Bummin' and Bakin'

We spent a few days sharing time and laughs having a mini family reunion with some of my husbands side of the family.  They put on many miles doing one of their favorite things ~ casino hopping!  And I mean hopping! They jump in the van and visit casinos to and fro as they travel up from Tennessee, and Illinois to North Central Wisconsin .  We had a ball, won some money, lost some money, won some money, lost some money.  Final tally ~ we had some  winners and we had some losers!  But a good time was had by all.
We also visited the local park where our sweet Aunt who's 80 years young showed us how she's still a kid at heart.

What a doll!

EDITION:  When I originally posted this yesterday I forgot to add my Bakin' stuff. So here it is. While we were gone our rhubarb grew and was needing harvesting on our return.  So it was time to bake up a Strawberry Rhubarb Custard Pie and a small batch of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam; 3 jars and bowl for quick use.  The rest went into the freezer for later use.

Thanking our Military

First and foremost I'd like to thank all of our military for serving on our behalf. Those serving now and those who served in the past. Just a few on my personal list include my present husband, son, father, brother, deceased husband, uncles, cousins, second cousins, inlaws, friends and the list goes on into present day. 

 

click on image to enlarge

My husband Thom served for 20 years in the Air Force. We spent some time compliling some of his momentos into a shadow box and poster, and believe me, this isn't all of it. Because I came into his life after his military days I requested that he write down something about his world wide travels while in the service. He's shared so many stories, but I'd like it put in chronological order of dates and places. I also think it would be great to have it in writing what each of the medals represents. It would be nice to have a record in future years in case our memories begin to fail us.

                       click on image to enlarge

So although my part of this project is complete, and he put in his 20 years of service (thank you Love); his part of this new "project" has just begun.

It's Done!

Thanks for your patience as we worked on this project. And wouldn't you know it ~ once it was completed, our internet connection went ka-pooey! So now that we're back in working order its time to share:

Bed Gone Bench

The Story:

We were given an old bed with a broken leg.

But the scrolled legs and slat back were so neat

I immediately saw the potential for a bench.  I even had the perfect fabrics in mind ~ they were too good a deal to pass up and I just knew that someday I would find use for them ~ and I did! I just love the eclectic look of mixed fabrics!

Then the hunt for cushions began and within a week I found the perfect ones! .

The fabric was very worn and they needed to be cut to size but did you know that an electric knife to foam is like a hot knife to a stick of butter?! It worked like a dream.  

then the fun began ~ I hand stitched the fabric to the cushions to ensure a neat,secure job.

The most amazing part of this whole story is that the total cost for this bench was less than $20 ~ that's right less than twenty dollars!!

I love it, love it, love it!

Mother's Day Dreams

Happy Mother's Day!

 May all your dreams come true!

scrapped by CherShots

please do not copy

Sneak Preview

Okay ~ I'm beginning to feel a little bit guilty about the delay in my suruprise project so I'm going to share a few snippets to hold your interest and to tease just a little.  Don't hate me I'm just trying to hold your interest through intrique. Is it working? Please say it's workng and that you'll stick with me to the end. I'm so excited and I just want to share it with you.  Still smiling!  

Patience my Friends

Oh how I hate to
slip the news

but my "surprise" project

is taking longer to finish

 than I had hoped! 

But believe me,

it's pretty cool. 

~ Thanks for your patience ~

I'm still smiling!

Yes ~ It's My Happy Face!

We completed our newest rock garden last week. I still have some seeds to sow but because of our growing season, I won't plant until the end of the month. I'm just so tickled that some of our projects are moving right along!  I can't get the smile off my face. It's like it's plastered on! And today I found "something" that I've been searching for to complete yet another project.

Happy dance, happy dance! Thom said that when I came out of "St. Vinny's" he knew I found "something special" just by my huge smile. I actually felt giddy but after all it was such a great deal.  So I told him to back the car up to load up my find ... 

but you'll just have to wait for the "rest of the story."  

Now don't forget to check back in a few days. It'll be worth it ~ well at least it put a huge smile on my face!

Morning Glories

Last year was my first attempt at planting Morning Glories. I was hoping for better production but I plan to try them again this year. I also picked up some 4'oclocks to plant alongside them so when the "glories" get tired and close for the day the 4'oclocks should take over and show their pretty little blossoms. 

Happy May Day!

I can not tell a lie.
I borrowed this picture from

"Life in the Carolina Mountains"

I believe in giving credit

where credit is due. 

She has a wonderful

"May Day"

posting up today.

Check it out!

Inspiration

Thank you for inspiring me!

Inspiration: –noun

1. an inspiring or animating action or influence: I cannot write poetry without inspiration.

2. something inspired, as an idea.
3. a result of inspired activity.
4. a thing or person that inspires.
5. Theology .
   a. a divine influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.
   b. the divine quality of the writings or words of a person so influenced.
6. the drawing of air into the lungs; inhalation.
7. the act of inspiring; quality or state of being inspired.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Who inspires you?  

Fruit Pizza Recipe

There have been recipe requests for the "Fruit Pizza"  that I posted a couple of days ago.  So here it is: Fruit Pizza - my version
Crust: 
I used a 'cheaters' pie crust.  Just unroll onto pizza pan, poke with a fork all over the place until it looks like a bird has tapped danced the entire thing. This will keep it from puffing up while baking.
Bake:  
450% for 10  to 15 minutes til just lightly browned.  Check often as ovens may vary.  Let the crust cool.
Helpful hint: Some people use sugar cookie dough for thier crust.
Filling:
1 package of cream cheese - 8 oz.
7 tablespoons of sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla
Okay folks, I seldom measure... so now you know the truth about me!  I'm an 'eye-baller! So do as you please - maybe just use this as a guide if you want.
Spread filling over entire crust.
Fruit:
Assemble fruits of your choice on filling.  I used strawberries, blueberries, kiwi and bananas on this one.
Glaze: 
I used some plum sauce and brushed across the fruit to glaze it and to help keep the bananas from turning brown.  Any jelly will work, just heat it a little to make it easier to brush on.
To see my Fruit Pizza click link: fruit-flower

Fruit Flower

Year round we try to keep fresh fruit in the house.  Today I realized we a great combination for a fruit pizza.  So as my man was busying himself doing outdoor things, I busied myself whipping up a surprise treat for him. Well if truth be known, I didn't have just him in mind ~ I enjoyed some too.

It's sinfully delicious! 

Wood Violets

The wood violet is one of my favorite flowers.

But who can choose a favorite flower ? 

Don't we love them all just in a different ways?

But as of this moment the wood violet is my favorite.

photo found on internet

It's that time of year again!

The snowbirds should be returning soon.  For those of you who don't know what a snowbird is, they are what we commmonly refer to as the locals who travel south for the winters and then return in the spring. (missing out on all the snow, bitter weather and winter fun) This brings to mind a post I did a couple of years ago. Go on, click the link ~ you might get a chuckle out of it. chickens-and-goats  Have a laugh on me!

Busy Bees

Let's see ...

we have so many projects started that need to get done ~ there are the birdhouses my dear mate assembled and I need to do some wood burning on, there's that antique showcase I started to sand down that needs to be refinished.We have some indoor 'winter' projects that have a start and are spread all over kindom-come waiting on us to complete. Oh boy, I just recalled there are 8 gallons of paint needing to be go on the walls. And two decks needing a refreshing coat of stain.And then there's other outdoor stuff like raking and seeding and gardening soon ... and ... and ...  oh yeah, that rock garden that's going to improve my muscle tone. I may have to entice my super hero to help on this one!

well I guess these things aren't going to get done if I sit here and type all day so I'll buzz off for now ~ but I'll 'bee' back sooner or later!

Grapes Moved Home

Today we transplanted our grape vines.  Our neighbor gave us the vines a couple of years ago. At that time; we planted them along our split rail fence. Then last year we decided to build an arbor. Yes, we did it ourselves. Teamwork, that's what we're all about. Now that the arbor is done and the grapes are doing so well we decided to transplant them to their permanent home alongside the arbor. 

When that same neighbor moved and we became caretakers for his property, he told us to help ourselves to the grapes.  We picked and canned them into grape juice but if ours take off well enough we may start making wine.

But I love the juice recipe because it's so easy - just pick, clean and pack grapes into canning jars. Add water and sugar to taste. I only added about an even teaspoon per quart jar and it is plenty sweet - almost too sweet for our liking. Hot water bath and abra-ka-dab-ra ~  you have juice.  Strain the fruit and pour yourself a tasty treat. The pint sized jars on the left side of the pic are plum sauce. Very, very good on pancakes, eggrolls etc.  Oh boy, I'm making myself hungry ~ later all. 

Planning Her Gardens

~ The New Mother Nature is Taking Over ~

She's such a tiny little 'imp' I just had to

add her to a scrapbook page.

Although she's not the youngest;

Miss Sydney's definitely the tiniest

of our six Grandchildren.

scrapped by CherShots 2009

Great Book!

(and that's saying a lot coming from me) Okay, I admit I'm not a huge reader but when I get into a book and find myself looking forward to what lies on the next page, I like to share my find.  One of my fellow bloggers put me onto this book and I truly am thankful. Sadly, I don't recall which one of you it was. ( I know, I know - How pathetic is that?) But you know who you are so thanks! The title alone caught my attention:

~ The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society ~

Seedlings Started

I'm not sure when other people in Upper Michigan start seeds for their gardens, but last year I started them earlier and they got out of control. The tomatoes got too spindly and once they were planted outside the first strong wind 'snapped' them off.  Frustration!! So this year I made the decision to start them later.  The eggplants were seeds given to me so we thought what the heck, toss them in and see if they'll grow up here. 
I promise not to bore you with daily pictures, but be fore-warned; I might get excited once they start to sprout and post one or two.

This is DAY ONE:

The bottom pots are Hubbard Squash and Butternut Squash!

(Thinking of you Dee -hee hee)

Bat Houses and Bird Houses

The birds are ready for nesting so we hurried up and built a little thank you gift for our friends who furnish us with rain barrells.

Their last name is Moon so I thought I'd toss one on their bluebird house.

We had a martin house up for the past 3 years;sadly - without a martin in sight.  So this year Thom decided to build a bat house for that pole. He does the constructing, I do the wood burning or painting. As we sit out on the swing on summer evenings, we see the bats  whizzing by overhead. The more the merrier - they love eating misquitoes as much as we hate swatting them.  

Snow Crusted Rhubarb

O, wind,

 if winter comes,

 can spring

 be far behind?

~

Percy Bysshe Shelley

O, ruby rhubarb

how I prefer you

encrusted in pie

with streusel topping!

~

CherShots

Enjoying our Grand-loves!

Sharing time at the museum.

Enjoying a bit of entertainment!

and drawing

and changing the landscape

and making paper flowers

and working with shapes

                                      

and discovering colors

and last but not least ~

performing a puppet show!

and at home this little Buck-A-Roo sure

enjoyed showing off his new

swingset and slide!