Jealousy . . . . .

I think someone is jealous because he didn't get a Pez or Cracker Jacks in his stocking!

Blessings, Cathi

And to all a good night . . . . .

Sorry I haven't been around much on this blog but I do have my B.W.O. (blogging without obligation) graphic on the sidebar for a reason!

Hope you all survived the holiday rush today if you went out.  Me?  I'm still in my pajamas.  Have been all day. What a great feeling.

I made 3 kinds of cookies today - about 12 dozen.

Naked gingerbread men - and they are staying that way!

Took a 2 hour nap.  Made a grocery list for Dear Hubby.  He volunteered to brave it at Wal-Mart.  He said it was nuts.  Tonight, one more batch of cookies.  The boys (the two-legged ones) are putting together a puzzle of Santa quilting while we watch the Yule Log on tv.

Tomorrow morning is our traditional breakfast casserole.  I used to have to make it the night before but since the children are all grown and don't get up quite as early as they used to, I will have plenty of time in the morning.  Here is our version - a little Christmas gift from me to you.  It's a little late for this year unless you have all the ingredients on hand but it's great anytime you need to feed a lot of people for breakfast with little effort.

Breakfast Casserole                            Serves 6           

1 pkg. Regular Flavor Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage

10 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups milk

2 teaspoons dry mustard

1 teaspoon salt

6 cups cubed bread

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)

1/2 cup thin-sliced green onions (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 F. In large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink. In large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, mustard and salt; stir well. Distribute half the bread evenly in a buttered 9" x 13" x 2" baking dish. Sprinkle with half the pepper, half the cheese, half the sausage and half of each optional ingredient. Repeat layering using remaining bread, pepper, cheese, sausage and optional ingredients. Pour egg mixture evenly over casserole. Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until eggs are set. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly. Note: may be assembled ahead and refrigerated up to 12 hours before baking. 

Merry Christmas, every one.

Blessings, Cathi

I was hoping . . . . .

When I saw Leann's blog the other day with her post about her beautiful handmade Christmas cards, I was just  hoping that one was for me.  And it was!

I've been on Leann's handmade list for several years ago, not just for Christmas but other times during the year.  But I would hate to assume.  She does such a beautiful job on her cards.

Thank you, Leann, and Merry Christmas to you, too!!

Blessings, Cathi

A tribute to Che Che . . . . .

Please see a tribute that I have written about my sister that passed away yesterday on my quilting blog .....

Blessings, Cathi

Bigger is better . . . . .

I talked to my cousin the other day.  She asked why I hadn't been blogging as much lately.

Well, two reasons . . . .

1)  I have had 4 vending/retreat obligations the last 4 weekends.  I have taken a few pictures but mostly when I am not loading the van, unloading the van, dying more wool because I didn't get as much done as I thought in August and generally working my little fingers to the bone, I am trying to catch up on some sleep.

2)  The computer is on death's door.  I haven't seen the blue screen of death yet but it's getting close.  Fortunately Computer Geek says it is possible to save it.  I just have to wait until Friday afternoon when he gets off work.  I did backup all my files to an external hard drive (Whoohoo) but not the emails or the contact list.

In the meantime, I am working on this . . . .

My adorable little netbook.  And when I say little, I mean little.  The screen is only 10".  It's not so much fun to blog or even read blogs on that little screen with my old eyes. 

It doesn't have any of the Office products so I can't do a whole lot of some things I'm supposed to be working on - like writing a new pattern for my Wool Journal that I taught at retreat.  I have WordPad but when I open a Word document the format can go all wonky on me.

Anyway, here's hoping that Computer Geek can fix it with minimal expense.  Since I backed up files, I'm not TOO worried but I just don't have the money for a whole new computer right now.

Blessings, Cathi

PS.  Happy Birthday to the Married One!!      32 TODAY !!

Fred's new head . . . . .

Fred has made his appearance again this year - a little thicker again - but he's still hanging in with us.

Here he is from 3 years ago . . . .

Over the years, he has begun to fade . . . .

. . . and I noticed he is coming much more spread out around the neck and his shirt a little tighter across the chest!

Maybe spending too much time in the sun . . . .

So time for a new head . . . .

I hope Fred will be with us for a few more years.  Time to put Fred on a diet, too!

As far as my diet is concerned, I haven't gained anything but haven't lost anything.  No small feat considering I have been traveling and having to eat out every weekend.  At least I haven't gained like Fred has!!

Blessings, Cathi

Just fantastic . . . . .

Lookie what Ivonne from the Crackling Crows just posted!

Can't wait to get it and hang in the sewing room.  She does such wonderful work.  I stole the pic from her blog because not only is she a great artist but a great photographer as well.

Blessings, Cathi

Bathroom wall . . . . .

Sorry I have been MIA on this blog lately but I have been gone two weekends in a row vending at shows again.  I have a retreat that I am teaching at this weekend and then another show the next weekend.

I did find some time this morning to take a picture of the guest bathroom wall that I finally decorated.  The bathroom is so tiny that I thought it would be easier to take the picture from the reflection in the mirror.

The spot where the pumpkin wall hanging is right now will have a small penny rug taking it's place.  As soon as I make it!  The pennys are finished but they need to be attached to the background.

I just love the pictures that I redid to fit in the space.  I scanned in some of my favorite family photos and changed them to sepia, printed them out on regular copy paper and put into some old, cheap frames that I had painted black and antiqued.

Here is a better look at them individually . . . . . .

 

Me in Avalon, New Jersey, circa 1960

Dear Hubby with his Papa in the tobacco field - 1961

My favorite pic of the older three - 1987

This one you may remember from last year when the baby turned 21

Below the picture of the bumblebee (AKA Computer Geek) will be some iron or metal black stars when I find the ones that will fit the space.  The tin candle lamp was a castoff from one of my cousins.  It was originally the silver tin color that I spray painted with black matte paint.

Hope you enjoyed!

Blessings, Cathi

Hiding the clutter . . . . .

Do your bookcases tend to look cluttered after a while?  You don't notice it until one day when you start to decorate for the holidays, it hits you. Where did all this stuff come from?

You know the stuff I mean . . . . .  boxes of pictures that you will put in a scrapbook someday, your kids yearbooks from every year of school from 6th grade on that they want you to "hold" for them, DVD's, all the electronics Hubby HAS to have to watch the weather channel (just kidding - I meant football or the Bourne Identity in HD). Here is the bookcase on the left side of the living room.

This picture was taken back in June.  The shelf at the top of the spinning wheel is stationary.  All the others are adjustable.  See all that mess below that shelf?  Now you see it . . . . .

Now you don't!

I've had this for literally years waiting for the right project. I tea-dyed it first and hung them with tension rods.  I didn't quite have enough fabric for these three units and the three units on the right side.  I will fix them somehow by either adding some "antiqued" lace or some fabric that is really close.  I don't want a big in-your-face contrasting fabric.  The right thing will show up eventually.

But doesn't it look better already?  It made it look so much cleaner when I walked in the room this morning.

One of the best things?  The remotes work on the electronics THRU the curtains!  No having to move them to use the remotes.  Because I am pretty sure that I would have been the only one putting the curtains back where they belonged if you know what I mean!

Blessings, Cathi

Two years later . . . . .

I posted about this little cross-stitch two years ago in this post, explaining how the name Arline Clause came to be on it.

And I talked about how I was going to finish it.  It only took me two years!  I finished it this week and hung it on the wall of the newly remodeled guest bathroom along with a few other goodies.

I can't show the whole wall yet as there are a few things that are left undone.  You can see the corner of the mini quilt I finished last week that I posted about over on my quilt blog. 

I really like how this wall has turned out so far.  Now to concentrate on fall decorating!


Blessings, Cathi

Two little projects in the done column . . . . .

Did you ever look at a little project and think, "Ooh, that won't take long.  I'll do it tomorrow.".  Only tomorrow never seems to come!

That's what I did with these.  But I did wake up Monday and think that it was time to do them.  So quickly in fact that I didn't take a before picture of the first one.

I found this cute little bread box at the NC State Fairgrounds on the Friday before My Black Monday.  It is in great shape but it was a boring beat-up brown.  The price was right at $10.00!  So a little bit of paint and my favorite Tudor Brown Bri-wax and ta da!

While I was at it, I painted the wall above the countertop in the kitchen.  Remember we had to remove all the cabinets to put in the new flooring last summer.  We put the base cabinets in and made the kitchen functional but then we stopped and went on to other things.  We even had put some of the paint swatches on the kitchen wall last summer.  I'm embarrassed to say, they were still there.  So I painted.  It took an hour!  What was I waiting for?

After painting

Note the coffee pot in the above picture.  Murphy's law struck again.......

After measuring 15 times, I still put the first shelf a 1/2" too low.  So the bread box was moved here and the coffee pot to the right of the window in the picture.  It doesn't look great yet.  I just threw up some things I had laying around the house.  The brackets came from IKEA last January destined for another project that was never done.  The board I picked up at Lowes that morning.  It was a rough cut cedar board....rough cut on one side and smooth on the other.  Only $12.00 for the 8' board and the best thing - they cut it for me!  No trying to kill myself getting into Dear Hubby's shop and finding the right tools which would have taken HOURS.

Anyway, two more little projects off the list.  We may wind up putting upper cabinets on this wall down the road but in the meantime, I have a nice place for seasonal decorations and the paint samples are gone!


Blessings, Cathi

Another big project . . . . .

See that little ticker on the left side column?  Another BIG project that I am working on is ME.  I thought I would put it out there to the world so that all of you can hold me accountable.

No "before" picture of me yet so I will just show you a scale because no post should be without a picture!

I have been on South Beach diet since the end of May.  I had been on it before with some success but this time Dear Hubby is on it with me.  What a difference that makes!  So in 12 weeks, I have lost 21 lbs with 26 more to go!  I feel so much better already!!

The boys and I go for a walk every morning for 45 minutes.  Turns out Hubby and I weren't the only ones that needed to shed a few pounds.

At Reagan's last vet visit in July, Dr. Mike told him he needed to lose about 10 lbs.  We went back for a weigh-in 10 days ago and he had lost 8 lbs. already.

Hope all of our BIG projects continue to become small!


Blessings, Cathi

Happy Birthday to me! . . . . .

Hi!  Nelson here.  Today is my 3rd birthday!  Today is the day that I am, according to most doggie experts, not a puppy anymore.

Mommy was hoping that I would wake up this morning mature and calm.  But that's not gonna happen any time soon!

I have too much playing to do still.

And running.

And aggravating the cat.

And begging for treats to do first.

Being a grown up can wait!


Mommy is having a Christmas Crafting Party today so I thought I would dress up for it.  Maybe they will have food.  I LOVE food.

And I hope Mommy has a birthday cake for me later.  I LOVE birthday cake!

Love, Nelson

I ♥ wooden spools . . . . .

I have quite a collection of wooden spools.  I have moved them all around the house over the years but I think I have found a permanent home for them.

Half on the right side bookcase.

And half on the left side.  I wish the light was better on the left side but I would have to wait for the afternoon sun to take that picture without the flash.

I had found two more the other day when I went antiquing with a friend of mine.  The short ones with the ribs.  You can see what else I bought on my Christmas blog.

The tall one on the left my friend happened to have from her late MIL's house.  She said she didn't want it, did I?  Well, yea!  It won't fit on either of the shelves in the pictures above so that may have to stand alone on top of the computer cabinet for now.  

I have 4 lamps made from wooden spools but don't have pictures of them yet ..... or lampshades ... so those will have to wait for another day.

Hope those in the path of Irene are doing okay.  I've been through one before   -   HUGO   -   22 years ago so I know what you are going through.  Sending little prayers your way.

Blessings, Cathi

Back to school . . . . .

No, not me!  But Dear Hubby.  He has decided that he has waited long enough to get his masters.  High school coaches are caught in a pickle.  They get out of school too late in the spring to go to the first summer session and start football too soon in August to go to the second summer session.

A random picture taken from our local paper.  I have no idea who these guys are!

So Dear Hubby has decided to go the "on-line is the only way" route.

Just wanted to let you know what excuse # 372 was on my long list of why we don't finish projects around here.  It will be worth it, though.

He has done some work since the bathroom was finished.  And I wholeheartedly mean "he".  It's too hot for me!  I used to like the sweaty work - many years ago before I got old.  But that's for another story.

Anyway, he is adding a lean-to to the side of his workshop to store the riding lawnmower, tiller, etc.  We have had them under a makeshift tarp-thingy for a while.  Those tarps don't last too long!

How it started.

Even this looks better!

As of today . . .he even put the posts and ledger boards up by himself.  Where are the adult kids when you need them!?

The latest in construction apparel!  A dish towel and electrical tape.  A man's gotta do what a man has to do!

Two a days with contact started yesterday morning in our neck of the woods.  With all the incidents lately, say a little prayer for ANYONE that has to be out in this heat.  Dear Hubby said that for the most part the teams are holding up okay but it has been brutal on them.  Specifically those young'uns who decided it would be better to spend their summer on the couch in the air-conditioning.  They'll learn their lesson by the time they are seniors!!

Stay cool!

Blessings, Cathi

We have a bathroom ! . . . . .

We finally have a working guest bathroom.  Dear Hubby did such a good job on the tiling . . . . on the whole bathroom.  We have baseboard and quarter round and all the paint is touched up and door knobs on the cabinet and everything!  You just don't know how exciting this is for us.  

No more having to run upstairs to the bathroom!

Dear Hubby is going to build a magazine rack that will go on the small wall next to the toilet.

I am working on a quilt to go on the wall across from the toilet.  Maybe a few more towels in the basket. 

I promise that I will talk about something else other than this bath remodel now . . . . but it's DONE!

Blessings, Cathi

As we speak . . . . .

Dear Hubby is installing the tile on the countertop, the same tile that is on the floor.

As you can see, I was so excited when I finished painting the walls that I went ahead and rehung the mirrors.  Baseboard is in and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

On a recent trip to Annapolis, Maryland (I vended at a quilt show there), Dear Hubby and I had to stop at a few antique places.  I added to my enamel pot collection.  Up to 15 now!

We also stopped by Prim and Proper in Hope Mills, North Carolina.  What a cute store!!  Not far off the interstate (I-95) so if you travel up and down the east coast, it is worth the detour.

I bought this really neat wire tree.  I'm not sure how I am going to decorate it . . . . with some wool ornaments for sure but there is different graduated spaces between each tier of "limbs".  I'll have to think on that one for a little while.  Any suggestions?

I also found these jingle bells on a stem and the electric lamp.   The firkin is a 2 year old purchase I don't think I have shared before but that's for another post.  When I put this all together, I'll show you how it came out.

This little book candle caught my eye.  It's sitting on the desk part of an old school desk that lives in our living room.  The candle is waiting for a prim book to be made by moi.

I also bought a punched tin tissue paper cover but I'll wait until the bathroom is finished until I show that  . . . . . . (please be soon, please be soon, please be soon).

Blessings, Cathi
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