Road Trip to See My Family in S.C. ~ First Stop ~ Lexington, Virginia

Lexington, Virginia ~ I arrived in town about 4:30 pm after being on the road for 10 hours.

This was going to be a quick nights sleep ~ then back on the road first thing in the morning.



Until I pulled up to THIS ~ where my room was for the night!

This is a Hampton Inn and at just $110.00 per night ~ I was not expecting such a lovely sight!

It is a beautiful southern mansion with an addition in the back where the rooms are.

I freshend up and took a walk ~ just a block away ~ to this beautiful town steeped deep in Civil War history.

It is the home of Andrew Jackson ~ who's garden's I walked through.

Isn't this just utterly breathtaking!!!!

And I love the way the street signs are placed right into the side of the buildings.

Enjoy the beautiful buildings ~ all within a few blocks of each other.

Friday Holiday Idea's

Rubber Stamped Ornaments (otherwise known as I NEED SOMETHING CUTE AND QUICK!!!)

The 2 ornaments shown are over 10 years old.
I made 100's of these for my children's Christmas Fairs at school and they have always been one of my favorites.

Simply rubber stamp a design in red ink onto muslin. I would do a large piece of fabric ~ spacing the stamps evenly to make many at once.

Cut stamped fabric into squares and sew to felt cut the sane size ~ right sides together ~ leaving enough of an opening to turn right side out.

Stuff with lavender or poly fill ~ or both.

Don't forget to add your cord when sewing or you can wait till the end and hot glue a cord to the back.

Cover the front in glue and generously sprinkle the clear glitter over fabric. It will dry clear.The finished size is about 3" by 2".

This would be so beautiful done with black felt, black stamp and a black checkered cord .....

or pink or .........

My fave Christmas Cookies since I was a kid ~ SPRITZ Cookies!

Right Click to super size and print recipe. I had better luck using 2 cups of flour instead of the 2 1/2 they call for.
I have made these every year since I have been married.
This is the original recipe card my Grama used to make them :)


A Heart warming gift ~ copy and print a family members favorite recipe on fabric with your ink jet printer.
Make pot holders with the fabric for kid's or grand kids. You could even use a piece of a tablecloth or fabric from the clothing of the loved one.

Excuse me 2008 but I STILL LOVE those silly jello molds from the "olden" days!!!!

I copied this recipe from my Mom when I was 19 ~ just day's before I moved out and into my first apartment.
It is the PERFECT Holiday color ~ green, red and white!

So be a kid again and make this ~


BING SALAD

3 oz pkg lemon-lime jello
1 1/4 cups boiling water
2 cans ( 1 pound each) pitted big cherries , drained (don't get the ones WITH pitts ~ like I did once heh! heh!)
3 0z pkg lemon jello
1 cup (3oz) cream cheese
1 pint cream style cottage cheese
1 can (8 3/4 oz) crushed pineapple

Dissolve lemon-lime jello in 1 1/4 cups boiling water. Chill until slightly thick.
Place cherries in the bottom of a 13 x9 glass dish.
Cover with lemon - lime jello. Chill until firm.
Dissolve lemon jello in 1 cup boiling water.
Cool slightly; add cream cheese and mix till smooth.
Pour over firm cherry layer.
Chill several hours or overnight.

I have been a fanatic about getting rid of excess holiday decor I don't use ~ and using what my heart makes me keep!
I have been decorating for the last 2 weeks and when I come across a glass bulb I am not using ~ I attach it to this tinsel wreath on my pantry door. (Tinsel wreath ~ $2.50 at Target last year)
It should be covered with assorted bulbs when decorating is done and I will have created a new heirloom ~ FREE!


I saw this lovely idea in the latest issue of HALLMARK magazine.

SO friends ~ I know many of you in the colder areas are not wanting to say good-bye to the warm weather.

I just purchased this box of Smith & Hawkins bulbs ~ regular $9.99 for $2.64 at Target this week.

I planted them as soon as I got home and before you know it ~ I will be posting pic's of them in bloom!

Spring will surely be here before we know it so put on a pair of warm socks ~ make some holiday gifts for your loved ones and enjoy this Christmas Season.

It's not about the money but the memory's you create and the ones that live in your heart.

I truly love you all SO much.

Feel LOVED ~ and pass it on :)

Oil Cloth Coupon Holder

I just LOVE these!!!!!

I made one of these for my purse to hold department store coupons and those stray pieces of paper that are always floating around my purse.
It is the most practical thing I have ever made for myself and the oilcloth is indestructible!

The ones shown here ARE NOT DONE! The threads are not cut ~ and I need to add the Velcro snap. I am leaving tomorrow morning (11-23) for a trip down south and won't be able to do the finishing touches until I get home the first of December.

I will start carrying these on my ETSY site December 4Th ~ at a cost of $7.50 INCLUDING
Shipping!
They measure 7" by 4".

All orders will go out same day or next day after Dec. 4th.

Feel free to email me tthreadart@aol.com of you'd like to place an order in advance :)

Housekeeping and A Wonderful Comfort Meal

Do you have one of these that hold the large water jugs? (This holds the large Poland Spring water jugs)
You may want to be sure to clean it OFTEN!
I had thought every change of season was good enough but I am finding every 2 months may be better.
I had just cleaned mine in August but I hate to admit upon checking this week ~ it had a layer of yellow "stuff"
at the bottom. OH YUCK!!!!
After cleaning every surface spotless with hot water ~ I filled the container with hot water and a small bottle of vinegar. After soaking for about 30 minutes ~ I opened the spigot and let the water escape that way ~ so that anything "icky" in there would be washed away!
Lastly ~ wipe the entire outside surface and spigot with vinegar and water mixture.

NOW time to make a wonderfully easy Comfort Meal :)

Matza Ball Soup

Chicken Cutlets

Boiled Red Potaotes

Spring Salud with Sauted Pears and Green Apples

In a medium saucepan ~ pour a qt of organic chicken broth.

Add a large onion, 2 carrots, the center part (with the leaves) of a head of celery, a small whole potatoes.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Let this simmer for an hour or so.

I follow the directions on the Manischewitz Matzo Ball Mix to make the balls. (i don't buy the package that includes the broth ~ I prefer making my own as the one in the box is FAR too salty!)

I use one packet which made all the balls in the picture above ~ about 12.

Start boiling your Red Potatoes.

While that is cooking ~ dip boneless chicken in egg and Italian Bread Crumbs. Cook in pan with butter ~ turning when needed or Bake at 350 till just white in the middle. Time varys depending on how thick your cutlets are.

Saute pears and green apples in olive oil till tender.

Layer organic spring mix lettuce, crumbled goat cheese, and pear and apple mixture right from pan and breadcrumbs.

(My daughter Ashley created this salad recipe and added breadcrumbs tossed in olive oil and broiled on the top)

The pear mixture heats up the goat cheese slightly and it is HEAVENLY!

This would be nice with a raspberry - olive oil dressing ~ we just used olive oil and rice vinegar.

What a GREAT easy meal for your family to come home to!

Teddi LOVED the chicken broth!

Friday Holiday Idea's

It's Friday ~ Let's go Shopping!

These awesome SPORTO boots from Macy's ~ on sale with coupon for $30.00. Regular price was $59.00

This beautiful ELLE blouse ~ perfect for a holiday night out ~ from Kohl's for $24.00. I used a $10.00 coupon and they were having a 10% off on top of that. (I am not a big fan of Kohl's but this was a great buy)

The perfect casual holiday dress with a pair of black boots!

This came from Macy's for just $11.00 on the clearance rack! Regular price was $59.00.

This Laura Ashley boxed set from TJ MAXX was a sweet gift for $12.99.

It contains Cleansing Hand Soap, Hand Lotion, Linens Spray and 6 Drawer Scent Boxes.

This is the cute box it comes in.

However please note ~ the Linen Spray is labeled Hand Wash ~ something you may want to be aware of for gift giving.

This is HANDS DOWN ~ the BEST product I have purchased for my home in recent memory.

It uses no chemicals ~ just water. It does a perfect job on my hard wood floors, laminated floors and tile.

(You must sweep or vacuum well first or you will end up pushing the dirt around.)

It comes with heavy duty cloth mop heads that attaches to the bottom. I throw them right in the wash afterwards and air dry.

Another great feature ~ it is QUIET! It is the only machine I can use and my Yorkie isn't barking the whole time!

I paid $79.00 at HSN but I believe it is sold out there. Still available at Target, Macy and Amazon but don't wait to long!

http://www.target.com/Bissell-Steam-Hard-Floor-Cleaner/dp/B000RPVHZU/sr=1-5/qid=1213370643/ref=sr_1_5/601-1410821-0315328?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Abissell&page=1?=1?=1

Next Friday I will have a sweet and easy Christmas ornament idea

and one of my fav holiday recipies :)

Crazy Quilted Eyeglass Case

I will face this storm of life ......and defy it.

I made this eyeglass case over the week-end for a friend in town battling breast cancer.

We used to work together and she was known to borrow my reading glasses so I thought it only fitting to give her her own pair since I no longer work there : )

Some of the supplies I used in this piece are from Pat Winter ~ including the cigg print.

I didn't notice until I started stitching that the girl on the print seems to be holding her breasts.

How fitting ~ and one of those "God Moments" where you can see God moving Pat to share this print with me so that I could down the road ~ use it for this project.

I just love the way He shows His tender love through His kid's.

Morning Light

Warning ~ After reading this post ~ you will never want to eat over my house.

I can tell you where the morning light came in to any of the homes I have ever lived in since I was a child.
I LOVE the morning light!
My ritual each morning when I get up is to sit with my oatmeal, bible and list for the day.
Teddi and Jake sit at my feet and wait for the last of the oatmeal that I always save for them!
If Ted is not closer to me than Jake ~ his naughty side comes out ~ teeth showing and all!
This morning ~ he jumped up on the table for fear of losing out on first dibs.
Before I yelled at him and made him get down (tougue in cheek ) ........ I got these shots of him with the morning light streaming in.

He was making a very weird sound here ~ kinda like a cry and yell at the same time.

Hydrangea's from my garden ~ my first year for blue ones!

I promise I will be washing those placements today!

Let's just pretend he is reading my bible!

Mom gives in. Could YOU resist those beautiful faces?

Jake has the patience of a saint.

The shadow of the morning sun coming in through the lace curtains.

And speaking of my list ~ this one is a week or so old. My husband and I have been widdling it down the last 2 week-ends.

Notice the "notes" he made to the left of my entry.

Money is his way of saying we can't do it now. I crossed off money on one entry because I happen to know we have the wood needed for that project in the garage.

He wrote next to it "time" meaning he doesnt have enough.

I'll keep you posted!

My Heartfelt Thought's About The 2008 Election

No one seems to be talking about the election on the blogs I visit. Since it feels like the GREAT BIG PINK elephant in the room ~ I thought I would jump in with my thoughts.

After much tossing and turning ~ I voted for McCain. However ~ it felt different for me this year.

Normally I would have been glued to the TV but instead I spent the entire day outdoors ~ painting, raking leaves with bearly a thought about what was happening at the polls.

After dinner was made and cleaned up ~ I put on the TV and went back and forth from CNN and ABC.

As it became clear Obama was going to take this one ~ I felt a wave of peace come over me like I've never felt before.

Before I knew it ~ I was cheering for him.

I went to bed last night with such contentment that he had won and also a HUGE burden to keep him and his family in my prayers for protection.

My husband and I didn't have time to discus the election before he left for work but he called me when he was on the road. A big McCain fan ~ he had the same feeling of peace and dare I say joy that Obama indeed had won.

There is no denying what a turning point this is for our African American brothers and sisters.

I loved Woopee Goldberg's (from The View) comment that she felt she could finally put her suitcase down ~ she was home.

I love the point made today that slaves built the White House and now a black man would be walking up the stairs as the President of the United States.

From a child growing up in Maryland where the "N" word was as common as milk or bread ~ I have always hated prejudice.

Now ~ everything feels different. A line has been crossed and there is no going back.

Thank God.

Cherish Square

This was for a special friend of my daughter. It was important to keep it simple yet filled with love.

I used a simple shape copied off of the computer. I then made a sandwich of duponi silk and Timtex.

Pulling the needle through was very difficult but worth it.