Counted Cross Stitch and Joyful Expressions

I have a new friend in Sandra who designs these wonderful counted cross stitch patterns.....I just posted a blog post on my other site, Sweet Home Stitchery about her great designs...especially the ones that she personalizes for loved ones....I've been fortunate enough to have two of them for my youngest son and his steady girlfriend....thought they would make unique gifts this year for their birthdays...her website is called Joyful Expressions

I learned to do counted cross stitch through my sister in law when she and her husband (Alan's youngest brother) lived in the LA area for a time....I haven't done counted work in several years but have the Aida cloth and of course, plenty of floss..the nice thing about her designs is that they are designed for regular sized frames that are easy to get....counted cross stitch is easy to do and I did post a video of instructions on the other blog....it really only gets difficult for the very fine counts...I used to  do 18 and 22 count but no longer as my eyes just can't handle the fine work any more although I do admire it....the most I do now is 14 and 16...
the above pattern is for 14 and so simple but what a wonderful effect, huh? Counted cross stitch fits in so well with prim and country decorating....

Yesterday, temperatures dropped and a rain storm came in...it rained most of the afternoon....and into the night..we woke up this morning to fog and dampness.....so our warm weather front broke..as we expected...I just  hope we don't get a killing frost as our nectarine tree, feeling the warmth, started to bud..this happened one year before and we didn't get a crop that year. Last year we had all the nectarines we could eat...
Alan planted last week two grape vines (bare root), both seedless, red and green grapes...our neighbors have grapes that do well every year..we are going to train them to climb up on the side of our patio cover.
We also picked up some seed potatoes and onion starts but haven't planted them yet.....red potatoes which are so  tasty.....
Paula..yes, Alan's has a white beard now...LOL..I was also going to mention that Alan's mom has a huge collection of mini pitchers and saucers...you can see some of them behind us on the shelves that divide the kitchen from the living room..she has even more now, of course...she also collects red cardinals and coffee mugs.....the mug collection hangs underneath the cabinets and is used...I wonder if that orange one is still there?

A Old Photo

My brother inlaw posted old family photos on Facebook..Low and behold! there was one I'd never seen before, this is  yours truly with hubby some 35 years ago...how do you like the shag hair cut? My mother in laws  house is very tiny but full of love and good times....coming from a small family ( I have one brother), I was a little overwhelmed by the Iowa family but fell in love with all of them..all of Alan's 9 brothers and sisters and my inlaws were wonderful to me...now of course, most of them are grandparents.....its been 10 years since we've been back. I sure miss seeing many of their smiling faces.....we lost Alan's dad some time ago but Mom is still living and still lives in the tiny warm house....I am happy though as we do talk through Facebook...and if you haven't joined...you can connect with people that you may not have seen for years...I even found a old room mate from when I was going to college....40 years ago now.....

Circus Cats

I found this fun video on Facebook so thought I'd post it...cats can be trained with patience....all his cats are rescues...and speaking of rescues, I have posted a short list of animal rescues on the left hand side of the blog...the list leans towards cats...we've always been cat lovers (not that we dislike dogs, of course not)but there are fewer cat rescues around and they need our support......if you can find the time, the Pure Bred Cat Rescue has photos of some of the most beautiful cats I've seen...

another warm day..just hung out tons of clothes from our boarder....I charge him a little extra for wash...still cheaper than going to the laundromat for him..and more convenient....its been great having him rent..he's quiet and you hardly know he's here....
January was a rather bleak month for us, work wise..but its picked up this week and we've gotten paid for alot of past work....soon with the garage finished and our tools back (should be within 10 days) we will start working on woodworking.....next week, they will putting in a new fire door and epoxy the floor..all done then!

Sheep Nursery 2011

The other day, we went to Winco for some needed groceries and discovered the sheep nursery again....we so enjoy watching the babies and their mom's..so peaceful with the mountains in the background..

I just noticed in this last photo of the mom with her twin babies, do you see the sky diver in the background on the right? This area has a large sky diving school just north of the fields....its been so warm and wonderful here the last few days...it can't last but we enjoy it while its here!

Changes and Laundry

First, I have put up a page of all the recipes I've shared...a little easier to access and I've included most of the ones I posted from my mom's recipe box....hope you enjoy them.....
secondly, I am now on Twitter! I just started this morning so don't know my way around....I am under Stitchincrazy so follow me if you are on there too.....and I will follow you also....

Today is supposed to be warm and windy..perfect for hanging laundry....and wouldn't you know it? our washer isn't working properly....it doesn't go through the spin cycle as it should so I have to fool it and rinse everything twice..the dryer hasn't worked properly for months...and we've been saving to get it fixed...(no more credit cards for us)....soon, I might be beating the clothes on rocks in the river at this rate! LOL

How to Find Real Food at the Supermarket

 I found this flow chart on the Summer Tomato,
website...really cute..she says to consider it a supermarket GPS.....just click for a better look,.it is hard sometimes to find healthy food but with a little know how.....I am going to start using coupons again too but the only problems is many of the coupons are for things we don't ordinarily buy....I don't wear much makeup or use fancy shampoos or cleaning agents...we get our shampoo and cleaning supplies at the Dollar Store...same brands too....and for some things, like dishwasher soap..we go to Costco and get the big boxes which are cheaper in the long run. You probably do similar things.....

We canned a lot last year and have been enjoying the canned peaches, plums, figs and tomatoes.....the tomato soup recipe I got from Oodlekadoodle Primitives...it was from 1948 Kerr cookbook and is so good, please check out her blog as she has the best recipes.....this year I plan on canning at least a dozen quarts as we so enjoy tomato soup and a toasted cheese sandwich for supper. I'd like to can other soups too as there is nothing nicer on a cold evening than homemade soup....

Our weather has been really warm..in the 70s....and I've been putting all our wash on the line..nothing better than freshly washed and sun dried sheets!


I've been in contact again with the burrowing owl specialist and he said he would be coming down this week to examine the nesting site......he said he's doing a study to mark where all the nesting areas are in the county...the owls don't seem to mind people too much as long as their nesting area is undisturbed...there are a community of burrowing owls over by the Lake Elsinore high school.

Good News about the Owls

I got a good response from the county about the burrowing owl site..they are very interested in learning more and protecting the nesting site...I sent them directions on the property so things are looking up...hope so....it will be nesting time soon so  hope the little guys will be safe......guess I emailed the right people! The owls are considered endangered in Mexico and in several states...California is a little slow in getting them considered endangered here..probably because of the big real estate groups that want to pave everything over with houses. The entire field of about 15 acres is slated for houses eventually....at least that is what its zoned for. We all wish it could be made into a nice natural wildlife park instead with walking trails but that remains to be seen..
We've been organizing our garage.....its almost completed..the electrician came over the weekend and we now have lights both inside and out....Alan's put up shelves in the attic portion for storage of our Christmas stuff...we are now waiting for them to epoxy the floor and a new fire door which had to be ordered...

I didn't know if you knew I have a Bonanza site with quite a few craft and cookbooks for sale......its called
Dani's Book Shelf....here is one of the cookbooks..

 this is a softcover book and has the best recipes.......All made from cake mixes...

We also found out that now Pillsbury has sugar free cake mixes and frosting's! We found some of the frosting at our local Ralphs store today after looking online...I've been fairly successful baking sugar free cakes but the sugar free frosting recipes are not quite up to standards so was delighted to find frosting.......so if you are on sugar free diet...check your local grocer and if they don't have it, ask for it......the frosting wasn't too expensive either.

Sing Allelu

This song is from the oldest known Christian hymnal, compiled in about 100 AD. The hymnal is known as the "Odes of Solomon". This is Ode #40, subtitled "Sing Allelu", performed by Fernando Ortega. It's from a compilation CD called "The Odes Project, Volume 2". Exquisite!
I can just imagine early Christians singing this and it has spanned several thousand years

Inside Nana's Head and Changes

Nancy is having a Progresso soup giveaway on her blog...you get a free coupon for a can of Progresso soup plus some exercise equipment, soup is a good way to lose weight and is a filling lunch or supper.....hope you sign up and also check out her cute cat mats....at Inside Nana's Head

 On our walk yesterday we spied this red tailed hawk looking for a meal....there is alot of work being done in the field..huge equipment is there, breaking up alot of the rocks....we are both alarmed as this has been a nesting place for the burrowing owls....and I've sent emails out to the Fish and Game Department, I don't know if it will do any good though but at least I'm trying.......its a crying shame when progress destroys endangered and native animals .....we've seen alot of dead rabbits on the road behind the field too..so they are getting displaced.....Alan spoke to one of the equipment drivers and he said they were breaking the rocks for fill to line the creek that is about a mile away. I don't think there was an environmental study done........

Kitty Bungalow-Charm School for Wayward Cats

I am rather active on Facebook and am a fan of the Kitty Bungalow-Charm School for Wayward Cats....they help, socialize  and adoption of feral cats/ kittens in the Los Angeles area....they have a new website that is so much fun to explore....and to see the kitties that are available for adoption, just click on the  Our Students button at the top....
as you may know we lost our  cat, Smokie a few months ago. we have 3 others...the above cat is Tommy who is alive and well..Tommy is the clown of the group...very curious in whatever you're doing and into anything new..especially loves to play tag with his mother..

here is his mother, Tuppence who is one of the sweetest natured cats we've ever had..she will sit on your lap for hours, and loves to be petted...a real lap cat...very gentle and good natured.

last but  not least is Bandit

She is bit of a diva...the top cat of the bunch..at first she was rather stand offish and haughty but has become much sweeter with time....she has a regal bearing. Through some research, we believe she is a Norwegian Forest Cat.

All our cats have been rescues...we found Tommy and Tuppence abandoned in an foreclosed house and Bandit was found at a  local animal shelter......

I hope you will check out the Kitty Charm School and see the good work they are doing rescuing feral animals.....its a worthy non-profit charity....and if you are on Facebook, please like them!

Did you know that Sal, the cat has been called for jury duty in Boston?

read about it here