I am off to NJ. I cannot wait but I know even with all my traveling today (plane, train and automobile) today will fly. Yesterday mom told me that my cousins Matt and Linda are in NJ until tomorrow so tonight hopefully all of us (my mom, my brothers and their families, my cousins and their families) will all be going to dinner when we get there. What fun. I know I won't have any trouble sleeping tonight!

OK, time to get the boy up and moving and finish packing. See you in a week!!

These are such fun... Too bad I have to go to work :-(

I finished a card today for my step daughter who just finished cosmetology school. I just love it.

I also put the finishing touches on some ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) and posted them on the CoC board. All five were gone in a matter of hours. I finished up 4 more tonight but haven't posted them yet. These are the sze of baseball cards and really fun to do.









That's probably about it for today except for finishing laundry. The temps are supposed to drop and it's supposed to rain. We may have yet another frost, lucky me, I just put out my mandevilla and one of my clematis is ready to bloom... *sigh*

Thank the Lord I don't have allergies because I would hate to miss this. Everything is in full bloom here. I came home and as I pulled in the driveway, the sight took my breath away. The pictures don't do it justice and wish I could share the scent. My windows are all wide open. We are supposed to get rain tonight so we will start losing petals but oh my, it is wonderful right now.

This is for the Tea Bag folding challenge. The fold is popping diamonds, floating squares. The tile is Rosa's. The smaller flowers are the same tile just cut into quarters.

I wish you could see how these just pop off the page. I had a nice time playing with my cards today. I could have done without the 4 hour forced hiatus but, oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Not too bad considering how much time I have either worked or had to runaround... Looks like it is going to rain so we will probably stay home and I can stitch.

The first one I destroyed. I had it really nice before I went to bed last night and when I woke up this morning, thought of something I thought would dress it up a bit and of course, screwed it up. So you get this one instead.





The 3D piece is from The Lilac Garden. There were 3 different colors of butterflies on the sheet so I am sure I will think of something else exciting to do with them at some point. This is my entry into the General Card Challenge at Circle of Crafters.

I may have my teabag challenge card to post later.

We are supposed to go to theInternational Kite Festival in Georgetown today but we are still debating that. More later maybe!

It is called a diamond fold. I have the card made but o.f course, the piece I had planned on putting on the front of it is way too big so noI have to figure something else out. It was fun learning thought so you might want to give it a try. I will post a picture of mine as soon as I get it finshed.

Here is the youtube video that taight me how to do that. It was very simple really.

Thank goodness since it is the first day of an open house at Sam's and it will be nuts with anyone able to shop even if they are not a member. I do have to work tomorrow though so I am sure I wil get paid back for being off today. Tomorrow will be a LONG day since I have to get up a 4 to take DS#1 to Battle Assembly and then go to work at 9. I get off and 5 and have to go pick up DS#2 at my MIL's. I am sure by the time I get home, I will be ready to drop.

We started this morning on a roll. There evidently was a 5.4 earthquake in southeastern Illinois about 5:30 this morning and it rolled right on up here. It only lasted a few seconds and there was no damage but we felt it. Mark slept right through it. I was already awake though.

I have made good progress on Desert Star. I have finished all the little squares around the edges and have started the first of 4 rounds of stitching around the border. If you look at the star from the other day, the borders will go to the point on the outside squares so I have a bit to go. I am enjoying it though. Last night I was just too tired to stitch since I worked early and then had running to do, came home and helped DS#2 put together a wheelbarrow and fixed dinner. (yummy stuffed salmon, sauted aspsragus and mushrooms and fresh strawberries for dessert)

OK, I am going to get some stitching done this morning before I go get my MIL. I need to take her to get a picture ID made for the trip.

I fixed this the other night for dinner and decided that I wanted to share the recipe. It actually came from the Betty Crocker web site. The only thing I do differently is double the sauce recipe as it is delicious... Actually the sauce would be perfect over pound cake or angel food as a dessert as well. Use fresh lemons and not the bottled juice. It really does make a difference. Enjoy !!

Lemon Ginger Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 1/4 lb)
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/4 cup Progresso® plain bread crumbs
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon grated gingerroot
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Lemon Ginger Sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon grated gingerroot
1 drop yellow food color
Lemon slices, if desired


1. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick.
2. In shallow bowl, mix Bisquick mix, bread crumbs, lemon peel and gingerroot. Pour 1/2 cup water into another shallow bowl. Dip chicken into water, then coat with Bisquick mixture.
3. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook chicken in oil 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).
4. Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, mix lemon juice, 1/4 cup water, the sugar, cornstarch, gingerroot and food color. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened and bubbly. Pour sauce over chicken. Garnish with lemon slices.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Cook chicken in oil 11 to 13 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center of chicken reads 170°F.

Not only did I get pictures taken of a bunch of my cards but I also got a lot of stitching done on my canvas work. Yippee!

My cards: These are by Penny from CoC












These, I had bookmarked on my desktop computer and since that has decided to take a vacation, I can't tell you who they are from.













Last but not least, my canvas work. This is Desert Star. It is part of the regional quilt series from From Nancy's Needle. I need to finish the squares in the corners and along the outside and then there are several rows of borders to do but really, it is about finished. I would judge it at about 75%. I am going to try and get it finished so I can take it to my mom's when I go and we can get it made into a pillow. I had forgotten how much I loved this pattern so I am really glad to get back to it.

When I went to bed last night, I was planning on working on my canvas piece today. Well it is now 1:00 PM, I am still in my robe and have not stitched one stitch! I haven't been playing though. I had to muddle through my FIL's income taxes because we just got a copy of one of his forms last week. We never got it and I didn't know that until I started going through last years stuff. I am lucky we got it as quickly as we did. Then I had to finish our state taxes and help DS do his state taxes. We can do federal on line but state cost $30. I can't see paying more more so I can pay even MORE money. I will put everything in the mail tomorrow.

It has gotten cold here again and we are under freeze warnings again tonight. It will be 74 again by the end of the week though. Spring is quixotic for sure.

OK, I am off to pull some chicken out of the freezer for dinner, see if I can find some place that still has pellets for the stove and maybe dig up something for lunch.

BTW with the coming of spring comes the blossoming of dandelions. I never spray them of dig them up because I remember picking them for my grandmother and mother and my kids picking them for me. Those little yellow "pests" and be pretty important. I have eaten cooked greens and drank dandelion wine. Here is a recipe for dandelion syrup which can be used as a replacement for honey. This came from Prodigal Gardens medicinal herbs and wild foods. The comments in the recipe are hers. There are other good recipies there as well so check her out...Enjoy Monday!

Dandelion Blossom Syrup

This is a traditional recipe passed down from the old world Europeans. I use it as a substitute for honey in any recipe that I’m trying to make wild.

1 quart dandelion flowers

1 quart (4 cups) water

4 cups sugar

½ lemon or orange (organic if possible) chopped, peel and all

Note: The citrus is optional, it will give the syrup an orangey or lemony flavor. If you want the pure dandelion flavor, you can skip the citrus. I make it both ways each year.



1. Put blossoms and water in a pot.

2. Bring just to a boil, turn off heat, cover, and let sit overnight.

3. The next day, strain and press liquid out of spent flowers.

4. Add sugar and sliced citrus and heat slowly, stirring now and again, for several hours or until reduced to a thick, honey-like syrup.

5. Can in half-pint or 1 pint jars.

Had to take MIL to the doctor this morning for her follow up visit and to check out her cough and the rash on her legs. Looks like simple allergies for the cough and a reaction to some medicine that they gave her at the re-hab place causing the rash. Hopefully both will be resolved shortly.

He said it would be ok for her to make the trip so I bought our tickets to go east at the end of the month. I cannot wait. By taking Tommy with us, we can fly out of Louisville rather than Covington and even with buying 3 tickets instead of 2 we saved over $200. It stinks that there is an airport practically in my own backyard that I pay taxes to support and I have to pay for gas to drive 100 miles to get a decent airfare.

After the doctor, I took her to have her hair styled and then to have her nails done. After that, we went to lunch. I took her home and she was asleep almost as soon as her butt hit her chair! lol She had a great time and couldn't stop smiling. It was fun that there was a baby in the restaraunt that kept smiling and waving to her. I know she can't wait to get to Joe's and see baby Grace, Sidra and Dade.

I came home by myself and Ab's and I had peace and quiet until after 6 since Mark and Tom went back to Lil's to have dinner and watch a movie. We were able to get outside when there was a break in the rain and I got her running a bit. I came in and finished my book (Allison Brennan's The Prey) and put together a couple of tea bag medallions. Just watched the Ghost Whisperer and now it is time to get my shower and get settled for the night. I am working both days this weekend, 9-5. Oh well, vacation's coming. Amen for that.

finally. The rehab place called yesterday and told us to pick her up at 10:00 am and since I don't trust anyone, I called at 9 this morning and lo and behold, they hadn't even gotten the discharge orders. I finally managed to get her out of there a little after 11. We will see how things go. She has an appointment with her regular doctor Friday morning and PT will be coming to the house.

I am deep into Patricia Cornwell's Book of the Dead and thankfully, am loving it. her last few we awful (hey, that's my opinion. This one is back to the writing I love. I hated to go to work today because I want to just keep reading... (ok, I hate to go to work even if I am not reading).

Well I guess it is time to pack it in. I have to be at work at 6 and today was a long one. I got my camera fixed so now I can get some pictures of all the cards I have been working on! I also think it is time to get back to stitching. At least my hands haven't been idle!!

I had 4 days off, didn't accomplish much but I did manage to stay off this foot pretty much.

Yesterday Tommy and I went out to play and ended up at Lowes where I spent a small fortune on the ingredients for two hanging baskets. I bought the baskets with the coconut husk liners and I really like them. In each basket I put a beautiful burgundy Martha Washington geranium, two hot pink Gerber daisies and a rosemary plant. They have pleased me to no end! I also bought Tommy a pot and soil to put together a little herb garden for Lil's with parsley,sage, rosemary and (nope not thyme),oregano. He still needs to find some basil but it will get him started. Hopefully we will be moving Lil to an apartment soon so then the pot will come home to me.

I am making plans for my Jersey trip and am getting excited. I haven't been home in nearly two years and I am so ready. The week will fly with little jobs mom needs done, spending time with my brothers and maybe taking a trip to see my aunts and cousins in PA. I haven't mentioned that to mom so we will have to see what happens. I am also hoping to get to see my friend race the new truck he got. I have never gone to see him race and I am excited to get the chance.

I did a lot of strolling down memory lane the last four days.

Brother's Saloon was my old stomping grounds when I was in college. My cousin Matt worked there when it opened (If you click on the openieng night page and scroll down you will see his picture Fast Matt indeed!!)and his brother Bobby was working there when I was in college. I spent most every Thursday (I think it was Thursday) night there listening to a band called The Shades. I had a huge crush on the drummer Gorgeous George Messina. While I was stumbling around reading all this nostalgic stuff, I discovered he is still drumming for a band called The Characters. I ran across them on myspace and sent him a message. I am looking forward to hearing from him.

The weather has finally broken and we have had some wonderful, warm, sunny days. It has felt so good. I even slept with the windows open last night and we had a great chorus of frogs going all night long. I just love that! In addition to playing with my plants (no gardening yet, staying off the foot!), I have sat outside and put together a number of cards. I need to get the camera and get some pictures taken to post. I am really enjoying that.

I also read the last of the China Bayles Mysteries (that I have) Spanish Dagger. Nightshade is out and I need to pick that up ASAP. Unfortunately, no one can write as quickly as I can read.

More rain is coming tomorrow and while I am not looking forward to it, I will be working so it doesn't much matter...

Pam got me thinking about a canvaswork piece I started a couple of summers ago so I think I will dig that out and see if it gets me stitching again. I took Danny's sampler to Michaels to see if I could get it framed yesterday and they were so incompetent that I walked out. I went to Hobby Lobby and that is probably where I will have the work done. Their framing is on sale next week so I will wait. I need to dig out Denny and Mel's piece and take that as well.

OK, off to dig through my supplies and see if I can find the threads for this canvas, then pay some bills, file my taxes and *gag* off to work.

I had the entire day to myself and did absolutely nothing except for cutting out a couple hundred tea bag tiles. After I got them cut out I figured I'd fold and I have made just one medallion. I fiddled around a lot trying to figure out what tile would fit the fold I was using and was not thrilled with the finished medallion but I did enjoy the fold.

My good computer took a vacation last week and I still have not found where I have stashed the re-boot disks. I really hate to re-boot too since I will lose so much. It has been way too long since I backed up my files. I will never, ever learn I guess.

My foot is still in the cast,going on 3 weeks now. It will be on until at least the 15th. I am becoming more and more worried about what may be wrong...I really need to get rid of this thing and make some major job changes. One way or another, I am finished with this job. Who knows how that will work out.

Well I guess I will go address these cards I wrote out today so I can mail them tomorrow. I wish I felt like stitching but nothing appeals to me right now.