Dec 31, 2009

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

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Dec 20, 2009

Shopping, tweaking, and crafting…sorta

We are having a pretty good Sunday here. The “monster” snow storm missed us completely. My brother in Virginia was not so lucky. They got over a foot of snow. This was the most snow in that area in over 15 years. smile_omg

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We went out this morning to tackle the crowds once again for more Christmas shopping. I am making no- sew fleece blankets for my daughters and my mother-in-law. (This is the crafting….sorta part of the title) Of course, the procrastinator that I am, this was a last minute idea. So I  had to get up early and get to Joann Fabrics first thing. They had their fleece 50% off. I’m making them throw size just big enough to cuddle up on the couch with. They are just so warm and cuddly!  I hope they like them. I know I would much rather have a gift someone took the time and patience to make especially for me. It means so much more than anything store bought, no matter what the price, Don’t you agree?

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I have a few more pics to share. I just got the most awesome stocking holder from Palmer Hills Primitives. I just love how it turned out.   

Ed and Kim do awesome work. If you haven’t visited their prim shoppe, stop in. You’ll be glad you did.

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I got these adorable little snowballs and snowmen soap from the thecandlebaker on ebay. They are all primed up with with cinnamon and mica flakes.

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Just a cute shot of the dry sink all decked out for the holidays.

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Santa hanging out waiting for Christmas Eve.

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And last but not least, I just have to show you my little grandson Jayden. He is almost 3 months old and the most adorable little boy. jaydenandsanta-2009What a face, huh?  He’s a really good boy and loves his swing. He has one in almost every room of the house. I don’t think he’s slept in his crib yet. He has to be moving constantly. LOL

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I started this post this afternoon and it’s after 8 now and am just now finishing it. I did get one blanket finished ~~ now two more to go.  I will try and get a photo up before I wrap it. It turned out pretty good considering it was my first one.

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~~~Have a nice evening everyone~~~

~Nancy~

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Dec 13, 2009

~~More pictures ~~I just can’t help myself.

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Tweaking and a new camera

It’s a rainy and snowy day here. A good day to do some baking and tweaking! I’ve been puttering all morning, really glad I don’t have to go out in this mess. The coal stove is keeping us toasty warm. Walking around moving and changing things around…..again. When I finally get it the way I want it, Christmas will be over. :-)

After weeks of research and asking fellow bloggers what kind of camera they use, I finally went out and bought a new camera last night. I can’t tell you how frustrated I was with my little Sony cyber shot. I just couldn’t get the results I wanted from a point and shoot camera. I am so excited with the new one. It’s a Canon Rebel XS digital SLR. I have by no means mastered this beast, but I have been playing around all day with it. I took some pics of a few more changes and additions to our Christmas decor. Here’s just a few. Now, keep in mind I still have a lot to learn. LOL

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I love, love, love this camera! When I learn what all the settings are for, then I can really take some good pictures. The difference between this camera and my little point an shoot camera is amazing, don’t ya think?

I hope everyone is having a great relaxing Sunday afternoon. Now for the baking part of the day…..

Till next time.
Nancy

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Dec 7, 2009

Christmas Decorations

This is a very quick post to show some of the decorations so far. Everything is almost done except for a tree in the living room. Still can’t decide what I want to do in there.

 

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I hope I can add some more later. These are just quick shots from last night.

Happy Holidays!

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Nov 1, 2009

Happy November and photography help

Wow, October just flew by, didn’t it? Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I just got some great news that my brother who lives in Va. is going to brave the elements and come up to see me at Thanksgiving. We don’t get to see each other that often and this will be his second trip up here this year. I”m just so excited he will be joining us for such a wonderful time of the year. And, he just told me he is bringing me the most wonderful Christmas present. When he was up this summer he showed me pictures of his old metal three seater glider. Do any of you remember these? Well if you check out ebay you’ll see they range from $300 to $600!! I couldn't believe it. So he found me one with 2 metal rocking chairs to go with it. They have recently been sand blasted and repainted and he got them for less than $150.00. Here is a picture of the one he has which is just like mine. I just love these old gliders an have not been able to find one around here.

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REALLY IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ
(well at least to me)

I have a questions for all you photographers out there. Some of you take the most amazing pictures and I’m in having major difficulties in trying to take a certain picture. I have a lot of old primitive decorating books, and want to list some on ebay,but everytime I take pics of the inside pages I get a terrible glare. It looks awful. I use a Sony Cybershot which is a 7.2 megapixels. And you all know that presentation is everything when trying to sell an item. Does anyone know how to take a picture without all that glare and fuzziness? I’ve tried propping the book up, moved it around the room many times, and even standing over top of it, trying not to break my neck. Here are a few I took last night. If anyone can help I would be so grateful!!!

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I hope to list these books sometime today so hopefully someone can help.

Thanks in advance!

Nancy

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Oct 29, 2009

Boo!! Happy Halloween

Hi everyone!

Yes, I know it’s two days early, but I will be busy the next few days and won’t be able to send you spooky greetings. LOL Not that I’ve been around the last month, huh? Well I have been so tied up with my new job and fundraising events, it’s been crazy. I’ve barely had time to do any puttering or tweaking around the house. I did manage to get my corner cupboard up. It’s only been sitting on the floor for almost three months.  What do you think?

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Hmmm….maybe I should have been closer.  Okay….here’s a better shot.

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Well, you get the idea. I still have to figure out how I want to decorate it. I’ve changed it a few times and still not happy with it.

I rearranged a few other things this evening. You know how it is, just can’t stand to see things the same way for more than a few days. I’ll be watching TV or sitting at the computer …………and BAM I get picture in my head of how this or that should look and sometimes just get up and start  changing things around. My husband thinks I’m nuts. LOL

Another thing that seems to have taken over our lives is we are in the process of refinancing our home. We got a fantastic interest rate and are taking some cash out to finish closing in our breezeway or as it will now be known…the new mudroom. I can’t wait!!! I’m so excited. I’m also going to put my new treadmill out there. Can’t just sit in front of this computer all the time. :)

And tomorrow night my honey gets back behind the wheel of a race car for the first time this season. He had a shoulder replacement surgery last spring and has not been able to race all summer. For me it’s been a much needed rest, but to him it’s been agony. So we will be at the track tomorrow night for a 100 lap race.  Wish him luck!

Here’s a few more pictures of some changes. Next time I hope to show some of our bedroom. Moved the furniture around last weekend and re-arranged the pictures.

Have a fun and safe Halloween! Oh, and we are going out Saturday night and I will be a dressed as a fifties bad girl. I just love dressing up and this costume is so fun! Maybe I’ll post some pictures.

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Till next time…………

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Sep 26, 2009

Apple Dumplings with a secret ingredient


Fall is definitely here! It's a cold and rainy day here in upstate New York, but the rain did hold off long enough to put up some corn stalks and Indian corn this morning. I took a few pictures, but they are not the best as I was standing in the doorway so I wouldn't melt. LOL


My bittersweet came in the mail a few days ago and I've randomly placed some here and there.


I got 2 pounds and it really goes a long way. I thought that wouldn't be enough. I didn't know that they were poisonous, but someone told me the other day that the berries were. Is that true? I had always heard that poinsettias were poisonous to animals, is this the same?

Along with Fall comes big juicy wonderful apples. My mother-in-law always makes applesauce which we love, love love! So, she had some apples left over and I decided to try something different. Apple dumplings sounded delicious. Sorry I forgot to take pictures of them, but let me tell you they were the best I've ever had so I wanted to share the recipe with y'all. And you won't believe what the secret ingredient is. I didn't let my hubby see me making them because I know he wouldn't not have even tried them if he saw what I put in them. He loved them and asked for seconds. I got the recipe from Pioneer Woman and she gives step by step (with pictures!) instructions.


Along with Fall comes big juicy wonderful apples. My mother-in-law always makes applesauce which we love, love love! So, she had some apples left over and I decided to try something different. Apple dumplings sounded delicious. Sorry I forgot to take pictures of them, but let me tell you they were the best I've ever had so I wanted to share the recipe with y'all. And you won't believe what the secret ingredient is. I didn't let my hubby see me making them because I know he wouldn't not have even tried them if he saw what I put in them. He loved them and asked for seconds.

I also thought it would be fun to share this recipe on Colleen's back to school recipe pool since this weeks theme is apple recipes. Recipe from Pioneer Woman Cooks. She has step by step instructions with pics.

Click here for the printable recipe


Apple Dumplings

2 granny smith apples
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can Mountain dew (secret ingredient!) I used about 3/4 of a 12oz can


Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour mountain dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

ENJOY!


I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend.

Till next time.....


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