I is for Indulge

DON'T TELL MOM!
Saturday morning here...got up an hour late, lolly-gagged around another hour, then popped a couple of waffles in the toaster to be topped with strawberries and cream. Definitely NOT the Saturday mornings I was raised on. I've been limiting my carbohydrates during the week with no limit on weekends. Believe it or not I'm ready to go back on the plan by Sunday evening. But I love love love strawberries on waffles and pancakes.
What are you indulging in this weekend?   b

H is for Hair

   These two poodles and I were discussing how much we have in common. Can you guess? Yup, curly hair.
   Then I began humming the tune "Hair"...
Gimme head with hair, long beautiful hair, shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen waxen...
   Definitely not describing my hair.

   Oh wait! Here's a line that could fit - "I want it...curly, fuzzy, snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty..."
   Me and my hair have gotten more than our fair share of compliments - from 80 year old women!
   Everyone in my family has curly, fuzzy, snaggy, shaggy hair, both parents, five kids. And my two kids too.
   But guess what? Now that I'm almost in my golden years I fear my hair will go straight! What a curve ball that would be to throw at me.
   And while I'm telling secrets - I love that our gran-girlie's have curly hair, it is the sweetest hair ever! b

G is for Geranium

Thank you geranium for rewarding us with bloom after bloom all summer long. When all other posies are croaking from the harsh Dakota heat and wind you survive. Forget to water you and you're still blooming. Over water and you still look pretty.

   Then when all others are either pulled up or just left to wither away, we bring you in the house for the winter and forget you. Sitting out there on the drafty porch against a frosty window you patiently wait for spring when you'll be once again set outdoors to flower in the sun.
   Now tell me...what could be friendlier than a geranium?    b
  

F is for Fence

   Mr. B finished up the fence project, hooray. And four gallons later. He had estimated one would do it. So it was back to the paint store 45 miles away. Of course that involved getting my list together and some $$ later we had two projects going.


   And I'm happy to report I am back in my sewing room and working on my ultimate top secret project with lots of little projects thrown in between mainly to keep my sanity.

Old metal trash cans make good paint stands. My contribution to the project. Don't worry I didn't have to remove Oscar the Grouch, he lives in the other trash can we own. Grandma's are on top of these things you know.

Tell me? Don't you think it's lovely?  When we originally came up with the fence idea we knew we wouldn't be able to fence our entire back yard. It's a large area on a large corner lot. Eventually we came up with this...a small patio area off our back door and off the sun room. It gives us some privacy and is managable as far as plants and flowers.  I love it...b

E is for Embroidery

   E is for embroidery, embroidered pillowcases to be exact. I can show you all of these now. It's fun to finish up projects and these were a long time finishing. But worth it. I wish the fabric weight was a little heavier. Just like everything else we buy these days they have skimped on quality. How do we as consumers demand better quality items without having to pay the big bucks?

Going to be a hot one today again. Everyone get your work done early and find a cool place in front of the fan later. I'm sure we'll be in for a bumpy ride when the storms come rolling in...b

D is for Dime

My week started out pretty good this Monday morning. My paycheck showed a 10 cent raise!

10 cents in 2010 might not be a big deal but I started thinking what that same 10 cents bought me in 1963 when I was 10 years old...

It may have been a bottle of soda pop to share with my sister, make sure you wipe off the top before handing it back!

Or an Archie or Millie the Model comic book. Boy did we have a lot of comic books. I think Dad figured out that they kept us 4 kids quiet in the back seat of that old Pontiac.

Hey, 3 dimes bought a gallon of gas for that Pontiac!

 Two dimes bought a loaf of bread.

Or a dime bought two postage stamps to mail a letter to Grandma T. and Aunt Verola.

But my favorite...10 cents worth of candy corn from the bulk candy counter at Ben Franklin!

                                              I'm surprised I still have all my own teeth...b

C is for Crochet

   I picked up these pillowcases that I embroidered years ago to finally finish crocheting around the edges. Yes, it will be a few more days before my sewing room gets put back together. I originally tried to find a dusty pink to match my pink flower pedals, but I think the white looks perfect.
   C can also be for creating heirlooms. Embroidered pillowcases with a crocheted lace edging? hmm what could be romantic on your bed?
   b

B is for Bibs

   B is for bibs and bananas. I couldn't return this flannel back to the pile before cutting out a couple of bibs. I noticed the last time the gran-girlie's were here I could have used a few more bibs. Really any old excuse to make bibs will work as I enjoy making bibs out of cute flannel pieces.
   Right now Mr. B has my sewing room torn apart. We removed the carpet and for the time being the floor will be painted and left. With two cats out there the carpet just wasn't working.
   Hope you're all having a productive weekend!
b

A is for Abode

Abode Sweet Abode...

or There's no place like abode...

Come on in! No need to knock the doors open. I'll make us some ice tea. Maybe you can help me find a place on my walls for this sign I bought two years ago at an arts in the park event.

Oh, maybe A if for Art. I love arts in the park and haven't been to one yet this summer. There's still hope though - Sioux Falls on Main is coming up in September. Maybe I'll really indulge and use that massage gift certificate from the son and family after I invest in a handmade masterpiece that I know I won't be able to live without...b

wipe your paws...

It started with this...

This being a soft yellow vintage chenille bedspread that I was lucky enough to rescue off the back of a dump truck headed to the dump. Men! Right? I managed to save 6 of them, as well as some old hats but missed the aprons, darn. I originally wanted them to cut up into craft projects

 and that is what I did with this one after a lot of pondering.

So I dug out a couple of flannel fabrics that I thought would be fun with the old chenille...

To make these...

Little Scottie dogs. Aren't they cute?

 I put the chenille on one side with the dog patterned flannel on the other.

What a fun, and quick project this was.

And I have lots of chenille left over for other projects. I'm thinking bibs, baby quilts, stuffed bears and rabbits...none of it will go to waste.

Now I just hope I don't see somewhere that this old bedspread was worth big $$.

But then again it's fate was sealed when I found it that day on the dump truck...b

Honey Do's

Mr. B took the next three days off to work around the house, catching up on some of those jobs that just keep getting pushed back on the to-do list. So bright and early this morning he gets his newest toy out, a power sprayer, and cleaned off the deck to begin drying for a coat of sealer.

But before putting away the sprayer he decided the cars needed washing. Oh, and then the grill grates were pretty dirty, and then the eaves...I think he's more like me then he would like to admit? Getting sidetracked. But next up is staining the shed and fence, both big projects.

Isn't a man working around the house just the greatest...b

Wanted: Maid

I think life must have been very good at the Baxter household with maid Hazel at the helm. I know George probably made a lot of money as a corporate lawyer and his wife Dorothy as an interior decorator. I can't imagine what her salary might have been compared to what a live-in maid and nanny would cost now?

 Guess I better stop dreaming and get busy.

                                     By the way, I would also be willing to settle for an Aunt Bee...b

another wild weekend

   Wow, what a crazy weekend! It's always a crazy and wild weekend when the gran-girlie's come to our house. It's a good thing they take naps so the adults can rest and regroup? Days with these kids are one event after another...
   Gymnastics involves jumping on the beds, ring around the rosie and London Bridges...
   Weight lifting is grandma doing the lifting...
   Art class is fun with more art on the kids than in the color books...
   PE is swimming with mommy and grandma on the sideline getting the wettest...
   On and on our days went by in a whirlwind of activities.
   When it's snack time these funny girls go to the fridge and pick out the pickle jar.
   When all was quiet again at our house I asked grandpa if he had caught any weather reports? When he told me he hadn't seen any reports as Sponge Bob Squarepants doesn't do the weather we had a good laugh. I'm still laughing...b

just wishin'

While I was filling this little wading pool for the grangirlie's today

 I found myself wishing this pool was much larger to fit me...

 But why waste a wish, maybe I'll just wish I could be at the seashore. And if I am getting my wishes today why not wish I could still wear that bikini I wore in the '70s? Guess that's why we don't get wishes, I always get carried away...b

old time radio

   This old radio came with the house. It was in the basement and looking pretty dirty. After a little spit bath I got it cleaned up for it's picture. Isn't it great looking, and those big tubes in the back of it! 
  Do you remember having to have a new tube put in your old radio or television set?
   I think the little lady of the house listened to this radio while she went about her daily chores. Maybe she was tuned into her favorite program Ozzie and Harriet or Jack Benny. Or Doris Day and Bing Crosby made her work a little easier? And I love the apron she is wearing don't you?
   I love owning these old relics and hope our kids will take them and cherish them as we have.  b

                                                                               

playgrounds

I'm remembering our long ago summers. We spent a lot of time at the little park down the street from our house. Our kids are one and two in this photo. Two being the same age as our gran-girlie's now, and they love the park too. My how the playground equipment has changed! Do they even have merry-go-rounds any more? I was a stay at home mom and loved it. But we only had one vehicle, rented a small house, no cable tv, internet or cell phones...I guess we were just fortunate to raise our kids

 before all these luxuries and demands came along.

I think our kids always had a smile on their faces.

They were delightful children and are now wonderful adults...b

each new day

I discovered this cheerful little wall hanging I made years ago buried with my stash. I do seem to like chickens don't I? It was an easy learning project and fun to make. I think I'll hang it up in my sewing room which I also refer to as the sun room. The room used to be a screened in porch before the prior homeowner's had it enclosed. It's always a bright place for me and the cats to hang out and sew. b

turkeys

Took a little time out this weekend from another project I've been working on to finish putting the binding on these bibs. I had to quilt my own fabric for these and it is pretty time consuming. So before I had them finished they got filed in my unfinished project drawer. I did a little reorganizing in my sewing room and found quite a few of these little projects. But won't these bibs be cute for Thanksgiving? b

tootsies

Isn't there just something so sweet about children's piggys? And don't they just love having them in water? This grandma can't resist putting her feet in cold water either! b

in the piggy bank

Our daughter-in-law shared the idea of these single serve drink mixers with me, and at only 10 cents a serving! She's a real thrifty gal and knows I'm in a conservative mode these days thinking about the destination wedding our daughter wants next spring.

I just had to have this travel cup when I read "Remember Your Mother" on the side of it, ha.

So if we want a wedding like this...

we'll be looking at lots of ways to save $$ here and there...b

harvest

Brought in the kale from the garden and fixed it with a pork roast with a little oatmeal thrown in, was so good. However I don't think it was quite as good as I remember eating as a child when grandpa made it. I decided it is a comfort food. Whatever my grandparents cooked always tasted so good. My German grandmother with her fried potatoes, German wurst or Kuchen! On my mom's side it was kale, green beans and Spec 'N Dicken, a German New Years pancake made with anise oil and sausage bits in it.

Looking back I think we must have been strange children to like these foods. Grandma Bertha always said we were good eaters.

Dankeschon fur die Erinnerungen - GroBeltern...b

dishrag recipe

I had a friend's mother ask for this recipe/pattern a while ago and I completely forgot! Sorry Kay. Mom wrote it out for me many years ago on the back page of an instruction book I had "First Steps in Knitting" and I have been knitting dishrags and giving them away for many years now. It's an easy pattern, I like that I can visit while I knit, with short rows that I can lay down if I have to in a hurry. While Mom didn't teach me to knit, she had no patience for that or maybe the problem was that I was a slow learner, she definitely inspired me and answered a lot of my questions. And I love that now my daughter is knitting dishrags. I hope I can inspire and teach the granchildren too... b

Cotton Dish Cloth

2 skein will make 3 dish cloths

Cast on 41 sts - knit 8 rows (4 ridges)

Beading row - K5, *yo, k2 tog*

repeat from *to* until there are 4 sts left on needle, k these 4 sts.

Row 10 - k

Row 11 - k5, yo, k2 tog, k to within 6 sts, yo, k2 tog, k4.

Repeat rows 10 to 11 for 26 ridges.

Repeat beading row.

Work 4 ridges (8 rows) in garter st. (k every row).

Bind off.

And at the end of the instructions she wrote - "Now go wash your dishes! Do mine too!"

grandma's quilt

I've been picking out some fabrics that I hope look vintage, like you would find in your grandmother's stash to be made into a scrap quilt. I have a future project in mind for these fabrics which may be over my head but I'm going to start in regardless. Maybe check back here in a year or two, ha.

I love the old quilts best like grandmother's flower garden, Dresden plate, star, basket and log cabin, all made from the family's old clothing. Then these quilts were hand pieced and quilted.

The quilts were meant to be used, not tucked away or put on display. Oh I'm a great saver, not to be mistaken with a hoarder. Is everyone quilty of saving an item of clothing because they don't want to wear it out only to find it again in your closet to outdated to wear? Maybe the next time I find one of these items I'll save it to be made into a quilt... b

July 4th

Just back from a couple of fun days with the gran-girlie's over the 4th. We had two big days of playing at the park, eating pizza, swimming, visiting the zoo and a few small fireworks.

Grandma decided she better learn the fine art of making and decorating cupcakes. Does it look like they liked them? b

yankee doodle dandy

We love the 4th of July and I'm looking forward to a long weekend with...

- chili dogs and potato salad

- rhubarb dessert

- putting my feet in the water, the gran-girlie's little pool to be exact

- throwing a few poppers with the kids

- a large fireworks display

- toasting Uncle Sam (after all he footed the hospital bill when I was born)

- wine coolers after dark with a log on the fire pit

- just relaxin' b

just a bowl of cherry's...

Life is just a bowl of cherries.

Don't take it serious, life's so mysterious.

You work, you save, you worry so,

But you can't take your dough when you go, go, go.

So keep repeating it's the berries,

The strongest oak must fall,

The sweet things in life, to you were just loaned.

So how can you lose what you've never owned?

Life is just a bowl of cherries.

So live and laugh at it all... Buddy G. DeSylva

Ol'Buddy had it right didn't he? Just have to remind ourselves sometimes that things could always be worse and we're not always thankful for the things we have. And now that I have my picture of cherries I can go enjoy them. I hope I'm not taking this blogging thing to far? b