tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63870043975392326142024-02-18T22:38:13.209-05:00Blueberry PlainsDebbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-55454035543557383842013-03-24T13:37:00.001-04:002013-03-24T13:37:05.161-04:00All Souls……<p><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1171558335l/105687.jpg" width="311" height="475" /></p> <p><font size="5" face="Harrington">I don’t get a chance to read much but when I do, I like it to be a book that is real. My friend Mary who is Irish, gave me this book recently and thought I would like it. it came highly recommended. I am only into the second chapter, but far enough to know I LOVE it and that it is fabulous!  Here’s a quick review someone wrote about it:</font></p> <p>Michael Patrick MacDonald grew up in "the best place in the world"--the Old Colony projects of South Boston--where 85% of the residents collect welfare in an area with the highest concentration of impoverished whites in the U.S. In All Souls, MacDonald takes us deep into the secret heart of Southie. With radiant insight, he opens up a contradictory world, where residents are besieged by gangs and crime but refuse to admit any problems, remaining fiercely loyal to their community. MacDonald also introduces us to the unforgettable people who inhabit this proud neighborhood. We meet his mother, Ma MacDonald, an accordion-playing, spiked-heel-wearing, indomitable mother to all; Whitey Bulger, the lord of Southie, gangster and father figure, protector and punisher; and Michael's beloved siblings, nearly half of whom were lost forever to drugs, murder, or suicide. By turns explosive and touching, All Souls ultimately shares a powerful message of hope, renewal, and redemption. </p> <p><font size="5" face="Harrington">My mother and father in law are Irish as well and I immediately called them to tell them of this book. They both downloaded it onto their touchpad and I pad. It was purchased through Amazon I believe for just over a dollar….good deal! it was written a few years ago and they are talking about a movie. Michael has also written another book that follows this called Easter Rising. His stories are riveting and all true. A bit like Angela's Ashes if you’ve ever read that….but more up to date. Great story!!!….thought I’d share……<img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pELeMLzuUTA/UU85wH7Xi4I/AAAAAAAADJs/PhXZBddWlZc/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-53577608758906402752013-03-13T13:27:00.001-04:002013-03-13T13:27:23.555-04:00That Crooked House….<p><font size="5" face="Tahoma"></font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong>My friend Jane and I were emailing each other recently and discussing this and that when I mentioned something about the Crooked House in Raymond, Maine. She had no idea what I was talking about and why would she???…she lives in England!! There is a company in that town that makes Crooked play houses for kids and more. Here’s an example of one….<img src="http://www.kidscrookedhouse.com/img/playhouses/princess1.jpg" />They made this one for the television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition. And this one is a double sized…..</strong></font></p> <p><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.kidscrookedhouse.com/img/playhouses/doublelandingpage.jpg" />Aren’t they just adorable? Here is a link to their website and to their story of why they started building them………….. <a href="http://www.kidscrookedhouse.com/story.aspx" target="_blank">Crooked Houses</a> ……………</p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I am lucky enough to live close by the original place where all this started. Out front is a long crooked house by the road painted in bright colors. It always catches my eye. Next time I go by I will grab a photo of it. Did any of you know about the crooked houses in Maine?<img title="Photos of three colorful crooked playhouses." border="0" alt="Playhouses" src="http://www.thingamababy.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/01/playhouses.jpg" width="400" height="325" />I wish I could afford a Crooked House potting shed! Now that would just be a dream come true. I also have a fascination with golf carts. Ever since my cousin Margaret, who lives on Peaks Island, picked me up at the ferry boat on one. Here’s a photo of it….<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gBrok9H0Pz0/UUC26_RMsFI/AAAAAAAADI0/pWbXvSrRGjY/s1600-h/slow%252520poke%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="slow poke" border="0" alt="slow poke" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zl8mr1JQCco/UUC27TAuamI/AAAAAAAADI8/JUYv_ouL7F0/slow%252520poke_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> on the fourth of July a few years ago. It’s called the Slow Poke….that’s on the license plate. Usually it’s dressed up much nicer with a lovely colorful canopy on the roof. Everyone on the island has one or two and they drive them legally all over….especially during the fourth of July parade….they dress them up like this…<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-GDlNWv2K9rM/UUC28rSO8fI/AAAAAAAADJE/img4UGdxeYE/s1600-h/peaks%252520parade%2525203%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="peaks parade 3" border="0" alt="peaks parade 3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T9ar68xXJFI/UUC29GUGpWI/AAAAAAAADJM/1ljRie_HaPA/peaks%252520parade%2525203_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>and this…..<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p70TYWlkzV8/UUC2-HdzIoI/AAAAAAAADJU/BmSDI35d_0M/s1600-h/peaks%252520parade2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="peaks parade2" border="0" alt="peaks parade2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--gXLsCI3C_Q/UUC2-bJfchI/AAAAAAAADJc/YJdF6QlMESU/peaks%252520parade2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> Oh God it’s a lot of fun being over there on the fourth! So….my dream is to have a Crooked House Potting Shed that is also big enough to house my Golf Cart, that I would name Slow Poke 2 in memory of my cousin. Hey….a girl can dream can’t she?</font></strong></p> <p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGfCOz7VVO7BGvvAVAcOWhQNqMG5O_adF-ic16iFtMabiuRliJ7wweynZcyv9dbr7M57HAMHWv09vzD_RxoA6yFf0T3q_8avUbGBO6SA9MXG2ybtnrnc7Vvv33E0mU5t0QQ1gKTxbVv0/s1600/DreamingThemeBack.jpg" width="636" height="477" /></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-73852674877957725362013-03-11T10:04:00.001-04:002013-03-11T10:04:40.723-04:00My Blurry Dad…….<p><font size="4" face="Harrington"><strong>   Just recently we had something very exciting happen in our family. Most all of you know, that my dad was a musician, especially if you follow this blog. I know how hard it has become following me, since I am NEVER here lately!! <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5I5zQmthZVA/UT3kcoFaSbI/AAAAAAAADIM/LlhrRPimJlc/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> Sorry about that…. But I digress….</strong></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Harrington"><strong><img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cwkGoaMpdaA/UT3kc-13AvI/AAAAAAAADIU/8McdXmSnXa4/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> My nephew Adam Landry is a music producer in Nashville.<img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb184/wesley_3/IMG_3470.jpg" width="550" height="400" /> He produces a lot of cool bands. Somewhere in his studio he has a picture of my dad and another man from the 1940’s playing music together. A band that Adam was producing recently fell in love with that old photograph, taken while my dad was stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota, during WWII. My dad had not yet headed overseas. I have some similar photos of the two of them. The man with my dad is unknown to us, but is playing an accordion in all the photos. In each of them, they are fully engaged in song and instrument and appear to be having a ball. ~..~</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Harrington">The band Adam was producing asked our family for permission to use that old 1940’s photograph for the cover of their new album and we said yes. Because of copyright infringements and not knowing the existence of the “other man in the photo” they had a bit of a problem at first. Then it came to them….The name of the band is <font color="#c0504d">The Rouge</font><font color="#000000"> and the name of the album is </font><font color="#0000ff">Blurry</font><font color="#000000">….. so what did they do???? They blurred out the cover and both of their faces. But we know, the guy on the right is my dad and he is now on every cover of that album all over the country!!! He would have LOVED that!! Here’s the album…..</font></font></strong></p> <p><img title="" alt="The Rouge: Blurry EP" src="http://inyourspeakers.com/files/imagecache/298x298/images/reviews/the_rouge_blurry-6741.png" width="298" height="298" />  and here’s a link to a review of it….<a href="http://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/223-rouge-blurry-ep-03082013" target="_blank">The Rouge Blurry Review</a>  .</p> <p>How cool is that???????????????????????????????????????</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vLbtnyx6hUM/UT3kdbQ8BkI/AAAAAAAADIc/bghiLyCrZX4/s1600-h/lh%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="display: inline" title="lh" alt="lh" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x5e4P_IzvwU/UT3kd9yqDXI/AAAAAAAADIk/L_tesKQiyl0/lh_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="200" height="177" /></a></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-45500546868480022412013-02-19T14:22:00.001-05:002013-02-19T14:22:10.210-05:00An award….For Me??…...And For You….<p><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqwQrYNNZIt8rlzCwg0qq_KrngtX6agnjXbBJfDywpKFuVGR7hCpxW8PPdP3PJ71FVHI2Mkcmad_x4_EL7Fp5o_Yww33K89obGJWIp812gcr8vW6Y0vIhUeRGN5GapAQSeULalSWDanI/s200/award3.png" width="200" height="200" /></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">There's an award in blogland. It's the Liebster Blog Award, and I was recently nominated for it. I was surprised and honored that Dawn at vesselsmemories2.blogspot.com felt my blog deserved to be recognized.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. "Liebster" is German for sweetest, valued, welcome and, or favorite. I think the nomination itself, is an award. It's certainly a nice way of recognizing and being recognized.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">Thank you Dawn for nominating me….. <a title="http://vesselsmemories2.blogspot.com/" href="http://vesselsmemories2.blogspot.com/">http://vesselsmemories2.blogspot.com/</a></font></p> <p><strong>There are a few rules to follow...</strong></p> <p>1.  Each nominee must share 11 things about themselves.  </p> <p>2.  Answer the 11 questions set for you and create 11 questions for the people you nominate.</p> <p>3.  Nominate promising new bloggers who have less than 200 followers.</p> <p><strong><font color="#c0504d">11 Things About Myself….</font></strong></p> <p><strong>1. I could watch NCIS reruns all day.</strong></p> <p><strong>2. I enjoy playing RPG’s on my XBOX.</strong></p> <p><strong>3. I think birch trees are amazing and spiritual.</strong></p> <p><strong>4. I lost my first child through a miscarriage at 5 1/2 months of pregnancy.</strong></p> <p><strong>5.  I am a former smoker….over 30 years. Just over 3 years nicotine free!! Yay!</strong></p> <p><strong>6. I have a deep faith in God.</strong></p> <p><strong>7. I believe we all have psychic abilities.</strong></p> <p><strong>8. I love to laugh.</strong></p> <p><strong>9. I battled depression for a short time in my life.</strong></p> <p><strong>10. My absolute favorite holiday is Christmas. I love everything about it!!</strong></p> <p><strong>11.  I was the 8th grade champion of my schools’ spelling bee and I still can’t spell the word I lost on in the states!</strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#c0504d">And now for the 11 questions Dawn asked me to answer…..</font></strong></p> <p><b>Q. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?</b></p> <p><b>A. Playing guitar, sewing, playing xbox, finding new recipes, pinterest.</b></p> <p><b>Q. Do you have a favorite quote?</b></p> <p><b>A. Let Go And Let God</b></p> <p><b>Q. The ocean or the lake?</b></p> <p><b>A. Ocean of course!</b></p> <p><b>Q. Do you have a favorite food or restaurant?</b></p> <p><b>A. I just love bacon….LOVE IT!</b></p> <p><b>Q. If you had to move, where would you want to go?</b></p> <p><b>A. Hawaii</b></p> <p><b>Q. Do you like sports, if so, what's your favorite?</b></p> <p><b>A. Baseball….Red Sox Fan!!</b></p> <p><b>Q. Pet peeve?</b></p> <p><b>A. Drivers not using their blinker when turning! Makes me Loco!</b></p> <p><b>Q. What kind of music do you like and do you have a favorite artist?</b></p> <p><b>A.  I love most all music except for opera. Aretha has always been one of my favorites.</b></p> <p><b>Q. A favorite movie?</b></p> <p><b>A. My favorite the last couple of years was Spielburgs’ Super 8</b></p> <p><b>Q. Do you text?</b></p> <p><b>A.  Not if I can help it. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-96E7hlvW2D8/USPQ19l1fUI/AAAAAAAADHY/Bp5XppaARU4/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></b></p> <p><b>Q. What chore do you least like to do?</b></p> <p><b>A. Cleaning the bathtub!!</b></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsQhRFQPCi8-kdHCuJvYGn2zKi_L548z0nzuf-EpV5_96pC6_vqHTsgo1XP18EZB6F7093pQde108lt4alqYcD7S1fmy-NP401BPVPoC24jDob38CyJoOcSXwPpdFR516cOthf1u1FsA/s1600/award1.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image001" border="0" alt="clip_image001" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XYI7jaE0cTQ/USPQ2SxDLkI/AAAAAAAADHg/9e7hfp1u96Y/clip_image001%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="204" height="204" /></a></p> <p>I nominate the following blogs for this award ~</p> <p>Dawn @ <a title="http://candgdesign.blogspot.com/" href="http://candgdesign.blogspot.com/">http://candgdesign.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p>Jane @ <a title="http://northfinchley.blogspot.com/" href="http://northfinchley.blogspot.com/">http://northfinchley.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p>Elenka @ <a title="http://downeastdoingstuff.blogspot.com/" href="http://downeastdoingstuff.blogspot.com/">http://downeastdoingstuff.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Here are your 11 questions my fellow bloggy friends….</p> <p>1. What’s your favorite season of the year?</p> <p>2. What’s the most exciting thing you have ever done?</p> <p>3. Best thing you ever ate?</p> <p>4. What makes you crazy?</p> <p>5. Do you believe in God?</p> <p>6. What’s you absolute favorite hobby?</p> <p>7. Favorite actor or actress?</p> <p>8. Favorite meal including dessert.</p> <p>9. What’s your favorite song from your teen years?</p> <p>10. One of the most difficult things you’ve ever had to do?</p> <p>11. What insect/animal scares you the most?</p> <p> I’ll be back soon I hope. Life has gotten pretty busy this winter and both hubby and I got sick with a flu virus in between that seemed to just hang on. Some of you that I wanted to nominate (beyond the ones I did) already had over 200 followers!! So….good for you!! /See you all soon…..<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u1LeKVJSd2s/USPQ26pyaTI/AAAAAAAADHo/ltdpe2p_ios/s1600-h/020%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="display: inline" title="020" alt="020" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6lPftW5iB64/USPQ3fOoMiI/AAAAAAAADHw/A3DGdMvD2po/020_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="185" height="240" /></a> Debbie<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yIU_4yukzCo/USPQ35tgY_I/AAAAAAAADH4/h3MH7tW9F7w/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-72572229706378571222013-01-22T06:04:00.001-05:002013-01-22T06:04:57.100-05:00Winter Mumblings…..<p><font color="#646b86" size="4" face="Papyrus"><strong>    Hello all….It’s 5:30 a.m. and why am I up at this Godforsaken time of the morning you ask? My husband is scheduled for a colonoscopy at 7:00 in Portland. Neither one of us slept last night. Why I didn’t sleep is a mystery, but the reason for his tossing and turning has to do with a possible flu, that curiously began last evening. Right in the middle of the great Colonoscopy preparations, he started getting the chills. Never having been through this before, he was starting to think it was lack of food! The orange Jell-O and the yellow Gatorade just weren’t cutting it! Being a seasoned contender at this (twice now!) I knew that wasn’t it. So….we will see what the day will bring….he’s just rising now and we will head out shortly.</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="4" face="Papyrus">    As some of you might know, I was hit with a bunch of spam. I’ve cleaned out most of it….I had a HUGE number of Anonymous spams about pills, enlargement devices, and other various crap that seemed to take over my blog! It really ticked me off. So….I had to disable the anonymous feature and I apologize for anyone that cannot get into the blog.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f_IyjDJn4tc/UP5yRRUqQOI/AAAAAAAADGA/n-eIgv4Fxx8/s1600-h/heathercatface1%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="heathercatface1" border="0" alt="heathercatface1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-td8DdKIcPoE/UP5yRuOrkmI/AAAAAAAADGI/UU8vCfKN7bQ/heathercatface1_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="103" height="87" /></a>There really was no other way around it. Having said that, I apologize once again for not being around here much! Some of you have come by anyway and I so appreciate that!! We had a wonderful holiday. I have been very busy with antiques I got from Peaks Island that I am sorting, researching and selling for a friend. Right now I am working on two good sized lots of Dollhouse Miniatures from the late 60’s into the 70’s. We will soon be listing them on Ebay. A woman from the island was quite handy when it came to crafting these wonderful little treasures. From old buttons,  antique pieces of jewelry, and great imagination, wonderfully unique items were created by her. Here’s an example of one of her many chandeliers for a dollhouse…..</font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ySj6cv5FR78/UP5ySkibywI/AAAAAAAADGQ/eYKE2XHbZFw/s1600-h/garnet2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="garnet2" border="0" alt="garnet2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N7caCPAVMc4/UP5yTAMCjVI/AAAAAAAADGY/raa2HGAuVJ0/garnet2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CLau-rXN3_E/UP5yTwS6znI/AAAAAAAADGg/cLg04SUqcBE/s1600-h/garnet1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="garnet1" border="0" alt="garnet1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-arr5cEe383o/UP5yUOrVrjI/AAAAAAAADGo/tVFjBlagZIs/garnet1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yXKJhFCS4TQ/UP5yVLqMMGI/AAAAAAAADGw/K-MkYLT6y0Y/s1600-h/garnet7%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="garnet7" border="0" alt="garnet7" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FDMLf21CgmY/UP5yVZH_M_I/AAAAAAAADG4/s7hxinhWkQs/garnet7_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="4" face="Papyrus"><strong>The bottom is an old brooch with garnet stones. Above that is a combination of old jewelry. The stem are crystals and diamond (not real) studded jewelry pieces and the ceiling tile is hand painted….isn’t this something? They are mini treasures and I have a lot of them…it will be fun.</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="4" face="Papyrus">    I hope you are all well and I promise I will be by this week to see what you have been up to this winter thus far. Thanks for being so loyal and sorry for my absence! I am going to try and get back every week. Hope you are all well!!!</font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-epU6iivg0xg/UP5yVgNdrcI/AAAAAAAADHA/wepIiXbB9q0/s1600-h/debbie2%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="debbie2" border="0" alt="debbie2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Gyy1WYZDSDQ/UP5yV6mWlwI/AAAAAAAADHI/n1HWnJ4Al7s/debbie2_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="103" height="30" /></a></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="4" face="Papyrus"> </font></strong></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-85992867355811711592012-11-21T10:31:00.001-05:002012-11-21T10:31:19.837-05:00HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2012<p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLoHiGK57XvvD82h37XJ0Y2v4aCNt2ErQSTK7EmuFcW9HG-bf-WTtwosIrQNqyev9AL9bdDM4FjLII7-353rE7oXXRcUQ3Lu8mnIgv3FLblKpou6tRlRGCVVezy8tVGd3ooFmR5MPWg/s640/thanksgiving_wish.jpg" width="526" height="357" /></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="4" face="Papyrus"><strong>Hey everyone….I have been incredibly busy but wanted to pop in and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!! We are hosting this year and hopefully it will come off without a hitch. There will be 8 of us and maybe a few extras for dessert later on. Yesterday we cleaned and today I  bake and tomorrow we cook. I got a 21 pound turkey and will have butternut squash, mashed potatoes and gravy, my mother in law’s peach/pork stuffing which is to die for, my daughter who is vegetarian is bringing baked stuffed acorn squash.  We’ll have homemade snowflake rolls, stuffed celery, two kinds of olives, and pickles. Oh and garlic carrots. Today I am baking two apple crumb pies, one pumpkin, a chocolate with chocolate filling and glaze Bundt cake, and banana bars. I think that’s enough don’t you? What are you all having? </strong></font></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="4" face="Papyrus">I wanted to apologize for not visiting all of you and not responding to my comments. Life has been so busy. I started selling on Ebay a lot more than I thought I would. The research and all else that goes with it has taken up a lot of my time. My upstairs room is filled and I mean FILLED to the brim with antiques!! I will take a picture after the holiday to show you. I want to wish all of you a wonderfully joyful Thanksgiving!!! Relax and take time to smell the turkey!! Love you guys!! <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TckwL4y2ECg/UKzzx-Ub7pI/AAAAAAAADFs/jFvuQrSl-8k/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /><img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TckwL4y2ECg/UKzzx-Ub7pI/AAAAAAAADFs/jFvuQrSl-8k/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> Blessings to you all.++</font></strong></p> <p><img src="http://www.focusonlinecommunities.com/servlet/JiveServlet/showImage/38-2542-4211/thanksgiving3.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-7060842172870663282012-10-24T17:00:00.001-04:002012-10-24T17:00:29.728-04:00CRAFT IDEAS AND A BREAK…..<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT53wZeFe9480FbRtB-eSfZQfjlh7IUyE1Eo8uUeHNqr6wBvQzpUtUKC_tp4uSW4XoSxIKnuGjpIPACSXogZ17uljNSgzUgWG2x8IOPc6tyycy6q-hOpDLy6O0LDR4lkT04C8NprwhfL0/s1600/Peg+board+craft+storage.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT53wZeFe9480FbRtB-eSfZQfjlh7IUyE1Eo8uUeHNqr6wBvQzpUtUKC_tp4uSW4XoSxIKnuGjpIPACSXogZ17uljNSgzUgWG2x8IOPc6tyycy6q-hOpDLy6O0LDR4lkT04C8NprwhfL0/s640/Peg+board+craft+storage.jpg" width="398" height="640" /></a><strong><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Papyrus">While perusing my new addiction <font color="#9b00d3">Pinterest.com </font><font color="#000000">recently, I came across this amazing blog. It has tutorials on some very cool items to make for your craft room if you have one. Here’s a link to this woman’s site…………<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT53wZeFe9480FbRtB-eSfZQfjlh7IUyE1Eo8uUeHNqr6wBvQzpUtUKC_tp4uSW4XoSxIKnuGjpIPACSXogZ17uljNSgzUgWG2x8IOPc6tyycy6q-hOpDLy6O0LDR4lkT04C8NprwhfL0/s640/Peg+board+craft+storage.jpg" target="_blank">SCOUTS STITCHES</a>  Hopefully it will bring you to her blog and you may have to do a bit of searching to find the crafts. The picture above is from there. I love that! I plan on making one this winter!!</font></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Papyrus">                ~>>>>>>>>>>>>~</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Papyrus">Meanwhile, my best friend Lorraine    came home from Florida about a week ago.  She was on vacation here for the week. We grew up in the same small town and went to the same schools. We see each other just once a year. This year was very special because she recently survived Ovarian Cancer. I’m so proud of her. Her joy regarding the colors of the fall trees and the cooler temps invigorated me! She helped me remember to be grateful. Living in Maine is wonderful and the four changes of the seasons are a wondrous part of our existence here. But…I sometimes take that for granted. She helped me see the colors with new eyes.<img src="http://www.heatingoil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/fall-colors-maine.jpg" width="400" height="301" />We had breakfast twice at a place called <img border="0" src="http://www.stonescafeandbakery.com/stoneslogo-copy.jpg" width="321" height="206" />in North Yarmouth, only about 15 minutes from here. I have heard good things about it but have never been. They are a favorite of the locals and apparently chefs in Maine declared the place one of the top 50 in Maine to eat. Stone’s Café makes their own pies, pastries and many other amazing desserts and meals. Here’s a link……</font></strong><a href="http://www.stonescafeandbakery.com/" target="_blank">STONE'S CAFÉ</a><font size="5">  </font><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">It’s definitely worth the trip if you are a Mainer. We had lunch at my niece’s golf club called Toddy Brook. <img src="http://toddybrookgolf.com/images/cafe2.jpg" />It is so lovely there overlooking the golfing green. <a href="http://toddybrookgolf.com/index.php#" target="_blank">TODDY BROOK</a></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">We had gone to our home town and picked up another dear friend from school and she joined us for lunch.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">We visited our parents at the cemetery, and then took a ride across the ocean in our home town to a place we loved as kids called Cousins Island and then Little Johns Island. Here’s the bridge we drove over to get to Cousins Island….<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4501207050_589df9ee4c.jpg" width="500" height="374" />We walked down to that beach. As teens we jumped off that bridge in the middle! Then on to Little Johns Island down the road a bit. It was a place we retreated to party as teens sometimes. The roads are narrow going around the island and halfway around there’s a dock we used to fish off. <img src="http://christiansencottage.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/little-johns-dock.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Papyrus">People still do. We had a lot of laughs. The next day, we had a big barbecue together with Lorraine’s family. I can’t wait to see her again next year…..it was a fun time. I am so glad she is still with us….she’s a courageous girl and my best friend.<img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--djCjVDibzE/UIhW7J3kjCI/AAAAAAAADFY/ZaWyiHSramo/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Papyrus"> </font></strong></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-19146428013693397582012-10-14T12:22:00.001-04:002012-10-14T12:22:28.011-04:00~TO DIE FOR~ BANANA BREAD BARS W/BROWN BUTTER FROSTING<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WbisTEVmKWGYRmQD3eGF8qXkhe8s2geD9WqO27TKrx3DT3wawS3pdfkpqsA2xjU1VUaTbEfQJSVGnlwO3cPcEfmbmXprvOS9Oe9gwOsEERg4X0e277E7KCVhAvyVLFgel2XNTyM5BGQ/s1600/BB+Bars+3.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WbisTEVmKWGYRmQD3eGF8qXkhe8s2geD9WqO27TKrx3DT3wawS3pdfkpqsA2xjU1VUaTbEfQJSVGnlwO3cPcEfmbmXprvOS9Oe9gwOsEERg4X0e277E7KCVhAvyVLFgel2XNTyM5BGQ/s640/BB+Bars+3.JPG" width="480" height="640" /></a></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">My new addiction lately is Pinterest.com. I find myself mindlessly looking at photos of crafts, food, décor and anything that catches my interest. I have tried maybe 3 or 4 recipes from Pinterest but none of them compare to this unbelievable recipe that I have pictured above. I am NOT  kidding when I say they are TO DIE FOR!!! These ARE the bomb. If you like banana bread, you won’t want to ever use another recipe…..this IS your new recipe….it’s that amazing. First I will give you the recipe and then tell you what happened the first time I made them. Here’s the recipe…</font></strong></p> <p><u>Ingredients</u>:</p> <p><em>Banana Bread Bars:</em></p> <p>1-1/2 c. sugar</p> <p>1 c. sour cream</p> <p>1/2 c. butter, softened</p> <p>2 eggs</p> <p>1-3/4 (3 or 4) ripe bananas, mashed</p> <p>2 tsp. vanilla extract</p> <p>2 c. all purpose flour</p> <p>1 tsp. baking soda</p> <p>3/4 tsp. salt</p> <p>1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)</p> <p><em>Brown Butter Frosting:</em></p> <p>1/2 c. butter</p> <p>4 c. powdered sugar</p> <p>1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract</p> <p>3 tbsp. milk</p> <p><u>Directions</u>:</p> <p>1.  Heat oven to 375F.  Grease and flour 15x10-inch jelly roll pan.  For the bars, in a large bowl, beat together <strong>sugar</strong>, <strong>sour</strong> <strong>cream</strong>, <strong>butter</strong>, and <strong>eggs</strong> until creamy.  Blend in <strong>bananas</strong> and <strong>vanilla</strong> <strong>extract</strong>.  Add <strong>flour</strong>, <strong>baking</strong> <strong>soda</strong>, <strong>salt</strong>, and blend for 1 minute.  Stir in <strong>walnuts</strong>.</p> <p>2.  Spread batter evenly into pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.</p> <p>3.  Meanwhile, for frosting, heat <strong>butter</strong> in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling.  Let the butter turn a delicate brown and remove from heat immediately.</p> <p>4.  Add <strong>powdered</strong> <strong>sugar</strong>, <strong>vanilla</strong> <strong>extract</strong> and <strong>milk</strong>.  Whisk together until smooth (it should be thicker than a glaze but thinner than frosting).  Using a spatula, spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting will be easier to spread while the bars are still warm). </p> <p>Yield: 2 dozen large bars</p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">Ok…now the first time I made these I was very distracted and was multi-tasking.  I had put the stick of butter in the microwave to soften a bit and forgot it.<img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b4tMHZnCvb4/UHrmwOpXBCI/AAAAAAAADFA/cTjwMz3AdEs/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> So…I made the recipe without the butter and in 20 minutes the banana bars came out and were fantastic! Don’t ask  me why…but you CAN cook them without that butter but they rise up quicker. So…here I had this partially melted butter in the microwave….what did I do???….I figured if I was already blowing the diet, I should still use it….I poked holes in the hot bread with a fork…slathered the butter over it and it sunk in….and left the bread with an incredible buttery/banana taste. I wouldn’t recommend that though…..that was a mistake on my part that ended up ok!</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#ff0000" size="4" face="Papyrus">Some quick tips that helped me:</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Papyrus">1. Watch the butter when boiling. It turns a light brown quickly. Don’t let it brown too much or it will ruin the flavor. Both times I made these, they cooked quicker than the recipe called for in the oven. The first time, the bars were done in 20 minutes. The second time, in 17. Start checking on them at 20 minutes I would say.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Papyrus">2. Keep the frosting a bit warm and stirred. Immediately after I took out the bread, I poked holes with a fork and frosted. It got down into the bread and made it Oh so Gooey Good. I decided to add a couple tablespoons of Maple Syrup to my frosting and it added a very nice flavor combined with the banana bread.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Papyrus">3. Cut into smaller bars than recommended because these are very, very rich and the moistest cake/bread you will EVAH taste!!!!! Oh MY FREAKING GOD ARE THEY GOOD……you have been warned…..not for anyone who is dieting! Let me know if you try them??? Your husband will adore you and your kids will too. People won’t be able to speak….they will just mumble when they eat these.<img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0Jp5MfMgl94/UHrmwzHDKYI/AAAAAAAADFE/e10wW8Sm71Q/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /><img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0Jp5MfMgl94/UHrmwzHDKYI/AAAAAAAADFE/e10wW8Sm71Q/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /><img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0Jp5MfMgl94/UHrmwzHDKYI/AAAAAAAADFE/e10wW8Sm71Q/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> You will be thinking of  these bars every time your bananas get ripe! Enjoy…..I won’t be making these again for a while…..back on the diet tomorrow…..but I will have the memories of these to carry me through…….MMMMMM…..good.</font></strong></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-64694262949529867622012-10-12T10:16:00.001-04:002012-10-12T10:16:19.027-04:00Batting Down The Hatches…..<p><font size="4" face="Papyrus"><strong>One down and one more to go. I finished Carissa’s pillow.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-obKIhZxbtnQ/UHgl1z_NV_I/AAAAAAAAC-w/9UObXyzmGI4/s1600-h/DSC08421%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08421" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08421" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BTOpqj-6AL0/UHgl2exzIWI/AAAAAAAAC-4/_lK4DEnKiPk/DSC08421_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> If you have not followed this blog (and I don’t blame you if you haven’t) as I am not here much lately!! I mad my daughter Carissa and my son Kyle lap blankets for Christmas last year…see previous post. I don’t own a sewing machine and do everything by hand, so A. It takes longer and B. They don’t look as nice probably. Kind of puffy looking pillow but heck…it’s hand made!<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-S5QbD5zpE30/UHgl3YpixrI/AAAAAAAAC_A/iQ9aCpUo_BE/s1600-h/DSC08422%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08422" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08422" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pTsi-GKIdUQ/UHgl34bWMFI/AAAAAAAAC_I/uM-ejXOa9GM/DSC08422_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vxJ81KAHJh0/UHgl4ocOb6I/AAAAAAAAC_Q/O_evqmKb-zo/s1600-h/DSC08423%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08423" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08423" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-S_SoYwyppzo/UHgl5fEKr3I/AAAAAAAAC_Y/0Lk7bbwl1ik/DSC08423_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>and the back matches her blanket which is lavender fleece…<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IV0zERYI92s/UHgl6OhebXI/AAAAAAAAC_g/Xx1YBgUzme8/s1600-h/DSC08424%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08424" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08424" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NinuBJUajYA/UHgl6zGXVTI/AAAAAAAAC_o/P_qW4qZOeDw/DSC08424_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>a bit bumpy and uneven but that will fill in as she uses it. Now on to my son’s pillow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">My brother Art and his wife Amy live in Nashville. They have had two Jack Russells for some time now. One of them is a brother to my Obie that we had to put down last year. His name is Ziggy. At some point when them moved to Nashville, they purchased another Russell…a female named Zoe. Just recently they got a third and she’s a doll. A pup named Magnolia….Maggie Mae is what they call her. You would think someone had a new baby….well…I guess THEY did!! Here are the 3 of them…Maggie Mae, Zoe, and Ziggy…<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IVHLxpYACkI/UHgl7gM5O4I/AAAAAAAAC_w/hRjX8kpluAo/s1600-h/Maggie%252520Zoe%252520and%252520Ziggy%252521%252520%252520%2525282%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="Maggie Zoe and Ziggy! (2)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Maggie Zoe and Ziggy! (2)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gjCoj1AofLA/UHgl8O5wWNI/AAAAAAAAC_4/dmYCR_Ez58E/Maggie%252520Zoe%252520and%252520Ziggy%252521%252520%252520%2525282%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="269" /></a>asking to come in. Have you ever see anything cuter??? One day,  Zoe dug a hole in the yard small enough for Maggie to get under the deck lattice but no one else.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U3XqpwlL1lk/UHgl9P4pq6I/AAAAAAAADAA/Nz2pqFtDjho/s1600-h/photo%252520%25252811%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo (11)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="photo (11)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EdezS8C53zg/UHgl9pUjpbI/AAAAAAAADAI/ShQn3bOvGPE/photo%252520%25252811%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>I was told it took lots of dog biscuits and coaxing to finally get Maggie out! Maggie got a little muddy and was ready to come in…<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4G4aRejCS0k/UHgl-Qg3A9I/AAAAAAAADAQ/RFeKHDr4Gm0/s1600-h/photo%252520%25252812%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo (12)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="photo (12)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xMM1HSN0t3M/UHgl-xdiloI/AAAAAAAADAY/Y1XhQwJT-Mg/photo%252520%25252812%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>which prompted my sister in law to give Maggie her first bath!! <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-can61pyyBOM/UHgl_XQerhI/AAAAAAAADAg/xq_j8Kwj180/s1600-h/photo%252520%25252814%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo (14)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="photo (14)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5_JpisIgFIQ/UHgmBTOb26I/AAAAAAAADAo/OaAOdFWDQBo/photo%252520%25252814%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>And left her looking like an Alien Russell!! And before you know it, it was beddie-bye time…<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rQ48YAusU1g/UHgmBwEIKmI/AAAAAAAADAw/puGLdLA8lho/s1600-h/photo%252520%25252816%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo (16)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="photo (16)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6H_fBe-LMYk/UHgmCXY3ukI/AAAAAAAADA4/0p2aOcx1_bM/photo%252520%25252816%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>Isn’t she just the sweetest thing you ever did see??? </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">Did I tell you someone called and asked me if I would take a little bit of quilting batting and yarn and sewing stuff that her mother once had?? She’s been storing it for 10 years. Ok….she showed up and her entire car was filled!! I know I am foolish but this is what I lugged up to my craft room….<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dAg_fIHRBps/UHgmDZlmSLI/AAAAAAAADBA/vBJ9EJ0SobI/s1600-h/DSC08429%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08429" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08429" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VrTkO_5t0hI/UHgmD027L4I/AAAAAAAADBI/b6y1l05QibE/DSC08429_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Dzwh3kBNbPI/UHgmEdjgEBI/AAAAAAAADBQ/uExBn-4apaY/s1600-h/DSC08428%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08428" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08428" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qRufEhI0TOY/UHgmE-hrB5I/AAAAAAAADBY/NmY8HppKMBU/DSC08428_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--K5okcINODU/UHgmFxsXsNI/AAAAAAAADBg/Rdh8gRPIpEQ/s1600-h/DSC08430%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08430" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08430" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NynjyqtZI7E/UHgmGXdqCbI/AAAAAAAADBo/p-CJE3OJrYk/DSC08430_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bz_dYK1y8wY/UHgmGw3A_NI/AAAAAAAADBw/IWqHuMnA2RE/s1600-h/DSC08431%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08431" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08431" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8A3rf0fIl6w/UHgmHvNPJ3I/AAAAAAAADB4/5wC3HUOus1c/DSC08431_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>There are six giant tubs that are filled! Two with yarn….the rest with batting and I don’t know how to quilt! I will find a home for a lot of it. Those tubs are at least 3 feet long and a foot of more wide and tall….huge! There are other things in there too…material to sew with, brand new thread, a very large wooden oval hoop (for quilting?) and other odd things I cannot identify yet. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Esw2fnfWgzc/UHgmHy_9UgI/AAAAAAAADB8/mc75jSeW_h4/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></p> <p><font size="3" face="Papyrus"><strong>There is also some poly stuffing. I used a small bag to fill Carissa’s pillow! So…it came in handy already. I wish you could have seen my husbands face when he saw all these! Yikes!<img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Esw2fnfWgzc/UHgmHy_9UgI/AAAAAAAADB8/mc75jSeW_h4/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" />Maybe I need to learn to quilt?</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font size="3" face="Papyrus">While my sister in law is busy with those Russell's, my brother is fundraising in Nashville by playing some music….<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dM2efXILlwA/UHgmIVDQG4I/AAAAAAAADCI/GxydyLdUmYc/s1600-h/The%252520Band%252520from%252520the%252520202%25252010-15-11_n%252520%2525282%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="The Band from the 202 10-15-11_n (2)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="The Band from the 202 10-15-11_n (2)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IQrsNwGA5IQ/UHgmJersWRI/AAAAAAAADCQ/1GpaDvOd_ws/The%252520Band%252520from%252520the%252520202%25252010-15-11_n%252520%2525282%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>That’s him on the far right with the hat and plaid shirt. He really enjoys this kind of thing. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Hyc6725PLEk/UHgmKJkmKoI/AAAAAAAADCY/K0rnDw9JC6s/s1600-h/202%252520Gig%252520October%25252015th%2525202011%252520%2525282%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="202 Gig October 15th 2011 (2)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="202 Gig October 15th 2011 (2)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ln0KBgUwUFw/UHgmKjwEhAI/AAAAAAAADCg/UEsUIvqVQ_s/202%252520Gig%252520October%25252015th%2525202011%252520%2525282%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="138" /></a>He’s exactly where he needs to be. Someday, I hope my husband and I can take a trip down to see all of this for ourselves….<img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Esw2fnfWgzc/UHgmHy_9UgI/AAAAAAAADB8/mc75jSeW_h4/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pnfs9hR1gdo/UHgmLXtUC2I/AAAAAAAADCo/KxgIFJOrF2U/s1600-h/debbie22%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img title="debbie22" style="display: inline" alt="debbie22" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AMxtVkgGdrY/UHgmME2h8TI/AAAAAAAADCw/l99SADWEbds/debbie22_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="169" height="154" /></a></font></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><font size="3" face="Papyrus"> </font></strong></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-88541097893482789072012-10-05T14:01:00.001-04:002012-10-05T14:01:53.837-04:00FAR FOR TOO LONG…..<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qozXe5CmdGk/UG8gWYb97AI/AAAAAAAAC8E/e8pYnyGEwdU/s1600-h/DSC08416%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08416" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08416" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qHq0n9gei0o/UG8gXCLFI7I/AAAAAAAAC8M/U57l3CqqgXE/DSC08416_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">Recently, someone wrote me and asked if I was alright since I had not blogged since June!! Well….that prompted me to pop in here and let you all know I am just fine….and thanks for asking (Dawn!!). Life has just gotten in the way….that’s all. A few bumps in the road of life….nothing to do with me but all is good now…for the time being. A couple weeks ago I picked up those wonderful Cortland apples above and made an awesome apple crumb pie!! Here are a couple photos……<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k15n3oQZ-hI/UG8gYHVV4FI/AAAAAAAAC8U/8qhdBk3ZmPE/s1600-h/DSC08411%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08411" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08411" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KuJK1BFDYOw/UG8gYvcMDxI/AAAAAAAAC8c/lZbr9warjqk/DSC08411_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NM9tkE3C1kY/UG8gZptHs0I/AAAAAAAAC8k/zaMA4s5O2eU/s1600-h/DSC08413%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08413" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08413" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2ejGN-XXvlQ/UG8gaX6SARI/AAAAAAAAC8s/Ma38070jAU0/DSC08413_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>…hopefully you can enlarge them because it is so gooey looking….with crunchy cinnamon chunks that got on the outside of the dish….Oh my was this good!!<font size="4" face="Papyrus"> <strong>What made this even yummier were a couple of new ingredients I normally don’t use. I added a little maple syrup inside and a drizzle of honey outside (on top). That’s part of the reason it’s so gooey good looking! My favorite time of year has arrived….finally… “sigh”…it was a long and hot summer and I am sooooo over it!! Bring on the fall!!!</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I’ve been working on a pillow for my daughter Carissa, that will go with the blanket I made for her for Christmas last year. Do you remember the blankets I made for my kids? Here’s a blast from the past picture…..<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GkD1AmuT8F0/UG8gbFsDOpI/AAAAAAAAC80/If_9xaxUuJU/s1600-h/kyle%252520carissa%252520blankets%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="kyle carissa blankets" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="kyle carissa blankets" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fD34jMiKTjQ/UG8gb_ofKsI/AAAAAAAAC88/o4j6Kj5A7lk/kyle%252520carissa%252520blankets_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>That’s the two of them holding their blankets.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ty7AELtSR8M/UG8gdd9WKVI/AAAAAAAAC9E/vYYQ1TjRTl0/s1600-h/kyle%252520carissa%252520mom2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="kyle carissa mom2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="kyle carissa mom2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E-iRD3jmcEM/UG8geiEtZqI/AAAAAAAAC9M/usqsNbTVN38/kyle%252520carissa%252520mom2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>This was the opening of them. See the Mary Jane candy on the table? My daughter LOVES that candy. It was in her stocking. So…here is the pillow I am working on to go with the blanket………….<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-haNddJE3X2c/UG8gfVXSZYI/AAAAAAAAC9U/nPnOFiI6kd8/s1600-h/DSC08417%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08417" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08417" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9fs3dKCFjC4/UG8gfwvwakI/AAAAAAAAC9c/-DVid3L-M4A/DSC08417_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d1TE3pU0Big/UG8gg36RE2I/AAAAAAAAC9k/-t6V3C-cYMk/s1600-h/DSC08418%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08418" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08418" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5HkGi35HVAg/UG8ghabTejI/AAAAAAAAC9s/jUcsq3gCzx8/DSC08418_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5I1zZ_WhJrQ/UG8giM_mxDI/AAAAAAAAC90/XYyyxkA-9lw/s1600-h/DSC08419%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC08419" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC08419" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Il6u-eOHmz8/UG8gi9fKGdI/AAAAAAAAC94/E3VhYzL-ZTo/DSC08419_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> All of these materials are in her blanket. <strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I’ll show you the pillow when it is finished. It will have a lavender fleece back and white satin edges….just like the blanket.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I hope you are all enjoying your fall and survived the summer weather. Heck…some of you might even like that hot weather?? Not sure what that’s about but I won’t judge you!! Ha ha….just kidding! <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NuwBbziJE_g/UG8gjJYXPEI/AAAAAAAAC-E/L7JT5Ifcpto/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> I will try and get by to visit you all. Meanwhile….my two new addictions are Pinterest.com and doing genealogy when I can!!<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DEiMVwFwQZM/UG8gjt_tT1I/AAAAAAAAC-M/TT-vO24rZAU/s1600-h/HIbera%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img title="HIbera" style="display: inline" alt="HIbera" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xHRILnZ9Gmc/UG8gkFT4ypI/AAAAAAAAC-U/eUHAoF-5_00/HIbera_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="177" height="240" /></a></font></strong></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-50579323776738112022012-06-30T11:08:00.001-04:002012-06-30T11:08:20.117-04:00~..~ PLAYING CATCH-UP ~..~<p><font size="4" face="Papyrus"></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Papyrus">   Hello all of you wonderful blogger people!! I have been a bad, bad, blogger this spring/beginning of summer. There actually have been a lot of things going on in my life. I don’t think I can catch up on my life in one blog so I will try to do a quick synopsis. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Dk4qTSGBkDk/T-8WMJUV2fI/AAAAAAAAC5g/SDFTnOPCfpw/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Papyrus">   For the first time in years I did NOT plant a garden. At first it felt very strange and so sad. It’s been a part of my life and summer/fall for years and I so enjoy it. I was diagnosed with severe arthritis in my lower back so I decided to give it a break this year. After envying every single garden I passed while driving for weeks, I finally realized it was ok. I can have a garden next year!! What a relief when I let that go! So….in honor of my gardens from the past and gardens in my future, here is a photo or two from some of them.<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--rqMaEeCMG4/T-8WOxzuGpI/AAAAAAAAC5o/LsjsaVbZhqw/s1600-h/DSC04818%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC04818" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC04818" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lYM-Eks5e2c/T-8WPTFU5hI/AAAAAAAAC5w/30xDDzn3xJs/DSC04818_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rHIauh9lofM/T-8WQKrHE4I/AAAAAAAAC54/yxsbFv6s97Y/s1600-h/DSC04898%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC04898" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC04898" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Sapkx-vsk80/T-8WQqCWWdI/AAAAAAAAC6A/F3yF2JD8oYE/DSC04898_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>There! Now I feel better! Ha! Well….we have been busy beavers anyway. There was a surprise 30th birthday party for my daughter Carissa at the GLB (Great Lost Bear) in Portland recently. She was completely blown away with surprise!! Here are some photos….<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vVvX5y5zNq8/T-8WRXbPq2I/AAAAAAAAC6I/nNByh44tJok/s1600-h/cake%252520still%252520funny%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="cake still funny" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="cake still funny" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P2Kc8ABILbQ/T-8WRpZ1irI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/yCbl6EHWLlw/cake%252520still%252520funny_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d0EVeo_Kk1o/T-8WSrM1bkI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/jnIOOealnFU/s1600-h/carissa%252520%252526%252520friends%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="carissa & friends" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="carissa & friends" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TNzNC5-VsrA/T-8WTMglRYI/AAAAAAAAC6g/7FUsYmvhnZI/carissa%252520%252526%252520friends_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-I7VmURJoeSQ/T-8WT50JtuI/AAAAAAAAC6o/QlaeyQQw-RU/s1600-h/carissa%252520arrives%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="carissa arrives" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="carissa arrives" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0kJbIAMccTg/T-8WUcdtCNI/AAAAAAAAC6w/oHUq3O5asDk/carissa%252520arrives_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wcJxICmBD_Q/T-8WVJkD3rI/AAAAAAAAC64/jz1v0gC6e-E/s1600-h/jamie%252527s%252520bluegrass%252520band%252520puddinhead%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="jamie's bluegrass band puddinhead" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="jamie's bluegrass band puddinhead" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pDVVq75yfNE/T-8WVo-ThcI/AAAAAAAAC7A/KpfLubONjeI/jamie%252527s%252520bluegrass%252520band%252520puddinhead_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Yup….that’s the new boyfriend Jamie and his bluegrass band playing for the event…..they’re good!<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-w-ILKSf5oYI/T-8WWaF1eAI/AAAAAAAAC7I/KlJIto4oa3U/s1600-h/Jamie%252520you%252520keep%252520good%252520secrets%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Jamie you keep good secrets" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Jamie you keep good secrets" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ctfErAXBCLc/T-8WWh4eckI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/7Q4o0Yz527w/Jamie%252520you%252520keep%252520good%252520secrets_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> “Oh Jamie!! You can really keep a secret!!”….she was saying! It was a blast.</p> <p><font size="3" face="Papyrus">This all happened a little over two weeks ago. I had been sick a couple of days before. Little did I know that after I got home from that party I would end up at Brighton Quick Care with a positive reading of Strep Throat! I got some terrible side effects from the penicillin they gave me for it. The first day I used Immodium AD and it worked for 4 days and then just stopped. I spent the next 4 days almost entirely in bed and the bathroom and bleeding and bleeding. I got dehydrated and my electrolytes were so off I was sensitive to light and sound and really could just sleep. My husband took me into emergency. They gave me two IV’s of saline and did blood tests…..gosh I didn’t think I had any left?  I had to follow up with my doc the next day and I did. I lost 7 pounds that week….just couldn’t eat….I had already been dieting and had lost 11 so my total now is 18. I really did NOT want to lose weight that way! What a nightmare. So….the result was I had a severe allergic reaction to Penicillin and now that will be added to my allergy list which is growing@!! It felt good to be back among the living again. I was a very sick puppy….now a healthy one! Ok….so that’s enough updating for now. I am still selling marbles on Ebay and now antiques for a friend (soon) . We are invited to many parties coming up in July and August and looking forward to that. It’s been a very strange summer without our little Obie.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aHIpZlW9zN4/T-8WXBuDStI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/X2Imjoiputc/s1600-h/obie1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="obie1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="obie1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c0nMvPJDJXA/T-8WXmdTi4I/AAAAAAAAC7g/PnTt-cODGI0/obie1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  I miss him so much. Someday we will get another dog…..Bobbie is just not ready yet…..I am….but we’ll wait. Hope all of you are having a wonderful summer so far and you are enjoying your vegetable and flower gardens!! I would love to hear about them!! I am no longer jealous of you all!!!!!!!!!!! Ha ha……I just want to know if you can produce sexy carrots like I did a few years ago like these…..!!!<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--3YyXSqEJVg/T-8WYRrswWI/AAAAAAAAC7o/dFGVAUsKSVw/s1600-h/carrotlovers3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="carrotlovers3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="carrotlovers3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-A2JqUZl-T3w/T-8WY1-QDFI/AAAAAAAAC7w/1S8RI9Sl8K4/carrotlovers3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??????????????????????????????</font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-51487766576988520552012-05-21T17:47:00.000-04:002012-05-21T17:49:08.752-04:00FAMILY & MORE FAMILY…..<p>    <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fZReKKSnlHQ/T7q4B8vf3MI/AAAAAAAAC2E/n40UUI_kj0I/s1600-h/DSC075665.jpg"><img title="DSC07566" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07566" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gHOcoiVHsvM/T7q4CUSY92I/AAAAAAAAC2M/RBwRWFcj-no/DSC07566_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="242" /></a></p> <p><font face="Papyrus">      <font size="4">Mother’s day was awesome! My daughter brought me these gorgeous flowers and using my largest vase they were still very crowded. I have all but the roses left ….just beautiful to look at and the aroma..ou--lala! This was also an opportunity to meet the new boyfriend, Jamie….<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Gr2g5I3UuUw/T7q4DGNS2cI/AAAAAAAAC2U/kbS_QeiLxAo/s1600-h/DSC075583.jpg"><img title="DSC07558" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07558" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-78mHLeKA43M/T7q4E7Pl9iI/AAAAAAAAC2c/eik3kHyiuIE/DSC07558_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> He is in 2 bands, plays the mandolin, guitar and not sure what else? His folks own a sign store in Brunswick…… called…. <a href="http://www.carrotsigns.com/" target="_blank">Carrot Signs</a> …hopefully that link works. They are apparently old hippies, very nice, and he works there too. Carissa and he adore each other….I know it’s early, but I have a good feeling about these two!<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3E2T8H8B4lM/T7q4FSylS6I/AAAAAAAAC2k/HMhw9O_8VAU/s1600-h/DSC075613.jpg"><img title="DSC07561" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07561" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DlBaAspS7Xc/T7q4FkefPKI/AAAAAAAAC2s/x7GX4Cq7J3w/DSC07561_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> Aren’t they cute together? She is very nervous around him still….doesn’t want to screw this up I guess.</font></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">Let me tell you why I have a good feeling about it. They met a year ago while she was doing a promo for the company she works for and he was playing in one of his bands there. She was in a relationship at the time and says now that she was not happy. They spoke and felt a connection but she had a boyfriend. He had just ended a 7 year relationship a year before….the girl decided she didn’t want kids….and he does….apparently a deal breaker for him. Although they did not see each other for another year, he wrote a song about her. When they caught up again just before Easter, he had written two more. She’s been a vegetarian for some time….most of her boyfriends were not…..he is. She’s always said she did not want to have kids….now she does. I could go on but I guess just seeing the way they are together said it all for me. They are already talking about the future….and oh…did I mention he’s her age…well he’s 31 and she will be 30 next month….perfect.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FMTLVZwykR8/T7q4GQtlEZI/AAAAAAAAC20/p5Lx9AMwnjw/s1600-h/DSC075565.jpg"><img title="DSC07556" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07556" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-imv5nkEdHLM/T7q4GtmIH8I/AAAAAAAAC28/fgZ2RmiIO-s/DSC07556_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="249" /></a> <font size="4" face="Papyrus">My son came by in the morning and took me out to breakfast! His girlfriend Megan and her daughter Kaylin and her mom Joyce came too. Here’s a photo of my son…….</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Pob96z3TjVY/T7q4HavJcBI/AAAAAAAAC3E/hj-3BvMJL4M/s1600-h/DSC075603.jpg"><img title="DSC07560" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07560" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8cdEgkj1nO4/T7q4I2e4V1I/AAAAAAAAC3M/pzS3Hfg8TwA/DSC07560_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>and a photo of his girlfriend and her daughter….<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HHaQ_2XjvAU/T7q4JSK-RMI/AAAAAAAAC3U/6fdF6MsTQeI/s1600-h/DSC075643.jpg"><img title="DSC07564" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07564" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-I6ARr6bKZv0/T7q4J40MHGI/AAAAAAAAC3c/u_Sa_0J4cHM/DSC07564_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>.<font size="4" face="Papyrus">It was a good day. What’s been keeping me very busy is genealogy!! Oh my has that become my latest addiction! I am absolutely having fun with it though. I found out that I am related to a man by the name of Tristram Coffin. He even has a wikipedia page!! Here is it…. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tristram_Coffin_(Nantucket)" target="_blank">Tristram Coffin</a>  …How cool is that? I think he is my 7th or 8th great grandfather. My dad’s mom was a Coffin. It’s a very old English name and they go back to royalty possibly. Tristram purchased Nantucket Island along with 9 other very famous men. It’s all very cool stuff. I have also unearthed another famous relative I will tell you about next time.  I started some seeds inside and that brings me joy. They are doing well…mostly flowers and a couple of herbs….Rosemary and Italian Basil. Here are some photos…<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aGJux2HVDGA/T7q4KjhVfAI/AAAAAAAAC3k/yKtEb_1Yx2s/s1600-h/DSC07571%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC07571" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07571" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bUwPy8Djxsk/T7q4Kw-xaPI/AAAAAAAAC3s/323BXmIdwEg/DSC07571_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-06c4JHn_3n8/T7q4LoZzV3I/AAAAAAAAC30/uBOAUB0PH5o/s1600-h/DSC07569%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC07569" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07569" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UkahQf0U86s/T7q4MJiqAuI/AAAAAAAAC38/awK8QeNNSuY/DSC07569_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus"></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WkhrrU2F4FY/T7q4Mlw3dII/AAAAAAAAC4E/OTF3J_f-D7w/s1600-h/DSC07572%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC07572" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07572" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QIpqfzjHveE/T7q4NBTsBYI/AAAAAAAAC4M/qDmsJPE21mk/DSC07572_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I’ve also been doing a lot of cooking on these damp rainy days we’ve had. I made this…<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YMwfZSP3Ujo/T7q4N081zmI/AAAAAAAAC4U/SWhVpllsB1Y/s1600-h/DSC07543%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC07543" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07543" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-37Wkw8jIa9M/T7q4P4Xq6wI/AAAAAAAAC4c/yKhzuo3D_Mo/DSC07543_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>lasagna and then <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fUcawjT8RBE/T7q4RGVzZVI/AAAAAAAAC4k/_cm9taDUit4/s1600-h/DSC07548%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC07548" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07548" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-miyiisi5dD0/T7q4RsIiV2I/AAAAAAAAC4s/IsuHMicsab0/DSC07548_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>this chicken cordon bleu….here are a couple of close-ups…..<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TAM70eS9GyA/T7q4S4akHxI/AAAAAAAAC40/o0IHiL9fU3Q/s1600-h/DSC07547%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC07547" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07547" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-q9xHXVPBKB0/T7q4Ten6w1I/AAAAAAAAC48/7axG9ohxf6M/DSC07547_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q3t-_b6kJe0/T7q4UKt-oPI/AAAAAAAAC5E/Bbam0aIgP1A/s1600-h/DSC07551%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSC07551" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="DSC07551" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xYslWLcpOIw/T7q4UlEAzkI/AAAAAAAAC5M/ar1Q6vSnFKI/DSC07551_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <font size="4" face="Papyrus">Oh my goodness….look at that cheese just oozing out! I froze a lot of this (of course) and we get many meals out of it. We always have a fresh salad every day with our meals. I am also selling marbles for my friend once again on Ebay.  Here’s a link to that….<a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/mainelymarbles33/m.html?item=300711446099&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562" target="_blank">MainelyMarbles</a>   …..that’s a lot of fun too. Well…time to make some salads!! Hope you are all doing well and you have an awesome Mother’s Day too. Hey Dawn….I thought you were going to start blogging??? I know….I know….I should talk!! I’ll be baaaaaacccckkkkkk……..<img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rNQb0kzff2c/T7q4Uw-XFuI/AAAAAAAAC5U/emmg12eFVWY/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-87090846657865586622012-04-20T10:26:00.001-04:002012-04-20T10:26:05.507-04:00Moving Along into Spring….<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Mj7PlBOV0E0/T5FxoyK4emI/AAAAAAAACzE/XfAa39iYjTM/s1600-h/holly..mary..natasha....julie%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="holly..mary..natasha....julie" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="holly..mary..natasha....julie" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9yCI_p03w58/T5FxpgzkB3I/AAAAAAAACzM/AZ5sXkTrJjo/holly..mary..natasha....julie_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="357" /></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">Here are my friends that came every week for a couple of months to our book club. This was our last night. Remember I told you I made them each their own pincushions with names embroidered on them and I would show you? Well I only got a photo of one! Yikes…that’s the story of my life lately. We had a wonderful meal first. I made spaghetti and meatballs and one of the girls brought salad, and another bread with herbal dipping oil, another refreshments, and another a carrot cake from Trader Joes to die for!! We all had a tiny sliver of that for sure. Here are their bags I had ready for them….<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-O5euk_oLxtM/T5FxrZX07RI/AAAAAAAACzU/L7syGcdve-Q/s1600-h/droptherockgifts1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="droptherockgifts1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="droptherockgifts1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d8XhKyldYO0/T5FxsLx7tJI/AAAAAAAACzc/dPcu6IzF4a4/droptherockgifts1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="293" /></a>I made little tags and tied them on with embroidery thread.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UrI-fiE-Y7o/T5Fxtb0FcCI/AAAAAAAACzk/GZkNWdN1KeQ/s1600-h/droptherockgifts2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="droptherockgifts2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="droptherockgifts2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TGkCJQD00tE/T5Fxt8PVryI/AAAAAAAACzs/E1EZY4Dn7DU/droptherockgifts2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="295" /></a> One of the Mary’s couldn’t make it so I snapped a photo of her pincushion before she came after it and that was the only one I got!<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wFySU-wr0gs/T5FxvJ8oRCI/AAAAAAAACz0/X53aHfwete0/s1600-h/MaryB%252527sgift2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="MaryB'sgift2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="MaryB'sgift2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nWCtx5REDko/T5Fxvo7XPsI/AAAAAAAACz8/EpxYTNlhQns/MaryB%252527sgift2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OjeAlL7m3qM/T5Fxw8um8lI/AAAAAAAAC0E/-Z6Zk8kYKGk/s1600-h/MaryB%252527s%252520gift1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="MaryB's gift1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="MaryB's gift1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HVKwPjKQd2A/T5FxxZ__NcI/AAAAAAAAC0I/4ZsMZvRTkNY/MaryB%252527s%252520gift1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-epqaGXiweYA/T5FxynhY5II/AAAAAAAAC0U/5sHoPzfwAKg/s1600-h/MaryB%252527sgift3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="MaryB'sgift3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="MaryB'sgift3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Tl7hfMxYDFo/T5FxzUO6ZqI/AAAAAAAAC0c/zy5RlzLzWno/MaryB%252527sgift3_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Here last name has the word feather in it…..that’s why the feather was stuck in there. Here favorite colors were hot pink and gold….not the greatest job but she loved it.</p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">And then…much to my surprise, my friend Natasha, on behalf of all the women, made me an awesome gift and presented it to me!! She is just starting to work with stained glass, creating some beautiful pieces already. She had asked me a while back what my favorite colors were and I told her purples and greens. So….with that in mind, she made me this….<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-r7Y4p87AzcM/T5Fx0fehO1I/AAAAAAAAC0k/ZXTZwaTANCk/s1600-h/mygift1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="mygift1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="mygift1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zvwWrjbK2Ig/T5Fx1Gn5tMI/AAAAAAAAC0s/mV8yZ48dI80/mygift1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="249" height="288" /></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9PxJ3gA2SeU/T5Fx15j4PCI/AAAAAAAAC00/lOaqlgMw5ow/s1600-h/mygift2%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="mygift2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="mygift2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0ePLewn0U-Q/T5Fx2s-YGGI/AAAAAAAAC08/xjM_jc6Xhgg/mygift2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="433" /></a>Isn’t it gorgeous??? My heart was full that day…………..</p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">It hangs in that very window behind it in the above photo and looks AWESOME!!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HQtTvwgvtjM/T5Fx3U-LqbI/AAAAAAAAC1E/HsXgIXnUxFw/s1600-h/floralDpop%25255B2%25255D.png"><img title="floralDpop" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="floralDpop" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PtSkvwH5H50/T5Fx4cca0dI/AAAAAAAAC1M/T1cyFtAQeoY/floralDpop_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="137" height="173" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V3eu-MaqCbI/T5Fx5FeUL3I/AAAAAAAAC1U/7lvDDFViJbc/s1600-h/floralEpop%25255B5%25255D.png"><img title="floralEpop" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="floralEpop" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F9AhAvjAgK4/T5Fx6D2Z9xI/AAAAAAAAC1c/sN90rKSvyec/floralEpop_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="137" height="173" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YojKsKlOzSA/T5Fx6wjUC8I/AAAAAAAAC1k/jr8b9WS81XU/s1600-h/floralBpop%25255B5%25255D.png"><img title="floralBpop" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="floralBpop" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Zoxws0Prna0/T5Fx9_nM1HI/AAAAAAAAC1s/rXiI001DYj4/floralBpop_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="137" height="173" /></a></p> <p>See you soon……<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M8l9sMmy5iI/T5Fx-TJsDnI/AAAAAAAAC10/MSRet-mhtFY/s1600-h/Img43%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img title="Img43" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Img43" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bgy5jlClVpU/T5Fx_D42egI/AAAAAAAAC18/E-sWNLBB72k/Img43_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="155" height="109" /></a></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-8896988492025120142012-04-07T11:48:00.001-04:002012-04-07T11:48:08.950-04:00Hoping For Laid Back Easter….<p><img src="http://www.richardsonfarms.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/easter-peeps.jpg" width="498" height="379" /></p> <p><font face="Tahoma">I really don’t care for peeps too much but these look delicious to me….must be the colors? All lined up nice and neat and posing for the camera!! <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_QpiARj17I0/T4BhscOO5MI/AAAAAAAACys/vRtkTMjsSvA/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /></font></p> <p><font color="#000000" face="Tahoma">I cannot get the font to work right so whatever this plain font is, will have to do. This is the first year in many, many years, that we will not have a full house for Easter, and that’s ok. We always have the entire family or we go to their place.  My son,  who moved to Portland about a year ago (for good this time!) will be here. He will be bringing his new girlfriend of almost 3 weeks, Meaghan, with him and her 8 year old daughter Kaylin….I am not sure how to spell that? She is not completely new to our family. She and Kyle grew up together. They both had crushes on each other all these years but never said anything! How cute huh?  They will be picking up my daughter Carissa and my grand dog Piper and then making the rounds. After they drop my daughter off here, Kyle and Meaghan will go to her family’s home up the road for dinner. Back here for dessert and games and fun and then off to Kyle and Carissa’s dad’s house in Yarmouth. That will be a full day for the kids. I’ll get some photos to share with you. Kyle tells me she’s beautiful. I haven’t seen her in years but I am sure she is. It’s a good feeling knowing your kids are happy. On the other hand, my daughter just broke up with her boyfriend Seth.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Microsoft PhagsPa"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RFeQnlDQYW8/T4BhtXz8o7I/AAAAAAAACy0/SfKB7Ow1f6o/s1600-h/photo%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="photo" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QjPXdPEcjPc/T4Bht3qplNI/AAAAAAAACy8/dRdYENuXURY/photo_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" height="298" /></a>This is a photo of (oh NOW the font wants to work??) oh well….what I was saying was…here is a photo of Seth above left, my brother Art  in center who (lives in Nashville) and my daughter Carissa on the right. Kind of a cool dude….got the dreads and the Bob Marley thing going on but I knew he wasn’t for her. So….we’ll see what happens next. Honestly I hope she meets her life partner soon! She never reads this so don’t worry! What do you do with all those old photos of the boyfriends?? You all have a wonderful Easter and I will see you back here after the holiday. God bless……</font></p> <p><img src="http://festivals.iloveindia.com/easter/gifs/easter-ornaments.jpg" width="348" height="398" /></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-46784454812845813522012-04-03T12:27:00.001-04:002012-04-03T12:27:41.515-04:00Back to Normal….Whatever that is?<p><font color="#000000" size="4" face="Tahoma">Well….since I last wrote, winter is back. We got snow and then it melted and more snow and more of the same. There were a couple days of warmer weather but it didn’t last. Back to “normal” for this time of year the news says. Frankly, for a little while I was enjoying being back to “normal” because it is what felt right to me. Now…I’ve had enough of NORMAL and am ready for that warm weather. A bit schizophrenic of me….I know. That’s what happens to some of us New Englanders when things are not “normal”….whatever the heck that is?</font> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Fm0e2pCGgbY/T3sk3279NhI/AAAAAAAACxk/rNo3PmvUiJg/s1600-h/Easter1%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Easter1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Easter1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zVKMKug47ME/T3sk4jsa_CI/AAAAAAAACxs/tWl_XX7Ge-o/Easter1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="308" /></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">I am heading into a very busy couple of weeks. April 4th is my husbands 51st birthday….yes….I married a younger man…doesn’t everyone? I am 57. Sometimes I am 7 years older and sometimes 6 years older….I prefer 6!! My sister in law Maryellen’s birthday is April 6th. Easter is on the 8th. My mother in law Alice turns 80 on the 9th. My cousin Margaret, whom we just lost recently, would have been 82 or 83 on the 11th. We are having a memorial for her on that very day (her birthday) at the Sacred Heart Catholic church in my home town. That was the church I attended, my entire young adult life. I loved that beautiful stone church.</font></p> <p><img src="http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/2007/media/yarmouth_sacred_heart_1.jpg" width="450" height="300" />Those wonderful red doors were always so inviting. The doors were never locked. As a teenager I would go in there and pray….all alone. Today, I think they lock the doors.</p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">And after the 11th, we have a bit of a break. Then we have April vacation to look forward to. I have been making regular sized pincushions for my group of ladies that come to my house on Thursdays. I asked each of them what their favorite colors were and used that as a guide. I’ve finished 4 and am working on #5. Each one has their name embroidered on it. I had two Mary’s….a Julie…a Holly and a Natasha to embroider. Of course the Natasha was the hardest, being the longest name! They are kind of cute if I must say so myself. Not perfect by any means but cute.<img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZZYNJfg6Wf4/T3sk4wDudkI/AAAAAAAACx0/ImXZ69EsuGs/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> I will take some pictures when the 5th one is done and share with you. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and I will try to get back with photos of Easter and everything else soon…..<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4KBWCAWcgE4/T3sk5_kLZjI/AAAAAAAACx8/zpFc9i_-apo/s1600-h/easter3%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="easter3" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="easter3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K1OxaRakJBE/T3sk6u-0MWI/AAAAAAAACyE/sB5nw2u6rLs/easter3_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="366" /></a></font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yq4--kPfalM/T3sk79tAEkI/AAAAAAAACyM/nkqDSrFe0HE/s1600-h/easter4%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="easter4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="easter4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YBIX9wXi-BU/T3sk8ndLZPI/AAAAAAAACyU/Ld8-dHCYWFw/easter4_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="336" /></a></p> <p>See you soon……<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aWgBegDPEVc/T3sk96XCf9I/AAAAAAAACyc/bZzahg_qLeQ/s1600-h/mona72%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img title="mona72" style="display: inline" alt="mona72" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2eNpVRdae4s/T3sk-QaEAfI/AAAAAAAACyk/RkbnmVJOjhw/mona72_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="120" height="120" /></a></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-71881348232840299422012-03-24T12:50:00.001-04:002012-03-24T12:50:21.405-04:00Summer….then Spring….then Summer…<p><img src="http://www.robinrobinsonmaine.com/Nature/BUTTERFLIES/MG5551A/1029422732_FNyRx-L-1.jpg" width="486" height="600" /></p> <blockquote> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">Our weather has been very strange once again. We had temps that were so hot you would think it was the middle of August!! Everyone was in shorts and tank tops and on motorcycles and bikes for a couple of days….then reality hit….summer was gone and spring was back…thank God!!! I hate the hot heat of summer weather and especially cannot handle going from winter right into that. Spring gives us a chance to get used to the warmer weather gradually….ahhhhhhh that’s the calmer, gentler way to do it…but that’s just me!! I am a fall girl but for you summer people, I am sure you are loving it!!</font></p> </blockquote> <p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dqNiHoOnfiNsXeAUbfK_hOuROsu9zRhTfyC_PkW0R_CzuPMeKxe0jwes9907DvtmyqK-A4i3CRfxqBSjUUnflLLZNRlTrrhsthMP0kHH8rkdCu-imqbzF_NdrTNR8e_um-2oDTYY4sq-/s1600/Spring+in+Maine4.jpg" width="532" height="488" /></p> <blockquote> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">I’ve been staying quite busy, other than a brief stint with an abdominal virus that visited itself upon me for a week. A nasty little devil that really wanted to move in but I sent it packing….and I think it just may have taken half of my intestines with it! ~..~</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">I am still practicing embroidery stitches and have mastered a couple more. My latest venture though is doing genealogy. I am searching for my great great grandfather, who would be my dad’s great grandfather he never met. I don’t know his name yet, but I have someone else helping me in my search. Meanwhile, I have the task of taking all of our family photos and scanning them into the computer. When I get ready to make booklets with the family history in it,  I will need copies of those photos. It’s a daunting task but I have to do it. One of my favorite photos I have of my dad is one from a WW2.  He was stationed in Italy during the war and he was also a musician as many of you know. He played his guitar in a little USO band and this was a shot taken from then…</font></p> </blockquote> <p>      <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2YqOyWpRB8c/T237NNN4bII/AAAAAAAACwk/5eSovvlbBIk/s1600-h/PapaWWII%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="PapaWWII" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PapaWWII" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-V_OVALe7i3o/T237N6M5V1I/AAAAAAAACws/s6Jf5XBSq7o/PapaWWII_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="441" /></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">Everyone says my brothers son, my nephew Adam, looks a lot like him. Adam has in his possession, that very guitar and still plays it. It’s a 1937 Epiphone. He also has my dad’s candy apple red Les Paul Electric guitar from the sixties. Here’s a photo of him with another electric guitar……</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-utushGbSzqQ/T237PZYavHI/AAAAAAAACw0/jn6hs9jv0Xo/s1600-h/Adam%25255B2%25255D.png"><img title="Adam" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Adam" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8MhEgJV6qM4/T237Q2fTJeI/AAAAAAAACw8/XPpVCjqfDQY/Adam_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="394" height="334" /></a></p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">Soon I am hoping to create a flower garden in my yard. I used to have lots of raised beds full of beautiful perennials, annuals, and herbs. I got rid of them for some reason years ago and focused on my big vegetable garden. This year I hope to do a smaller vegetable and add a flower and herb garden. Here’s a cute one I found on the web!….<img src="http://yardelvesblog.com/yardelvesblog/image.axd?picture=2010%2F6%2Fraised+flower+beds.jpg" width="462" height="468" />What a nice idea that is not the norm!… Just recently, I had to have an x-ray taken on my lower back. The results were severe degenerative changes, multi-level, in my L3, L4, and L5 section of my Lumbar. Also one area of my Sacral….S1.  I am positive my neck is involved but I have not had the x-ray yet. What does this mean? Here is what I found out…..  <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arthritis/AN00124" target="_blank">Degenerative Changes</a>   So….I am going to get worse with this. If the pain increases,  I can eventually have some disc fusion. We’ll see how it goes. I was having chronic pain, but now have it a bit more under control. I take Tylenol a few times a day. The 500 mg ones…a couple at a time.  At the same time, I was diagnosed with a very strange thing…..I had a small bump growing on the side of my right thumb. I just happened to be at the doctor for my back. He looked at it and said “Oh…you have Tophi.” “What-E??….I said.” It is actually a form of Gout and they call it Thumb Gout!! What the? Here’s a little blip I found on the net about it….<a href="http://www.ehow.com/info_8292567_tophi-deposits.html" target="_blank">Thumb Gout</a>  ……….. As my mother used to say….Jesus, Mary and Joseph….what next!!?? The bump is about half the size of a dime right now. I pray it doesn’t get any bigger. My hand does swell and get kind of numb at night….but so far I have no pain in the thumb….just numbness when I press on the bump. Gout is a buildup of uric acid in your blood. Uric acid is caused from certain types of food. Of course it would never be caused by lettuce or celery!!….it is caused by shellfish, and ice cream, and pork and beef and all things good that you love to eat!! But a particular link I found really scared me……<a href="http://gouteducation.org/patient/living-with-gout/heart-disease/" target="_blank">Gout</a> especially since I have heart disease. I must show this to my doctor. It’s time to watch what I eat and get some weight off and get healthier. Warm weather is here and I guess I should start to walk some. </font></p> <p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZT5iEXUf6SYVcOqx-06NxYmWy2kYgVSXycR_aqCyMumDDmInVd985oHsNglOO7OOsg2CG5JmfMD-xp98gDCCIb4CB2gqS8kq7Nsg-TQxozv5NXNg57qKMWGOLoRmE2gxWmsp-rqwpQ/s400/women_walking_away.bmp" width="400" height="305" /></p> <p><font size="4" face="Tahoma">And maybe I will find some friends to walk with me? We’ll see…….Here’s hoping I can get off my duff and actually do it!! Hope you all are well and are gently flowing into our new season with a new enthusiasm for life!! I’ll be back soon and hopefully off to visit you all and see what you’re up to!??</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mjVQKEVTn0g/T237RW72zMI/AAAAAAAACxE/BIQ0jtIgQf0/s1600-h/eyes1-2%25255B4%25255D.gif"><img title="eyes1-2" style="display: inline" alt="eyes1-2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o1wx4aSNrTM/T237RjPK-6I/AAAAAAAACxM/dCXgMn2e3pQ/eyes1-2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="387" height="73" /></a></p> <p>                    <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Jt7fTp7Tjb8/T237SR8wqLI/AAAAAAAACxU/lioK9dpbcEk/s1600-h/debby04%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img title="debby04" style="display: inline" alt="debby04" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CihbeFyd2jI/T237TN2MiCI/AAAAAAAACxc/a8ZWt0mUxSQ/debby04_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="220" height="178" /></a></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-13130934009568356572012-02-28T16:31:00.001-05:002012-02-28T16:31:37.795-05:00Not A Finisher…..<p><img alt="Goldwork & Silk Embroidered Tudor-Style Rose" src="http://www.needlenthread.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/goldwork-silk-rose-33.jpg" /></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I have discovered recently, that I am not much of a finisher.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">What I mean by that is, I have so many projects I have started and I</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">don’t seem to finish them! I start something, I seem to be going along</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">pretty well, and then it bores me and I begin another project. My</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">newest endeavor is teaching myself to embroider. I must say that</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I have done some embroidering in the past without any real</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">knowledge of what I was trying to accomplish. I also have</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">some minimal knowledge, that I vaguely remember, from</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">my childhood. My mothers sister Olive taught me how to cross stitch.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Aunt Olive was so patient, kind and loving.  </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I can still smell her perfume and see her crooked arthritic fingers.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">That didn’t stop her one bit. When looking back</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">on it now, I can actually put a name to quite a few of the stitches</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I was creating with her guidance.   So…just recently,</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I decided to get serious about embroidery….well for as long as I can</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">stand it<img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0PXwLbjjDkM/T01HZL1hXRI/AAAAAAAACs0/mAjSzrxANoU/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" />….I plan to walk right through that boredom </font></strong><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">…well at least until spring! <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kOwYM77MMFg/T01HZc2DGhI/AAAAAAAACs8/nprHK0Oefps/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800" /> </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Studying the videos at <a href="http://www.needlenthread.com/videos" target="_blank">Needle N Thread</a> has helped immensely. I also write</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">the directions out. I practice on a vintage white damask cloth napkin. It has stains and</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">a couple of holes in it. The first 2 stitches I taught myself were the stem stitch</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">and the French Knot. This is the result on the napkin………</font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ApALAriqKlU/T01HaSVt2hI/AAAAAAAACtE/4HprL_wgn2g/s1600-h/DSC07471%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07471" border="0" alt="DSC07471" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3YH_IL0eU40/T01Ha2p5vhI/AAAAAAAACtM/n55QH7pkmDk/DSC07471_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="295" height="247" /></a> <strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">The French knots are pretty good but I have more</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">work to do on the stem stitch! Then, I wanted to get one of my absolute </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">favorite stitches down and I think I accomplished that….the Feather stitch….</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I LOVE that stitch. Here it is…<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cxho7tBkRiI/T01Hb6AtyBI/AAAAAAAACtU/I_sXugX-VPg/s1600-h/DSC07472%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07472" border="0" alt="DSC07472" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--ow_mKOA_B8/T01HcXTZUqI/AAAAAAAACtc/VXkm4jz2PS0/DSC07472_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> and again…<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GTcpM4JLrrc/T01Hdg3GpXI/AAAAAAAACtk/GbhR4GOTBbs/s1600-h/DSC07473%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07473" border="0" alt="DSC07473" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f15VhLMCZkQ/T01Hd7wG5aI/AAAAAAAACts/fpQSrJKb7SQ/DSC07473_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Once more, it is not perfect, but I can do the stitch without looking at the directions and </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">that was my goal. I started working on another stem stitch from one of the videos. It mentioned</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">working in a small rectangle. Once done, I was left with a not very good stem stitch in a </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">small rectangle!! So I decided to try another stem stitch and some French knots and </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">stenciling! This is what I did…..<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8qR4--b18qg/T01HeycxmSI/AAAAAAAACt0/MhVEXyjdGio/s1600-h/DSC07474%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07474" border="0" alt="DSC07474" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MdPoweE9y7M/T01HfTsoyjI/AAAAAAAACt8/60hkryhNfjQ/DSC07474_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> I can’t recall what my husband said it looked like</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">but he definitely saw my name and 2012 which was a big bonus because none of it was done that well.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Of course my motives in doing all this have to do with the bottle cap pincushions I am working on.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Like the embroidery, most I have made are practice pieces. I am getting a little bit better each</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">time I make them….here are some I’ve made that are rough….<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8W0cfB7tkoY/T01HgnTiJyI/AAAAAAAACuE/BVZnCckswnQ/s1600-h/DSC07470%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07470" border="0" alt="DSC07470" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gKTnmVRTBSw/T01Hg6Nxc8I/AAAAAAAACuM/q83Bm_8vaIc/DSC07470_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="227" /></a> The two</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">to the left and right of the Singer cover are not finished. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BszO0f2t2cs/T01HiJ8mMAI/AAAAAAAACuU/fM7IqfH9cf0/s1600-h/DSC07475%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07475" border="0" alt="DSC07475" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z3qg7VQW5XE/T01Hif8l97I/AAAAAAAACuc/7gWFMrxJAwk/DSC07475_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> It’s one thing to </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">put a French Knot on a flat cloth and a totally different thing to put one on a pincushion. It just does</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">not look the same because of the way you have to do it.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Wr8yHAt2AMw/T01HjW90XrI/AAAAAAAACuk/kAjouz49T4A/s1600-h/DSC07477%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07477" border="0" alt="DSC07477" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZAgDJV9qrCo/T01Hj9FV7UI/AAAAAAAACus/tPAV3L3SOWM/DSC07477_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mfY-jRY-A8s/T01Hk31CkfI/AAAAAAAACu0/dX20PWT3Bx8/s1600-h/DSC07479%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07479" border="0" alt="DSC07479" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DAapJRNfQcY/T01HlWwQhmI/AAAAAAAACu8/Z_TnOmGSgSc/DSC07479_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2gjCvnyu06U/T01Hn8s7eeI/AAAAAAAACvE/xm3OrR7gkYw/s1600-h/DSC07480%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07480" border="0" alt="DSC07480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKeXZMu6H7_DpjpvRGMa4cx7Ae06zmLyqThSmgy5yp-tN-W2RM0LkSlCz0fWhyphenhyphenVyIR4_XvPwClO034lo0XiyFYCEYZSfXOu1Bz9OB32iWlFrazy1HL-1b2XfGyrEW8rd3FxO2hNokvkce/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>   <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bivdm38Zwnw/T01HpOYlvEI/AAAAAAAACvU/WcqsA9782-0/s1600-h/DSC07482%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07482" border="0" alt="DSC07482" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-y4hMRoXatS4/T01Hpq2FN9I/AAAAAAAACvc/hOta6WJnNdc/DSC07482_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0k1TvBg_jrw/T01HqRmXqwI/AAAAAAAACvk/fneKYndzxNw/s1600-h/DSC07484%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07484" border="0" alt="DSC07484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jozd6tP7SLU/T01Hq_DV_DI/AAAAAAAACvs/ScrVNL0A84E/DSC07484_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-79Qfj5k26MU/T01HrzXmv5I/AAAAAAAACv0/tXrFjVEJy1s/s1600-h/DSC07486%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07486" border="0" alt="DSC07486" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rk7Gs0J8n9Y/T01HsGi5rXI/AAAAAAAACv8/vIeqZOLllKs/DSC07486_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2peNPTgEnqU/T01HtBAut3I/AAAAAAAACwE/nhgbqgvizGQ/s1600-h/DSC07488%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07488" border="0" alt="DSC07488" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JVhZFSKZJr4/T01HtiFqSZI/AAAAAAAACwM/U2iPMByGUeI/DSC07488_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <font size="5" face="Papyrus">I have a long ways to go and as long as I strive to be a finisher and not a</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">procrastinator,  I may just improve on my stitches. They may not be as messy and crooked as these are</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">in the future!! Oh well…I am having fun trying. Oh I got a nice card from Dawn from <a href="http://candgdesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">C and G Design</a> the</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">other day. She is doing so much better!! When I first starting blogging, she was one of the regulars</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I would go to and we ended up meeting. She’s a great girl who has been through some tough times and</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">is now turning the corner….thank God! I am hoping she comes back to blogging soon. And her mom</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Jean comments from time to time on my blog. We met last year and she is awesome too!!  Well….any tips </font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus"> would be much appreciated….thanks!  I’ll be back soon…..when I am done</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">with my <strong><font color="#9b00d3">Practice….Practice….Practicing!! Ha ha<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-57ED5OImkoA/T01Ht4cbctI/AAAAAAAACwU/YLhyBLEXEuk/s1600-h/Img43%25255B4%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Img43" border="0" alt="Img43" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xRqcG3ISfuU/T01HuDKuHXI/AAAAAAAACwc/8OMLrn43-Yk/Img43_thumb%25255B2%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="226" height="170" /></a></font></strong></font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-81438350778214049652012-02-20T10:07:00.001-05:002012-02-20T10:07:05.378-05:00THE DIY TWINS<p><font color="#000000" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong>Have any of you seen the DIY girls? I don’t know much about them</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">but what I can tell you is they are very clever when it comes to sewing.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I am always looking for pincushions that might inspire me. Of course </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">that does not mean I will be able to make them! I like looking at them</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">for some reason. Call me obsessive….I guess I probably am when it </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">comes to looking at Etsy stores and Googling pincushions. They are</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">just so darned cute. Another place I search and seek is a place </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">called <a href="http://pinterest.com/all/?category=diy_crafts" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> . I am sure you all know about that. What an addiction</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">that can become! Here is the latest pincushion I would love to try</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">that the DIY twins do a tutorial of……………………………………………………</font></strong></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:97d895f1-c3b7-4858-8b58-2627e6ea61c9" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="889759f0-caac-4ba5-a2f1-633cc4ffbb26" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V9qmKE9wN4&feature=player_embedded" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M9B-LGTt8u8/T0JhlaxINbI/AAAAAAAACsc/w3JZCc62B5E/video7707e9b1df1a%25255B47%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('889759f0-caac-4ba5-a2f1-633cc4ffbb26'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/-V9qmKE9wN4?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/-V9qmKE9wN4?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"448\" height=\"252\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p><font color="#000000" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong>Yesterday Bobbie and I went to Portland to see my daughter Carissa’s</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">new apartment down on the waterfront. While waiting outside for us</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">to arrive, she accidentally locked herself out! The beauty of that is</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">that she lives with two other room mates and they both work at the </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">same place as she does….a five minute drive from her home in the </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">wonderful Old Port section of Portland. We took her down to get a</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">set of keys from one of them! Whew! I forgot my camera but next time</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">I will bring it and show you pictures. What a cute place. I felt like I </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">had stepped back into the 70’s. She collects old albums….well….they </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">are not called albums anymore….they are “vinyl” now. What’s up with that?</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Anyway….I will be on the lookout at yard sales now for them for her.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">What’s old is new again. There were albums like <img alt="Great Vinyl on http://www.vinylrecords.ch this is album cover photo of TAJ MAHAL - The Real Thing 2LP Gatefold" src="http://www.vinylrecords.ch/T/TA/Taj_Mahal/real/taj-mahal-real-thing-280.jpg" width="280" height="221" /></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Taj Mahal……and my husband sat on a blanket on a chair with the head of </font></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><img src="http://iconicphotos.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/eiultidnt2z3iel2.jpg?w=700" width="330" height="400" /> <strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">on it. There were quite a few guitars, drums, tambourines,</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">and a music stand with some old Bob Dylan sheet music on it. <img src="http://www.oomska.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Bob-Dylan_l.jpg" width="300" height="400" /></font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">To say that my daughter is a bit of a hippie like her mother was is an understatement. And </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">of all of the characters and chotskies  (from my past and hers) on the furniture, the walls, the refrigerator and the</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">music stands, the one things that drew my attention the most was an antique Hoosier cabinet. </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">I used to have one years ago and sold it for little or nothing at a yard sale. Here’s a photo of</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">a nice one….<img src="http://galenf.com/aug08/acres30.jpg" width="480" height="640" /> They are nice pieces. Apparently her room mate’s</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">mother lent it to them to use….neat. Well…we brought her out here for the afternoon/evening</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">with my grand dog Piper! I made little haddock casseroles and cheesy penne Rigato.  She and I </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">played  a game called Scattergories and had a lot of fun!! It was a good day. Any cute pincushions</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">you see with patterns, send them my way via a link would you? Hope you are all well…..see you</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">soon…………..<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nIf5d4TPD4w/T0JhlslN__I/AAAAAAAACsg/0mrN5c9DMqE/s1600-h/CatSleeping%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="display: inline" title="CatSleeping" alt="CatSleeping" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-t0fklGbJTYU/T0Jhl9BGoDI/AAAAAAAACss/GV0lgJnlg5M/CatSleeping_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="180" height="120" /></a>  </font></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><font size="5" face="Papyrus"> </font></strong></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-3623675140701633892012-02-16T13:37:00.001-05:002012-02-16T13:37:46.689-05:00THE SMELL OF SPRING….<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJG775TrgTYRBI2nlwAB0kf8FoIWb9r2ExjxNI0SaDMQZdvFsc0dtMH-hrgTnXTLopn4sifLu_vP4vGtM8O6kz4NpcfTrDr6MZXZ5feMuN15wKza319bAiYsZYUmKiyVQalc09_P9VBTHd/s1600-h/DSC07463%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07463" border="0" alt="DSC07463" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7tx6w9kvbYw/Tz1MyQJEfRI/AAAAAAAACq0/Ck1S6uSLeA8/DSC07463_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="359" height="288" /></a></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong>These gorgeous flowers my husband gave me for Valentines Day have me thinking</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">of Spring every day!! <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aPAUEjBC08g/Tz1Mz7EWkiI/AAAAAAAACq8/2-BAIhOyhyU/s1600-h/DSC07464%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07464" border="0" alt="DSC07464" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ffVbNgknPjY/Tz1M0QTvH-I/AAAAAAAACrE/1KlgWq_pq9M/DSC07464_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="330" height="285" /></a>And he made sure he got two of my</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">favorite colors….purple and pink. How about that Pink & White Hydrangea?? Isn’t it a </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">beauty? <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iedegiTZN2M/Tz1M12hPzNI/AAAAAAAACrM/g5AtOzgrpWQ/s1600-h/DSC07465%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07465" border="0" alt="DSC07465" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--0cy0CRBUug/Tz1M2ZFBWHI/AAAAAAAACrU/miabmavofJM/DSC07465_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="248" /></a>They smell awesome!! Now I am ferociously visiting </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">websites and looking at flowers I want to grow this summer! <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PxplqdbWqXo/Tz1M5OyasrI/AAAAAAAACrc/faQP1r95GTc/s1600-h/DSC07467%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07467" border="0" alt="DSC07467" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sVG1avHSCZg/Tz1M5pzGCuI/AAAAAAAACrk/AtVjGLDFGww/DSC07467_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="269" /></a> The </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">deep pink in the center next to the soft pink of the carnations draws me in…….Oh and by the</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">way….there were so many flowers crowded together (maybe because of the size of the Hydrangea),</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">that I was able to make two bouquets!! And that was my largest vase too! Here is the second </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">vase with flowers that were also in the bouquet…..<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--i-P5K2NMbg/Tz1M61kE10I/AAAAAAAACrs/mdmZ-RCjMxg/s1600-h/DSC07468%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07468" border="0" alt="DSC07468" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QMreExfFDHg/Tz1M7cR647I/AAAAAAAACr0/t0Iaz-1NT_E/DSC07468_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="259" /></a></font></strong>  <strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">There are my</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">colors! <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XAerkpk8DrY/Tz1M8ckdcHI/AAAAAAAACr8/TtjSpM1PruI/s1600-h/DSC07469%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07469" border="0" alt="DSC07469" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-36P86IIRVHk/Tz1M9HzCgnI/AAAAAAAACsE/hhp9HELCG4M/DSC07469_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="380" height="299" /></a> Can anyone tell me what these tall purple flowers are? Is</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">it stock? And what about the pink ones above? I also cannot find the lavender one in the third photo</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">down? So….I am enjoying Spring right here in my house ya’ll……..ain’t that grand!! Ha ha ……….</font></strong></p> <p>                                                                                                                                                                             <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKGTRVpGTzHYsLuM4qnS0FLWjC3NgNLb0ve6b-unbv3_mmTAFVikI5uBICGClWaauuC6tVLWn3jY6wgHh6PmE23fzDGdtmvXfW1tzuDkezED6saQPdPWM-sLxn0ie5HLjag6kz7bX12QR/s1600-h/020%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="display: inline" title="020" alt="020" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b2C-xdyn7G4/Tz1M-cZfmdI/AAAAAAAACsU/44Rvl5Zh_yU/020_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="185" height="240" /></a></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-70462084164122451222012-02-14T11:33:00.001-05:002012-02-14T11:33:18.029-05:00VALENTINE LOVE<p><img src="http://dressedtoat.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/saint_valentines_day.jpg" width="640" height="480" /></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">The longer I am with my wonderful husband  (23 years now) the more I love him. I truly don’t know </font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">what life would be like without him now. We enjoy each others company still…we work together…</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">we have tv shows that we both love to watch and look forward to and we both respect each other.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">Growing older with someone is not always easy. I think a sense of humor helps. He makes me</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">laugh and for that I am very grateful. He’s got my back and that is so important to me. We are </font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">more than husband and wife…we are friends too. I hope you all have someone that loves you</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">and supports you in every way. This is dedicated to my guy……And since Love Is The Essence</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">Of God……him too….without him…we would not be together. Here’s my handsome guy…..</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XRlgEugS0Uc/TzqMxBkcS6I/AAAAAAAACqc/9DrZ1I__5j0/s1600-h/handsome%252520bob%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="handsome bob" border="0" alt="handsome bob" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A1vYIDNtdaE/TzqMxrolYNI/AAAAAAAACqk/3BJkrvaWGnA/handsome%252520bob_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus"> Happy Valentines Honey…….And to all of you!!<img src="http://cdn.babble.com/famecrawler/files/2011/02/couple-valentines-day11.jpg" width="372" height="380" /></font></p> <p> </p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus"> </font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-75607963534092196472012-02-10T13:05:00.001-05:002012-02-10T13:05:08.890-05:002012… The Winter That Wasn’t<p><img src="http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/148/8/f/Winter_blues_by_Liuanta.jpg" width="554" height="554" /></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong></strong></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong></strong></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong></strong></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong></strong></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong>So far, this winter has been pretty mild with no storms to speak of</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">on the horizon. Kind of a false start winter. We got a little bit of </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">snow and then it stopped coming. Warm days and cool nights have</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">definitely helped us all out with the fuel bills for sure. I do wonder</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">if the future for Maine winters in my area are changing and will</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">look more like a winter/spring mix? Maybe we should start calling</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">winter Sprinter? Something is definitely going on here. I overheard </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">someone at the grocery store talking about it the other day. He </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">said the lake near his home, has turned to ice in the winter for as </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">long as he could remember (and he was old). This year it had not.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">That seemed very odd to him. In the little town I live in, there is </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">an annual fishing derby on our lake. It had to be cancelled for the</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">first time and rescheduled because the ice was not safe or frozen </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">deep enough.<img src="http://www.waterboro-me.net/photos/icederby2010/icederby2010_12sm.jpg" width="512" height="288" /> Do</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">any of you notice changes in your winter? Just wondering……</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">I have been getting through the days by crafting. I am making</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">bottlecap pincushions once again. Here’s a picture I got from</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Papyrus">the internet of some pretty ones………………………………………………….</font></strong></p> <p><img alt="These cute cushions are as decorative as they are practical." src="http://www.craftstylish.com/assets/uploads/2008/04/034002042-01_lg.jpg" />    <font color="#000000" size="5" face="Papyrus">They are a lot of fun to </font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">make.   I will share some photos when I am done. Every Thursday</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">evening I have had a bunch of girlfriends come by and we read and</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">just hang out and talk. It has been such a blessing. Some days</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">when I think I am just going crazy from “stuff” happening in my life,</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">they seem to bring me back to where I need to be. There have been</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">some real tough  (emotional) times since Christmas,  but God is seeing us </font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">through, no matter what the problem may be. I was told recently</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">that I need to set boundaries around myself. Do any of you do that?</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Do you have boundaries? I don’t think I ever have had them in my</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">life. Here’s what wikipedia says about them…<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_boundaries" target="_blank">BOUNDARIES</a></font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">It definitely makes sense and it’s about time I set some I guess. I </font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">am looking for a good slow cook pork dish. Got any ideas? Hope </font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">you are all well and getting through the winter or in some cases</font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus">Sprinter!…..without the blues…….<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ImqdLobT-AI/TzVcUAZhjDI/AAAAAAAACqM/5wmMsWrinHs/s1600-h/heathercatface1%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="heathercatface1" border="0" alt="heathercatface1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rrWe1LYB6Ek/TzVcVKpyFCI/AAAAAAAACqU/S7BxrLNz2L0/heathercatface1_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="103" height="87" /></a></font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus"></font></p> <p><font size="5" face="Papyrus"> </font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-86707415841017893332012-01-29T12:12:00.001-05:002012-01-29T12:13:43.444-05:00Food….Snow…Favorites…<blockquote> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus"><strong>We finally got a little more snow. It is really starting to look like winter. Most Mainers get a little bit worried</strong></font></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">if we don’t get snow. There are all sorts of superstitions about what will happen. Some are probably true</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">and I know that many are just old wives tales. You’ll always hear folks talking about it though. Here is a photo</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">after the plow guy left…..<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/---m9BoYeYMY/TyV9xVcefpI/AAAAAAAACnE/b2klPNzUPJ8/s1600-h/DSC07432%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07432" border="0" alt="DSC07432" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FW26FFW2SXg/TyV9x8nAQGI/AAAAAAAACnM/6QYQHeHpvAc/DSC07432_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> It was such a stormy day, I decided to make a big pan of stuffed</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">shells. I usually do cheese stuffed but really wanted the meat ones this time. They came out fantastic!! I had</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">a  homemade  meat sauce that I had previously frozen that the shells sat on and also had a sprinkling on top. </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">Here’s a photo of them right out of the oven……..<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MbPHHUnSXlk/TyV90OBfNnI/AAAAAAAACnU/liYhOufwOls/s1600-h/DSC07431%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07431" border="0" alt="DSC07431" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i2EJp6XA3FE/TyV90qUyIvI/AAAAAAAACnc/WzOUVk1txHA/DSC07431_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  Don’t they look yummy! Oh you bet they </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">were! My husband and I were in Jumbo Shell heaven for a couple of days! Most of you know I have a craft room</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">in the upstairs of my home that used to be one of my kids bedrooms. Recently, our friends Mary and Heath gave us</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">a twin bed. I have not had a bed in there for years. When my son stayed the night he slept on an inflatable mattress</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">that we had. So…I now have a bed up there and I love it. I went up and took some photos to show you. The bed</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">is just a plain stained wooden framed twin that I plan on painting at some point….<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1qvvgmNRLZw/TyV91F8U6LI/AAAAAAAACnk/939SJ8I4P9Q/s1600-h/DSC07440%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07440" border="0" alt="DSC07440" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LQTySZQi0ig/TyV91dKfdlI/AAAAAAAACns/M_LOKntRlZU/DSC07440_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>See that heart shaped </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">pillow on the bed?….My friend Susan made that for me. It is hand quilted and hand dyed. The “night stand” is a metal</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">filing cabinet with vintage table cloths on it. The wicker lamp was given to me by my mother in law Alice…….</font></strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1EeV1vTntPQ/TyV92EF9XyI/AAAAAAAACn0/oqnqYO9GYtg/s1600-h/DSC07439%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07439" border="0" alt="DSC07439" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mz4q9rAjRG4/TyV92Uw7kUI/AAAAAAAACn8/7D6LjWU1R9A/DSC07439_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">The chair I got at a yard sale for a couple dollars and the pillow on the chair I made myself.  I rescued this</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">wicker chair from a trip to the dump and gave it a coat of paint…..<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-omHMjS4F1SI/TyV93LIdYAI/AAAAAAAACoE/7Ga_l99-gAE/s1600-h/DSC07437%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07437" border="0" alt="DSC07437" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ncmeQVmvFNg/TyV93T0dnzI/AAAAAAAACoM/geL9hkrled8/DSC07437_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> then dressed it up with vintage cloths. It</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">still needs another coat of paint and some work but I love it.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EFI7OM7lZtk/TyV94FK-TGI/AAAAAAAACoU/I0h7F81Dkss/s1600-h/DSC07435%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07435" border="0" alt="DSC07435" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9t6NVy_qgwU/TyV94dUzwcI/AAAAAAAACoc/A5Svff-VIxs/DSC07435_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> I made this patchwork pillow I keep on it. I am</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">getting to the age where I thoroughly enjoy my “old finds” that I stuff into my little room! I love the combination of chimes and</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">my poster of Guitar chords hanging together….<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mW1ZW55--ng/TyV95LAFpHI/AAAAAAAACok/ojL6jpXutbc/s1600-h/DSC07438%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07438" border="0" alt="DSC07438" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5Lt-6G3lzB8/TyV95V4ApMI/AAAAAAAACos/ZU3FPRTAidE/DSC07438_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> Both from separate yard sales, they just seem to belong</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">together to me. Another yard sale find I adore is this vintage flower dish from Japan….<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x92HATtHlQ8/TyV96fuyU8I/AAAAAAAACo0/PrZivjDeDvE/s1600-h/DSC07444%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07444" border="0" alt="DSC07444" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TN6NksCBtQE/TyV961cMtvI/AAAAAAAACo8/HwVduMRQJaU/DSC07444_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> Of course the</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">shape grabs your attention and then the color is so vibrant!! Eye candy. <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Um5mprjGiok/TyV961If2CI/AAAAAAAACpE/CG4nSc9qb0c/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" /> I love my little room and always feel so </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">comfy cozy when I walk in and out of there. On another note….we love to watch the <a href="http://www.antiquearchaeology.com/index.html" target="_blank">American Pickers</a> on the history channel.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">They just opened a new shop in Nashville. My sister in law Amy (who lives in Nashville) sent me a little package from their </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">new store the other day…..here’s a photo of it……<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SG03p0yT5gM/TyV98reiBQI/AAAAAAAACpM/8kOwCiq2J2I/s1600-h/DSC07433%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07433" border="0" alt="DSC07433" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c8B-75ZTS9Q/TyV99KYEpiI/AAAAAAAACpU/6SIYjklZklk/DSC07433_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> it’s a bumper sticker!! I have already put it on my car.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">Their other store is called <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DZBnnGctCoo/TyV9-E3BmvI/AAAAAAAACpc/iKKdYf6uVJg/s1600-h/DSC07434%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07434" border="0" alt="DSC07434" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RHXJ6HwbAlY/TyV9-QYTRuI/AAAAAAAACpk/vTYdKOIL2Oo/DSC07434_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> and it is in Iowa. Well…..I guess it is time to get some work done….I am getting</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">ready to take some photos of Old Marbles to put on Ebay for a friend. It’s a sunny day here on the plains….bright and beautiful.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus"> I hope you are all doing well and staying creative during this long winter (for us northerners that is) but I don’t doubt that a</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">bit…..you are ALL extremely creative in so many ways!! Before I leave, I wanted to say that I found a recipe on</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus"> <a href="http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lick The Bowl Good</a> blog that is out of this world good! I had a bin full of apples that I needed to use up, so  I made her</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">Fresh Apple cake with brown sugar glaze yesterday. As a matter of fact, I made two of them! One for us, and one for my</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">mother and father in law….plus two apple crumb pies! I had a lot of apples! Here is a link to her recipe for that wonderful</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">Apple cake to die for!!…. <a href="http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2010/09/caramelly-appley-delicious.html" target="_blank">Fresh Apple Cake With Brown Sugar Glaze</a> Try it….you’ll love it. I can’t wait to try another one of </font></strong></p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus">her recipes……<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F-lhiOVT2wg/TyV9-q_bcaI/AAAAAAAACps/aZtlih2Lmhs/s1600-h/CatSleeping%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="display: inline" title="CatSleeping" alt="CatSleeping" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MkGdF3yb6zY/TyV9_Csp1UI/AAAAAAAACp0/i5D-1cXZCi4/CatSleeping_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="180" height="120" /></a>…… <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GimDFrp6qy0/TyV9_Sq7F3I/AAAAAAAACp4/V_jjHC-D5Ms/s1600-h/debbie2%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="debbie2" border="0" alt="debbie2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gSBH5Q8MNaI/TyV9_qOuTnI/AAAAAAAACqE/3DY-FRpKLJs/debbie2_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="103" height="30" /></a> </font></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Papyrus"> </font></strong></p></blockquote> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-46490158560578040202012-01-14T11:01:00.001-05:002012-01-14T11:01:25.919-05:00Lazy Blogger Redo…..<p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I have been a terribly lazy blogger lately and I am also having problems with my blog.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">There was a photo bucket icon that would just NOT go away. I don’t even know where it came from?</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">My husband is working on recapturing some of my old blog design…my header…etc.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">Meanwhile I have a new temporary look (I think anyway) that’s not too bad. The other problem I have</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">with the blog is that it is repeating posts. It has to do with the layout having a double post box.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">We can’t seem to get rid of it. Any ideas regarding this would be much appreciated? Thanks.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">We survived the holidays. This year we had a lot going on and it left me emotionally drained.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">Next year will be different. 2011 was not the greatest year for me. Right after Christmas I got</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">hit with a really bad flu/cold that set me back about 5 or 6 days. I felt like I was in a fog for that</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">whole time.<img src="http://www.tdc.ca/victim2.gif" width="314" height="378" />My Kleenex box, my blanket, and my </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">cough drops were my best friends. I think I left the house just once. I  started feeling reclusive.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">It’s been a long time since I have been hit with a cold or flu…..and I had my FLU shot this year!!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I don’t want it back….that was brutal. We got some snow the other day….YAY!! I was really</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">sick of looking at the dead grass in the middle of January! Now it looks normal. We got 6 to 8 inches</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">and it is perfectly white and wonderful. ~~ I am still selling antique marbles for a friend. It’s his </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">deal but I take the photos, do the write-ups and listing and mailing. Here’s a link to the </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">Ebay auction….. <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/mainelymarbles33/m.html?item=300650116867&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562" target="_blank">MainelyMarbles</a> if you are interested.  I finished my blankets I have been</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">working on for both my adult kids before Christmas. I was furiously sewing every day, the </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">weeks before trying to get them done. I don’t have a sewing machine and I am not the </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">greatest seamstress but I get it done. Hopefully they will hold together!! Here are a few photos of </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">Kyle and Carissa and their new blankets Christmas day…………………………………………….</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f3Fp1UKrKic/TxGmtUrZ2qI/AAAAAAAACjw/NhkZa-KIeqs/s1600-h/kyle%252520carissa%252520mom1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="kyle carissa mom1" border="0" alt="kyle carissa mom1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gjTB8Q3d1zc/TxGmt4tfXDI/AAAAAAAACj4/gS06H9zaOa0/kyle%252520carissa%252520mom1_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SEh2CROoItk/TxGmvf40dDI/AAAAAAAACkA/fgUKf_VpFVI/s1600-h/kyle%252520carissa%252520mom2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="kyle carissa mom2" border="0" alt="kyle carissa mom2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ue-Z0bDkFi4/TxGmvrOwVtI/AAAAAAAACkI/S8wTbZF7Ii0/kyle%252520carissa%252520mom2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>   <  < that is the two of them opening, and that</p> <p>is my mother in law Alice in the photo in the background. I loved my new “fake tree” we got…..</p> <p>Here they are holding them up……..below……. I added their first initial to each…..</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z99LgN3u1y8/TxGmxLQL-mI/AAAAAAAACkQ/AoUsLD6EfzQ/s1600-h/kyle%252520carissa%252520blankets%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="kyle carissa blankets" border="0" alt="kyle carissa blankets" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TCxdgYPCM3w/TxGmxdSa1mI/AAAAAAAACkY/7A0RESpatBI/kyle%252520carissa%252520blankets_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> Not the best picture but you get the idea. And here they are together after…..</p> <p>The back of Carissa’s is a lavender fleece and Kyle’s is a chocolate fleece. She has a white satin binding and he has</p> <p>a black satin binding. They are not your typical blankets…. just my style lap blankets. Don’t look too close!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RQp-Up3p2G8/TxGmyc_HsPI/AAAAAAAACkg/dGoN0sI_hqo/s1600-h/kyle%252526carissa%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="kyle&carissa" border="0" alt="kyle&carissa" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pbLsdt73sgY/TxGmytFwxrI/AAAAAAAACko/LGZ81Hzemdc/kyle%252526carissa_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <font size="4" face="Papyrus"> I love Christmas but this year left me feeling kind of empty. I am in a slump I</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">guess…..time to do something about that. I have some positive things happening on the horizon in my</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">life and for that I am grateful. Sometimes things happen and you have no control over it or the people</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus"> involved in “it”.  Time to move on and give it all to God. January 3rd I lost my dear cousin to cancer.</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I plan on doing a special post just for her soon. Gosh I hope I have not depressed any of you!! Sorry!</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I have been in touch with Jean, Dawn’s mom, and Dawn has a surgery coming up soon and she also </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">broke her kneecap!! Ouchy….ouchy….ouchy OUCH!!! For God sakes….does this girl have to </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">go through anything else???? Please say a healing prayer for her ya’ll. Enuff’s enuff!!  Take care and</font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus">I will be back soon….I promise…..<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WsrDr9HSMk4/TxGm0wDsPwI/AAAAAAAACkw/KshqBHb5ITI/s1600-h/DSC07341%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC07341" border="0" alt="DSC07341" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-asqhiGCgU7E/TxGm1UiToUI/AAAAAAAACk0/X6LsAMx2njI/DSC07341_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <font size="6">      </font><font color="#000000" size="7">   ~ . . ~</font></font></p> <p><font size="6" face="Papyrus">                                                                           </font></p> <p><font size="4" face="Papyrus"> </font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-35261792466415847992011-11-10T09:35:00.001-05:002012-01-13T18:58:51.547-05:00What Wonderful Weather In Maine….<p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">We are experiencing some wonderful weather here in Maine.</font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">Most days it feels like summer with temperatures reaching the 60’s. </font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">It’s really very strange. Some mornings I need to scrape my windshield before I head out. </font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">By mid afternoon it’s hot. I take a coat with me, and then peel it off later on in the day!! </font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">One thing is for sure, we are saving on fuel and that’s a plus. </font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">It’s November 10th and my husband plans on mowing the lawn this weekend!!!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZTKolMicpm4/TrvhQttXIPI/AAAAAAAACig/L4yGcYTq2b0/s1600-h/gardener_push_mower_lg_clr%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="display: inline" title="gardener_push_mower_lg_clr" alt="gardener_push_mower_lg_clr" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bgLAdFadpJo/TrvhRHA52wI/AAAAAAAACik/Bp602HNtIyQ/gardener_push_mower_lg_clr_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="163" height="163" /></a>     <font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">I have some health issues I will hopefully be getting to the bottom of </font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">tomorrow. I have to have a sonogram. Will know more then. I can’t seem to get back here</font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">much lately but sure am going to try. My mother in law Alice and I took a wonderful trip</font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">to Harpswell, Maine to see Dawn from the blogs and finally meet her mom Jean!! We had a</font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">lot of fun! What a wonderful lady Jean is and we met her husband David too who was </font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">delightful. Jean is quite the cook. She had prepared a wonderful meal for us that was to die</font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">for. Soon, Alice and I would love to have she and Dawn up our way! Dawn looks fantastic</font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">and seems to have come out of all she went through fine. She’s a tough lady. It was great to see her.</font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">If I don’t get back here, I wanted to wish you all a <img alt="Happy Thanksgiving" src="http://www.great-maine-vacations.com/image-files/happy-thanksgiving.jpg" width="550" height="243" /> and </font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">am hoping you are all well. I think I may be back though…..at least I will give it a good try….</font></p> <p><font color="#646b86" size="5" face="Lucida Handwriting">and get over to your blogs as well……take care….<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ADItMVS9P6g/TrvhRR4TakI/AAAAAAAACio/yCc3jAZgmw8/s1600-h/debbie2%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="debbie2" border="0" alt="debbie2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NeEgC21nXCc/TrvhRhYdftI/AAAAAAAACis/B99MoF5bEJo/debbie2_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="103" height="30" /></a></font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6387004397539232614.post-69837078545560003302011-09-21T12:44:00.001-04:002011-09-21T12:44:55.229-04:00Falling In Line…..<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hqynTac4_tU/TnoUf-9RG6I/AAAAAAAACiI/rfWkGmK1zFw/s1600-h/Baby%252526%252520pumpkins%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Baby& pumpkins" border="0" alt="Baby& pumpkins" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7d8vQLoewJo/TnoUgXxHwwI/AAAAAAAACiM/MhPXh3mnWbs/Baby%252526%252520pumpkins_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="316" /></a></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma"></font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">Hello fellow bloggers! This picture is on my desktop right now. It always </font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">makes me think of fall! It was taken in 2005 in the middle of harvesting</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">my garden that year. That’s my cat Baby and she still loves to hang out</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">on top of the picnic table and run up against the pumpkins. No tomatoes</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">this year though. It was the worst year I have ever had, for </font><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">as long as I </font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">have been gardening. All that heat we had this summer and me not wanting</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">to go out in it. For some reason I can’t take the heat anymore. It makes </font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">me sick and very weak. I think it’s my heart meds but I’m not sure.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">It might help if I lost some weight too! </font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">We still miss Obie every day. That little guy brightened our day. Every time</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">we came home, without fail, he acted as if he had not seen us in a year.</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">Aren’t animals wonderful like that? Unconditional love. Someday we may</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">get another dog. Not right now. We are not ready yet. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT74nf-K8-QbELaZPEXe9wXL8pKt9KdSa7NkGX9qctcEXWJL0YGVIvR-ncAqYflPBt4x2FpemUdr9c-_kklJFAxMta0o4E2hlE6RCT6pGiGXuW1bDk5beS0VCR1PoHmtulJ5VnvVlYkNMc/s1600-h/heathercatface1%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="heathercatface1" border="0" alt="heathercatface1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pxjlUtPha0o/TnoUg0L6H5I/AAAAAAAACiU/cO_lekA_Whg/heathercatface1_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="103" height="87" /></a>We have</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">Baby to keep us company and drive us crazy with her insistent Siamese</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">crying! Oh my, she tests the waters some days! Just thought I would pop in</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">and say hello. Not long from now, I plan on coming back and blogging at least</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">once a week I hope. For now I am getting the yard ready for winter, making</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">my son Kyle a lap blanket, crocheting, still selling marbles for my friend, and </font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">just living life. I miss you all and will visit soon. Anybody know how Dawn is </font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">doing? I emailed her recently but didn’t hear back? I hope she’s well. Be back</font></p> <p><font color="#333333" size="5" face="Tahoma">real soon…..<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nOI8OOPAGjw/TnoUhJpuWaI/AAAAAAAACiY/e9M0hcEOmUw/s1600-h/debbie11%25255B2%25255D.gif"><img style="display: inline" title="debbie11" alt="debbie11" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TNCgHTpptlc/TnoUhv-lU_I/AAAAAAAACic/YRAXEJGMFeg/debbie11_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" width="146" height="178" /></a></font></p> Debbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324773183766269250noreply@blogger.com6