Is it just me...

I walked into the kitchen this morning and the morning sun was shining in. It felt so warm and inviting. Then I glanced outside, into the backyard. I stood there shocked. I don't know if it was all the bright light or what, but the yard looked much greener than it did the prior day. We are talking Ireland green...bright Emerald City green. It was just lovely. I guess Spring has sprung. I did see a couple dozen robins the other day...or maybe it was just the same one, over and over again.

Just one of those weekends.

You know how days start out and end up leading in a direction you didn't see coming. Yeah, that was my Sat. I was going to go for a walk at the Planting Fields and read a book...but stopped by the Leach house to grab the books for my cousins and ended up helping Jean take their brass bed apart and putting together another bed frame, taking the new one apart again because it was defective. We returned it then swapped it out for another one, took it home and put it together. Jean then sent me downstairs to watch TV while she finished the little bit of painting she had left. Her room looks lovely so far. I can't wait to see it completely put together. Anyway Jim came home, we ate supper and watch some TV and then I headed home.

Sunday was a little different. Please note: I didn't even have to bribe her to stand in front of that scribble scrable. I just thought it was funny and anyway, everyone who knows Raine, knows that she is FAR from stupid. I guess that's why it seem funny to me.
I spent the day with Raine. ( The second time in two weeks...!!I love it when that happens!! We went to brunch at Craftbar. If you watch Top Chef, you'll know all about Chef Tom Colicchio and his restaurants. Well, I wouldn't say I had a great meal. It was a bit of a let down actual. I ordered off the brunch menu and got the House Cured Salmon with Country Bread and Crème Frâiche. Though the bread was good, it was really burnt on the top and side. I'm not sure why I didn't say something and have it sent back but I'm always afraid that they'll spit on or drop my replacement. The salmon was good after the second or third bite. The first one grossed me out because it tasted very fishy, but it was fine after that. They were out of cinnamon rolls as well but that's OK, we made up for it with a great treat later.We went to the Brooklyn Flea market. Another disappointment. I guess I'm just used to the Chelsea flea Markets...but then again, perhaps its better during the warmer months when the can hold it outside. Who knows. Oh and our special sweet treat of the day? We went to the Brooklyn Jacques Torres Chocolate shop and had a Hot Chocolate to go with a yummy Chocolate Chip Cookie. I'd say the highlights of the day were spending time with Raine and that eating that cookie.
So Raine and I strolled around Brooklyn a little bit and took in the sights from the riverside. It was a misty,foggy day so it made Manhattan look much smaller than normal. That really isn't something that is easy to do, since Manhattan always seems to have a bigger than life feel.
The Statue of Liberty looked so far away but even though the fog, you could see Miss Liberty, standing as she has for many years, welcoming ships.
The South Street Seaport looked just as busy as always. This was a different view for me. I'm usually at the Seaport looking across toward Brooklyn. I've watched several firework displays above the river from the top deck of Pier 17.
Ah yes, it was a good day indeed. I went somewhere I'd never been and spent some time with a good friend. Does life get any better than that? I don't think so.

Felt food time...again

 

Well, I've been busy cutting out felt and either sewing it together or using special felt glue. I've tried to avoid the glue but it does come in handy for chocolate chips and for the little bits of red and green in the pickle loaf luncheon meat. I'm shipping this batch off as soon as I add a few details with my sewing machine....but first I need to get my rear in gear and quilt those baby doll quilts. So here's what I've been doing...its a little sampling: Breakfast anyone? The waffles are in the process of being made.
 
 
Taco anyone? These were just simply cut out. I didn't even bother sewing anything on them...I just glued little beans on the re fried bean blobs. 
Luncheon platter...with three types of cheese slices, turkey, bologna, and pickle loaf along with some lettuce and a few pickle slices if you are in the mood. I'm working on several different ideas for the bread slices. I'm not sure which style I like better. 

Cut salad, anyone? there are even cherry 'maters in there. She can dump out the contents and arrange them the way she'd like them.

How about some cookies and a little hot tea to go along with them. Yeah, I even made little tea bags and I stuffed them with the tiny scraps of brown I had, so it looks like there are tea leaves inside them.
 
 Last but not least, you can have your choice of three different types of pasta. With or with out sauce and with meatballs on the side.

OK, OK

Several people have emailed me asking when I'm going to post pictures of some more of the crafty stuff I'm working on. Well, its nothing to exciting. I'm making more felt food for the Rue. I'm done with most of the pasta and have moved on to sandwich toppings. Before I change the foot on my sewing machine, I need to finish quilting those dolly blankets. I finally got my machine to work....I suggested it would find its new home in a landfill if it didn't cooperate. On top of that, I've gotten myself into this 5 handmade things for 5 people deal and of course, somehow...like I don't know how...I've turned it into a 10 for 10 deal. I have all year though, so that's good. I've got several ideas and of course one person is going to be easy to knock off the list...he likes food. lol, don't we all. So, to answer every one's questions...YES, I will be taking pictures of stuff sooner or later. Relax, sheesh!

Just thinking about them makes me hungry....AGAIN!

Anyone like Sugared Puffs...you know, Popovers! Oh, they are good. I didn't take a picture because they were scarfed down to fast...but you should give them a try.

Sugared Puffs

For the Puffs:
Softened unsalted butter, for greasing the pan
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 Cup whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 Cup flour

For the sugar coating:
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Liberally grease a nonstick popover pan or an muffin pan with 1/2-cup indentations, with softened butter.
2) For the puffs, put the 2 Tablespoons melted butter, eggs, milk, salt, and sugar int a blender and whiz(hehe) for a few seconds. *(excuse that giggle...it was my inner child coming out. As a kid, if someone said, Whiz...it meant to pee. I regressed for a minute there.)
3) Add the flour and whiz(hehe) for 5 to 8 seconds, just until smooth. * I'm sorry...I'll try to stop)
4)Divide the batter among 9 greased molds, filling each 1/2 to 2/3 full.
5) Bake for 35 minutes, until the puffs are deep brown.
6) Remove from the oven, wait a few minutes until cool enough to handle, then remove the puff from the pans. You many need a small knife to help pry them out.
7)Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Thoroughly brush each puff all over with melted butter, then dredge in sugar and cinnamon mixture to coat completely. Let cool on a baking rack.

Makes 9 Puffs.

Make sure you have lots of people around or you'll want to eat them all yourself. Trust me...you don't want to do that. I'm not going to let you blame me when you won't fit into any of your clothes. Yeah, that means you MUST share.

Rue's bug adventure last year...lol, cracks me up.

This was taken by my cousins, in the church basement at Shannons Baby Shower last year. I heard about it but I didn't see this happening. I was off doing, who knows what.

Welcome Back, Old Friend!

What took you so long, Spring! I've missed you.

Five handmade things!

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!!


This offer does have some strings so please read carefully:

* I make no guarantees that you will like what I make

* What I create will be just for you

* It'll be done this year (2009)

* You have no clue what it's going to be


I may make something crafty or artsy, a pot holder, a framed photo, a magnet, a poem, book, a short video, a playdoh sculpture, a cookie, a vest knitted from cat hair or something entirely different....basically whatever strikes my fancy.

Here's the fine print:

In return, all you need to do is post this text into a note of your own and make 5 things for 5 others. What could be more fun!!!! (change the above to stuff you do) Some ideas you could do for others: (mix CD's, collage, journal, painting, bake cookies, etc...)

Is it button time yet?

I've been going through my craft supplies. I've decided to use up as much stuff as I can. I had a big box full of buttons and felt like I should do something with them. I thought about making bracelets or necklaces with them but then that seemed to boring. I needed something a little more creative. So I sorted the buttons into color groups and started making designs. It started with a simple shamrock and then a heart, moving on to a red white and blue flag shaped like a star. Then I decided to go LARGE.
It takes quite a bit of time to sew each button to the fabric. What's worse is that I have issues placing the buttons on one at a time and ending up with the shape that I want. It just seems to get wonky. Instead, I put them all on at once, stitch the buttons around the outside and pray that I don't tap or knock the hoop while I'm doing the sewing.
Believe me, I've made a mess more than once. Often it totally changes the layout of my design. Sometimes for the better, but that's a rare occurrence. I really like my snowman with his red scarf and earmuffs. I still have to come up with a strap for his earmuffs but I don't have any tiny buttons. I might just use a piece of yarn or beads.
I love my pumpkin almost as much as my snowman. Then again, I'm a sucker for a nice shaped heart. I'd do more holidays but I think I need more buttons before I attempt it. I'm almost scared to even try to make a turkey...lol. Any suggestions?

Yesterday's snow day....

Everyone was home yesterday. We had about 10 inches of white stuff fall over night.
It's kind of hard to judge the depth of the snow because it drifted a lot.
The wind really kicked up and it snowed on and off most of yesterday. It was heavy snow as well.
I went out and helped scoop the driveway and sidewalk, but then quickly returned to the warmth of a nice thick blanket.
Our neighbor lady was trying to chat it up with me while I was scooping. I wasn't having it. I was to darn annoyed with them. Once again, they used their snowblower to do their driveway and their sidwalk, only doing a foot of ours, because they used our partially scooped driveway to turn around. It drives me nuts. I mean, seriously, My Dad and the neighbors all snowblow each other's walkways and driveways, plus half the neighborhood. It's not like the neighbors dislike us, plus I watch their dogs for them when they are gone for free...so you'd think they'd be kind enough to do a few feet of sidewalk. If we had a snowblower, I'd do the entire side of our street, and our favorite neighbors across the street as well. I just don't get people.