Saturday, February 28, 2009
From Winter Storm to Spring Celebration
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Things in my House Thursday XV
Mary is an educational aide in the classroom next door to mine. She is a lovely lady. When she sees something with my name on it, she always buys it for me and says...'I bet your name is hard to find on personalized items'...
And she is so right! When I was a little girl, it bothered me that my name was not common...Now...I kinda like it...
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Stitching & Stewing on Sunday V
Prim Bunnies 
Projects this weekend were geared toward Spring and Easter. My OFG Etsy Team is preparing for a Spring Celebration to start March 1st. Keep checking back for more details.

Hubby offered to prepare dinner one night. When we go out to eat, if there's a Monte Cristo Sandwich on the menu, I predict that he'll always order that...So he found a recipe online to make it for us at home.
The Monte Cristo Sandwich
9 slices Wheat Bread
3 slices Cooked Turkey
3 slices Cooked Ham
3 slices American Cheese
3 slices Swiss Cheese
Batter
1 egg
1 - 1 1/4 C. water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
Vegetable Oil for deep frying
Place turkey and Swiss cheese on one slice of bread and ham and American cheese on another slice of bread. Place third slice in-between and secure the triple decker sandwich in the corners with tooth picks.
Place egg in mixing bowl, add water and beat together. Add salt, sugar, flour, and baking powder. Beat batter until smooth. Dip sandwich in batter and carefully cover all the sides and surface. Carefully place in hot oil and fry until golden. When sandwich has turned a warm gold color, remove from hot oil and place on paper towel. Let cool a few minutes before removing the toothpicks. Before serving slice into fourths and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Serve with raspberry preserves. Makes 3 delicious sandwiches.
Ten Things I Do Every Day
# 1 Pray. Like, Renna, these are little conversations with God all throughout my day. When I am driving to school, preparing for my classes, preparing a meal, etc. This is my favorite inspirational book. It has a daily Bible Study Passage, and Real Life Lesson, along with a Prayer.
Here a just a few. And, there is usually a conscious thought that goes into the mug I choose for the day...the current holiday, my activity, or my mood of the day... Perhaps a little OCD?
#3 Feed & Water the Kitties. And it looks like I should add Sweep Litter Dust from Laundry Room Floor to my daily tasks.
#4 Apply Mascara. While I could skip all other forms of make-up, and I could wear my pajamas all day, I always put on just a little mascara. My lashes are so short, and light, that I like a little mascara, just so my eyes are more noticeable. After all, they are the expressive part of one's face.
#5 Go to the Grocery Store. Since I teach Foods Classes, I go to the store nearly everyday before school to get supplies. And I often stop after school to purchase fresh meat or vegetables for dinner. Since many times I am there twice a day, I figure this makes up for the occasional day that I do not go at all! No, the grocery store is not a chore for me...I actually like the atmosphere there. When my best friend and I were working on our Master's Degree, we had to move to Brookings a week at a time for classes. We stayed in the dorm, and our evening outing was a walk, and a stop at the SuperMarket, just to look around (and buy candy!)
#6 Go Online. I check my Email (3 accounts) for messages from family, friends and co-workers. I c
heck my blog for comments, I check my Etsy store for convos, views, and maybe even sales, and I take attendance and post grades at school.
#7 Eat a Banana...if they're not too brown.
#8 Check my Planner. My purse planner was always the family's master schedule. I kept track of everyone's activities here to make sure we could manage the overlaps. Work trips, church functions, band gigs, dance, swimming, peer ministry, teen court, SADD, cross country, track, school activities, meetings, etc. Now, with an empty nest...the calendar looks pretty sparse!
#9. Be Creative. If you've peeked into my Etsy shop, you know that I am always busy creating something. I love to sew, embroider, knit, crochet, paint, and decoupage.
#10 Talk on the Phone.
Last, but not least, one of my day's highlights is talking on the phone to my mom and both daughters. Some days I visit with all three of them, some days only 2 of the 3, so this may be 40 - 60 minutes of my day, but I wouldn't give this up for anything! And Callie thinks your news is electrifying!!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
First Things First~Thursday
This post is for Jill...she has placed a special order for one of our wine bottle necklaces...and these are the most recent creations.
Starting on the left...these beads are 'funky' green and amber. The largest bead in the 
The bottle necklace on the right (in the picture above) has beads in shades of purples. There is a copper wire in the center that hangs down with a silver feather charm. This one is about 7" long and 4" wide.
After Jill has indicated her first choice, the rest will be available, either through me directly here, or in my Etsy shop.
Second from the left is this necklace with natural brown bone beads...they almost look wood grain. A heart shaped bead hangs from copper wire on the right and a leaf is attached to the left. This one is almost 7 " long.
The third necklace from the left has blue glass beads. It
looks really good on a bottle of Relax ( which is our daughters favorite wine). You can see that this one is a little shorter...4" long x 4" wide.
After Jill has indicated her first choice, the rest will be available, either through me directly here, or in my Etsy shop.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Stitching & Stewing on Sunday IV
While we were driving we saw hundreds...and hundreds of deer along the highway. We stopped three times just to watch them cross the road. This picture is only a small glimpse of how many were scattered in the fields.
While we were at my mom's, she asked me to help her make Banana Bread, as she had some ripe bananas to use up. I brought my favorite recipe for banana bread. Notice it involves cream cheese! So this was my stewing for today...

Banana Bread
1 cup margarine
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. lemon juice
4 eggs (1 at a time)
2 cups mashed bananas
1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese
1 tsp. salt
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup nuts
Cream margarine and sugar, then blend vanilla and lemon juice. Add 1 egg at a time. Mix in all remaining ingredients (except the nuts) with the mixer. Fold in 1 cup nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Finally Friday and this week's Follow-Ups
Another high-light was the package that came from Sharon at the Old Oak Swing. I was the lucky winner of her January give away. It is still
winter in SD so the cozy throw and devotional book is just what I need for my weekentd 'retreat'. Visit her blog to see what she
is giving away for February!
Blog Award

Blog Award
Last week, one of my blog friends, Debra at Needles, Fabric and Thread, has honored me with this award. Again, making my day! I do enjoy checking in with so many of you on a daily basis. Since in January, I had a difficult time narrowing a list to pass this on to, I am happy for another opportunity to share this award. Today, I want to share this with
Child Development Guests... Here's another pic of Steph and her little nephew in my Child Development Class. It looks as if he is getting ready to say something to us. Anyway, his mommy, Samantha, left such a sweet comment on my Tuesday's post...these are the very reasons why we teach for thirty years...
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Things in my House Thursday XIV
There was no time for crafting today...but I did get some prim bunnies listed in my Etsy Shop. Last night's focus was correcting & entering grades, as Parent/Teacher
Conferences are tonight. Yes, it's one of those days when we teach from 8:10 to 3:20 and conference from 5 to 9. To compensate for our extra time put in today, we will have the day off on Monday, Presidents Day.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tuesday's Topics
How was school today?
My Independent Living class spends one day a week in the Foods Lab. Our focus is on convenience foods and convenience appliances. This week we made Skillet Spaghetti...prepared all in one pan! Saves on time and on dirty dishes!
Skillet Spaghetti
1 lb. ground beef
1 16 oz. can Italian tomatoes with basil, with liquid
2 tbsp. tomato paste
2 C. beef broth
2 C. water
8 oz. spaghetti
Brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain grease. Add tomatoes and their liquid, tomato paste, beef broth, water, salt. Stir and heat until boiling. Reduce heat so liquid barely simmers. Cook 10 to
15 minutes or until spaghetti is tender, stirring freqently.

Skillet Spaghetti
1 lb. ground beef
1 16 oz. can Italian tomatoes with basil, with liquid
2 tbsp. tomato paste
2 C. beef broth
2 C. water
8 oz. spaghetti
Brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain grease. Add tomatoes and their liquid, tomato paste, beef broth, water, salt. Stir and heat until boiling. Reduce heat so liquid barely simmers. Cook 10 to
My Child Development class has completed their study of prenatal development and care. This week we begin the discussion of adjusting to parenting and caring for the newborn. One of my students (on the left) invited her sister (a former student) and baby nephew to class. It was a great experience for all.
They got to hold him and quiet him, as we interviewed his mom. They even changed his diaper. He was such a good baby!
In Fitness for Life class we are still talking about fat and making good choices. We made Apple Crisp and served it with both Regular & Light ice cream. Did you know there are only 3 grams of fat in Light Ice Cream, compared to 7 grams in Regular? That's in 1/2 cup...And...there was not much difference in taste!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Stitching & Stewing on Sunday III
Delicious Pineapple Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour muffin pans, or line with paper liners.
In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. Drain pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup juice. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour in the reserved juice, egg, milk, and 1/4 cup melted butter. Mix just until blended.
In a separate bowl, stir together the cinnamon, brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/4 cup melted butter to make the topping.
Spoon batter into muffin cups, then spoon crushed pineapple over the batter and sprinkle with the cinnamon topping.
In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. Drain pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup juice. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and pour in the reserved juice, egg, milk, and 1/4 cup melted butter. Mix just until blended.
In a separate bowl, stir together the cinnamon, brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/4 cup melted butter to make the topping.
Spoon batter into muffin cups, then spoon crushed pineapple over the batter and sprinkle with the cinnamon topping.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted in the crown of the muffin comes out clean.
Today's stitching...finishing the Bunny Brooch for my Etsy Shop. You will see the green bow tie bunny listed there, however all three colors are now finished and available.
Going to a Wedding & Glamor Girl Give-Away
Emily and Michelle became friends in kindergarten. We have memories of TBall, Dance Recitals, Sleep Overs, School Programs, Track & Field Day, and more. Best wishes to Michelle & Tony.
February Glamor G
irl Give-Away.
Here are the names of blog friends that left comments during the first week of February. I am remembering that when I started my blog in June, that several weeks went by before I received even one comment, and then...when
I did... it was just about as exciting as my first Etsy sale! And now, over 100 posts later, I still enjoy reading your comments.
Here is DD, car loaded, ready to head back to college, serving as the give-away random selection official.
Even Callie waits with much anticipationHere are the names of blog friends that left comments during the first week of February. I am remembering that when I started my blog in June, that several weeks went by before I received even one comment, and then...when
Here is DD, car loaded, ready to head back to college, serving as the give-away random selection official.
...and my first blog give-away winner is Renna, from Finding My Knitch. Please stop over to visit her in the near future.
Thank you to everyone that entered...I'm already plotting my give-away for March.
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