JungleTart's Good Stuff

It's a new year!! Welcome 2012!!

2012-01-08T11:05:00.002-05:00

It's a New Year and I am percolating my new projects for the year, trying to think ahead to yes...wait for it.. Christmas 2012!!

Christmas 2011 was good to me, especially the Joann Fabric's gift cards I received! Yaay!

I have just a little time to post at the moment but I want to thank readers for coming here, I hope 2012 is good to us all and I wish you a wonderful day!
Sincerely,
Jungletart

This is my wish or dream of what I would like to do next:

2011-10-15T18:33:00.003-04:00

What in the world is this, do you wonder? Warp? Weft? It's all about the loom Darling! This is a short (4 minute) video on talking about putting all those pesky strings onto your loom. I wanna loom!!! I am *thinking* of joining a weaver's guild (& a sewing guild, but that is another post) to learn all things wonderful. Does anyone want to see my finished sock and the work I'm doing on the second of the pair? Post a comment, friends!

Time to Post a Picture!

2011-09-17T22:34:00.003-04:00

I have just been missing from this blog for a while and decided to make somebody's (anybody's?) day by posting! Yay!

I have been working on projects, especially sewing projects, which is a fairly new craft for me. I am very excited about it. Like I said on the Jungletart blog, I am taking an online class on Craftsy ("Sewing with Diana Rupp") and having a blast! I really like the online thing, the fact that I can keep referring to it forever and that I do understand the instruction. I am not paid to glow about it, I just feel like glowing about it!:)

I still have the Jungle, a Pug is sleeping on me right now making wonderful dreaming sounds. Come to think of it, I should be doing the same thing, so I will sign off for now. Hopefully, it won't be too long before I am back again! Good night all.:)

Easter 2011

2011-04-28T22:31:00.004-04:00

a beautiful heart-shaped flower in my friend's yard

So it's been so long since I've posted on 'The Good Stuff.' I still adore 'He's Alive' by Dolly Parton and it expresses how I feel about Easter. I hope that you had a nice Easter this year.

My friend found jellybeans at Walmart, one of our favorite places to shop at, and we just had a sugar overdose, what with the chocolate bunnies and, may I say, the beautiful chocolate cake I made for the holiday. I'm trying to get off of the sugar.

Another beautiful friend of mine gave me the NIV (New International Version)of the Bible. I have started reading.

Happy almost Spring!!

2011-03-07T22:01:00.002-05:00

from an email

A place called Octagon: A special sanctuary

2010-10-24T16:56:00.004-04:00

A relative of mine saw this place, called Octagon, in person and said it was a wonderful experience.

The director, this relative says, is Jack Hannah, and it is a non-profit, non-breeding, no kill shelter for exotic animals, most of which have come from abandoned or abusive backgrounds. Their website is www.octagonwildlife.org.

It is not a zoo, in the sense that all animals have been rescued and no zoo will take them, often because of physical and/or mental disorders. They may have come from terrible circumstances, but their life is much better now.

I enjoyed the video and thought I would share it with you.:)

Gentle kiss.

2010-09-24T22:45:00.001-04:00

Sweetest

2010-09-21T18:55:00.002-04:00

Webshots, baby Pug sleeping

Because I like this song: The Statler Brothers ~ Flowers On The Wall

2010-08-28T18:15:00.001-04:00

It's Easter time again!

2010-03-27T21:53:00.002-04:00

This song says it all for me. This is what Easter is about.

The Snuggles Project

2010-02-17T19:57:00.001-05:00

If you love animals and making things (crochet, knit, quilt or sew) then you will probably be interested in The Snuggles Project. It's making and donating blankets for animals that are in shelters, where the floor can be cement or other harsh, cold environments.
Check it out!http://www.snugglesproject.org/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Happy Valentine's Day! From Moviefone and the 'Tart.

2010-02-14T08:55:00.007-05:00

I found a great article on the movies saying 'I love you' with movie clips and voiceovers of some memorable actors/actresses from the movies here

I tried to embed the video but it says it's 'not available in this area' so please click the 'here' link above to go to the page and see the the actual video.

I Knew it!!

2010-02-12T18:52:00.002-05:00

This came from Mike Golch's site. Check your kitty's plotting with a click on the picture.

We here in the Jungle may be in serious trouble if Reese the beautiful Siamese's thoughts come to fruition. (Personally, I think the puppy is going first 'cause the two of them have a 'smack-down' every day). Oh sure, he's laying peacefully on my lap right now, but he Has been know to Freeeaaak Oout, bite me and run off.

It's a matter of time people!

Mrs. Winslow's Wise Words:

2010-01-31T17:15:00.003-05:00

There is an article that I found here from MSN that talks about an article from the WSJ that has a great quote:

"Start small and do things that are manageable. Don't get so overwhelmed that you want to quit." - Mrs. Jennifer Winslow

Jeff Bridges waved to his wife at the SAG Awards.

2010-01-31T16:58:00.004-05:00

There's a wonderful story about Jeff Bridges waving to his wife at the SAG awards and and their interesting parlay behind the scenes here.

The story makes the truthful point that in a world that has been focusing on Tiger Woods, John Edwards and slew of other men who have not been acting right (and certainly not been kind to their wives) that there are real and good stories of upright men doing the right and kind things.

Enjoy!

The Starbucks Love Project

2010-01-06T08:19:00.001-05:00

Singing in unison, all over the world, I find it very moving.:)

Have a good day, all!

Birth of The Blues by members of the Rat Pack

2010-01-03T22:57:00.005-05:00

This is a great little video sent to me via my husband's grandma. She is 90-years- young and we have amazing similar taste in things, which I am unabashedly proud of.

Here is part of the Rat Pack: Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra (Ol' Blue Eyes), Dean Martin and a very young Johnny Carson (People, I remembered their names off the top of my head, no Googling for me!:) singing together. Enjoy!

Dolly's Coat of Many Colors

2009-12-28T14:10:00.003-05:00

I love this song, and as many of you know, I just love Dolly! It goes a little faster than I am used to compared the phonograph (yes, I still have records!:) that I played over and over as a youth.

This is the most wonderful song and just the right message.:) Have a wonderful day, all!

Pink Glove Dance

2009-11-29T21:54:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2009-11-26T18:13:00.001-05:00

Still thinking about hobbies.

2009-11-16T00:44:00.003-05:00

Even though I am experiencing irritable symptoms, and may I say I know that I am a Pill to live with (I am sorry, Hubby) I am also percolating thoughts on my hobbies and new things I want to get into.

I have been looking into heddle looms (as if I could afford one, but one can always dream:) because the thought of weaving has always interested me. I even watched the videos on YouTube about some specific one and how to operate it. So neat. Someday, I surely hope, I can do that.

I have been interested in weaving for a long time. Everything about it, from the fiber from the animal, to its roving and spinning it into thread, to knitting and crocheting (which I am now convinced is much cheaper to do than actually weaving cloth). But I would like to delve into everything.

Then there is doll making. The soft dolls made of fabric. I found some adorable dolls that my mom made me when I was little, complete with little outfits. We were both so thrilled that I found them and in such good condition.

Then I read about 'Doll Fashionistas' which comes with a DVD and teaches the newbie how to make fabulous dolls. Mom's willing to get it for Christmas! Oh Goody!

Sewing project link: fabric paint featuring Kenley Collins of Project Runway

2009-11-13T23:18:00.003-05:00

http://www.sewfastseweasy.com/stitch_and_bitch/index.php

I've been reading Sew Fast Sew Easy by Elissa K. Meyrich which includes three patterns - an envelope pillow, a tote bag and a skirt. I typed in the url in the back of the book and after some poking around, found the neat video featured in the link above.

I will be getting my sewing machine out this weekend as I have been offered a small hemming job (four pairs of jeans) that I will be paid for and I have been thinking about maybe starting to sew things. I remember being good at it in Home Economics in school many years ago, how soothing it is to keep a straight line on a machine, the hum of it's motor, the thrill of creating something.

2009-10-20T22:03:00.000-04:00

Love ya!:)

"Because of Winn-Dixie:" Good movie.

2009-10-12T20:06:00.003-04:00

I just want the world to know that when it comes to movies, I'm pretty much a rated-G, or rated-PG girl. I'm fond of Disney movies and happy things, comedies and what-not. So that's where I'm coming from.

'Because of Winn-Dixie' is a pure delight. Honestly, I was afraid from reading the back of the movie that maybe there would be animal abuse, but there is none in this movie. It is a delight from beginning to end. I just wanted to put that on my 'Good Stuff' blog.:)

Spinning: How to Spin Yarn With a Drop Spindle (from Alpaca Direct)

2009-10-07T20:10:00.002-04:00

Can't see the yarn up close, but it does show the action of the spindle.

I have a wooden spindle that I bought and some roving, sent to me by some wonderful person when I was on Sparkpeople.com (TY!:) and I am still in the process of figuring out spinning. The 'Tart loves, Loves textiles.:)

The Baby dancing to Beyonce.

2009-09-26T23:06:00.002-04:00

You may have seen this already, (it's very popular!) but I wanted to put it here on the 'Good Stuff.' This is baby Cory Elliott from New Zealand dancing to Beyonce's 'Single Ladies.' Too cute!!

Arby's 'Potato Bites' understand me.

2009-09-26T21:31:00.002-04:00

For an extra dollar, you can substitute the potato bites for the curly fries.
They are full of cheese and come with ranch sauce. Need I say more?!

I found something beautiful on the web about Patrick Swayze.

2009-09-18T11:50:00.003-04:00

"A relationship survives because of keeping the friendship alive and learning how to fall in love over and over again and never taking the other person for granted and seeing things in a new light with new eyes," Patrick said in 2007. "We're big believers in, arguments are okay as long as it's not about your ego, but it's about a mutual goal -- trying to create something special."

I found today, while reading about the fact that Mr. Swayze would not take painkillers in an effort to stay sharp, that he was incredibly and utterly in love with his wife, and she with him. I found this quote from him (above) and I think if you really read it you'll find that it rings so true.

I've said on another's blog that I was so glad Mr. Swayze did the movie 'Ghost' because it shows that love can transcend time that our loved ones wait for on the other side and sometimes can intercede for us. I think that is lovely and beautiful, too.

Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash - Happy Monday!

2009-08-31T20:01:00.003-04:00

I was watching PBS or WETA last night and they had a small documentary on legend and icon Johnny Cash. I saw Johnny and his wife, June Carter Cash, sing the song 'Jackson' and it has been in my head all day. So I looked it up on YouTube, and here it is, along with 'Cause I love you,' for you to enjoy.:)

Bloggers Unite: Go see 'Julie & Julia'

2009-08-30T20:34:00.003-04:00

This movie was a great uplift to my day.

The story is Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams (the cutie from 'Enchanted') as a blogger blogging 365 days of Mrs. Child's cooking.

The movie is a delight, in my view, and I disagree with People magazine's review that Amy Adams/the blogger's side of the story was whiney or boring. It's a thrill as a blogger/writer on both ends of the story and it wouldn't have been right without the present day blogger's story, no matter what a stunner Meryl Streep, as usual, is at being a near perfection of a delightful Julia Childs.

As testament to what a good movie it is, I found out before the movie started (from some hens that were telling everyone and the manager at the movie theater) that there was something wrong with the last 20 minutes or so of the actual film in our theater. The theater was packed, and wouldn't you know it the picture started to go in and out of blurriness in the last twenty minutes. No one left the theater. We all wanted to know how it turned out. We got to see the end, with a little eyestrain, and every single person in the theater received two tickets to see a free movie. Now you can't beat that.:)

Top 5 Life Lessons

2009-07-28T15:02:00.004-04:00

I read an article off MSN here that I am quoting:

"What a person learns and leaves is as individual as his fingerprints. But I found some heartening insights into common themes in this new research from Priceless Legacy, a company that turns interviews with older adults into life
stories in print or video format. An analysis of its projects shows that the top five life lessons shared by people ages 65 to 104 are:

1) The simple things matter most.
2) Humor and time cure most pains.
3) There's more satisfaction in giving than getting. Service to others is the most satisfying activity.
4) Choose your spouse carefully. It will be your most important decision.
5) Work hard and in a field or role that you enjoy."

Dolly article

2009-07-26T18:12:00.003-04:00

In keeping up with my Dolly Parton fascination, see an article here .

What I love about this article is that Dolly is 63-years-old and has no plans for slowing down. As a matter of fact, she's got ALL KINDS of plans. As someone that is perhaps quite a bit younger than her (with bipolar lets not forget) that has been feeling like there's not much more left for me to do, that it's all over (I admit to feeling that way sometimes lately) I love her example that it's never over, that there's still so much more to do.

I love that she's 'real' and simply as an aside she is an example to me that you can have an enormously fulfilling life without ever having a child, which as I said is an aside, but it has meaning to me. Go Dolly!

Peace.

2009-07-02T10:37:00.004-04:00

I may be bipolar, but I do find peace, especially in my backyard, watching that fire I told you about annnnnd being in the hot tub. Yes, we have one. I have a lovely backyard and this time of year the Junebugs are out and when I am out there this song comes to mind. Of course, Dolly has the perfect song. I wanted to find a rendition of it that showed the beautiful countryside that can be found around where I live too. Enjoy.

Campfire in the Jungle's backyard!:)

2009-06-14T09:44:00.002-04:00

We had a campfire in the backyard via this small metal device which we've had for a while. We grilled some angus burger patty's from the local Walmart on our grill and enjoyed the fire until it started thunderstorming. My husband said we should have thought of this earlier as he found it so relaxing to sit by the fire and enjoy dinner!

I wrangled with Photoshop for this picture (I'm still figuring out el Photoshop!), as I rarely, as many know, put my photos on the web. But I thought you might like to enjoy this campfire too, although I would like it to remain exclusively on my site.:) (as we say to puppies when teaching them to leave things alone - Leave it, leave it!!!).

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!:)

Living with frogs.

2009-06-14T09:08:00.003-04:00

Green frog, Southern Brazil, Webshots.

This is not what it looks like, but we have big honker of a frog in our back room near the back door. I admit to having clutter and the biiiig frog slipped under the outside door, got past the dogs without being bothered (when they go outside) and slipped into the corner under a lot stuff that I wouldn't put my hand into. Eww I know, but he is a big beautiful toad and we seem to have a lot of those here.

My easy crock-pot recipe for chicken.

2009-05-20T01:20:00.005-04:00

It's not very fancy, but it feeds us. The one meat that I have a lot of is chicken breast because I get a big package of individually frozen ones at the warehouse store. So I am always wondering what can I make with this chicken that is different than a few days ago?

Well, I have been cooking at the cooking/baking class and we have made a few things, but I feel so bad for my husband who just comes home and makes a frozen pizza (we get the inexpensive generic kind from the store) and he is not fond of trying the many neat things that we make in class. So tomorrow I don't have cooking class and I think early in the morning I will:

Defrost 4 chicken breasts
Pour a can of either cream of chicken soup or (my favorite) cream of mushroom soup in the crock pot. I get the cheap soup (that is still low in fat) and it's condensed so I put the soup in first, so I can pour the can of water in, beat it with a whisk and it get smooth before putting the defrosted chicken in.
Arrange the chicken in the soup.
Season to taste.
Put the crock pot on for 8 to 10 hours.
It will be tender.
Drizzle the now cooked soup over the chicken for a nice gravy.
You can serve it with rice. I get Uncle Ben's wild rice medley - that's my favorite.
Makes four servings. If you're only feeding two, you can refrigerate the leftovers, and I believe even freeze them, for another nights feeding!:)

Fancy it's not, but it is easy, and it uses the crock-pot which is such a great time saver. Maybe others can share their recipes. Come to think of it, I don't know if I shared this before! Aw well CRS (Can't Remember Stuff!) kicking in.
Enjoy!

Time for a Spring update!

2009-05-11T01:25:00.002-04:00

The blog is lavender with stripes this evening, because I like purple and I think it goes with the pink rosebud.

I hope all are well in blogland.:)

He's Alive!!!

2009-04-19T05:08:00.000-04:00

Flowers brighten the little places too.

2009-04-19T04:45:00.003-04:00

Reinvent your parking strip at this site at MSN. It shows pictures of the average parking strip (that couple of feet between sidewalk and curb) made more beautiful and economical (saves water) with local plants instead of sod.

I like this article because it gives simple ideas and has pictures.

Passionate blogger award

2009-03-29T05:25:00.004-04:00

Mike Golch received this award and some true and wonderful words from Compassionate blogger (the link is on Mike's site). Thank you, Mike, for giving it to me (it is 'Good Stuff's first award!) as I do feel a passion for blogging (and won't put ads on my site, it's to express myself). I feel very blessed to have blog friends like you and I give this award to my followers on both sites (Tracy - you are passionate twice!) and those that have commented on my site (Raine's AfterMath). It's a pleasure to reside in cyberspace with you and be blessed by your passion for documenting your days and your writings.
Tart:)

The Yum-O things we make in baking class.:)

2009-03-29T03:44:00.003-04:00

Besides cheesecake from scratch, various brownies, cookies from a box, we are making real FOOD in the baking class. THIS I am excited about!

In the three classes I have been back to we have made a white chicken chili soup which was WONDERful, ham/spinach/mushroom quiche (which I could live off of - seriously, quiche covers all the food groups and just whets my appetite for proteins and makes me want to eat the whole pie - love it, Love It, LOVE IT!) and a marvelous rolled meatloaf, that had ham and spinach inside! We also learned to make fried rice! THAT my friends is a lifetime gift. I feel blessed.

'Ranch Crispy Chicken'

2009-03-23T10:45:00.007-04:00

I got this 'bargain bin' cookbook called '100 Best Chicken Recipes' and it has this super easy recipe for Ranch Crispy Chicken that we tried at home and it was Dee-lic-ious!

1/4 cup unseasoned dry bread crumbs or cornflake crumbs

1 packet (1 ounce) HIDDEN VALLEY Original Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix

6 bone-in chicken pieces

Combine bread crumbs and salad dressing & seasoning mix in a gallon-size plastic food storage bag. Add chicken pieces; seal bag. Shake to coat chicken. Bake chicken on ungreased baking pan at 375 degrees F. for 50 minutes or until no longer pink in center and juices run clear.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

I also made homemade mashed potatoes and chicken gravy to go with it, and a little salad for greens.:)

cut up, peeled potatoes ready for cooking to make mashed potatoes

ATCs - I am intrigued.

2009-03-15T02:36:00.003-04:00

ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards. Using what media you want to (collage, painting, clay, metal, drawing, scrapping) you create a card the size of a playing card (the dimensions are exact, I *think* 2.5 by 3.5) creating art and pictures on your card and you exchange them with other artists. No money is exchanged, they are not bought, they are traded. I think you can find other people to do it with over the internet. I am researching.

Then there is something called mail art. Mail as art, essentially. I guess decorating the mail you send out Is in fact considered art. How cool! I love to do that anyway, put rubber stamps, stickers and draw on envelopes. There's a whole world out there!:)

A resource for tatting/cro-tatting.

2009-03-14T18:51:00.006-04:00

a picture of cro-tatting from the site 'MaryM's Original Daisy Boullion edging,' referenced in the website below.

You can Google this as easily as myself, but I found a great site that has pictures showing step-by-step how to cro-tat here.

Tatting uses a shuttle to create 'knots' and circles, or tiny picots, and when done over and over can create a beautiful lace that can look similar to a very fine crochet lace piece.

Cro-tat uses a small crochet hook to create the tatting, instead of the usual "shuttle" that tatters normally use.

Tatting is an art, one that you don't hear about as often as knit or crochet. My husband's aunt use to tat constantly, it was her special gift (her hands were always moving and working - constantly) and she made many special gifts for his family, until her death a few years ago when she was in her late 90's.

I would love to learn how to do it, and have noticed that my LYS (local yarn store) does sell shuttles. A few years ago I bought a VHS video on tatting called 'Tatting I - The Basics' by Mildred Clark, brought to you by Victorian Video Productions.

I also bought 'Tatting Beginner Tatting Kit Quick and Easy' (Item number 5050-K) from the Tatsy company, which includes a shuttle with instructions for making an Angel, Photo Frame, Flower, Book Mark, 2 Mini Flowers, 2 Butterflies.

I admit I haven't checked it out yet or haven't delved into the art yet, I have been holding onto it for 'one of these day' (I love needlework, stationary, and art supplies and have probably a lifetime amount of them as I have noticed that many others do as well out there, off my Amazon emails "What do you like to craft" that comes to me, but that is probably another post entirely! It's a SICKNESS! But such a fun one.) but maybe you can still get it on the web or Ebay, if you are interested in learning tatting.

Friendship is God's Special Way of Loving Us Through Someone Else.

2009-03-06T00:55:00.000-05:00

Happiness.

2009-02-22T20:47:00.003-05:00

From my online knitting calendar:

“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.”—Charles Kingsley

A Belated Valentine.

2009-02-17T15:18:00.003-05:00

To all my FRIENDS, including Mike Golch who gave it out. I'm a little late on Valentine's Day, but consider yourself a special and cared for person.
Sincerely,
Tart

Dreaming this Tuesday!:)

2009-02-17T13:41:00.001-05:00

Celebrating the new pup's arrival.

2009-02-06T20:51:00.004-05:00

Tonight I used Velveeta in my macaronia and cheese for the first time. I cooked 2 cups of penne pasta, then melted in 1/3 pound of Velveeta and eyed about 1/3 cup milk (probably put too much in) and lots of pepper. This all off of the box itself.

Then in a separate pan, I cooked sliced chicken with Arroyo less sodium seasoning, Mrs. Dash, a little pepper, some Basil, onion powder, garlic powder, basically a little of everything that I had around (that goes good on chicken).

I had my 4 oz.'s of chicken on top of 1 cup of the macaroni and gave the rest to Husband (plenty of leftover mac & cheese after he had his).

Someone had given Husband champagne at work. He sometimes gets gifts like that, because people really appreciate the hard work that he does fixing their computers, etc., all day. We had been saving it for a special occasion.

Unfortunately, it was BITTER as All Get-Out!!!!!!!!!!!! I had three sips and could not stand it. No worries for it clashing with my medicine, because I barely had any. It was a nice thought but we did not drink anymore than the couple of sips. But we had foo-foo glasses at dinner and it did feel special. Oh silly us!!!

My sweet fawn female pug puppy comes home tomorrow!! Read my bipolar blog for more information.

Turns out, Husband likes beans!:)

2009-01-29T17:16:00.006-05:00

my Navy beans with carrots

At least he liked the Navy beans I made. Then I made black-eyed peas with cut up ham (from a slice that I bought at the store - no picture). He ate that and thought I did a good job, however, he liked the Navy beans better. I'm making them soon again in the crockpot.:)

Forgive me, but sometimes so few things make me laugh...

2009-01-13T10:47:00.003-05:00

The writer(s) at MSN talking about the 'Worst Dressed' at the Golden Globes admit to being 'grumpy' and even catty. Which they surely are, but nobody ever said that wasn't 'entertaining,' at least not me. I must share this, because well, it did make me laugh. This person's writing is a hoot. The picture is truly even funnier after you read the caption.

Golden Globes Undressed! The Worst
By Kat Giantis
Special to MSN Entertainment

Cathouse Call: There are many exclamations a star in haute couture hopes to hear as she arrives on the red carpet, but "Holy cats, has Renée Zellweger been rummaging around in Sharon Stone's medicine cabinet?" isn't one of them. That is, unless she was trying to look like Miss Kitty from "Gunsmoke" after she quietly branched out into the brothel business. The puckered-lipped Oscar winner suffers an epic failure in a crackpot outfit from her longtime go-to designer Carolina Herrara, who definitively proves that sheer black organza over one's unmentionables does not a top make (see Gwyneth "Granny Panties" Paltrow for additional evidence). While Zellweger's trumpet skirt might have been tolerable if paired with something (anything) other than a see-through overlay and a creepy, flesh-colored corset, there's nothing that can overcome her screwball corkscrew updo, which appears to have been styled with an industrial strength bottle of Super Glue and an electric cattle prod. (WireImage.com)

Bono's take on Frank Sinatra ~ from the NYT

2009-01-11T14:46:00.003-05:00

See here for an article by Opinion editor Bono (of U2 and the advocacy group One fame) about Frank Sinatra.
The highlight of the article is:

'There’s a voice on the speakers that wakes everyone out of the moment: it’s Frank Sinatra singing “My Way.” His ode to defiance is four decades old this year and everyone sings along for a lifetime of reasons. I am struck by the one
quality his voice lacks: Sentimentality.

Is this knotted fist of a voice a clue to the next year? In the mist of uncertainty in your business life, your love life, your life life, why is Sinatra’s voice such a foghorn — such confidence in nervous times allowing you romance but knocking your rose-tinted glasses off your nose, if you get too carried away.

A call to believability.

A voice that says, “Don’t lie to me now.”

That says, “Baby, if there’s someone else, tell me now.”

Fabulous, not fabulist. Honesty to hang your hat on.'

Simple Meat Loaf

2009-01-08T15:08:00.005-05:00

My meat loaf before going into the oven

After an hour in the oven. Yum!

I made a meat loaf yesterday. It turned out pretty good. I followed the recipe off a box of Lipton Onion soup mix. I think what made it so good was less meat (I didn't have the full 2 pounds) and 1/4 cup extra ketchup. I also make a 'trough' on the top of the loaf before cooking it and fill it with ketchup, as you can see.

Off the back of Lipton soup box:

1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix

2 lbs. ground beef

3/4 plain dry bread crumbs

2 eggs

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine all ingredients.

In 13x9-inch baking or roasting pan, shape into loaf.

Bake 1 hour or until done. Let stand 10 minutes.

8 servings

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

How to make Tangerine Sherbet in the 'Tiny Kitchen'

2009-01-03T02:13:00.002-05:00

See this video of the 'Tiny Kitchen' from the NYT online magazine.
'Tiny Kitchen: Tangerine Sherbet
Jill Santopietro, recipe tester for the New York Times, creates a tangerine sherbet recipe from this week's magazine in her tiny 11.5 square foot kitchen, and explains why it isn't "sorbet."'

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/01/02/magazine/1194836626134/tiny-kitchen-tangerine-sherbet.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Never too late to share the story of O Holy Night!

2009-01-03T01:44:00.001-05:00

The Baby cross-stitch is done!

2009-01-02T18:08:00.002-05:00

I gave it to the Mom, Dad & Baby Elizabeth on Christmas Eve. They loved it!

Happy New Year!! Welcome 2009!!

2009-01-02T17:58:00.002-05:00

Taquitos from our party

We had a wonderful new year's celebration spent with a friend over. We decorated with a sign, balloons and even streamers, just to be festive ~ and had pizza, shrimp, taquitos, and potato chips to feast on and celebrated the New Year with Martinelli's Sparkling Cider.

I made scrambled eggs and chopped summer sausage for brunch New Year's day.:)

Later that day, we stopped at Cracker Barrel and I had my 'good luck' black-eyed peas to start the New Year right. (my friend told me about this tradition, and wouldn't you know it one of Cracker Barrel's specials was black-eyed peas!)

I wish everyone a safe, wonderful, and peaceful New Year.:)

Soo in the mood:)

2008-12-09T11:42:00.001-05:00

Cat & the Printer

2008-12-07T21:21:00.005-05:00

Have you seen this? It came to me in email. It's hilarious!!

Oh, those curious cats!!:) My cat gets on the printer all the time, but never has this much fun!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/PerthPurplePenguin/vids/?action=view&current=cvUMHvLZ.flv

The Gray Husband scarf is done!:)

2008-11-18T19:40:00.003-05:00

It's done, and he is happy with it!

I read on a knitting blog somewhere (which one escapes me, I apologize) that the person noted that it was neat that you could refer to something as 'gray' or 'grey' depending on how you felt at that moment. I think this scarf is gray with a grey stripe! Good evening to all!:)

Chunky Chicken Vegetable Soup

2008-11-18T19:01:00.003-05:00

Right off the back of a Good Season Italian seasoning packet box - this is a hearty and wonderful soup that I made following this recipe - you could do this!

Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 20 minutes Makes: 5 (1-cup) servings

1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1tsp. oil

1 can chicken broth (14-1/2 oz.)

1-1/2 cups water

2 cups assorted cut-up vegetables (such as sliced carrots, broccoli florets and chopped red pepper)

1 envelope GOOD SEASONINGS Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix

1/2 cup MINUTE White Rice, uncooked

2 Tbsp. chopped parsley

COOK and stir chicken in hot oil in large saucepan until browned.

ADD broth, water, vegetables and salad dressing mix. Bring to boil.

Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer 5 minutes.

STIR in rice and parsley; cover. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes.

Great substitute: Substitute 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, for cut-up fresh vegetables.

Comfort foods & an apple a day...

2008-11-18T17:55:00.008-05:00

When it gets cold outside, I like my comfort food which the number one has got to be real, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy. Peel those potatoes, cut them up in cubes, boil em, strain em, put the butter (I use a vegetable-good-for-you margarine) and (skim) milk in there, mash em up and voila - yuuuu-um!!!

I have been using a packet mixed with water to make my chicken gravy and that has been yummy on top. Mmmm-mmm!!!

Potatoe peeler and potatoes

Peeled and cubed potatoes Yum!

****

Along with those mashed potatoes, why not coat some chicken legs in an egg wash, load the bread crumbs on and throw them on the barbeque? We don't think it's too late to barbeque in the winter (propane tank) and by Gosh, it was yummy.

Egg wash or coating

Italian bread crumbs

Chicken drumsticks (inexpensive at the warehouse store)

*****
Apple and Laughing Cow Cheese (Tiny in Weight Watcher's points! Halleluah!!)

I discovered 'Laughing Cow' off television but my Mother told me where to find in our local grocery store. Imagine my delight to find that one little wedge (and they are pretty small) is only 1 point in Weight Watcher's land. Not to mention eating an apple is a goood thing, also quite loow in points, and in the middle you'll notice Carr's crackers (a foo foo cracker that I found out about while on ANOther diet:). I recently read that eating an apple a day really can be just the thing for most of us, it even has a special anti-oxidant called a riboflavinoid, which I may have spelled incorrectly, found in the skin of the apple that is Oh-So-Good for you!
Have a great evening!
:)Tart

A Baby is Born!!

2008-10-24T21:39:00.002-04:00

My husband’s cousin had the baby yesterday and named her: Elizabeth Mary:)
Welcome to the world, Elizabeth!!

I am calling her a finished project for obvious reasons, as she is here! Just not a project that I made - hee hee! I'm so full of it I know.

Turtle escaping from my yard!!

2008-10-14T14:52:00.002-04:00

A couple of days ago, I found the Pugs side by side barking at SOMEthing! They were obviously afraid of it as they were standing a good two feet (luckily!) away from this lovely big box turtle.

I finally got the Pugs inside which was not easy as Emma's collar slipped off and Mia was a stinker and got back out of the house after I got her in. I stayed in the house a while ('cause I was busy!) then came out for turtle pictures, BUT he was gone.

Then the other day, Mia is barking at something at the gate and it's Mr. Turtle again, trying desperately to GET OUT of our yard. So, I snagged two pictures, and then put the guy in the front yard and he happily got away!:)

Progress on a Baby Cross-stitch!!:)

2008-10-13T16:02:00.004-04:00

For a Mom that's about to POP!! My husband's cousin is due Oct. 24th!! I can't wait to find out the name of the baby, literally, because I will be cross-stitching it in! Here is my progress as of today. I've got a teddy-bear head! And so much more to go. I'd like to get it done in time for Christmas.

What a Great Story!

2008-09-10T16:51:00.002-04:00

From msnbc, being interviewed my Matt Lauer, a father & son swept out to sea are saved! The son is autistic, and I started to cry when his Dad said one of their nonverbal catchphrases is Buzz Lightyear's 'to Infinity...and beyond!' It was so sweet, I couldn't help it.

I enjoyed my time at the Beach!

2008-09-06T17:59:00.004-04:00

We had such nice weather last week!

My BIL brought his kite to fly but despite all the string he bought for it, it kept crashing.

My husband and I walked along the beach a little one day, and sat in front of it for a while the next.

Lot's of shopping, or looking at things. I did get a turtle stained-glass windchime and a red-eyed tree frog box (that you could put your rings into or just look cute).

I also got a big yellow beach bag with the name of the beach we went to, and new blue swim shoes that will probably replace my old fading purple ones for the pool!

I did get into the hotel's outside pool, which was saltwater, at night when everyone was out of the pool, which was nice.

I didn't feel crowded, except for the one day the hotel elevator was packed with people, but that didn't last long!

We saw fireworks one night for free, as they went off in a location that was easy to see from our balcony.

We ate plenty of seafood like calamari, shrimp, flounder, even clams at one stop. And a fantastic local pizza joint with some of the best pizza ever!

The best dinner was the one my MIL cooked in my honor when we went to their house before leaving for this trip - steak and crablegs!

She even Made me an icecream cake out of Klondike bars - I thought it really kind of her.

I got to play Guitar Hero on a hand-held PS2 or something like that. You strum the strings with a pick and can listen with earphones if you want.

I may not have mentioned my proclivity for the game (I Love It!) and my BIL is a gadget king with all the neat games and brought it and let me play.

I especially loved the SRV (Stevie Ray Vaughn) song on there which you can't seem to find on a regular GH games.

I enjoyed my time at the beach with my family, from the ocean to the ocean breeze, to shopping and walking & looking at things, to eating, to just hanging out, it was a great vacation.:)

I'm an at home Library Volunteer!! Perrrrfect!

2008-08-11T14:58:00.006-04:00

Shhh... Librarian Gear Women's Long Sleeve Dark T-
Buy this product at CafePress
Designed by Farmington Public Library Foundation Store

Here I am, all excited about my new post as a library volunteer!:)

No, I don't work for Cafepress, I'm not even affiliated with Farmington Public Library Foundation Store (I didn't even know anything about them till I picked this design to put on here), I just like this retro looking design they sell on CafePress (just type in librarian on their search, and see what happens!)

I'm screamin, I'm screamin, after all you can't SsHH! me at home!!!:)

This new 'job' as a library volunteer doesn't even require a new wardrobe or even hardly leaving my house (if I wish not to)! I get to do what I would have done for medical transcription, kind of, by entering information for them at my home on my own computer for my state's geneology system!

What a cool job is that! It is a volunteer position, so I don't get paid, but I am still working at the baking position and I got my first paychecks for that and - Baaaaby, that's real cash money, know what I'm sayin'???!!! So, I'm getting paid for some of the work I do.

I could not help thinking, after meeting with the volunteer coordinator for the library system for my County, that this was God-given, I had been led here and didn't even really realize it. It's hard to explain but, for instance, if I can't medical transcript at home, I can do other things at home. I can still work outside the home and I have time to enter info for the library. I thank the Lord for leading and giving me this opportunity.

Pics of the biggest fish I ever caught!!:)

2008-07-24T22:10:00.002-04:00

It's a catfish, several feet in length, weighing, I would estimate at least as much as my Emma dog Emma dog (18 pounds), probably more.

Like I said on www.jungletart.blogspot.com, my other, bipolar blog, it is hard to see in these pictures how large the sucker was because he was hard to hold out of the water, but Here He is!!:)

Wow! Such goodies galore! (Stuff I bring home from my job and a slow cooker recipe!)

2008-07-24T21:34:00.003-04:00

My job on Tues. and Thurs. nights has me baking lots of goodies and bringing samples of them home to a happy Husband who loves good desserts.

In the four weeks since I started this we have made: cupcakes (with a Mango frosting from a Food Network recipe that Bobby Flay won a throwdown with) and a frosting with cream cheese which I personally adored, an easy apple streusal cake on the first night with real apples we peeled and cut ourselves, brownies (from a box and from scratch), fudgie cookies with walnuts that were yummy, a granola cherry thing that I Must make again sometime, a pineapple upside down cake that we donated to one of the Churches that we bake in (we got a taste and it was very good, although the cake was a little flat in inches, but their youth group apparently liked it very much!), a spice cake, and a bundt cake with vanilla and real chocolate syrup swirls! YUMMY, I know!!

The unfortunate thing about working essentially 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and then driving a long ways to get home is that dinner is a real pain to have ready and I am often hungry when I get home (I don't eat this stuff, mostly just bring some home for Husband!). So I got to thinking that I should use my slow cooker, and I didn't have a lot of time today to make something sooo this is what I did:

Chicken Legs in a Slow Cooker:
Yes! It is yummy and let me tell you how to do it:
I went ahead and defrosted chicken legs, with skin (only 10 cents a pound at our local large discount club)
and placed 5 legs in the slow cooker
with two cans of condensed Cream of Chicken soup (I used two, plus two cans of water, because my little book on slow cookers said the slow cooker should be filled at least halfway with whatever you're putting in, but it did seem too bad to have to use two),
a can of peas
and cooked the whole thing for 6 hours.
I had Husband put in green beans when he got home before me for the last hour
because my little book said frozen things should be put in last so they would not be soggy.

It was great! The chicken meat fell right off the bone, the cream of chicken made a nice broth, and peas and green beans added a vegetable!

This was a low cost way to have dinner at home and I was not grazing or eating things I should not at home. Vive the slow cooker and a little bit of work!:)

Johnny Depp 'tips' / gives hat to boy; I have a splendid pool time:)

2008-06-23T19:48:00.006-04:00

I found one of these heartwarming stories on MSN today here , where Mr. Depp sent his hat to a teen after promising to do so! The child's family was impressed.

Hope everyone is starting their week off well.

I went to the pool as I mentioned I would on the Jungletart blog , and had a good time. I did the class with a bunch of nice older women, I was definitely the youngest, and that's okay. Then, while my Mom and others got into the hot tub there, I did some laps in the Adult swim lap lanes, including my 'famous' back stroke. I managed to do this for 15 minutes then I very ungracefully got out of the pool. But, I got out, and that's the important thing!:)

Have a great week, everyone!
Tart

Heartwarming story

2008-06-07T13:08:00.002-04:00

I thought this was a heartwarming story: Meet the miracle baby that was born twice at http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/24999650/?GT1=43001

This baby had a rare tumor, a rare surgery outside the womb, and a healthy birth afterwards. Nice.

:) Tart

Knitting again! Playing clarinet, again!

2008-06-07T07:10:00.002-04:00

Now that I have a little more 'contained' energy, I've returned to some hobbies. Some I didn't talk about before, playing clarinet, and some I've mentioned, that cute 'lil' hobby known as knitting!

I don't do them at the same time (grin) but I do use them to keep my hands busy and mind thoughtful when not at the ol' bloggin keyboard.

Perhaps photos will come soon of the enormous pink acrylic needles I decided to finally use and may I say they just work better for me than skinny metal ones, for playing around and learning! I highly recommend the 'fat' ones for just that purpose. The ones I have are size 15.

And clarinet: I've had mine for a very long time and I can still do it, which is a miracle. And I have lots of sheet music, which is my forte: reading music for it. I never learned scales properly, which held me back several times. But I actually play for recreation and my own personal fun. (I'd love to be in a Jazz Band someday - but I think that will take lessons in order to do (check my 25 wishes!). I'm not there yet).

All have a pleasant day, this Saturday morning and rest of the weekend!
Yours,
Tart

Taking time out - on purpose & cause you have to

2008-05-29T16:08:00.003-04:00

Cat sleeping in, by Webshots

I realize that I just want everything to move faster. I did not think to be more appreciative of the fact that my hands have stopped shaking Considerably, since stopping lithium almost two weeks ago. YYYYYYAAAAAAAYYYY!!!! Thank you, brain chemicals and thank you Lord! (Perhaps in not that order, or maybe.)

Anyway, it's important to take naps, to take time out and I love how cats (and dogs) know to take their naps and refresh and rest. A sweet reminder to us all.

Celebrating Memorial Day through Movies (& other activities)

2008-05-26T17:25:00.004-04:00

Turner Classic Movies is showing classic, black and white movies all day long concerning wars that the United States has been involved in. I've had the channel on all day, even though I've been out of the house considerably doing what Husband likes to do, frankly, on a day off. Work on projects. He just went and got a trailer for this very small boat we've had and he is busy making it ship-shape. This required going all around town getting parts for it.

That I think, is his way of celebrating the holiday. I like my Mom's way of celebrating which is to watch movies. She was watching 'The Best Years of Our Lives' with Myrna Loye and others. She looked at me very seriously and sincerely and said this was the first film that she knew of that dealt seriously with the aftermath of WWII. The film features a sailor with two metal hands going home after the war, hoping that his girlfriend will still love him.

I've been going between the two, helping Husband and watching the movie, but I think it's fitting to use cinema art to appreciate this day.

Others have said it better, but we do celebrate or commemorate in our own ways, and this day is very important, whether we commemorate our personal loved ones who have passed, to the truly brave soldiers and people that specifically fight for 'American pleasures and needs: freedoms' let me put it that way.

I've known a few in my own family and I can't think about them without a great deal of pleasure and pride in them, and I can't imagine the sadness and loss of those who have lost people like that in their lives, except for my personal losses. We should think that we suffer as a country for the losses, still daily, today.

I know plenty of people who look forward to cookouts with their families, going to baseball games with other people, going to the cemetery to remember loved ones, specifically putting the flag out for this day, going to D.C. for The Wall commemorations, to fixing a boat ramp trailer, to thinking of others once and a while (that is insinuating me on that) to write about it.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day.
Sincerely,
Tart

Good Stuff exclusive: Jungletart's Wishes

2008-05-19T17:56:00.005-04:00

Mysti posted about reading a book that encourages each of us to think of 20 wishes.

For some reason, I was listening to music today (the easy listening off AOL instant messenger)and heard Michael Buble, who I love, and have no CD's of. So I immediately created my 'birthday wishes' list, which I could only think of two objects that I want at this time. But then I started thinking what I 'really wanted' and so this list appeared:

Jungletart's Wishes

1. To have a job working at home as an editor or as Ebay seller
2. To have my animals and loved ones always healthy
3. To get rid of my clutter and have a beautiful house
4. To reduce my swelling and fat and be slim & strong again
5. To be financially secure
6. To have a farm with alpacas, or work for one, or have one and work for a farm taking care of it.
7. To help somebody else and know the joy of doing so
8. To crochet Mom’s booties, prayer shawls, finish Husband’s scarf
9. Learn to knit socks
10. Have a French Bulldog someday – a peppy, personality-filled one and matching name.
11. Join a group – either a knit/crochet one or bipolar OR both!
12. To not worry about my health, whether eyes, heart or mental
13. To read the Bible, the Book of Mormon and check out the Quran.
14. To play clarinet in a jazz band. Or bass guitar.
15. To practice my clarinet, mostly daily
16. To get a schedule, to have more structure in my day
17. Learn to play my Esteban guitar.
18. Learn to play the Casio.
19. Become a professional photographer with access to a dark room
20. Knit a dog sweater
21. Find a niche on Ebay – something to sell that will be mine and go thru the roof
22. To know what to do with Family Land I inherited, to the best of my ability
23. To write a book, then help people with theirs
24. To learn to cook really well and have a professional kitchen
25. To go to Italy, Las Vegas (again), California, Oklahoma, visit friends all over the country

Like Mysti, I'm going to post my list on the sideboard, maybe on the other blog too. Thank you, Mysti (Tracy Jo) for giving me the confidence to air my dreams. You don't know how much your courage affects me.

Feeling Hopeful

2008-05-18T22:37:00.005-04:00

Navarre, Spain

Now that I'm experiencing Day 1 of No Lithium, I am wondering what the future holds.

Please understand that I am responsibly going off the drug, as per my pdoc. He has been lowering my dose ever since I had a 4-day stay in the hospital (the regular one) for Lithium toxicity. So, I've paid my dues, Believe Me. Oh, did I mention I've been on the stuff for 20 years? So, I've Paid My Dues, Believe Me.

So now I'm pretty hopeful for the future. For the first time in a long time, I could actually reduce the edema (swelling) that I've experienced for so long. I look forward to the new me.

I want to take this moment to thank my regular readers, both here and on my 'Adventures' blog, commenters or not. Knowing that SOMEone, somewhere reads my words and well-meant thoughts means so much to me.

Bipolar is a chronic illness and I will be on meds for the rest of my life. Maybe even Lithium again. But for now I am enjoying the ride, not feeling scary one mood or another at the moment, and so glad for the opportunity.

Sincerely,

The JungleTart

Just bein' silly...

2008-04-30T13:43:00.001-04:00

Webshots

Big ol' brown bear reminds me of Lil' Brown Jug by Glenn Miller. My 'new' casio, plays it as a song with lights, like I'm going to learn it that way. If it's not in music, that I can read, and have forever to look at, I'm not going to memorize it. The day I do, I'll let you know.:)

Some more fabulous flowers from my yard!

2008-04-26T13:10:00.003-04:00

These are tulips of some 'spiky' variety and little daffodils.

I would think these are poppies as we had some in the backyard, BuT, behind them are yellow tulips so I am not sure. Regardless: gorgeous.

Couples that capture Tart's fancy...

2008-04-16T22:11:00.005-04:00

These are couples that I find fascinating, for one reason or another. I am emptying my coffers of pictures of the beautiful people, simply because I felt like it (most pics probably came from MSN, with the exception of the last one, which is Webshots).

Many of these are 'power couples' in Hollywood, some are married, some live together, (some for quite a long time in either case), some are dead, one is silly & speculatory (meaning: a big hmmm) and all were interesting enough to me to have holding in My Pictures, after having saved them, sometimes eons ago.

Soon, a photo outpour of individuals that Tart finds fascinating. (There won't be enough room on the blog for that one!).

If you're a celebrity hound (or just interested/fascinated by them, then this is the post for you). I know I will probably come back and refer to this myself, since the these pics are a lot bigger than what's in 'My Pictures.'

Here is an outpouring of classics I'm sharing with you, I hope you enjoy.:)

Catherine Zeta Jones & Michael Douglas

Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton

Goldie Hawn & Kurt Russell

Ellen DeGeneres & Portia De Rossi

Jenny McCarthy & Jim Carrey (so cute, both of them!!)

Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner (& Violet)

Bogey (Humphrey Bogart) & Bacall (Lauren)

Diane Lane & Josh Broslin

Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe

Dustin Hoffman & Lisa Gottsegan

Jennifer Lopez & Marc Antony

Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban

Roy Rogers & Dale Evans

George Clooney & Brad Pitt (just good friends, or lovers? Oh, just kidding, Angelina!) Speaking of... Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, though I have no pic of the two together. Hmmm...furthering adding fuel to the Clooney/Pitt connection, no? :) Well, carry on...
Cats & fish - can't keep them apart it seems! This furry guy looks like he's going to become one! Watch out fish, those PDAs (Public Displays of Affection) can be fatal!

The Gray Husband Scarf: close to completion (see sideboard pic)

2008-04-15T11:17:00.004-04:00

I really do use the 'Crocheter's Companion' to remind myself of what a single crochet is, all the time in fact. It's small with pictures and would be perfect for someone trying to learning crochet.

I keep my project in in zip lock bags when not working on them, especially to keep them clean. They're cheap. I also have a bottle like thing with a hole in the top, but it helps if you start the project with the yarn inside it and project outside. Well, that's protecting the yarn (which is good, as I have dumped tea on a huge "Pound of Love" ball before!) but what about the project? When I use that thing, I put my project back in the the 'bottle' if it will fit, with the yarn curled around top. Ziplocks work better, like I said.

I am surprised how the pattern of the single crochet looks on this scarf, compared to the more even look on other's I've made, although it looks nice and manly and Husband likes it. Well, regardless, I'm being consistent with the stitch and it's looking good. I have used 2 balls already of something called 'Quick' (I admit it's not Lion Brand, it seems kind of itchy if you ask me, but Husband picked it and the color so go figure) and 1 more ball ought to make the scarf wider and finish it off.

Check it out looking like the 'Chinese Wall' in my sideboard. Love those project meters from 'yarntomato.com.' (Google for the proper page, please.)

Easy cardmaking

2008-04-09T09:38:00.005-04:00

I was doing some more difficult cardmaking (all one word?) with brass stencils and pastels and a stencil brush, etc. (a kit from a craft fair my MIL got me. It has great results, but I can't find any more brass stencils except the two that came with it. But it gets great results, and is beautiful!!)

Anyhoo, I also devised an easy card to make for my 'Spring card thing' that I'm trying to do, especially after discovering that card companies make it easy for us by packaging 'rickrack' and a complementary color with envelopes, no less.

You can create your own 'rickrack' design with those scissors that make patterns.

I was looking for more cards for my brass stencils and found the already 'chopped' tan and my fave, mauve, as it's background and decided to not only give it a try, but document the thing in pictures for the blog!:)

That's actually a tan, not pinkish, 'cut out' card on top. 10 of those and 10 of the slightly bigger mauve color underneath, with 10 envelopes. $4.99 at my LCS.

These are 10 real pressed flowers, that I found on clearance for $2.

Aleenes Tacky Glue. The smallest bottle is still huge. The least inexpensive was 1.99. Maybe cheaper at your LCS. Are you ever going to use it up? Hmmm...

So, a little dab of Aleene's on the back of the pressed flower...

Press that first one down, and dab a second one, placing it oh so 'delicately' next to the first flower (They're not terribly delicate!:)

Flip over the top card, Aleene glue the two together...

Voila! An easy card, to write 'Happy Spring!' on. It's simple, easy, and maybe will give you ideas on making your own.:)

They sure like doing that!

2008-04-04T21:29:00.002-04:00

Every breed of dog I know of likes to get into the diswasher like this pic probably captured from an email, including my little baby black pug. Honestly, I took to spraying her with water just for that incursion because she wouldn't stop!!!! Ah well, admit it, it's kinda cute, the lil buggers.:)

Daffodils!!

2008-03-30T11:08:00.006-04:00

So pretty. They don't last very long.

I present for your uplift and edification.

My pictures, mein.

It's that time of Year!

2008-03-30T10:26:00.004-04:00

Nothing cheers you up as much as seeing the trees really come into bloom! They are simply so pretty.

Some pics from my Webshots archive.

For those of you with 'funky' weather, don't worry, it most likely WILL happen for you, too, later this Spring.:)

Our daffodils are in full bloom. I must get some pictures of them. They are my favorite.

Delicate Balance

2008-03-28T14:36:00.001-04:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2008-02-14T17:05:00.000-05:00

Did you miss adorable Pugs in their Halloween costumes?

2008-02-06T22:22:00.000-05:00

So go to this url to see these cuties!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/mustlovepugs/discuss/72157602413661456/#comment72157602477277222

You may have to have a 'Flickr' account to enjoy these. They are owned by Yahoo.

Projects & progress

2008-02-02T15:31:00.000-05:00

I've put up pics & progress tabs in the sideboard, to celebrate starting new projects, keep track and be held accountable in each of my three areas of interest: crochet, cross-stitch & knitting.

I found http://www.yarntomato.com/percentbarmaker/?barPosition=40&leftFill=8B008B on how to get the bars.

I'll post a pic and progress bar on my knitting projet soon (that's French for project).

Pug Showdown: How to keep 2 pugs in the house

2008-02-01T17:03:00.001-05:00

The problem with a split foyer - 6 steps up and 6 down - really shows when you want to go out the door for a simple and needed activity: getting the mail.

Like a Clint Eastwood movie, I can hear the 'Wa-o-wa-o-waaanh!' and see a showdown ready to occur, as I have my older Pug staring at me at the top of the stairs (she'll bark if the wind blows too hard) ready to come down the stairs.

Then there's the baby at the bottom of the stairs, fully able to go up stairs (but not down, Yet) looking concerned that mama is thinking about leaving her. (And ALL hell will break loose then. Does anyone else's 'abandoned' puggie girl sound like a Tasmanian She-devil, shaking her crate just like the cartoon?! Seriously?!)

So, luckily the mailbox is attached to the house and I can close the door and issue edicts while half outside the home. "You stay THERE!" "Stay THERE!"

Always scared that the little one will run up the stairs and try to get out the front door, a situation that has proven heart attack worthy in the past with my first Pug.

She ran circles into the front yard and street. It's so hard to get a Pug back inside that's having fun like that.

But she doesn't know that she could get killed by a car who doesn't think twice about going 45 mph.

They don't care about why (bec. of kids & pugs, not to mention slow adults like myself) its 25 MPH on our street. Bastards.

Giving a treat to get her in, which we did, only reinforces bad behavior, said our beloved Petsmart trainer at the time.

What do you do then? Screaming which is the first inclination, probably isn't helpful either.

My older, fawn Pug has been thru the classes and she will return to a higher step in the house, after sniffing the situation at front door level.

The little one, nope, doesn't have that sense yet. She'd go out the door if mommy does.

We gotta work on that. I'm too young for a heart attack.

Good Stuff - An Ode to Physical Therapy and an ease to my back pain

2008-01-31T21:16:00.000-05:00

Bald eagle, Homer Alaska (Webshots)

As predicted, physical therapy for my back pain is just the ticket.

You have to work (gasp!) but it helps.

I'm working with a sphygmomanometer (honest, I think this is spelled right) - a blood pressure cuff!

It's such a slight movement, when I perform the exercise with the cuff in the small of my back, but it helps an ol' swayback like me know when I'm activating my core muscles located in my pelvis.

It turns out the core is deep in there, under muscles and also in charge of bladder control, at least in ladies.

It's a common problem for the muscle to weaken and therefore control of the bladder. Had babies ladies? You can understand.

And for those who haven't had children you're in good company - me! I'm convinced my years of depression, sleeping too long, avoiding breakfast and reality is all coming back to haunt me, now that I'm awakened by Abilify (I discuss this a few posts down).

Anyhoo, thank God that these people can help me, because my back was killing me.

Turns out you must strengthen the core muscles in the tummy in order to reach the multifidus, or back muscle, that runs the lenghth of your spine, widening at the base (read: source of my lower back pain).

I encourage people to talk to their doctors about physical therapy in lieu of drugs, that aren't going to last long enough for healing, or work very well anyway (my experience).

The physical therapist told me that 90% of back pain goes away for patients, regardless of what a patient does, but only 20-30% recur in those who do the exercises.

My thing is that I have found relief in a short period of time, and knowledge on how to help control it, just in the few light exercises I've had so far.

I'm just sharing my experience. I figure you never know when it can do some good for others.

Thank you, PT!

Let me be the first to congratulate...

2008-01-27T06:01:00.000-05:00

...the Jolie-Pitts on what is sounding like TWINS!!

Let me refresh on the beauty that is each of their children:

Maddox

Shiloh

Zahara

Pax

Photos courtesy of PageSix.com

God bless you all on your new adventure. I think it's beautiful to be a mother and to love and be able to take care of children as this couple can. I wish the family joy.

2008-01-18T07:41:00.000-05:00

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL1767/8135624/18822389/299141727.jpg

Meanwhile, in my office...

2008-01-17T13:20:00.000-05:00

While posting all this, the little angels curled up and slept together.:)

Mia Pug is here!

2008-01-17T12:53:00.000-05:00

See her with Emma & Reese (EMR)!

Picking up my Female Black Pug, Day After Tomorrow!:)

2008-01-04T21:56:00.000-05:00

Bleeding hearts, among Grape Hyacinth, Webshots

Well, I plan to take a million pictures of her, after she comes home.

Husband thinks 'cute as a dickens' & 'just the cutest cutey-cute cute,' is secret code for 'dumb dog.' He hasn't met her yet.

Like my pug is just gonna lap your face and love you, as if that were substandard, cause that's precisely what she does.

I told him she will melt his hard-hearted, evil, stone-cold heart. I wonder how many minutes it will take.

Well, how about that. A two Pug, one Siamese family. Everyone's so photogenic. Well, except their owners. What ARE we thinking.

Louie the Pug loves Olivia (Newton-John), apparently some more:)

2008-01-03T20:40:00.000-05:00

Off Yahoo video: Pug

Unbelievable Joy!!!!!! I'm getting a Black Pug!

2008-01-02T00:38:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm adding to the family and as far as I know, this will be it, until someone kicks off. No more cats, as Reese couldn't handle that, I am sure of it. This will be difficult for Gorgeous Siamese Man and Emma Our Still Utterly Beloved Puggie Girl, but I think with enough love we'll get through.

Basically, these things come to me and I start talking about them. I start to access the feasabileness of my deep desires, how to go about it, so forth. I'm a put-your-mind-to-it and Get It kind of girl.

And so, I went thru the process of finding 'Mia' our female black Pug who is 5 months but looks more like 3 mo.'s. I am assured she is not the 'runt' but instead was as normal as her brother and sister at birth, only developed tiny.

Which is perfect! And I knew she must be the one when I heard this, but I went to see her. You know, how hard it is to leave utter cuteness but this was just a visit since we have family obligations until this Sunday.

Sunday's the day!!!! We plan to pick her up then.

She is everything a breeder would want for Show, except she's small. Smushy-smushy face, all black with this pink tongue and she Loves you up. Oh, that's Happy.

I have 2 pictures of her off my cellphone. They are less than flattering, making her look like she only has one eye - which I assure she has two adorable eyes! So, I think I may post after getting her and getting better pics.

This is proof positive that you can get something done with BREEDERS. Don't ever buy a dog from a pet store - you're are supporting the evil puppy mill industry. I won't ever get sued for that because it's true!

That leaves reputable breeders or backyard breeders. I admit, I got Emma from a backyard breeder but we lucked out - she's wonderful and the perfect pet.

The biggest differences I see between these two kind of breeders are the Bckyrd B.'s are ALL about the money. You do see the Mom and Dad - a sign of a breeder, yes, but these people make a dog for you to get the moulah. Close to a puppy mill, but you see the circumstances for the dog and these people don't keep them in filth. If they do, please report their ass.

Now, the reputable breeder is interested in furthering the breed. Honestly, they are looking to see if their babies are show-quality, as their parents are champions from show. It's like wrangling the puppy away from these people, as they want to hold on to them for 16 weeks or more.

Technically, no Pug breeder, either one, should let a Pug leave mommy for home with you until the earliest 10 weeks.

It's just that these people are looking for conformation, the next champion, and aren't sure until they are sure.

People, that is good. Who cares about The Dog most? Yes, they charge money for the puppy, but you didn't think a 'leftover' champion was free, did you?

Now that you've had my dog aquisition lesson, I hope you will be happy for me as I embark on the Love-love journey a-gain!:):)

Pizza Hut waitress gets $10,000 tip!

2007-12-26T08:43:00.000-05:00

Good story!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19796133/

Pizza Hut waitress gets $10,000 tip. Check came from family of regulars who heard she couldn’t afford college.

Let the weeping begin.:)

There's a ticket holder in Indiana that's hundreds of millions richer: Come out, come out Wherever you are!!

2007-12-26T08:36:00.000-05:00

Lucky dog! (Or just an average American Pit bull terrier, Webshots)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20450113/
That Powerball Lottery Ticket is out there in Indiana!