My Christmas Wish for You

This year I wish for you two special things.

1- I wish all the sadness, shadows, worries, and fears you carry in your heart during the year will be pushed away and hidden for this holiday season.

2 - I wish for all the kindness, joy, happiness, and love that is a part of this season will shine bright and clear for you to see and take into your heart, so it can be warm and happy, during this special season.

 I wish only the best for you this holiday season.



The free graphics are located at this site -
http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/free/christmas-tree-clipart.html

Another Great House

I loved this one, too.


Visit the site below to see even more.

http://youroldhouse.thisoldhouse.com/thisoldhouse/gingerbreadhouse/index.jsp

Great Gingerbread Houses

Sugar Castle

I finally have some time off from work and found this great site. I really thought these houses were wonderful works. I hope you go to the site below and look at all the pictures of these houses.

The Sugar Castle, displayed in the historic Westin St. Francis hotel in San Francisco, took over 400 hours to create.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20243026_20548796,00.html

Crafts - Christmas Decoration Idea

I came across this craft idea today and thought it would be a wonderful addition to my Christmas decoration collection. I can just imagine a forest of all different colored trees on a table or mantle.

Visit the site below and check it out.


http://www.marthastewart.com/266705/feather-christmas-tree

Crafts- Gardening - Flowerpot Bird Feeder

I found this today and want to make several with different patterns. I hope you find it as cute as I do.

Find pattern at this site ;

http://www.birdsandblooms.com/Backyard-Projects/Bird-Feeders/Flowerpot-Bird-Feeder

Nice Adult Halloween Idea

I found this today. I thought it looked like a good idea for an adult party. It didn't seem very kiddie friendly but great for setting a mood for, maybe, an adult costume party.

The pumpkins are painted with metallic paints and sewn with fancy fabric.

Have fun !!!

Address for directions are below.


http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/fabric-pumpkins

Cute Crochet Blanket

Crocheted Pencil Afghan

I saw this pattern today. You can download the PDF file from the site below. I think this would be a great gift for a student, teacher, or writer that you love. It looks like it would take some time to finish, so start now, if you want to get it finished in time for Christmas.

http://www.countrywomanmagazine.com/2011/FM11/croch.asp?RefURL=&KeyCode=&tdate=&PMCode=&OrgURL=&_mid=2295242&_rid=2295242.907937.39022

Recipe Blog - Dessert First

http://dessertfirstgirl.com/


I discovered this blog today. The latest post is of a Plum and Almond Tart. Doesn't the picture look tasty? This is her picture I borrowed from her site to show you how great this recipe looks.

Another post has a recipe for Greek Honey Macaroons that look just as wonderful. This lady has a very cute dog with pictures included on her blog, too.

I hope you visit and enjoy it as much as I did.


I am sorry I have not been posting as much as I wanted to over the summer. I had to put my computer in the computer hospital for a long time and school is back in session. I will post as often as I can but it will definately be more than I have in the last few months.

Take care and Have Fun !!!

Book - Cross Stitch

The Stockings were Hung - Leisure Arts Publication
(Christmas Remembered - Book 16)

(Publ 1998 - 96 pages)

There are only about 15 patterns but they are very nice ones. They are large ones that can be broken down into smaller patterns such as for ornaments.

Book - Cross Stitch

Timeless Ornaments - Leisure Arts Publication
(Christmas Remembered - Book 10)

(Publ 1995 - 96 pages)

This book has about 80 small charts. They include - sayings, angels, Santas, elegant flowers, quilt blocks, elves, a few primative patterns, teddy bear paperdoll with clothes. small sampler, church scene, snowmen, a very cute nativity, stocking ornaments, Noah's animals, toys, and Snow Babies.

Very nice patterns. I would like to do several for Christmas.

Book - Cross Stitch

Sweeter Than the Rose - Leisure Arts Publication (Christmas Remembered - Book 7)

(Publ 1993 - 96 pages)

This book has about 55 patterns. They include ones of flowers, butterflies, fairies, children, sayings, and samplers. All patterns are very elegant.

Trivia Book - Trivia Almanac

Trivia Almanac by Ken Jennings

(Publ – 2008)

This is a cute book of trivia. It is arranged by having questions for each day of the year. The answers are on a different page to give you time to think of what you want to guess. There are 531 pages. The questions cover all sort of subjects so anyone can find something of interest.

Writing Exercise - 12

This exercise is the same as before. Take, at least, 3 of the 5 words. Write a story.

- Lunch
- Stores
- A basket of Strawberries
- A broken glass
- Unhappy

Have Fun !

Interestng Site - Smithsonian Magazine

I found this site and thought it was full of great articles. Some of the titles offered were  -

- Stolen: How the Mona Lisa Became the World’s Most Famous Painting

- Food Like You've Never Seen Before

- Insects as a Food Source

The picture is of Shanghai dumpling soup from the Food Like You've Never Seen Before article.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/#ixzz1QrIXE8SR

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/

Writing - Research Page of Interest - Pirates

I am working out some details for a book I am trying to write. I may tie in an old pirate to my story and found this reference page. It is really educational and fun to look at. It has an impressive list of pirates in a time line with lots of links to get more information.

If this is something you have an interest in, please check out this page. The picture of Blackbeard is from this site.

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/List+of+pirates

An Odd Blog - Fridges

School is almost out and I will be back much more frequent.

Until then, I found this blog by accident and to me it is strangely interesting. It's a blog where people from all over the world (including all over the US) send in pictures of the inside of their fridges. I hope you give it a look and find it as oddly funny as I do.

http://www.fridgewatcher.com/

Writing - Book and Exercise

I read about some exercises you can do where you just get pictures, with no words, and write your own story from the pictures. I ordered this book for those exercises.

From National Geographic - Through the Lens

It's a small, thickish book - the width of your hand all around and about 1 1/2 inch thick. There are some wonderful pictures in here. It's very hard not to read the little blurbs with some of the pictures but try. About 1/2 the pictures don't have blurbs with them, so it's easier with those.

The main idea I came away with was - some of these pictures put me in a different country with different customs - things I would never have thought about in my own little world. Very interesting to work with.

Recipes - Interesting Recipe Blog

I was looking for some recipes for my new Pumpkin cookbook I have put on my MasterCook program. I found this site with some very good looking recipes of assorted kinds.

This one is called -

Old Fashioned Paradise Pumpkin Pie

It has three layers  - one of cheesecake, one of pumpkin custard, and one of pecan streusel.

This picture and recipe is from this site - http://www.richfoods.ca/

I hope you will check them out and find them as interesting as I did.

Writing Exercise - 11

Today's exercise is the usual 5 words. Write something using at least 3 of the elements.

- A Clock
- Flashing Lights
- A Computer
- A Box of Tissues
- Pens and Pencils

Have fun !!!

Early Easter Goodies

Bunny Pear Salad


What a great way to get a munchkin to eat a salad without fussing !!

Picture and recipe at this site -
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Bunny-Pear-Salad

Early Easter Goodies

Easter Bunny Cheese Spread


I thought this looked like something I would be interested in trying.





Picture and recipe at this site -

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Easter-Bunny-Cheese-Spread

Early Easter Goodies

Meringue Bunnies

I thought these were so cute.




Find picture and recipe at this site -

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Meringue-Bunnies

Early Easter Goodies

Peeps Sunflower Cake

I thought this was so simple but very impressive.


Picture and recipe at this site -

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Peeps-Sunflower-Cake

Early Easter Goodies

I had just finished looking for St. Patrick's Day goodies. I decided to look and see what was out there for Easter. I felt like a gold miner, in the good 'ol days, finding a rich vein of gold when I checked out this site. Please look at all the goodies they offer.

Picture and recipe at this site -

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chocolate-Covered-Eggs

St. Patrick's Day - Crafts

I found this cute pattern at this address -

http://moonlightquilts.com/2008/03/12/free-quilt-pattern-happy-st-patricks-surprise/

I don't know if I would have chosen the orange shade for the border lines but might have chosen a pretty yellow instead.

I found this site, along with several other St. Pat Day quilts, collected in a list from this site -

http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/2009/03/stpatricks-day-quilt-patterns_17.html
Please be sure and check them out.

St. Paddy Day - Goodies

Kiwi Lime Pie

Isn't this a cute idea?

I found picture and recipe at this site -

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/kiwi-lime-pie-714992/

St. Paddy Day - Goodies

Bit-of-Irish Cheesecake

I thought this cake looked yummy.



Picture and recipe from this site-

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/saintpatdess/bit-of-irish-cheesecake.html

I have been extremely busy - sorry !!!!

I am afraid I've been neglecting you. It is "Germ Season" at work with lots of teachers and their children getting sick. This  means long hours for me. Add to that a couple of bouts of germs at my house with assorted people. We even managed to get a couple of days vacation thrown in and my time has been non-existent. I hope to get things back on track but there is aways Spring Break on the horizon when I can have time to myself (I hope !!!). I have gotten in several great looking books but have not had a chance to read them. I will share them with you as soon as I can.

Crafts - Great Quilt Pattern

This is a quilt pattern I found in a block of the month site. I think this design is beautiful. See below for the Jan. block which I think would be great as a pillow or blown up to be a great Valentine quilt all alone.



See at this address -

http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/Fiesta.html

Valentine Day Craft

I found this great quilt that is in a block of the month pattern. This is the Jan. block. I loved the hearts and think it would make a great quilt pattern all by itself.

find the pattern and the rest of the months patterns at this address :

http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/Fiesta.html

Valentine Day Craft

I found this pattern for a Valentine Quilt. I loved the colors and the design. I hope you will, too.









Pattern and picture from this address - http://www.thequiltercommunity.com/Wceadb9e411fa9.htm

Valentine Goodies

Valentine Candy Hearts


This looks like something I would like to try.


Picture and recipe at this address -

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Valentine-Candy-Hearts

Valentine Goodies

Strawberry Towers


Doesn't this look yummy?


Recipe and picture are from this address -

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Strawberry-Towers

Valentine Goodies

I'm getting an early start on Valentine's Day. I found these goodies on the Net. I hope you find them as delicious looking as I do. Have Fun.


Red Velvet Heart Torte

Find this picture and recipe at this address.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Red-Velvet-Heart-Torte

Writing Exercise - 10

This is the second "Snow Day" off from school we are having. Around here, that is amazing. We NEVER have that much snow.

I am going to give you some elements related to my thoughts about this weather to write from. As usual, pick several and write something. Have fun.



Snow
Ice
Slide
Dripping
Cold
Frost Bite
White
Fun
Fuzzy
Hot Chocolate

Recipe Mailing Groups I Recommend

I belong to two Crockpot recipe mailing lists. For a Christmas present this year, I got a new Crockpot. My old one gave up the ghost over a year ago and I am out of practice with that type of cooking. I am reviewing the archives for both of these lists and am saving interesting sounding recipes to try.
The two lists are part of Yahoo Groups -
Crockpot Recipes - with 7,246 emails in the archives
and
Slowcooker  - with 42,116 emails in the archives.

You can join for free and they will send you wonderful recipes right to your mailbox. You will also have access to all their saved messages from the past. Trust me, it will take you a long time to work your way through the archives and they are filled with tasty sounding recipes your family will enjoy.
Happy Hunting for Recipes.

Fun Fact of the Day - Trivia - Abacus

Did You Know .....

How many columns of beads there are on a standard abacus?



answer - 13
 
Found in book - 10,000 Answers

Happy New Year Note

I have had a very busy holiday season and am glad to get things back to normal. I hope you had a great holiday and got all the things you wished for.
I hope your New Year is wonderful and full of special things.