Mom's Beautiful Garden ~ Taylors, S.C.

Taylors, South Carolina ~ Home of my Mom, Step-Dad Frank and Grama.



I arrived safe and sound ...... so nice to be in the loving grip of my family : )



And just LOOK where I got to play while Mom cooked Thanksgiving Dinner ~ in her beautiful garden!

This is Lake Robinson ~ the lake my family lives on with breathtaking views of the North Carolina mountains.

This is standing on the porch of Mom's garden shed (built by my brother) looking towards the lake.

This is from the garden shed porch ~ looking towards the herb garden.

Standing in front of Mom's pergela ~ looking towards the lake.

Isn't the texture of this tree amazing!

This is looking towards the garden shed.

Looking up at the back of Mom's house from the dock.

Standing on the dock ~ looking out.

The garden shed window was savagly attacked by a flying rock from the weed wacker ~

this in looking into the shed.

I gathered together my childhood toys to bring home while I was visiting. I hadnt seen my dolls in SOOOO many years.
Look at my sweet little dishes and pots and pans. I just adored washing these.

I spent COUNTLESS hours as a child organizing and rearanging my toys in the basement. I got butterflys in my tummy ~ going down there with a plan to put the kitchen set in a differnt location and maybe caddy corner my table and chairs!

This one boy that lived nearby would help me hang old curtains as room dividers. We created as many rooms as curtains we could find.

Then he would always say ~ " There is a place for everything and everysthing is in it's place! "

Doing this STILL insights the SAME butterflys. Any frequent visitor to my home will tell you I don't just rearrange furniture often but relocate whole rooms on a regular basis!

What things do you still do now ~ that you have done since you were a child?

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.