Have you been doing any shopping lately? Wow! We've had to change our shopping patterns...no more going to the big fancy grocery stores with their high overhead fancy deli's, etc. Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to shop there.

I don't know if this will help you but this is what we have done to save grocery money....first, we shop at Dollar Tree for most cleaning supplies...they sell name brand liquid soap dispensers for the bathrooms, excellent degreaser, bathroom cleaning products, toothpaste, etc. for (as if you didn't know) a dollar....Alan shopped there yesterday and bought enough cleaning products and toothpaste for 6 months and only paid $24.

Second, we shop Costco for all staples like flour, rice, canned goods like refried beans, and vegetables, and meat..mostly hamburger and chicken. We buy in bulk, wrap the meat well and store the canned goods in a cabinet in the garage. I get the large 25 lb. bags of flour and keep it in the outside freezer..fill up my kitchen canister as I need it. The last time we did this was two months ago and we still have enough for another month....so it was about $200 for 3 months.

I make my own laundry soap unless there is a very good sale and wash early in the morning to save energy.

For other grocery shopping, fresh fruit, vegetables, and bulk items like popcorn or raisins, we shop Winco.....they have the best prices in our area......avocados are .48 cents each, lettuce is under .98...tomatoes on the vine, 1.98..bananas under .50 lb. most cereals are $2.00 a box..name brand good quality bread is around $1.89 a loaf......their seasonal fruit is very good and at low prices..navel oranges were only .10 cents lb. You have to bag your own groceries but I come out with a smile and have fun shopping there...

We are still planning on growing more of our own vegetables.....just been too busy to build the raised beds yet and its too hot right now to plant...we have been enjoying the fruit from our trees.....the nectarines were so good, they are gone now and the peaches are about ripe..figs will be next and then the apples this fall...

We share with the neighbors and they with us....Donny came home last night with a bag of summer squash and another of tiny apricots...
We go to the fast food places seldom and its a treat. Soda is a treat too, not an every day drink. We drink mainly water, iced sun tea, milk and the boys still like Kool Aid.

The Lord is so good and we want to be good stewards with the money He gives us.
Please share how you've learned to save money in these hard times..I realize there probably isn't a Winco by you, however is there a farmers market? What do you do?

Wednesday Pet of the Week

This is Cole, a young dog that was found wandering the streets by a good person and rescued...he is friendly and affectionate...loves to play and a good dog for a family as he loves kids...he is also rather intelligent....and easily trained....You can find Cole and his friends at Sun City K-9 Dog Rescue....call them at 951-679-6444...they now take donations through Paypal ....all donations go directly to the dogs, for their vet bills, and food. This is also tax deductible. You can find their link on the left hand side of the blog.

I've been busy, working on my booth for the July online sale...have a few things listed there and hope you will take a peek on the 23rd. I've got in some new embroidery pamphlets that are very nice.

I've also been busy answering the phone for locksmith calls, we had quite a few yesterday and for the first time, I had to turn someone away as we just couldn't help him yesterday, I had to give him the phone number of another locksmith. Alan has 3 jobs lined up today already, including a foreclosure "lock out" with the sheriff. We are so thankful to the Lord for His provision and leading. Just a little over a year ago, we were starting out on this journey, unsure if this was the Lords will.
Cora posted in our group last night and said she was home...was tired after the biopsy but was able to enjoy grinders with her sister...she is having a little trouble getting comfortable for sleeping.....the tests showed her lungs were clear and free of cancer. We are thanking the Lord for that....
Boots is eating and has gained back a little weight....he still isn't as playful as he used to be with the other cat but all in all he is doing well...his coat looks much better and has its shine back again.
wishing everyone a good Wednesday...we are having a hot one again today...no fires were we are, yet anyway!

Please pray for Cora

Today, Cora is going to outpatient for a biopsy and perhaps surgery, please pray for her and her doctors.....she shared this wonderful song early today in our group.....

Good evening.....I've been working on and off all day on my other blog.....trying to get it organized....thanks for those of you who have visited....

The house is quiet for a change..the boys went to the beach late in the afternoon...they should be coming home soon..Alan had two jobs in the San Diego area..he called and said he had one done and was headed for the second one. Business has been very good lately and he is working most days...its a relief when he has a day off!

I have signed up to be in on the EZ shoppe Christmas in July sale and hope you will visit my and other booths..its starts July the 23rd and August 6th.


These are always fun events. I will be having some vintage Christmas items, mainly tablecloths. I have a wonderful Christmas bark cloth cafe curtain set...and other goodies + new embroidery and cross stitch patterns.
I will give links as we get closer to the date.

I am again sharing with you vintage photos...this lovely Victorian lady has such a beautiful and detailed dress trimmed with fresh flowers...and much of it was hand done.....that kind of workmanship is not seen today.

Boots continues to improve...he is eating well again and his coat is looking better. He was so ill he wasn't cleaning himself. We are being very strict as far as his food goes....he always wants treats and kitchen trimmings...I can't blame him...a bowl of dry food doesn't look or smell as good as fresh fish or meat trimmings. We have to keep the counters cleaned off and not leave anything out where he can get it...and throw the trash out right away after supper.

He is the most affectionate and loving cat..he likes to sit right by the keyboard and watch me type, purring. He especially liked me to do my embroidery, he gets on my lap under the hoop and watched the needle go in and out of the fabric...another of his favorites is while I am making up our bed, he gets under the covers. Sometimes I think he tries to send me thought messages...he gets my attention by sitting quietly at my feet, staring at me..and I will get a picture in my mind of a full water bowl or an open door....I don't know if that is possible scientifically but it does happen. I am sure if you have a pet you are close to..something similar has happened to you too.

We had tillipia fish tonight, I fried it in olive and canola oil, breaded it lightly with cornmeal and flour...we had hash brown potatoes with the fish, green beans, a salad of avocados and tomatoes.
We get avocados fairly cheap here, at 40 cents each and have them quite often.

I am working on another blog to promote the store and stitchery...its called the China Lake Newsletter and here is the link http://dani-chinalakenews.blogspot.com/
Its not much yet, but I hope to feature nice vintage stitchery, share tips and tricks, and promote the art of hand embroidery.... I've always dreamed having my own stitchery store....now I have a virtual one.
I will continue, of course, with Eagles Wings, with day to day life, memories, fellowship, vintage postcards and photos. I will be changing things around and let going of the store postings on Eagles but will have a link to the store from either blog.
That's the plan anyway...

Saturday Book Review

I thought every Saturday I would describe one of the pattern books in my store...the store layout doesn't give any room for additional information. All of my pattern books are in new condition.
This book is by Marie Barber and was published in 1999. It has general instructions on how to choose the right fabric, and needles..what type of floss to use, the way to insert beads, and how to clean the finished piece. What I like about this book is that it shows one pattern made in different ways by changing colors, and varying flosses. If you are a new stitcher, it shows basic
stitches and has a good stitch guide that is easy to read.
The designs are faith filled and lovely....many are appropriate for not only greeting cards but full samplers....



It has many designs that make nice greeting cards and can be made in a short time for a fun gift.
The patterns are charted in color which really helps, especially if you haven't done much cross
stitching. I have used several patterns in this book but have decided to part with it as I just have too many books!

Boots seems to be his old self and eating well again...we prayed for him and are making sure he eats the food the vet sent home...he didn't like it very well to begin with but is getting adjusted.
I think he is a cat with 9 lives...about 5 years ago, he almost died from a urinary tract infection.
The other cat, Smokie has decided Boots is alright so he has settled down and the household is at peace once again.
Smokie got a scare yesterday, I had the front door open with the screen locked, Smokie was dozing at the doorway when a large dog rushed the door, barking and growling...the dog actually slammed up against the screen door..Smokie immediately went into big scary cat mode...and his fur didn't lay back down for a good 10 minutes after I chased the dog away. They were both spooked last night with the sounds of fireworks..
The boys stayed close to home, as there were no official fireworks anywhere close....but some of the neighbors were shooting some bottle rockets down the block....we have a strict fire code here but it doesn't stop people..I think they may get them from Mexico as no one sells any here....
We watched fireworks on TV, they had some nice ones from the LA area...
I hope everyone had a nice 4th!

Happy Fourth!

Wishing you and yours a very happy day! Rejoice we live in such a great country with the freedoms we enjoy through the sacrifices of so many. God bless America!

One of my favorite postcards...the bears look like they are really having fun...I remember as a child, my dad setting off firecrackers like those in our backyard in the desert...think I jumped a bit too!
Boots seems better today, he is more lively and eating so maybe he will be alright for awhile...we will just enjoy the time we have left with him... he is not suffering at all which is a good thing...

Do you like Gooseberry Patch recipes ? About a month ago, the website was giving away cookbooks and I signed up....got mine last week...great recipes...I got 2 little paperback books...Family Favorites and Fall Favorites.....we tried the coleslaw recipe and really love it...so I thought I would share it with you...I don't see the giveaway on the website anymore so I guess
it is over but they do share a free recipe...right now its Nectarine Crisp...here is the link to the website..http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/

Fruity Coleslaw
2 c. red cabbage, finely shredded
2 c. green cabbage, finely shredded
1/2 c. carrot, peeled and grated
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and diced
1 c. raisins
1 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. sugar
1 T. white vinegar
Combine cabbages, carrot, apple and raisins in a large bowl. Stir together mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar: add to cabbage mixture and toss to evenly combine. Makes about 5 cups.

This is very very good and easy as I used the packaged coleslaw that you can get in the produce department of the grocery store and its cheap...I get the coleslaw mix (already all shredded) for .98 cents....and of course, we used the bakery type Splenda instead of sugar...

Alan brought home some nice steaks for the 4th and I plan on making this coleslaw...probably grill some potatoes with the steaks too....I slice the potatoes, put them on a square of heavy foil, add a dab of butter, a few shreds of sweet onion, and whatever herb I have on hand, either rosemary or dill...fold this all up in the foil and throw the packets on the grill,they cook in about the same time as the steaks...
then after they are removed from the foil, people can top them with shredded cheese and/or sour cream. I almost forgot, before I put the potatoes on the foil, I spray a little Pam on it so the spuds won't stick. Pam is a stable in our house....saves so many calories and elbow grease...I found some nice red potatoes at the store I am planning to use...

We always put up a flag and last year I bought a nice door hanger from Penny of Miss Poosties Primitives for our front door...I added a rusty wire hanger to the back.

Wednesday Pet of the Week

In lieu of my normal pet of the week, I am posting about our cat.
We have had our 9 year old cat Boots at the vet for two days..we noticed he was not eating and getting thin..turns out his kidneys are failing...he is on a special diet now and looking a little better..eating again...the vet says the next few days will tell...he's a great cat and our whole family is feeling sad as this illness won't get better, all we can do is put it off for awhile.....he is a member of the family and greatly loved..the boys are taking turns keeping him in their rooms at night so he won't be alone if the end comes and so far he is doing ok. Today he is acting like himself, eating, drinking and padding around, checking things out. He is asleep on our bed right now....
Our other cat, Smokie, won't have anything to do with him since he got back from the vet...he hisses if Boots comes close...evidently Boots smells "funny" to Smokie...cats are odd creatures sometimes...usually they are best buddies....sleeping together and cleaning each other...I hope he gets over this soon as I know Boots wants his friend back.
This happened once before when our son decided to give Boots a bath...the soap gave him a "funny" smell and it took 2 days before Smokie calmed down....

Here is another vintage postcard..

My youngest is going to the beach with a friend and his family....must be nice...its alot cooler there.

I finished the second pillowcase, washed and ironed both of them...Did other ironing also...I ironed this tablecloth and wanted to share.. I won on this on Ebay....its cross stitched and lovely..



Its one of my favorites. I really like the colors and the handwork is expertly done. I especially like how she finished the border with not only embroidery but crochet work too. If you click on the photo, you will get a very good close up of the nice handiwork.