Happy Earth Day 2010

My Mom was a forward thinker... she did this needlework, and always had it hanging in her home... stitched in 1981...funny thing, it was always hanging in her bathroom.. what better place to celebrate "Nature"

I would like to show it in honor of "Earth Day"...

This wall hanging has had the place of honor in my home since moms death in 1998....

Thank you "Mom" for teaching me the ways of the Earth, and the ways to make her happy!

Happy Earth Day!

Looking for a great night out in Palm Beach....

http://www.palmbeachnightout.com/

If your ever in Palm Beach and are looking for a "Night Out" or looking for something to do during your stay while in Palm Beach, check out this new web site... My friends, Bernice and Craig, are so excited about their new venture....

They also have a Face Book page up and running .. 

http://www.facebook.com/sandy.neither?ref=profile#!/group.php?gid=114767245208088&ref=mf

Wanted to say 'Congratulations to Bernice and Craig' and when I'm visiting Palm Beach, Florida, I know where

to look for some fun or shopping....

Look what I found in the trash...

I've been working on my kitchen for quite some time now...

Having to put the whole project on hold for months due to a back injury... but this past month I found two cabinets that will work really well in my kitchen...These two cabinets were just sitting on the side of the road.. in someones trash!

(I just love people who toss good stuff)

This to me was quite a find because I am in the process of changing the entire kitchen.

This is the original kitchen...

Look at that 1980's ceiling... ucky, dark and dingy! 

Don't laugh, but the back splash tile had bucking bronco horses on it....? I put white paint over it until I can replace it.

I worked on this most of last year.. and yes, I did the work myself. Not one person did I hire to help me...

It took some brute force, but I pulled down the entire ceiling and believe it or not.. it was rather easy. I then begged help from my husband, to help hold up the drywall for the ceiling.. but first I rewired, for the new

ceiling lights that will go up soon....

There is so much information on 'how to do electrical' on the internet, and to be sure, "I turned off the electric' before touching anything that looked like wires...lol

Ok.. back to the cabinets I found in the trash.  I want to use these two cabinets on either side of the dishwasher,, more drawer space... but first I had to repaint them....

I found primer at my local Home Depot, that said on the label "no sanding needed"... did I trust this? don't think so!  I did use my electric sander to take off the shine first.. then primed and painted with a heavy duty enamel paint... the same that I used on the original cabinets....

First I filled the drawer pull holes with wood filler.. my plan is to put new hardware on all the doors...

The new cabinets turned out wonderful... now to get the dishwasher moved back against the wall... it's sticking out to the right of the photo....I need some kind person to let me borrow a circular saw. I need to cut the counter top to get this moved.. (the new counter will be installed after I can get my Home Depot person out to measure it)

This project is taking more time than I had planned.. but I am finding that if I take my time I am finding so many ways to keep the budget down.

My kitchen will be so new and bright. I'm happy!

To be continued......

 

I'm linking to


debbiedoos link party

 

Look at what I found for .50 cents.....

I just love garage sales... while wondering through a few last week I found this bag of parts.. and from what I could see, all the parts were there, in the baggie!  A make-up bag with all the DMC floss, and instructions included.... of course I had to buy it... for .50 cents, how could I not?

Funny, of all the little zipper bags I have, there is not one that is useful enough to hold my bit of make-up that I carry in my purse... I have it all, sort of scattered around in there.....

I opened the baggie and got to work... I sat down and after about 5 hours, on and off throughout the week,, I finished it......

e

Know what,, it turned out to be a cute little make-up bag and the perfect fit for my purse....

You may notice I had to add one thing not in the instructions.. my initial "S"

How cute is this!!

Don't you just love 

Garage Sales!

Spring is all around my garden......

I wanted to share my Amaryllis with you.  

 Bulbs are starting to bloom, and I have so many in the garden. I just had to bring some in.

Thanks for sharing their beauty with me...

2010 Ultimate Blog Party.....

The Untimate Blog Party will be going on April 9th though the 16th.  This will be the largest Party for bloggers,  hosted by "5 Minutes for Mom"... it's our time to interact with each other... so come on,, Look to my sidebar,  click on their link.. join the fun!   

If you enjoy my blog do follow along. You might be the 100th follower, and I'm so excited about that.  Do come visit again soon.

I entered "The Ultimate Blog Party" and want to list the prizes I would like  to win.

#32  $50.00 gift card from Target 

#18 Goodie Basket for Mom

                                 #13  $100.00 Gift Cert to Kay Jewelers

 #11   Restaurant.com is giving a $100.00 Gift Cert  

                                 #19 – A free ring of the winners choice!

#20  Cookie Lee is offering $50.00 for Jewelry 
#21  A Danielle Steeles Novel "Big Girl" 
#35  Hobo International, a $100.00, Clutch Bag   
 #15  Target gift card for $50.00

                                    #25  Barns and Noble gift card  $25.00

Wish me luck!

A special story about "Winter"......

This past week... I went on a special outing... Just 5 miles from me is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium... the home of

"Winter"

the bottle nose dolphin that lost her tail due to an accident, at the age of three months.

Winter found herself wrapped tightly in a crab trap line, unable to escape. As a result of her entanglement, she lost her entire tail along with 3 vertebrae in her spine.  Winter found a permanent home at the Aquarium and with the collaborative efforts of her trainers, veterinarians, and a leading prosthetic team, received a one-of-a-kind prosthetic tail unlike anything the world has ever seen. At the time of my visit Winter was a  bit agitated and I was not able to get her photo wearing her new Tail. She was moved the night before into her new home in the aquarium, a brand new pool built just for her and her surrogate mom.

Please visit Winter at...     www.seewinter.com

Winter enjoyed a special encounter with Army veteran Brian Brennan, who was seriously injured in Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom, when an IED exploded under his humvee. He miraculously survived and returned home a double amputee. Winter and Brian have a lot in common as they both survived life-threatening injuries, in spite of the odds. And just like Winter, Brian’s compelling life story has become an inspiration to others. Today, they helped each other. “I was very inspired by meeting Winter,” Brennan said. “She is missing a fin and I lost both legs—we are a lot alike.”

 I would have liked to show a photo of Winter with her prosthetic tail but this was not a happy day for Winter.. she was just moved to her new home and she was a bit out of sorts.. maybe another day I can get back to the Aquarium for a photo op!

 Winter with her surrogate mom, Panama

I also found out Winter will be staring in her own Motion Picture soon... how wonderful for her....

"Easter 2010"

I wanted to wish all my friends and family a very

"Happy Easter" 

A special wish out to my Mom, Easter

was her favorite holiday.... 

"May all your chocolate wishes come true"

I want to win "Bertie"....... really bad!

I want so much to win ....... it's a giveaway and the grand prize... a "Kitchen Aid Mixer named Bertie"!!!

Over at "Mayhem and Moxie" they are having a giveaway and the prizes are really great.... from Birthday party packages.. to this really great "Kitchen Aid Mixer"... and I have done all the steps except this one...

Tell what I would do with this mixer... this is much too easy... "I'd be mixing and baking up a storm" is what I'd be doing...

I'll tell you.. I do have a "Classic Kitchen Aid Mixer".. had it for years but the electrical cord is burnt and I have had it duct taped for a long time... not sure if it's dangerous but I'm still using it !  I so love this mixer and I so want the new one.. really bad!

 
The first thing I'm going to do when I win this baby is buy myself the "Pasta Maker"... I love to make my own!
Ok.. I think I did all the steps... so here I go!   
                          Oh.. one more thing.... thank you for this opportunity and a very "Happy Birthday"!!!

Baby in a Purse... for a special little girl......

Did you ever want to make a special gift for a little girl.. not the usual but something she could carry with her to just about anywhere she went...  I remembered a gift my mom made for me and my sister... 'Baby in a Purse"...

 I used fabric ribbon to crochet this cute little 'draw string bag'.... 

I simply used a single crochet, started from the bottom and just went round and round until I got to the desired size of the bag.....
I then used some scrap flannel that I had in the sewing box, to make the mattress and pillow for the baby....

This is a polly pocket.. it came with little leather (plastic) clothing.. it is all of about 4" tall and fits right into the little bag....

I put the dolls clothing into a little pouch of fabric.. stored under the mattress.... then I put together a blanket and pillow....

For the 'draw tie string' I purchased a shiny, red/gold rope.. ran it through the opening top of the purse and tied off the ends.... it turned out so cute and my little niece will just love it.....

Look at what came in the mail today......

  Yes.... the mail man brought my win today... I entered a giveaway over at

"Twigglebox" and I won a rainbow of colors... the bows are artfully hooked to a

nice clip that will hold on any young girls hair... sorry to say I do not have a

young girl anymore.. my little daughter is now 25... and has three boys...

  I'm happy to say the recipient of these lovely little bows will be my niece JoJo

  who lives in Kuwait.. they will be flying to her next week.... when my sister go's 

home....

   If anyone has a small girl who could use such beautiful bows, for her hair..

please visit  www.cockadoodlekids.com or visit www.twigglebox.com .... they

have such cute things there... 

 http://twigglebox.blogspot.com/

'Thank you Hollie' !!!

For all who love home made bread, but hate the work involved.....

I'm happy to say "I found a simple bread recipe" in this months copy of "Country Living Magazine"..... I made the bread/Rolls yesterday and they we so easy!!
  Get this... "NO kneading and NO punching down".. it rises in the fridge over night!

 Entertainer Trisha Yearwood had an article in this months issue, and showcased her cousin Peggy's bread recipe.. and I wanted to share it with anyone who loves 'fresh home made bread' but hates the work involved...

      This next photo is my bread in the oven......    

The beauty of this foolproof recipe is that the dough rises in the frigde and does not need to be punched down or kneaded. The next day you just scoop the dough into muffin tins and bake.....And Voila- hot rolls in about 20 minutes!
                      

This recipe makes 5 doz mini rolls...

1 pkt (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast

2 cups warm water

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

1/4 c sugar

1 lg egg

4 cups self rising flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. With an electric mixer combine butter and sugar, then add the egg. Add yeast mixture and combine well.  Gradually stir in flour until smooth... Pour into a greased, airtight 2 qt bowl. Store tightly covered in fridge to rise overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350' f. Grease miniature muffin tins.  Spoon dough into each muffin cup about 3/4 full.  and bake rolls for about 18 to 20 min. or until browned. I added an extra 8 minutes for the one loaf I made...


I filled two muffin tins and one loaf pan for bread....I also brushed the muffins with egg yolk to give the rolls a nice brown top, then put poppy and sesame seeds on top of some....I think for the next batch I might put browned onions on top.. yummmm!

This recipe can be used as needed and store the dough in the fridge for up to three days... so give it a try.. your family will love it!