Friday, January 31, 2014

Backwards


Ok, girls,
ALL of the hangers in my closet have been hung backwards.
 I will turn them around as I wear each piece.
By December there will be no doubt about which clothes I have worn 
and which clothes I haven't, and therefore don't need.
(I promise to donate all the unworn clothes to charity.)

I once heard someone say that we wear the same 40 pieces, over and over, 
and everything else in our closet is just a waste of money and space.
It will be very interesting to see how it all turns out for me.

Whoever thought of this was a genius!
Easiest way to sort out a closet!
I can just sit here and let time do the work for me.
:-) 

Anybody want to join me?





Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Paperdolly Valentine Tea Party


This valentine card from 1975
gave little girls a sweet, folk-art kitchen for hosting a paperdolly tea party.



(American Greetings, 1975)


Do they even make cards this adorable anymore? 




Saturday, January 25, 2014

Meant To Be




I noticed this little green table a few months ago.
But I walked away.

Later I told myself,
"If I ever go back to that shop and it's still there, it's mine."

Do you ever do that? 

Well.....


Some things are just meant to be.
:-)




Sunday, January 19, 2014

Architectural Salvage

 I poked around at A&O Architectural Salvage yesterday afternoon. 
So many wonderful bits and pieces from the past:
Gingerbread trim, door knobs, lights, stained glass and fireplace mantels.


I loved this stained glass Mary.



And I thought the long piece of white lattice trim might look fun
hanging horizontally on the wall above the tv in the family room.

Now if I can just convince my husband to part with a bunch of do-re-mi...

Have you used salvaged pieces in your home?  




Wednesday, January 15, 2014

For A Special Little Someone


A very SPECIAL little someone will be making an appearance this spring.
So there is a flurry of yellow, green and aqua sewing and crocheting
going on around here.
(All gender neutral colors, as we won't know 'til birth day.)

So excited to be joining the Grandma Club!
Smiling from ear to ear!
:-)




Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Baby's Blue Granny Square



Finished up one more afghan, a blue baby-sized granny square
because we had a 5th sweet baby join our greater family at the tail end of 2013. 
I love babies!


I used my go-to baby yarn, Baby Bee Sweet Delight, in 12 colors:
Baby's Blue, Surf Baby, Meema's Blue, 
Pea Pod, Infant Teal, Mint Charm, Baby Sage,
Angel, Toy Elephant, Bashful and Sunkisses.
I crocheted 50 rounds and a simple border with a G/6/4mm hook.
(I needed a second skein of Surf Baby and Baby's Blue.)

Now I can get back to work on that ripple I'm working on.





Friday, January 3, 2014

Sleepy Cats

The reason why my bed doesn't get made in the morning:
Sleepy cats.




At least that's my story.
 And I'm stickin' to it. 





Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Pretty TeaCups and Magic Cookie Bars


Enjoying some tea in the pretty teacups my sister just sent to me.
Royal Standard  and Floral, Staffordshire

Also nibbling on some my son's favorite holiday cookies:
Magic Cookie Bars.
So yummy and gooey!
And super easy to make.




Magic Cookie Bars
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 package graham crackers, crushed (inside package, not the entire box) 
1 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 and 1/3 cup coconut 
1 can sweetened condensed milk (15 oz)

Directions:
Pour melted butter into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.
Sprinkle  graham cracker crumbs evenly onto butter and pat down just a tiny bit.
Sprinkle on nuts, chocolate and finally coconut.
Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over the top of everything.
Bake in 350 oven for 25 minutes, until very lightly browned on top.
Allow to cool for 15 minutes before cutting. 
Cut into squares.

Notes:
These will store nicely in a tin, with waxed paper between layers.
I love bar cookies like this because they all bake in one pan. 
This recipe used to be on the back of the can of sweetened condensed milk.