Monday, January 31, 2011

pup-pets

I barely had this puppy puppet put together Sunday
before he began barking and wanting to go out for a potty break!
( I would never put together a puppy that wasn't already housebroke.)
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I caught these cute puppets on the Martha Stewart show.
I like recycling old wool sweaters for felt projects so I dug right in.
Although this one was very difficult I think it turned out adorable.
I think the gran-girlie's will think he's pretty cute if he doesn't bite them first.
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In this photo Pearl is still oblivious to the fact
 that I am making a D-O-G! b

Friday, January 28, 2011

Friday fav

My new house crocs are warm and fuzzy!

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What's keeping you warm today? b

Thursday, January 27, 2011

scrappin' lady

I love scrap projects.
I could almost convince myself everything I used
to make these little zippered bags was free!

This rubber duckie fabric is leftover from bibs I made for the granddaughters.



These two are made from pieces I made pillowcases out of, do you recognize them?
I lined them with another complimentary print.
I love mixing things up.
The zippers are leftover from my variety store days.

Aren't they just so cheerful?
Are you ever too old to love a juvenile print?
And finally a beautiful January day here.
I think I'll jump on my stationary bike and bike around the living room, ha.  b

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

diet

Scream! Who can stay motivated to stay on a diet in January?

Everyday I try and everyday I fail...
today I am trying again...b

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Jack Frost

Look out! Look out!
Jack Frost is about!
He's after our fingers and toes;
And all through the night,
The gay little sprite
Is working where nobody knows...

He'll climb each tree,
So nimble is he,
His silvery powder he'll shake.
To windows he'll creep
And while we're asleep
Such wonderful pictures he'll make.

Across the grass
He'll merrily pass,
And change all its greenness to white.
Then home he will go
And laugh ho, ho ho!
What fun I have had in the night.
C.E.Pike

Monday, January 24, 2011

Books are beautiful

This pile of books will keep me happy for quite awhile.
We took a few minutes this weekend to shop at Barnes & Noble, don't you just love bookstores?
All those books under one roof along with the smell of coffee?
Really! All I went in for was the current issue of Artful Blogging...
But I couldn't turn down a bargain, and bought these hardcover books for $7 each.
And when I'm done reading them, I will pass them on to friends and family before donating them to our local library or another charity.
(My apologies to the salesgirl trying to sell the "Nook"...
I just can't help turning up my nose at them.)
After all, who doesn't love a library of books? b


Friday, January 21, 2011

Friday Food

I quickly stirred these Tastefully Simple cinnamon muffins together last night.

Super easy, super fast...

and super delicious!

Hope you're all wearing your layers cuz it's cold out.
Happy Friday all...b

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Mary Poppins

I am happy to finally have this bag completed!
I designed this carpet bag in a Mary Poppins style and after ones I had been admiring for a year with price tags of $165 to over $200.
The outside is an upholstery weight fabric lined with another upholstery fabric.

The inside features numerous pickets including a zippered pocket to hold small items.
The handles are wooden.
I made three of these as gifts last Christmas. This one got ignored for a year due to the lining being a heavy suede. I just couldn't seem to get the handles on neatly enough to suit my taste.
After trying everything, including taking it in to a shoe shop to have them sewn on and taken back off. I finally ordered new handles in a thinner design and sewed them on by machine. I am extremely happy with the way it now looks and am claiming it for my own knitting projects. b

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

cake party!

Happy Birthday! to our daughter-in-law.

 She's a great mother to our granddaughters...




Tuesday, January 18, 2011

tropical beaches

Making plans for our daughter's destination wedding
and it's tropical beach setting is getting me by this month.


I'm dreaming of sunshine and a sandy beach while I endure yet another day of frigid temperatures and more snow coming down here in South Dakota. b

Monday, January 17, 2011

dishes

What is sweeter than two little girls
 standing on a step stool in their jammies
and wanting to help wash dishes?

I will save this picture until they are teenagers with long faces
 because they have to do dishes...b

Friday, January 14, 2011

thoughts of joy

When I woke up this morning I planned for a good day.


My thoughts of joy keep me happy.

(I finished up these Mickey pillowcases
 just in time for a visit from the granddaughters this weekend.) b

Thursday, January 13, 2011

oatmeal

How do you like your oatmeal...
With raisins and brown sugar?
Organic or Steel Cut?
Instant or regular?
Baked or stove top?
Got your attention?
Do you like to eat them for breakfast out of an old crock bowl like this
 and then served up again in your evening bath...
like our gran-girlie's are getting this weekend?
I ground up organic oats and sewed them
 into muslin pockets for the bathtub to help fight dry skin.
Boy, you know you're old and a grandma
when you resort to these old wives methods! b

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday here and I have projects up the wazoo!
So just checking in to say I hope you're beating these cold temps
(that everyone seems to be having).
And if not...would you like to join me for a cup of hot chocolate
 this afternoon say at 3 sharp?
My treat of course. b

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Sunshine on my shoulders

Wake Up all you Sleepyheads!

The sun is shining again!
The bad news? I can see the dust on everything...
and the thermometer is still showing a minus on it!
Pearl said, "Wake me when it's spring." b

Monday, January 10, 2011

my own little Spot

My assistant and I made it back to the sewing room and that's where we spent most of our weekend.
(Don't worry we didn't miss meals!)

It had been awhile, well before the holidays anyway, since we spent a full day or two out there. So of course I had to begin by clearing off every flat surface. This back room is a great place to store everything that doesn't have a home.


Working on this summer fabric is the perfect winter project to lift my spirits!

my wall art...

This little plaque sits on my creative table...Pearl and I love our little spot. b

Friday, January 7, 2011

sweet baby

Finished these sweet baby flannel blankets this week...

This flannel didn't have a lot of dye so was super soft.

These silly little animals were fun to work on.

Crocheting around the edges of flannel is relaxing and mindless handwork for me.
Getting the blankets ready for the handwork isn't my favorite but the end result is always so nice...
and I love gifting them! Mr. b gave one to a co-workers new baby this week.
I showed daughter knit and pearl how to do them over Christmas,
and it sounds she has caught the bug already? b

Thursday, January 6, 2011

And the winner is...

My amaryllis is blooming!
Lets see?
How to photograph it best... in the dark with a flash?

Or in front of the windows with the snow as a backdrop?
After 20 photos I think the winner is...

this one!
What a treat in January to have flowers blooming in the house.
My poinsettia looks so pretty yet too. 

b

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Emily

I just can't get enough of this television series...
Emily of New Moon
The shows are about an orphan that is sent to live with relatives
 in picturesque turn-of-the-century Prince Edward Island.
Everything about this show...the scenery set beside the ocean, the clothes, the innocence of the era...I'm having a hard time shutting the TV off and going to bed at night.
I am now into the second season of it.

The books were written by L.M. Montgomery who also wrote Anne of Green Gables.
If you enjoy period shows and ever get a chance to see this or buy the movies? Don't hesitate!
There were a total of 4 seasons of the one hour shows which aired in Canada between 1998-2000.
I discovered the shows on my Netflix and can watch them instantly.
b

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Refuge

With all this snow on the ground God's little critters
 are really working hard to find food to stay warm.
Well not at Mr. b's house...

He provides a smorgasbord for the winter birds that,
 like us, have to stay here and brave the cold...

There's sunflower seed, thistle and suet for the birds and corn and seeds for the squirrels...
not to mention that great tree that we have in our front yard
 that is all dead and hollowed out for all of them to find refuge in.
He also keeps a space cleared out for the little rabbits to live under our back deck.
Yup! He's a great guy...b

Monday, January 3, 2011

$1

Isn't it great what a buck will buy you?

A color book, stickers, an animal treat bowl, 3 pairs of socks or an insulated shirt!
For a total of $10 I bought all of the above.
I hit the Dollar Store for some fun shopping.
We were anticipating having the gran-girlies to ourselves over New Years,
but the weather took care of that for all of us and they didn't make it.
I'm leaving it all out and hoping they come for a visit soon...b

Sunday, January 2, 2011

homemade goodness

Dug out my creamy tomato soup recipe
 to have something warm to eat...

after Mr. b finished doing this...
He figured we got 10 inches of new snow. Thank goodness his snow blower could handle it because we sure saw a lot of Bobcats and tractors clearing our neighbors snow $$. It will be an expensive winter for some people if this keeps up.

This is a very good tomato soup recipe. It's hard to go back to opening a can. I have a better recipe for tomato soup but it isn't as quick and easy as this one.

Creamy Tomato Soup
Makes: 6 servings.Prep: 5 minutes. Cook: 24 minutes.
4 slices bacon
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (28 ounces each) whole tomatoes in juice
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1. Heat a large, deep pot over medium heat; add bacon and cook until barely crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon and reserve; remove and discard all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings. Add garlic and cook, stirring, over medium heat, 1 minute. Add tomatoes and their juice, breaking up tomato pieces with your hands or a wooden spoon. Add broth, sugar and black pepper; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes with cover ajar.
     2. Puree soup in batches in a blender or food processor. Return to pot, stir in cream until incorporated and heat through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar. Serve, garnished with crumbled bacon.

b

Saturday, January 1, 2011

1-1-11

Happy New Year all!

We celebrated last night with shrimp alfredo, so good. And we wanted it so badly that we braved the elements and walked uptown to get fettucini noodles.. We knew our vehicles would never maneuver all the snow on the streets. But the walk felt great after too many days of celebrating the holidays.

This is what Mr. b has been doing the last few days...

Building a golf bag stand. It will hold up to three golf bags for golfing indoors with a simulator.
I think he is already dreaming of spring and golfing don't you?
Next up? Starting up the snow blower and tackling all that snow out there in our driveway...b