Freezer Meals

Well I did manage to rearrange things from my last post - so I can at least get into the craft room. It is still a long way off yet. I have heard so much about freezer meals lately so I decided to check it out. Several blogs and recipes later (plus ordering books from the library) I have given it a try. So far I have made several batches of: Chili, Meatloaf, Hamburger Patties, Sheperd's Pie and will be making up the shredded chicken and shredded beef tomorrow in preparation for sandwiches, stews, hot sandwiches and rolls. I managed to get my hands on a Bisquick recipe for mini chicken pot pies that you can freeze. (Definitely trying that one) It said that you can put whatever filling you like into the bisquick, divide it into muffin tins and bake. Let cool, wrap, then freeze. Ready and waiting for those quick meals. I can see the Bisquick mini pizza pies already. Yum!

Organizing HELP!!!!

It has been awhile since I posted/ blogged. I seem to be in a haze this time around and no sign of it letting up. I have been trying desperately to get some resemblance of an organized craft room since moving it from the room upstairs to the space downstairs but to no avail. It just does not work - even though my fantastic hubby built a whole wall of shelving for me. I managed to fill all of them and have a ton more of stuff that is in piles around the room. Help me please! I don't know where to start or what to do. I tried to get containers that would fit on the shelves but they don't stack well or even look good. Waaaaaa! It sounds like I am complaining... and I am. There are no little elfs or fairies that will come and do it for me. I thought of throwing an organizing party but we have 3 cats and 2 dogs, so no one I know that is available is not allergic to animals. This makes it very complicated to have friends over for any reason.  Ideas would be appreciated!!! Please do not tell me to get rid of my 4 legged children. Also it is a small 10 x 9 foot room with a large window on one wall. (aka the dining room).

It's done!

Yippy the outside of my house is done and the guys are gone. We have received so many complements since the work began. The guys did such a great job and they certainly have alot to smile about. I thought that I would have to paint the new window trim inside, but Kevin who is a sweetheart, did it all for me as part of their cleanup. I just have to paint the front railing around the porch. It looks like it will rain today so that will have to wait. So five new windows, 2 windowed doors, inside trim, and vinyl siding all around the house, 4 guys and 11 days and it is finished. What a feat!

What do you think - looks good yes?

Now - new side step, paint the porch floor and stairs, drywall 4 rooms, redo the back deck and voila - a brand new looking house. Not bad for being built in 1847. Oh and the beautiful large open space behind the house, what a view. I am loving it!

Taking shape

Well - the house is coming along nicely as you can see. A few more good days and the outside will be done.
The sun was shining earlier in the morning that one of the guys putting up the siding asked if we had a pair of sunglasses. The bright white off the siding was actually hurting his eyes.

Smile like your guilty! My house is almost done outside.

Almost there!

It has been almost a solid week that the guys have been working away. Most of the windows are in and it is starting to take shape. So many people have commented on how much difference it makes the house look.

Smile like your guilty! Tomorrow more pics.

I have been busy!!!

Wow! Time sure passes fast when you are .... I have been busy trying to get the house fixed. Finally it is happening. Here are the pictures to prove it.

will post more as we get done

smile like your guilty!

Disappointed in Nova Scotia

Hi all,

Well I am disappointed but not discouraged. I did not get the job that I interviewed for. Oh well life goes on right? Bigger and better things await. I had been so tied up with doing research and creating a webpage that I forgot to blog. I guess it is their loss as I was almost completely absorbed in fundraising ideas, the webpage and how I could achieve a self sustaining result for that place. I actually think that I came up with the answers and now they will never know. At some point - you just have to say - f it. All the information that I have gathered for fundraising might come in useful to another position so I will keep it under wraps until then.

Smile like your guilty! I still have the library.

Happy Mother's Day!

Hi all,

I want to wish all the mother's out there a very Happy Mother's Day. I do not live close by my children but that does not mean that they are out of my heart. I miss them all the time, and think about them more than that. We do have internet, facebook, webcam and a telephone and I still don't hear from them that often. I always said that I did not want to be a medling mother or mother in law as I have seen in the past with various people. My choice was to move away where I could live debt free (with the intensions) to visit my children once a year. But circumstances did not allow that to happen and I am sad. It has been over 5 years since I hugged my children and seen my grandchildren. It is the hardest thing not to be able to grab a hug when you want to.

To my children -
My arms are always around you even though we are miles apart.
I gave you life and independence and set you on your path
You gave me beautiful grandchildren that will be forever in my heart
I can not be there with you - but pictures would be nice, so you can do the math
A picture is worth a thousand words or so I have been told
It would give me bragging rights and makes me feel so full
I can only give you words, I know that is so bold
I just want you to know that "I love you all"

So for all the mother's out there, hug your children close to your heart and whatever the circumstances are let them know that they are always your children.

Smile like your guilty! Happy Mothers Day

I've been offered!

Hi all,

Sorry that I have not wrote on this blog for a little while. I have been busy concentrating on other matters. I was offered a bigger and better position but not with the library. I really love and enjoy working with the library and all the people and I want to continue to do so, but the new position gives me greater responsibility, better pay and more prestige with alot more work involved>>. Is it wrong? There is one problem that I can see right off. This offer is only good for the summer months. You get laid off for the winter and I hate being idle. Can I do both jobs - possibly yes. I work 3 days a week at the library for 5 hours each day. I could fill in my days and time off with the new position and take 2 more days to put towards the new position. It would mean, for me, working 7 days per week. What does everyone say? You can sleep when your dead. I am torn... what to do? The position has not become official as yet - but I know that I am educated and trained enough to do it, possibly with blinders on.  Would it be too much for me working 7 days a week? There would be an end, it is not like it would go on forever. What to do? What to do?

Smile like your guilty! You just might be.

Lots of Time

Hi all,

I have made it through my 3 days back at work after having that mini holiday. I know, I know it sure sucks to be me??? I do love my job at the library. Work for three days a week, get to have fun with kids with no parental responsibilities, and plan more programs. I planned a special morning just for seniors and only two people should up. Can't say as I blamed them, it was raining and what better time to stay indoors. Maybe people are more willing to get out of the house when it is nice. It has rained here most of the week, but the sun came out today and it was nice. Now I have more time off - til next Wednesday. I was approach last night about taking on a big responsibility but I can not let the cat out of the bag just yet. That will come later.
For now I am going to enjoy taking my time and having these days free.

Smile like your guilty! Something is brewing.

Holiday coming to an end

Well it's almost official - my mini holiday is coming to an end. I cleaned a little, sewed a little, did a little laundry and made a fantastic turkey dinner for Easter (I know that you are supposed to have ham) but we don't get turkey that often so we decided to go with it. Yesterday was beautiful and I got to meet my little 5 year old neighbor. She is a cute little thing, blonde hair and blue eyes. I finally had to tell her that I could not come out to sit and talk, as that was about the 4th time she was at my door, and I was trying to get through "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert for our book club at the library which meets this coming Thursday. I have seen the movie but it is just not the same as reading the book. I have enjoyed my time off and in deciding not to do a whole lot of work at home, I've paced slowly through it. I enjoyed the me time, leisurely.

Smile like your guilty! For tomorrow I'm back to work.

How to tie a Tie

This is a tutorial on how to tie a tie for all you male searchers.

Place the tie behind your neck with the skinny end on the right side of your body. Now adjust the length of the skinny end of the tie to come about 1 hand width above your belt. (If you place your left hand above the top of your pants on your stomach and adjust the skinny side of your tie to touch the top of your hand,  you should be about the right length for your tie).

Now comes the tricker stuff... but not too difficult
1. Hold the skinny end of the tie with your right hand in front of you until I say let go.
2. You take the left side of the tie and wrap it over top of the right side bringing it between your right hand and chest, coming up to the left side of your body again.
3. You then put the same one side over the top of the right side one more time and bring the end up between the twist in the tie and your neck. Let go of the tie with the right hand.
4. You should now see a bottom loop that you have made, push the left side of the tie down through that loop and pull the right side of the tie to tighten. You should now have a sliding knot.
You can now adjust the length of the knot to suit the size of your neck.  Enjoy!!!

My Holiday Begins!

Hi all,

Today - now - is the official start for my mini holiday. The crafts at the library are done. I brought my camera but in all the jollyness I forgot to take pictures. M'I bad? The kids had a great time painting their flowers for mom. Lots of reds and yellows and some even striped. They looked great. I cut a piece of gold cording and tied it on one end for mom to hang it. So now comes several days off for me. I could be busy sewing more designer bags. I made my daughter a shoulder book bag today and tested it out bringing my books home from the library. It held up beautifully and I know that she has alot less books than I get. I could clean my house from top to bottom but that would involve working, in the house. After all I have the next 5 days off to do what I will do and it should involve fun, creative stuff, right? I do laundry and housework all the time, so I should deserve some me time and I think I will take it.

Smile like your guilty! I'm off for my mini holiday time.

Several Days Off

It just sunk into my head that I have the next few days off - after doing the craft tomorrow with the kids at the library. Wow! What can I make? sew? clean? bake? Watch? Do????? So many choices!!! After tomorrow I do not go back to work until next Wednesday. It is like a mini holiday. I have been touring through different sites lately and can not believe all that I see from what it is made out of. There are so many crafty, talented people out there with the ingenuity to create beautiful things out of thrown out or discarded  materials. I do not consider myself a designer but I do love to sew. I have a back yard that looks like it goes on forever. It just looks that way. Empty field behind our property line. I really would like to do something with it this summer to spruce it up. I was checking out one site where the lady had done a corner of her yard into a fenced in area using old doors and crib rails. Totally awesome and inspiring. You will just have to check out her site to see it.  I have included her link here.

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/2009/09/roses-rainbow-garden-in-honor-of.html

It makes me want to do something similar to my yard. Except it would be like entering the abyss because of the empty field. I could alway do it to my front yard and make everyone walk through the arches to get to the front door. What do you think?

Smile like your guilty! Ideas are everywhere.

Designing Purses

I went shopping yesterday at my favorite store, you guessed it - The Thrift Store. I managed to pick up 30 items of clothing to make more designer purses (in all the colors that I liked). I also got a deal on mega piles of big spool thread, a small hole punch, over 50 long pieces of lace, elastic bands, blanket binding and zippers and all of it in three rubbermaid containers and two boxes. The lady only charged me $15.00. Bag days again. One large garbage bag full of clothing for $5.00 and she had all this sewing stuff that she gave to me for $10.00. I was in my glory!!! I shall not want. Rather than post each designer purse I will wait until I have several done.

Feast your eyes on these colors! They are gonna make some really pretty designer bags!

Smile like your guilty! Have a great day.

Designer Purse Two

Well it took me a little while to get this one made. Not really. I was up at 5 this morning and decided to have a nap this afternoon. I still have enough of the green suede jacket to get maybe two more designer purses. Wow! I just love material and a challenge. Here are the photos of Purse Two. It is also reversible. Notice the big pockets that are on the Green Suede Side both front and back?

Front View



Back View




Fashionable Side Front View (Turning the purse inside out)




Fashionable Side Back View



Smile like your guilty! It will keep people wondering what your up to.

My Friends Designer Purse

Hi all,

Remember the friends dark green suede jacket from last night? Well now she has a one of a kind designer bag purse. I made it reversible so she can decide what side should be out. Her jacket zipper is in and all is ready for her to pickup. The bag purse believe it or not was actually the hood of the jacket with pieces inserted to complete the reversibility (shh don't tell anyone). I have the rest of the jacket for my designer purse. Pretty cool huh? Do you think that she will like it?

Green Suede Purse

The fashionable side of the purse

Smile like you guilty! Even if you aren't.

Whoa hoa!!!! Jackpot coat!

Wow do I feel lucky today! My girlfriend brought over this totally awesome dark green suede coat and another grey jacket. She wants me to take the zipper out of the green suede coat and put it into the grey jacket. Now here is the jackpot - she does not want the suede coat back as she hates the color. Can you say new designer green suede purse for me??? Now I might just have somewhere to put the purple zipper flowers, will let you know. I will have to make her one also just to let her know that things can be repurposed - even if you don't like the color. She just might love the purse color and all. Ha!

Green Suede Coat with lining

Smile like your guilty! I feel like I'm stealing a material stash.

Laundry Day

Good morning all,
Today is laundry day for me. Now, that does not mean just a load or two. It means stripping the beds down to matress, vacumming the matress and washing all the sheets, pillowcases, undercover, blankets and bedspread. I really hate that part - you see, I have a kingsize bed and because of the way the stairs are in our house, can not get the bed upstairs to a bedroom. I paid over $3,000.00 for that stupid bed when I really wanted to get two single beds. Anyway that is another story. Back to the kingsize bed - we can not get it upstairs to the bedroom so have had to set it up in the diningroom. If you think of a square divided into 4 equal portions - that is my main floor. Well the diningroom is the only room that would fit my bed. We have the room blocked off from the kitchen and the living room. The room itself is small - period! It fits my kingsize bed and one dresser with just enough room to get in and out the bed through one side. The open side. The bed fits the room on three sides. Did I say the room was really small? Stripping the bed is easier than trying to make it from one side. I have come to realize that you can not throw the sheets and the blankets onto the bed and let air catch under the sheets to get it to settle on the other side. Like they do in the commercials for bounce sheets or fabric softeners. It just does not work. With my bed you have to climb over the whole surface to get to tuck the fitted corners on, and try to keep it as smooth as glass is an understatement. So I try rolling around, flipping over and over, and pulling the sheets to get it smooth and on the bed. Exercise anyone? People you will need to try this to get some exercise into your day! It is not easy. I love clean sheets - the smell, the way it feels, the comfortableness. I sleep so much better. I would have clean sheets on my bed everyday if it were easier to do. Alas! it is not, so I go through this routine and exercise program once per week. Usually on Sundays because that is an official day off of work for me, and I don't have to go anywhere. So sad as it is, today is laundry day, now where did I put the Purex? Haha

Smile like your guilty! It is the thought that counts

Purple Flowers

As I promised, here is the purple zipper flowers that I was able to make with my morning coffee. Aren't they just darling? Maybe I will try a necklace next? Who knows.

Smile like your guilty!