Well it has been a while...nearly a year...bad blogger...I admit...
Sad year...July 2012 had to put my beloved Legend (Black Lab) to sleep to wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge. Then on my son-in-law's birthday his dog who stayed with us a lot beloved Sampson (Boxer) went out fine, something happened, found him between house and shrubs, got him inside and he died two hours later. Think he had a stroke as he was weak in the legs. Later in January my mother-in-law died...had house full here to eat day before and day of funeral. Well more than house full day of funeral it was at least 75 people...my dear friends and neighbors from Bible Study helped me with keeping food going, clean plates and utensils.  I had plenty of time to cook as funeral home was booked solid for a few days and a grandson and his family coming in from afar. Then the other week beloved cat Roscoe became ill and had to give him the heaven shot to wait for me at Rainbow Bridge.

But I am still sewing.....Did the above mother-daughter skirts for DD and DGDs to take the beach on their vacation with their other grandparents.

And the below tops I did applique round monogram on for the three youngest granddaughters pictured above. Pic shows two of them....the other one was being worn at the time.

Tip on doing them...put ''Badge Master" between the fabric and the shirt...makes it easier to trim the fabric away from first outline stitching.   DD found these tank tops at Dollar Tree a buck a piece.  She had the fabric a pink floral and I had the threads and stabilizer on hand...

Fall Sewing has been these three t-shirts for the three youngest of the grands. Saw the cutest pumpkin machine applique on a site to purchase but there wasn't a link as to where to purchase it...so Nana drew one up herself and free-handed appliqued it by machine. Their names were done using a built in font embroidery that is built into my machine. 

Outdoors decoration as done as it's going to be this year. Need to download pictures for future posting. 

LEGEND

Easter 2000 when DD was Sophomore in college she brought home a precious black lab puppy. She kept him at college, spent summers and holidays with us. Fall of 2001 he came home with us when we went to visit her. He stuck by my side, was my shadow. He was my shadow as a puppy so I would protect him from our elderly Black Lab Beau who liked to put Legend in his place.
When Beau suddenly became worse around Christmas 2000 Legend would take him treats and lay beside him. When Beau became paralyzed from a spur on Dec. 23 and I had to take him to the vet to be sent to heaven Legend would come and comforted me. On July 31 I had to make the awful decision to send Legend to join Beau. Legend will always be in my heart as all of the other dogs and cats who I have had as my best friend. Until we all meet at the rainbow bridge...

May brought a quck storm that dumped a lot of rain on a small area of the city where we live, namely our street and a few neighboring streets. For 30 minutes it poured and it BLEW! This was in our neighbors house the next morning. Thankfully they stayed an extra night with niece and nephew and escaped injury as the time would been when he was watching late news and she unpacking. Both areas of the house where they would have been at that time were "destroyed", his chair knocked over by limb and limb where she would have been unpacking.
Repairs are now about finished and they soon should be back in.

Spring brought T-Ball for the oldest two of the youngest three granddaughters.





End of May Peninsula Pilot's Baseball for June, July and beginning of August. We're Season Tickets holders wouldn't miss a game come H___ or High Water.



June brought High School Graduation for the oldest grandson. Hard to believe he is in college.



Two of the three youngest granddaughters made the swim team for the local pool. Their first year swimming competitively. The one on the left  is 5 and the one in them middle is 6, with a friend.


Here is one of them swimming in a meet.



And doing the backstroke in a meet.



Laura qualified for the big City Meet for the Greater Peninsula Swimmers Association and wearing her special swim cap. Where we have always been a baseball family this is like making All-Stars.
Baby Girl turned 32...


The afternoon before DD and her family left for vacation with DSIL's family I whipped up four skirts. Started out with making three for the granddaughters. Mom tried on one that was too large in the waist and it fitted. So she dashed for another half yard of fabric so I could do four. I saw the red crab fabric and knew I had to do something for them to take to the beach with it.

The youngest granddaughter celebrated her 4th birthday early as she wanted a pool party with family and friends.

School started in August for Laura and Rachel. Emily started after Labor Day.

REFRESHING PIE

Want a refreshing pie for desert on a hot humid day? I have the answer... Four years ago when my mom died the ladies at the church I grew up in furnished lunch for our family and friends after her funeral and burial. One of them made pineapple meringue pie or pies. I've been looking since then for a recipe. I found several and think I came close last Sunday taking parts from various recipes to make my version.

One baked pie crust cooled. I use the kind that comes two in a box individually wrapped. I use the red box Pillsbury brand, Wal-mart Brand or brand carried at the wholesale stores which have more in a box.

In sauce pan combine:
1-20 oz. can of crushed pineapple in it's own juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 egg yolks

mix together and cook over medium heat until thicken. Once it started to heat up it took about five minutes. Stir to keep from burning and sticking to bottom of pan.

Pour in the baked pie crust. Let it cool somewhat and make meringue using
the 4 left over egg whites beat with electric hand mixer with a little cream of tarter (guess 1/4 teaspoon or 1/2 teaspoon. I just shake some in bowl with egg whites. When the whites get thick and forming peaks add 2 tablespoons sugar (I only use Domino Sugar) and beat until grains disappear and no longer grainy. Spoon it on the pineapple custard peaking it in the center and sealing it to the rim of the pie crust to keep it from shrinking. Put in 350 degree preheated oven for a few minutes until golden brown. Remove and let cool on a cooling rack. After it had cooled good I put mine in the fridge to get good and cold before serving as it was a HOT HUMID VIRGINA DAY.

I am thinking the next time to use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon coconut flavoring. I think that added may be tasty too. My family isn't into coconut because of the texture. I don't get it I love it. Also think a cup or two of coconut would be good in it.

CONFESSION TIME-----COOKBOOKS

Confession is good for the soul---they say---so here goes---

I own way too many cookbooks. Not only that--- I inherited my mother's rather large collection. Though I gave my sister those she had given her. And gave my Momma's best friend a bunch. Daughters took some...but I still had a good amount leftover of hers to add to my groaning bookcases.

I have filled...we're talking two normal-good size ones--- ones AND then there is one that goes floor to ceiling. Now I do admit these are in my pantry and I do have a few other items stored on the lower two shelves of the floor to ceiling one...but they're cookbooks there too.. Also a few other places I have them stashed... THERE IS NO WAY IN UNDER HEAVEN I'D POST PICTURES OF THEM...as y'all be sending the men in white jackets coming to take me away in straight jacket.

Once in a while I do delete one or two...but I end up replacing them in double or triple...it seems.

I can't resist a good Junior League one...Good church ones...places I visit...Gooseberry Patch ones...and PIONEER WOMAN---Ree Drummond....now that little girl/woman can cook... My baby girl gave me the first one...and everything in it I have tried and baby girl has tried has been wonderful!!!

SO I advanced ordered two copies of her newest---one for Baby Girl---and one for me....AND they arrived today!!!!! LOOKS GOOD!!!! Can't wait to try a few... I am so envious of all that Le Creuset Cookware that gal owns...just look at those shelves load down with it...my oh my!!!

Both of these books have pictures of the steps she uses...too....great for someone just setting up housekeeping...

Ree---Girl you did good again!!!

Rachel is the Big Five!!!

Rachel turned FIVE in February! All the family gathered for a Barbie Birthday Party! See cake Mommy made and Rachel with one of her presents HERE

Laura is Physical Education Ambassador

Yesterday an the end of chapel Laura was received an award for Physical Education Ambassador. Nana, Papa, Mommy, Daddy, and younger sisters Rachel and Emily attended. Three year old Emily was so proud of her big sister! She just wanted to hug and hug her.

LAURA IS NOW SIX!!!

Laura turned six Monday. We went over for cake and ice-cream....see pictures on her mom's blog
NAPTIME IS THE NEW HAPPY HOUR

STILL AMONG LIVING---I THINK . . .

It's been a while... too long of a while...

I did three of these shirts for the three youngest granddaughters...


There was Halloween with two of the grandchildren being Mermaids
Their youngest sister a Lady Bug...
Their Best Friends came to Trick or Treat with them...


I did do three of these shirts for three special little girls...


There was Thanksgiving . . .
Three youngest on way over to Nana's
Oldest Grandson and youngest granddaughters eating with their great- grandfather and grandfather...
Oldest two granddaughters took youngest three to the lake to feed the fish...


Then there was meeting up with best friend from college days and we roomed our senior year together at Bizarre Bazaar after TOO MANY YEARS...and we actually recognized each other...last time my 31 year old was 2 years old...And there was Christmas...
Plenty of food...but only have picture of the deserts...

Desert Plates and Forks...

Dining Room...
The Tree with some of the gifts...

My cousin's wife is doing well...thank all of you who have contacted me letting me know you are praying for her and donor family/loved ones.

Doctors and nurses are very pleased. Some fluid around a lung. That is common they say. Drain tube and mild diuretic keeping that in control. Weening her off one medication so they can start weening her off respirator. Responding to nurses commands and opens eyes when my cousin/her husband and their daughter speak to her. Heart is working beautifully! So very much to be thankful for and to praise God how he is working in this miracle in our family and this miracle leading to other miracles/healings as well.

A good friend of mine back in school days of years way gone by and growing up in beautiful Mathews County... Who also is the wife of (41 years this July) my dear first cousin after being on transplant list for almost two years got her new heart last night/early this morning.

Wonderful news is this is now beating on it's own in her body. Next 48 hours critical for her and her new heart.

If you pray, please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

AND also keep in your prayers the family of the donor who gave our family this wonderful gift in the time of their deep loss and time of tremendous grief.

If you are not a prayer...keep them all in your good thoughts.

Thank you so much!

Bad, Bad, Blogger

My oh My I am a bad blogger...last time I blogged I had just broken my foot! Well...I switched groups and went to the one I have past history with and trust. He told me it was not bad, he saw no need of surgery, the boot was all I needed. Went back month ago and 90% healed...go back end of this month. Apparently takes as long for the last 10% as it does for the first 90% in the healing process.

Memorial Day morning I looked out my kitchen window and saw several deer in my backyard. Grew up in the rural country and never saw a deer except along roadside near woods or victim of an accident with vehicle. Live in the "BIG CITY" and see deer it seems all the time the past year or so. By the time I found camera they were in neighbors back yard behind mine.



Laura is playing T-ball. Hope she follows her mom's footsteps and play baseball with the boys! She and sister Rachel are both riding two wheel bikes learned in a couple hours. Emily is ripping behind them on her trike.
I did polka-dotted initials on t-shirts for the girls their mom bought for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July


These were taken at Memorial Day cookout.

I'll try to do better...

STILL AMONG THE LIVING...

After DH had one eye surgery and before the second one (which was today) we and DD and her oldest two took a few days off and headed to Amish Country. Her DH stayed home with their youngest and our pets.

Laura went last year and this was Rachel's first year to go with us. They were both so very good.
We did a LOT of outlet shopping and visited Bird-in-Hand Farmer's Market to stock up on the goodies they sell.
At breakfast every morning at Dienner's ! All you can eat for $4.95 and a large variety breakfast foods and pastries to temp anyone's appetite.

The girls loved the farms lands...
One big treat for them was the Amish Buggy ride. Laura and her mom took it last year and it was on her list of must do for this year. Rachel loved it too. The Amish gentleman let them ride up front with him and even let each of them hold the reins for a while. That was a BIG TREAT for the two girls. He was very informative and answered all questions those in the buggy asked him.
I did get to go in two Amish Owned Fabric places and picked up a few fat-quarters and a panel to add to my stash and a tw0 yard piece of Green Bay Packer's Fleece for DD to make her daddy a blanket. She makes the ones where you use two different colors/prints of fleece, cut fringe around the edges and tie the fringe pieces to join the two layers.