Sharing Your Gift

"What you are is God's gift to you,
what you do with yourself is your gift to God."
Leo Buscaglia


I want to introduce you to a very special young man.
His name is Christopher.
Christopher's gift is his voice.
He loves to sing for the residents of the local nursing home.
And records books for those who can no longer see the written word.
Here he is sharing his gift with us at
his high school graduation party.

And I want to share his uplifting gift with you.

Enjoy.

Farmer's Market Heaven

Is this not the cutest dang book you've ever seen?

Written in 1965.
Calling home the Grand Forks Library.
It still has the due date envelope on the back inside cover.
Remember those?
After I read the first page I thought maybe they were talking about me!
A steal at $1.50.
Can't wait to read it to my grandbabies.

Check out this Farmer's Market
Year 1954.
Notice the ladies in their house dresses.
Not a pair of jeans to be found.

We went to our local market Saturday morning.
The weather was beautiful.
The people friendly, the coffee hot.
Fresh veggies on the grill for dinner.

I just HAD to buy some "just picked this morning" strawberries.
The neighbor gave me fresh rhubarb and this is what I came up with.

This is soooo good with vanilla ice cream.
Click on the recipe to enlarge for better reading.

Going to Green Bay this weekend for a graduation party.
All the grandbabies will be there.
I love when they (all 5) yell "Grandma-Grandma look at me"

Island Love

I have been looking for a small table to use
as a kitchen island since we moved in.
Nothing I found was the right size or was in bad condition.
Until......

I found this baby.

I can't believe I didn't take a "before" picture.
What kind of blogger am I!
My hubby and I were walking around the Elkhorn Flea Market
on Sunday when I spotted this little beauty.
Actually, it wasn't a beauty then.
Dirty, wobbly legs, chipped paint,
and a drawer that wouldn't open.
But the enamel top is in perfect condition.
Just a few minor chips on the edges,
adding character.
The best part is the size 26" x 36"
and the price $40.00.
Total cost with wood, paint and a new drawer pull $55.00.
A Bargain!

My talented neighbor Bill, husband of junk'n pal Kelli,
added the platform for me. Raising it to counter height.
The platform idea came from Cynthia over at
Cynthia's Cottage Design.

Ohhh and look at this tablecloth I bought
at a garage sale for only $1.50.
It's over 2 yards of fabric (60 x 80)!
I cut it up and made a table cloth and 2 porch pillows.
Plus I have enough left for a couple table runners!

I just love hunting for treasures in this warm weather.
Going to try my luck again this weekend.
Wonder what I'll find?


Hope this finds you Happy & Healthy.

Front Porch Living

What's more summer than Popsicles?

Check out this tin jug!

Perfect for lemonade or ice tea on those humid summer days.

A great find at WalMart.

I've been spending the early morning hours outside.

Enjoying the sounds of Spring and my flowers.

Two beautiful hanging baskets of pink petunias

on each side of the porch.

Rockers out, just waiting for company.

The garage sale braided runner is perfect on the porch.

Railing planters filled with geraniums, snowballs and superbells.

A pot of purple petunias on the step.

Pink on the other side.



But this I'm afraid is going to be my problem child.
Tipsy pots.

Look at the mess after watering!!!
Luckily it's on the back deck.

I should have a few quilts to show you soon.

When the afternoons heat up my studio, in the lower level,

is the best place to be.

Cool.

Hope this finds you HEALTHY and HAPPY!

Hugs,

Flea Market Fun

Photos from "The Pec Thing" website.

What beautiful weather we had this weekend!
Perfect for antique shows & flea markets.
My neighbor Kel calls it "junk'n".
And I was red-deee!
We were at the gate, in line, at 7:45 a.m.
The show is called "The Pec Thing" in
Pecatonica, IL. about a 45 minute drive.

My prized find of the weekend was this quilt top!
Completely hand pieced.
All that work for $25.00.
No rips or tears, just a few minor storage stains.
Nothing that a good washing can't get out.
(After it's quilted, of course).
And then the warm dryer.
Ohhh, those fabrics will wrinkle up so nice and
have that vintage look I love.

Such a wonderful variety of fabrics!
Love the orange centers.

And now on to my bargains.........

Old RED metal bread box ($5.00) perfect for a planter,
don't ya think?

RED polka dot apron ($2.00)
Bag of wooden spools ($1.50)
Cherry tablecloth, great condition ($1.00)

Linens were selling for sew little.
Sad to see all the beautiful hand embroidered pillowcases, tablecloths,
and towels just thrown in a pile on a table selling for $2.00.
I couldn't resist rescuing a couple pieces.
Kel found a pair of NEW, hand stitched pillowcases
with intricate crochet trim for $6.00.
She's lucky she saw them first.

And last, but not least, is a recipe from my Grandma Cottrell.
I had forgotten how easy these were to make and so delicious.
With company coming Sunday for dinner,
I didn't have any frozen rolls to thaw out.
Yep, frozen.
I checked my recipe box and Grandmas' rolls jumped out at me.
No kneading required. My kind of bread.
No more frozen rolls for me!

Click on the recipe to enlarge and print.

This Spry ad came from the 1951 cookbook in her collection.
Her recipe for the rolls was hand written on a card, not in this booklet.
Wonder where she found it? From the newspaper maybe?

Before I forget....is anyone else going to miss "The Bonnie Hunt Show"?
I love her positive message.
None of those, whose your daddy, screaming insults,
chair throwing, guests.
Bonnie's "feel good moment" at the end of the show
always make me smile.
I'm going to miss you Bonnie.

Hope all is well in your world.
Healthy and Happy is what matters.

Garden Party Time

Garden Party Time
at the APPLE BUTTER HOUSE

As you can see it was a beautiful day.
Bright blue sky, fluffy clouds.
Windy, with no chance of snow.

Ohhhh....
wicker for my front porch.
Not this trip.

Isn't the tin bird adorable?

I couldn't miss the log cabin quilt folded on the bench.
And wouldn't this wooden box make a wonderful
place to keep your recipes?

Now go check out the
Apple Butter House for yourself.
Caroline doesn't sell online (yet)
but it's fun to look around.
Who knows, you may be in the
neighborhood someday and want to
stop in for a visit.

Hugs,

What I know for sure

What I know for sure

A year later....

To trust your “gut” instincts.
That little voice inside telling you something isn’t right.
The “God whisper” as Oprah calls it.
Believe it.
When doctors don’t listen, brushing off your concerns,
making you feel like a child,
Change doctors!
Find one who will listen.

I know for sure the saying
"The most important things in life are not things at all."
Is true.
It’s the love of family and friends.
Friends I’ve never met who emailed
and kept me in their prayers. Thank you.

I know for sure
sometimes you need to ask for help.
After the holidays, my February birthday, and
the long winter months dragging on
I fell into a ’funk” as I called it.
Sleeping a lot, not doing the things I love the most.
Not working (quilting). Missing the joy.
I kept thinking as soon as the weather warms up
and I can get outside I’ll get over it.
I told my friends and family I was fine.
Doing great.
I didn’t want to burden them with my “funk”.
I knew I should feel grateful to be alive!
It didn’t lift as Spring approached and
I knew I needed to do something.
I did. Found a Dr who listen.
It is slowly getting better.
I’m starting to feel like my old self again.
Some days are still difficult but there’s light ahead!

This Irish chain quilt was a wedding gift
for my customer's daughter. It was a year late.
Given for their first anniversary instead.
Again, thank you to my understanding customers!

Hugs,

Don't forget the binding

Ohhhhhh.........

Look at all that hand work!

Beautiful applique, embroidery,

and quilting.

This quilt is in beautiful condition!

Minor stains, no holes.
Maybe made in the 1930's?

Wouldn't you love to know the history of this quilt?

And who the maker was.

If it only had a label.....

Unfortunately, it isn't mine.

My friend Kathie bought it for a steal!

She came over to ask my advise.

Notice how frayed the edges are?

The edges of the quilt had been

folded in and hand stitched.

No separate binding.

The major wear on any quilt is the edges.
That is why you want to apply a separate binding.

Binding protects the edges and can be easily replaced.

Kathie is going to trim the edges and apply a scrappy

binding in pastel 1930 reproductions.

I can't wait to see it!

Wouldn't it look lovely on my porch?

And now for our chocolate break.

Who would have thought saltines

could taste so good!

Trisha Yearwood's Sweet & Saltines

40 Saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar
8 oz. chocolate chips (1 1/2 cups)

Preheat oven 425*.

Line a large jellyroll pan with foil and saltines.
In medium pan, melt butter and brown sugar together,

bring to a boil.

Boil 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and pour over crackers,

covering them evenly.

Put pan into the oven and watch closely.

Bake 4-5 minutes or just until bubbly.

Remove from oven and

pour chocolate chips over crackers.

When the chips melt a bit,

spread with a knife,covering crackers.

Put pan into freezer for 15-20 minutes or until completely cold.

They will form one big sheet.

Break up into pieces. Store in airtight container.

***************************
The corn dip was gone before I could get a picture!

Trisha Yearwood's Hot Corn Dip

2 11 oz cans Mexican corn, drained
2 4 1/2 oz cans chopped green chiles, drained
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup mayonnaise

Preheat oven 350*. Grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
In a medium bowl, mix the corn, chiles, cheeses,

and mayonnaise until fully combined.

Spread the mixture in the prepared casserole dish and

bake, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes,
or until bubbly around the edges.

Serve the dip warm from the oven with corn chips.

I also made the Baked Spaghetti.

Delicious!

Great for company!

Can you tell I love

Mrs. Garth Brook's cookbook!

Really, if you were Trisha, wouldn't you

want the world to call you

Mrs. Garth Brooks?????