.010-05:00

Dear Diary. I like the sounds of that! I think I am going to make my blog like a diary. So here goes.

Dear Diary...

Esther. I watched this movie on Netflix a week or so ago. I really liked it. There were a few inconsistancies in it. It touched my heart. I cried when Esther and Mordecai and the Jews, sought the Lord by fasting. Can't explain why. The Lord was touching my heart while I was watching the movie. I guess maybe it was because they were seeking the Lord. With all their heart. With all that was within them. Sincerely. They depended upon Him. I can relate. There are times when I too need to put my focus back where it belongs. On Him. Always and only on Him. Their lives were totally and completely in His hands. The power of my God. To turn situations completely around.

I noticed that somebody put captions on this youtube episode.

No job listings again today. The Lord will provide. I will keep my faith.

Who Needs To Do The Cha-Cha?

2011-01-12T10:12:00.003-05:00

When you have a driveway to shovel.

By hand. Because the Handsome Man is working. And I don’t know how to use the snow -blower.

That’s enough exercise for me today. Perhaps I will cha-cha tomorrow.

It’s still snowing.

I’m suppose to go out today. Maybe this afternoon. Thanks for taking the snowy pictures for me Dolly. :)

My Favorite Breakfast

2011-01-11T16:14:00.003-05:00

Pineapples and banana’s.

A couple of dab’s of Greek, plain, yogurt.

Rice milk.

And Stevia. Blend, then enjoy!

It’s perfect for me. It’s light, yet filling and oh! so! tasty!

Today I handed in my resume for a cardiology receptionist position. There’s still very few listings to apply to. I wish I had the work experience. That’s where I lack.

School Is Finally Finished!

2011-01-10T13:30:00.007-05:00

Wow! I haven’t posted on my blog for almost a year! I forget how to blog AND how to change the background! I can’t believe how fast time flies, especially when I am busy. I am so happy that I finally finished school.

I am happy to say that I am now a certified Medical Front Office Assistant. Now my job search begins. However, there doesn’t seem to be many job listings as of late. I’m am fully trusting the Lord with help me with finding a job. He will provide. I handed in one resume today for a Dental Receptionist position. It was the only one I could find posted today. I hope there will be more tomorrow.

I want to post a picture of our new front door. We decided to go with an old-fashioned type door to try and suit our house. I am thrilled with it. I was intending on getting a gingerbread screen door, but I’m not so sure I want to any more.

This is a really poor quality picture. It was taken at night right before New Year’s. I had my Christmas tree in the corner of my window, but I had taken it down before I took this picture. It looked nice along with the lights on the outdoor tree and porch. I didn't intend to blog about it. If so, I would have taken a nicer picture.

We are all doing well. I am not so sure anybody will see my blog post, but it’s fun to blog again anyway! It's kind of like keeping a diary. :)

Oh and the Christmas tree this year. I know that I'll want to look back on this and see it next year.

Corn Chip Salad

2010-02-27T12:38:00.002-05:00

Lettuce, Spinach, Tomatoes, Shredded Cheese, A Little Ground Chicken, Salsa and Sour Cream And The Secret Ingredient …. Corn Chips! Yes, Dolly and Crick ate it ( minus the chicken), the first evening AND the second evening and LOVED it! It’s amazing what corn chips can do! If you knew my children, you would know what a great accomplishment this is!! It was a surreal moment. Time stood still, as I watched them eat their salad.
I didn’t really care for the salsa and sour cream and the children didn’t even want to attempt to try it; they used regular salad dressing instead. I used an organic sugar-free salad dressing to replace the sour cream/salsa combo the next evening.

This week I have to work on my 10 minute presentation for school. I need to video tape it. So why am I nervous? How silly am I! I can’t seem to absorb the information and end up sounding like such an amateur and I look kind of geeky too. Okay, not just “kind of geeky”, but “totally geeky”. And I sound weirdo too! Crickie and Dolly use that word sometimes, “weirdo”. I’m going to have to dress up for the presentation and present a power point slide show as well. It should be interesting. I tried practicing just using the computer cam, and then I got side tracked and started taping the children and I. We could warp our faces, blow dandelion seeds, turn ourselves into negatives all the while we were recording. What else are Friday nights for?

The weather outside?

The roads are clear now and it’s not so bad. We were going to go on a road trip today to a good friend of ours, but we weren’t too sure of what the weather was going to be like. It was a little nasty last night. My dh came home frustrated and said, “ I quit!”

The roads are no fun to drive on when they are full of snow. Of course he isn’t really going to quit. He’s his own boss. And I’m the boss of him. We need to follow the hierarchy order, therefore; he has to listen to me. LOL! I kid!

We will try and go again in a few weeks. It’s still snowing and according to weather reports, it will continue well into next week. I can’t complain, we’ve had a good winter this year.

I brown sugared, olive oiled, and moisturized my face today. My skin is terribly dry. It’s red, flaky, itchy and tight.

For once, I have nothing to do today! Besides the laundry of course! Perhaps I should go out and shovel the driveway.

Daisy

For Jen and April

2010-02-18T14:15:00.002-05:00

Jen, sorry it has taken me so long to give you this recipe. You can find it at this link here. http://steviabenefits.org/recipe_sweetpotatopie.html

I used 1 tbsp of powdered Stevia instead of the packets of “truvia”. It tasted sweeter the day after I made it. You may want to use more Stevia, you’ll have to play with the recipe to suit you.

Sweet Potato Pie

Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie
3 medium sweet potatoes
¼ cup unsalted butter
16 packets Truvia™ natural sweetener
¾ cup skim milk
3 eggs, large
2 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon, ground
½ tsp nutmeg, ground
1/8 tsp allspice, ground
Light whipped topping, optional

Directions

Assemble all ingredients; preheat oven to 400°F.
Wash exterior of each potato, prick several times with a fork and bake until tender 60-75 minutes. Cool potatoes to room temperature.
Scoop interior flesh of baked potatoes into a medium bowl (no skin). Mash potatoes until smooth.
Melt butter and add to sweet potatoes.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together Truvia™ natural sweetener, eggs, vanilla, salt and spices.
Add spice-egg mixture to potatoes.
Mix until well combined smooth mixture.
Carefully transfer pie to oven* and bake on bottom rack until filling is just set approx 35-45 min. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

April, I use two cookbooks. I found this one to be my favorite so far.

Here is the other cookbook I use. This one is more work, as you have to prepare some ingredients before hand; like grinding up nuts and coconut .. stuff like that. I like it for it’s pie crusts and a few other recipes, but some recipes aren’t the greatest in it. So I’m not sure if I recommend it or not. It’s all trial and error and I’m still experimenting.

I wish I could write more, but I have to run and do some errands. I’m so sorry about the rushed post.

Daisy

Sweet Potato Pie

2010-02-06T13:25:00.002-05:00

I’ve never had sweet potato pie before. So I had to make one up, stevia sweetened of course. I used a whole wheat crust with no lard, it’s just whole wheat flour, salt, stevia, olive oil and a few tablespoons of water.

Next I made up the sweet potato filling, with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, eggs, stevia, butter and some rice milk.

And then into the oven for 40 minutes.

Then I cut myself a piece. How did it taste?

Not bad! I could have used a little more stevia though! It’s all trial and error!

Daisy

Walmart | Clowning Around

2010-02-05T09:27:00.001-05:00

I can't believe how hard I laughed at this!
Have a nice weekend every one!

Body Pillow – Pillow Case

2010-01-30T11:12:00.001-05:00

It’s been so hard getting on the computer to blog. If I didn’t have so much fun blogging, making a journal of sorts, I would have stopped long ago. I just don’t want to let it go yet, I enjoyed looking back at the pictures.

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Here is a pillow case I made out of an old sheet that I had. It’s for Dolly; and yes, it’s imperfect! I just winged it, as I went along. I should have done this a very long time ago. Now I have 3 more to make, but that’s not going to happen for a very long time.

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Daisy

Oh! It's Ccccold Outside

2010-01-07T07:50:00.008-05:00

Can you spot nature's chandelier? :)

Icicles! Beautiful aren't they?

Now if only they lit up!

Just watch your head! They can be dangerous.

Daisy

Dolly's Chandy

2010-01-05T21:13:00.009-05:00

Since my dining room chandelier was on sale for a very, very good price, I had Christmas money left over to buy my Dolly a tiny little chandelier for her room. I think that she really likes it.

My Christmas Present

2010-01-02T16:45:00.006-05:00

A chandelier from some money my Handsome man gave me. Get this, it was on sale for half price during the boxing week sales! Thanks Darling, I appreciate it, alot! :)

I have to tell you about my dh. He knows how badly that I want to get a big hallway mirror, so the other day, he handed me some more money to get one. I couldn't believe it. We aren't exactly in the position to be spending money like that, but he took it out of his little stash and gave it to me. I kept thinking to myself how unselfish he is and how lucky I was! Unfortunately he ran his cell phone through the washer, so I gave him the money back, so he could buy another phone. Some things are more important then a hallway mirror. He needs his phone for work. Darling if you are reading this, I want to tell you that I love you very much and I love my new chandelier!

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T13:06:00.001-05:00

From my home to yours!
Daisy

p.s. That's the first snowman this year, built by my 8 year old Crickie.

Polka-dot Explosion

2009-12-26T15:45:00.012-05:00

Here are some pictures of my Dolly's room.

She got some polka-dots for Christmas. ;)

I seen a cute little pink chandelier on sale, I hope to buy it for her with my Christmas money. It'll hang right over her bed and match her pink walls. It'll look cute in her room.

Crickie got Sponge Bob for Christmas.

He loves Sponge Bob, although I know not why.

Maybe it's because Sponge Bob is goofy. Just like Crick.

He always tries to make us laugh. And will go at great lengths to do so.

I love my two Sweeb's!

Daisy

The Plays Have Been Watched

2009-12-24T13:35:00.010-05:00

That's Dolly watching her brother at his school play.

The Rice Krispie Squares have been made. Only half with sprinkles though! Goodbye sugar free diet! For only a few days that is!

The presents are wrapped and placed under our crazy tree. Usually we place the presents under the tree when the children have gone to bed, but this year I decided to let them look at them.

They can look, but not touch. Heheh!

Underwear has never looked so pretty all wrapped up. LOL! Just kidding! Maybe! ;)

Now it's off to church this evening to do some joyful singing. May it fill the building with a beautiful sound, that rises as sweet incense to the One who made this all possible!

Have a very, Merry Christmas everyone!

Hello!

2009-12-11T07:24:00.010-05:00

Oh boy I need to study big time today, as I have to write my first exam tomorrow, which I am extremely nervous about. Questions are running through my mind such as, have I studied enough?, do I know everything?, what if I don't do well?, what if I can't find my exam room tomorrow? ... on and on the nagging questions go! I drive myself nuts!

I decided to squeeze this post in before the New Year, for several reasons! One of the reasons for my post is to show you my Christmas tree. I let my children go to town decorating it. They put up as much of their crafts as they could, it's not a designer tree, but it is a nastalgic one. To make it look prettier I added sparkly branches and pointsettia's at the top of the tree. This is definately not your ordinary tree, LOL!

Another reason is I must show you my crocheted hats. Hats do NOT look nice on me at all. In so much that I wear ear muffs or those head bands that cover your ears to keep them warm. Yes, I'm that geeky! And I'm not afraid to admit it! LOL! But this year, I decided enough is enough, I need to wear a hat. So I made two.

Here is my Dolly modeling it for me.

And now my other hat. My good on-line friend, showed me this pattern, so I just had to make it! Thanks my friend! :)

And for the 3rd reason that really, REALLY got me to blog here amongst my busy day, was because another on-line friend has become an accomplished author! Oh yeah! Isn't that quite an accomplishment? Anyway she is having a blog give away for a copy of her brand new published book!

I bought myself a personally signed copy, but I am going to enter her give away as well, as I know who to give the book to if I win!! Congratulations Jules for writing your very first published book!! I'm sure there are many more to come!! Just click here if you would like to enter to win as well!

Thanks for dropping by! I hope your Christmas shopping is all finished and that you can cozy up in your home now and relax and enjoy the celebration of the great love the Lord has for us, as He became flesh and lived among men kind, for the purpose of our salvation! Throw on some Christmas music and rejoice!

Love
Daisy

Everything Changes In A Blink Of An Eye

2009-11-17T07:15:00.005-05:00

Since I have started school, I just can't seem to find the time to blog. I miss it, isn't that crazy, but I guess I just love to blog, it's fun! Blogging is not the only thing that I don't have time for. My quilting and sewing and crocheting and even my baking, are all pretty much squeezed in on Saturdays and sometimes although my hearts desire is to be creative, sometimes I am just too tired. I am in a weird place right now, where I am actually grieving about not being able to do the things that I love to do, (even to clean the house until it's spotless!!), all of it seems to be on hold or like I said put off until Saturdays.

Welcome to the real world ... right? I sure hope this schooling pays off and I get a good job when it's all said and done. A good enough job to support my family, since my handsome man is almost ready to retire from the work force. I get panicky sometimes thinking about it all, I start to think that I am too old and don't have enough experience since I have been home so long raising my children. I start thinking that nobody out there will hire me. Well, I'm holding out hope, and I'm praying every day about this situation and I'm working as hard as I can on my school work, what more can I do?

Thats not the only thing that is changing in my life. There are other personal things happening, it's hard dealing with change.

So to all of you that have come and commented on my blog, I just want to say thanks, it's been fun, I loved reading my comments, they always, always put a smile on my face. I still make time every day to read all of your blogs even though I don't comment. I'm going to try to take a leave of absence from blogging until the New Year.

Popcorn Balls

2009-10-31T13:24:00.003-04:00

Treats for the kids!

Daisy

I miss blogging, quilting and crocheting and even baking!

2009-10-28T08:12:00.006-04:00

I am having crochet, sewing, baking and blog withdrawals. Oh yes I am. Unfortunately the leaves need raking, the fence needs staining, the patio furniture needs to be put away/covered up, the children are sick (H1N1,I think) and school work needs to be done, along with the housework and laundry. Did I mention that I feel exhausted lately? My hands long to pick up a hook and finish my afghan, oh the luxury of crocheting ... I have hearts to finish sewing for Christmas and Oh the baking I want to do!
Although I did bake some wholesome Cheesy Vegetable Muffins last night. I altered the recipe by using whole wheat flour instead of the white. I suspect that the baking time is wrong, I think the recipe is suppose to say to bake at 280 degrees instead of 180 degrees. Anyway I really liked them, next time I think that I'm going to add some onions or perhaps red peppers to them as they are plain. Mind you, I used potato and carrots to make them. Perhaps a different combination of veggies would add more flavor as well. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't mind the plain-ness of them at all, they were moist and reminded me of a roll ... but the Handsome Man did mind. I will enjoy them for lunch today. You can bet that I will be making them again.

Now I think the dryer went off and it's time to run downstairs and fold those clothes before they get wrinkly! I do not like wrinkly clothes, as that means I have to iron. ;)

Daisy

Chocolate "Frosty"

2009-10-08T08:51:00.007-04:00

I found this particular recipe on this site here

It was pretty good! It was banana-y and you could taste the cocoa, however for my preference I added about 1/2 tsp. of stevia extract to mine and mmmm, it turned out to be a quick and satisfying delight. I'll have to make some for Dolly and Crick soon as they were at school when I made it. I hope they like it!

Here is the recipe:

1 frozen banana
1/2 cup natural plain yogurt ( with active bacterial cultures)
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. powdered stevia extract ( the "now" brand)

Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Red, Blonde, or Brunette?

2009-10-07T09:05:00.014-04:00

Here is a light brown color.

Here is a what is considered a dark, golden, blonde.

Here is a golden blonde picture.

Here is a picture of a dark strawberry blonde color. Isn't it pretty?

I however am not sure what color to say my hair is! I get various responses all the time. My hair had a lot more red in it when I was younger, but then it turned a light brown color at around age 11. I remember praying that God would make my hair brown, I so didn't want to be a red head! Now, as I age, I want to be one ...lol! So anyways I always assumed it was light brown. BUT, some people say I'm a dark blonde, some say golden blonde, some say light brown and just yesterday at the grocery store an older gentleman commented on my "red" hair. I'm not sure what it is, I guess it doesn't really matter, it's just one of those unsettling things of not knowing what catagory I fit in ...hehe!

I've been using a diffuser on low setting in the mornings. It seems to be making my hair a little more wavy and more uniform.

I am now trying a new product by Marc Anthony and I'm loving it ... so far!

Daisy

Some More ...

2009-10-06T18:42:00.002-04:00

Hearts! :) I had to change the button as I didn't have enough! So I found some black buttons and a little brassy spray paint and voila! Six more to go!

Little Pink Hearts

2009-09-30T09:39:00.006-04:00

I put everything aside for a bit yesterday and made myself a little pink heart. It's not a perfect heart, but I like it. It's like therapy for me. When things get too hectic, it's time to pull out the crochet or do a little sewing to forget everything and relax and concentrate on the good things in life. I plan on making many more, as I've been wanting some pink ornaments for the past few years and regret that I don't have any, I can't wait to be hanging them on my Christmas tree this year!

In a few weeks it will be the Canadian Thanksgiving. I sure do have many things to be extremely grateful for!

Daisy

Treasures

2009-09-24T11:53:00.007-04:00

I snuck out to go thrifting the other day. Here's what I bought!

Two pretty rose plates

A candy dish.

A little teeny tiny fancy shamancy box for Dolly. She likes things like this. So do I!

It's got a little mirror inside.

And two picture frames.

Boy that's addicting! Maybe next week I can sneak out again!

Spending My Days

2009-09-22T07:08:00.002-04:00

Studying!

Homemade Sugar Free Ketchup

2009-09-09T11:28:00.008-04:00

Oh boy, since starting this sugar free diet, I think that I missed my ketchup the most. Try having a burger sans le ketchup! I've tried sugar free dill salad dressing on my burgers, sugar free salsa ... nothing is the same as ketchup!

In the picture you see ground plum tomatoes with allspice, cinnamon, dry mustard, stevia powder, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. After I gave it a stir I added some cider vinegar and cooked it.

I got this recipe from one of my books called "Stevia Sweet Recipes". Now I don't like all the recipes in this book, but there are a few that are a hit. This ketchup one is going to be a hit I think. I stuck my finger into the sauce to taste, and it was good! My dh tasted too and was pleasantly surprised.

It lasts two weeks in the fridge or it can be frozen even!

Daisy ~ I can't wait until I start my courses. I'm getting antsy! Would Friday hurry up and get here already!! I bet in a few months, I won't be as excited ..hehe!

More Crocheting Going On

2009-09-04T20:19:00.005-04:00

This afghan will be made with 100% cotton! I hope it turns out nice!

Daisy

p.s. I'm going back to school! Yay! I'm SO excited. I'm taking on-line courses for 2 years through our local college. Can you guess for what? Please pray I'll be smart enough. It's been a long time!

Zucchini Lasagna

2009-09-03T10:56:00.017-04:00

A friend of mine gave me another huge zucchini last week from her garden. This means another zucchini lasagna is in order. She gave me another zucchini a few weeks back and told me how to make this dish. I was skeptical at first, but then she gave me some of hers to try and it was delicious! So .. this is the second time I've made it in the matter of 3 weeks time. The handsome man and I love it. Unfortunately the left over lasagna that I made last night and the baking dish were dropped by Dolly this morning as she went rummaging through the fridge for some milk. Both the baking dish and the lasagna are gone. :( Goodbye lasagna! I was so looking forward to another evening with you!
This is a little time consuming, yet very easy. It's well worth the effort.

Brown 1lb of ground beef with some onions and peppers.

While that is browning, you'll want to slice your zucchini ( since my zucchini was so big I sliced it in circles ... for smaller zucchini you may want to slice it length ways and depending on the size you may need 2-3 zucchini's if they are small). Beat by hand 2-3 eggs on a dish and onto another dish scoup out some flour. I used whole wheat flour, so that's why it's not pure white in the picture.

Dip your zucchini slices into the egg and then into the flour and brown in a frying pan with a little oil. Salt and pepper them. This is the time consuming part. You'll have to do this many times. The zucchini will only take a few minutes to brown. You want to do this, to seal in the zucchini juices and to make it a bit crispy.

While the ground beef and the zucchini are browning, beat 2 eggs by hand and mix with a 600g container of cottage cheese. Here I am ready to stir this up.

Shred up some mozzerella cheese.

When everything is finished browning ...it's time to put everything together in layers. As for the red tomato sauce, you can make your own or you can go to the grocery store and buy your own. If you were Italian, you would make your own beautiful tomato sauce. Since I am only half Italian, I went to the grocery store and bought some Classico 4 cheese sauce. I rejoice at the convience. Thank you Classico!

You can layer this any way that you prefer. I first put a layer of zucchini on the bottom of my baking dish.

Next I spooned the cottage cheese mixture over top of it along with some mozzerella cheese.

A little sauce on top of that and then another layer of zucchini.

I put the ground beef on top of the zucchini and more sauce. You can add another layer of zucchini on top of the ground beef, some more sauce and lots of mozzerella.

Put it in the over at 325- 350 degrees for a few hours. Then enjoy! :)

Tofu Mayonnise

2009-09-02T12:41:00.009-04:00

I'm really not a mayonnaise person. I actually do not like mayo at all. However I do like Miracle Whip! BUT, Miracle Whip has sugar in it. So does ketchup and I so do miss my ketchup. I found this mayonnaise recipe as I was searching the web. It had 11 reviews that were all positive. So I decided to give this a try replacing the TBSP of sugar with 1/2 TBSP Spoonable Stevia.

There are times when you need mayo (Miracle Whip).

If you click the title of my post it will bring you to the site where I got the recipe. I am rather pleased with it. If you don't like Miracle Whip but you do like Mayo, you could probably leave the sweetener out of it.

Now I can make myself a Tuna Salad Sandwich ... on rye. Mmm!

Why don't you come over for lunch and I'll make you one too? ;) Don't let the tofu scare you. It really DOES taste good!

Daisy

Cloth Napkins

2009-08-31T13:25:00.005-04:00

Economical

Environmentally Friendly

Elegant

Just busy sewing away! Hope you all are having a great Monday! :)
Daisy

Banana - Peach

2009-08-28T13:13:00.007-04:00

Shake. I used a banana, a peach, some rice milk, some silken tofu, wheat germ and a bit of stevia! Mmmm ... good and nice and filling. What a treat! Dolly and Crickie liked it too! Who would have known? Tomorrow, I'll try raspberries instead of peaches!

I'm pondering giving up dairy. I get an awful lot of phelgm and wonder if dairy contributes to that? Except for maybe all natural plain yogurt with those active bacterial cultures :) I'll still eat that. Could I go without cheese is the question. I just made broccoli cheese soup ..heehee! There's both milk and cheese in there. Milk I can go without because I can just substitute with rice milk instead ... but cheese?? I'm not sure I can go without cheese. I need to ponder that some more.

Daisy ~ endeavoring to loose the last 10 pounds and eat realistically and healthy while I attempt this feat.

p.s. I bought a new scale today. The old one was giving me mixed readings. Now I know EXACTLY what I weight. I'm not going to tell you though! :P

Crocheted Lion Afghan

2009-08-27T20:36:00.008-04:00

It's finished! I sewed on a backing too!

It'll be going in my Etsy store tomorrow! Wish me luck! :)

Now on to my next one ... ;)
Daisy

Pants To Skirt

2009-08-25T20:30:00.005-04:00

Yes, I am standing on my tub! ;)

Ever wonder how to make a pair of pants into a skirt?

Here's a tutorial I made. You can find it by clicking here

Just a little something to kick around the house in.
Have Fun Sewing! :)

p.s. It's really easy and you can sew one up easy in a few hours.
Daisy

Fun In The Sun

2009-08-24T11:19:00.014-04:00

I have been a baaad blogger I know. But it's the summer time, my favorite season. It doesn't last long here, and I want to enjoy it to the fullest, and that means much less computer time.

So what have I been up to?

1. Lots of baking

Ricotta Cheese Pie ( made with stevia, no sugar)

Mmmm! I added lemon rind to it and it was delicious!

Zucchini Carrot Bread ( again sugarless and delish, even the handsome man liked it!)

Mmmm! It's filled with walnuts and raisins ... who wouldn't want to take a bite?

Cherry Cheese Danish for a bake sale at church.

Today I hope to make a zucchini lasagna and a stevia sweetended peach pie.

2. Picnics, Birthday Parties, Visiting Old Friends, Swimming Lessons and Just Plain Swimming In the Pool

A pinata at Dolly and Crick's Birthday Party. I got to see my Sis and her beautiful family. They came for the party, and blessed our day with their presence.

A cute little puppy at a church picnic. I was trying to show the size of the puppy. So ignore the hands ..hehee! Isn't he adorable???

Birthday Cakes For Dolly and Crickie ( their birthdays are 2 days apart)

Oh there's never been a day where I haven't been busy doing something. I know it will all slow down when the children are in school in a few weeks. I do regret not canning, I really wanted to can this year, but money has been kind of tight. Maybe I'll be able to do some peaches in a few weeks if it's not too late. I have really enjoyed this summer, with good friends and sweet fellowship. I don't think life gets any better then this. We all go through the good and the bad times, Oh the bad times can get so rough, but even then we have a God who strengthens us and brings us through. So I say enjoy life to the fullest, appreciate every single blessing that comes your way, take none for granted and thank God for the people that are in your life. Sometimes my cup overflows and runs over. Thank You Lord, I know it's all because of You.

Up North Fun

2009-07-27T20:01:00.011-04:00

I thought I would share a few pictures of last week up north we spent with friends. We had wonderful weather it did rain the last few days we were there but the rest of the week it was sunny and warm! Here was our view from the cottage.

The fire pit where marshmellows were roasted.

The cottage we rented.

The fishing was okay. There were lots of young small mouth bass. We caught a few good size ones too.

Dolly and Crickie spent their days in the water.

We had a really nice time.

Daisy

p.s. Dolly received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at church camp while she was worshipping the Lord at the altar. We'll never forget the date as it was my handsome man and my 15th anniversary the very same day.

Getting Rid of Cellulite

2009-07-10T07:47:00.005-04:00

Okay, besides loosing a little weight ( I still need to loose more in my thighs and hips) I wanted to tell you guys that being on my sugarless diet has erased the majority of cellulite I had on my thighs. I just had to humble myself and tell you that ... there is a cure for cellulite and that's eliminating ALL sugar (check your products carefully) and white flour products completely out of your diet. Now mind you the only "sweetener" I am using is stevia and I can't believe the results. Of course I get natural sugar in fruits as well. I thought I was stuck with cellulite for life and was so dismayed! So that's the answer that I found is definately working for me. I just had to get this out there.

Now having said that I'll probably wonder off my diet some what in a few weeks. I'm going to be working at our childrens church camp for the first week and the next week we are leaving for up north with good friends. I'll try hard to stay on it the best that I can.I am cringing at how hard it will be to get back on my sugar free diet. Sugar addiction is very real. Please if it comes to mind say a prayer for our travels ... the first week I will have children in my van, and going on that crazy highway, I could use some prayers.

Daisy

It's Hard To Say GoodBye

2009-07-07T14:03:00.004-04:00

To a faithful friend. We had to put Ernie down today. He had a big tumor and there were others that were starting. We are extremely sad. It's amazing how an animal becomes a big part of your lives.

Goodbye Ernie! It won't be the same around here without you!

Sewing

2009-07-06T11:25:00.006-04:00

I sewed up two skirts! I only got a picture of one though! I'll take a picture of the other one soon!

Daisy
p.s. This skirt was made from thrifted material for around $4.00
p.s.s Does any one else get over joyed when their dentist appointment is OVER?

Summer Days

2009-07-03T14:19:00.013-04:00

Here are my Sweebs impatiently circling the driveway on their bikes waiting for their Mom to put down the camera and get ready to go biking already! We are on our way on just one of many, maaaany bike rides this summer.

We rode the long way to the park. I must admit to enjoying our bike riding. Here is Crickie running around the park track ... just for the plain fun of it!

"Wait for meeee!" says Dolly.

Oh to have that kind of energy! As for me? I think I'll sit at a picnic table and crochet.

Where are you now Crick?

Oh your going up the hill! I raced him when he came back. There was nobody else at the park at the time. It was overcast in the mid 60's and ready to rain. A school mate saw us out there and ended up joining us later.
They love that hill in the winter that's one of the hills they go tobogganing on and in the summer they love shouting "Geronimo" and riding their bikes down it at full speed.

I'm going to leave you with an AWESOME banana bread recipe! Mmmm! Mmmm! It's so addicting and very hard to stop eating it.

I found it here. Banana Bread

Banana Bread

2 eggs
2 banana's, over ripe ( I used 3)
1/3 cup skim milk ( can use brown rice milk)
2/3 cups unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups whold wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon stevia powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
Walnuts - optional( I use about 1/2 cup)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9x5 loaf pan.

2. Beat eggs by hand. Then add in the applesauce, vanilla, milk and bananas.

3. In a seperate bowl combine dry ingredients- flour, stevia, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

4. Add scoops of the dry ingredients into the egg mixture, mixing after each scoop until all combined.

5. Pour into loaf pan. Bake 45 minutes to an hour

To my American friends ... have a nice 4th of July!
Until next time...

Daisy

Come With Me!

2009-06-24T09:49:00.016-04:00

Let me take you around my yard. Just so you know, some of these pictures are cropped, I'm not keeping it real! Cropping is an amazing tool! You can crop out things you don't want to be seen.

Let's go outside onto the porch! As you can see the Canadian flag is proudly flying and it just so happens to match my red chair ..hehe!

If you look past the flag you will be able to see my window boxes with my purple ( they were suppose to be red!!) cosmos! They aren't doing so well, and it's not a very good shot is it!

Downstairs and to the right is my huge blooming spirea. The blooms are much brighter then what the picture shows. I wish that it bloomed all summer, but it will only bloom a few weeks.

My front yard trees. Yes it is garbage day. And yes, we recycle here in Canada. Today it is "blue box" day. That means we put our blue boxes full of empty cans out to be collected. The green bins are food scraps and/or yard wastes, which we keep seperate from our regular garbage. Next Wednesday will be "grey box" day, which means we can put our grey boxes out full of paper/ plastic products.

A close up of the hosta! I wish you could see how huge it is!

Do you remember my Mother's Day fushia that was on top of my fridge? Here it is blooming very nicely!

Come around with me to the back yard. To the left you'll see my favorite flower bed.

And to the right you'll see my not so favorite flower bed. The Chinese lanterns have taken over everything! They are great for filling in empty areas, but awful if you have other plants in the same flower bed! It was a huge mistake planting them here.

The English Ivy growing on the corner of the house.

And the cosmos around the pool deck. We have not opened our pool yet, due to the fact that the fence blew down in the winter time, and by law we need to put the fence back up or put rails around our pools for safety. Seeing we have big expenses after MANY break downs last week and since we already planned many months ago to go up north in July, we may not open it until August ... if at all.

I hope you enjoyed your tour! I must say that I made every one of those flower beds all by myself. I dug out the grass, put in extra soil, and planted everything. My dh helped a tiny bit but I did most of it! It was a lot of hard work. But hard work almost always pays off.

Daisy

When It Rains, It Pours!

2009-06-19T08:08:00.024-04:00

Well there has been a lot of excitement around here lately. Let's just say we have had LOTS of break downs! But with the break downs, it makes me count my blessings too! After having to visit the laundromat this week, I'm soooo grateful to be able to have a brand new washer to wash our clothes with! Thank You Lord!
Let me take you down to my basement and show you my new machine! Okay close your eyes, don't peek at the basement surroundings ... now open your eyes!(p.s. in my post below I was complaining about doing my laundry! I need to keep quiet and be grateful I can!) Here it is! It's red and shiny! :) And yes, I have started my laundry! It's sooo quiet!

I've also been working on another afghan. Let me give you a sneak peek at the hexagons! It doesn't look like much right now, and the colors may shock you, but you're in for a surprise! :) I can't wait to show you all when it's finished!

And some stevia desserts! This is a pumpkin custard. Once again there are eggs in this recipe ... yikes! ... why do recipes with eggs always taste so good? I'm having fun trying out these new recipes! And there is NO sugar at all in these recipes! Not even in the whipped cream! Mmm!Mmmm! Mangia! Mangia! ( I'm half Italiano!)

And here is a homemade blueberry yogurt popsicle. Oh this is delicious ... again .. no sugar! Make with plain organic yogurt, filled with active cultures and now my Crickie loves these and even choses them over store bought frozen yogurt! I'm grateful that I have found a few things that taste good with stevia. I've tried lots of recipes and so far these are my favorites. I find with stevia, you have to have a fruit (eg. raisins, pumpkin, berries) in the ingredients to help with the flavor.

By the way my scale says I gained 5lbs! Huh? Why I aughta heave ho that thing right out the window! Why does it do that to me? One week it says I've lost 10 lbs and the next week it says I've only lost 5. I NEED a new scale. This old thing has got to go!:)

Also if anyone is interested I made a tutorial on how to make "Yo yo's!" Just click on the title of this post and it should take you there!

Until next week ...
Daisy

Yo yo's and polka dots

2009-06-11T10:04:00.007-04:00

I had just a bit of left over polka dotted material so I made my Dolly a pillow. I wanted to see if I could make some yo yo's too, so I made a few and decided to put them on the pillow too. They are VERY easy to make. Maybe some day I will make a yo yo quilt. Maybe.

Also this is the very first time I made a dessert with stevia that I thought was totally delicious! I made a brown rice pudding custard and even though it may look gross in the picture it tasted yummy! Now it does have eggs in it, so it's not something I can make all the time, as I think eggs trigger eczema. Anyway I'm anxious to try more recipes out of my new cook book.

I received my stevia naturally flavored orange drops that I mentioned in an earlier post. I didn't really like it mixed with water, but I really enjoyed it mixed with vanilla rice milk. Mmmm! I could drink that any time!

As for today, I already ran my errands, so it's off to do the laundry and clean the bathroom. Two of my very most favorite chores ....NOT! The grass needs cutting but it looks overcast today, that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Bye for now!

Daisy

A Catch Up

2009-06-04T12:51:00.010-04:00

A few reasons why I am having trouble blogging! I finished my Neapolitan Granny Afghan. I am currently working on another afghan. This next one will be totally different. I have SO many ideas! But I can only crochet so fast. My crochet hook will be smoking hot!

Reason #2 is finishing my rag doll that I had begun to work on a year or so ago. At the time I didn't like how my Annie was progressing, but when I finally sat down at my sewing machine to sew up a skirt for myself, I saw her arms and legs and head and got a little side tracked and sewed up my little dolly. Meet my Annie!

Reason #3. Thrifting. I haven't been thrifting in ages, and just recently decided to go and see what I could find. Well I found some really nice clothes believe it or not! I also found this table cloth. I love the feel of it, it feels old and antique-ish. I don't know if it is or not, but I really, really like it.

Reason #4. Working around the House, yard work, planting and spray painting. This chair was ready to get the heave ho, it was green and faded. Nothing a little cherry red spray paint couldn't fix! Voila! My new chair.

Reason #5. I've been sugar free baking with stevia, helping my children with end of the year school projects, and running errands! Who would have thought that a stay at home Mom, would have so much to do? My Dolly will be starting French Immersion next year and I just got back from an open house at the school. She was sooo nervous going to it, but she relaxed once they started to play some games. This is all her own choice, I am the hesitant one ... she is willing to give up her friends, and leave her brother to go to this new school all by herself. She's a brave cookie, I hope that she does well and that this will be a big benefit for her future.

Now, I MUST get back to the yard work! Until next time ...

Daisy

A Blog Break

2009-05-26T19:29:00.005-04:00

I just can't seem to make it on my blog especially for the past few weeks! I really want to blog but there's just too much to do and too much running around! I'm almost done my lastest crochet granny afghan and I have lots of sewing I want to do. Plus the weather is warming up, it's hard to do all I want to do! So, I'm going to take a little blog break. I'll be back here and there and posting when I can.

I will leave you with a sugar less strawberry cheesecake I made. No sugar at all. It is Stevia sweetened. It was not like your regular cheese cake, but stevia is not like sugar. It's different. Oops! I guess I didn't take a picture of it after all! Here I am searching for it and it's not there! Oh well!

I've also ordered this book from Amazon. I can't wait until it comes in.

And I also order this to put in my sparkling mineral water. Naturally orange flavored stevia drops.

And .... I've lost 8lbs so far!! Yay! I hope to loose 5 - 10 more lbs!

Until next time ( I'm not sure when that'll be!)

Daisy

Busy Week

2009-05-14T11:54:00.007-04:00

Man, it sure has been a busy week!

A fuchsia topiary I received from my sweet Handsome Man for Mother's Day. Oh yes, you are seeing right ... it's on top of my fridge at the moment but it's only up there temporarily. I am protecting it from Ernie and from the children and from the rainy and windy weather outside. So I put it up high for now. I'll be putting it out on the porch soon.

Those two paintings are from Dolly and Crickie (my sweebs) for Mother's Day. They also both wrote me letters. Can it get any better then this?

It should be Mother's Day every week .... Amen?

And a sweet tissue flower from my Dolly.

It fits nicely on my kitchen shelf. Thanks my Sweebs!

I can't wait to pick up some flowers soon and get planting!

Makes Me Smile

2009-05-09T09:24:00.004-04:00

I googled "Mother's Day" or "Happy Mother's Day" ... something like that anyway under images and found this picture on a blog! Cute isn't it?

Happy Mother's day to all you Mom's out there!

Very Excited!

2009-05-05T12:52:00.004-04:00

I'm all keyed up with this new cook book I bought at the health food store yesterday! WooHooo! I can't believe they had this book, I was just online the night before looking at it! The health food store that's just 5 minutes from my house does not have too much variety. They didn't have grain sweetened chocolate chips and looked confused when I asked about them. However they did have 2 little containers of sugar free carob chips so I bought one. Very pricey! Anyway this could be the key to the rest of my weight loss! I hope these recipes taste good. If so, I have hit the jackpot!

Healthy-ish Carrot Cake

2009-05-04T12:34:00.006-04:00

I found this recipe here.Carrot Cake There is very, very little sweetener in it, yet it tastes pretty good. Everyone in my little family liked it. It takes some time but is definately worth making.

So far I have lost 3 pounds. I can still have my cake and eat it too!:D However, I think the mirrors in my house lie, because I look good in them. Well not hot or anything like that ....lol ...far from that ... but I thought I looked okay. BUT, I went to a thrift store the other day and caught sight of myself in the mirror there and I was shocked. Reality hit. I didn't look so nice. I need to loose about 15 pounds to be where I would like to be. Though the pounds are coming off slowly eating this way, I don't mind. Just as long as they continue to do so.

I've been a terrible, terrible blogger, I know! Just like some of you I find that I get so much done when I stay away from the computer. There's so much to do and so little time these days. But I still like reading blogs and what not with a cup of tea. It's a nice break from my day. I just don't always have the time to write.

Carrot Cake

10 servings

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
6 ounces crushed pineapple with juice (one 8-ounce can)
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp powdered stevia extract
3 tbsp date sugar ( I used maple syrup)
2 eggs, warmed to room temperature and beaten
1/3 cup plain nonfat yogurt ( I used a plain organic yogurt)
1/4 cup soymilk or milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp maple flavoring
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups grated carrots

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup unbleached white flour ( I used 2 cups whole wheat instead)
2 tbsp soy flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil an 8 to 9-inch springform pan or a 6 x 10-inch cake pan.

Soak the coconut in the pineapple and juice. Use all the juice from an 8-ounce can of pineapple but only 6 ounces of the pineapple. Set aside.

Soften and cream the butter in a large mixing bowl. Cream in the stevia extract and the date sugar. Gradually cream in the beaten eggs. Don't worry if the butter separates.

Thin the yogurt with the soymilk or milk and add to the butter mixture. Mix in the vanilla and maple flavoring. Stir in the walnuts, the coconut-pineapple mixture and the carrots.

Sift the flours, leavenings, cinnamon, and salt together twice in a separate bowl.

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring just until blended. The batter will be stiff.

Spoon the batter into the cake pan, and bake for 1 hour. Cool in the pan.

Release the pan and top with Cream Cheese Frosting (following).

Cream Cheese Frosting

(1 cup)

8 ounces soft cream cheese
2 tbsp soymilk or milk
1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
Finely grated rind of ½ lemon
1/3 tsp to ½ tsp powdered stevia extract (to taste)
1 tbsp honey
Soften the cream cheese with the milk in a bowl. Beat in the lemon juice, lemon rind, stevia extract, and honey. Whip until thoroughly blended and creamy.

(Excerpted from Stevia: Naturally Sweet Recipes for Desserts, Drinks and More!, Book Publishing Company )

Ice Cream Maker

2009-04-28T18:20:00.003-04:00

I really want to get an ice cream maker so that I can make my own ice cream and put in it whatever I want. Can anyone help me and recommend a good brand that's not overly expensive? I was thinking of getting this one here.

It's an Cuisinart ICE-20. If you have an ice cream maker do you use it often?

Joining The Chalk Board Craze

2009-04-21T15:59:00.005-04:00

So easy! Just a little chalk board spray paint .. then ... voila! Unfortunately I can't draw ...LOL!

Black Bean Brownies

2009-04-20T07:59:00.001-04:00

I just couldn't get over the fact that they had black beans in them. :P I tried so hard to like them, but it was a psycological thing. My children not knowing about the beans, loved them and thought that they were the best brownies I've ever made! :D

Neopolitian Granny Afghan In The Works

2009-04-15T09:07:00.004-04:00

I'm half way there! I hope it looks nice when it's finished.

I want to thank you all for your words of encouragement and tips for my white sugar free and white flour free diet. It helps so much to have someone encourage you! I think that I'm a sugar addict. I'm not just saying that, I really believe that. It's not that I pigged out on junk food, but I did have a little every day. All I would need was a couple of cookies or a sample of ice cream or a handful of mints after dinner. Can I say cappuchino? Oh how I loved my cappuchino. Now that is gone and I'm searching desperately trying to replace that void with naturally sweetened goodies. I'm also examining what I am eating and realizing not everything has been sugar free. It takes awhile to spot these things.

1. Condiments have sugar
2. Most salad dressings have sugar
3. There's sugar in crackers
4. There's sugar in the tasty soy and almond milks
5. After I bought a great big billy bee honey bottle, I soon realized the proper honey to use is unpasteurized.
6. Custard powder likely has sugar in it
7. Carob chips have sugar in them and I can't find grain sweetened chocolate chips anywhere.
8. My flavored brown rice chips have sugar in them

Waaaah! LOL! I'm the type of person that has to get rid of it completely out of my diet because I cannot control the cravings for it if I don't. It's got a strong hold on me! I can't even have it in moderation. Little by little I'll get there. I just bought sucanat and I'm wondering if I should have bought date sugar instead? What is the best natural sweetener out there? Is it agave nectar? How about natural maple syrup? It's readily available in Canada. I do have a supply of it fresh right from Quebec. Is "evaporated cane sugar" a natural sweetener? I need to research, research, research! The trouble is, there are conflicting reports out there. That's what makes it hard. There is no one way that is the proper way. There are no straight answers it seems.

This is what I hope to accomplish by eating this way ..

1. Good health ... less eczema out breaks on my legs, and better skin ( my skin is SO dry and sensitive)
2. Loose weight
3. No more cavities!
4. Although I go through spurts of energy and have "high" days I also then have my down "low" days, I hope to have even more energy especially through out the summer months
5. Less ear troubles
6. I hope eventually eating this way will cause me to want to exercise (LOL!)

Flowers and Almonds

2009-04-14T14:39:00.006-04:00

I received a pretty little tulip bouquet from some old friends of ours this weekend. She gave me a hug and told me I was just like a daughter to her. I've carried those words with me over the last few days. I'm extremely thankful for these good friends of ours. They're indeed like family. My children love them very much.

I went ahead and tried to make some almond milk. I soaked the almonds over night in water then rinsed and drained them in the morning. I put them in the blender with some water and a bit of maple syrup and then strained the milk.
Here are the results.

So I went ahead and made brown rice pudding with it.

It tasted healthy! But when a gal is craving for sweets, and is desperately trying to stay away from white sugar .... these are the results. I also made custard with custard powder, there was no sugar listed on the ingredients however in the ingredients it says that there is "flavor". Does that mean sugar too? I looked at the nutritional information and it says ... " Sugars, Total ..... 10.9 grams. So I'm led to assume there is sugar in there then. :( It's really discouraging because everything has sugar in it.

I had my cake and ate it too!

2009-04-09T08:07:00.011-04:00

I made a healthy-ish kind of cake yesterday. It was my birthday. :)

I made this cake here. Basic Chocolate Cake
It was a little dry, I must have baked it to long. Also I made my own maple syrup sweetened icing and shouldn't have. I should have used Heidi's icing recipe. This cake would be good with a sugar free custard or tapioca pudding.

All in all, I'm glad I made it. It's waaay healthier then your average cake. And it's suppose to get truffle like as it sits. I can't wait to try it today!

And for my birthday dinner I made these potatoes. Lori's Skillet Smashed Potatoes I sprinkled garlic salt on my potatoes and put the potatoes on top of a green salad along with an olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing. I found myself some sugar free, white flour free, crusty bread to eat with it! It was delicious!

And a little birthday present I ordered for myself.

A book called "Super Natural Cooking." There were great reviews on this book, the recipes are suppose to be delicious! I can't wait until it arrives!

And The Handsome Man got me the sweetest card EVER.

Inside it reads:

You came into my world
softly, gently,
gracing it with light,
laughter, and love.
Changing all things
for the better.
If ever a woman
were a blessing,
that woman
is you.

I think I'll keep this card forever.

Painted Stairs

2009-04-09T07:51:00.006-04:00

Well after MANY hours of sanding and stripping the paint off of my stairs with paint stripper and staining the stairs in anticipation of beautiful elegant looking stairs, I was disappointed. The stairs didn't look good at all. They're just too old. So I decided to paint over them. Imagine that after all that work! At least it was worth a try. I then had the bright idea of painting the treads black and the risers and trim the beige color and was disappointed again. The black paint was so black, it made the stairs look so dark. So this is what I ended up with. At least they are really shiny, and that's all I have to say about that project ...lol!

I'd take a better picture but my card is full.

Sick Again

2009-04-07T07:53:00.006-04:00

I have to say, we were healthy all winter long until about the last 4 weeks or so. We've had fevers, coughs and colds. One of us would get well and another one of us would get sick. This week it's my turn. :( I have a bad sore throat. I just hope it isn't strep. I am susceptible to strep throat and the last time I had it was the worst I've ever had, I couldn't speak for around 3 days and it was hard to swallow my own saliva. I was a total mess.

I'm sipping on some echinacea tea right now. Oh how it feels good going down.

Ahhhhh! It feels sooo soothing. In a few more hours, I'll have myself another cup.

Today it's snowing.

Tapioca Pudding

2009-04-02T11:01:00.011-04:00

Who says eating healthy has to be terrible tasting? I have been craving something sweet, the banana cookies didn't last long. I've been searching the internet for some yummy recipes. I found this tapioca pudding recipe. Mmmm! Mmmmm! Even if it does look like frogs eyes! LOL! ( My friends in school use to call it frogs eyes when I was a little girl)

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups skim milk ( I used soy milk)
1 1/2 cups agave syrup ( I used pure Canadian maple syrup, it was sweet, 1 cup should be enough)
1/2 cup tapioca
2 egg yolks
2 1/2 cups cold water

Directions

1. Soak tapioca over night in 2 1/2 cups cold water.
2. Drain tapioca and place in crock pot with milk and cook on high for 2 hours.
3. Mix yolks and agave.
4. Temper and add into crock
5. Cook for 15 more.

This is seriously delicious! The only disappointment was reading the ingredients on my soy milk and seeing that there was cane sugar and corn syrup solids in there! I had forgotten that was in there. It's going to take me awhile to get into the grove of things here. EVERYTHING has sugar in it. Next time I will make my own almond milk!

Healthy Banana Cookies

2009-03-31T07:47:00.009-04:00

Well it's been a week and a half since I stopped eating white sugar and white flour. I'm so happy that I'm eating this way, and I have no desire to go back to eating the other way. I had a weak moment last night, when I craved some chocolate, but I did not give in to temptation! I'm going to have to find some unsweetened chocolate or carob and make something out of it. My sister send me some recipes via e-mail, and I found some old ones that my Mother gave me years and year ago. So I'm all set for awhile.

This weekend I made these Healthy Banana Cookies

I'm going to type out this recipe on my blog for future reference. My children really liked them ... I can't believe it!! They have no idea that there is no sugar in them. And I will keep that bit of information to myself for now. If I don't, I fear that they suddenly may not like them any more. I even made some whole wheat pancakes with blueberries for Dolly and Crickie as well and they LIKE THEM BETTER then pancakes made with white flour. They thought they were the best pancakes I've EVER made. Pinch me real hard, I think I may be dreaming!! Forgive me if I write about food for awhile, I'm just keyed up on my new diet. I made chicken soup with all healthy goodness, I even used my garlic press and pressed garlic into it but I made the noodles seperate. The Handsome Man likes white noodles and I wanted whole wheat noodles so I had to do what I had to do. We just poured the chicken veggie broth over our perferred noodles. It was delicious!

Healthy Banana Cookies

3 ripe bananas
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1/3 cup oil ( I used olive)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, mash bananas. Stir in oats, dates, oil and vanilla. Mix well, and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 20 minutes until lightly brown.

Great Source Of Encouragement

2009-03-24T22:01:00.009-04:00

Yep, that's what you all are! You have no idea how long I have been wanting to change my eating habits. So now I begin. I really hope some weight comes off along with eating like this, but even if it doesn't at least I'll know I'll be doing something good for myself.

The up above picture is Jules' Fruity Fruit Cake recipe! I made it today. I went to the grocery store this morning and picked up the ingredients for it. I added the spices ... cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and it smelled oooh so good while it was baking in the oven. Thank you Jules. It is good, even my dh liked it. Next time I will have to chop up the appricots smaller and maybe I'll add some walnuts too.

This is the slice I ate tonight ... MmmMmm!

I also went to the health food store and picked up Agave syrup. That's the only place I could find it. I could not find whole wheat pastry flour, but I did find organic whole wheat flour that is suppose to be good for bread, muffins and pancakes. I plan on making some yummy pancakes and using my agave syrup with it!

I also searched the internet and found this blog that has some wholesome recipes! I thought I would share it if anyone is interested.

In other news, I've finished my afghan! Yaaay! I listed it on Etsy! Now I have to add more to my little store, so I will be keeping busy!

I've got plenty of ideas to add, I just gotta manage to find the time!

Trying To Take Care

2009-03-20T17:43:00.008-04:00

Recently there has been so much sickness abounding. It causes me some concern. For example, The Handsome Man's childhood buddy, just lost his 29 year old daughter to cancer. It's been on my mind for a long time, to try and get back to eating healthier. To put food in my body that nourishes it, instead of food that is harmful to it. It's such a struggle for me, as I crave salty and sweetness every day. My Handsome man loves his ice cream and I love to bake ... so it's a struggle. Does anyone have any wholesome cookie recipes they can share? Ones without the white flour and white sugar and they still taste good? I'll have to research on-line for some good recipes. I've been trying to reach for fruit when the sweet craving hits.

It never seems to totally satisfy though. I know with the summer around the bend, that delicious melons will be out. Hopefully then, I can feast on natural sweetness.

So in the mean time, I have to give myself some encouragement to eat healthier. This oatmeal is absolutely delicious! It's got granulated organic sugar cane juice as a sweetner and that's just got to be better then white sugar. I do hope so anyway.

I also found this coffee alternative or shall I say cappuchino alternative. It's chocolate mint and you brew it in a coffee maker just like you would coffee. There's all natural ingredients in here from roasted carob, chicory root, to dates and figs etc. I sweeten it with Stevia. ( Thank you Texas Mom, after your post on Stevia, I found it in my grocery store!) I do put a little cream in it ... but lets not dwell on that ..lol!

So this is a little start. I try and eat whole grain breads and I even found some grainy crackers for lunch. I hope I find more products soon. I would really like to loose some fat on these thighs as well! I also have to find something that will replace Miss Vickie chips. Man, that's going to be a hard one!

Thank You Liliana

2009-03-20T17:13:00.007-04:00

Liliana is a lovely lady that travels around the U.S. with her husband and son. She's been through a few parts of Canada too.:o) What I like about Liliana is as she endeavours to draw closer to her Lord, she is very transparent as she writes about her journeys both abroad and spiritually.

She passed on this award to me. The trouble is ... I don't think I deserve it at all. It's an award for a blog that display's humbleness and gratitude. I'm not always humble or grateful. And that's the truth of the matter. I catch myself all the time trying to remember ... " godliness with contentment is great gain." The Lord wants us to learn to be content no matter where we find ourselves in life. When we are content, I tend to believe that we are full of gratitude and humbleness. However, this award makes me really think about letting the Lord work on my attitude more ... like the song says ... " To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, on earth I long to be like Him .. All through life's journey, from earth to glory ... I only ask, to be like Him." Thank you so much for the award Liliana, it means alot to me.

Happy Birthday To My Two Nieces, The Big One and The Little One. Born One Day And Two Years Apart

2009-03-16T17:40:00.005-04:00

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

2009-03-16T16:57:00.011-04:00

I had some errands to run on this beautiful spring like day today. I had my children with me as it's spring break for them this week! We were driving by the thrift store, so I decided to pop in hoping that there were treasures calling my name. I saw this mirror, I simply cannot pass up mirrors. I did hem and hah over buying it though. I do that all the time. I never regret it, so I don't know why I do this.The up above picture is a "before I painted it cherry red" picture of it. My children were acting goofy and wanted to see all the arms in the mirror. :o)

And the after picture. Now I can watch myself wash the dishes ...lol!

It now matches my curtains and teapot. :O)

I also spotted this. I think I'll hang it in my hallway.

A friend of mine gave me a bunch of pussy willows last night. She discovered she had a pussy willow tree in her back yard and brought a bunch to church with her. When she moved to her new house she saw the bush and thought it was ugly and not knowing what it was, she hacked it right down. It was the best thing she could have done for it. Now it's filled with beautiful pussy willows.

I'm still not finished with my stairs.:( I had to use paint stripper to get all the rest of the paint off and now they need a good sanding again. I was feeling a little under the weather this weekend, so hopefully I can get back at them soon. I have a feeling my children are going to keep me busy this week, so I may not get to them until next week. I can't wait until they are finished! I just hope that they turn out okay!!

I hope you all are having a nice Monday!
Bye for now!
Daisy

Oh What Joy! Not!

2009-03-10T14:47:00.003-04:00

I decided since the stairs leading to the back door were looking pretty rough, to sand off the paint and stain them. Oh in my minds eye, I have visions of nice looking stairs. So I whipped out the electric sander. I have not used an electric sander before, so I didn't realize how much dust I was in for.

I still have more to sand. Another few hours worth of sanding to go which I hope to do later this week. I'm so not looking forward to it. It's one of those ... "Why did I start this, what was I thinking??" kinds of projects. :0P

Over Half Way

2009-03-04T09:20:00.007-05:00

I've just finished square number 51! Just 26 more to make! I'm really enjoying crocheting for a change. Although the sewing bug has hit again, however I'm putting it on the back burner for now!
Having too many projects going is too overwhelming for me.

A sneak preview of my next afghan.

Brand New

2009-03-02T08:15:00.003-05:00

My new little red tea kettle! There's just something about the color red that I love. Now I can serve up a nice cuppa! The old one is not so nice any more. My cuppa's taste much better now. ;O)

Do You Ever Long ...

2009-02-26T16:10:00.001-05:00

For your heavenly home?

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you ...

What's For Dinner?

2009-02-26T16:01:00.004-05:00

Mashed potatoes, barbeque pork tenderloin and a "spring mix" salad covered in red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic! MmmMmm!

Thrifty Finds

2009-02-20T08:02:00.015-05:00

I've been meaning to show my thrifty finds. It just pays to be thrifty. These are finds from the past 6 months or so.

A table cloth for spring and Easter.

A tiered dessert plate.

A lap quilt.

Anther quilt .. this one I had to patch up, but I love the thing to pieces. I gave it to Dolly to use on her bed.

For those longing for spring ... do not look at the next picture.

And a magazine rack.

And a picture of Dolly crocheting from the weekend. I meant to post it earlier. (Her hair is wet in this picture).

In other news, ds and I are feeling under the weather. It's off to the doctor's today. :o(

The Little Crocheter

2009-02-16T17:48:00.006-05:00

One of the things that I did this weekend was to show my Dolly how to crochet.She couldn't believe that this is what I do for fun or as she worded it ... I can't believe that you do this in your spare time Mommy. I think she thought it was like work or something!! However she was really proud of herself for completing a row of double crochet. Her stitches aren't perfect of course, that will come in time. I'll make a crocheter out of her yet!

So since today was a holiday called "Family Day" we ended up watching home movies that we made years and years ago. The children always get a kick out of watching those. The HandsomeMan saw how skinny I USE to be. Sometimes watching home movies can have it's draw backs ...heehee! He kept saying how hot I looked. Well in some videos I was only 22 ... so that explains it all. Fourteen years and two children later .... things certainly change.

Being Family Day and all ... in the morning I took it upon myself to teach my children how to make pancakes. I had my Dolly read the ingredients and showed her how to double the recipe and she showed me every move she was going to make before she did it. Crickie helped out as well. I taught her how to use the stove, although she knows not to touch it without my permission. She poured the batter in the pan and even flipped her own pancakes. Here is a picture of hers.

And here are Crickies. He had trouble flipping his, so I had to help.

I've decided to make another granny afghan. This time in pink. I have finished 7 of them so I have 70 more to make. Let the count down begin!

Cinnamon Hearts

2009-02-11T13:05:00.005-05:00

I can't stop eating them!

An Award

2009-02-10T14:25:00.004-05:00

Jules fron On Eagles Wings presented me this award. Jules is from New Zealand and although I have never met her in person, I consider her one of my friends. Thanks Jules!! :)

I'm in turn going to present this award to these three lovely ladies ...

Cats Whiskers

A Slice of Texas

Bout Crazy

And this lady who I hold dear to my heart

Family Scrapbook Diary

And these two ladies for their inspiration ... even though I don't think they even know I lurk on their blogs. I just found their blogs in the past couple of weeks.

FiddLe Sticks

Bella Della

Crocheted Granny Square Afghan

2009-02-09T19:08:00.010-05:00

I finished!! WoooHooo!

Happy dance! I'm so glad it's finished.

And while I'm talking afghans here I wanted to show you one I made years and years ago. It's one of my favorites!

What am I going to work on next???? By the way does any one know of some good crochet blogs? I need some inspiration!

Life Happens

2009-02-09T09:43:00.005-05:00

I know I've been a terrible blogger lately! I'm having writers block or something! And also it seems like my day breezes by and before I know it, it's time to shut off all the lights and head off to bed.

I just have to crochet the edging around my afghan, so it'll be finished in the next couple of days. I will take a picture of it when it's completed.

My dd wants me to make a princess canopy hoop sort of like the picture up above for over her bed, so I'm working on that. So far I have failed to produce anything acceptable, but I'll continue to try. The fabric store had a sale on organza material, buy 1 metre and get 2 free. What a deal! She wanted pink ... so I was able to find a pinkish color. I'm surprised she wants the canopy hoop ... she is past the princess stage. I think she just thinks it's pretty and wants the material hanging beside her bed ... so it will be kind of like a fort or something ...heehe!

So I've been keeping busy. I'm trying to spend as much time with my children as I can. I took them bowling this weekend ... I'm trying to do something with them every Saturday. I see that my dd is growing up and changing, I think she is longing for a little independance .. she's trying to show me she's not a little girl any more. Even if she does want a princess canopy still. ;o) I just wish it wasn't so dangerous out there so I could let her do more by herself. Like walking to and from school or riding her bike around the area or walking to the store. I let her walk to school this morning with her brother ... I watched out the window until I could not see them any more. They teamed up with another child from school ... so that helped. It's not a far walk .. but still! Isn't it sad that I have to worry so about these things? Anyway it's been a wake up call for me to soak in as much time with them as possible. Next Saturday we will probably do something small .. perhaps bake together. I have plans and acutally made a list out with all that I want to do with them.

Sometimes ...

2009-02-03T18:17:00.003-05:00

I need to consider the lilies.

Consider the lilies they don't toil nor spin
And there's not a king with more splendor than them
Consider the sparrows they don't plant nor sow
But they're fed by the Master who watches them grow

May I introduce you to this Friend of mine
Who hangs out the stars
Tells the sun when to shine
And kisses the flowers each morning with dew
But He's not too busy to care about you

We have a heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love
He really cares when your head is bowed low
Consider the lilies and then you will know

~Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these~

Allllmost finished!

2009-02-02T10:25:00.003-05:00

I have all the squares sewn together but alas, it needs to be larger. So 17 more squares to crochet and then my afghan will be finished!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk

2009-01-29T11:08:00.007-05:00

I walked into the grocery store 2 weeks ago and all I could smell was freshly baked peanut butter cookies. I hardly ever make peanut butter anything any more as Dolly and Crickie cannot bring nut products to school so I can't pack them in their lunches.

These cookies are from a recipe by Martha Stewart. The Handsome Man's favourite cookie. When I use to work at a coffee shop, we use to sell these cookies and the Handsome Man would crave them.

First I mixed all the wet ingredients together in my mixer and then threw all the dry ingredients in. Lastly I quickly stirred in the chocolate chunks.

Since it was Martha Stewarts recipe, I had to make them Martha-ie, so I packed the dough into my heart shaped cookie pan since I do not have the right type of ice cream scoop to scoop them onto my baking sheet.

Twenty minutes later ...

You can find this cookie recipe on Martha's website. I must type it out for future use though. I tend to loose recipes.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

1/2 cup ( 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark-brown sugar tightly packed. ( I just used 1 cup organic cane sugar instead of the 2 sugars)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
6 00unces best-quality semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped. ( I banged my chocolate squares with a mallet and since I only had 4 ounces, I added chocolate chips too)

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, and mix on medium speed until combined. Sift flour and baking soda together, and add to the butter mixture, beating just to combine. Fold in chocolate chunks.

2. Using a 1 1/2 ounce ice-cream scoop, form dough and place on a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper, pressing down slightly to flatten. Bake until golden brown, 18-20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Yummy Blueberry Muffins

2009-01-28T10:58:00.011-05:00

I made these muffins on the weekend and my children actually fought over them. They LOVED them! Soo I decided to make more this morning.It's so easy! Despite what the recipe says, I put everything but the blueberries in my mixer and mixed. I love my mixer. The Handsome Man bought me it one year for Christmas and it's such a blessing to me, I think of him every time I use it.

I add the blueberries last and give them a quick stir, because I don't want mashed blueberries!

Now the recipe calls for vanilla yogurt but I used this secret ingredient. I find it makes the muffins sooo delicious! It's pineapple-banana-coconut yogurt. The Handsome Man doesn't like banana in baked goodies. But he enjoyed these muffins ... he didn't even notice. ;O)

And the end results! Mmmm! Mmmm! They will make your house smell heavenly when they are baking. BUT you must use the secret ingredient!

Here is the recipe. I saved it off of another blog last year and at this time I cannot remember which blog I got it off of! So if this is YOUR muffin recipe, thank you SO much for posting it and please comment so I can give YOU the credit for these delicious treats! Tomorrow I plan on making some chocolate chip peanut butter cookies, I hope I can find a delicious recipe on the internet for them.

Yummy Strawberry Muffins

1 cup vanilla ( or whatever kind you please) yogurt
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons oil ( I used olive oil, that's all I had)
1 cup sugar ( I used organic sugar)
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 or 2 cups strawberries ( or blueberries or whatever, I used 2 cups)
I also added a bit of milk as the batter was thick

Mix the dry ingredients together, set aside. Mix the yogurt, egg, vanilla, and oil together. Then add the dry ingredients and stir until mixed, but not overly mixed, and then add in the strawberries. Evenly spoon the batter into a greased muffin tin and then sprinkle the top of the muffins with sugar. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Makes 1 dozen regular muffins or 9 big muffins.

Barber Shop or Peppermint Sticks?

2009-01-23T19:29:00.006-05:00

The sewing bug finally hit! I bought some material before Christmas, and I'm not sure why. I guess I just really liked it and it was on sale. I like red. And I like stripes. I wasn't sure what to do with it until today. I decided to alter my kitchen curtains yet I wanted to still keep my chickens. Here's a before and after shot of my curtains.

Before ...

And After ...