Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Thinking of You Swap

This swap was hosted by the lovely Stephenie. Here’s the beautiful items I received from my swap partner Rochelle!! I carefully removed all the goodies from the box…

IMG_0715

Pieces of Royal Albert china that took my breath away in my favorite pattern - Old English Rose!! My FIRST egg cup! (You have no idea  how long I’ve been looking.) I could of stopped right there and been happier than a peach but Rochelle wasn’t done spoiling me!! A 1903 vintage book “Miss Toosey’s Mission”, I love the vintage type that looks handwritten.

IMG_0716 

IMG_0717

IMG_0719

Doilies and linens, my absolute favorite!!

IMG_0720

This was made by Rochelle JUST FOR ME!! I absolutely ADORE it!! And she still wasn’t done spoiling me…

IIMG_0721

Pages of vintage clip art…

IMG_0722

Now isn’t this the prettiest wicker sewing basket you’ve ever seen?!?! She made this for me too!!

IMG_0723

And full of goodies!!

IMG_0724

IMG_0725

IMG_0726

I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED my swap goodies!!! Thank you Rochelle for “Thinking of Me”!!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Library Night

IT’S HERE!! IT’S HERE!! IT’S HERE!!

IMG_0730

IMG_0731

IMG_0732

IMG_0733

IMG_0734

I can’t help it! I’m addicted to New Releases. There’s just too many books and so little time!

I mean, really, I can only have these for ONE week!! I know it’s fair when I’ve been waiting so long for it to be my turn, but when I get my hands on the actual book…oh, it is so UNFAIR! And I’m soooo far behind already, I’m still trying to catch up from last week.

IMG_0735 

I had THE most delicious pumpkin zucchini bread on Thursday evening that Linda’s mom made and I was going to make some after she took the time to email the recipe on Friday…

I received my FABULOUS swap goodies from Rochelle on Friday that I have to share…

My son & I finished deck number one Saturday that I haven’t taken photos of yet…

Our first ever, Charm Bracelet Collaboration is finished and wait till you see the GORGEOUS bracelets everyone gets back!! And I still have to print out everyone’s name and who made what to attach to the pouches…

And September’s drawing near and I haven’t even thought of my SB swaps yet…

And I’m off enjoying these beautiful waning days of summer!!!

IMG_0683

I hope you are also taking full advantage of these beautiful days and evenings!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Junk Shopping

Yesterday I promised I would post all the awesome stuff I found at my favorite thrift store yesterday.

Teapot, sugar bowl, 6 cups and saucers…

IMG_0709

Homer Laughlin vintage rose design platter and bowl…

IMG_0704

Sorry, I just HAVE to show you the pattern…

IMG_0706

OK. Not as great as glass glitter buy still a good find in my book…

IMG_0700 

A bag of white tumbled glass pieces…

IMG_0710 

12 wine stem protectors in excellent condition…

IMG_0699

Not one but TWO bags of rubber stamps…

IMG_0697 

IMG_0698

Doilies, a set of pink & white and one long ivory one…

IMG_0690

A bunch of tassels…

IMG_0694

IMG_0692

And a container of brass brads, green plastic bingo markers and some pressed flower stickers…

IMG_0693

Did I not tell you I had an over-the-top Tuesday?!?!

You think maybe my good fortune will last till the power ball goes off tonight?!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Library Night

Those are all mine?! Ok, ok, I get carried away in the new book listings…

IMG_0686

Did I detect a slight “glare” from my librarian? Did that smile say “it’s about time we have some room on the shelf?” I can’t help it! I’m feeling guilty hogging all the new releases now…

IMG_0687

I want to stay up all night and read my new books cover to cover… (Yes, I’ve been known to read into the wee hours on a work night! Ask any of my coworkers…)

IMG_0688

For those of you bellas heading off to Omaha in November, that’s Jo Packham’s new book, Friendship Bracelets All Grown Up. She’s our guest speaker this year for the luncheon. Maybe we should make some to wear at the luncheon!! How cute would that be?!? Show them off a little… maybe even get them autographed… Ok, ok, I’m getting carried away again, sorry. (I thought it was a great idea, geez…)

IMG_0689

I just LOVE this cover! Cat Wei and Amy Butler are two designers whose patterns I just adore. Can’t wait to see the interesting patterns & projects in this book!

And if the library was overflowing with great new stuff for me, wait till you see the great old stuff I got at my favorite thrift store tonight! But you’ll have to check back tomorrow as I haven’t unwrapped it all yet.

Hope you had an over-the-top Tuesday!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Library Night

Have I ever told you I LOVE my library?? It always has great things waiting for me…

IMG_0675 

I actually spend less than 15 minutes in it a week, but can’t wait to get there! It’s a surprise every week! Yes, they send you email notices that your books are ready to be picked up, but I never open the email to see which books are waiting. Just knowing there’s some waiting is good enough!

As the weather was crappy afterwards, I stopped at my favorite thrift store. I’ve missed a couple of weeks and was starting withdrawal symptoms…

IMG_0676 

Lots of linens today - both hand-embroidered and machine-made. I also found a pair of vintage lemon-yellow pillowcases. I got a whole bag of Girl Scout badges, numbers and insignias for 99 cents! They’re not vintage but I’m sure with a little tea dying and sanding, I can get them to look old. Every one of the items were iron-on, too. What happened to the good old days when you had to wear a thimble and it was a given-you would break the thread before you were halfway done?!? These kids today don’t know how easy they have it!! haha And you NEVER could find that same shade of green thread either! Our sashes weren’t the prettiest but they sure were unique!

A lovely, raining Tuesday perfect for junk shopping! Hope you had a lovely Tuesday!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Seaside Swap

Wanted to show off the goodies I sent to Tammy who was my partner in the Seaside Swap hosted by the lovely Rachel.

I made these beach-themed ornaments from wooden cutouts I found at Joann’s.

IMG_0570

A snap bracelet that I made with a sun toggle clasp.

IMG_0581

Can’t go to the beach without a tote bag, book and lip balm, now can you??

IMG_0574

Added some sand, swim and sun stickers with beads and beach-themed buttons.

 IMG_0575

Ocean breeze tealights…

IMG_0576

And what’s a swap without my sewrevived recycled doilies and buttons??

IMG_0582

Thank you Rachel for hosting this fun “seaside” swap!

Now if only I was REALLY at the beach enjoying the sand and the surf !!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

A Happy Harvesting Saturday

Mid August usually marks the beginning of reaping what we sowed way back in May. The garden is in full production which means zucchini is ALWAYS a bumper crop. Not to mention green tomatoes. With our cool summer this year, tomatoes are plentiful but they’re not ripening on the vine. It’s just been too cool overnight. Eggplant’s looking good too. So I started out this morning with green tomato relish.

IMG_0673

You need green tomatoes, onions, and sweet peppers. I use an assortment of green, red and yellow peppers. Grind it all together, sprinkle with salt and let it sit a little over 2 hours. Into a big pot goes mustard, drained vegetables, brown sugar, tumeric and vinegar. Cook it all together for approx 2 hours until its nice and thick, then ladle it into hot sterilized jars. And while all that was cooking, I started on all my zucchini.

IMG_0658 

If you’ve never tried this version of mock apple pie, this recipe is awesome! My boys have no clue they’re not eating real “apple” pie and please don’t give out my secret or I’ll never get rid of my zucchini!

IMG_0655

You peel, seed and slice zucchini and cook it together with lemon juice for about 20 minutes. Can you honestly say those don’t look like apples?!

Add the cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg…

IMG_0663

Make the crust while your “apples” are cooking and pat it into the pan.

IMG_0661

Add your apples sprinkle with reserved crust and pop it into the oven.

IMG_0670

Sorry the glare from the kitchen window makes it look like the topping isn’t browned, but believe me, it’s done. I’ve given you the full recipe below…

 

ZUCCHINI CRISP

8 C. peeled, seeded, thinly sliced zucchini 2/3 C. lemon juice

1 C. sugar 1 t. cinnamon ¼ t. nutmeg

4 C. flour 1 ½ C. butter Dash salt

1 ½ C. sugar

Combine zucchini and lemon juice in saucepan. Cook for 20 min. Add 1 C. sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Cook 10 minutes more. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile, mix flour, 1 ½ C. sugar and cut in butter like a pie crust.

Reserve ½ cup crust mixture.

Pat 2/3 crust mixture into bottom of 13 x 9 baking pan.

Add ½ C. reserved crust mixture to zucchini mixture, stirring until thickened.

Spread zucchini over crust. Sprinkle remaining crust mixture over top zucchini.

Bake at 375 for 30-45 minutes or until lightly browned.

Serve warm or cold.

Bake Time & Temp: 375, 30-45 min

I’ve given you the recipe as it was given to me but I do not use the entire crust batter as I personally feel there is just way too much! I only use about 2/3 of it.

And don’t tell anyone it’s zucchini!! It’ll be OUR secret… (Grandpap Joe, you need to send your lovely wife up to get you some before my boys get home!)

 

My finished jars of green tomato relish…

IMG_0669

The sweet sound of pinging in the background while I’m typing this makes it a happy Saturday! Hope yours is too!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Library Night

Well, you caught me slacking again! Only 2 books tonite…

IMG_0585

I just finished reading Jodi Picoult’s latest book, Handle with Care.

I can’t say that I enjoyed it as much as her previous book, Change of Heart, but so far my favorite is Nineteen Minutes. If you have high school age children, it’s an absolute MUST read. Throughout the book I would question my then 10th & 11th graders if this or that happened in school, and more often than not, they would confirm that things like that indeed happen.

I’m currently reading A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg and enjoying it immensely! I’ll share the details when I’m finished…

Hope you had an enjoyable Tuesday!