*Handcrafted by Mary Ann Miller

My Favorite Designer

2011-10-15T10:35:00.000-04:00

I simply adore beautiful fabric, don't you? I can't really remember my first Tanya Whelan fabric, but let me tell you her lovely prints just take my breath away. Have you visited Tanya's blog?

There is an interesting interview with Tanya here.

Tanya will be having a brand new book released in December. It is available from Amazon and also Barnes and Noble has it for pre-order!!

Who is your favorite fabric designer?

Homemade Noodles

2011-10-01T16:28:00.002-04:00

It has turned quite cold already in Ohio. We heat with wood so we already have the furnace running. We heat intirely with wood so my husband cuts a lot of firewood on our property. Thankfully we have 20 acres of woods. My granddaughter came over this morning for another sewing session. Doesn't it make teaching someone so much easier when they are so eager to learn?

In getting the morning started, Vanessa sewed two more nine patch blocks for the quilt she is making. I was thrilled to see that she remember each step that she learned last week. After sewing for an hour or so she had completed the two blocks. She now has four blocks finished. Next we worked on making a delightful fabric covered bulletin board for my sewing room.

Now I think she would like one for her room!!

Next we enjoyed a little lunch of mac 'n cheese...can't go wrong with that!! We decided to make some homemade noodles so she could take them home and prepare dinner for her family. Now this little eight year old girl can sew and she can cook and even clean her mess up!! Gotta love that kind of a girl!

Vanessa is mixing 3 eggs up first. She then added 1 1/2 cups of flour.

Vanessa hand cutting her noodles!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

~Mary Ann~

Vanessa Is Learning To Sew

2011-09-23T17:22:00.000-04:00

My lovely little granddaughter, Vanessa started her first sewing lesson with me last evening. She had her eighth birthday last month and I gave her a sewing box with all kinds of sewing goodies in it. I also gave her some 4 inch quilting squares in her box too.

She came up to our farm after dinner last night with her sewing box in tow. I decided to let her begin with the quilting squares, sewing them into a nine patch blocks. She completed two blocks last evening. She seems to have a good mind for remembering the correct steps of operating a sewing machine. She also got to iron each piece as she was putting the blocks together.

In this last picture she is holding her sewing box and showing the two blocks she completed. I'm pretty sure she was thrilled with her two blocks and I was sure proud of her efforts!

Sewing on Saturday!

2011-09-10T16:57:00.000-04:00

It's been such a lovely day today. I have been busy in the sewing room. I am always cleaning and rearranging to keep everything looking nice. It seems to me it is so much fun sewing in a tidy room. What to do think? I am working on a sweet little ruffled prairie skirt. I am also working on a small quilt. I thought I would share some pictures of the skirt I have been working on.

~Mary Ann~

Lavender in a canning jar????

2011-07-21T12:45:00.002-04:00

Several months ago I found a blog post that captured my interest. The posting was about making homemade lavender laundry soap. Ms Chandeen of Designed by Chance showed a nice tutorial about making lavender laundry soap. I decided then and there that I wanted to try this. I gathered up the supplies but decided to wait a little. I happened to have an ample supply of laundry detergent on hand. Today I decided to attempt the recipe! Oh wow, did my kitchen ever smell nice!

This is the ingredients that I used:

(3) four ounce bars of Castile soap
(1) 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
(1) 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team Borax
(1) half ounce bottle NOW 100% pure lavender oil

I grated the bars of soap in my food processor. I then mixed all ingredients in a large pan. I filled quart canning jars with the mixture. I had the jars on hand, so instead of buying a large jar, I just used the canning jars and divided it up.

I have read various amonts to use per load. I have read anywhere between one tablespoon to one fourth cup per load. Maybe I will start with one eigth cup per load and see how that does.

My next recipe to try is homemade lavender fabric softner. I have found the recipe. Just need to gather the supplies.

Anyone else out there tried their own laundry recipes?

I have been Missing In Action!

2011-07-14T16:14:00.000-04:00

Dear Freinds,

I have been missing for way too long! Hope everyone is doing well. I have been sick with a sinus / lung infection for way too long. I still have it and it is wearing on me. I have had it almost a month.

I am working on a baby quilt that I started months ago. I am hand sewing the binding on today, so it should be done very soon. I will be glad to have that project checked off my "to do" list.

Here is a new picture of all my sweet little grandchildren!

Fresh pie.....

2011-06-01T07:31:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I stepped out my kitchen door and picked some oh-so sweet and juicy strawberries. I wanted to make a fresh pie for my dear son and his family who love fresh berries! An hour or so later I delivered this pie to my son's farm just down the road.

Helping Joplin, MO

2011-05-31T13:47:00.000-04:00

The sweet Long ladies over at marie-madeline studio are putting together a nice way of helping the folks in Joplin, MO. They have invited us to help in this endevour. You can get all the details over at their website.

Strawberries

2011-05-30T10:14:00.001-04:00

I picked my first fresh strawberries this morning! My grandchildren are going to want to come to Grandma's today for sure!

How do you like to serve fresh strawberries? Here is one of my family's favorites!!

STRAWBERRY PRETZEL JELLO SALAD

2 c. crushed pretzel sticks
3/4 c. melted butter
3 tbsp. sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 (6 oz.) pkg. strawberry Jello
2 c. boiling water
2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen strawberries, partially thawed or 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

Mix first three ingredients and press in bottom of a 9"x13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees (metal pan) or 325 degrees (glass pan) 8 minutes. Let cool completely. Beat 1 cup sugar and cream cheese. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over pretzels. Mix Jello and water until dissolved. Add strawberries. Stir into Jello, then set aside for 10 minutes. Pour over cheese mixture. Chill.

(Hint) make sure you spread the cream cheese mixture completely over the pretzels so no jello can seep through...you don't want soggy pretzels!

Sewing is in the bag!

2011-05-23T15:07:00.000-04:00

Today has turned into a beautiful day. The weather did not look good this morning....it was raining, like it has been a lot lately! The sun is shining brightly now...brightens things up a bit...well, quite a bit.

I have been busy in the sewing room. I have been cleaning up and tidying things up a bit. I must confess, I do not like a mess, so I am always orgainizing things and trying to make things look neater.

I also have just completed a new bag. The largest one I have made to date. It is just perfect for a beach bag or a weekend getaway. I was expermenting when I made it so wasn't sure just how it would turn out. I really do like it!! I have listed it for sale on ebay. I am adding a few pictures for you to see. I have orders for three more bags, so I better get busy.

Have a nice day,

Mary Ann

Blossoms around the farm

2011-05-21T10:01:00.000-04:00

Sunshine and blue skies are on the forecast for today!! It is so pretty outdoors. I thought I would share some of my lovely blossoms that I have enjoyed this spring.

This is a lovely azalea bush that is right outside my bedroom window.

Some sweet begonias.

My favorite lilac bush!

More of the purple lilac.

Another azalea.

Lilac bush.

The white lilac bush.

I hope you all have a nice weekend.

Mary Ann

They make my heart pitter patter...

2011-05-13T21:46:00.000-04:00

Is there anything as sweet as grandchildren? I really don't think so. Three of mine were here tonight to play in the warm sunshine. They enjoyed themselves...running,jumping, and simply enjoying life.

Fabric Fabric and More Fabric

2011-05-12T14:56:00.000-04:00

As most of you know, I have a home based sewing business. A couple times a year a offer huge sale on my fabrics! Just thought I would let you all in on the sale. If you visit my eBay site , you will find some fabulous deals on premium quality fabric at unbeleivable starting prices!! I start my auctions at just $.99 ! I know, I am crazy!! Take a peek if you love beautiful fabric and like great deals! If anyone is interested, I always combine multiple auction wins and save you on postage. I can generally get a good 15 to 16 yards in a flat rate Priority Mail box for $10.95.

I will be listing more fabrics in the next couple days too. Here are a few already listed...

Mary Ann's EBAY store

Mary Ann

My little sweeties

2011-05-09T14:37:00.000-04:00

It is beautiful and warm in Ohio today! Hooray. It has been so cold and dreary. Our family celebrated three birthdays on Thursday evening. My son, son-in-law, and oldest grandson all have birthdays within two weeks of each other. We celebrated with an indoor picnic and ice cream cake for dessert. I wanted to share some cute little pictures of my two youngest grandchildren.

Rebecca's Giveaway....

2011-05-03T16:17:00.000-04:00

Rebecca over at A Gathering Place is having a real sweet giveaway. Please visit her and enter!

Wordless Wednesday...favorite family pictures.

2011-04-27T11:42:00.000-04:00

I thought I would simply share some of my favorite pictures from the last couple years.........

A fun giveaway over at Ruby jean

2011-04-25T18:31:00.000-04:00

Please visit Ruby Jean to enter a cute little giveaway!!

99 cents

2011-04-20T05:09:00.000-04:00

Good morning friends,

It's 5:00 AM and I am up sewing! We have just had a pounding rain storm. I woke up from that at 3:00 AM, so after an hour of laying there wide awake, I decided to get up.

In case anyone is interested, I have some great deals on ebay right now. Guess I am spring cleaning the sewing room! I will be having all kinds of goodies starting at just $.99. I will be having purses, aprons, pillowcases, pillows, and fabrics! here is the link that will take you to the sale!

Mary Ann's eBay store deals

Pretty New Things

2011-04-14T16:18:00.000-04:00

I have been busy with a few things this week. I made a sweet little potpourri pillow in a lovely fabric graced with lilacs...oh how I love the sweet fragrance of lilacs in the spring time.

I also worked on another set of pillowcases recently....

I have been busy this afternoon making bias tape for a baby quilt I want to finish. I finally took the time today to learn to make "homemade" bias tape in a more professional way! LOL. I discovered the way to cut lots of bias tape and then used the bias tape maker that I had bought a couple years ago, (and had never even opened the package until today) !

I also got to visit with a couple of my grandchildren too! So, if you are still with me and still reading, I have a new picture of my grandbaby, Denver. He is four weeks old today.

I received my giveaway prize!

2011-04-11T10:11:00.001-04:00

Good morning friends,

Last week Chandeen from Designed by Chance was having a giveaway. I was so surprised to learn that I was the winner!! That is the first blog giveaway I had ever won. I won a $15.00 gift certificate to Cloud 9 Bath & Body. I chose four soaps...Lavender and Ylang Ylang, Honey Oat, Lavender, and Rose Geranium. Today the mail truck came rumbling up my driveway. When I went out to get the mail, I could immediately smell something delicious in the stack of mail. When I got back into the house I immediately opened my packages. Aren't they tied up so sweetly? Right now I am just deciding if I should open them all just so I can see how pretty they are...... or keep them wrapped until I use each one. Cloud 9 bath & Body even sent two samples of two of her other products. Perhaps you can pop over to her site here....Cloud 9 Bath & Body to see the sweet soaps I got... that way I guess I won't open every single one right now...cause the wrappings are just so pretty too. I know you are probably wanting to know what is the first one I will opened up........it will be either the Lavender or Lavender Ylang Ylang....such descions I must make today! Thank you Susan for the lovely soaps and thank you Chandeen for maing me a winner. PS..If you will remember, Chandeen is the sweet girl that posted the delightful recipe for the homemade Lavender Laundry Soap that I am gathering up the supplies to make!!

We Have A Winner !!!!!

2011-04-08T22:46:00.001-04:00

What a fun three weeks it has been! I have met so many new people here in blog land that have signed up for my giveaway! I wish you all could be winners. The nice thing about so many new ladies following my blog is that it gave me the opportunity to see you blogs too! Your blogs have inspired me. I love to read about your lives, your recipes, your families, and I love your pictures you post!

Since I could have only one winner, I have decided to offer a 20% discount to everyone that may want something in my shop, Handcrafted By Mary Ann Miller!

To receive the 20% discount...simply add the code ....GIVEAWAYDISCOUNT......when you checkout!! Good though April 16, 2011.

I am sure you are all awaiting the winner's name!!! I had 133 comments. I use Random.com to generate my winner... and the winner is......

so, the winner is........................

Janet from Cottage Blessings

Janet wins a $50.00 gift certificate at

Handcrafted by Mary Ann Miller

Etsy Store

Janet said...

Thanks for entering my giveaway! I would love to enter yours, too! I am a new follower!

Blessings,

Janet

March 28, 2011 9:22 PM

I thank each one of you lovely ladies for entering. It's been alot of fun!

Sopaipilla Recipe and Tutorial

2011-04-07T08:01:00.003-04:00

Sopaipilla Dough

2 cups flour
1 package yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon shortening
3/4 cup warm water

Mix all ingredients. Divide dough into 8 balls and roll out each ball to an approximate five inch circle. Place a scant 1/2 cup of filling in the center of the circle. Flip the dough over to ...where it makes a moon shape over the meat & cheese then pinch the ends. Fry about 45 seconds in hot oil and then flip and follow with another 45 seconds on the other side. Drain on paper towels.

Be creative with the fillings! I used 2 cups cooked and chopped chicken. 1 teaspoon granual chicken boullion, 1 teaspoon chopped onion, 1 cup shredded chedder cheese, and 2 cups of pineapple chunks. It was wonderful served with sour cream and additional cheese.

Raggedy Station

2011-04-05T17:38:00.000-04:00

Miss Tess over at Raggedy Station is having a super sweet giveaway. She is offering 12 fat quarters and a sweet lace button.

Blogging Around The World

2011-04-04T14:05:00.000-04:00

Here in my part of the world, it is raining. It is dreary. It is damp. But...I have had a nice day anyway. I have been traveling all around visiting my favorite blogs and visiting many new ones! I thought I would share an interesting one I visited today.

Designed by Chance

Chandeen at Designed by Chance has a very refreshing blog. I actually just discovered her blog last week. She had a teriffic post on homemade Lavender Laundry Soap. I have several months of laundry detergent on hand right now, but as soon as I get low I am making her recipe for Lavender Laundry Soap! I can almost smell it now!

On Chandeen's post today, she is having her own giveaway. So, of course I entered my name in the hat! If you would also like to ender her giveaway head on over to....Designed by Chance

My 100th Follower!!

2011-04-04T11:16:00.000-04:00

That was fast! I have my 100th blog follower!

"Annmarie"

Is my 100th follower!!!

Annmarie, if you would send me a message with your mailing address, I will get you a surprise package of goodies mailed right out to you!

I have 99 followers!!

2011-04-04T11:02:00.000-04:00

I see as of a few moments ago, that I now have 99 followers. I think I will give a little surprise package to my 100th follower. Oh, how exciting! Let's see who it will be! Thank you all so much for being so sweet. Please don't forget to enter my Blog Giveway that ends this coming Friday. Be sure and check the list and make sure you have entered all the times you are allowed!! $50.00 to spend in my Etsy Store!! Hooray.

The Apron Surprise!

2011-03-31T18:10:00.000-04:00

The Apron Surprise!

I have been busy sewing lots of sweet aprons. As a surprise for my blog friends...I listed them in my Etsy shop at half price and also have made the shipping half off!! I am not announcing this to anyone else...just my fellow bloggers. This special surprise will end on Sunday night and will then go back to regular price. If you want one at the price you will have to get it before the clock strikes midnight!

Please visit my shop Handcrafted by Mary Ann Miller.

Here are some aprons that are listed currently.....

Mama's Apron

2011-03-30T07:11:00.001-04:00

Mama's apron...wrapped so sweetly around our hearts.

*The principal use of Mama's apron was to protect the dress underneath. Because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

*It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

*From the chicken coop the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

*When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

*And when the weather was cold, Mama wrapped it around her arms.

*Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove..

*Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

*From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.

*After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

*In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

*When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

*When dinner was ready, Mama walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

*It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Check back soon for an apron surprise!!

Mary Ann :)

A New Birth on the Farm

2011-03-29T09:42:00.001-04:00

We had a new calf born on our farm yesterday morning! It was a heifer (girl) calf. We raise a few Black Angus cows here on our small farm. We have three cows and one bull. So far, we have had two calves in the last month. We are hoping to have one more from our third cow. Last week we sent two, year old calves, one bull and one steer, down the road to our son's farm to finish fattening them up before they are sold.

Here are a few pictures of our other cows.

Visit Janet at Cottage Blessings.

2011-03-28T13:08:00.000-04:00

Isn't this just the sweetest little lamp! Janet, over at Cottage Blessings is have a blog giveaway and someone is going to win this lovely creation! Run over to Janet's blog and enter!!

Don't forget my giveaway!!

2011-03-26T18:18:00.001-04:00

You still have plenty of time to enter my $50.00 gift certificate giveaway! Be sure and visit this post "I AM CELEBRATING WITH A SPRING GIVEAWAY!"
and you can have up to four entries!!

Little Chip Snatcher

2011-03-22T14:04:00.000-04:00

Can you imagine such a thing? This cute little granddaughter of mine is a chip snatcher! No matter where I put snacks, this little muncher finds them!

We currently have a bag of potato chips and a bag of Oreos in the kitchen. She located the chips and was able to reach them by really stretching. She proceeded to plop right down on the floor and reached her sweet little hand in the bag.

She tried her best to look innocent when I asked her what she was doing!

She was trying to gobble them so fast that she dropped one on the floor! That didn't stop her....she seemed so proud of herself.......

When she laughed and stuck it in her mouth!!

I even asked her if she would rather have a cookie instead of the chips.

Her answer was a "NO"....She was a chip kind of girl that day!!

In this last picture she was at her favorite window watching for her favorite people.

Mommy and Daddy!!

Baby!!!!

2011-03-18T13:45:00.001-04:00

Look what I got!!!!

A brand new grandson. Denver was born yesterday, March 17. Mommy, Daddy, and big sister are doing well.

"Big" sister, Addyson got to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's last night while Mommy was in the hospital. In the morning she wanted to cuddle a little bit with favorite blanket and bear.

I am celebrating with a spring giveway!!!

2011-03-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm having a spring giveaway!!!!

I am giving a $50.00 gift certificate to my store!!!

Handcrafted By Mary Ann Miller

You can choose anything you want in my store and you can even use to cover the postage!!

Here's how you can enter the giveaway.....

Leave a comment on this post .
Become a follower of my blog.
Grab my blog button (it's on the right) for your blog.
Make a posting on your blog (that includes the above button and link to this post) about my giveway!

Please leave a seperate comment in this post for each of your entries.

The giveaway will end at 10:00 Eastern Time on April 8, 2011. I will plan to announce a winner on April 9, 2011

A few things currently in my store.........

Grandchildren

2011-03-16T12:36:00.000-04:00

Within the next 24 hours, Lord willing, I will have a new grandchild! I have four sweet granchildren currently. They are all such blessings and I simply adore each one of them. We are excitied to meet the newest blessing..... Here is a little collage of my grandchildren

Enter Donna's Giveaway!

2011-03-15T11:08:00.001-04:00

If you like to enter blog giveaways, you will want to visit Donna's blog Brynwood Needleworks . She is having a giveaway to celebrate her second blog anniversary! She is offering some really nice prizes. Donna's blog is certainly a favorite of mine because she offers so much help to girls like me that need help with my quilting techniques. Be sure and check out her tutorials.

Interesting Hometown Sights

2011-03-15T10:24:00.001-04:00

I thought today I would share with you, an interesting place near my home. The largest basket in the world is just five minutes from my home! The famous Longaberger baskets are handcrafted in my area and the home office is located in the "big basket" ! Here are some interesting facts about the LONGABERGER HOME OFFICE basket;

Outstanding Features

Offices are situated around a seven-story, 30,000 sq. ft atrium where employees and guests can enjoy the natural daylight from the skylight.
Two basket handles are attached to the building with replica copper and wooden rivets.
The handles are heated to prevent ice from forming.
Two Longaberger tags are attached to the sides of the building. The gold leaf painted tags are 725 lbs each and measure 25' long x 7' tall x 3" thick.
A majority of the cherry woodwork in the building was harvested from Longaberger Golf Club® in Hanover, dried and milled in our facility, sawed and shaped at our Construction Woodshop, finished and installed by our Construction Division.

Points of Interest

The Longaberger Company designed the exterior and interior of the building. NBBJ and Korda Nemeth Engineering administered the construction process.
The building is a trademark of The Longaberger Company.
Groundbreaking began on October 23, 1995 and employees moved in December 9, 1997.
The building has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, People magazine, Time magazine and U.S. News & World Report.
Longaberger has received numerous landscaping and construction awards for this building.
Product displays in the lobby feature new products and the Longaberger sales kit for the independent sales consultant business opportunity.

Building Facts

Property size: 25 acres
Building capacity: 500 employees
Building footage: 180,000 square feet
Total weight of building: Approximately 9,000 tons
Total weight of handles: Approximately 150 tons
Number of windows: 84
Seven stories in height
192' long x 126' wide at grade, widening to 208' long x 142' wide at roof
160 times longer, wider and taller than the Medium Market Basket

Along The Garden Path

2011-03-12T15:17:00.000-05:00

I have cabin fever. I am day dreaming about warm sunny days. I'm thinking about my lilacs....

I simply adore the sweet smell of spring lilacs.

Lilacs buds are one of the first signs on spring around my home. One of my favorites!

Another favorite of mine is my honeysuckle. The sweet fragrance always takes me back to my childhood.

We also have a lovely bleeding heart plant. It is so beautiful and graceful to see.

Tulips in the springtime in so many shades of color.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at all the pretty spring flowers that grace my area of the country!

Favorite Fabric Designers

2011-03-11T17:02:00.003-05:00

I was just wondering who your favorite fabric designer is? That's kind of a hard question for those of you who are like me and simply adore fabric!! I beleive my very favorite designer is Tanya Whelan. I love the palate of colors she uses in her fabrics. Lots of pale pink, blue, yellow, green, and reds! Lots of florals, dots, and stripes. I always favor softer colors when choosing my fabrics.
These designs are from Tanya's Delilah line..you can see all of them here
These

I love the quality of Amy Butler's fabrics. This is a photo of Amy in her studio.

Amy actually lives about 15 miles from my home! No, I have never had the pleaseure of meeting her in person. She designs bright and bold fabrics. I love the quality and I like a few of her designs but they are a little bolder then what I tend to like.

I like quite a few of Michael Miller's fabrics too. Who is your favorite fabric designers?

Look what I made!

2011-03-09T10:31:00.000-05:00

I just added several new items to my Etsy Shop. I hope to get busy and get more items made. Please check out my new items by clicking on the link above or you can always click on the Etsy button to the right and it will take you to my shop..

What I Do.......

2011-03-03T07:41:00.000-05:00

I thought I would share a little about what I do with some of my spare time! One of the items I create is handcrafted purses. I make each purse one at a time. I have never made two purses alike. When someone orders a purse from me it truly is one of a kind. It has taken me quite a while to create the purse that I am really pleased with. My purses have a consider amount of body so they hold up well and do not "flop over". I am happy to say that my purses are scattered all over the United States and I have shipped across the sea!

A little sunshine today!

2011-03-02T14:13:00.003-05:00

The sun is shining brightly here in Ohio but it is still quite cold. My little granddaughter loves the outdoors so I let her go out for just a couple minutes to enjoy some fresh air. Addyson will be 15 months this week. Hard to imagine life without this sweet little girl. Jennie, a friend of Addyson's mommy made the sweet hat for her. Addyson loves the hat as you can tell in the pictures! Jennie's Etsy Shop can be found here. She also has a nice FaceBook Page that showcases her lovely items.

Quilting Buddies

2011-03-01T17:54:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I had the pleasure of watching all my grandchildren while their parents had a few things to do. So, I had a couple quilt tops that I had made for them to help me knot rather then sew. The oldest two, Benji and Vanessa are old enough to help. Their brother Beau and cousin Addyson are not quite old enough to help with the quilting but Addyson did her best to get in with the action. We worked on the kitchen table with large needles and a couple pairs of plyers to pull the yarn through the layers. We finished one blue baby boy quilt. Vanessa is just seven years old but is really enjoying her first lessons in sewing. Thus making her grandma quite proud of her.

A new blessing soon......

2011-02-24T14:46:00.000-05:00

My sweet little granddaughter Addyson will soon be getting a new brother! Her mommy and daddy are expecting a new bundle of love in the next several weeks! Addyson will be 15 months soon so we will have our hands full. Addy is such a delight...always smiling....love her so!

Starting on a new quilt

2011-02-22T12:11:00.000-05:00

I have started on my new quilt. I am making it in a "Crazy Quilt" fashion. I am using Tanya Whelan's new "Delilah" line. I have never made a crazy quilt before, but it is really quite fun. I am planning on making a full size quilt to fit my bed.

The winter weather has returned after a couple somewhat nice days. It started sleeting late yesterday afternoon. Then it rained and got really windy. When I woke up this morning we had two inches of snow! Oh well, spring will come when it is ready. I am thankful to have a nice warm house.

The mail man brought my package!

2011-02-18T13:13:00.005-05:00

My package from Marie-Madeline Studio had arrived! I ordered 12 different fabrics from Tanya Whelan's line Delilah The following pictures are the fabrics I chose to create a quilt for myself.

I just love these fabrics! I am crazy...I want to hold them and just drink in the beauty of them.

I want to make a crazy quilt using these 12 fabrics. Has anyone else made a crazy quilt? Got any pointers for me?

Sewing In Roses

2011-02-16T08:01:00.004-05:00

Don't know if I am crazy, but I think I have a love affair with beautiful fabric. I am drawn to my fabric like someone that collects rare jewels. I just love my fabric stash. I love beautiful florals the best. I prefer soft blues, pinks, lavenders, and soft mint greens. I am drawn to soft colors and designs better then bold bright colors.

I love the way my bolts of fabric look all lined up neatly. The beautiful colors just warm my heart.....am I hopeless or what?

Yesterday I chose a beautiful medium blue cotton fabric with sweet pink roses. I turned the fabric into a sweet little handbag lined with a gorgeous pink striped fabric.

I buy most of my fabric from the sweet Long ladies at Marie-Madeline Studio. Marie-Madeline is a fabric store operated my a mother and four daughters team. They offer the most beautiful fabrics and a delightful array of patterns that they have created. Yes, I have to admit that I own most all of the patterns they have designed. They also have the sweetest blog

I hope to create someting new again today. Kind of helps the dreary days we have been having here in Ohio. I have a new quilt in the planning. I just ordered some new fabrics from Marie-Madeline Studio to go with some that I already have. I'll keep you posted about that project!

I received my Mug Mat Swap!

2011-02-10T14:26:00.004-05:00

I recently join in a "Mug Mat" swap hosted by Donna at Brynwood Needleworks. If you haven't "met" Donna please visit her lovely blog. She is just about the most creative woman I have seen. She can do beautiful things with fabric.

I signed up do swap a handcrafted "Mug Mat" which Donna was hosting for her blog followers. My swap partner was Laura from Fun With This and That. This is the sweet package I received from Laura.

I have sent my package off to Laura and I hope she enjoyes it.

Fresh Green Beans

2010-06-28T20:08:00.002-04:00

The green beans are ready. I picked some and need to go back to the garden and pick the rest of them in a few minutes. We also picked peas already this past week. I frozen them. I will can the green beans probably in the morning. Thankfully, it is a tiny bit cooler outside, not a lot, but every litle bit helps.

It's Strawberry Time In My Garden

2010-06-07T12:52:00.003-04:00

Our strawberries are starting to ripen as the days are warming up. We planted about a dozen plants in containers on the back patio. I just have to walk out my back door and pick some fresh strawberries!

I got to babysit a princess today!

2010-04-26T22:48:00.002-04:00

I got to babysit my princess today while her mommy and daddy had a little date for lunch. Her mama brought her in a delightful little outfit but the princesss and I had a secret mission! I had saved one of her mama's dresses from when she was also about four months old. So, while mama was away, we got the princess all dressed up in her mama's little dress and bonnett. Then we got the camera out. I think she looks so sweet and beleive me she is a sweetie. Grandchildren are such a blessing.

I Got The Sweetest Phone Call

2010-04-24T10:46:00.005-04:00

The telephone rang and I picked up the receiver. A sweet little voice asked if Grandpa was home from work yet. I said that yes, Grandpa had just got home. The little voice said "I wanted to come up and help Grandpa in the garden." The voice belonged to my eight year old grandson, Benji. My son's farm is just a half mile down the road from our farm. I asked if he want Uncle Andy to come down and get him so he could help Grandpa. Andy ( my son-in-law) hopped on the four wheeler and went right down and picked Benji up.

Recycling Ideas!

2010-04-06T15:01:00.002-04:00

I created a recycled skirt for my granddaughter today. I purchased an Old Navy skirt from the thrift store for $1.99. The skirt was in like new condition but was a mini skirt and my granddaughter like long skirts. You can also use old jeans that have holes, stains, or are too short. I cut the bottom portion off. I then added a cute cotton print to make the bottom portion of the skirt.

I Think Spring Is Really Here!

2010-04-06T09:01:00.003-04:00

It's been a little while since I posted. I have been busy sewing for another wedding. It's finished and it was beautiful. It's always nice to see a bride and groom so happy and in love. It's also a nice feeling to know that I had a little part in creating the beautiful satin gowns that will be part of the bride's wedding memories.

We've had one new calf born this spring. We are waiting on one more that is due anytime now! My hubby is getting things ready for his garden. He has also planted another apple tree. We've never had too much success with our grape arbor. We think it does not get enough sun. So, Hubby is starting a new arbor in a sunnier spot!

Wishing you a beautiful week.

Yummy Comfort Food

2010-02-16T20:13:00.004-05:00

Blueberry Jam Tart

1 cup flour
pinch salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
8 T unsalted butter at room temperature
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract
1/2 cup non instant oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
6 heaped tablespoons of jam ( raspberry, blueberry etc)

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla. Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Stir this mixture into the creamed mixture. Stir in the oats and sliced almonds. Reserve 1/2 cup of this mixture and set it aside. Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the greased 8" X 8" pan. Dollop the raspberry jam over top and spread it out with a rubber spatula to within 1/2 inch of the sides of the pan all around. Crumble the reserved oat mixture evenly over top.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the dough is golden brown and the jam is lightly bubbling. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Straight from The Heart

2010-01-24T16:58:00.010-05:00

I've just celebrated another birthday. I celebrated with my family and it was a very nice birthday. I received several nice birthday gifts. I wanted to share with you the gift from my sweet six year old granddaughter, Vanessa. I could see the excitment in her eyes even before she handed me the pink birthday bag. She was just beaming with delight!

Vanessa's mommy told me that she picked out the gifts herself, I could plainly see she was hoping I would love the gifts that she picked for me.

Inside the gift bag this is what I found:

A tin can bank that mommy had bought at a garage sale. It is dated 1988.

A catalog about horses. From this catalog you could order all kinds of toys such as farm animals and barns etc!

Next I found a string of plastic beads that Vanessa had made herself. A brand new pencil that had never even been sharpened yet. Also a used ink pen that was just missing the lid but was a real cool zebra print.

Also, one of the sweetest things was this.....

Vanessa had picked out several cards and asked her mommy to help her choose which one she should give me. Mommy said one was a get well card, one was a baby card......

How cute is that? In Vanessa's own handwriting she wrote that she hoped I got good cards. I even got some stickers!! Yes, Vanessa, I got good cards, and yours was one of the best!

A disaster hit today!

2010-01-16T17:42:00.002-05:00

I had an unfortunate disaster in my kitchen today. I put a pound of lovely white chocolate on the stove to melt. The bad thing was I forgot all about it and began to do some other chores. I changed the bed clothes on one bed, tidy the room up and did a few other things. All of a sudden I smelled something burning and noticed that my house was filling with smoke! It was then that I remembered the chocolate. I ran to the kitchen to find the white chocolate was now a burnt brown chocolate. The bottom of the pan that had the water in it was bone dry and smoking!! The top pan with the chocolate was charred. I had to open doors and windows just to let out the smoke in my kitchen. I have not decided which was worse, ruining my pan or wasting a whole pound of chocolate!!!! I did go on and melt another pound of dark chocolate and make chocolate covered pretzels. Yes, I stayed in the room while the chocolate was melting!!

It's been So Long

2010-01-13T14:07:00.003-05:00

It has been so long since I updated on my blog. Sorry about that. I have had some serious sinus/ chest congestion for some time. I think it may be a tiny bit better. Anyway, I took a few pictures of my granddaughter last evening. She is growing so quickly. She will be six weeks on Sunday!! Sharing one here with you!

Look A Likes ????

2009-12-31T13:23:00.002-05:00

As you know, we were blessed with a beautiful granddaughter on Dec.6, 2009. We truly thank God for this miracle baby. A year ago, we didn't know if our daughter and her husband would ever be blessed with a child. She had lost two pregnancies and had some "problems". Yet, here we are a year later, with a lovely baby in the family!!! I can't even begin to tell how thankful and happy I am for this little miracle baby.

Any way, she looks a lot like her Daddy, but I think she looks a lot like her Mommy, my daughter. Here is a picture of my daughter when she was three weeks old and one with her baby at three weeks. What do you think?

Sweet Sleep

2009-12-30T14:41:00.003-05:00

My Beloved Addyson

.....thoughts of you are always in my heart... I love you so much!

Just some pictures to share....

2009-12-30T13:01:00.003-05:00

It's Winter Time!

2009-12-23T16:35:00.003-05:00

It's offically winter here in Ohio. Actually today has been pretty nice. The sun did shine, we didn't get the freezing rain we were suppose to get, and the tempatures weren't too bad. Nothing to complain about here!

Thought I would share a couple pictures of my grandson, Beau. He is 16 months old now.

Beau was visiting grandma.

Beau was ready to go outside!

This picture show Beau looking out the window for his Daddy. He loves his Daddy!

Sweet Dreams

2009-12-18T08:24:00.002-05:00

Visitors!

2009-12-17T21:18:00.002-05:00

Quess who came to visit me tonight? My lovely daughter and my sweet granddaughter. Little Addyson is 11 days old today. We are so thankful for this little bundle of love. She is truely a gift from God.

It's So Grand To Have Grandchildren!

2009-12-12T15:25:00.003-05:00

Little Beau and Vanessa were in for a happy surprise when they got to my house on Thursday. They thought they were just coming to see me and Grandpa. Instead they got to see their brand new cousin! They were so happy. Vanessa was quite the "little mother"! She got to hold baby Addyson for a long time!

Our Little Sweetie

2009-12-12T14:11:00.003-05:00

Hello from Ohio on this cold Saturday afternoon. Thought I'd share another picture of little Addyson. She is four days old in the picture. She will be a week old tomorrow.

Love.......

2009-12-08T16:32:00.003-05:00

Our little blessing!

2009-12-07T22:03:00.002-05:00

I thought I would share two new pictures of my new granddaughter. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

The Princesss Arrived Today

2009-12-06T19:16:00.007-05:00

On this cold but sunny Sunday, I was blessed with a beautiful new granddaughter!! baby Addyson arrived early this afternoon and is doing fine, thank the Lord! She was 8# 6 oz and was 20 inches long.

I got to hold my new granddaughter.

We're Getting Something New!!!!

2009-12-04T16:21:00.002-05:00

Our family should have something new next Tuesday, if not before! Can you guess what it is?

Cookie Party Recipe Exchange

2009-12-03T07:10:00.004-05:00

Wedding Tea Cakes

1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream butter and vanilla until smooth. Combine the 6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar and flour; stir into the butter mixture until just blended. Mix in the chopped walnuts. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, and place them 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. When cool, roll in remaining confectioners' sugar.

Under The Weather

2009-12-01T10:12:00.002-05:00

I am trying to take it easy today. I have the cold and sinus problems that seem to be going around. I got new carpet in a spare bedroom yesterday and have only been able to do a little bit of work getting the room put back together. A few minutes of work and I am wiped out! I am going to sew new bed skirts (dust ruffles) for the twin beds and all new bedding!! I'll post pictures when I am done.

Take care and keep healthy.

Easy Cheesecake Squares

2009-11-24T14:08:00.003-05:00

Here is a delightfull and super easy receipe.

2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese
2 - 8 count packages cresant rolls
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk (save the white)
2 teaspoons lemon juice ( this can be omitted)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Line a 9"X13" pan with one package of the cresant rolls.

Cream together cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, and vanilla. Spread mixture of top of rolls. Place second package of rolls on top of cream cheese mixture. Brush the egg white of the top layer. Lightly sprinkle cinnamon over the egg white Bake @ 375 degrees 20-25 minutes. Do not over bake.

Need Fabric? Might As Well Win Some!!

2009-11-23T11:23:00.002-05:00

The Long Ladies at marie-madeline studio are offering another giveaway. They are offering a $30.00 gift certificate!! I would love to win that. You can also enter by clicking here.

Not Much

2009-11-17T08:15:00.003-05:00

Not much happening around here lately. I have been sewing. I finished a wedding that I was sewing for. I was thankful to have that off my mind. I am looking for some motivation to paint and redecorate a spare bedroom. So far, I have not found the motivation.Wish you could just order some motivation from somewhere!! I have white paint for the walls. I also have the sweet light blue and white stripe wall paper for the room. I want to create a cottage look for the room. I will probably sew curtains, bedding, and pillows for the two twin beds that are in the room. I dearly love Tanya Whelan's beautiful fabrics and will no double use some of her fabrics from the Darla line.

Aprons!!!!!

2009-11-09T14:42:00.003-05:00

I love the new aprons that are so fashionable now!! I recently made a new apron using marie-madeline studio's darling Chic Sister Pattern. I can't tell you how darling it is. The Long Ladies at marie-madeline created the pattern. They offer wonderful instructions that even newbies could understand!! I made my first apron usine their pattern in under 90 minutes!! That was from the start of cutting out the pattern to clipping the last thread when I was finished!!

marie-madeline studio is offering a giveaway!! They are giving a way a pattern and the fabric to create your own chic apron. Check out their website here.

Sharing our joy.....

2009-11-06T10:48:00.003-05:00

I have some wonderful news to share! My daughter, who is my "baby" and only girl is expecting a baby girl in December!! We are so excited and thankful for this miracle. She and her husband had lost two pregnacies in the last four years. We weren't sure we would ever enjoy the miracle of seeing her have a bundle of joy. Thank the Lord he has blessed her and things are looking real well. She is due the middle of December. Last night she was blessed with a lovely shower in her honor. I thought I would share a few pictures from the shower.

Pretty Pink Bubbles

2009-11-02T20:52:00.003-05:00

Here is my latest creation that I have been busy working on. This delightful purse was created with a solid black canvas fabric and then accented with a colorful printed lining. I included a beautiful vintage button that highlights the sweet pink colors. I created this purse for a door prize at a baby shower!

If anyone is interested, I can create another one like this for you. As with all of my creations, they are handcrafted individually by me, one at a time. I finish my purses with a scotch guard coating to help keep your purse clean.

This purse sells for $34.95 and includes free shipping. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in this purse or a custom creation!

Beau

2009-10-24T13:24:00.004-04:00

My youngest grandson was all smiles last night at the surprise 30th birthday for his Daddy! It continued to rain most of the day yesterday. We went ahead with the party anyway and had it in an outdoor building that had plenty of space. We had a nice fire going to keep warm. We did have to cancel the hayride because of the rain though. We had a good time and manage to keep it a secret and suprise for my son. Beau has a "hurty" on his nose from trying to come down the stairs by himself!!

It's Birthday Party Day!!

2009-10-23T12:18:00.004-04:00

My daughter-in-law and I have been planning a surprise birthday party for my son who is turning 30 next week. The party is this evening. It is raining. It has been raining all day, but the party is still going on! We have planned a bonfire and hayride. I also was going to be cooking chili over an open fire. We are having homemade chili with cheese and crackers, barbeque and chicken sandwiches, chips, cake and desserts. We are having sweet tea and apple cider to drink.

It is now pouring rain even harder. Hopefully it will stop..........

This is a picture of my birthday son. He does not like a camera and will avoid looking at one at all cost. He is such a wonderful son. I am so thankful for him and also proud of him.

Melody of my heart.....

2009-10-13T19:08:00.003-04:00

I have been busy sewing the last week. I have been working on a wedding that I have to create five satin gowns and matching jackets. I took a little time off from that job to create a purse for my sister's birthday. Her name is Melody so I chose a selection of black and white fabrics including a lining of musical notes. Hopefully she will like it. I really need to get some more of my purses ready for my Etsy.com shop.

Pizza!! (recipe posted too!!)

2009-10-04T17:09:00.005-04:00

I think I have discovered the best homemade pizza possible! I have always had trouble getting my dough the correct texture that I wanted. Here's my recipe and how I prepare it!

Pizza Dough

3/4 cup hot water (105-115 degrees)
1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour (approx.)

Mix water, yeast, and suger in mixing bowl. Allow to set for about 10 minutes. Add salt and flour. Mix well. Either knead on a floured surface or mix in a Kitchen Aid mixer using the bread hook for about five minutes. Put dough in an oiled bowl for about 30 minutes in a warm area. Roll dough into a circle to fit a baking stone or a greased pizza pan. Using a fork, poke holes in the dough all over the circle. Using a pastry brush, very lightly cover the dough with olive oil. Do not use too much, you want it just a light coating. Bake the crust in a preheated over at 425 degrees for about 8-10 minutes. Remove the crust and top with pizza sauce, cheese , pepperoni, or whatever toppings you prefer. Return pizza to over and allow to bake 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

Let me know what you think of the pizza after you try it!

Just some pictures......

2009-10-02T12:16:00.001-04:00

Those that mean the most..........

2009-09-27T15:20:00.003-04:00

I haven't really had anything special to write about in the last week. Guess I have been busy with chores that need to be done. As I was thinking of something special to write, I thought of what means the most to me! My family! I am so thankful for each one of them. So, I thought I would write about my family. My family consists of my husband, three children, their spouses, three grandchildren and one more expected in December! So, I will try to tell you in the next few days what make my family special to me! First I will start with my husband.

I met my husband when I was sixteen years old. He was eighteen. We met when I put my application in at a local fast food restaurant. He was already working there. I noticed him the very first day that I was there! I also know that he noticed me too! A year and a half later we were married and recently celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary. Two years after we married my husband found a new job at a local utility company. He started at the bottom and has worked his way up to his current job as a technician. Some of his best qualities is his honesty and his work ethic. He has not missed a day of work in years. He is hard working and has always provided for his family. He is very quiet and pretty shy. He loves his kids and adores his grandchildren. He likes to hunt during deer and turkey season here in Ohio.

I thank God for my wonderful husband. Check back this week and I'll tell you more about my family!

Announcing my winner!!!

2009-09-20T14:08:00.008-04:00

Today is the day that I announce my winner of my Sugar Pie Pumpkin seeds! Thank you so much for entering and leaving nice comments. I had planned to have one winner. I decided that I could do better then that!

I decided to have three winners instead! So I used Random.org to pick from my enteries. So, these are my four winners......

1.Esther from Shabby Cottage Collectables

2. Melinda from Country Dreaming

3.Tammy from Flat Creek Farm

My Country Road

2009-09-17T19:25:00.005-04:00

It's been a lovely week here in Ohio. The days have been full of sunshine and the evening have been cool. I took a walk down my country road tonight and decided to take my camera along. We had some really big things happen on our road this summer. We now have a blacktop road! We have lived our dirt road for almost thirty years so a paved road is big stuff to us. We live about a half mile from the main road.

A Giveaway....

2009-09-11T16:29:00.008-04:00

As many of you know, we had a wonderful crop of organically grown sugar pie pumpkins this season. I am selling some on my ebay site. I decided to give a free gift package away to one of my blog friends! You will recive a set of 50 organic Sugar Pie Pumpkin seeds in an handmade muslin drawstring bag ( yes, I made it myself!) and then in a gift bag that says "Planted With Love". The drawing will be September 19, 2009. I will announce the winner on Sunday September 20th in a blog post plus I will contact the winner by email. You will receive an entry for each of these:

1. Posting a comment on this post.
2. Following my blog.
3. Post on your blog about this contest and provide a link to my contest.

Please be sure that I know your email address if it's not readily available on your clickable name.

I will pick a random number to choose the winner. If you want to see a greater write up about our fantastic pumpkins, check out my ebay listing to veiw more details about our seeds.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120468649150

Dear Fellow Bloggers

2009-09-11T08:15:00.004-04:00

I didn't think I had anything special to say today, but I started thinking about how much I enjoy my fellow bloggers. You see, I live way out in the country and don't come in contact with a lot of people. So for me, I truly enjoy my "online friends". It's so inspiring to read everyone's blog and see whats going on in your lives. I love to see pictures of your families and homes. I love hearing about your accomplishments and disapointments. I love your recipes you share. I love seeing pictures of your "neck of the woods"!

So, fellow bloggers, I just wanted to say, I appreciate you and really enjoy reading what you post!!

Have a nice day!

Mary Ann

PS. I thought I would go ahead and post a few pictures that aren't the best, but just everyday life! These pictures are of my three grandchildren taken a few weeks ago. Their farm is just a half a mile down the road from our place.

An Early Evening Walk In Our Woods

2009-09-04T16:13:00.007-04:00

Last evening my hubby and I took a little jaunt back into our woods. We have almost 24 acres of hills and woods. Last year, hubby built a pond all by himself! We stocked it with fish last year and now he is really enjoying feeding his fish. We have seen lots of new baby fish.

This is the pond that hubby built. Just him and his tractor! He spend many, many hours of sweat or hard work building this pond. It is about 1/3 of an acre in size.

The woods are such a peaceful place to spend time. We heat our home from the trees from these woods. My hubby spends much time each year cutting and splitting wood to keep us warm and cozy.

Of course, before we get started to the woods, his "girls" are looking for handouts! These two heifer cows are always looking for the feed bucket that usually contains treats of either apples or corn cobs. They will eats right out of his hand.

A Lovely Day in Ohio

2009-09-02T12:44:00.003-04:00

It's another beautiful day here in Ohio. I just finished up the last batch of my homemade applesauce. I finished with about 43 quarts. That should last us until next year at apple harvesting time. My hubby loves his applesauce in his lunch bucket everyday! If you notice the different of the applesauce, it's the difference of apples. The darker sauce is from the red tree and the lighter comes from the golden delicious apple tree. I carry each batch of applesauce in my basket down to the pantry in my basement. It's so nice to see the jars lined up and quickly growing. So far this season I have canned home grown potatoes, green beans, applesauce, vegetable soup, grape, strawberry, and blueberry jam. I have done a bit of pumpkin for pumpkin pies and bread. I still have more do do though of pumpkin.

I would love to learn how to grow great onions. My onions never get very big. Anyone have any suggestions for growing large onions?

My cat was wondering what I was doing outside today. Guess he wanted his picture taken!

Sugar Pie Pumpkins

2009-09-01T09:13:00.003-04:00

My hubby is a great gardner. I saved my seeds from my Sugar Pie Pumpkins last year. Hubby planted them this year and we had a nice size crop. There are several ways to cook pumpkin. I freeze my pureed pumpkin to later use for pies and bread.

Apple Snatchers

2009-09-01T08:57:00.004-04:00

When I looked out my window a few minutes ago, this is what I saw! I had three apple snatchers under the apple trees. I am glad for them though. We have a nice crop of apples again this year. Some apples fall to the ground and the deer keep them cleaned up for me. That way we don't have to rake them up.

I have more applesauce to make this day. I am hoping to get 14 more quarts made and canned this afternoon.

Blessings!

2009-08-27T12:03:00.002-04:00

Here are some sweet pictures of my lovely granddaughter. She loves having her picture taken! I told her on Sunday I had my camera with me and asked her if she wanted me to take some new pictures. She told me to wait a minute. She immediently ran over to the pasture fence and climbed to the highest rail. Then she said , "Okay Grandma, take my picture now." How could I resist?

Blueberry Crumb Bars

2009-08-24T17:37:00.003-04:00

INGREDIENTS
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 pinch ground cinnamon (optional)
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
3 teaspoons cornstarch

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and cinnamon, if desired. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the shortening and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.
In another bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch. Gently mix in the blueberries. Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

It's Been A Busy Day

2009-08-22T15:57:00.003-04:00

It has been a beautiful day here in Ohio. The sun has been shining and there is a nice breeze. So far today my farmer (husband) has harvested tomatoes, corn, pumpkins, apples, and potatoes. The apples I made into applesauce. I canned it. The tomatoes were made into tomato juice which I used for homemade vegetable beef soup. I canned 10 quarts of soup. The pumpkins are Sugar Pie Pumkins. I will prepare them for freezing later this week. The potatoes are beautiful this year. I think I will can some of them and prepare the rest for keeping for this winter.

Where's The Beef?

2009-08-21T19:30:00.003-04:00

Thought you might enjoy some pictures of the cows. They adore my hubby, and they especially love him when he is carring a bucket of apples for them. They eat the apples right out of his hand.

It's The Little Things That Really Matter

2009-08-19T14:58:00.004-04:00

Sunday was the third anniversary of my mother's death. The time has went by so quickly. I think so much of my mother and have found that it was the little things that she said or done that I think of the most. Some of her favorite things were.

1. This too shall pass.

2. Red at night sailor's delight, red in the morning sailor's warning.

3. Listen, heae the train whistle in the distance? That means it's going to rain.

4. If someone is mean to you, you just turn around and do good to them. It's like heaping coals of fire on them.

I especially think of the times when I would tell her someone was being mean to me or I was going through what seemed like a severe situation, she would tell be that I was not the only one that the same thing had happened to. Others had went through the same hard place, and they survived...I could to. Isn't it strange that when we are going through a rough place in our life, we think we just can't take this problem any longer, but when it's past we realize it really wasn't as bad as we thought. God is good!

Blueberries from the garden!

2009-08-12T15:23:00.002-04:00

I have been busy harvesting my blueberries. So far, I have used all of my berries to make some yummy homemade jam. I am adding some pictures in case you are not familiar with how blueberries grow! Blueberries grow on bushes. It's kind of funny how they ripen. They do not ripen at the same time. Mine have been ripening for the last month from the same bush. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

Country pretties

2009-06-13T21:15:00.002-04:00

Roses and Honeysuckle

2009-06-08T20:04:00.002-04:00

I just love the smell of honeysuckle and roses! The scent of fresh honeysuckle takes me back in time to a country road that I used to travel as a girl in the springtime. Even now when I travel that road I can almost smell that honeysuckle just as sweet as can be. Isn't it funny how a scent or perhaps a song can take you back in time to a pleasant memory?