Signs of Summer Ending

Progress picture-Chrystal Tree-All the x's are in and I started on the back stitching, but ran out of thread, Thursday night.

Friday night I started a new piece. Eek a freebie from San-Man Originals 2003.I was going to take the turtles out to their outside pen, when I found them like this...aren't they cute.
Meggie & MyrtleMade a new cookie this week it is called Chocolate Cherry Surprise Cookies.
Have you came across a recipe that you thought would be really good, then try them and they weren't what you thought they would be? The Chocolate Cherry Surprise Cookies were like that, they were good, but not good enough to make again.

Then I made the Peanut Butter Fingers. Yummy!!!

Peanut Butter Fingers-1 C flour, 1 C oats, 1/2 C sugar, 1/2 C brown sugar, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 C butter (softened), 1/3 C peanut butter, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 egg. Mix all ingredients, until moisture forms a soft dough. Grease a 12x8 baking dish. Press mixture in bottom of greased pan. Bake at 350 for 15-20 mins. Let cool completely. Melt 1 C of chocolate chips in microwave spread over bars. For glaze mix 1/3 C powder sugar, 2 TBS peanut butter, 3-5 teaspoons milk. Add enough milk to make the glaze drizzle. Drizzle over chocolate frosting. Cut into bars.

Kayden just after he ate a peanut butter finger. Doesn't he make them look good. So good he had chocolate on his eyelid.

The neighbors are moving and had a yard sale, I saw that they had a few toys out so I thought I would go over and see if I could find something for Kayden. I bought Kayden an Elmo toy. It is the one that was for sale a few years ago and everyone went crazy for. Elmo laughs and then rolls over on his back and belly. I thought Kayden would get a kick out of it so I brought it home. OH MY WAS I WRONG!!! It scares him. As soon as Elmo goes to his back, Kayden starts crying. The only thing we can think of is that he thinks Elmo is in pain. Kayden has started watching Sesame Street. It is the only show that he watches.
My other find was for me, a little chopper. It works great. I had the chop slappy, Brandon used it a lot, the first time I used it I broke it. LOL! So, this was a good find for only $2.00.

Kayden, if you say "thumbs up" to him, this is what he does. But he forgets to put his thumbs up.

The signs of summer ending...school starting, pool closings and labor day weekend.
Two out of three.
School started a week ago Wednesday. Dara (17-senior) went to the tan the day before school started and they must of changed the bulbs, because she was burnt and sore the next day. She is in the program at school where you work, then go to school. Her choice was the hospital, she will get to job shadow. The first week they learned CPR and other things like that. Dylan (15-sophomore) said this year was going to be his best year.
One day last week a girl walked home with Dylan, I had made some fruit salad and offered her some, she was still here when I started supper so, I invited her to stay and eat with us. She liked everything and told me I was very creative. She normally just eats things that come out of boxes, like Hamburger Help. Good to have someone that is welling to eat what I make. Most of the time the kids will not eat what I make and make there own food (out of boxes or cans).
We closed our first pool for the season. This always put a little sadness in my heart.

Well, supper is in the over and dessert is made.

Delicious Devil's Food Cake.

Enjoying Summer

What a great surprise to come home to after a very long day!

Dara made cookies! They were great!

Chocolate Crackles

Things are slowing down with work and we can enjoy our summer now. We were invited to a pool party Saturday night and had a great time. Someone said they were looking for toddler toys in a yard sale. Then someone said have you been by Bob and Deb's backyard, it's full of toddler toys. LOL! I also power washed the front porch the other day and had Kayden's front porch toys in the front yard, while I cleaned the porch. I had a car slow way down and check things out. I thought for a minute they were going to stop, thinking I was having a yard sale. Sunday after worked we cooked on the grill.

Bacon-Wrapped Hamburgers-1/2 C shredded cheese, small onion (chopped), 1 egg, 2 TBS ketchup, 1/4 C shredded Parmesan cheese, 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce, salt & pepper. Mix well. Crumble beef over mixture and mix with hands. Shape into patties, wrap bacon strips around each, secure with toothpicks. Grill, covered, over med-hot heat for 4-5 minutes on each side.

Grilled Hash Browns- On heavy-duty foil coated with cooking spray. 3 1/2 C frozen shredded hash brown, chopped onions on top, sprinkle1 TBS beef bouillon granules, salt, pepper and drizzle 1 TBS melted butter on top. Cover and seal foil tightly. Gill, covered over indirect med-heat 10-15 minutes, turning once.

Green Beans- On heavy-duty foil coated with butter place a few strips of bacon then fresh green beans. Cover and seal foil tightly. Gill, covered over med-heat until bacon is crispy.

Cabbage Salad- 1/2 head cabbage chopped, 1/2 bunch broccoli chopped, 1/2 head cauliflower chopped, 4 green onions chopped. Toss veggies in large bowl. Toast 1 pkg Ramen chicken flavored noodles, crumbled, 1/2 C slivered almonds, 2 TBS sesame seeds, until golden on cookie sheet. Add to salad. Dressing- 1/2 C veg. oil, 3 TBS cider vinegar, 2 TBS sugar, 1 tsp salt, seasoning pkg from noodles. Shake well in jar, pour over salad.

Mini Apple Pies- 1 12 oz refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, 1 med. tart apple, peeled and finely chopped, 1/4 C raisins, 3 TBS sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 2 TBS butter. Flatten each biscuit into a 3"-4" circle. Combine apple, raisins, sugar and cinnamon. Place flatten biscuit in ungreased muffin pan cups. Place a large tablespoonful on each biscuit. Dot with butter. Bring sides of biscuit to enclose filling and pinch to seal. Bake 375 for 11-13 min. or until golden brown.

We also made corn, but didn't have any on my plate.

Corn- On heavy-duty foil coated with butter place fresh off the cob corn with a few green peppers and/or red peppers chopped. Seal the foil tightly.

Kayden being silly!

My Mom called the other day said she found a turtle sandbox along side the road. She said it set there for about a week. She wanted to wait and see if whoever lost it would return for it. But no one did. So, now it is Kayden's.
I even had time to put a few stitches in!!! Yeah! Progress picture of Kayden's Christmas stocking.
Here is a picture of Myrtle escaping for the outdoor pen. The little stink escaped while I took Kayden up and down the little sidewalk in the backyard (3 times). I went to check on the turtles and Myrtle was gone! Bob and I looked and looked for him. He was all the way to the front of the neighbors house, almost on the sidewalk, just moving as fast as he could.
Kayden does a pancake dance. When you ask him if he wants a pancake, he stomps his feet and goes a little giggle. I tried to get it on video, but this time he did it so fast, it was hard to get it.

Kayden is One!

Dara and Brandon had Kayden's birthday party on his birthday. (May 22). He was not a happy boy during the party. As you can see in the pictures. He didn't want his cake and he didn't want to open up his gifts. It wasn't until after almost everyone left that he started playing with his new toys and being happy.

Kayden pushing his cake away.

Kayden (his face say it all, LOL!)

From my SS Debra H. Thank you so much you were so good to me. I love everything you sent.

Work, work, work that is all I have done. I did get a half day off and made some cookies and we took a half day off for Memorial Day. Somehow I don't know how, but I got today off and I did a mad dash through the house and cleaned started laundry, went and had my hair and nails done, then to the pick of some food for the kids to eat at home. Because I am not there to cook, they write on the list what they would like or need from the store. On the list Dylan wrote, "air freshener". Dara wrote below it "clean your room and it won't smell". Then Dylan wrote "it's for bad farts and smelly feet". I had a good laugh while shopping.

We bought a cargo van for the company. That is what I wanted to get, but Bob kept saying he wanted a truck. Looks like I won!!! And to top it off, he keeps saying over and over again, I am so glad I got the van and not the truck. The van we can put all our equipment and chemicals in it and extra parts. And we can tow the bobcat with it.

Bob in the cargo van.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 C butter, 1 1/2 C Crisco, 3 C sugar-Mix together until creamy. 1 1/2 C brown sugar, 3 tsp vanilla, 1 1/2 tsp water-Mix. 6 eggs-Mix. 3 tsp salt, 3 tsp soda-Mix. Add a little flour at a time-7 1/2 C flour. Add chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for about 8-10 min. Still kind of gooey in the middle when you take them out of the oven.
This makes a lot of cookies, so I bag some up and give them to the kids that come over to visit my kids or to the delivery people, mail, FedEx, ups, etc.
I probably won't have time to post again until after the ILCS Retreat.

A quick little update

Another package from my SS! Thank you so much! I thought I would find out who my SS is, but the not doesn't say. I can't wait to find out she has been very, very good to me.

Look what my Mom stitched and framed for me!!! I just love it!

I did manage to get another baby blanket done for another baby shower coming up soon.
Blueberry Streusel Cobbler
This is a good one, even if you mess up the recipe like I did. LOL!

Blueberry Streusel Cobbler

1 pint fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 (14 oz) can Sweetened Condensed Milk, 3/4 cup & 2 TBS cold butter, 2 C biscuit baking mix, divided, 1/2 cup brown sugar. Vanilla Ice Cream.

Preheat oven 325.

In bowl, combine blueberries and condensed milk.

In large bowl, cut 3/4 C butter into 1 1/2 C biscuit mix until crumbly; add blueberry mixture. Spread in greased 9 inch square baking pan.

In small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 C biscuit mix and sugar; cut in remaining 2 TBS butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over cobbler.

Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes or until golden. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and blueberry sauce. Refrigerate leftovers.

Blueberry Sauce: In saucepan, combine 1/2 C sugar, 1 TBS cornstarch, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp nutmeg. Gradually add 1/2 C water. Cook and stir until thickened. Stir in 1 pint blueberries; cook and stir until hot.

Other things going on in my life. Had another funeral to attend. It was Bob's childhood friend's Dad. They had a nice service, I didn't even know the man, but I cried through the whole thing.

Kayden-when he laughs sometimes he will push out his belly, it is so cute. And when you ask him where something is and he doesn't know, he will put his hands up and move them around. Gracie has been working out good for watching Kayden, but he still cries when I leave the house, it just breaks my heart. I was hoping having someone come in to the house to watch him, it would be easier on him, but when I am home he is (most of the time) right by me, if I move he will chase me down.

Work is going great. We are leaving the house around 7 am and returning around 7 pm. Busy, busy, busy! And working all weekend. I did get last Tuesday off, but no stitching, did a little cooking, made the baby blanket, cleaned house and ordered things for the ILCS retreat. No pictures of the retaining wall yet, the home owners are on a two week vacation and didn't want any work done while they were gone. Until next time, which I don't know when I will have time to blog again.

Still here

I haven't had a lot of time for stitching, but I did get all the X's in Bob stocking and started on the beading at the top.

Been working a lot this last week. We finished the in ground in Grander and started on the retaining wall (I'll post pictures when we are done). Boy, the gnats are really bad this year. As you can see they eat me up. Mostly the back of my neck and there are a few bite in the hair line by my neck. They itch a little, but mostly just hurt. I never had bites like this before. The gnat bites where from last Friday. I had Bob take a picture of my neck today so I could see what it looked like.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Squares

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Squares

1 1/4 C graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 C sugar, 6 TBS butter, melted, 1 C dry-roasted peanuts, chopped, 1/2 C light corn syrup, 1/3 C peanut butter, 1 qt. vanilla ice cream.

Mix crumbs, sugar & melted butter. Press onto bottom of 9x9x2" baking pan. Place in freezer.

Mix 2/3 C peanuts, corn syrup & peanut butter.

Stir ice cream to soften. Spoon half of the softened ice cream evenly over chilled crust.

Spread corn syrup mixture on top.

Carefully spread remaining ice cream over all.

Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 C chopped peanuts. Cover & Freeze.

Frozen Fruit Slush

Frozen Fruit Slush

3 med firm bananas-sliced, 1/2 C lemonade concentrate, 6 med ripe peaches peeled & cubed, 3 C water, 1 C sugar, 1 1/3 C seedless green grapes-halved, 1 can orange juice concentrate.

In large bowl, stir bananas & lemonade concentrate until coated. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover & freeze for 8 hours. Remove from freezer 1 to 1 1/4 hours before serving so mixture becomes slushy.

I like putting it is small single serving containers then freezing it. Also when it is slushy I will blend in for a few seconds and sometimes add ice cream.

Kayden at the park.

Kayden is 11 months old! It is hard to believe that a year is almost past. Two weeks ago we made several trips to the park in the stroller. He likes the stick, rocks and leaves the most. LOL!

I was trying to get him to the swing, slide, etc. but he didn't seem to have any interest in them until I said "Kayden, Grand

Spring!

Progress on Earthdancer.

I finished the corner, put the feather she is holding - I have to rip out. I guess I don't know how to count. LOL!

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies-1/2 C butter, soften & 1/2 C peanut butter. Cream together. 1/2 C sugar, 1/2 C brown sugar. Add sugars and 1 egg well beaten. 1 1/4 C flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 3/4 tsp soda, 1/4 tsp salt. Mix well. Form balls, place on cookie sheet. Mash balls with fork that has flour on it. Bake at 375 for about 8 mins.

Glazed Fruit Bowl

This is recipe is great for church, family, pot luck gatherings. Or sometimes I freeze small portions in the freezer and refrigerate what I think will last a few days.

Glazed Fruit Bowl

2 cans (20 oz) unsweetened pineapple chucks

2 pkg (3 oz) cook & serve vanilla pudding mix

2 1/2 C orange juice

1 small cantaloupe, cubed

1 Honeydew, cubed

2 C fresh strawberries, halved

2 C fresh blueberries

2 C seedless grapes

2 med. bananas, sliced

Drain pineapple, reserving 1 C juice; set aside.

In saucepan, combine pudding mix, pineapple juice & orange juice.

Cook & stir over med heat, until mixture boils & thickens.

Remove from heat; cool.

In very large bowl, combine pineapple, melons, berries, grapes & bananas.

Drizzle with pudding mixture.

Refrigerate until serving.

It doesn't have honeydew in it, because the honeydew they had at the store, wasn't ripe. I had to make two trips to get a good cantaloupe. Bob bought the first one, when he brought it home I asked him if he knew how to pick out a ripe cantaloupe. He said nope. So, I went and bought a ripe one and had him smell it. LOL!

My Mom brought over some material, a few weeks ago and asked me to make her some pillow shames.

Dara and I have two baby showers to go to today, so we are splitting up she will be attending one and I will go to the other. I made the baby blankets for the showers and one for an on-line friend.

Bubbles (Dylan's cat) had to give his seal of approval.

Kayden is 10 months old today!

Any time I sing "Lean on me" the song that is playing. Kayden will sing (noise) with me. It is too cute. There are a lot of other songs I sing to him, but this is the only song he sings with me.

This picture was taken earlier this week. The little rocker he is standing behind is mine. My Dad brought it home when I was close to Kayden's age.

Kayden & Cooper playing the sock game.

Other things going on last week...

Spring is here and we have had a few good days of really nice weather. I raked the whole yard! We even cooked out on the grill last night.

Trying to find a babysitter for Kayden. We have found a young college girl that use to nanny in Michigan, until she moved here. She has come over three times so far. I haven't left her alone with Kayden yet. Kayden is use to having me or Dara around him all the time, (mostly me). So, I want Kayden and Gracie to get to know each other before I leave them alone. So, far they are getting along really good. Except for when he gets tired, then he just wants me. But he does that when Dara and Brandon are around too.

Cooper barfed on the love set that is in the video, as you can see it wasn't in good shape to start with, but I tried cleaning it 3 times and the smell wouldn't come out. So it is waiting to be picked up by the waste department.

I got my 4 workouts in last week and I have a lot more energy this week, could be alot to do with the weather.

Kids are on spring break this week and the work schedule is starting to take shape. Here is a video tour of the town I live in.

If anyone has any good salad recipes, please send them to me.

Re-Do!

A big thanks to my SS for sending me the material, thread and beads I need for a few projects that I have in my to-do pile.

Progress picture of Earthdancer. I didn't get as much done as I wanted this week. I wanted to have the corner done.

Peanut Butter Balls

Peanut Butter Balls -1 C peanut butter, 1/2 C butter, soften, Chocolate Melts or Chocolate chips melted.

Mix together & roll in balls. Freeze for 20 min or longer. Dip in melted chocolate. Freeze for a few mins to let the chocolate set. Store in frig.

Well, it is re-do time. Last summer I was down to the weight I wanted (98-100) and over the fall-by November I had gained 5 pounds. By the end of winter I have put on 8 pounds all together!!! So, I am back to working out again. I started with 2 times a week and this week I will be up to 4 times a week. Haven't weighed by myself for a few weeks so I don't know if it is doing any good. But my body feels better.

Other things going on last week-
Kayden started saying "bob, bob, bob", Thursday on Bob's birthday. Bob said it was the best birthday present he could get. When Kayden wants something he gets on my lap and pulls on my arms, trying to get me to stand up. Then I will ask him, "Do you want ________" if that is what he wants he gives a little giggle. To darn cute.
Work - things are looking up. The website is done, except for updates here and there and a few pictures I still need to add. But I have had a few people say they really like the site. Water Wonders check it out, if you have the time and let me know what you think.

Retreats

Earthdancer progress picture. It was nice to finally stitch some color in.

Eclairs

Eclairs: same recipe as last weeks, but use heaping spoonful of Choux when placing them on the baking sheet and shape them in a rectangle, 3" apart, cook for 40 min. instead of 50 min. Then just add the Chocolate Glaze.

Chocolate Glaze: 2 squares semisweet chocolate, 2 TBS butter, 1 C powder sugar & 3 TBS milk.

In 1-qt saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate & butter, stirring constantly. Stir in powder sugar & milk until smooth. Spread on tops of Eclairs. Cover & chill.

Meari, sent a link in to ILCS group "What song was #1 on the day you were born?"

My birthday was "Everybody Loves Somebody" by Mean Martin,

Dara's birthday "Cream" by Prince

Dylan's birthday "Again" by Janet Jackson

Kayden's birthday "Take a Bow" by Rihanna

Bob's birthday "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles.

Bob's was the only song that I could sing. I heard Mean Martin's but I couldn't sing it all. LOL! I wonder what the #1 country song was the day I was born. Anyone know where I can find out?

Other things going on this week... the temps reached up into the 60's and I went outside. LOL! Took Kayden out too. And Josh (Dylan's friend) said "Mom you left the house!?!" When I picked them up from the park.

Kayden is making the motor boat noise with his lips.

Two cross stitching retreats are coming up. Hoosier Stitches the first weekend in April in Southern Indiana and ILCS Retreat this June in TN. I am so looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new faces.

Woo-Hoo!!! It is March!

So, glad to finish the name tag on my canvas bag. Oh man! did my finger hurt from stitching on the canvas. I went through 3 band-aids to get it done. LOL! It looks rough, but it is not easy stitching on canvas. I am so looking forward to the Retreat with the ILCS group in TN, this June.

Very happy with the progress on Earthdancer. For just picking it up Friday night, I think I got alot done. Last update picture was about two weeks ago in this blog.


Cream Puffs

Vanilla Pastry Cream

In 2-qt pan, combine 3/4 C sugar, 1/4 C flour and 1/4 tsp salt; stir in 1 1/2 C milk. Over med heat, cook, stirring until mixture thickens & boils, about 10 min; boil 1 min. In small bowl with fork, beat 6 eggs yolks slightly, beat small amount of milk mixture into yolks, slowly pour egg mixture back into milk mixture, stirring. Cook over med-low heat, stirring until mixture thickens and coats spoon well, about 8 min (do not boil). Remove from heat; stir in 1 1/2 tsp vanilla. Cover surface with plastic wrap; chill well, about 2 hours.

Choux paste:

Grease 2 large cooking sheets. Prepare choux paste: In 2-qt pan over med heat, heat 1/2 C butter, 1 C water and 1/4 tsp salt until butter mixture boils. Remove from heat.

Add 1 C flour all at once. Vigorously stir until mixture forms a ball and leaves sides of pan. Preheat over 350.

Add 4 eggs-one at a time, beating well after each addition, until smooth. Cool mixture for 15 to 20 min.

Using large spoon and rubber spatula, drop batter onto cookie sheets in 12 large mounts, 3" apart. Bake 50 min

Remove from oven, cut slit in side of each puff. Return to oven; bake 10 min. Turn off oven & open door; dry puffs in oven 10 mins. Let cool.

When puffs are cool, slice top off each, fill each shell with the chilled Vanilla Pastry Cream; replace top. Sprinkle tops of cream puffs with powder sugar. Cover and chill.

Kayden is 9 months old!

Yesterday he started to give me leg hugs. Just the best thing in the world, when the little guy comes up and squeezes one of my legs.

I am so happy that it is March!!! Spring is so close! I saw the 14 day forecast and the first to weeks of March are suppose to be nice for Northern Indiana.

Other things going on this week...we had a few business meetings and have decided to bring in someone for sales. He will just be doing sales calls. I finished the newsletters and they have been mailed. Still working on the website and new price sheets. They finally put up our logo at Find it Local 411.

Learning the word "No"

No stitching this week. I have a baby shower to go to today so I needed to make a quilt for the new baby.

So, while I was making the baby quilt I decided to make a couple of Christmas quilts.

This week I made doughnuts, the kids loved them. Some had powder sugar on them others I glazed with vanilla and chocolate. I think the chocolate glaze should have been a little thicker.
Quick Doughnuts

5 C flour

3 TBS baking powder

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 C sugar

1 TBS Crisco

2 TBS butter

3 eggs

1 C milk

Sift dry ingredients. Beat eggs until thick, add to dry ingredients. Add Crisco & butter then milk.

Roll out on flour surface and cut doughnuts. Fry 350 Makes 4 dozen doughnuts 3" across.

Glaze-1 TBS milk, 1 C powder sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Add cocoa for the chocolate. Mix-add more powder sugar to thicken if needed.

Brandon and Kayden

Kayden is learning the word "No"!

Kayden is really getting around walking and sometimes he tries to run. It is too funny, because he can't run yet. He just gets excited and tries to move his little legs a little faster, usually he falls down.

Tuesday he was a hand full! He got into the dog food and was eating a piece when I got to him, then he opened up the turtle food and when I was trying to get it picked up he put a piece in his mouth. Then there was the dog bone he kept trying to chew on. I have had to close the door to the downstairs bathroom and keep the basement door shut.