Wednesday

I haven't done much crafting or embroidery in a little while....been busy working in the garden and baking more than anything......taking a hiatus....but I did want to show you some very cute salt and pepper shakers that my dear friend Cyndi has in her Etsy shop.... mushrooms were so popular back in the 70s and are again....I remember as a little girl visiting one of my grandmothers friends who collected salt and peppers....she had a huge wonderful collection...can't even imagine what they'd be worth today..as this was back in the 1950s....when I collect, I like to find things we can actually use...I am not one to have alot of dusty figurines.....that's why I like vintage cooky cutters, oil lamps, and glass...plus vintage postcards (which take up little space). Here are two more....






The tomato seedlings will be ready to plant soon...although not yet..there is a big cold storm moving our way.....


Tomorrow I will be sharing a wonderful recipe that was my Dad's favorite, Pepper Steak!

Here are two vintage French Easter postcards.......thought you might enjoy them.....can't believe its almost here.....seems like we just had Christmas and New Years....its something, isn't it? the older you get the faster time goes?

We took a ride today up to Hemet, Ca and on the way, flying overhead was this hot air balloon...This is a hot air balloon center so it wasn't a surprise but the colors looked so lovely against the clear blue sky.......riding in such a balloon is on my bucket list ..but as I seem to have developed a fear of heights...don't know if that one will be accomplished!

The one upside down tomato is doing so well....it actually has developing flowers now.....earlier than if we had planted it in the ground......so we decided to go for broke and got 3 more!

There is a yellow cherry tomato. a red cherry tomato and a beef steak....be interesting to see how they grow and develop.....as you can see we haven't planted anything in the ground yet..a little leery of a cold snap......but we did start more vegetables in peat pots...corn, yellow crook neck (a favorite), zucchini and more peas.....a lizard decided to check out the pots...can you spot him?



the silver device that you see is a weather indicator, thermometer and you can read the results in the house..we can tell the outside and inside temperatures, wind and also rain forecasts..our oldest gave it to us last Christmas. I also planted some cherry tomatoes in a large clay pot and put a tomato cage over it.....they are doing well...so looking forward to munching on a sweet tomato soon....


If you haven't sign up for the giveaway...please do..the link is on the left side for an array of goodies...a $25 gift card, a stainless steel bowl, a silcon cake pan, oven mitt and mixing spoon all from Betty Crocker and Blog Spark....

Just to suggest..Alan discovered that the hook that they give in the upside planter box, doesn't do a very good job as its blunt on the end....look at regular hooks in the hardware department...as they are much stronger...you can get them cheaply and won't have a problem with the planters falling...

Saturday

I've been hunting online and found a very easy free piano lesson site.....had my first lesson today....very easy..some of the other sites were more difficult and went into music theory, etc. which I really don't need.....here is the link if you or someone you know is interested.....this is for someone who has little or no experience Learn Piano Online This is good for key board also.

I am not looking into giving concerts, just for my family's and my enjoyment......This is an fast track program and tomorrow I'll be able to play my first little song...fun! I learned where to find C and how the keys are laid out...its not confusing when you understand and I do believe you are never too old to learn something new.....



Our little tomato seedlings will be ready to plant in a few short weeks......I also started some peas.....I found a type of pea that doesn't need staking.....kinda a bush pea.......time will tell if they are successful or not...we do tend to have problems with insects..although with the duck patrolling the lawn..she's been eating a lot of the bothersome moths that like to lay their eggs on our vegetables..she's very quick..the trouble is..she likes to eat just about anything, including the hollyhocks and roses....we're planning on putting up a fence around the garden or our little seedlings will be gone in about 20 seconds!!!

Betty Crocker Spring Giveaway!!!!

The Blog Spark people, Betty Crocker and Safeway have done it again! This giveaway is even a better one (in my eyes) than the last.......you get a pretty red oven mitt, a nice large Betty Crocker mixing spoon, a great stainless bowl, a silicone cake pan + a $25.00 Safeway gift card.....
I just got mine as you can see...and immediately used the cake pan....I've never used that type of pan before.....and was very impressed.....the little cake came out easily...and baked perfectly...

I've known Betty Crocker my entire life...I remember as a little girl sitting in my mom's kitchen in San Diego, leafing through her Betty Crocker cookbook......a couple of years ago, I was delighted to find the same cookbook at an estate sale...actually its a first edition..I use it all the time. Baking takes me back to happier time when the world made more sense.....sweet memories. Right now, the Safeway family of stores has Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake mixes and Brownie mixes on sale for .69 cents....



I recently discovered that Betty Crocker has a wonderful website called Bake Sweet Memories who'd a thunk? So even if you miss the .69 cents sale, you can still enjoy the delicious recipes for fun desserts using your Betty Crocker favorites, including Easter Bunny Cakes and even morning brunches, like the Impossibly Easy Breakfast Bake, which are sure to brighten any morning.
Anyway, for the giveaway...this will last until April 10th...
just leave a comment..and if you have a blog..please mention for a second entry...let me know that you blogged by mentioning in your comment....if you don't have a blog..please leave be sure to leave me an email address so I can contact you...
again....this spring prize pack, and information were all given to me by Safeway and Betty Crocker through Blog Spark...oh, I failed to mention I personally got a VIP coupon for a free brownie mix...

Mom's Recipe Box.....Impossible Pie

As I was looking through the box...I found this clipping for impossible pies....I'd forgotten all about them and how easy (and good) they were......as I had some coconut, both sugar and sugar free..and Bisquick, decided to experiment. I made two pies, using Splenda in one.....they both came out wonderful...the one with Splenda was a little thinner than the other but just as tasty....


Here is the recipe, if you'd like to try it..as I don't have a blender.(you probably do) I just used my handy mixer and it worked well....
Amazing Coconut Pie

2 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar (or Splenda)
1/3 c. biscuit mix (Bisquick)
4 eggs
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 t. vanilla
1 cup Bakers Angel flake coconut

Combine milk, sugar, bisquick, eggs, butter and vanilla in blender container..Cover and blend on low speed for 3 minutes..Pour into greased 9" pie pan (I use Pam) Let stand for 5 minutes and then sprinkle the coconut on top evenly. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes..serve warm or cold..I served it with some cool whip...yummy...

If you are a chocolate fan, there is a similar recipe..I didn't try it but it sounds very good
Chocaroon Pie

3 squares Bakers unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter or margarine
3 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 t. vanilla
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 2/3 cup Bakers Angel flake coconut
Melt chocolate and butter in saucepan over low heat..(I think you could easily microwave) Stir in eggs, sugar, flour and vanilla. Pour into greased 9 inch pie pan. Combine milk and coconut, spoon chocolate mixture, leaving a 1/2 - 1 inch border. Bake at 350 for 25- 30 minutes..Cool...

Impossible pies used to be on the Bisquick box but I don't think they are anymore...they do use alot of eggs...I used duck eggs! Substituted one duck egg for two chicken eggs..seemed to work fine..duck eggs have more yolk then a chicken egg and can give an eggy taste..it just depends on the recipe....


Alan surprised me and brought home a piano! Learning to play is on my Bucket list..as I've posted before....he rekeyed a house and the agent who was with him said to go ahead and take it....the house had been abandoned for some time......the piano is about as old as me...made in the 50s and shows some wear....it needs to be tuned ..and has a little wood damage but will be fine to learn on.......I did some clean up on it yesterday and need to do more today..whoever had it smoked, and the keys are sticky.....they also splattered some paint on it, which I was able to get off.....
I am so thankful...it is just the right size....we don't have room for a larger one.......with more TLC it will be really nice......now to learn to play!

I wish we had some babysitters like these when our boys were little!

Giveaways,a Sale, and Serious Thoughts

One Simple Country girl is having a Spring/Easter giveaway...she has made a lovely afghan and has some other goodies too.....I just found out about it today and today is the last day to sign up so what are you waiting for?


Another giveaway for Easter and spring is from Old Branch Hollow...

what a darling primitive bunny! You can sign up here

and last but not least...


This wonderful wooden plate from Cozy Country Home Fixins..there are so so many wonderful creative people in blogland !

My dear friend Nancy is going to be having a sale on her selling blog...I am not sure of the details but am giving you the link...all the proceeds go to helping pay for vet bills as her sweet dog Maggie is being treated for heart worm...

Our oldest has quit the dog rescue....the long hours were getting to him..he's been looking for work and has found a job at the local airport....loading planes...something completely different...he's also looking at a night security job at a center for handicapped people....he'll have to take some first aid courses. He is going for an interview today......

I don't think people realize what is happening with this passage of the health bill..its also passage of an education bill....now only the government will give out student loans....the federal government is taking over more and more..growing bigger and bigger as is our debt.....the corruption is terrible with so many out and out bribes..I don't know how some of these people can live with themselves.....just watch...next will come immigration reform......and they will grant amnesty for all the illegal aliens...why? not because they have compassion but they want their votes to stay in office....such times we live in... historical yes.....but not in a good way.....

Upside Down Tomato Plant

Thought I'd give a progress report on the upside down tomato plant..it has grown quite a bit since we planted it....here is it right after planting...



and here it is now..the leaves are much bigger and its growing like crazy......its funny in that it still wants to grow up!......I hope for tomatoes before too many more weeks...the ones we get at the grocery store are tasteless....also the avocados aren't good either..the ones from Mexico and Chile are very bland. Alan discovered a great fruit stand in San Diego county that sells local avocados that are wonderful.....he tries to stop there on his way home from jobs and usually gets a dozen or so to ripen at home...the Mexican lady who runs it is very nice and saves ripe ones just for him.....
Today Alan has our son Matt with him as helper.....they are in San Diego county for 3 jobs.....please pray for us as we have a meeting on Thursday with the state sales tax people...going to try to work out a payment plan with them....as a locksmith we do have to charge tax on some things....its a little difficult to figure out from the website..locksmithing falls between the cracks...He also met a new real estate broker who liked our service so we may have another account. That will make 20+ agents/brokers! We hope to get more work closer to home..as we were figuring out our taxes, we realized he had driven over 29,000 miles last year...

Are you happy with the way the Democrats got the health care bill through? I've never seen such corruption and underhanded dealing.......can hardly wait until November when we can start cleaning out the culprits.....

At the end of our street is a large field...its probably 15+ acres and littered with large boulders...the kids have built bike jumps in the flat areas and many in the neighborhood use the walking trails....we like to walk the dog there when he is with us.....we noticed yesterday that the ground is covered with tiny white and blue wildflowers....like a carpet......



Here is the closeup of the tiny blue flowers..


such a wonderful time of year...in the low 70s..sunny and perfect.....God is so good! Still nice and green...although summer is around the corner with scorching heat and the field will be brown by then......
We also spied a hawk resting on a boulder...he was hunting for rabbits as there are many bunnies who love to live among the rocks...we watch them in the morning...yes, the bored kids like to write on the boulders.....no gangs here, no worries......
Our back yard is starting to come alive.....the fruit trees are blooming and leafing out....this is the peach tree...its only about 2 years old..

Our fig tree is the oldest at 4 years and already leafing..the leaves on the fig always start at the ends of the branches

Its already about 14 ft. tall..a friend who is a landscaper told us we should trim it soon so it won't get too tall.....they usually reach to about 20 ft.....
My long term followers may remember that Alan started a small branch of the fig in a pot....its leafing too....maybe we started a bonsai? anyway..it will be fun if it has fruit....

That's about our tour for today...I wanted to mention two giveaways...one is Nancy's at Inside Nana's Head and also De is giving away one of her darling dolls away at Oh Sew Dollin...
I will be having one soon as well I am thinking of giving away some of my fabric roses....is anyone interested?

Mom's Recipe Box.....Stuffed Ground Beef, Yum!

My family is sure enjoying going through the recipe box....this last week I made these stuffed ground beef and served with mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.....a real meat and potatoes meal for my men.......unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo....but wanted to share and recommend this recipe...its a keeper for a cool evening.....

Stuffed Ground Beef

2 lbs. lean ground beef
2 eggs, well beaten
1 c. dry bread crumbs (I use Panko crumbs)
1/2 c. milk
2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
2 cups herb or cornbread stove top stuffing
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 can water

Mix ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, milk, salt and pepper until well blended. Divide into 16 portions. Flatten into thin patties. Make up stuffing mix following the package directions. Put about 1/4 cup on top of half the patties....Place second patty on top and press around the edges to seal in the stuffing....Remove stuffed patties to a shallow baking pan..Bake in a 400 oven for about 25 minutes. Mix soup and water well and pour over patties..turn down heat to 350..Bake for another 30 minutes.
Makes 8 servings.....we didn't need this much so I halved it...delicious.....

Here is a photo of the great cook..my mom, Gladys..




I've just been informed I will be having another Blog Spark giveaway soon.....this time I'll be giving away some Betty Crocker products..a stainless steel mixing bowl, a silicon baking dish, a oven mitt, a Betty Crocker mixing spoon + $25.00 gift card...so please be sure to check back...!

Wednesday Funny

thought it was time for some funnies...got these online....so cute......enjoy!
Happy St. Patricks Day!

Its been a few days since I last posted..we've been busy outside! Its just been so wonderful and perfect weather..in the high 60s and sunny every day....Alan goes out first thing and makes a fire in our little outdoor fireplace while I make him hot chocolate and my coffee...we have a wonderful morning breakfast together around the fire......then we spend the morning, either working in the garden, pulling weeds, replanting, and cleaning up after our wet winter......the duck is set loose and she has fun working her way around the lawn, looking for bugs and other goodies...she loves weeds ...Alan has had some locksmith work also, (it hasn't been all fun and games) but its a nice way to start the spring......the fruit trees, nectarine and peach are ready to bloom...we can only hope we don't get a killing frost which happened last year....

I decided to make a few extra fabric roses...this time I painted them a pink...

I diluted red paint down and I think they came out pretty..we actually have some real roses that are around the same color....! There is no glue, all stitched.....

Mom's Recipe Box.....

Another Thursday, another recipe....amongst the clippings and written recipes, there was a little cookbook from the late 60s...this is a Mennonite cookbook and has alot of great ideas, low cost recipes.....ideas about storage, and how to make many homemade things, like homemade bread and cereal...we chose granola as we have a hard time finding sugar free granola.....we used the Agave syrup for sweetner.....this recipe is just for a basic granola.....you can add whatever goodies your family likes....we added dried dates, and chopped almonds...


Basic granola

Preheat oven to 300...
Combine in a large bowl...7 cups dry ingredients....
at least 2-3 cups rolled oats plus other grains as
desired...
wheat germ (that's what we used)
whole wheat flour
wheat bran
wheat grits
cornmeal
soy flour, grits or roasted beans
grape nuts
uncooked cereals, (like Wheatena,, etc.)
sunflower seeds
sesame seeds
pumpkin seeds, roasted
fresh grated or dried coconut
dry milk solids
chopped nuts
spices--cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.
Combine separately and pour over dry ingredients:
1 cup liquids including..
honey, syrup, molasses, brown sugar (use 2T. water to 1/2 c. sugar)
oil, melted margarine, peanut butter, milk or cream
Mix well and bake on large greased baking pans 30 - 60 minutes, stirring often. Do not over brown. Crunchiness depends on proportions and baking time. For a chunkier cereal, allow to cool undisturbed, then break up. Add when cool...as desired:
raisins, chopped dates, dried apples, apricots, other dried fruits....
This is an excellent recipe and you can adjust it easily...it makes quite a bit...Alan had it eaten in about 10 days as he loves good cereal...and its healthy, depending on how much coconut and nuts you use.....a little coconut goes a long way..we found some sugar free at the health food store....
on the same page is a recipe for your own Grape nuts....



I couldn't figure out what kind of leaves to use, so just stuck the roses on a little earthen jar with some silk daisys....I think it looks nice.....this is in our living room.....I also got the shipment of the cute little nest with eggs so today will use the tutorial and make the fairy jar....altered art is alot of fun...