Hello Again!

 If I wait another few weeks it will have been a whole year since I have posted.  It has been an up and down kind of year as far as our health is concerned and as for right now... we are doing great.  It's Easter Sunday today and the day is warm and sunny, the kind of day everyone wishes for when laying plans for Easter egg hunts and spending time with family.  

And speaking of family.. One of my cousins has posted on facebook a terrific way to beat the heat, pressure and stress of summertime meals... and I asked her if I could plagiarize it..lol  And she said yes..  

Darlene Ingram Davis

10h  · 

As our summers get super busy with kids, camping, sports, activities, etc I always try to do a big freezer meal prep. All of these meals go into gallon sized ziplock bags that I label and get frozen flat in our chest freezer. The night before I pull one out and put it in the refrigerator to thaw. Each one cooks in the crockpot so it’s very simple and doesn’t heat up the house or require me being in the kitchen when I don’t have time. The initial investment for all the groceries is quite a bit but if I calculate it out per meal this is very reasonable for a large family. The amount I prep usually lasts us 6-7 weeks and dinner leftovers get used for lunches or the next night’s dinner. I’ve perfected a list that our family really likes and are cost effective with not too many ingredients. Hope this helps some others looking for budgeting in the kitchen!

Sloppy Joes:

1 lb. Ground turkey or beef

1 onion diced

1 green pepper diced

1 15oz. Can tomato sauce

1 packet Sloppy Joe Seasoning

Add all ingredients to a freezer bag and seal. Mix the bag to incorporate ingredients. Cook in the slow cooker on HIGH 3-4 hours. Serve on buns or rolls.

Sausage and Lentil Soup

2 packages of sausage or kielbasa, sliced

2c. Brown lentils

1 bag baby carrots

3-4 stalks of celery diced

1 onion diced

2-3 cloves garlic minced

1 15oz. Can diced tomatoes

1T. Italian Seasoning

Add all ingredients to a freezer bag. Cook in the crockpot on HIGH 4-5 hours. Serve with bread or rolls.

Hawaiian Meatballs

2 lbs. Frozen meatballs

1/4c. Brown sugar

1/4c. Soy sauce

1/2t. Garlic powder

1 jar sweet and sour sauce

1 red pepper diced

1 green pepper diced

1 onion diced

1 can pineapple chunks with juice

Add all ingredients to a freezer bag. Cook in the crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over rice.

Cilantro Lime Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts or thighs

Juice from 2-3 limes

1 small bunch cilantro chopped

1 bag frozen corn

1 onion chopped

1 can black beans

Add all ingredients to a freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Shred chicken and serve over rice or in burritos.

Broccoli Chicken Alfredo

3-4 chicken breasts or thighs cut into chunks or strips

1 jar Alfredo sauce

1 bag frozen broccoli or fresh chopped broccoli

Mix all ingredients in a freezer bag. Cook in a crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over fettuccine noodles.

Pepperoncini Pork Roast

2-3 lb boneless pork or beef roast

1 jar sliced pepperoncinis with juice

Add to freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Shred meat and serve over rice or potatoes. Leftover meat is really good in breakfast burritos!

Chicken Fajitas

3-4 chicken breasts cut into strips.

1-2 green peppers sliced

1-2 red peppers sliced

1 onion sliced

1 pkg. Fajita seasoning

Add all ingredients to freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over rice or in tortillas for fajitas.

Chicken Cacciatore

3-4 chicken breasts or thighs

1 jar chunky veggie style spaghetti sauce

1 zucchini chopped

1 green pepper diced

1 onion diced

Add all ingredients to freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over rice.

Teriyaki Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts cut into chunks

1 onion sliced

2 cans diced pineapple with juice

2-3 garlic cloves minced

1c. Teriyaki sauce

Mix all ingredients in a freezer bag. Cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over rice or noodles.

Sausage and Peppers

2 packages sausage or kielbasa sliced

2 green peppers sliced

1 red pepper sliced

1 onion diced

2-3 cloves garlic minced

1 15oz. Can Italian style diced tomatoes

2T. Italian Seasoning

Mix all ingredients in a freezer bag. Drizzle with olive oil and cook in crockpot on LOW 6-8 hours. Serve over noodles.

Don't forget each recipe is for a single bag. Double the amounts if you'd like 20 meals

*Edited to add I had NO IDEA how wildly popular this would be I’m sorry there’s no way to respond to all 3,000 + comments and messages I’ve received but THANK YOU. I simply do what works for our large family/budget. I allow these to thaw overnight in the fridge before putting in the crockpot and it’s perfectly safe to cook veggies and meat combined in the crockpot together as long as they reach the appropriate cooking temp. I’ve never had an issue with these and I’ve been doing freezer meals many years. Each bag serves approximately 4-6 depending. I do not pre-cook any of the meat or ingredients. Press all the air from the bags before sealing to help avoid freezer burn. Hope this answers some of the questions!*

Follow Easy Cooking Ideas for more delicious recipes!

 I am definitely going to try some of these.  We are not pressured by youngsters and their sports all summer, but we do try to beat the heat by using the crockpot and cooking on the porch as much as possible.  I usually fill the crockpot and plug it in on the back porch.. check it occasionally and voila'.. supper... no mess, no fuss.  

I hope your Easter Sunday is filled with hope, love and lots of family hugs.  Have a very Blessed Day!

Today's the Day!

All of the negative news about Facebook has had a bit of an impact around our house.  Today is the day that my facebook activities end.  I'm sad.  I love my friends, watching my children's posts and see photos of my grandchildren and great grandchildren.  It is a very difficult thing to give up. 

But..

I would kinda like to keep peace in the household..lol   Enough said.

We have been here in our new home 9 months now and it has been a definite up and down transition.  Old friends have been missed terribly and new friends made.  The roller coaster of "Do you want to move back?" or "Do you want to stay here?" ...  At the age we are now it's not  a surprise.  Change of any kind is a difficult proposition.  But the decision has been made and all is settling into it's proper perspective.  :)

It's almost time again for the "Fairy Ring" of mushrooms that would come after every rain last year.  Have to say I love it...lol   Fairies are one of my favorite things.  :)   I find it curious .. to say the least... that even when the mushrooms are not there, the grass is a bit of a different color inside that ring.  You can still see where it is.. hmm

We took out the old cellar that required a pump to keep the water out.. the water level here is so high that anything underground usually requires a pump.  We put a new cellar into the center of the garage... we don't have to get wet to go to the cellar.. :)   A good thing.  The bad thing.. we had to widen the garage door so both cars could get in without running over it.   Have to say that with tornado season upon us I am tooooo happy to have it. 

Tomorrow... our screened in back porch.  I just know you are enthralled and can't wait to see and hear about it.. roflol  Anyway,  The weather man keeps saying we are in for some rain, but I really have seen nothing more than what our sprinkler system put out.. hmmph .. 

Hello to all my buddies.. sending hugs out to everyone out there.  Hope your Spring is looking wonderful.. :) 

We Are Here...

It's been two months to the day since I arrived to open the doors to our new home for the movers to unload our furniture.  What a whirlwind of activity!  But I can finally say that almost all the boxes are opened and put away...the furniture is in place... and maybe there will be time now for a few crafts and/or exploring the town.  :)

This house is an older one, very large with a wonderful yard that is landscaped.  Crepe myrtles are blooming all around the house and the roses seem to never stop .. :)

This one is a beautiful peach color and has single roses on a short stem.. sadly no fragrance.  I have no idea what the names of these lovely roses are.. any of them.. but what's in a name anyway?  :) 

This one is on a very old vine that is as thick as my wrist at the base.  It has gold roses on one side and creamy white roses on the other.  Beautiful.

As with any older home, there have been a few things that have had to be fixed, mended,replaced or just lived with.. lol  But we love it already.. and Sam and Katie are over the moon with the size of the back yard... so much room to run.. so many new smells.  

But the best thing... the absolute best thing.. is we are only a couple of houses down from daughter Donna.   It's amazing how wonderful it is to look up and see her at the back door, spending an hour or so just visiting at the end of the day... totally makes everything else .. the move, the inconvenience, the plumber, the air conditioner guy, the builders screening in the back porch.. everything.. totally worth it.   

Well.. the heat is beginning to show it's ugly head around here.  So far there has been enough rain to help keep it down a little, but August is here and I'm thinking that will probably end.. sigh

Have a lovely day..  :) 

I may not ever shut my pc down again

I can't believe how difficult it is to get here... sigh Maybe this time I can keep up with whatever password Google demands for this site...

Anyway.. here I am and only about 8 months late.  But .. it has been a busy time.


 It would seem that we have reached that time in life when we really want to be nearer family .. so a move is underway from North Texas to Southwest Oklahoma.  At first it was not something that I was wishing for... It's hard to leave friends and a settled home, but after a little thinking it over I am truly looking forward to the move.  I cannot wait to be near the children and grandchildren.

The visit from grandson Dustin and family was a true joy. That visit is more than likely what helped make up our minds to made the move.

 My two sisters and I went to McKinney last year and in the wandering around thru the shops we came upon a small shop that had lovely antiques.  The proprietor was a young lady who enthusiastically helped us with anything we could think of and I asked her about the watercolor painting she had sitting on the shelf.  She said her mother had painted it and she was happy to sell us on the cards that had been printed from that painting.  She was so pleased to be able to sell some of her mother's art work and I was only too pleased to buy it.. lol   So I came home and immediately had to paint my own pears..lol

On a trip to Lavender Ridge Farms a few years ago I bought 8 oz. of lavender.  It has been stashed away forever, so I decided I would make pillowcase sachets with it... and so I did.  I made about 10, and still have lavender left, so I will probably make more when we get resettled.

I'm so glad to finally be here.. on this site.. again.  For the few who are still following, thanks a bunch.. :)

Hugs from the very warm (and nearing hot) North Texas area... have a great day!

Allen Grady Ingram, Jr...

We lost my uncle Allen Ingram, Jr. on November 7, 2013. 
Allen was just younger than my dad by a few years.  He was a warm and loving man who has 2 wonderful daughters and a loving extended family. When we were kids we called him Uncle Bug... until he decided enough was enough.. :)  He will be missed.

Phew!!

I'm tired today.  Yesterday was an exciting, wonderful.. "I get to see my Dear Daughter, Dear GrandSon and his baby.. my Dear Great Grandson".. kind of day.  I just don't think babies can be any sweeter than when they are yours.. ;)

Meet Nathan.. :)

Older brother DGGS Lucas also had his picture taken, but he wasn't too happy about it. lol  Got to go to lunch with DGS and Lucas and what a joy that was.  Couldn't have been a better day.

This only required a 4 hour drive..2 ways.. lol  So 13 hours after I left,  I got back home last night.  But it was so worth it.

DGSons back surgery seems to be going well.  Of course he wasn't totally comfortable and still has to take pain meds, but the incision looks clean, dry and in good shape.  Hopefully after a few more days it will ease up even more for him.

Had terrible rain on the way home last night.  Downpour so heavy that if there had not been a big 18 wheeler in front of me with all those lights I would have had to pull over because I could hardly see the road.  This lasted for about 30 or 40 minutes, but finally slowed down as I got closer to home.  Whoever you are, kind sir, that was in that truck.. Thank you for being there and for not being one of those cowboy truck drivers who think they can manage that truck at 80 mph in any kind of weather.. :)

Gonna go rest and maybe nap the day away.. :)  Gonna give my honey a big hug and kiss because when I walked in the door last night at 7pm  he had supper ready.  And no.. you cannot have him. :)

Have a good Sunday.

Handmade Journal Handy..

Back in 2006 I decided to try my hand at making my own book.  I have since learned that this is not the "exact" way to do it, but I love my little book just the same.

 As I was gathering things to take to the Ingram Art Show I came across this little book and decided to take it with me.  What a wonderful thing that turned out to be!

It occurred to me that several of my relatives that I had not seen in a while were there and this was the perfect time to have them write in my book.

 Signing the poems that they wrote.. ;)  The bird is taken from a photo of Squirt that Aunt Edna sent me..  Didn't quite get it, but the gist is there...lol
 (You may have noticed that the poem is scrambled.  This is to protect their intellectual property.. )

 When I put this book together I wanted to put things that were special to me into it... like this poem written by my Aunt Betty.  I thought I wanted things to be perfect and then somehow they didn't come out as perfect as I thought I wanted them to be.  Now as I look back thru the pages, they are exactly as I wanted them to be.  I would encourage everyone to make their own little book and put in it whatever they find special to themselves in it..

Now I realize it doesn't have to be perfect or perfectly thought out... it just has to be you.  Mine is just a collection of little ditties that I thought were good.  There's a notation that my first great grand daughter was expected.. another for the day that she was born.  Now there will be another notation about my first great grandson that will be born in May.  Another about my oldest son making the Dean's Honor Roll in college.  So many things...

And the opportunity to have my family write in my book was just too good to be true. 

Another good thing from the Ingram Arts and Crafts Show... ;)

Have a wonderful day....

Today in My Life... July 11, 2011

 








Today is:  Wednesday, July 11, 2011

I got up this morning:  early.  4am.  It's not that I mind getting up early... it's that 10am letdown and sleepy that gets me. 

As I look out my window:  the sprinklers are sprinkling.  There's a street light on our corner and the water makes all the plants out front glisten like tiny stars.  Pretty enough to go sit out and watch... but it's already 82°F out there at 5:30am....

I am hearing:  my sweet DH wandering around the kitchen getting coffee and asking me why I was up so early... ;o)

I am thinking: that the air conditioning in our new house is wonderful...but I'll be right back...after I've slipped on the shawl that Karen made for me!  Cool on my back this morning!



 One thing I've learned over the past week:  is just how much fun it is to share brownies and cups of tea with friends.  This is not a new learning experience.. ;o) .. it's just that it's been such a long time since I've been able to that it SEEMS like a new one... ;o)  Hopefully all the major hubbub with the move is about over... ;o) 

 



 Creatively: I've learned a bit this week.  You don't have to use vinegar to set the dye for Kool Aid (unless you are worried about the blues being colorfast).  Kool Aid has citric acid already in it ... therefore it will be colorfast without any other additive.  And... I feel totally set free now that I've dyed roving in the microwave and it didn't come out a felted hot pad.  Thanks, Pat, for all the tips last Friday. 

Things I am thankful for:  Visits from sons John and Phil over the 4th of July... Life can't get any better than that... ;o)


Plans for the rest of the week:  include (finally) the installation of the storm doors today... yes! this morning!...yayyyy!  
And the RRFA meeting on Thursday.  Really glad that Mercy may be able to continue coming even tho she's moving. 

It's hot.  And doesn't look there's much chance for any change in temps for a while.  Not even into August yet and the temps are now what the usual high for the year is... ;o/

But... the grass is green, the sky is blue, the flowers bloom and it is a lovely day.  Hope yours is too... ;o)

It's Friday ... again!

My DH and I have found that as we grow older the weeks pass so quickly that it's always Friday...lol I have committed to blog every day this week...and the week is almost over and no blogging. I will try to make up for it with reminiscences of the week...

Monday was a busy day. Photographing and editing the photos of books and things for the ebay shop... Butterfield Mercantile... Had to reschedule an appointment that I missed... so much for the memory that wandered off the lane... ;o) I remember thinking how good it is that ebay is available and we can do this from home at this time in our lives

Tuesday was appointment day. I spent a lot of the day on my feet and by evening my lower leg was swollen and uncomfortable.... Did I tell you that I fell INTO the bathtub? Banged up my lower left leg a bit... black and blue but no bones broken... And for that a thankful thought went up for the day...

Wednesday... another appointment day. I have been feeling so much better with a lift in the depression after the deaths in my family. My thankful thought for that day... and I remember thinking and pondering it... Thank goodness for the new medications of the today that actually work. And for the change in attitude about seeking out help for personal problems... so much better than even 20 years ago.

Thursday... very early appointment with Dr. Truly about my leg. I knew it wasn't broken and that it was completely soft tissue damage, but it looked red and had a considerable amount of heat (fever) in it...but no cellulitis right now. Thank goodness...

I bought a laptop computer yesterday. It has been a biggy on my list of things I would like to have for quite a long time. It was a frustrating thing for me when it came time to set it up...I didn't know that the wireless router that we had put in had the wrong time and every time I tried to set up my laptop it would tell me I couldn't do that...the time on my computer was wrong.. boy... I was about ready to spit! When I got up to walk away and re-group, I thought about the fact that I even have one...sigh... Talk about a sudden dose of humility... ;o)

And then there's today... Up early, looking out the window as I post and loving the green of the trees. I think I will plant some forsythia down in the meadow this year. It needs a little burst of color here and there.

Thought for today... families may not always ( or ever) be what we think they should be, but they are ours... and we may not agree with anything they do or say, but for the most part if an open mind is kept, they have reason for what they think or believe. And who are we to say that our way is the only way....???

Larry Ingram

Larry Ingram

He had more energy in his left arm than I did in my whole body... ;o) We played cowboys and indians, made a "home" out of an old chicken house, used tow sacks to make a saddle for our fallen tree "horse" and played with his pet possum... We got off the bus at the corner to walk the mile home (risking the wrath of Grandma), picked her wildflower bouquets and loved her vinegar pie. We took turns putting our head in Dad's lap on those long car trips, spent our dimes on Saturday buying comic books and loved the hamburger steak smothered with chili beans in a downtown diner with Dad...

Time changes things and we grow up but the memories never leave. And I am so thankful for that.

August 10, 1949-January 19, 2010
He was my brother.

Happy Labor Day

Well, it's that cool down time of the year again. Lovely and green but with cooler mornings and evenings.

The reunion was wonderful. My sister Leisa was there looking lovely as usual. (She's a Mary Kay Consultant!) There were people there that I had not seen since I was "knee high to a grasshopper"... as my dad would say. Aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and on down the line...lol There was just not enough time to spend with each one...Seems like I got to see everyone and visit with no one...ya know what I mean? But will surely try to go from now on...lol

I'm sorry to say (but not...lol) that my diet went on hiatus for the day. Uncle Harry grows paw paws and his wife Sue made some wonderful Paw Paw bread that was luscious. He had some seeds and I sure enough missed getting some...sigh Uncle Bobby made Vinegar Pie and that right there shot my diet for a week. Do love that stuff!! Aunt Elva said that her grandmother (Great Grandmother Angel) always made Vinegar Pie.... did not know that. Saw my cousin David (whose father was my mother's brother and his mother is my grandmother's niece... figure that one out..lol) for the first time since our kids were small and let me tell you that I almost fell off the step when I heard his youngsters call him Grandpa... All in all a wonderful day... just way too short.

Reunion Eggs & a Clock

It seems like forever since I have posted...and I guess it has been. It seemed a good idea to skip a week of going to Tulsa to the chiropractor. Some days I think it is helping and other days not... Mostly not, I guess, if I really want to be honest about it. I think I am in deep denial about carpal tunnel in my wrist and elbow because that would mean a drastic cut in all the things I really like to do... Anyway, one way or another we will find out soon.

Time is drawing near for the family reunion. I have not been for so long that no one can remember the last time I went... that is too sad. Anyway, we will be going this year. There is always an auction on Sunday afternoon to help pay for the newletter and things and everyone who wishes can bring something to auction off. These are what I have been working on for the last couple of days. This afternoon I will finish the stands and then all that will be left will be to let the finish cure a bit.

This clock is the first project nearing completion since we started back to work in the shop. This is one of DH's designs and it is now waiting in my workroom to have something painted on the bottom of pendulum area. He really wants it to be my little snail and mushroom (I really am going to have to give that little doodle a name at some point!) but I haven't figured out yet how to spread it across the area without making it look like a caricature cartoon... That will be this afternoon's second project...

It'a a little cloudy outside this afternoon, but nothing in the forecast about rain...as if that means anything here in Texas..lol The workmen are back and working on the shop trying to finish it up at last. It seems that the rains took so long to stop that it has been forever ... then the contractor had problems of his own. Sure hoping this is the last bit of that job... sigh

I hope everyone is having a good week. Hugs...

Charles Ward

Charles Ward married my mom over 30 years ago. He has been a staple in our lives for a long time. He watched my children grow, my sisters' and brothers' children grow and now all of their children grow. He worked every day. He loved to grow things.. had a lovely lawn and pecan trees everywhere on their small yard and grew a yearly garden. Fishing and boating were "his thing" and he made sure everyone got to go if they wanted to go. He was "Mr. Fix-it".

Charlie loved his two daughters Lindy and Cindy. They never had anything to do with him after the divorce of their parents, but that never stopped Charlie from telling anyone who would listen that his Lindy was the greatest basketball player on the team. He talked unceasingly about them.

He died of leukemia on July 3rd. He was 83 years old. He is missed.

Teapots and Treasures

I like tea. And this tea is some wonderful stuff. This tea, called White Pearl of Fujian, has been in my cupboard for a while. It was a gift that our sons brought back from Canada for me. I think I was a little set back when I read on the ingredient label that it has gunpowder in it.... lol (If anyone knows why gunpowder would need to be in tea, would you let me know?... ;o)














The other day we were in Tuesday Morning shopping for something or another and came across a Zarafina Tea Maker... It has settings for whatever kind of tea you are making and will brew the correct time for each kind. I love it. This tea was not the first steeped in this maker, but it has been regularly made ever since the first time. I have never tasted a tea as good as this one... just makes me wish I had brewed it when it was first brought home..lol The only problem is that when it is gone, I'm not sure I will be able to replace it....







Talk about a great week... Uncle Bobby and Aunt Edna came this week and we all had lunch at Cracker Barrel. The best part was the laughing and having fun visiting. The rain had stopped and it was a nice sunshiny day...


Uncle Bobby has already whittled me a deer antler and a cedar naalbinding needle. (Click to see them) This time he brought me this bevy of beauties...

The tin is a Glenfiddich Scotch Whiskey tin that was in my grandmother's things ... I have to laugh... She would never allow a drop of alcohol of any kind in her house. This had to have come from one of her sons returning from the Army...lol She was like me..could never resist something she thought was pretty, so I can see her ignoring the Glenfiddich part and keeping it because of the lovely graphics. A treasure in itself..


The pen and pencil set he made from corn cobs that came from their garden. Both write perfectly and fit easily in my hand. I had never seen any like them before...


The heart necklace is whittled and has a gemstone inserted. It turns out that it isn't my birthstone as was planned, but it is lovely anyway... and I told them it was okay because I have at least one child with that birthstone... :o)


The clay colored token that is beside the necklace is a ration token. There were several kinds and each one was a different color. They are called points and were used during WWII to make change for ration stamps. This clay colored one was used to buy meat. Amazing... another of those things I had not heard of and had never seen before. A note here.... the rationing stamps and points were not used as money... you still had to pay for whatever you bought. But if you ran out of stamps or points, you could not buy any more until the next month or whenever the next ration stamps were given out.


And the horn... well, that is a needlecase... handmade. And I love it. My naalbinding needles won't fit in it, but my other needles will.


Definite treasures all.....

Where Were You?

Between fetching glasses of ice tea, I was on the sofa in East Dubuque, Illinois...snow knee deep outside and 19 years old. Two young sons ..ages 2 and 1 ... toddling around our new house that we had just moved into sometime around Christmas. The television was a portable on a stand...as opposed to a real piece of furniture television. There was not a party as they have today, but the excitement was there in our house just the same...lol

"Super Bowl"... what kind of name is that ... and why do they call it Super Bowl #1? Does that mean there will be another one?... lol... Ahhh..... The hubris of the young...

We Had A Wonderful Time!

We had a wonderful time! Thank you, Bev!

Green Bean Harvest

The first green bean harvest from the DS's postage stamp garden. Have to grin...he planted this garden and was so excited about the first harvests and then got sent off to Arizona for a job that will last for the next several months. But never fear.. DSIL is on top of things.

When he called and told me about the green beans, he said the tomatoes are coming along wonderfully...nice, juicy and red...and the birds love them. He said every one that he has tried to pick had been pecked out by the birds.

I guess they have tried everything from scare crows to fake owls, but nothing seemed to work. He said he grew tired of it, so down to Home Depot he went..and voila'... bird netting over the tomatoes. I haven't heard in the last day or so if it is working as well as he hoped...but will find out...

Scarborough Renaissance Festival

After 20 years of wishing, I was given the extraordinary Mother's Day gift of a day not only at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival, but with the sons and grandsons... wow...


And what a day... My senses just couldn't take it all in. I took so many pictures that my battery just about gave up the ghost and flitted away in front of my eyes...


These two young ladies have been playing their harps at Scarborough Faire for at least 16 years. Our son bought one of their CDs 16 years ago... I bought one last Saturday.. And what beautiful music!


I had in mind looking for a spindle, nalbinding, or spinning wheel shop.. alas, there were none. I did find (after we left..boo hoo) there is a bookbinding shop there. There are shops everywhere.. everything from Renaissance clothes to blacksmiths to sword making to flutes...and on and on.... And everyone in period costume... and wait until you see the jousts! And the troubadours!


The jousts were fun... Of course it was all choreographed, but if the real thing was anything at all like it, I can only imagine the excitement they caused. And the skill of the participants... amazing..





If you ever have an opportunity to go to a Renaissance Faire, do yourself a favor and go. There are only limited utilities in this location, so it is not hard at all to envision how it would have been back in the 1300 to 1600s.. As a result they close at 7:00pm...there are no lights.


There is a parade 2 or 3 times a day... Wow...They will definitely toast "Hail and Hearty" to anyone in the crowd who approaches with a tankard..lol This young man even stopped and posed for me...

What a great day! Home too tired for words...but so pleased...

See My Tree!

My cousin was here the other day and was adventurous enough to stand in my oak tree so I could photograph it. I love my tree... it had to have been here when the Spanish were trekking around looking for the Fountain of Youth..grin If it could only talk...Imagine all the history it could tell a person about this area of Texas. I can just see Indians camping under it as a young tree.. or cowboys tying their horses to it while they got water from our creek out back. Maybe some night I will sit out under the stars and listen to it... you never know...

And isn't she amazing... looks in her 40s...

Getting back in the swing of things....

...after all the holidays. There's a lot to show and tell..grin

Our son and his wife that live in Michigan had to cancel their trip home for the holidays due to weather. But this beauty came in the mail...wow! As dyed in the wool DIYers, we all oohd and awwd over this one. It's a glass tile with a hole drilled in it (I'm told this was the hardest part) and a string of tiny Christmas lights placed inside. The bow is hand made by Loretta... what a talent! Love the soft glow of colored light it makes when turned on in a dark room...

And talk about wonderful! These hand knitted socks made by DDL Tomomi are toasty! I really like the pattern and have to wonder how she keeps the pattern straight..lol As I am just now learning to knit socks, the good old stockinette stitch is as adventurous as I want to get..grin

There is more to say and show...but will wait until tomorrow and continue on......