It's Over

Well here is the box with all the Dark Shadows DVD's - over 125 of them.   It includes the entire TV daytime series - 5 plus years, the remake in the early 90's, the two Dark Shadow's movies, and a bunch of DVD's filled with bloopers, reunion shows, outtakes, commentaries, guest appearances on What's My Line and other TV shows and more.

It's over - Finished up the last DVD last night. 

Kinda sad - been watching these since last Spring I believe.  Sorry to see it end!   Oh well, never fear - my husband has now gotten me the entire Twin Peaks series to watch and also the TV show "The Monkees"! So will still have something to watch while I'm hooking!

The big thing in eastern PA here is the weather - we got about 6 inches on Wednesday, about 12-14 inches yesterday and an inch is expected today - I'm tired of this white stuff - Spent two hours shoveling with my husband yesterday just to get our cars in and out and there is no where to go with the snow so it was getting hard to lift the snow to the top of the mounds!   I was kidding my husband yesterday and told him I wanted to grill something that he would have to go shovel off the deck to get to the grill! LOL Never happened and I was kidding! 

Never mind the mess on the floor (have to pull things out of the cabinet to use the printer) - The other day I was printing things out - here's a way to get your kitties quiet! 

They were absolutely fascinated listening and watching the paper in the printer! Too funny!   Riley went over and put his paw on the paper and then looked at the top of the printer and then back down and was trying to figure it out - Just had me laughing!  I wonder if he looks at me while I'm picking out wool and thinking "look how fascinated that human is touching that wool" and then laughs at me?  Hmmm something to ponder.

Now, I just feel like venting about something - feel free to skip this part.   The other day, in the mail, I got an envelope from AARP -- in it was a registration card made out to me with a sticker that said call to activate and arrange payment terms!  THE ENVELOPE AND CARD GOT SHREDDED AND  I WAS NOT AMUSED

Then on the phone the next day was a message from our medical insurance Blue Cross/Blue Shield - and to paraphrase "Now that you approaching a certain age, be sure to schedule these blah blah blah test"....  THE MESSAGE GOT DELETED AND I WAS NOT AMUSED

And then again, in the mail, from my family doctor, a pamphlet about all the tests I should now think about getting because I approaching "that age".  THE PAMPHLET GOT RIPPED UP AND THROWN AWAY AND I WAS NOT AMUSED

And did I mention that after telling a "so called good friend" about this - she told me she had a house in an adult community I may be interested in!  I WAS NOT AMUSED (OH okay maybe a little amused!)

I still have TIME I'm not there yet!  My upcoming birthday was not an issue but these things are trying to make it a big deal! LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Wonder what's going to happen to me the day of my birthday?  Am I going to wake up and suddenly be and feel different?   Will I self-destruct if I don't join and sign and schedule and get tested? Oh my goodness!  Okay done venting! Just have to laugh I guess (after some grumbling of course!)

Have a great weekend!  I plan to and plan to stay feeling young and alive!

CHEER UP, CHARLIE

Well I'm thinking we all need a little cheer today - It's been snowing all day - not that snow isn't pretty when it's nearly fallen but it sure ruins plans when you want to go out to do something!  I guess, however, as long as everyone is warm and safe everything is okay!

The online group I belong to did a winter cheer swap - We could send whatever we wanted and were given several patterns by Rebecca Lindquist with the word "Simplify" - We could hook, stitch, punch, paint - whatever medium we preferred. 

Well I had Sharon for my swap partner.  Loved getting her - besides being an AAPG sister I can also call her a friend!  She's a lot of fun to be around so I wanted to send her a fun package!  Another of our requirements was to fit it in a priority one price envelope - Okay I cheated when I sent hers (I'm lucky to be able to ship a package at a tremendous discount thru my husband's work) Anyway - here's the rug I hooked for her  (Colors are much nicer in person ) You can see a better pic on Sharon's blog.

Today I got some "Winter Cheer" in my mailbox and so did my 4 legged boys! Everyone won!

Rebecca had my name and she sent the most awesome package - she actually followed the rules and stuffed everything in an envelope mailer - Oh my goodness there wasn't room for a thought in that package! Too funny - I of course had to open it right away - It was perfect timing I had just got done shoveling!

Inside was a little "simplify" punched pinkeep - Its wonderful - the pic doesn't do it justice - it's backed with red ticking (love that!) and a little heart with her initials!  It's sitting on the shelf - first thing you see when you come in my front door!
 

She also sent this awesome hooked prim star cat rug!  Isn't it great - such wonderful prim colors and it's a perfect fit atop this odd wooden box that just needed something!

There was also this cool card (I know she must have made it - fabric and embellishments - really cool), a some red wool and some teas.  There was another package "for the kitties" and she even punched a heart and affixed it to the tag!

In another little package wrapped up was 4 catnip hearts!  Oh my goodness - Riley zoomed in on that and took it from me before I had even read the tag who it was from - Too funny - he just knew!  He was trying his darnedest to open it (it was wrapped in paper and tied with twine!)

Oh Man, I need thumbs to get this thing open

Mom,  A LITTLE HELP HERE PLEASE

Oh sure Jonesy gets the heart...

Mom, he's hogging all the cool hearts....

Oh these are so cool...

Wait a minute, Mom, Jonesy is hogging all the hearts again...

Here's the one he ran away with - it's MINE now! 

Well this went on for about an hour - I was giggling at them rolling around and falling off the couch and tossing them in the air - they were having a great time!

Then it was so funny - they stopped playing and both ran in the kitchen for some "munchies"

Now they are crashed out on the bed - Too funny!  Thanks Rebecca for all the wonderful presents for me and the boys!  (Oh and Miles got up a little while ago and tried to play with one while the other two slept!

Like I said, it was a great day to get this in the mail.

Stay warm and safe everyone!

Born to be Wild

Get your motor running

Head out on the highway

Looking for adventure

In whatever comes our way

Well couldn't head out to the highway cause the motor wasn't running!

I'm telling you - I got lucky once again with my car troubles meaning I wasn't out on one of my adventures or out at Grant Street and leaving at 1:00 a.m. (2 1/2 hours from home) and wasn't on the Atlantic City Expressway in the high speed traffic or anything like that.

Last Thursday I was planning on going out to Grant Street for the hook-in - Well the darn weather said we were getting a few inches of snow - so traveling that far isn't worth it in bad weather.   So of course I got a bee in my bonnet and decided I needed to go somewhere - Decided to head to AC to see it snow on the ocean. Never have been by the ocean while it was snowing and thought it would be a cool to see (if you didn't already guess - I just love being by the ocean - it's just so calming) Anyway - went online and booked a free room for Thursday and Friday nite and off I went Thursday afternoon.

When I was about 20 miles from AC my "check engine" light came on.  So I'm thinking I just got gas in my car maybe that's it (for some reason if the gas cap isn't on perfectly it will set the "check engine" light off and you have to get it re-set.)  So I wasn't too worried - nothing was shaking, rattling or rolling.  I do not panic at things like this - my thought is whatever happens happens.

I got to the parking garage and checked the cap - yep - a little crooked - been having problems with it lately - it's hard to get on and off - So I fixed that and then even checked the oil - added a quart. And then went and checked in - Spent the next two days enjoying my time and did a whole lot of walking and I was so excited - I got a room with this big old soaking tub (I just love to take bubble baths!) So on one of my walks I picked up some bath bombs - Wonderful  - what a different in a tub like that compared to what we have!  My one disappointment was it didn't snow down there so still have not seen it while it snows on the beach or ocean (yet we got about 6 inches at home!)

Now on to Saturday night - I was out and about ready to drop my friend off and it was 2 degrees outside - Got in the car and it wouldn't start or turn over! Oh no! Dead battery I"m thinking.  So there was a fireman there and he had a big truck (about 10 times the size of my little Subaru) and he gave my car a jump and it started up and got me home.

I didn't venture out anywhere on Sunday - was just a lazy day.

Now on to this morning.  My husband was off work so he calls the garage and asks if I could bring my car in to get the check engine light re-set and the battery tested.  No problem - made an appointment for 11:00 - Went to Costco first and while I was driving there my "brake" light keep going on and off and on and off - What next!

Got to the garage at 11:00 - around noon they come back out - Guess what! Yep needed a new battery (Hey I think I got my monies worth out of the old one - it was from 2003! So 8 years and 130,000 miles is pretty good for a battery!), bad news is I need new front brakes and rotors - he said they probably wouldn't last me another week - OH my goodness - Usually you can tell when you need brakes - I had no clue - So is it a blessing i put the gas cap on wonky to start all this in motion?  I don't know - but thank goodness- I can't even image my brakes giving out on me on a major highway or something!

So I call my husband to pick me up since I had an appointment at the bank at 1:00 (to talk rolling over 401K's and things - things that give me major headaches) and after dropping him off - went to my appointment and then to Target and the craft store for some supplies for this Saturday's class at the Cinnamon Stick, then back home to get my husband and back to the garage! 

So nearly $500 later, Mike the dude at the garage told me I have a "new car" again - Brakes, fluids, oil change, new battery!  OH MY! 

Hope you all had a great weekend - I'll be very happy to have a drama-free week!

Funny Face

For those that asked - Here is the Funny cake recipe (please note I do not use nearly the amount of sugar it calls for in the chocolate sauce - i only use about 3/4 of a cup - if you like a sweeter chocolate and not a "dark chocolate" taste then add more sugar)

1 CUP COCOA


2 CUPS HOT WATER

2 CUPS SUGAR



1 ½ CUPS SUGAR

2 EGGS

1 CUP MILK

½ CUP BUTTER

2 CUPS FLOUR

1 TSP VANILLA

2 TSP BAKING POWDER


Mix cocoa, hot water and sugar in a pot and heat until mixed - set aside.

Mix remaining ingredients and pour into an unbaked pie crust. Pour chocolate mixture over top of cake mixture.

BAKE 350 degrees  FOR APPROX. 50-60 MINUTES

MacArthur Park

Someone left the cake out in the rain

I don't think that I can take it

'cause it took so long to bake it

And I'll never have that recipe again

Oh, no!

Symbolic or not - never did understand those song lyrics nor liked the song!

Anyway - I didn't leave my cakes out in the rain but either way I have a big flopped but tasty mess.

Yesterday afternoon I decided I had to have a piece of funny cake.  Yep funny cake you may ask, what the heck is that?  I believe it's a Pennsylvania thing - Amish breakfast cake sort of thing.   The funny part is when you make it your cake part is poured in a pie crust then you pour chocolate sauce over top and when you bake it the chocolate part magically appears between the crust and the cake part - Got that? Anyway - it's one of my favorite

I decided to use a frozen roll out pie crust (have always made my own) since I got them free from Wegmans a few months ago and tossed it in the freezer until I decided to use it.  I doubled the recipe and forgot the recipe calls for 10" pie plates and I have 9" and not deep dish - so I had extra - so then being lazy, I didn't feel like making extra crust I found these phyllo dough shells in the freezer and filled them (originally was planning on making something else with these and never did).  While I was doing that I had forgotten my chocolate sauce on the stove and it was bubbling away - no problem, right?

So i pour the chocolate sauce over everything and in the oven they go...

Don't they look nice! 

Well no pictures of the flop but they look exactly like the above except baked.  First time in all my years making funny cakes the chocolate didn't sink - funny joke on me huh?  I'm thinking now that maybe I over boiled the chocolate sauce cause it was kinda thick.

Now my second "grrrr" of the day is I have to stop baking - My oven is definitely on the fritz - Like I said my funny cakes always come out perfectly - never had a problem - this time they are lumpy and took forever to bake and then had to keep spinning them - not everything was baking - Okay my oven's 26 years old - is it time?  My husband said "he'll fix it" - that it just needs a new element - Okay Dear, three of the top three burners only work half the time too  - DH says to use the tongs and just make sure the elements are pushed into the socket thingies - Hmmmm again - should an oven be this much work - Me, I like to put something in, set the timer, and take it out and enjoy it's beauty (Think 50's housewife in pearls and heels holding a pie smelling that aroma - but me in sweats and a t and hair all askew!)

So anyway - this morning I will be enjoying a cup of tea and a big chunk of funny cake that's funnier that it should be! 

Another thing I did yesterday was finally iron my tree skirt my Mom make me in 2004 (Hey Kathy - she labels everything!)  Isn't it cool - I washed it about 2 weeks ago and kept forgetting to iron it.  Love it - I have a twig tree up in my dining room year around so this is what I use it around.  Can't image how you quilters do that and have the patience with all those little triangles!  (Oh and Riley did take a nap on it until i yanked it out from under him to tie around the tree!)

And speaking of Riley - he's my crazy man for sure.   I think I mentioned before how he's so obsessed with helping to put the DVD in the TV - well it's side loading and I just missed the shot of his paw pushing it in!

And another obsession - Could someone please call Candy Finnegan?  My cat needs an intervention!

This boy is addicted to his treats - Mind you he had treats at around 10:30, then again another few around 3:30 - then again around 8:30 - and this was him throwing the package at me over and over again around 10:30! 

But with all his craziness he's my boy - Always helping out - Needed to find a box to mail to my secret swap partner and Riley tested it for durability!  The package is all packed up and downstairs for my husband to ship this morning from work.  Hmmm, wonder where Riley has been?

Ain't No Sunshine

That's right - No sunshine in these parts today - It's grey and dreary and just plain YUK!  Snow last night, freezing rain, sleet, and downpours = a big slushy mess!  I just got in from trying to shovel away the slush and snow and it's heavy and icy and dare I say it again - IT'S JUST YUK!

Anyway - when I got back in - I was greeted at the door by Jonesy who acted like I had been away for a whole week rather than half an hour.  He was wagging his tail and climbing up my leg and rubbing and talking. 

 Do any of you have cats that actually wag their tail.  I swear Jonesy does that.  He's such a lover boy.  My husband's friend commented on this too that everytime Jonesy sees him he wags his -  tail.  Jonesy loves him which is nice but this "friend" has threatened to steal him.  My  husband has told him that if Jonesy comes up missing he will be hunted down and tortured  - by me! 

When I went upstairs to get out of my wet clothes, I found this...

We keep a kitty bed covered by this bright pink fleece on our bed since Miles is on there 24 hours a day.  Well that would be Riley UNDER the cat bed and fleece - he popped out to say hello - Miles isn't in the basket (probably would suffocate Riley- so surprised he didn't try! He doesn't care for Riley so much) .  As I was cold and damp from shoveling I just wanted to curl up under that basket too!

"Hey Jonesy - mind getting me a drink and a snack - and Hey, grab one for yourself too"

Well I've just picked out my yarn and about to sit back with my Dark Shadows discs whip my swap rug.    Oh and did I mention before that last week I finished the series.  Now The rest of the disks are the movies and the new series they brought back in the 90's and outtakes, specials, conventions, and things like that!  I was kinda sad to finish up the series - been watching it since early Spring! 

Here's some of the hearts I finished up last night...

Next on the agenda is making a sample white feather tree if I can find any off white wool to use - I have a bright white and then an off white that is more textured with tans - almost too brown and one that's too gray  - I'm out of the wool that makes a nice antiquey textured looking off white.   I need a sample for another possible class so they can see what they will be signing up for!

Hope everyone is staying warm and DRY!

Just One Smile

Back by popular demand! Another Feather Tree Class!

On Saturday, I guided another great group of woman in making their very own feather tree at the Cinnamon Stick!  Judy had so many people that wanted to make the tree they didn't mind waiting until after Christmas! 

It was full house with 13 in Judy's attic room!  We all managed just fine and I think everyone had a great time.  The girls (maybe I should say Ladies?) just took to it like ducks to water!  I do think there were more than "just one smile" - there were many!

It was wonderful to see their smiles and listening to all the happy chatter and I do believe there will be more trees sprouting up in the area as many wanted to make more for gifts! 

Too much fun and too much good food - Judy made us some veggie pizza and cream cheese pound cake and Elaine brought cookies!  Mmm good!

Here's some random pics - I think Judy will be posting more on her blog.

Everyone waiting for the last few to arrive (Can you believe the class started at 11:00 and by 10:30 I think the room was half full !)

Everyone working hard!

Saturday's Show-Off - Beth - the First One Done!

And our 13th completed tree - Pam!  Slow and Steady! But look at that smile!

And our fearless organizer, shop owner, and delicious snack maker! Judy! (Even suffering from a bad cold she manages all this!



I could do this every weekend - everyone makes it so easy - I even feel I'm not needed after I pass out their kits!   Love hearing their ideas of how they would like to decorate them or display them!

Last week I broke the handle off my little cordless sweeper that i keep in the rug hooking room - I run that baby many times a day - when you rug hook and cut wool and do crafts things get messy fast so even if i have piles of stuff sitting around I at least sweep the floor several times a day.  I also use it around the litter box and on the carpet after cleaning up the accidents from Miles.  So needless to say when I told my husband to "fix it" immediately, I meant it!  Well here it is Sunday and it's still sitting in his "man cave" (next to my crock pot lid whose handle broke off SIX MONTHS ago ((we won't even go there) ).   So I went online and Target and Bed Bath and Beyond had it for the same price but I could print off a 20% off coupon for BB & B so there I went!   I'm happy again - it's in the corner charging away (you have to charge it for like 20 hours initially) and didn't even have to change chargers - the old one fits still after 6 or 7 years!

I need to get my rear in gear now - have to bind the rug I hooked last week so I can get it in the mail to my secret pal on AAPG and I have one in my head I just have to hook! (But what am I doing - bloghopping!) OH well! It is Sunday - the day of rest!

Hope everyone had a nice warm weekend!

Long Time Gone

Wow hard to believe it is nearly the middle of January!  I didn't realize how long it's been since I "blogged"!  But hey, it took me a while to read all those comments on my last posts! Wow I never had so many comments - love getting comments so it was a lot of fun reading all your well wishes!

Well I'm still amazed that those numbers matched up and we actually won.  No we haven't gotten the money yet - maybe in another 3-4 weeks.   A lot has asked what we are going to do with the money - new car? vacation? etc.  Well truly it just isn't enough for all that fun stuff.  It will be used for the normal day to day things unfortunately.  $7,500 (after taxes) will go fast in this economy with the price of everything going up these days!   Anyway it will be such a relief just to have this small windfall to help out!  I may have to think about purchasing a new range however  and a few other household repairs - you know the necessities in life!

Hope everyone had a very Happy New Year! 

The past few weeks have been busy making some things to sell and also getting kits together for another feather tree class (Tomorrow at the Cinnamon Stick).  Looking forward to it - it's always so much fun to watch people make things and see their smiles when they actually complete a project in a few hours!

I just finished a small hooked rug but can not show it as it's for my "secret pal" in the Winter Cheer Swap on our group AAPG.  After she receives it I will be able to post a picture.

I also ventured down to AC a few weeks ago to just relax - I read two books and spent one day walking about 3 hours on the boardwalk and through the outlets - It was cold out but I love the brisk walk along the ocean! 

Here's the view from my room - the ocean was so calm

Snow on the beach during my walk...

Almost looks like the bay but it is the ocean!

Here's a pic of the quilt I got for Christmas (my mother made) I still can't get a good picture - it's more tan and not so white looking - My Mother kept asking if it fit or was it too big so I thought Miles wasn't around but as soon as I got it on the bed there he was!  Anyway - it' a perfect fit!  And wouldn't you know it as soon as I had it on there and took the picture Miles started gagging - I swooped him up and got him to the floor before it was "defiled"!   Anyway it's now folded up and put away for now - With Miles and his problems it's just safer that way (And Miles is holding his own -rubbing the medicine on his ear rather than a pill is so much less stressful - he's still vomiting all the time but he's holding his own so we keep on keeping on!)

Close up of the quilt - you can see the variegated thread in the quilting...

The back is this fabric (my favorite color - red!)

This is the old quilt that's smaller that my Mother made about 10 years ago - it's back on the bed - love this design.  I just love the scrappy quilts - they make me happy!

Yesterday I ventured out to Grant Street for the Thursday hook-in. My goodness what a silly day - There were so many laughs and giggles my cheeks actually hurt (that would be the cheeks on my face)

 Just some random shots of the day -
 
Linda teaching a new rug hooker...
 

Linda - helping to show Jill's "Isaac" rug - she's all done and needs to bind it now.

Linda - working as a duct cleaner...

because of this fire hazard - look at the pile of lint she got out of her vent - Oh my - so happy she discovered the problem before all that wool went up in smoke!

At the Christmas party anyone that wanted to participate picked a name and you get a "secret pal" for the entire year until the next party in December.  Well Linda got a gift from "nacho Secret pal" - so was it her secret pal or not? We will have to stay tuned.  Someone knows and isn't talking...

Had you read the post about the Christmas party - this little gift had to do with that.  Needless to say everyone was howling at Linda's gift of a pair of pocket panties!

Genny working on another chair pad - I believe she said she has 6 done and 8 chairs!

Jill got a combo hat/scarf from her secret pal - Look how cute she looks!

Joan and Nancee in conference.  That would be Joan's amazing rug she's making as a consignment I believe.  Can you believe she just started this rug a few weeks ago! Oh my stars!

Kathy also received a secret pal gift.  That scarf around her neck almost was her downfall!

Nettie was busily working early on...

Then trying to decide what color to put around the border of her snowman. rug...

I decided it was a long time since I went shopping for wool - I'm telling you - at one time I had so much wool in my hooking room I didn't know where to go with it but my "stash" is seriously depleted.  (Okay some of you would say I still have too much) Anyway Linda had just gotten some new Wool Studio wool and Heavens to Betsy wool and I had to do some retail therapy - Not sure, is Kathy thinking - "is she really adding to that pile?"

I didn't get a pic of my wool but that wool in piles on the right there is the start of my shopping - ended up with 8 yards I think - I could have kept going... and going.... but I reigned myself in.

Not sure if Linda was crying because of happiness or sadness because the night was almost over!

Not much else has been going on  - I keep trying to keep my hooking room under control - but the faster I find a spot on the floor - the faster I fill it with something!  A never ending battle for sure!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!