I'm Dreaming of Summer ...........

This is a collage of a Sunday afternoon of pictures Frank and I took on a summer day in my corner of Connecticut…..

.....an organic market in New Preston , a working farm in Roxbury, flowers from my garden and an apron I had just made.

Summer .......I miss you.

double click on photo and check out the praying mantis on my flower ~ just in the center of photo
….an organic market in New Preston, farm with

Christmas Time in New York City

Christmas in New York City ~ there is nothing like it!

Frank and I took the train in on Saturday ~ about an hour from our corner of Conn.

We were greeted in Grand Central Station by Santa's EVERYWHERE !

We were waiting for a cab outside of Grand Central and I couldn't resist this shot .

First thing ~ we headed to Max Brenner for some Brunch Therapy......

Max Brenner

...... for some chocolate magic

.....swirling around in big vats and toying with all of our senses!

Across the street at Union Square ~ there were vendors GALORE....

....... just look at the sampling of spices.

We walked about 20 blocks to Macys ~

at this point my feet were killing me ~ thank you Foot Locker for being there when i needed you!

                                                     and then 20 more to the Radio City Music Hall/ Rockefeller Center area.

Never able to resist a NYC hot dog vendor.

The glorious Rockefeller Tree in all it's glory.

The ice skaters are not letting the cold temperatures keep them away.

Across the street ~ on the Saks Fifth Avenue building are these magical stars covering the building.

About every 15 minutes or so ~ they start to twinkle to Christmas music.

Everyone just stops and listens in awe!

I love this shot ~ a side street off of 5Th Avenue.

Go get a cup of eggnog ~ relax and super size the following photos of the windows along 5Th Ave.

Happy Holidays!

Time to Catch Up!

Hi Friends!

 
Let's catch up!
It's been a while since we chatted but the last couple months have been all about Jake.

Our 15 year old Brittney needed some pretty extensive surgery for a tooth infection that had travel up to his eye area.

Then the week before Thanksgiving ~

    he went limp, couldn't eat or stand.It turned out to be an ailment called  Vestibular.

Except for a bit of a crocked walk ~ he's so much better.

Thank you Lord!

I have been working and creating ~ when I'm not farming on Farmville.

An adorable gift and basket shop The Wishing Well  in the BEAUTIFUL town of Sandy Hook, Ct is now carrying my work.

They offer a Well Baskets ~ healthy food baskets that you can have shipped as well.

My items are not listed on line but in their "brick and mortar" location.

I had a very short deadline to get some things in before Christmas ~ here are a few of those items.

Inner Child Doll

Paris Chic Organizer

Classic Scottie Dog Mini Quilt

This is a crazy quilted pouch I made for my Aunt Sarah......

and one made for my friend Debbi

My girls and I attended a Halloween Party hosted by a dear family friend for the United Way.

I had not planned on attending ~ I met my girls at their friends restaurant across the street to drop off a gift

and they convinced me to go.

I jumped in my car and high tailed it to Walmart (getting pulled over for not having my lights on ~ oops!)

I grabbed one of those cheap looking costumes ~ paid for it ~ then drove to a local church parking lot on the way and got changed in my car.

I was praying that same friendly police officer that pulled me over WASN'T in the area!

I arrived looking like a misfit but it was dress up after all and we had a BLAST!

This is Jaci , me and Cheri (my twins!)

Me and ALL my girls! Jaci, Ashley, me and Cheri

Ashley designed and created the dress she is wearing!

Jaci and Cheri

Tony and Cheri ~ Tony was a "chick magnet" ~ get it?

I am still dog sitting my son's dog Daisy.

This photo cracks me up ~ Jake and Teddi were sleeping and Daisy was bored out of her mind!

Teddi trying to look cute so Momma will give him a treat!

Teddi jumped on the chair after Thanksgiving Dinner and was appalled he wasn't getting anything!

Daisy with my son Franky ~ not minding at all that Cheri's beagle Cutlet is getting VERY fresh!

The Thanksgiving Dinner

And now the Christmas season!

Jake and Teddi are napping in the chairs in my sitting area ~ listening to some Kenny G.

I hope your holiday season has gotten off to a grand start!

We are certainly all going a little crazy right about now but DO stop to enjoy the sights and sounds all around you!

Let's Chit Chat About Sewing ,Chicken Dinner,Matzo Ball Soup,Blue Crabs and Saluna!

I thought we could chat about this and that.

Since I have my Mom on my mind who will be having some surgery this week ~ let me share a gift I recently made for her.

It is a simple crazy quilted coaster.

I purchased the coaster kit at Michaels for just a few $.

It comes with the cork bottom and cross stitch fabric and pattern.

I stitched a crazy quilted circle using the paper insert as a pattern. Such an easy way to make a loving and persoalized gift that is quick to put together.
Anyone can use a pretty coaster for their morning coffee or tea ~ I already have more kits on hand for Christmas gifts!

I started the Chicken Hot Pads for my etsy shop but keep finding folks to give them to!

I love using the retro fabrics and making my own patterns from pictures in magazines!

Speaking of chicken ~ I have wanted to share one of my favorite kitchen gadgets ~
this chicken roaster that allows you to roast your chicken up right.
It sits on 4 prongs that are attached to a dish at the bottom.

I always use organic chicken ~ stuffing sage and other herbs I have on my patio right under the skin.

( You can see the it at the top of the chicken)

I put stuffing or a whole onion in the cavity and put an all natural chicken bullion cube in the tray.
Pour a bit of water over the chicken that you have sprinkled with pepper.
Roast on a cookie sheet until done ~ about 75 minutes.
It is always perfectly cooked ~ moist with crispy skin.

I bought my roaster at TJ Maxx about 10 years ago but I still see it there and HomeGoods
from time to time. It is only about $6.00!

The next day ~ I made Matzo Ball Soup with the left over chicken.

Frank and my son Franky were hungry for a Hungarian Treat called Saluna so the soup was a perfect pair with this!

Saluna is made by heating pork fat over a fire ,then melting the fat on Rye bread filled with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers,onions and peppers.

I know what your thinking but trust me ~ this stuff is GOOD!!!!

My son and I were getting the Saluna ready when my husband called and said he was bringing home Blue Crabs!!!

That might not mean much to you but I'm a Maryland girl ~ YOU KNOW ~ from the Chesapeake Bay ~ Blue Crab Nation!!!

We sat by the fire eating Saluna sandwiches until dark ~ then came upstairs to dive into our Blue Crabs and beer!

Cooking blue crabs is easy ~ add a few dashes of vinegar into boiling water a few inches deep, cover the crabs with GOBS of Old Bay Seasoning.

No Maryland native will be without it in their kitchen ~ regardless of their current geography!

Old Bay is also good on Potato Salad, Home fries, macaroni salad, and deviled eggs.

When I was walking up from my back yard ~ I happen to look at my house from the outside in.

What someone else would see if they were walking by.

The kitchen looked warm and inviting ~ I felt so thankful

for my little house. Modest,nothing fancy but Home!

OKAY ALREADY ~ enough with the sentiment ~ We HAVE CRABS to EAT!!!!

Our retaining wall is dripping with mums right now !
These have proved to be the nicest ones I have ever had and
we got them last year at Home Depot for next to nothing.
I am not a flower snob ~ every flower and flowering weed looks pretty to me!

Finding the bright side of things isn't so hard ~ see this view below?

It is what I look at when I look out my window.

It is a very ugly roof in disrepair from a store at the bottom of my yard and

a Friendlys Restaurant .

See this view below?

It is what I see DIRECTLY above the Friendlys Restaurant.

In a couple more weeks ~ this will explode with color as the trees turn red and gold.

When I look down ~ THAT.

When I look UP ~ THIS.

Psalm 121:1 "I will lift up my eyes to the hills......my help comes from the Lord."

So remember when you fall flat on your face ~

or someone pushes you down with a nasty word ~ LOOK UP!

By the way ~ this is the view from the inside of my window ;)

These are some of the last flowers from my garden of the season.

Notice the beautiful Tea Cozy my pal Pat made for me one Christmas.

Try this the day after your next Chicken Dinner!

Matzo Ball Soup

Simmer left over chicken bones until meat begins to fall off of bones.

Remove all bones and add leftover chicken meat, gravy and any vegetables.

Add a diced onion, the entire heart of a head of celery , 3 carrots sliced, pepper, a chicken bouillon cube.

I like to simmer this for 2 hours.

Use Streits Matzo Ball Mix (don't get the kind that includes the soup mix ~ it is far too salty)

Follow direction on box but I will include them here ~

1. Mix 2 large eggs with 1/4 cup oil
2. Add contents of matzo package and mix until uniform.Let stand 15 minutes.
3. Using wet hands, form matzo onto balls about the size of walnuts.
4. Drop balls into boiling broth, cover tightly and reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes.