This & That Junk Drawer Wednesday-Spring Recital, How To Stay Young, Strawberries & Rhubarb Cobbler & Dandelion Wine!!!

My granddaughter's Bee's spring recital. May 10th, 2009. Five days after her 16th b'day



She played Sicilienne Op 78 by Gabriel Fauré. Scroll down to the left side to stop my music from playing, so you can hear her...She has been taking lessons from a college professor for the last few years as she had outgrown her original flute instructor...Needless to say we are all so proud of her...Last summer she was picked to go to Boston & New York to play for the 4TH of July....

How To Stay Young

By George Carlin
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. - This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. - The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening whatever. - "Never let the brain idle." "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. - The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. - Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: - If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. - Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

And if you don't send this to at least 8 people - who cares? But do share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER, Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything!

On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph:
Tried everything twice...loved it both times!

Now that we have all the beautiful yellow flowers growing in our yards I thought you might like to put them to use.

Dandelion Wine:

INGREDIENTS:
2 Gallons, or about 3 pounds of dandelion heads
3 pounds of raisins
10 pounds of sugar
6 tsp. of acid blend (citric, tartaric & malic)
1 tsp. of grape tannins
2 tsp. of yeast nutrient
1 pkt. champagne yeast
5 gallons of spring water (or well water)
DIRECTIONS:
1.Combine all above ingredients in a 6 gallon pail. Specific gravity of 1.11 - 1.13Cover with a plastic bag. Let bubble and ferment happily for 10 days at room temperature. Every couple of days in those 10 days, stir the mixture.
2.After the 10 days, rack the liquid off of the solids into a 5 gallon glass carboy. Cork the carboy with an air lock stopper. Let it do it's thing in a dark corner of your house for 6 to 9 months.
3.Every 2-3 months during those six months, rack the liquid off the sediment. Put back into carboy and wait.
4.If you start it in May, it's ready to bottle in December. It's a great taste of Spring in the dead of winter. Enjoy!!!
5.All of the ingredients can be found at your local homebrew store or on line...Just google it....Have fun!!!

Strawberries & Rhubarb Cobbler
Cobbler is very easy to prepare, and this delicious topping will work with different fruits all season long. Strawberries and rhubarb make for the earliest (and perhaps best) cobbler. Wonderful with ice cream.

Filling:
1 quart strawberries, washed, tops removed and cut in half–about 4 Cups
4 Cups chopped rhubarb, washed and sliced into ½" pieces, (about 1 lb.)
2/3 Cup white granulated sugar
4 TB. Vanilla Sugar, divided
Topping:
1¾ Cup all purpose flour
½ Cup sugar
1 TB. baking powder
1 pinch salt
6 TB. (¾ stick) butter, cold
¾ Cup milk
Preheat oven to 350°. Place the strawberries, rhubarb, white sugar and 3 TB. vanilla sugar in a bowl, toss gently and set aside.To prepare topping, mix the flour, ½ Cup sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl and stir to blend. Cut the butter into small pieces, put into the flour mixture and blend with your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the milk and stir just to blend.Butter a 9" by 13" baking pan (we prefer glass), place the fruit in the pan, and spoon the topping over the fruit. Spread it out with a spoon as best as you can, but don't worry if it doesn't reach to all the edges, as it will smooth out while baking. Sprinkle the crust with the remaining tablespoon of vanilla sugar. Place the pan in the oven for 40-50 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Let cool before cutting and serving. Serves: 8

"HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY"

Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
Send this to someone whom you think is a special Mom...
And remember that behind every successful woman......
is a basket of dirty laundry.

The picture on my logo is my Mother and me when I was 6 weeks old....The graphic is from My Little Raggedy Blessings.

TGIF! Etched Glass Storage Jars

Etched Glass Storage Jars

Keep pantry staples organized with a set of glass storage jars customized with etched lettering. I LOVE these! Aren't they fabulous? They look great as storage jars in the kitchen or bathroom, but I was also thinking about gifts. Especially teacher gifts. A nice jar with their name etched on it would be so nice for them to use on their desk. How about an etched baking dish as a gift. Wouldn't it be great to receive a pie dish or baking dish as a gift with your name etched on it?
The jars above are called cracker jars. They can be purchased at Wal Mart in several different sizes

1. Clean and dry the glass. Using painter's tape, mark off the area you want to etch. Attach vinyl stick-on letters and decorative tape; press hard to ensure they are attached firmly.

2. Cover work surfaces (be sure to work in a well-ventilated area). Put on protective gloves and an old shirt with long sleeves. Paint an even layer of etching cream onto glass. Let stand for amount of time indicated by manufacturer's instructions.

3. Rinse with warm water in a stainless steel sink. (Avoid porcelain sinks; the cream damages glazed surfaces.) Remove letters and tape.

Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these.
~
Activist Susan B. Anthony

Rambling Thursday's Laughter Is The Best Medicine!!!

The Service:
One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church.
It was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it.
The seven-year-old had been staring at th e plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning, Alex."
"Good morning," replied the young man, still focused on the plaque.
"What is this?" Alex asked.
"Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."
Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque.
Little Alex's voice was trembling and barely audible when he asked, "Which service, the 9:45 or the 11:15?"

Weight Loss Plan:
A man calls a company and orders their 5-day, 10 lb. weight loss program.
The next day, there's a knock on the door and there stands before him a voluptuous, athletic, 19 year old babe dressed in nothing but a pair of Nike running shoes and a sign around her neck.
She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company.
The sign reads, "If you can catch me, you can have me."
Without a second thought, he takes off after her.
A few miles later huffing and puffing, he finally gives up.
The same girl shows up for the next four days and the same thing happens.
On the fifth day, he weighs himself and is delighted to find he has lost 10 lbs. as promised.
He calls the company and orders their 5-day/20 pound program.
The next day there's a knock at the door and there stands the most stunning and beautiful woman he has ever seen in his life.
She is wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, "If you catch me you can have me."
Well, he's out the door after her like a shot.
This girl is in excellent shape and he does his best, but no such luck.
So for the next four days, the same routine happens with him gradually getting in better and better shape.
Much to his delight on the fifth day when he weighs himself, he discovers that he has lost another 20 lbs. as promised.
He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the 7-day/50 pound program.
"Are you sure?" asks the representative on the phone. "This is our most rigorous program."
"Absolutely," he replies, "I haven't felt this good in years."
The next day there's a knock at the door; and when he opens it he finds a huge muscular guy standing there wearing nothing but pink running shoes and a sign around his neck that reads,"If I catch you, you are mine!!!"
He lost 63 pounds that week.

Medical Problem:
An old woman came into her doctor's office and confessed to an embarrassing problem. "I do that all the time, Doctor Johnson, but they're soundless, and they have no odor. In fact, since I've been here, I did it no less than twenty times. What can I do?"
"Here's a prescription, Mrs. Harris. Take these pills three times a day for seven days and come back and see me in a week."
Next week an upset Mrs. Harris marched into Dr. Johnson's office. "Doctor, I don't know what was in those pills, but the problem is worse! I'm doing it just as much, but now it smells terrible! What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Calm down, Mrs. Harris," said the doctor soothingly. "Now that we've fixed your sinuses, we'll work on your hearing!!!"

This & That Junk Drawer Wednesday!! How Vinegar Can Make Your Kitchen Sparkle

Now is the time to sweep out those winter dust bunnies, freshen up the home and make your kitchen shine!

20 Ways Vinegar Can Help Your Kitchen Sparkle

1.Microwave Cleaner: Use vinegar & water to clean your microwave–cleans up easily no matter how grungy it is! Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in a bowl, place in microwave with wooden spoon or stir stick in the water*) and heat for 3 - 5 minutes. The vinegar also acts as a freshener and deodorizer. You can also use this water when wiping down, but again–the water is very hot. Be careful.
2.Coffee Pot & Kettle Cleaner: Clean scum and lime deposits from your coffee pots & kettles...Fill the coffee tank with 6 cups of vinegar, then top up the tank with water. Turn on the coffee pot as you would when making coffee (minus the coffee grounds). The machine will heat the vinegar and water as it enters the pot. This is for a 12 cup coffee machine, if yours is a different size, just use 50/50 vinegar and water. Once the pot is full, pour the hot vinegar and water back in the tank and run through the process again. Dump the hot vinegar and water then scrub the pot inside and out in hot soapy water. There should be no signs of brown coffee film at this point. Next add plain water in the coffee tank and turn on the machine. The hot water will run through and rinse out the vinegar. I do this step twice using fresh water for the second rinse cycle. The vinegar not only helps clean the coffee pot, but also flushes out any buildup in the tank and tubes
3.Pots & Pans Stubborn Stain Scrub: mix 50/50 flour and salt, add vinegar to make a paste. Using a sponge, rub into stains then wash with hot soapy water and rinse off.
4.Oven Rinse: Wipe the inside of your oven with vinegar to remove the residue left behind by oven cleaner.
5.Glassware: To make your glassware sparkle and prevent hard water spots, add 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar to your rinse water.
6.Dish Detergent Extender: Make your liquid dish soap last longer by adding 3 to 4 tablespoons of vinegar to a bottle. Shake to mix. Also adds extra cleaning power to your detergent (make sure detergent ingredients are safe to use with vinegar).
7.Sink Taps: Bring a shine to Kitchen taps by rubbing with a cloth soaked in vinegar. If you have heavy deposits around the base of the tap, soak paper towels with vinegar and stuff firmly on top of the grime buildup. After a few hours you should be able to wash clean.
8.Kitchen Sink: Use vinegar to make your stainless steel sink shine: First clean with hot soapy water, drain, then use a clean cloth soaked in some white vinegar and scrub the sink. Sprinkle baking soda around the sink then scrub it down with a damp sponge.
9.Kitchen Sponge Freshener: Regularly clean & freshen kitchen sponges by soaking them in vinegar and water.
10.Refrigerator Cleaning: After cleaning your refrigerator, rinse wipe with a 50/50 vinegar and water rinse to help prevent mildew.
11.Stained Plastic Dishes: Soak stained plastic dishes overnight with hot soapy water and 1/4 cup vinegar. Wash clean the next day.
12.Clean stains from coffee mugs, tea pots, tea cups and fine china by soaking them overnight in vinegar or make a paste with vinegar and table salt
13.Kitchen Drain Cleaner: Use vinegar & baking soda to clear clogged kitchen drains.
14.Stove Tops: Clean stove tops, stained element rings and drip pans with a paste made with cream of tartar and vinegar (50/50) or by applying vinegar soaked paper towels for a few hours.
15.Softscrub Cleaner: Make your own softscrub cleaner with vinegar, baking soda and liquid dish detergent–perfect for grimy spots on appliances.
Homemade Softscrub Cleaner Recipe
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup liquid dish detergent
1/8 cup - 1/4 cup vinegar
Mix the baking soda and dish detergent first, then add the vinegar. Adjust the baking soda or vinegar amounts until you have the consistency you like working with.
Tips:
Just use whatever’s on sale or a generic brand of dish detergent and you’ve got yourself some super cheap, yet very effective, homemade softscrub!
Use the amount of vinegar that gives you the consistency of softscrub that you prefer. Vinegar’s a great grime buster–so don’t be shy with it.
If you just want to do some spot cleaning and don’t need a large amount of softscrub, give the spot a light squirt of dish detergent, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on top and scrub. You won’t need to bother with the vinegar for small spots like this.
Try heating the vinegar in the microwave first before mixing it in with the other ingredients. You don’t want it super hot, but a warm temperature that’s comfortable to work with.
16.Homemade Produce Wash: Make your own homemade produce wash with vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and water.
Homemade Produce Wash Recipe
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
2 TBS baking soda
2 TBS lemon juice
Directions:
Mix ingredients then pour in clean spray bottle. Spray fresh vegetables & fruit generously. Sit for 5 minutes then rinse off well.
Note: Make sure to first mix ingredients in deep container since there will be some fizzing from the baking soda & vinegar
17.Crockpot Cleaner: Vinegar is a good crust buster for crockpots.Fill crockpot 1/4 full with vinegar, then add warm water to cover the stain line. Let soak overnight with temperature on low. In the morning scrub with a nylon scrubber and hot soapy water. This method is also helpful for removing sauce stains (tomato based sauces can discolor the crock, this helps remove them).
18.Homemade Household Cleaner: Make your own citrus cleaners, great for counter tops (test surfaces first before using).
Homemade Citrus Household Cleaner
Fill a large, wide mouth jar with citrus peels (such as lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruits). Cover the peels with white household vinegar. Let brew for four weeks, shaking the jar occasionally (just to mix it up a bit). Strain twice
Before filling the jar, make sure the citrus peels are scrubbed well in baking soda and water to remove any chemicals or pesticides. It’s a lot easier if you do this before peeling the fruit
19.Cookware Rust Remover: Strip buildup and rust from old cast iron cookware with 50/50 vinegar & water, then re-season.
20.Blender Cleaner: Use vinegar to give your blender a good cleaning. Right after using, add warm water and a good splash of vinegar to blender. Turn on and let the blender work the liquid for about a minute. Pour out, rinse well and the blender container should be nice and clean.

Seventeen Weeks Down That Road Again & Independence Day Centerpiece!!

Well it's my seventeeth week "Down That Road Again" and this week I didn't lose even one ounce....Must of done something wrong and will simply have to try harder next week...
Thought you might like to start on some decorations for the Fourth of July!

Independence Day Centerpiece
By: DecoArt

Celebrate the USA with an Independence Day centerpiece composed of painted pots, stars and firecrackers. This is a great piece for outdoor dining on the Fourth of July.

Materials:
DecoArt Products Required
Patio Paint

•DCP10 - Summer Sky Blue
•DCP14 - Cloud White
•DCP19 - Antique Mum
•DCP20 - Sunflower Yellow
•DCP21 - Wrought Iron Black

Supplies
Brushes by Loew-Cornell Brush Co. - Loew-Cornell Golden Taklon: Series 7300 shader 12; Series 7550 Wash 1"; Series 7050 Script Liner 1
Supplies - compressed sponge, star picks, Raffia, Hot glue gun and glue
Terra Cotta Pot
1/2" thick wood dowel stick cut approx. 4", 7", 8", and 11" in ht.
Star and Letters cut from 1-1/2" thick wood
Wooden Hearts
Wood Blocks (4) cut approx. 3" x 3" x 3"
1/2" Wood Platform for firecrackers cut approx. 4" square
1-1/4" round wood dowel for firecrackers cut approx. 5", 7", and 9" tall
Click here for USA PATTERN

Instructions:

USA Terra Cotta Pot
1. Paint the base of pot Antique Mum. Paint the rim Patio Brick. Allow to dry.
2. Stars: Transfer star pattern to compressed sponge and cut out. Dab sponge in Sunflower Yellow and randomly place stars on the rim of the pot.
3. Transfer USA pattern. Paint letters Summer Sky Blue. Outline w/Black. Add dots with White.

USA Letters, Hearts and Blocks
1. Paint all letters Daisy Cream. Paint hearts and blocks Patio Brick and some Summer Sky Blue. Allow to dry. Dab stars on blocks using same instructions as step 2 above.
2. U: Cut a square from compressed sponge and dab on using Patio Brick. S: Brush-on stripes using Patio Brick, Summer Sky Blue and Sunflower Yellow. A: Brush on Summer Sky Blue stripes. Outline all letters w/Black.
3. Star and dowels: Paint Sunflower Yellow. Dot star w/White and outline w/Black.
4. Drill a hole in the top of each block and the bottom of each letter and star for the dowel to fit in. After they are attached, glue on hearts, raffia and star picks.

Firecrackers
1. Paint the base Patio Brick. Paint firecrackers Daisy Cream. Allow to dry.
2. 9" Firecracker: Brush on Summer Sky Blue stripes approx. 7" from the bottom. 7" Firecracker: Approx. 3 1/2" from the bottom dab on Patio Brick squares cut from compressed sponge. 5" Firecracker: Brush on stripes approx. 4" from the bottom using Patio Brick, Summer Sky Blue and Sunflower Yellow. All Firecrackers: Paint a 1/2" wide Sunflower Yellow band. Paint the tops Summer Sky Blue.
3. Drill a small hole in the top of ea. firecracker to stick star picks in. Glue or nail firecrackers to the base. Tie raffia around the center.

Finishing Instructions

Spray all pieces with Matte Sealer

Patriotic Pot Trio
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue in this trio of all-American pots painted with bright, patriotic colors.

Materials:
DecoArt Products Required
Patio Paint
•DCP11 - Pot O' Gold
•DCP14 - Cloud White
•DCP43 - Holly Berry Red
•DCP51 - Cobalt Blue

Supplies
1" painter's tape
Foam plate
1/4" round foam pouncer brush
1" and 1/2" flat brushes
Small round brush
2" square piece of cardstock
Craft knife
Pencil
4", 6", and 8" terra cotta pots

Instructions:
4" pot
1. Paint pot rim and insides Holly Berry Red; let dry.
2. Paint pot below rim Pot O' Gold and let dry.
3. Referring to photo for placement, paint Cobalt Blue swirls on Pot O' Gold areas. Let dry.
4. Use end of brush handle dipped in Holly Berry Red to paint four dots at end of swirls. Let dry.
5. Use Cloud White to paint word "and" on rim of pot; let dry.

6" pot
1. Paint pot rim and insides Cloud White; let dry.
2. Paint pot below rim Cobalt Blue and let dry.
3. Trace and cut star stencil from cardstock. Refer to photo for placement and use pouncer brush dipped into Pot O" Gold to paint stars over Cobalt Blue area. Let dry.
4. Use 1/4" pouncer brush and Cloud White to paint dots around stars; let dry.
5. Use Holly Berry Red to paint word "stars" on rim of pot; let dry.

8" pot
1. Paint pot rim and insides Cobalt Blue and let dry.
2. Paint pot below rim Cloud White; let dry.
3. Mark off vertical stripes on pot as evenly as possible with painter's tape 1" apart at bottom edge; press edges down securely to avoid seepage. Paint stripes Holly Berry Red; let dry and remove tape.
4. Use Pot O' Gold to paint word "stripes" on rim of pot; let dry.

For more interesting projects like these, go to Fave Crafts

FIFTY TWO FREE APRON PATTERNS & MONTHLY GIVEAWAY!

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY!

On 2-1-2011 I started a Monthly Giveaway. I will be drawing names from
followers that comment. The drawings will be on the 1st of each month! Go to my newest post to comment.

Sending a bunch of Prim Dried Carrots with some Dried Grass to a lucky FOLLOWER that has commented during February!
These will be perfect for your Spring Decor. Remember each new posting you comment on, will be another chance for you to win the Prim Dried Carrots & Dried Grass


52 Free Apron Patterns You Can Make:

NOTE: I do NOT KNOW where to get the stripe apron pattern!!!!!!

This is a large list of patterns from around the net, all kinds of styles and types included. If you love aprons, you’re gonna love this list!....Just click on
FREE APRON PATTERNS

Here is a sampling of types of patterns:

Jean Apron

Butcher Apron

Carry All Apron

Dish Towel Apron

SWEET POTATO AND SPINACH SALAD

Dressing:
1/2 small onion, very thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar (not sweetened or
seasoned)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Salad:
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2" dice (scant
2 cups)
4 cups packed spinach leaves
1 small red bell pepper, cut into matchsticks (scant 1 cup)
Combine dressing ingredients in a bowl.
Put potato in a small saucepan with enough lightly
salted water to cover and bring to a boil. Cook until
tender but not mushy, about 8 minutes. Drain in
colander.
In a large bowl, toss potato, spinach and pepper with
dressing. Serve immediately.
This salad dressing is less acidic than most, allowing the citrus
flavor to come through.
Calories: 76, Fat: 3 grams, Protein: 1 grams,Carbohydrates: 10 grams, Fiber: 2 grams, Net Carbs: 8 grams.

Baked Chicken Fingers

INGREDIENTS:

Baked Chicken Fingers
4-4 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 egg white
3 tbsp skim milk
1 cup corn flake crushed
1 tsp Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning
1 tsp fresh ground pepper
Cooking spray
Curry Sauce For Dipping
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
1/4 cup lowest-fat mayonnaise
1/4 cup plum sauce (instead of or as well as curry sauce)

DIRECTIONS:

Baked Chicken Fingers
Preheat oven to 375° F.
Cut chicken into long strips.
Beat egg white and milk in a bowl and toss in the chicken. Stir to coat.
Mix together corn flake crumbs and spices in a different bowl.
Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.
Dunk each piece of chicken into crumbs using a fork. Arrange on cookie sheet. Spray tops with cooking spray and place in oven for 20 minutes.
Curry Sauce For Dipping:
Combine sour cream, mayonnaise and plum sauce or and curry sauce in a bowl. Stir together until smooth.
Set dip aside in fridge.