Polka Dot Eggs - Blog Carnival 7-17

I have been considering what to write about hot dogs since it is National Hot Dog month and the theme for this installment of the Etsybloggers Team blog carnival. I thought and thought and then remember something from when my children were young. I was a single mom with two small kids and a very limited budget. At one point, we were on food stamps. I made a game out of it. I tried to shop for things so that at the end of the month I would have something left over...then we could enjoy some sort of treat! I came up with my special recipe to help stretch the grocery budget and give my children a decent meal. I created "Polka Dot Eggs"! They really aren't that difficult. Just slice up two or three hotdogs and warm them in a frying pan. Beat some eggs and add them to the pan. Cook them until done and serve with some toast with jelly. This was a quick dinner and the kids love it! Of course, Polka Dot Eggs sounded much better than scrambled eggs with hot dogs!

God bless!

Summer Recipe for Creamed Cucumbers - July 3 Blog Carnival

I have three foods that I love especially when they are fresh picked in the summertime: corn on the cob, tomatoes and cucumbers!

Here is my husband's recipe for creamed cucumbers. I love the tart apple cider vinegar with the smooth cream. This gets devoured in our house every summer.

2 or 3 cucumbers sliced
apple cider vinegar
whipping cream

place the sliced cucumber in a bowl. Pour in apple cider vineger enough to cover all the cucumbers. Cover bowl and place in fridge for 3 to 4 hours (overnight if you like the vinegar taste).

Pour cucumbers into a sieve to drain. Put the drained cucumbers back in the bowl and pour in whipping cream until covered. Place covered bowl in fridge until time to serve.

We are starting to pick cucumbers from our garden so I will be making a batch in the near future!

God bless!!

Fairy Tales - Blog Carnival Post

My favorite fairy tale would be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It is the first movie I remember seeing in a real movie theater.

It was probably mid 1960's and a Saturday matinee. The Levoy movie theater was a classic. The big marquee out front, the fresh popped popcorn for sale in the lobby. The screen was so wide! What a way to see a classic animated movie come to life. The wicked Queen was scary and Snow White was so beautiful. The Seven Dwarfs were funny. The music was wonderful. I can close my eyes and remember the sounds and smells and sights.

The best part is as my children were born I was able to share this fabulous tale on video. I love all the Disney prinecesses but Snow White will always be my favorite!!

Etsy Bloggers Carnival ~ GREEN!

I must admit that I hadn't thought about "going green" with my etsy shop but I do have a couple of items that will fit the GREEN description. One is earth friendly and the other is just green!



My first item is my Go Green with the In the Pink Tote!



This is a the perfect tote for quick trips to the store. The front pocket is perfect for your wallet, keys and cell phone. It is made of 100% cotton yarn and is machine washable.



My second item is just green.
It is my U Bring the Lime bracelet.


This was totally inspired by warm summer days and frozen margaritas!

I hope you have enjoyed my GREEN post =) God bless!!

Valentine's Day

I don't really have one stand out Valentines Day. I do have a childhood memory that encompasses many Valentines Days growing up. Every year my father would bring home two heart shaped boxes of candy. One small one - very plainly wrapped. And one large one - usually decorated with bows or artifical roses and satiny material. Every year the small one went to my mom and the big beautiful one went to me. My mom and I laugh about it to this day. I guess you could say I was "Daddy's Little Girl"

He has been gone for fifteen years. I was blessed to have him for a father. He was my first Valentine. I really do miss him! Thanks Daddy!

Holiday Traditions Dec22 Blog Carnival

Growing up my family had the typical traditions centered around the Christmas holiday. We hung stockings. We set out goodies for Santa and his reindeer. We got our parents up at the crack of dawn (not knowing they had just fallen asleep after assembling various gifts). One thing my parents did that I will always remember because it was so magical. We would have a live tree each year. It wouldn't come into the house until Dec. 24th. My father was in charge of the lights. Other than that when we went to bed it was not decorated. It was always so wonderful to wake up and see the tree with tinsle and ornaments just sparkling and shining. We were told that Santa took care of it! (I sure wish Santa would come take care of my poor litte 4 ft. tree that is sitting in the corner of my living room!)

Every Christmas eve, we would eat fish. We would even have shrimp...such an extravagance!! It would be ham for dinner the next day, and the next day, and the next day.

My traditions with my own children are similar. One thing we started doing when they were very young was reading "The Polar Express" and listening for the bells. We would also make a birthday cake for Jesus because, after all, it was His special day! My daughter (at 16) still puts out a plate for Santa...I must confess it keeps the little girl inside of me alive.

Merry Christmas and God bless!

Ms Moo Makes Great Soap!

First I must say...I love the shop's name...the owner of this lovely little etsy shop is lovingly referred to as Ms. Moo! She is an actve member of the Etsybloggers Team! It is a delight to just browse through the items she has for sale. The pictures are just wonderful and many of the lotions, scrubs and soaps look good enough to eat! (it would be wise to just use as directed!) Ms. Moo (Linda) is coming up on her one year anniversary on etsy and has many sales and satisfied customers. Below are some items currently for sale that I know I would like to see wrapped under my tree.

Vanilla Whipped Sugar Scrub

Razz Nill Soap

For the lucky guy...Bay Rum Soap

Limited Edition - Christmas 2008 - Candy Cane Soap

I was lucky enough to be chosen as a product tester and I got to take some Sparkling Champange Whipped Shea Butter for a trial run. It was fabulous. The scent was intoxicating! And my skin felt wonderful!

Ms. Moo takes lots of care in her creations. I hope you will stop by and give her products a try. I am hoping for some Christmas cash so I can do some shopping there too!

Happy Holidays and God bless!!

My Grandmom's Brownies

When I was growing up, every Sunday we would head to visit family about an hour away. One stop was always at my mother's mother's home. She lived in the right half of a duplex across for the fire station in my Mom's hometown. As you walk in the front door, you enter a closed in porch. The house was small and so was Grandmom. As we grew up, the biggest milestone was when we were taller than she was.

My grandmother made the most delicious brownies ever! I am not sure she used a recipe. When you asked her for it she would say "Some flour, some sugar etc" She never knew exact amounts. She would just mix them up and they were perfect!

The best part was she always seemed to have a tin of brownies on her front porch. I can still remember how they tasted. I have never had better since.


I miss you Grandmom...and your brownies.

God bless!!!

In the Pink!

My favorite color is....PINK!!! It has been ever since I can remember. Well, except for when I was eleven and I fell in love with orange for about a year. After that, I was in the pink again. I find that when I am shopping I gravitate towards anything pink! I especially love dark pink. I love putting pink in combination with gray and black. Here are some creations in my shop.




The first is my C'est Paris! bracelet. I loved the large focal beads. The Granny Square afghan is just perfect for curling up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea. I actually love how it turned out. I had some extra yarn (what good crocheter doesn't?) and I found this pattern. Both are in my shop on etsy.




I also have completed the pink and white project I featured in a previous blog. I took pictures last night before running out to the theater for rehearsal. The picture quality isn't the greatest. I hope to take some better pics this weekend so I can get it in the shop. Here is the final product

I am calling this my Go Green ~ In the Pink! tote. I am pleased with the way it turned out. So much so that I have another tote ready to assemble in tan and turquiose. It is roomy enough to grab and go with everything you need for a quick shopping trip. It is 100% cotton which is my yarn of choice. I have some holiday yarn I may use to whip up a Christmas version. Oh, the possibilities are endless. My favorite is the pink!






As any good crocheter knows...you have to have a stash for inspiration. Here is a small bit of my stash in hues that I absolutely love. Of course, there is pink. I also love purple, especially lavendar. I have also combined pink with a sage green and dark tan for a baby blanket. I was inspired by the yarn on the right. It was a great combination for a baby blanket. I love that it was not the traditional pink, blue, yellow combination. I only wish I had snapped a picture of it before giving it away. I am trying to remember to do that so I can keep a visual record of my creations.

Pink truly is my favorite color. I am sure that I will have many more projects In The Pink!

God bless! Remember count your blessings for God is good indeed!