Happy Halloween!

Vintage Postcard and Diamond Head

Happy Saturday...we woke up to rain again...but its sunny outside now....
 after checking my dashboard with all my favorite blogs..realized they were all crafting ornaments and such for the coming holidays.....thought you might like a break from crafting to visit Hawaii....

Today is my dear brothers birthday ...he called this morning and we had a wonderful visit. I don't hear from him too often.....their house overlooks Pearl Harbor and they are within 15 miles of Diamond Head...here are a few photos he shared..he was by himself so didn't get any personal photos..he is going today again and take his wife with him. He said its mostly easy climbing except the last stage which is steep but there are safety ropes on either side....well worth it for the view..its about 8 miles there and back.....

He said property values are really high as well as food..everything else, like utilities are cheaper.....they love it there but will retire here in Oceanside. He also said it rains there every day...He works for Lockheed Martin.

Halloween is almost here

Just two more postcards to go.....can't believe its the end of October already....we have our candy ready for the little ones....are you ready?
I'm feeling the effects of the fall yesterday..shoulders and neck are stiff and sore...
Our son Don was up early and out the door in his new uniform for his first day of Del Taco training...he felt a little silly in the uniform...but I think he looks good..green is a good color on him...I managed to snap a photo as he went out the door early this morning...he has a full 8 hour day today.....

He looks ready to work, doesn't he?

We get a really good picture on our TV with the antenna too, you can see the screen in the photo...not too many stations but enough...I like to listen to the news in the morning when possible..but don't have it on the rest of the day...so if you are frugal like us and don't want to spend $$ on cable or digital services...a HD antenna is the way to go, depending on your area......they are under $100 and last for years...can't believe how much money we wasted buying services for stations we never watch...who needs 300+ stations? We were surprised to see that there are even remotes for the antenna so you can turn it in different directions to catch other signals from inside your house....plus you can get a Tivo to record favorites. That is in the future  for us.

The duck is doing well....thought I'd snap a new photo of her..she enjoys the cooler wet weather......

Her bill is dirty as she had been digging for bugs....

Good News and a sale

(this is one of my favorites)

This morning, I was helping my son push his truck to get it started and was leaning too hard on the bumper when the truck suddenly took off...I fell in the street and skinned my knee....feeling a little out of sorts now...this old lady shouldn't be doing such things anymore, I guess....no real damage done other than the knee skinned up and torn pant leg..but it did shake me up a little....

the good news is, while this was going on..he got a call....he was so excited..got a job at Del Taco....he has to go today to get his food handlers card, buy his uniform and he starts tomorrow at the new Del Taco that is right by our  house! he's been out of work for months since the dog rescue had to let him go..doing odd jobs to keep himself in gas and insurance money...God is so good..yes, Del Taco isn't a glamor job..not high paying but when you haven't had work..its a blessing all the same. Jobs here are very hard to get...after 3 months, he'll get medical benefits too.Del Taco is a Californian company...did you know it started in Barstow, Ca?

On the crafting front, I discovered that Annies Attic is having a blow out sale right now...only for a short time so if you like to knit, crochet, and do other crafts with the holidays coming, there may be something that would interest you....just search year round clearance sale..there are tons of crochet patterns...a few cross stitch and knit.....the below is my personal favorite....

I so admire people who can crochet like this....I can crochet but never tried the smaller threads.....so delicate and pretty...

Carrot Cake

Today was the first sunny day we've had in over a week..so nice outside, too nice to blog, actually..but wanted to share this recipe I found in the Just a Pinch club website....carrot cake is one of my personal favorites....and I know you will love this recipe...

Best Carrot Cake Ever..a 1940 recipe

Ingredients:
2 c sugar
1 1/4 c oil
4 large eggs
2 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
3 c grated carrots
1 c chopped walnuts
FROSTING
12 oz powdered sugar
2 3 oz. cream cheese room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp milk

1.In large bowl, beat sugar and oil. Add eggs and beat well.

2

Sift together flour, soda, cinnamon, and salt into egg mixture; mix well; fold in carrots and nuts.

3

Place batter in greased 9x13 pan; bake 1 hour and 10 miniutes in a 350 oven. (Check once because of oven variances)

4

FROSTING: Beat together powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, butter and milk; spread on cooled carrot cake.

I used the website photos,,sorry, my camera needs new batteries so isn't available today.....we still have some carrots in the garden so I used them....cake doesn't last long here with 3  young men...(do you think I'm spoiling them?) Our boarder mentioned that he never grew up with all the home cooking we do...and is enjoying all the baked goods.....his family went out alot, I guess....I am a baker by nature.

Early Thanksgiving and another postcard!

I got up really early this morning,,,like 5:30....we have alot to do today..lot of errands and such so am posting early.....did much praying too...
Yesterday, while Alan was working, I started cleaning out our garden beds..after the hot summer, and then all the rain we've had..lots of weeds, old corn stalks, etc. it looks alot better now..but do I ache today or what? my legs are protesting today...there are still weeds but at least its started.....and all the larger weeds are gone as well as the vegetable remains..it was a good year for us and we have boxes of canned goods to tide us over...we've already used some of the wonderful tomato soup I canned about 2 months ago....
 I was looking for decorating ideas for Thanksgiving..(we don't start Christmas decorating until a week or so into December)
but this video is so cute.....had to share..

Ornaments and Political Ads

I finished the redwork ornaments and have them listed in Sweet Home Stitchery...


the pattern is again from Primitive Stitches......once Halloween is over..everyone goes right to Christmas..so I've got my little stitchery shop loaded with tags, candle mats, some towels and now these ornaments. I'm also working on some surprises..and they are NOT primitive...but vintage patterns from the 1940s...think you will like them,,totally different......

I'm also going to start working on over 100 year patterns that I found......calling them the 1886 collection...they will be framed and also pillows....the pillows will have reproduction 1886 fabric as well as needlework....I'll probably be listing these in early 2011...going to kick it up a notch.......

Are you as tired of political ads as I am? 

I feel like this little boy when a political ad appears!

I got up early and made muffins for breakfast...sugar free of course...having my coffee and thought I'd post a little..
my aunt sent me the most wonderful drawings of a tower that Rio De Janeiro is building for the 2016 Olympics. It will be placed on a island called Cotonduba which visitors will see as they come into Rio both by ship or air...just fantastic and just uses solar energy...the movement of the water produces energy to run the fountain at night also.

Awesome, huh?

Preview of changes

Saturday again! where is this month going? are you ready for the trick or treaters? we usually get about 50 or so..love the little ones in their princess and pirate costumes..so cute....do you have any traditions ?..we don't really as its not a big holiday to us..Christmas, Thanksgiving and of course, Easter are ours....we usually give out candy and then watch a movie....nothing scary other than the old Ghost Busters or Pirates of the Caribbean...family friendly stuff...

Our oldest son has announced he's engaged! He and his girlfriend have been going together for about 8 months..they are waiting to get married until they get better jobs and get finances together....he did give her a lovely diamond engagement ring.....she's just 18 so there is plenty of time...he's 22...both very young yet and we told them to take lots of time...

our youngest has a girl friend too but they are both working on their education right now...she is going to be studying to be a surgical technician and he went yesterday to the same college and may enroll to be a pharmacy technician..its what he's interested in....I think its good to get into the health field....


Another cool and overcast day....fall is well underway....

Owls

I think this little owl is really cute....owls were so popular back in the 70s...they are again..remarkable birds..did you know that owls can only focus on one thing at a time? their eyes cannot turn like ours do..they have to turn their entire head...but they can turn their heads around far more than most animals, although not all the way around...
we discovered the owls we found in our local field are considered endangered...they were really abundant here in California in past years but with all the building, and human encroachment...same old story...lately, wild life experts have noticed more nesting going on which is encouraging.....wild life groups have been building artificial burrows which the birds have taken to....here is an article from the local paper about the owls around Lake Elsinore by the high school...

I guess owls were popular back in the 1880s as I have several embroidery patterns from that era.....here is one...

There is not much in the Bible about owls..mostly not to eat them....which makes sense....there is this scripture

I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins
Psalms 102:6...

and of course, poetry...

The Wise Owl
The wise old owl
Sat in an oak.
The more he saw,
The less he spoke.
The less he spoke,
The more he heard.
Why can't we be like
That wise old bird?


and with that..I will leave you for today.......hope everyone has a good weekend..still cool and rainy here

Vintage Pumpkin Man, and Redwork Ornaments

Still rainy and cool here..yesterday afternoon it just poured for several minutes on and off all weekend..difficult to dry clothes outside so I rain out and rescued most of them before it started.......the yard is soggy but Mrs. Quack is very happy..she's been finding snails and slugs to munch down..she  just loves them and gets all excited when she discovers one...one got into her food dish and you should have heard the excited noises she made...it was gone in seconds....you'll never have snail or slug problems with a duck around....with all the heat, she was moulting quite a bit but as its gotten cooler, her feathers are very nice  now...she loves the rain but not the thunder...she will run to her shelter if it gets too stormy....we have a very large dog carrier with clean soft towels in it and have covered the outside with plastic so it stays dry and somewhat warm...

I've been working on some redwork Christmas tree ornaments..I've been making them primitive but couldn't find any rusty wire so used some brass which I'm not real happy about....Michaels didn't have anything but floral wire..which was green...I basted but think I need to use the machine to finish these....this is what they look like so far....rusty wire would be better....does anyone know how to rust wire? like to get the shine off the brass...they have a white background..too this photo at night under a lamp...not the greatest photo...I need to get a little Christmas tree to hang them on...

Late last night I worked on my selling blog.....changed the background, etc...what do you think? Sweet Home Stitchery

Vintage poscard, and Cabinets

We had a real downpour yesterday and its still rainy this morning...there was lightening and thunder, heavy winds and lots of the wet stuff....unusual for October..
I had put clothes on the line which got soaked..hopefully it will be dryer today...

this has been a slow month for locksmithing....only had a few jobs...hope business picks up soon...
I wanted to share with you as we are still deciding what type of cabinet for the kitchen..right now..all our canned goods are in boxes in our bedroom...not the greatest way to store things but it works....

Alan has been wanting to build me one as he's such a good woodworker...rather than buying one....I had been looking at Hoosier cabinets as you know....he rescued some nice wood from the fire...which is on the patio right now...its oak plywood..the restoration people wanted to throw it out! it has some mild smoke damage on one side only which can be sanded off....he's frustrated as his woodworking tools are still packed at the restoration warehouse... I found this lovely antique cabinet for sale on Craigslist...

I think this would be a good design...he can make anything with just a photo....

This is our dining area with the china cabinet he built...from a old antique one that had been in a fire for the design...the top lights up..I just love it...
the insurance company sent a large check which is now in the hands of our mortgage company..they will be issuing funds to the contractor so hopefully we can get the garage finished..can you believe its been 6 months?

Redwork and Flour Sack Towels

I finished the redwork towels that will soon be finding a new home...they turned out very well if I do say so myself...love the pattern...its a vintage one from the Pattern Bee...
I also have listed 4 additional redwork towels in my selling blog....3 little redbird chicks

these are also from the Pattern Bee...she takes old patterns and makes new transfers from them..you can also get them as a PDF file...
the towels themselves are very nice and of the highest quality..it took a while to find just the right ones..so many are cheaply made and thin..these towels are a nice weight, not too thin, and get softer as they are washed. They are also hemmed on all 4 sides and have a hanging loop. As most of you know, flour sack towels are the best for drying fine dishes and glassware...never any  lint...

Flour Sack.

In that long ago time when things were saved

When roads were graveled and barrels were staved

When worn out clothing was used as rags
And there were no plastic wrap or bags.
The well and the pump were way out back,
A versatile item was the Flour sack.
Pillsbury- Mother's Best and Gold Medal too
Stamped their names proudly in purple and blue.
The string sewn on top was pulled and kept
The flour sack emptied and spills were swept
The bags were folded, and stored in a rack
That durable practical, Flour sack.
The sack could be filled with feathers and down,
For a pillow or it would make a sleeping gown.
It could carry a book and be a school bag
Or become a sack slung over a nag.
It made a very convenient pack.
That adaptable cotton, Flour sack.
Bleached and sew it was dutifully worn
As bibs, diapers or kerchief unadorned.
It was made into skirts, blouses and slips.
And mom braided rugs from 100's of strips
She made ruffled curtains for house or shack
From that humble but treasured, Flour sack.
As a strainer for milk and apple juice,
To wave men in, was a very good use.
As a sling for a sprained wrist or break,
To help mother roll up a jelly cake.
As a window shade or to stuff a crack
We used a sturdy common Flour Sack.
As a dish towel embroidered or not
They covered up hot dough, helped pass pans so hot.
Tied up dishes for neighbors in need,
And for men out in the field to seed.
They dried dishes from a pan or rack,
That absorbent hardy Flour Sack.

from Mable Loch

Rainy Days and Banana Apple Bread

This is a vintage greeting card....I only have a few as I normally only collect postcards but she is so cute...couldn't resist.....I love her skirt with the pumpkin print.....

Alan had jobs today and I overslept! so missed out on going but after the ordeal we had this last weekend, guess I needed the sleep.....what a nice guy, letting me sleep in....
its been very cool, rainy over the weekend and again today...really feels like fall now and there are leaves all over our front yard...so nice after the long hot summer. and yet, "they" say, California is in for a dry winter....the Farmers Almanac disagrees so guess we will see who is right as the months go on....I'm betting on the Almanac myself.
Going to make more of the Gooey Cookies today....they are so easy to make, it's a snap...and also some Banana Apple Bread..sugar free for DH...here is the recipe...

Banana Apple Bread

1/2 c. shortening
1 cup sugar (or splenda)
2 eggs
1 cup chopped apple
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt

Cream shortening, and add sugar, beating well.....add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add peeled chopped apple and mashed banana. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients and then add to the wet one, stirring to mix well. Spoon into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 for one hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for about 10 minutes and then remove and cool completely on a wire rack..make one loaf

I am finding so many good recipes from the Just a Pinch Recipe club....if you are interested in  checking it out..here is the link 

Thank you so much for the kind comments and encouragement..it means so much ...

Hope you are having a blest Sunday...we woke up to drizzly cool weather...and the newspaper says we are in for a dry winter...a little hard to believe when its rained twice this month already and its just October.

Alan had some trouble with his blood sugar level Friday so we spent Friday night in the emergency room..actually Friday night and Saturday morning as we didn't get out of there until 7 a.m. went in at 6:30 in the evening until the next morning...it wasn't a big emergency but something that needed to be checked....we didn't get into treatment until almost midnight..he got some needed fluids as he was dehydrated and then a prescription for more medication...as we went to the county hospital, they are helping us get some low cost insurance which is a blessing..He feels fine but yesterday was a blur as we both were so tired from being up all night.
The emergency room was very busy and it was interesting seeing what was going on... I prayed quite a bit for others who were much worse off then ourselves. It was alot like some of the shows you see on TV. What impressed me was that certain employees were assigned to watch over anyone who came in by themselves for treatment. They sat with the person who was being treated, watching over the monitors and making sure they were comfortable...a difficult job as it was a 12 hour shift. They never left them except for breaks when someone else would sit in. God bless these people!

It was very cold in the emergency area..so cold that that nurses were giving everyone blankets...we kept being handed blankets and wrapped ourselves like two mummies in the hallway...there were no beds available so Alan got his IV in the hallway which was ok...but even with the blankets we were cold...The staff called to the dept. which handled the heating and cooling but it seemed to get even colder...especially in the early hours...
When we finally left..we went to McDonalds for breakfast..and ate in the car as the restaurant had air conditioning blasting....we did just the opposite and had the heater on in the car to warm ourselves up..we were both chilled and shivering...

I am hoping we don't have to go through that experience again...we have the paperwork for the insurance and will be going back to the hospital to turn it in...we found out the  hospital has a family clinic, where he can go for regular visits if we can't find a doctor that will take the insurance so God is working..I can see His Hand throughout....the care he got was excellent. No pain with the IV insertion either...
Today we are resting...doing some yard work as its cool...His blood sugar level is back to normal...with the additional medications he has always been able to keep it under control in the past....we bought a new meter and he was pleasantly surprised how pain free the testing is going....a lot of improvements in the new meters. He tests himself twice daily.....his finger looks really good too...almost healed completely..thanks for your prayers.....

Here is some veggie people enjoying a slice of cake....

my son's been applying at various fast food places...its difficult here to find any work at all....I am posting the below video for him....I really like Tim Hawkins...

Good cookies and another postcard

I can't believe this month is half over already...time sure flies, doesn't it? Before we know it, the little trick or treaters will be ringing the doorbell...and then on to Thanksgiving which is one of my favorite holidays...

Its cool and drizzly here today..I have laundry to hang but that will have to wait to see if this weather clears up. The dryer is hit or miss..mostly miss...the heating element is going out..

I found a wonderful easy recipe on the Just a Pinch recipe club website I wanted to share....I made these cookies and they all but disappeared within hours and the guys are asking for more...I didn't even get a photo before they were eaten....this is the photo from the online recipe...personally, I wouldn't call them gooey..they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside..very good indeed...

 
Gooey Butter Cookies

1 box  Duncan Hines butter recipe cake mix
1 stick  butter
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 pkg    cream cheese @ room temp (8 oz. pkg)
1    egg

Combine all ingredients with electric mixer until well blended. Chill dough for 2 hours. Roll into balls (about walnut size). Roll balls in powdered sugar. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet in 350 degree oven for 10 - 12 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar when completely cooled.
these are so easy to make...they will think you worked hours on them...I didn't have the exact cake mix so used a yellow cake mix inside and they didn't know the difference...this recipe makes about 3 dozen, depends on how large you make them...

Thursday..Some Ideas for Postcards

Here is the second postcard I have with the black and orange theme..cats again! Quite striking.
.if you are wondering what to do with these images...on the left hand side of this blog, there is a pink button..that is the Vintage Image Craft link..lots of ideas of crafting with these images...
here is just one example using a old fish bowl that you may have or find at the thrift shop...

not my idea but Scott and Martin's over on the Vintage Image Craft site so please check it out..lots of free tutorials, free images, plus links to their auctions....

Grandma's Beef Casserole and another vintage postcard

Yesterday I found the recipe in one of the new Gooseberry books I had ordered...since I had everything to make it.....started it in the crock pot late so put it on high...this was the most delicious crock pot dish yet. It generously served 6 hungry people and everyone raved about it....no leftovers!

Grandma's Beef Casserole

2 lbs. beef stew meat
1/4 c. flour
can of mushroom soup
1 package dry onion soup mix
small can of whole mushrooms
1/2 cup red wine or beef broth (I happened to have wine)
12 oz. package of medium egg noodles


In a zip lock bag, put the stew meat..add flour, zip and shake to cover the meat. Brown meat in a heavy skillet that has been sprayed with cooking spray (I used a little canola oil too) and when nicely browned, put in the crock pot along with all the other ingredients except the noodles...mix to combine..put on low for 8 to 10 hours or high for 5 to 6. To serve, spoon over cooked noodles...I  think the wine really made a difference as the house smelled so good all afternoon while it was cooking....Alan sometimes gets a bottle or two as a gift during the year from clients who don't know he's diabetic....we use it in cooking only so the alcohol is gone just the wonderful flavor...

I got this recipe from the "Slow Cookers, Casseroles and Skillets" Gooseberry book..and served it with peas and carrots (the carrots were from our garden) and jello with fruit for dessert....

This postcard is all done in orange and black...a bit unusual...I think this is from the 1940s....

Tuesday, Condos, Mile High Houses and a crochet link

We had 4 jobs yesterday in North San Diego county....and Oceanside...I've posted about Oceanside many times before...grew up there and graduated from Oceanside High school....it seems like my hometown, although we did move about several times when I was young...(all in Southern California)..my folks are buried at the local cemetery there...so I feel really connected..also my brother has a house there where he plans on retiring to one day, although I think we may have lost him to Hawaii..LOL...where he lives and works now...can't blame him.

We rekeyed two condos..I liked both of them..the first was an older one and needed a little work but was roomy and with a good view..the second was more upscale but much smaller and no view....we both preferred the older one as it had a nice large patio area, and you could go right into the garage from the kitchen...we've found that the older houses and condos have alot nicer features than new ones....

On the way out of town, we stopped to get gas by the freeway when I noticed some "eagle high" houses built up in the hills..talk about isolation!

I don't think the fire department appreciates these, do you? Can you imagine?

On the home front, I'm still working on the redwork towels..will have the set done soon and on its way to the new owner....hope she likes them as much as I've had fun making them.....
I learned how to crochet on my own as a newly wed...my grandmother crocheted but never taught me..I subscribe to the Talking Crochet newsletter and got the email the other day..there are free patterns offered occasionally and this is one of them..I think this afghan is so pretty...am greatly tempted to make it using the colors of our living room...

Granny squares are easy to do, but this is unusual as they are triangle granny squares....the link with the pattern for you crocheters is here
That's all for today....hope you and yours have a great Tuesday!