an instagram sort of month.

Since the nearest Starbucks is an hour away (as is every other little bit of civilization - ha ha ha), I came up with a little chilly day treat that I can make from home.  What I do is : make the vanilla latte according to directions then add eggnog (amount is to your liking).

baddah boom baddah bang - yum!

And with said chilly days, I baked a batch of snickerdoodles for my awesome husband who works so hard to take care of our family.

I'm a lucky girl to have such a great guy!

Getting a little sewing in since it is so cold outside - new lined checked pillow covers have been my latest sewing endeavor, and I am so happy with them!

This is typically what my day looks like, so it has been nice having a break from all the outside work that keeps me busy during the fall!  That and I like not smelling like a campfire for days in a row.  ha ha ha  Seriously though, I am not complaining, what I do is hard work, but it has it's perks too.  I love being outside and it keeps me fit and young.  So it's a win win!

Before I go, have you seen Green Fairy Quilts huge charm pack sale??  I buy charm packs regularly, so that I can mix and match and get a real nice scrappy look when I am sewing.  They are super affordable and make fun stocking stuffers for your quilter friends!

Thanks for dropping by my little blog today!  xoxo

easy taco soup.

 

1# ground beef
1 can kidney beans
1 can white beans
1 can Rotelle tomatoes
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet Ranch dressing

brown meat.
put all ingredients in pot.
cook.
serve with corn tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

yum.

in bloom.

Our crabapple tree has been in full bloom.  The scent is heavenly.  I wish there was some way I could share it with you.  Like a scratch and sniff...remember those?!

 

It won't be long and those pretty little flowers will become tiny little tart crabapples that will make super yummy jelly!  I absolutely love jelly making days!

The ornamental pear trees are in bloom too.  When the flowers are done blooming, they fall like snow, it is magical to walk under them while they sprinkle down on you.  This particular tree has been brimming with mocking birds, that flit about while I am on my early morning walk.

In the south azaleas are in full bloom this time of the year.  They are all over our property and so pretty to step outside and be surrounded by big bright pink azaleas bushes.  This is just a snippet and not in full bloom.  But it was on my walk to the mailbox, so I took a picture. 

row eleven and hand quilting.

I had so much fun sewing together the spools for row number eleven.  As you can probably tell, I am skipping around a little bit, since I am a ways behind.  I am like a child in a candy store having to choose which of my favorite candy to buy first.

Before stepping out this morning for an orthodontist appointment, I managed to get a little cutting done for my next row to sew together ... tulips!  Lori's tulips are so stinking cute, I can't wait to finish this row.  Which happens to be row thirteen.

 

Over the weekend (and nestled in my car at the orthodontist this morning), I managed to get some of the hand quilting done on my scattered quilt.  

I love the nubby feel of perle 8 thread.  It is my absolute favorite!  I enjoy the back just as much as the front.

On a side note, I made this for dinner last night.  Oh my goodness was it good!  Don't you just love pinterest?! 

Have a lovely week and thanks so much for cheering me on as I play catch up on Lori's adorable row along!!  

color.

I am seriously craving these colors.  Lots and lots of white with happy cute colors to contrast.  I secretly baked these cookies for my family on Valentine's Day.  That way when everyone was home from work and school I could surprise them with a cold glass of milk and homemade cookies.  I love surprises, don't you?!

Speaking of surprises, this time, fabric ...

October Afternoon has done it again!  They have stolen my heart with these adorable prints coming out in September.  This fat quarter bundle and Lori's Bake Sale 10" stacker are right at the top of my fabric want list for 2013.

Do you plan out your year with a 

wish list and patterns in mind?   

(This is the first year I have done so and it is working real well.)  

What's on your horizon?

homemade chewy granola bars.

These homemade chewy granola bars (and a glass of cold milk) are a staple in our house.  They are a healthy alternative to chocolate chip cookies (although we like those too - wink).

4 1/2 cups oats
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips

mix all ingredients
lightly press into greased 9" x 13" pan
bake @ 325 25 minutes
let cool ten minutes before cutting
cool completely before serving

enjoy.

graham cracker toffee.

When I did our grocery shopping this week, I made sure to pick up all the ingredients needed for this simple and very addicting recipe.  I posted it last year, but just had to bring it forward to this year as well.  It is just too yummy to pass up.

graham cracker toffee.

graham crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
chopped nuts (optional)
1 bag chocolate chips

line sided cookie sheet with graham crackers.  melt butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan.  bring to a boil.  pour over graham crackers.  sprinkle with nuts.  bake at 325 for 10 minutes.  melt chocolate chips and pour over the top.  cut into squares and refrigerate until chocolate becomes hard.

enjoy. 

note : still time to enter the sew mama sew giveaway here 

simple life saturday. week three.

cherish

\ˈcher-ish\

: to hold dear : feel or show affection for

: to keep or cultivate with care and affection 

cherish simple pleasures 

Cinnabon cinnamon rolls have become a family favorite on the weekends.  I look so forward to getting up extra early, staring a pot of coffee and baking a batch for my family.  Such a simple gesture of love, but it warms both our hearts and our tummies. 

the absolute simplest of moments have the 

potential to become special memories

What is a simple pleasure that you cherish?

so ya, like many of you ... it is official.  i am addicted to pinterest.
there is just so much available for recipes, making our homes beautiful, quilting, goodness, you name it.  i don't spend too much time there, i actually have a scheduled time where i can browse and typically just stick to what those that i follow am pinning.

Source: grocerybudget101.com via Mandy on Pinterest

and thanks to a recipe i just found ... i will be baking this for dinner tonight.  add some veggies and a little rice and voila!  dinner is served.

so tell me ... are you on pinterest??  what do you look for??

packaging.

Woody has received the finest care from the neurology recovery ward.  Truly, the nurses that have cared for him (both times) have made their job, their calling. 

And as a small token of our appreciation, I baked a couple dozen chocolate chip cookies for them to share, and added a little Cath Kidston thank you card, filled with our sentiments.

Would you like to see what I used for the clear container??

Pretty cool huh??  I have been hoarding our plastic salad boxes, washing them real good after removing the labels.  They make the best cookie boxes!!  Add a sweet little card and tie it up with a bow.  Voila! 

happy mailbox.

I felt like the luckiest girl, when Molly at Birdie Blue notified me, that I had been the winner of her adorable jingle bell bracelets!  They are so cute!!  
I delightfully jingled about town wearing them!  Thank you so much Molly!!

I nearly squealed when opening my package from Donna!   I sent a lavender and white granny square scarf to Donna last week, it reminded me so much of her, it was just meant to be!  Then I received a little note telling me to watch my own mailbox as well.  Oh my Donna, you spoiled me!  I love my new fabrics and can not wait to create something very special with them!!  Thank you so much!

I just love making blog friends don't you?  Amy at Diary of a Quilter and I met through blogging and then we met "in real life" at The Sewing Summit.  I am so glad we did.  She is one of the sweetest ladies I know!  I opened my mailbox to find these little Christmas treats from Amy!!  I absolutely love pretty buttons, ribbon, and cute fabrics!  Thank you so much Amy!!

As much as I love receiving gifts, I love giving them even more!  Last week was the graham cracker toffee delivery time.  It was so much fun bringing them to different businesses in town!  I may need to make one more batch ... just in case.  {big smiles}

three words.

graham cracker toffee.

graham crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
chopped nuts (optional)
chocolate chips

line sided cookie sheet with graham crackers.  melt butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan.  bring to a boil.  pour over graham crackers.  sprinkle with nuts.  bake at 325 for 10 minutes.  melt chocolate chips and pour over the top.  cut into squares and refrigerate until chocolate becomes hard.


Such a simple recipe but the taste is out of this world.  
(it really is addicting)
I am giving containers of toffee to a few businesses in my community.  
A little way to say how much I appreciate them.  
We are nibbling on what is left.  (big grins from all)
I better get my exercise routine back in full force!

seriously.

how cute is this

tutorial found here:

sugar and meringue

I wish you could smell this.

fresh sweet basil.  minced garlic.  olive oil.  parmesan cheese.  walnuts.

  heaven.

june?

Ok, is it just me, or is this year flying by?!

So much has happened.  

Some good.  

Some very bad.

I have always wanted my blog to reflect the happier side of life.  

Not that I am ignorant to the not so happy sides, trust me, I have had enough sour pills to swallow lately, I am ready for some relief!   

But I do want to say this, I believe with every single ounce of my being, no matter what may come this way ... both good and bad ... it is ordained by God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."  So on those happy days, I praise Him and on those stinky days, I praise Him! 

So let's make some lemonade out of some lemons ... shall we?

Our garden totally tanked this year!

The only thing that came up were the potatoes

which ironically, we did not think would make it!

Our blueberry bushes are coming along and I really enjoy picking them first thing in the morning, when it is cool.  One blueberry for the bowl, one blueberry for me, one blueberry for the bowl, one blueberry for me!

Our sweet neighbors gifted us with some goodies from their own garden.  Yellow squash, zucchini, green tomatoes and a couple bell peppers.

Which in turn, I was able to divide and share with another family.  Blessings all around!

world's best dinner rolls

One of my favorite cooking blogs is Our Best Bites.
And tonight we will be eating the World's Best Dinner Rolls with our meal.  They smell absolutely heavenly!  Do you have a favorite recipe to share or a favorite recipe site that you frequent?

y and zeeee ....

 y is for 

yarn

z is for

ziti

(one of our family's favorite recipes)

and that sums up the

May abc's.

Thanks so much for playing along.