Crafting Valentines With SweetCheeks And Company

First you must hang a

banner INSIDE..

So that the

GRANDKIDS

will know

which Holiday

they are celebrating.

Just a word of caution..

If you hang one

that looks like

the one below..

SOMEONE

(who shall remain nameless)

will be sure to ask..

Is he

NAKED?

Your reply should be

Absolutely..

That is why he is

carrying an envelope.

This is sure to produce

a giggle from at

least 2 or the 3 grandkids..

The third one doesn't giggle.

She doesn't giggle

because she doesn't "get it".

She is trying to figure out where

HE got that BHIG of an envelope.

Secondly..

You must lay out supplies.

These will cost somewhere

in the neighborhood

of $459.00...and..

after you buy

ALL THAT STUFF,

you will realize that you have

forgotten at least one or

two crucial supplies..

Like...

Elmer's WASHABLE glue.

Lord help you

if you buy the

REGULAR ELMER'S GLUE

because it will NOT

be pretty.

Now that you have

your supplies home

and have signed

the bank loan

to cover the expense..

you must lay out the goodies...

Lay them out nice and neatly..

Sigh over the paper-Oh So Sweet

Next---

Hang a flag outside your door..

A cute little cherub flag

to greet them with a smile.

Isn't it perfect?

Love Mary Englebriet's flags.

Then they arrive...

bringing presents.

Bringing PRESENTS?

PRESENTS

For ME?

Yep-these are for Nana..

and they made them

all by themselves..

Inside are beautiful little

hearts made with love..

One from Ria.

Two from Lulu...

and one from SweetCheeks.

Of course I must put them all on..

I pick up SweetCheeks...

What does this say, SweetCheeks?

That's jus' sumbuddy ehlse's name

on there...Doan't pay eny

attenshun to the name...

just putt it on..

Whereupon I am informed

by Lulu that

"I told SweetCheeks

NOT to give you that one".

Whereupon SweetCheeks says

NOAH.YOHU.DIDN'T.LULU

an' I dohn't care cuz I am ghiving

it to her enyway. Hmmmf.

I start the legal paperwork

to change my name to Allison.

Great.. We are off

to a nice, calm start...

Now where were we?

Okay..girls..

Let's get started...

Who wants to make a

Valentine?

Everyone's hand shoots into the air.

In short order everything

 looks like this.....

All three girls are

Busy-Busy-Busy

Lulu makes this-

 Ria loved the self-stick hearts...

And SweetCheeks has now changed into her third Princess Outfit...

and has busied herself

making th...........

Oh, Dear Lord In Heaven...

Pray tell WHO left HER alone

with the glitter?

There is glitter glitter everywhere..

On the floor and on the chair..

In her mouth and on her hair....

I could go on and on with the

rhyming thingy but I'm afraid

the Dr. Suess police will get me.

An especially nice touch? 

The globs of

glue that dropped here and there

and shine brightly up

from the chair...and the table...

and the floor...and the countertop...

Did I say floor? Ah..yes...

and back to the glitter...

Nothing like glitter on the floor

that can be tracked from

room to room..

Leave NO ROOM untouched

seems to have been the motto

of the day.

I decide I need a bathroom break

to dispose of the 3 gallons of coffee

that I have downed in an effort

to keep up with this

CRAFT DAY WITH THE KIDS.

Lo and behold,

in the small reading nook

(where the old steps used to be)

I see

THIS...

How did all these books get off

the shelf and on the floor?

I ask ever-so-sweetly

between slightly gritted teeth.

Uh-oh---Here it comes...

Welllll...says SweetCheeks..

Ria toohk a few books off

the shellf and then I helped her

and took the rest offf..and

we jus' put 'em there for now.

Yeah? Where do you think

you're gonna put them later?

Wellll...It was Ria's idea.

I dunno how they gonna

get bahck on the shelfs.

Hmmmm...I dunno where YOU'RE

gonna go either if you guys don't put

these books back.

All too soon

hahahahahahahaha

the day ends and we clean up the

mess and they get ready to go home.

As you can plainly see 

SOMEONE has been so overworked

she has collapsed in a heap

using her sisters as pillows.

The pictures above are from last year.

Guess what!

This weekend we get to do it all

over again.

If you don't see me by Monday

I will be glued to a seat somewhere

in the house.

I hope it is in a chair in front of

the computer.

Edited @ 6:55 am to add:
MyHero reads my blog and says:
 You SPENT $459 ON THIS STUFF?
(Sheeez...don't ya know a joke when you read one?;>)

Romantic Homes Blogs To Make You Swoon

Don''t you LOVE this 

magazine?
Romantic Homes
The name says it all.

I let most of my subscriptions lapse,

but this is one I can't bear to lose.

Guess what?

This month in the very front of

the magazine are blogs that I

follow and love!

Because I am a contrary person,

I am going to list them backwards

from the way they are listed in

Romantic Homes.

Okay mainly because that is the way 

they loaded and I am too lazy

to go back and redo them.

Thus-without further ado

we have Donna @

My Shabby Chateau.

We have been friends since

we both started blogging 

about the same time.

I just love this girl...AND...

she goes to Paris regularly...

the brat

Next we have my sweet friend,

Julie Marie @Idyllhours.

She is just a wonderful person that

surrounds herself with beauty.

Next we have busy, talented Debi@

Homeward Found Decor.

I found her just a couple off months

ago and really enjoy her blog.

And last, but certainly  not least

is the talented shop owner, 

Pamela @ From My Front Porch To Yours.

You will find many beautiful things 

visiting her.

If you DON'T already know these gals,

go visit them.

You'll be glad you did.

Meanwhile, if you want some

more eye candy you can enjoy

THIS!

And you have a nice day now,

you hear?

I'm Back

I am alive and well

and feeling a bit 

SASSY!

You will find out why at the

end of this post.

Here's my update.

I did NOT have the flu.

Around Christmastime

 I got a cold.

I NEVER get colds and I have

NEVER had the flu

as an adult.

Matter of fact,  I never

"GET" anything.

(Well, except jokes- I always

get jokes-even when I am they

are at my expense)

Anyway,

the cold went away but I had

kind of a lopsided headache.

I HARDLY EVER

get a headache.

For those of you that suffer

with migraines I don't know

how you do it.  

The headache came and went but was

always kind of "there".

Last Monday I ended up with

a terrible headache and felt

nauseous and had chills.

Oh-It's The Flu...or so everyone said.

By Wednesday morning I was in

so much pain I couldn't stand it.

MyHero works at the hospital

so off we went to the ED.

After 2 CT scans-one without dye,

one with dye,

I found out I have a deep seated

sinus infection and,

once again, spontaneous iritis.

You do NOT want this.

TRUST ME.

I have been laying low and on

antibiotics since Wednesday.

I will have to go back

for two checks

probably for another round of

 antibiotics and the 

opthomologist for

Prednisone eye drops.

As of this morning I 

just have some pressure in my head

and it feels HOT-Inside-Weird...

BUT

Did you expect anything less than

WEIRD from me?

I won't be full force for a few

days as my computer time is 

limited because of the eye/head thing.

BUT

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH
FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

I was thinking about all of you

praying for me as they were

checking me for brain tumors,

blood clots and, possibly, a stroke.

HA!

I am not going to be gotten rid

of that easily.

Here is MyHero's sense of humor.

As we are sitting waiting for 

results he said...

Don't worry - I've got a nursing

home all lined up for you.

I don't think he is kidding.

Um.....

Thanks.....

Now you see why I feel like

THIS!

Have a great Monday.

Love to you all and I will

catch up as I can.

I Am Sick

Just  a quick note to

tell you that I am sick.

Not sure if it is the flu.

or not...

fever, chills, terrible headache...

etc..

I never get sick like this.

I have never had the flu

and I have some 

auto-immune problems

that makes this 

"not a good thing".

I will be back as soon

as I can find my 

sense of humor.

Have a good day- 

xo Diana

MOOOOOVE Back- Here Come The Wrestlers

Boys are just so different

than girls- all the way around.

When the three little girls

come over they dance,

and sing and

play dress-up games.

That is all fun to watch.

You know what ELSE is fun

to watch?

When Mimi brings these

two boys.

They get down on the floor and

GET DOWN...

Here is BigBoyE

"thinking about it".

Here is CharlesInCharge

hugging the sofa for dear life.

Ooooops.....

It starts with BigBoyE

hugging his oversized dawg!

Charlie is looking on.

You can't have him, CharlesInCharge.

He is MINE ALL MINE!

Let the games begin!

Ohhhh...sooo much work, Nana!

I think CharlesInCharge is winning!

Give up?

All Done?  Okay then...

Kiss and make up!

Whewwwww...that's settled...

OR IS IT?

Diana- Get My Coffee Cake Muffin!

Oh Boy!
Can you hear it?
My Hero:
Where's the coffee cake?

What?  Huh?  

Anyway..

I pot off to the kitchen

to whip up these beauties.
They make a nice little
Valentine's Day breakfast...
~one month from today, girls!

It has a coffee cake texture

but it is in muffin form.

It is easy as pie...

wonder who invented THAT saying?

Pie is NOT easy if you have to

do the whole thing from scratch..

but I digress....

Look at this, ladies!

That is Gramma Hazel's ruby glass

married with Grandmother Clara's silver tray.

Kinda funny being as they couldn't stand

each other in real life.

I like messing with them in the after life.

I suppose they have separate

"coffee klatches" in Heaven~
just like they did here in real life.

Anyway...here we go.

You need a greased giant muffin tin 

OR 6 greased custard cups.

You are going to dump the flour,

baking POWDER & salt into a bowl.

Cut the Criso in until it is uniformly 

crumbled to the size of small peas.

Add the sour cream and milk and

egg.  I added a tsp of vanilla, too.

Do you have one of these little

spring beaters?  This belonged to gramma.

It is the handiest little thing ever.

You just pounce it up and down and 

it beats eggs perfectly...

or makes foam on drinks.

Divvy up the batter and portion

one half of it out into the greased tin (or cups)

Spoon a spoonful to topping in each one.

Cover with the rest of the batter.

Then smooth it over a bit.

Add the rest of the topping on top of that.

Bake-make sure they are done all the way

through- A tester should come out clean.

Then- plop them out of the tin/cup and

eat them warm...with butter if you like.

They look like this when they are done.

By the by, I don't put the nuts in them 

because MyHero is already nuts

doesn't like nuts.

MyHero likes his with milk.

Here  you are, DARLING!

See, I can be nice when I want to be nice.

A little LOVE goes a long way around here.

That sweet Valentine was a gift 

from a friend last year.

Now...above is the "pretty"

Here's what the kitchen 

really looked like in the midst of 

preparation.  

So, I am NOT PERFECT
like y'all thought I was....
HA!

Recipe follows:

The recipe is from:   Lamb's Inn Bed & Breakfast 

               Richland Center, WI.

Coffee Cake Muffins              Preheat oven to 350º                    

Muffins:                                               Topping:

1 ½ cups flour                                        ¼ cup brown sugar

½ cup sugar                                            2 T sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder                    1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt                                      ¼ cup chopped nuts 

1/4 cup shortening                                  

1 egg, well beaten

½ cup milk

1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

(I added 1 tsp vanilla)

In large bowl-mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Cut in shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add beaten egg, milk and sour cream. Stir just until moistened.  Do not beat.

In small bowl: combine topping ingredients.

Spoon half of batter into 6 greased and floured muffin tins 

(or custard cups). Sprinkle batter with half

of topping.  Spoon remaining batter on top and sprinkle with rest of topping.

Bake 20-25 minutes  or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

My Friends Need Your Prayers

I met Michelle when I first

started my blog.

Somehow we crossed paths.

Although our lives and styles

are different in many ways~

we are alike in many 

ways of the heart.

She has a blog called:

Here is her story,

given by her permission.

Prayers Please...

I don't usually discuss personal things on my blog, but.... I wanted to share what’s going on with me lately. My mom is 89 years old with Alzheimer's and leukemia. (recent diagnosis) and I will be moving back to my childhood home to help care for her. I am starting my search for a new full time job in her area which means I need to leave the toddler I care for and I love more than words can say. Trying to accommodate everyone and figure out the timing is a huge challenge to say the least and my boss is being so wonderful and supportive to me, I can't thank her enough. On top of that I have a serious knee injury... So if you would please pray for me and this journey of love for my mother, I would greatly appreciate it. I will continue to blog through this and continue to show you my projects and thrifty finds.

Please pop over HERE

and give her a word

of encouragement.  Her world

has been turned upside down.

Thanks so much.

After I posted this my 
dear friend, Jettie,
Jettie's Ramblings
asked for prayers, too.

(sorry Jettie-only picture
of you by yourself I could
find...but dang!..you were cute!

There has been a lot of trouble in the family.
 Mother is estranged right now
and is in failing health and not aware of
what is going on around her~
There are a lot of lies being told and it
has created a huge rift in the family and caused
me untold anxiety.  I need your prayers
desperately.  Please pray for my mother,too.
Thank you so much

A couple other quick updates:

Rebecca from A Gathering Place

She is doing well. 

Words from her last night:
  Healing slowly but steadily and grateful for all the thoughts and prayers. 

Jane's Hubby, Blondie's Journal

Here is what Jane has to say:
 He really is doing well post surgery and back to work half days. 
 Tell everyone I said thank you

and

Mary-Hope Filled Living

She is still struggling to find a

proper diagnosis.  Please contine

to pray for her.
Here is a note from her yesterday:
Please tell your blogger friends that I am ever grateful for 
their prayers and faithfulness. 
God's love is amazing. I am continually renewed
and in awe of the fact that perfect strangers 
would commit to praying for me and that 
we are connected on an emotional and spiritual level
through our mutual love of Christ.
It is humbling and amazing. I am so blessed

Thanks- You all are 

THE BEST!
(no joking)

I Dream Of A House

The other day I was 

reading blogs and opened

Dwena's blog Across The Way

She touched upon a subject

that I have never given much

thought to discussing...

The Recurring Dream.

Do you have them?

I love houses.

I love this house from

Out Of Africa

in all of its foreign beauty, don't you?

But it is not this house I dream about.

No, indeedy.

I have ALWAYS loved houses.

I have loved houses

since I was a little girl.

I would fantasize about living in

houses that I visited-even as a 

little kid.

We lived in a ranch style house,

on a farm in Pennsylvania.

It was nothing fancy,

but it was functional.

My father was stricken with

Parkinson's when I was just

a girl.

That meant that my mother had

to take over the main responsibility

for running a farm with 50 head

of milk cows.

She had to work in the barn

and in the house.

Needless to say-

"pretty" was not high on the

list of "things to do".

She did love to paint though

and put up new curtains

but that was about it.

I remember her one big splurge

was  a flamingo mirror....

an unusual choice for a farm woman.

Maybe she, too, dreamed of 

sunny warm lands in the South.

I wish I had that mirror today..but it is long gone.

That brings me to
MY RECURRING DREAM.

I dream of a house very similar to this one.

It is not a big, fancy house.

It sits on a hill and  looking down the hill

you can see the water.

In my dream I am always driving down to the house.

In the picture above the driveway would be

behind the house.

The house is always vacant.

I peek through a window because the house sits empty.

There is old wallpaper that still covers the walls.

There are hardwood floors that need a good washing.

I walk around the side of the house and

look in thru the kitchen windows.

Covering the countertops I see green marbleized linoleum that

was popular in the late 40's and into the 50's.

The cupboards are in exceptionally good shape

with seeded glass in many of them.

The old range is there and there 

is a old drainboard style sink

with an old brass fitting.

I start immediately placing

MY things in the house-

the old oak icebox that my father

set up housekeeping with,

my grandmother's sewing machine,

my copper boiler

 I start

to "paint the walls" in my mind.

I always test the doors and they are

always locked.

When I have peered into every window

and have seen all my eyes can hold,

 I head down towards

the water.

When I get to the bottom of the hill,

I gaze to my right and  I see

something that looks very similar to this.

For some reason I never look the other way.

In my dream I turn around and walk back

up the hill.

As I get towards the top I look back 

and see some children down by the water

where I just stood.

I raise my voice to call to them and...

I wake up.

Every single time.

I wake up.

I wake up and I long for that house.

I long for the sense of peace and history

that house holds for me.

It is a combination of 3 of my Aunt's houses-

three places that I loved.

Do  you know when I have that dream?

Always when we are thinking of moving.

Guess what?

We are thinking of moving AGAIN!

This will be move #14 or is it #15?

We were flipping houses long before

flipping was a catch word.

We started with a very small house

and we flipped our way all the way 

up to a huge house.

The truth is -we have too much house

for two people.

I feel guilty having this much house.

We will sell and try to find something

smaller on the water close to 

where we now live.

And, so, I start the dream again.

The dream of a house-

the perfect house for me-

the house that will
cosset my soul.
So, there's my dream...
Maybe-just maybe-the house
we find will be a little bit
like the one I dream about..
maybe...or maybe that is 
just a dream-we'll see.

Oh-wait...
there is one more thing.
I dream of receiving a special
Valentine......
I found this one on the internet.

Ummm....I guess THAT might be
A NIGHTMARE (bless his heart)
instead of a dream.

How about you?
Any recurring dreams
you dare discuss?

SweetCheeks Friends, Fat, Facts

I picked the three sisters
up from school yesterday.
The little ones get released early.
SweetCheeks comes out of

her room trailing 2 little

girls about half her size.

Miss T & Miss S

They are tiny and she is 

the biggest one in her room.

Miss S-taken at SweetCheeks house

Miss T: lisping~ How old itsh StwheetCheeks?

Me:  26

Miss T:  No-how old itsh shthe really?

Me:  She's 3, almost 4

Miss S:  No-She said she was EIGHT.

Me:  She just turned 6.

SCheeks:  But Ih'm big for my age

so Ih said Ih was eight

but Ih was juhst kidding.

Me: (trying not to laugh):  She is

6~ just like you are.

Miss T/Miss S:  We knew it!

SCheeks:  Pfffft-cancha taka joke?

New boy comes along.

I don't know this kid from Adam.

Kid: Are you SCheeks gramma?

SC:  NO-She's NOT my gramma

she's my Nana, you silly.

Kid to me: Knock, Knock

Me:  Who's there?

Kid:  Icy

Me:  Icy Who?

Kid:  Icy your underwear.

SCheeks covers her hand with her mouth.

SCheeks:  He said he saw your underwear.

Me:  I heard him.

SCheeks:  That was funny.

Me:  I don't have any underwear on.

SCheeks:  NAAAA-NAH!!!!

You're supposed to wear underwear

effvery day!

Me:  You are?

SCheeks:  Nana!  You KNOW you are.

pause

pause

pause

wait for it

(what is running through her brain...

the size of my underwear?;>)

SCheeks:  Do yohu remember when Ih was

little and used to say yohu were fat?

(yeah-like last week)

Well, Ih was just kiddin'. Yohu're NOT fat.

(I see the "Mom-at-home" talks are working)

Thank you, SweetCheeks!

Yurh welcume!

SCheeks:  Ih really like fat people.

Me:  So you don't like me cuz I'm not fat?

pause

pause

pause

SCheeks:  Ih was just kiddin'.  You ARE fat,Nana.

Me:  Thanks

SCheeks- Yurh welcume

Question for all of you:

Anyone want SweetCheeks
to tell you how she 
REALLY feels?
Anyone?
anyone....
anyone...