Friday, August 31, 2007

Friday Show and Tell

Each Friday Kelli at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/ hosts Show and Tell! Head over her way and check out all the wonderful treasures!

I have been wanting to show this for weeks but it was just finished this week-end. This is my new sewing/craft room!
I dismantled our guest room and my husband built the cabinets! The cabinets are oak and the counter top is a laminate called "Butternut". I have under the counter lighting which I LOVE!
Now I have easily available spaces for my craft supplies. I was forever re-buying things that I already had but couldn't find.
I have all my scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies in one area and all my sewing supplies in another. The lady in the picture is my great aunt Clara. She taught me to crochet and tried very hard to teach me to sew, but I was more interested in climbing trees and playing football. My mother in law finally taught we to sew when I was about 22.

This is one of my favortie things in my new craft room! The built in ironing board! No more wobbily (is that a word?) ironing board with the iron falling off everytime I used it! Plus it just folds into the wall and is out of sight!


The bookcase holds all my craft and sewing books, along with some Mary Englebreit, Martha Stewart Living and Country Living magazines. My In-Laws gave me the old timey radio for Christmas one year. I think it goes great in this room.
Last but not least is my cutting table. This table came from my Grandma's attic when she lived in the country. It was in the attic when she moved into the house in 1947. I used this for my kitchen table for almost 25 years, then when we remodeled the kitchen and put in a bar to eat from, I moved the table to my sewing room. I love this table. (The Strawberry under the table belongs to my great niece! and the bowl and pitcher is something I just have'nt found a home for yet. It belonged to my great aunt Clara.
Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!
Blessings
Linda

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Lemon-Lime Chiffon Pie

Thanks so much for the well wishes yesterday. I am feeling much better with no pain today!

I only worked a couple of hours yesterday before I started getting a little dizzy and decided to go home. I am fortunate that I can take my work home with me and work from home if I need to. I usually get my work done in half the time that it takes me if I'm in the office because of so many interruptions. Anyway, after I finished I decided to make this yummy sounding pie!

It is really a great pie for a hot summer day. It almost tastes like a lemon-lime milk shake! The recipe comes from a 1950's cookbook called Fabulous Pies from Pillsbury. I wish I had taken a picture of the book because the photos in there are so neat!

Lemon-Lime Chiffon Pie

1 9 inch pie crust baked and cooled

Chill 1 cup of evaporated milk in ice cube trays until ice crystal form around the outside. (I just stuck the whole can in the freezer for about an hour and a half). Chill bowl and beaters

Combine 1 package of lime flavored jello with 1/3 cup sugar. Add 3/4 cup boiling water and stir until gelatin is dissolved. Add one 6 oz. can of frozen lemonade concentrate. Stir until lemonade is melted. Chill until thickend but not set.

Beat chilled milk in chilled bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold milk into gelatin mixture gently and thoroughly. Chill 10 minutes.

Turn mixture into pie shell and chill until set. About 3 hours. If desired garnish with gumdrops and small green leaves. (I didn't have any gundrops)

The recipe also says you can substitute lime jello for orange and use pineapple juice instead of lemonade. I am going to try this because I love anything orange and pineapple.

Have a blessed day!

Linda

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Ever heard of that? I hadn't until Sunday. For a couple of weeks I have had the sensation on pin pricks on the left side of my face. Nothing too painful just annoying. Then Wednesday, I thought I had a toothache and went to the dentist who did x-rays and found nothing wrong. Still I was having some pain on my left side of my mouth.
Sunday during breakfast I had a sharp stabbing pain on the left side of my mouth that would only feel better if I applied ice inside my mouth. All day Sunday I kept ice in my mouth until about 2:00 when I looked through some old medication and found some Darvecett my husband had used. (I know! You shouldn't take someones else's prescription) I was desperate and took some. That relieved the pain for about two hours, then the pain returned. Took some more but this time it did not work at all. At 9:30 that night decided I had to get some relief so my husband took me to the E.R.

E.R. Dr did some poking around in my mouth and said he did not think this was a tooth problem, but his main concern was to stop the pain. He gave me morphine. This did not ease the pain at all. He gave he more morphine. Still I had pain, he had been researching my symtoms all the while and thought maybe I had Trigeminal Neuralgia. This is treated with an anti-seizure drug. He gave he some of that. Still in pain, so he administered the 3rd dose of morphine. This time I passed out. Not sure if it was from the pain or the amount of pain medication.

I really don't remember anything much until Monday night when I woke up in a hospital room totally confused about why I was there. I remembered being very sick and throwing up. My husband said they gave me phenagren for nausea and apparently I am allergic to it as I broke out in a rash and started itching all over. Then they gave me benadryl to counter act it. I sort of remember my Dad bending over me telling me he was leaving and that he loved me, and I remember my sweet mother in law rubbing lotion on my arms and legs trying to keep me from scratching so much.

Tuesday morning my Dr. came in and explained that I had been over medicated because they could not find anything that could relieve my pain. They put me on an anti-seizure drug that dulls the trigeminal nerves in the face. After sending me to the dental lab to rule out anything dental, they did a MRI and a MRA checking for tumors or anuresyms that could be causing the nerves to act up. Thank God, both of these reports came back negative.

I finally got to go home last night at 9:30. I tried to go in to work today but only lasted a couple of hours until I became very weak and dizzy. I guess all the pain medication has not been purged from my body yet. The good news is that while there is no cure for this, it is treatable with antiseizure medications that I will take a very low dose of daily.

I learned one thing, never "google" your disease! I did and when it came up on wikipedia it said this problems was also called the "Suicide" disease because of the amount of people who had taken their lives because they couldn't stand the pain. Good Grief!

So far, I have very little pain left. I have so many wonderful friends who have been praying relentlessly for me and it is working!

So no time for pity parties, let's move on!

Blessings

Linda

Friday, August 24, 2007

Friday Show and Tell!

Each Friday Kelli over at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/ hosts show and tell. Click on over there and join the fun.
This week I would like to show you two cake plates that I made! I saw these while surfing around some craft blogs and thought "What a great idea".
They are very simple. All you need is a pretty plate, a glass candlestick and some glue that bonds glass. Find the center of the bottom of your plate and mark it with a marker. Spread the glue on top of the candlestick and just stick it on and let it dry 24 hours. That's it! This is what I am going to make to put my Christmas goodies on this year. I got the plate and the candlestick at a thrift store for .50 each. So for $1.00 you have a lovely gift!
Of course you will want to decorate them with Double Decker Confetti Brownies! YUM!
1 1/2 sticks of butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tea vanilla
2 1/2 cups self rising flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 cup semi sweet mini m&m's (I can't find these any more so I used regular M&M's)

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 pan. Set aside. In a large bowl cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in eggs and vanilla. Add 2 1/4 cupsflour a little at a time and blend ito creamed mixture. Divide batter in half. Blend together melted butter and cocoa powder and stir into one half of the dough. Spread dough evenly into the bottom of the pan. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup of flour and 1/2 cup M & M's into remaining dough. Spread dough evenly over cocoa dough in the pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 M & M's. Bake 25-30 minutes or until edges start to pull away from pan. Cool completely and cut into bars. Store in tightly covered container.
Hope everyone has a blessed day!
Linda

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Childhood Photos

I found these photos in my Grandmothers album the other day and thought they were so neat.

All of these were made at my grandparents farm in White Gate, VA.
The first one is too funny. I had broken my arm that summer while playing "War" in a tree. One of my "friends" pushed me out of the tree and I landed on a rake handle and broke my arm. I don't even want to think what would have happened if I had landed on the pointy part of the rake. Anyway, I climbed back into the tree and slugged him before I went and told anyone that my are hurt. The dress I am wearing is homemade from my great aunt Clara, I loved that dress. Check out the injured doll. This was my favorite doll. She was cloth with a thin plastic face. The whole forehead part of the doll is punched in. She was very loved. The little girl with me is my sister, obviously hogging the Bugles. There is also a lovely shot of the cow "patty" beside me.
To get to my grandparents farm, you had to cross a swinging bridge. That's me at 6 years old, hanging on for dear life. If the water was low enough, you could drive through the ford in the creek, but not always. We crossed that bridge in sleet, snow, wind, you name it. There was also a nice little hike through the woods to get to the bridge. It was a real pain to carry groceries to the house this way, but we did what we had to do.
This is a picture of my whole family including my grandfather. This was made at the edge of their property that bordered Bland Correctional Farm. At the time it was a low risk detention center that put inmates to work on a farm. My grandfather was a guard there for 35 years. My mom is standing beside my grandfather. I have very few pictures of my mother as she was usually the one behind the camera. My mom died from leukemia about 3 years after this photo. She was 37 years old. I am sitting on the far right on the fence. I was about 13 years old. My Dad and sister are sitting on the fence with me.
I love looking through old photos of our family, I love to see how the clothing styles have changed, how the interior of homes have changed, but mostly just looking at the people that I love brings such a warm and comfortable feeling in me.
Have a blessed day!

Linda

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Cones

While surfing around the web, I have found many crafters who make these embellished cones, so I decided to give it a try.
I was wishing for fall weather yesterday, so I made mine with a fall theme. Please ignore the junk in the background!

I have black tissue paper stuffed in mine right now, but I thought for Halloween, I would fill them with candy to give to the girls at work. They are really fun to make.

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Linda

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

HOT, HOT, HOT

Is anyone else sick of this intense heat? It has been in the mid 90's to lower 100's for almost two weeks now. The shop my husband works in does not have air conditioning and the temperature in there has been around 105 for two weeks. He is so exhausted by the heat that when he gets home he just sinks into a chair and chills.
This past weekend was lots of fun. We went with a couple other families down to Greensboro, NC to Wet and Wild Emerald Pointe water park. It was really crowed but at least the weather wasn't as hot as it is in VA. The park has great water slides for babies all the way up to seniors.
Yesterday my husband and I went for a jetski ride after supper. Because of the drought in our area, (no rain in over a month) the lake is so low. Some peoples boat docks were completely out of the water. I truly hate the devastation that hurricanes bring, but I sure hope they send some rain our way.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.
Blessings,

Linda

Friday, August 17, 2007

Friday Show and Tell!

Kelli over at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/ is hosting Friday Show and Tell. Head on over and join the fun.

I would like to show you my bride doll. She is very special to me as my Mother in Law made the dress for her out of the scraps from my wedding dress. You see, my dear mother in law made my wedding dress for me. This doll belonged to her when she was small.
She even put the bead details on the dolls dress.

My husband made a case for her and she proudly sits in our dining room.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.


Linda

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Dogs and Stuff

I was busy last weekend making some "camo" dogs for my twin nephews for their birthday. When they saw the one I had made for their sister, they both wanted one in "camo" fabric. I tried different kinds of ribbon for collars and decided "Boy" dogs should not wear a ribbon. I may pick up some real dog collars for them. On my way to my Grandmothers on Sunday, I took a picture of this house because it has always been one of my favorites, and now it is being torn down for a new road. I know the road is really needed through there but I have always loved this house. It has a huge barn and used to have several stables and riding rinks for horses. I can just imagine what fun past occupants had in that house. I can't help but feel sad for old abandoned houses. Think of how excited the builders of the house were when they were moving into their beautiful brand new home. Sunday evening, when I was taking a walk down to the lake, I found that I wasn't alone in my walk. This beautiful deer stood perfectly still for quite some time as I continued to walk up to her. She finally ran off when I was within 50 feet, but was nice enough to pose for a photo before she was off. There is also ALOT of caterpillar nests in our trees! We are going to be bombarded with caterpillars this fall. Several years ago, our elderly neighbor decided to wage war against the caterpillars and after a "few" drinks, decided to go light the nests on fire. Needless to say, the fire got out of hand in the woods right next to our house! The fire department was able to extinguish the fire before too much damage was done. But he didn't learn his lesson, the next year he did it again! This time my husband was able to put the fire out before it spread to other trees.

It is supposed to be 100 degrees here today. Sigh. I'm looking forward to fall, ya'll!

Have a blessed day

Linda

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Take a Stroll through my Garden!

I actually took these photos last week, with all the record high temperatures we have been having mixed with no rain in weeks and none in sight, the flowers are starting to wilt and turn yellow. So are the trees. I am afraid that the beautiful fall colors will not be so spectacular this year because of the lack of rain.
I love this burgundy colored sunflower. It is from Burpee seed and is called a "Chianti" The blooms are not very big, but are a rich burgundy color.
I love this little orange flower too. Does anybody have any idea what it is? It's stems almost look like daffodils. I planted them two years ago and forgot to mark what they are. This is the first year they have bloomed.
And last but certainly not least are the marigolds. I think Marigolds have gotten a bad rap. I hear people say they smell bad and they don't like them because they are too common. While I agree they aren't exactly "perfumy" smelling, I like the scent because it reminds me of fall. And marigolds are common because they are so easy to grow. I always just scrape a place in the soil fill with seeds and pretty much forget about them and they always grow. I especially like the colors of these.

Does anyone know how to do a rain dance? Boy, we sure could use it. When you walk in our yard it's like walking on hay. It is so dry.

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Blessings

Linda

Friday, August 10, 2007

Friday Show and Tell!

On Friday's, Kelli over at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/ hosts Show and Tell! It's my favorite blog day of the week. Run on over and join the fun!
Today for show and tell I have my great Aunt Maggies Jadite kitchenware. My Aunt Maggie lived one farm over from my maternal grandparents. She lived in a tiny log house that only had electricity to the kitchen.
After she passed away, probably 20 years ago, they auctioned her personal belongs and I was able to buy some of her kitchenware.
This is my favorite, the batter bowl. I still use it and it drives my neighbor crazy because she says these bowls sell for alot of money on ebay.
I love this bowl too. I use it every time we have a family get together, and always with green beans in it.
Do any of you still use one of these? It is for bacon grease. My Mom always kept one on the stove and whenever she needed to flavor something, like green beans, cabbage, etc. She would use the grease in this kind of container. I thought nothing of it when I was young, but thinking about it now, it seems kinda yuck!
These little childrens cups did not come from Aunt Maggies home. I found them at a flea market and just had to have them. They are so cute!
Please ignore the chickens in the background, they are attention hogs! (actually the top of my freezer was the only place I could get the dishes to show up!)
Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!
Linda

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Cute Little Varmit

I'm in my garden picking tomatoes and find evidence that something has been eating my tomatoes that are low to the ground. Hmmm, what could it be?

After a little rummaging around in the weeds, I found the culprit! This amazingly colored terrapin. Most people call these box turtles, but where I grew up in the south and in the country we say "Tarpins".
I gingerly picked up Mr. Tarpin and took him into the woods on the other side of our property and gently scolded him and told him to stay there.

Did he listen? Absolutely not. The very next day I found him eating a cantelope! So, me and Mr. Tarpin went for a ride. I took him to the field about a mile from my house. Let's hope he finds something just as tasty there and will not visit my garden again.

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Linda

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Take the time


I didn't mean to take a bloggin break, I just had so much hapen in a short amount of time. On Saturday, July 28th my cousin was killed in a motorcycle accident. She has been riding motorcycles since we were kids. No one knows exactly what happened except that she drove off the side of the road, hit a culvert and the bike started flipping end over end. She died from a broken neck. She and I were never very close as adults as we chose different paths in life, but it was still a shock to us all. She was 45 years old.


Then on Tuesday I got a call from a friend telling me that one of our good friends had died. He had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and on Friday had undergone surgery to remove the lump. The surgery went well and he went home. Then Sunday he started bleeding and they took him to the hospital. He was having some trouble breathing and in the course of about 12 hours, he was gone. He leaves behind a beautiful and wonderful wife and a lovely 15 year old daughter. We had not seen him and his wife for some time. We used to go to church together and our son and his daughter went to school together, and so we got together often, just to chat and enjoy each others company. Since we had left the church, we had not seen them very much but everytime we talked with each other on the phone we would always say "We have got to get together soon, I have missed you so much". But, we never did. Now, we never will. It's ironic that we can take the time to go to the funeral home and the funeral, but we never made time to go visit. I am having alot of regrets right now. I am feeling so guilty.


Saturday night my husbands aunt called from South Carolina to tell us that his uncle has inoperable prostate cancer. He will the taking radiation treatments, but his prognosis is unclear.


I am pledging to start taking the time to visit more with my friends and family, to spend some time with them, to take them flowers from my garden. I get so caught up in working a full time job, running a household, chauffering my son, and a million other things that I neglect slowing down and enjoying my friends and family, until it's too late. I don't want to be too late again.


Sorry for the long dull post, I just needed to type this out and get it off my chest.


Blessings


Linda