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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

SEW WHAT

Something is up here!
I can't tell you just what it is yet..
but there is something afoot..
or abody..or something.

It has something to do with this....
and this...
It involves a simple pattern.
When I have a pattern that I
know I am going to use multiple times
I take the original pattern
(which usually has multiple sizes)
and transfer the pattern(s)
to sturdy craft paper.
It makes it so easy to use,
and reuse, the pattern
many, many times.

So...here's a sneak peek.
I'll hope to get started this week
using some of these fabrics.
and maybe these...

I can't wait to see
SweetCheeks and Company
all dressed in
matching outfits.

Maybe I should make one
for myself?  Nahhhhhh....
I don't think I could get away
even though they
DO have them in
MY SIZE
AND they come in PINK.
I'm just wondering what the
neighbors would think if I
hung those out on the
clothes line~

Monday, January 30, 2012

A Daddy Daughter Dance

A few years ago my daughter, TPot,
and her best friend, Tina,
started a
Daddy/Daughter Dance
at their school.
It has grown by leaps and bounds
and this year they had over
250 people attend.
It's a relatively small school
 with about 400 students.

It is open to the kids that
don't have Dads at home, too.
There are Uncles and Brothers
and Grampas that step in
and take a little girl that
wants to go.

I always show up to help
with last minute preparations
and to do nails and take pictures.

This is SweetCheeks 2nd year
going.  Here she is
whining and complaining
about how long it takes to be
getting her hair done.
Doesn't it look painful?
Wait until she has to do her own hair someday.
I could ride to town and back on that lip!
Next up is sister, Ria.
She complains a lot less.
Not at all, as a matter of fact!
Poor little girl was supposed to get
her teeth capped after her school accident
a few weeks ago. 
She was supposed to go this day
but the oral pediatric surgeon was ill.
One beautiful smile coming up
anyway.  Next week it will be even
more perfect!
Our poor little Lulu was not
feeling well all day.
Momma decided to do her hair
and see how she felt before
determining whether she would go
to the dance.
She was pretty somber in the
hair chair!

Doesn't she look sad?
A pretty hair pin might help
as does some glittery hair spray.
She feels much better after
seeing herself in the mirror.
Daddy put a wrist corsage on each
little girl.
All dressed and ready to go to
The Daddy/Daughter Dance
with my handsome son-in-law.
SweetCheeks got her Daddy
giggling like a girl
laughing right out loud.
I could NOT get my camera flash to work.
GRRRRRR..
Then SweetCheeks announced
that she wanted a
GOOFY PICTURE!
This looks pretty goofy to me.
Ummmm...I think Daddy looks better
here than he did in the
UN-GOOFY pictures..
Whaddaya think?
Here's one my daughter emailed me..
Sweet little faces...
Hanging on their Daddy...
Lulu hanging with her friends...
As you can see, she felt much better
by this time.
A moment to remember for all
those girls...a night that will be
relived when they are grown
and have children of their own.
I'm thinking of going dancing myself!
I'm practicing my leg lifts
even as you are reading this.
yeah...now if I can just get
MyHero whipped into shape!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Crustless Quiche For Sunday Morn

I think most of you know
that I gave up
Sugar and Flour
on July 18th last year.

It has been an amazing
transformation.
I feel so much better
and my clothes fit better
and I am happier with myself
all the way around.

Of course it means
I DON'T
eat any of these anymore....
(click on image to visit this beautiful bakery)

There are things that
I do eat..that I have found ways to adapt
Did you know that
I LOVE QUICHE?

Now, I'm sure you are thinking
HOW CAN
you eat quiche if you don't eat
FLOUR....cuz we all
KNOW that
Quiche has Crust.
Right?
Wrongo-Amigo!
MY QUICHE
is made with
NO CRUST.
I forms it's
OWN CRUST
as it bakes.

You need
4 eggs
1 cup grated cheese of choice
green onion tops- cut up
Crumbled bacon
(or the lazy woman's
precooked Bacon Bits)
REAL BACON BITS
You decide how much.
I used about 2/3 of the package.
Please don't
use those stinking
imitation bacon bits..
just sayin' ~cuz my friend,
Sandy, lives on a pig farm
and her hubby likes the business..
and he thanks you
for using the real thing!

2 cups of cream
(or milk or half & half)
Mix together.
Pour into a greased pie dish.
Bake @ 400º for 15 minutes
then lower oven to 350º
and bake another 30 minutes
or until knife inserted in center
comes out clean.
Let  it set up for about 15 minutes.
Salt & Pepper to taste.
Slice and eat...
oh....baby....good!
This has kind of a custard set
to it..and it is even better
the second day.

edited at 8am to add:
This is best made using cream or
half & half.  Otherwise,
the ones made with milk get
a bit watery on the bottom
if they sit too long.
If I do make it with milk
I just absorb the water from
the bottom of the pie pan with a
paper towel when I lift
each piece out.  The quiche itself
does NOT turn watery.

What'll I think of next?
Hmmmmm..
That's what
MyHero is always wondering.
Poor guy!
Doncha feel sorry for him?

Recipe:
4 eggs
2 cups cream (milk or 1/2 & 1/2)
sliced green onions to taste
1/2 cup cooked crumbled bacon
1 cup grated cheese

Grease a pie pan.
Layer in bacon, cheese, onions,
Beat 4 eggs and add milk to them.
Pour over contents in pan.
Bake at 400º for 15 mins
Lower heat and bake at 350º
for another 30-40 minutes
or until knife inserted in center
comes out clean.
Using cream it usually takes another
15 minutes or so.
Salt & pepper to taste and enjoy~

Saturday, January 28, 2012

I Love Nana-The Proof

I met my daughter
and SweetCheeks
at
Starbucks.
My home away from home.
As you can see,
even with the screen pulled
down over the
big front window,
it was
Movie Star Bright.
So much so that
SOMEONE
needed sunglasses.
She loves her Momma!
And..
We have our usual
little contest.
Nana, I lovfe youh to
the moohn and bhack.
I reply~ I love you
to the stars and back
and to infinity and
beyond.
She tells me that
she loves me to
GOD & BACK.
Hmmmm...
I think she wins that contest
hands down.

Her day was full of
exciting plans.
Her Daddy was taking
her to
Chuck E Cheese
for lunch.
What Daddy does that
in the middle of
the day?
One that loves his
SweetCheeks!

After a few hours with
Daddy.
She ended up coming to
My House for the
night.

We stopped at the mailbox
at the top of our drive
and look what
was waiting inside.
A picture of all of our
grandkids...a rare occassion
when they are all together
like happened at Christmas this year.
~A blessing to see them all~
AND
Now I know.
I am loved to
God & Back
AND that being a
Nana Makes Everyday Special.
How do I know?
Because there is a
little present that goes
with the picture.
What more could anyone ask for?
Well, maybe THIS!
Shhhhhh...Don't tell
MyHero
cuz he is pretty sure HE looks like this:
shhhhhhh-it's our secret..m'kay?

Friday, January 27, 2012

Star Of The Week-SweetCheeks Video

SweetCheeks
(aka Edith Ann)
 is blessed
to go to a school that
has a pre-school
that uplifts and honors
the kids that attend.

The classes are not huge
so EACH child in
her class gets a chance
to be
STAR OF THE WEEK
one week during the
school year.

Last week it was
SweetCheeks turn to
take center stage.

Here she is reporting
on
HER WEEK.
Ummm...I think she got a little
confused about the
TREATS!

Not all schools do this..
so I think it is important that
every child thinks they are
A STAR
in someone's eyes.
How about you?
Have your made your child,
or grandchild,
feel like they were
YOUR
Star Of The Week?
DO IT!
It'll make God smile.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

SUPER QUICK Banana Bread

I have a son that
LOVES
Banana Bread.
MamasBoy
LOVES his banana bread
almost as much as he
loves his Mom,
and his nieces.
Here he is loving on our
Little Lulu
last summer.
If I want
A FAVOR
(a piece of furniture moved
or my computer "fixed")
I call
MamasBoy
and say..
I have banana bread!

It's an amazing trick
because he
ALWAYS
shows up.
He is
THAT SON!
The truth is he would
stop by whether there was
BANANA BREAD
or not because he is
good like that.

Anyway....
I am always trying
new recipes.
I think this is the
simplest one I have
ever made.
EVER.

Remember those
Well...
same principle.

I mashed up 3 or 4
bananas that I had frozen
when they got to
super ripe stage.
I thawed and beat the
spunk outta them..
cuz I am kind of a mean cook.
They sure aren't purty here,
are they?;>)
Then I used a box of
White Cake Mix
 (or you can use Yellow-
I only had white )
Add 2 eggs
(look how they are nestled up
to those chocolate chips-
It looks like they are in
LOVE, doesn't it)
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup nuts or chocolate chips.
(I was, sadly, out of nuts-
I fed the last of them to a
hungry squirrel because I
thought the nuts were just a tad
past usable date and I
KNOW those squirrels can't read
so they will eat them anyway).

I use those
silicone mini pans.
Bake at 350º

for about 45-60 mins.
~YUM~
That's it!

Recipe:

Cake Mix Banana Bread

3 or 4 mashed up bananas
1 Cake Mix- White or Yellow
2 eggs
1/4 cup Crisco oil
1/2 cup nuts or chocolate chips.

Mash up bananas.
Add eggs and oil.
Beat.
Add cake mix.
Stir until completely blended.
Stir in 1/2 cup nuts or chocolate chips.
Pour into 1 large bread pan
or 4 small ones.
(I use the silicone ones-otherwise,
grease pans)
Bake @ 350º 45 mins-1 hour
until lightly browned
and a tester inserted comes out clean.
Serve warm or cool.
Hmmmmm..
I have some more bananas.
What JOB do I need done now?
oh-yeah-
THE BASEMENT!
I'm going in.....
Skeeeery, huh?
If you don't see me in 2 or 3 days,
call MamasBoy to come find me..
tell him there is
BANANA BREAD
on the counter...
He'll come running.