I Know It's Friday But WHAT TIME IS IT?

Today is FRIDAY

Today I have a 10:00 am appointment.

Today I might have lunch at 12:00pm 

with MyHero.

Today I am picking the girls up to 

spend the weekend at my house.

I have to be there at 3:25 pm.

Normally, this would NOT be a problem.

But, today...

I cannot figure out what time it is.

My clock does not seem to be working properly.

Yes-in good weather it 

REALLY DOES TELL TIME.

But- NOT TODAY!

Geez- I might have to break down and buy a watch.

Oh-Look-

I found one I like!

source

 Catch you later----IF I have TIME!

Oh- And 

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

to those that celebrate it!

A New Pad For My Shark - A Tutorial

Yes- It's true.

I know you didn't expect it but 

I HAVE A SHARK.

 When I said NEW PAD did you think of 

something like this?

Well, I hate to disappoint you but I am talking about

THIS KIND OF SHARK

A Shark steam mop

By the way,

This is NOT a paid advertisement for them.

I have had my Shark for about 5 or 6 years

and it is still going strong,

although someone that shall remain nameless,

but not picture-less

was trying to "help" and

pushed the mop SIDEWAYS...helllooooo.

and now my handle has some tape on it.

I have lots of hardwood floors and 

this really cleans great.

BUT

the pads are pretty bad.

Yeah- so bad I don't want to show them to you.

New they look like this.

Let's just say my own are no longer white!

SO

I decided to make my own using old towels that I 

no longer want to use personally.

First I made a pattern-tracing around the head 

of the cleaner

I added about 1/2" 

when I cut out the pattern.

I cut out three layers of terry

from an old towel.  

I saved the end pieces that were hemmed.

Then I zig-zagged the edges of the three pieces together.

I then took the end pieces of the towel and 

cut two strips to go across the "top" of the head

putting one on each end I then

 stitched them in place using a zig-zag stitch..

Then I turned them right side out 

I then put them on

the head to "fit" them.

That way they will stay in place as you are

moving the mop back and forth.

See the pins?

I put velcro under each pin and 

also on the piece below it 

(stitching them in place)

Here is how it looks on the bottom.

Is it pretty?

Nope!  But it sure is functional AND cheap

and it took less than 15 minutes from

start to finish!

Steam cleaned floors are REALLY clean-

Just like I like them!

Oh- yeah- there is one more kind of shark, too.

A LOAN SHARK.

source

You will want to avoid him at all costs!

Prayer Request UPDATES on Jettie AND Vonda and SNOWEDOUTATLANTA link

Yesterday, here, I asked you to pray 

for my good friend, Jettie,
and her kitties and her hubby Conway Twitty 

Last night I heard from her daughter, K.

When I left the hospital, Mom was doing fine.  Her only complaint was that the bed was hurting her back.  Doctor said the ball had a flat spot and the socket was full of bone spurs so it was no wonder she was in such pain.  He said she should feel a major difference immediately.  Tomorrow will be the worst and should get gradually better from now on.  They will start her therapy in the morning.  I will go visit at lunch and after work and give everyone an update afterward.  Thank you all for your prayers.  

And-

A couple of days ago I got an update on 

Vonda.

Her prayer request was here.

Melanie @ Adventures In Country Living wrote:

Great news!!!  Vonda woke up!!!!!!!.

An Infectious Disease doctor came in to see her today since she was not improving, disagreed with everything her pulmonologist did and took her... off of the vent a few hours ago. She is doing great and was able to wake up this time. This is truly a miracle from God considering she was requiring high sedation and ventilator support earlier today and all previous attempts to wean have failed! She received only 2 doses of her new medicine but no other major changes were made. Thank you everyone for keeping her in your prayers and please continue to pray that she only progresses from here.Vonda, You are a trooper!

Thank you all for your prayers.

Continue to pray for recovery 

for both of them when you can.

Updated at 9:10 am to add:
IF you want to read about the goodness of
our fellow countrymen and read some
heart wrenching stories go to 
Facebook- SnowedOutAtlanta
That should take you right to the site.
You will end up in tears at the goodness 
and sadness you see there.

Come back tomorrow.

I have something to show you.

Nothing too "fishy" if you know what I mean

You don't! 

My Friend Jettie Is Having Surgery Today-Prayer Request

This is not my usual prayer request.

I am usually crying when I write most of them.

However, this one is close to my heart.

This surgery has been a long time coming.

Jettie is the reason I am blogging today.

She started a blog called

Jettie's Ramblings 

where she blogged for books.

I had never heard of a BLOG before that.

I thought that was pretty cool and,

I thought I would blog for books, too.

(I never did because I got

sidetracked writing nonsense).

Anyway~

After emailing back and forth a whole lotta times,

she led me through the process of 

setting up my blog 

and here I am today-maybe paying

her back just a bit for all she has

done for me.

I hope she is down for a couple of days

cuz she is gonna kill me when she sees this picture.

Of course, I like THIS picture, too.

Now I am REALLY in for it.

But while I am on the subject-

Anyone else think her hubby 

looks like Conway Twitty?

Just sayin'

Jettie and I have shared laughs and sorrows,

ups and downs,

health scares and family problems

for about 10 years.

For the last few years she has been in constant pain.

She has had a hard time walking and

in the last year or so it has been REALLY BAD.

After agonizing over it and waiting "to see"

she has decided to have hip surgery.

I know hip surgery is pretty routine today

but it is still scary when it is happening to you.

Please say a prayer for her today.

Her surgery is early in the afternoon.

I am praying the doctor has a great lunch

and is feeling good overall when he operates.

Thank you so much

for your prayers for a successful surgery,

no complications and a quick recovery.

Jettie will read your comments here in a day or so

Oh-Yeah-

Pray for her cats, too.

Conway Her hubby has to take care of them and he

pretends he doesn't like cats.

(although he has been known to pet them 

when he thinks no one is looking).

Amen.

Winterfest And Painted Faces And Volleyball

Only in Green Bay, Wisconsin 

would people come out in 

ZERO DEGREE WEATHER

to attend a Winterfest.

There was food and 

ICE CARVING.

Pretty amazing, huh?

You know what else is amazing?

Going into a little booth with a fresh face

and coming out looking like this....

Or this...

Does anyone else find that first design

just a tad bit creepy? (sorry, Lulu)

On Sunday we spent all afternoon at a

VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Here is our Lulu in action-serving the ball.

Here are two of her best supporters..

Papa and SweetCheeks.

Notice anyone missing a tooth?

Papa is wide awake and enjoying the game.

At the very end of the tournament 

our girls came through.

HERE is the WINNING team!

Lulu is on the far right.

Those are some happy girls.

This is a new team and they did a great job...

duh.....obviously......

These kind of things do tire a person out.

See?

One of the kids asked...

Do you ever look over and think Papa is dead?

Why else would I keep a round mirror close at hand?

I can hold it under his nose and check his breathing.

If he fogs a mirror-

he's alive.

That's what I say!

My Irish Grandboys And A bit Of Irish Wit

My father was an Irishman,

with a touch of English in his birthright.

But, basically, he was Irish, like his mother.

He often quoted us little ditties like this one.

"You gave me the key of your heart, my love;

Then why do you make me knock?"

"Oh-that was yesterday, Saint's Above!

And last night-I changed the lock!"

These little ones have MY heart and
I will never change the lock.

When I look at my daughter Mimi's two boys

I see my father's side of the family.

My father would have loved these children so.

Does this, our Big Boy E, not look

like a little Irishman through and through?

This is his school picture from this year-Age 4

And his brother is coming right up behind him.

Our little Charles-In-Charge- Age two!

They are such sweet little boys.

Smart as whips and fun.

Hmmmm....

I love this expression on Big Boy E's face.

It is one I have seen before but

was never able to capture.

Is that not dear?

Have a wonderful Sunday!

A Cold Winter Day Means Peanut Brittle In The Microwave & Avoiding The Calories

WHAT do you do when it is too cold

to go out to the playhouse?

We have had WEEKS of this.

In this picture that "foggy" look is 

snow coming down and blowing.

That innocent looking drift goes almost to my waist.

So...

WE are going to make Peanut Brittle today.

Or, in my case, 

ALMOND BRITTLE.

I found the recipe at Roxy's Living From Glory To Glory

I will include the recipe at the end.

Here is what you need:

Sugar, Karo Syrup, Peanuts (or almonds),

Butter, Vanilla & Baking Soda.

Make sure you use a 

LARGE PRYEX MEASURING CUP/BOWL!

(not all bowls will take this kind of heat)

Mix the sugar and Karo together.

It will make a pasty mess that you can hardly stir.

Pop it in the microwave for 3 minutes 40 seconds

While this is cooking HEAVILY BUTTER a cookie sheet.

Remove mixture from oven and 

add 2 cups of  peanuts or almonds.

DO NOT STIR-just push them down into sugar

Don't freak out cuz they barely fit into the sugary stuff.

.Ummm...that is NOT my hair in there

regardless of what my kids might tell you.

After 2-1/2 mintues remove and add 

the butter and vanilla.

AGAIN- DO NOT STIR.

Nuke another minute and half and remove 

and add baking soda.

NOW YOU MUST STIR FAST!

It is gonna froth and bubble like a witch's cauldron.

What did you say?

Who you calling a witch?

 QUICKLY spread onto buttered cookie sheet.

Use the back of a buttered spoon to spread it thin.

It will look a mess but don't worry about it.

I waited a tad too long taking pictures so this is not spread as 

thin as the last time I made it.

Then, I covered it with tinfoil and put it on the 

shoveled off back deck to cool. 

Weather temp is Zero-It cooled fast!;>)

Otherwise, inside it hardens in about 45 mintues.

Once it is set break it up into pieces.

Now...Here is

THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUCTION.

HIDE IT!!!!

And break off little pieces when no one is home.......

Shhhh...It's our SWEET LITTLE secret!

And if you tell I will make you go sit in the playhouse...it is NOT heated!

Oh- I almost forgot-How do you

AVOID THE CALORIES?

Don't eat it! Just feed it to your friends.

Remember- The fatter they get the 

skinnier you look standing next to them!

Here's the recipe:

Peanut  Brittle

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup Karo syrup

2 scant cups nuts

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

In a 2-quart Pyrex bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar and ½ cup white syrup) 

Microwave on high for 3 minutes, 40 seconds.

Remove from microwave and add 2 scant cups (cups not quite full) dry roasted salted peanuts. Punch them down into the mixture. Do not stir.

Return to microwave and cook for 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and add — but don't stir —1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon butter. Microwave for 1 minute, 30 seconds.

Remove from microwave and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon baking soda. Stir the mixture. It will foam. Immediately pour mixture onto the heavily buttered surface. Drag the bowl along to make sure the mixture is flat. Using a spatula, lift the candy and scoot it around, so it doesn't stick to the surface. Let the mixture cool until completely hardened, about 45 minutes. Break into pieces.

As a side note- I made this in two different microwaves with different power levels/wattage.  It came out perfectly in both of them.  The time might be off for the really low wattage (700-800W) microwaves. Those are the older ones-most newer ones are at least 1000W. 

.

Annie Sloan Saved The Day-er-Table

After Christmas I switched a room around

and have a "free-floating" chair.

The chair is down-filled and 

OH-SO-COMFORTABLE

....but...

it swivels and rocks.

Now, while that is a bonus it also 

creates a problem.

Where the heck am I going to put my coffee cup?

Y'all KNOW how much I love my coffee!

I need a little table!

It has to be a SMALL table because otherwise

I can't swivel the chair.

 I remembered I have a little table

that is kind of a discard.

With chalk paint there ARE NO discards.

Here's what she looked like last night

sitting between my chair and the fireplace.

Pretty cute, huh?

Wanna see her UGLY face?

She looked like this when I started.

I wanted a little lower shelf for a basket

to hold my pens and a pad and camera cord.

Hmmmmm.....

No way to cut a piece of wood to fit today.

I need a template.

How to make a template?

How about tinfoil?

Using the template I cut a piece of cardboard to fit.

Pretty ugly, huh?

No problem.  We (me, myself &I) wrapped

 that baby with heavy muslin.

Ready to paint I turn the piece upside down on these little cheese colored supports.

If you have never used these things 

to paint with you need to 

pick some up at Home Depot. 

They are cheap and can hold a ton of weight.

They keep the object elevated so you can paint 

all the way down to the base.

First coat on-

Finishing up...

A light sanding, wax, and slight distressing

and she is ready to go

once I slip the "shelf" into place.

Lamplight gives her a golden glow.

Not bad for a discard!

Can you believe it?

I HAVE  FIRE COMING OUT OFIMY CUP!!!!

Well-YOU might not believe me but I bet I can

trick the grandkids!!!!!

Have a great Friday!