Ice Cream and Dolls....

I have been busy working on some new dolls....this one is from my free "Miss Annie" pattern. I had a few almost finished so I put some tiny mohair loop yarn on for hair and added more color to her face. What do you think? That fabric for her dress is some vintage Circus print fabric. I love it--I've saved it so long because I didn't want to cut it! I think it was a set of curtains....

I have an EASY recipe for homemade ice cream--no cooking or ice cream maker involved! I doubled the recipe and put some in the freezer for when I have company. The kids always complain that I don't have anything "good" to eat. (Meaning I don't have a lot of junk food!) So here's the recipe--you could replace the strawberries with other fruits (I'm planning blueberries or peaches next) and even add some nuts!

Easy Strawberry Ice Cream

• 2 c. fresh strawberries



• 1 small can condensed milk



• Half container of Cool whip (4 oz)



• 1/4 c. lemon juice

Mash strawberries--get them pretty small or they will be hard when frozen! Add condensed milk & lemon juice, mix well. Fold in cool whip, pour into container and freeze.  MMmmmm!

It rained most of the day today so I didn't get to work in the garden. But I was GLAD because we really needed some rain!! This was taken a few days ago-- now my squash already have big blooms on them. Can't wait to get my first veggies out of the garden! Maybe I shouldn't be bragging on my squash--I showed y'all the picture of my first tomatoes and now that plant is about dead. :( Dang bugs!

New free pattern & Buddy update!

I decided its time for another free pattern for y'all! This is Miss Kitty--she's gonna be on  tv too! You can click here to download the free pattern. Or you can go to my website anytime and click on the free patterns to download them all! You knew I'd have to have a cat as one of my projects, didn't you? ha! I'm gonna share all of the patterns from the tv show for free....there are some Halloween and Christmas projects too, so I'll get them to you soon so you can start getting ready for your shows!!

Remember Buddy? People still ask about him....so here's a new picture of him. I got to visit with him at Momma's when we got together for Mother's day. He's still the sweetest thing, but a whole lot bigger! Daddy's worker likes to call him "Pinto" because he says he looks like a Pinto horse. I still think Buddy suits him just fine!

Have I showed you this picture of Sissy? Maybe not...does she look nice or not in this picture? I think she looks sweet but I could see how someone might think she looks mean. Really she's just relaxed and trying to send me telepathic messages to pet her.She's very shy and when anyone comes to visit she hides. But if its just us, she is always trying to get in my lap, rubbing her paw on my cheek while I watch tv, just wanting all my attention. And if Sissy happens to be in another room, all I have to do is sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (the more out of tune the better!) and she will come running and meowing at me! She's so funny....I love her personality! I just wish she wasn't so shy so others could see, but that's okay if she wants to hide. Oh--another thing she loves is being brushed and she did let my niece brush her a little when she spent the night. I guess my niece should feel lucky...lol!

Happy Memorial Day!

Bilbo hopes y'all are all enjoying the holiday today....I'm working, but since its a fun kind of work. Well, except I have a virus on my computer and I'm trying figure out how to remove that. But besides that, its fun stuff.  I'm still loving cooking on my new grill....the other night I made one of my favorite recipes I got from a "Every Day with Rachel Ray" magazine. I decided to try it on the grill and it was even better! Here's the recipe--the only thing I changed was the jerk seasoning. I couldn't find any so I added a little chili powder and brown sugar to the pork and just left it out of the slaw--its really good that way. And this time I didn't have bacon and I didn't miss it. What makes it so good is the slaw!

Jerk Cheeseburgers with Green Apple Slaw

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, grated & patted dry

Grated peel of 1 lemon plus 1½ Tbs juice

½ cup chopped chives

3 Tbs pure maple syrup

2 Tbs Jamaican jerk seasoning

1½ lbs ground pork

8 slices bacon

4 oz smoked cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

4 kaiser rolls, split & toasted

1. Toss apples with lemon peel and juice. Add mayo, chives 1½ Tbs jerk seasoning; stir to combine & refrigerate.

2. In a large bowl, whisk remaining syrup, 1½ Tbs jerk seasoning. Add pork & combine. Shape into 4 one inch thick patties, pressing your thumb in the center to prevent bulging.

3. In large skillet cook the bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Cook pork patties in bacon drippings (or on the grill!) and cook for 4 minutes, flip, lower heat and cook 3 minutes more. Lower heat to low, top each patty with cheese and cook until the cheese is melted and patties are cooked through, about 2 minutes more. (On the grill, I add the cheese after the patties are done.)

4. Place a pork patty on each roll bottom, top with bacon and slaw and a roll top.

You have to try this recipe....it is delicious and easy!.....

The other day Kenyon & I went to the park--one of my favorite things to do when its warm enough....in the summer when its really hot there is usually a cool breeze too, so its nice to go at night sometimes. But the main reason I like to go is the feed the ducks! This time there were some babies....so exciting! They ate as the momma & daddy ducks stood guard. They were the cutest little things! I wished I could grab one up and pet it but I patiently sat in the truck and watched them eat. I took some cute video too but I just can't figure out how to share it....maybe I'll figure it out one of these days!!

About my day....

Have you ever tried to change the sheets with a cat on the bed? Its not easy! I had to roll Mr. Spock around and get the fitted sheet on. I thought if I put the flat sheet on, he would want out, but he didn't . Then I added the blanket--nope, he still liked it. Then I put the comforter on and he still liked it! He stayed under there about 15 minutes before he decided he'd come out. ha! If you wonder what those humps are holding the covers around him, its Sweet Pea on one side and Pumpkin on the other.....

I've named the new kitty "CJ"--he's hanging around every day now and rolls in the garden with the rest of the cats. So his appointment to be neutered is next Wednesday ..... maybe he will stop trying to be a bully. ;)

So Momma & I had a little misunderstanding about our shopping day. I thought it was today, she thought it was tomorrow, but we ended up going today anyway. Thank goodness--I rolled my hair and everything! That's a rare occasion for me!!! I barely had any breakfast and couldn't wait to eat a salad from Atlanta Bread Co. and Momma was wanting some sourdough bread--that's the main reason we went. We got there and they were closed for oven repair. Really! We went to Old Navy--bought myself a shirt and necklace and the cutest hat for Jackson. I believe that's the first shirt I've bought for myself in a long time that wasn't from wal-mart or the thrift store! I used my re-usable bags and the cashiers didn't know what to think. They would look for the bar code to scan it and I'd have to explain. The young guy at Old Navy said, "oh, you mean to go green?" I said, "yeah"....he said "Niiiiiice." lol!

We went to Michael's and I bought every bottle of neon purple paint they had--its my favorite color to use and they don't carry it at wal-mart anymore and its usually out when I go anywhere else! I got some other goodies there--most imporant, Somerset Studios and Altered Couture magazines that I can't buy here, so I was happy about that. I filled my reusable bag in there! (By the way--I found 3 nice MarthaStewart.com bags at the thrift store for $1 each! You could easily make your own from old jeans....) Went to PetSmart to get some goldfish for my pond and reflective collars for my outside kitties. I put one on Frazier and he ran and ran trying to get away from that dang bell! Kenyon said he will probably run away. LOL! Too bad I don't have any shopping pictures to share with you, so I'm sharing one of a lazy, sleepy Pumpkin....because that's about how I feel tonight! Oh--can't believe I forgot to mention that we visited Jackson on the way home--Momma got him a new outfit and I bought a matching hat. Can't wait to see him wearing that--I love to see babies in hats! So cute!

I worked on some dolls tonight and got some hair put on a couple of them. I cleaned out my suitcase full of them yesterday ... Pumpkin & Mr. Spock piled up on it as if they could keep me from going on another trip! These are all pieces of dolls from the segments I taped, so I'm trying to put them all together now. I have to clean off my desk for another fun, exciting project.....another one that you will have to keep checking in with me about. Another surprise!!! Alyssa--if you are reading this, you know what I am talking about!!

Here I am!

I wonder if anyone missed me? I haven't blogged in a few days--been spending too much time in the yard & garden, I guess! The hot weather will be here soon enough so I won't be out there so much then...but for now I am enjoying it. My husband was reading a gardening book tonight and I kept thinking of a few last things I wanted to plant. Its supposed to rain tonight so I thought it was a good time. It was almost dark, but I managed to plant some pumpkins, nasturiums, scarlet runner beans and a hill of cantaloupe. I could barely see by the time I came in. Now maybe it will rain on  them tonight to get them started!  Things are really starting to grow and even I'm beginning to see some veggies on a few things! I'm a little worried about the raccoons though--I had the bright idea to put up a couple of scarecrows and put some of those Halloween things that make a noise when something moves....I wonder if that will work? That's my next garden project--I wish I could see their reactions to it. I'll bet it doesn't take them long to figure out what's going on, so I won't put those out until I actually have something for them to steal....

I went out to the garden this morning and right beside the pond was a bird and in the tree next to it was a squirrel in the tree. And of course there were a couple of cats hanging around too. I can't wait for some frogs to move in....tomorrow I'm going to Huntsville with Momma and will get a few goldfish on the way home. I just hope the raccoons or the cats don't get them out of the pond.

Here's a picture of the birdbath in front of my studio--I love how it looks when all the flowers start to fill in. I wish I could take the credit for it but it was like that before I bought it. I used to admire it when I went to visit Daisy. We'd sit on the front porch in her rockers and Dusty would lie in the birdbath. I always thought it would make a pretty picture--I haven't caught Dusty in there when I have my camera though.

I haven't been in the mood to take pictures much lately, but I got the urge today. Of course Sweet Pea was ready to pose, as usual! I took a video of him and the other cats yesterday and he loved watching it--I showed it to him on the camera and he kept peeking around it. It seemed like he was really interested when he was on the screen, but I'm sure that was just my wild imagination! ha!

I followed Pumpkin around trying to get a good picture to show y'all his gorgeous blue eyes. It was hard but I finally got a good one!

I guess I better rest up for my shopping day tomorrow--I promise not to wait so long before I come back next time!!

I'm paintin' my room!

I'm taking a lunch break and eating a tomato sandwich so I thought it would be a good time catch up here! (Those are my little mater plants in the picture....at least its a start!) I got up today and decided to paint my bedroom--like I didn't have enough projects started already. Now I kind of wish I hadn't started it. There is so much stuff in there I just have to move it around and so far I only have some trim painted and the doors painted. But I know I'll be glad when I'm done. Right now its pink--I'm painting the walls a shade lighter than my studio. I had bought some shades for my kitchen in my studio but I brought them over here to go in my bedroom. Hopefully they have more at Home Depot!

My husband's work van has been leaking transmission fluid so he's been driving my truck for the past two days! I needed to go buy some compost to finish planting the garden....so instead I am painting. Guess I'll get compost this afternoon.

Let me tell you what I did yesterday....I designed myself some post cards & had them printed & I ordered stamps for them a couple of days ago. I printed labels and put stamps on over 100 of them yesterday and I was so proud. I had them ready to take to the mail box when my husband got home. Then he informed me that postage went up yesterday. So I had to order 100 one cent stamps to go on them. I had some 2 cent ones left over that I can use too. I was soooo aggravated when I found that out! I guess I am going to have to increase my pattern prices since they include shipping. Postage has gone up twice and is supposed to go up again in a few months and I have never increased my prices. I hate to have to do it. :(

Happy Mother's Day! (a little late!)

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day weekend! I'm not a Momma but I still had a good weekend! We worked in the garden, got the pond dug and lots of plants put around it, put up some trellises for the beans, sweet taters and small melons. I finally finished painting the door for my bathroom in my studio so we can get started on the floor in the next room. Saturday morning we started tearing down an old building. We thought we were just getting the doors, but when we got there, we found out we can get the whole building. We weren't really prepared and couldn't fit much in my truck, so we worked on it a couple of hours, then had to come home to get ready  to go again....Saturday afternoon we went to Momma & Daddy's for a mother's day/Momma's birthday/Kenyon's birthday get together. We cooked hot dogs on the grill and ate lots of good food. We stayed there until about 8:30 (and I wasn't ready to go yet!) then went to see my mother-in-law. We stayed there until after 11:00 pm....probably way past everyone's bedtime except mine! ha! But it was fun getting to visit with everyone. Everyone gathered around Jackson at Momma's house....and of course I took tons of pictures, but this one is my favorite. Everyone keeps saying he looks just like my brother and I couldn't really tell until I looked at these pictures when I got home and now I definitely see it. He's just starting to smile....what a fun time!

Did  I mention there's a new kitty hanging around? I don't know if he belongs to anyone or not, but he certainly is a hungry cat! He has been coming every evening when we work in the garden so I started putting him out some food. He's extra friendly and it didn't take long for me to get to pet him--he was mostly afraid of my cats that all followed me out there when I tried to pet him. I really think he's one of the cats that belonged to a lady that lived a few houses down from us. She died not long after we moved here and she had 2 cats-one solid white one that moved across the road. (She used to visit me but got "mad" after Rusty came and won't come back now!!) She had another one that looked just like this one--my neighbor says his name was Coon because he looked like a raccoon (the mask on his face?). He looks older and his teeth aren't so good, like an old cat. So I really think this is the cat. The guy who took the white cat told me a while back that he didn't know what happened to the other one. Wherever he came from, he can keep eating here as long as he wants! ;)

I thought I'd share a photo of my garden--even though it doesn't look like much here! I do have some watermelons and winter squash growing on the right now and I have a trellis across the back and one on the row to the left for my tigger melons and beans. When (if????) everything starts growing, I'll take another picture for you. I even have a few things left that I have to plant!! This garden is a lot bigger than what I'm used to!!!

Did you recognize Frazier in the photo at the top? He loves the garden and loves it when we come out there to work. Believe it or not he even loves to sit in my lap! I never imagined he would be this friendly when I first picked him up. And it makes me so happy to see him rolling around in the garden and knowing how happy he is now.

Something for free--Really!

I have a new free pattern for Miss Annie! She is one of the projects to be on Creative Living with Sheryl Borden, so I thought I would start sharing these projects for free.  Click here to download the pattern....I just have a few guidlines for using the pattern. Go to my website to see. Its not much, really! And you can see a couple more free patterns...bookmark the page because I have several more to share. I'll be slowly adding all the ones from the tv show to that page. And I would love to see what your dolls look like--send me some pictures!!

We got our winter squash planted yesterday--that was one of the main things I wanted to plant. There is nothing like pumpkin and winter squash in the fall and winter. I bake a butternut squash and it just feels like fall. I have some tigger melons to try once again--I've been trying to grown them for a few years. I'll try something new this year and see what happens. If you like heirloom vegetables, you should check out Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds . I always get carried away when I order though--I'll bet I have 15 packets of heirloom tomato seeds!! ;)

I haven't had much time for taking pictures lately....I found this one of Sweet Pea chewing on my Christmas tree! The funny thing about this picture is--I had a copy of this picture and it was in the floor underneath some stuff. When I walked through my studio I glanced down and saw it and for a split second I thought Sweet Pea was squashed under all that stuff! LOL! 

New patterns on my website!

I have 2 new patterns on my website! At the top are "Buddies" and below that "Charlie". When you go to my website, you will see the newest patterns on the right. I've had these done for a while, just took too long to get them on my site! I have several more new ones to list in the days and maybe weeks to come. I've been doing a lot of gardening so I'm not on the comptuer as much as usual, so it seems to be taking longer to get things done.

We are working on our butterfly/cottage garden in a section of our backyard. My husband is off early so maybe we can get lots more done. I've been doing a lot of planting and I'm ready for that part to be done...ready for the veggies to start coming in. We actually have a few green cherry tomatoes and some blooms on a pepper plant. I picked up some tomatoes, peaches, onions & a watermelon at the Farmer's Market yesterday. But I'm anxious to have my own!!

I got to see my youngest nephew today--He's almost a month old now! How fun it was to watch him playing and kicking his tiny little feet! I had a lot of work to get done today but when I called Momma and she said he was with her, I rushed right over and stayed a while!

Here are some older pictures of Sweet Pea....I thought they were so funny. But when my husband saw them, he said, "Is he sleeping on my side of the bed???" LOL! He was--but he just likes that side better!

No, I haven't stopped blogging!

I know you probably think I have disappeared....I have just been gardening and working on my websites....I even listed some new patterns!! If you're getting ready for fall shows, I have a new  scarecrow pattern listed. And I promise I have more to come this week!! Tomorrow....I'll catch up on what we've been up to around here.