One of the greatest Gifts of my life

Growing up the way I did, I didnt get to see my Grandparents all that often, and I know I missed out on alot. The times I did spend at my grandma and Grandpa's I remember good food, ALWAYS good Italian food, alot of laughter, alot of yelling (they were Italian) and my grandma's love of BIG Costume Jewelry. When she got dressed up--she had the biggest earrings, pins, etc. She died many years ago and I never had the heart to ask anyone for anything of hers. Years had to go by before I did finally share with my cousin Rose and my Aunt Yvonne that I would like something of Grandmas. My Aunt Yvonne gave me a Mary Statue that Grandma had in her room but I've always wondered about her Costume Jewelry.

This weekend my cousin Rose, her blog is here, came to visit. She brought along this Keepsake box of some of my Grandmas Costume Jewelry. It was a gift from my Aunt Yvonne, made with her and her daughter Paulette. I just about cried. I told Rose, I just could cry. This jewelry struck some memory cords in me, I remember her wearing it. I remember as a young girl thinking how "bright" Grandma was--and how everything was so BIG! Even her hair was down the middle of her back. She liked us to brush it. She also always had me use that Pretty Feet Lotion and get her dry skin off her elbows. This was one of my life's greatest gifts. Not only do I feel so priviledged to have this of my Grandma, but also because my Mom and Dad didnt let us out of the house that often I really feel like I was a lost child. There was no closeness for us and so our memories of our extended family are very few.

I'm happy to show you all this gift...its really special to me.

Bridal Survicor Island!

This is SOOO cool! Our daughter who is engaged and driving us nuts with her forever changing wedding plans entered this contest...and found out today she is a contestant! Go check this out for information and the $20,000 Wedding she is trying to win. She recently decided that she wanted the wedding to be at our sons new home next summer so at least we have that in place but she's been changing dates, plans, wants for about 2 years now. If she wins this--she can have the wedding of her dreams, still at our sons house, but also her honeymoon and so many other great gifts.

I'll keep everyone posted, she begins her stay on Bridal Island October 1st. I beleive there is live internet coverage of the brides 24/7. I will post all that so anyone who would like can check out my daughter. I'm so excited for her and cant wait to see how this goes. Even if she dosnt win, there are prizes given out all along, and I'm just excited that she got picked to be a contestant and have this neat experience.

Martha Stewart

This is my Martha Stewart Witch. I need to take another photo, but if you click on it maybe it will look better. I waited for her for 2 years. We were going to actually make one, but then I found the GrandinRoad Catalog and decided I would make it easy and just pay for it.
These legs are adorable. I'm thinking I'm going to place them in my trunk and let them hang as if I stuffed the rest of the witch inside. Arent they the cutest?

The book, is called Wednesday Letters. I ordered that from a Victorian Magazine. It was described as a book where a husband wrote his wife a love letter on the first night of their marriage and then proceded to write her a letter every Wednesday for the duration of their marriage which I think extended over 40 years. I thought it was true...I dont know if it is or not but I can say for me I'm disapointed in the book. Its hard to follow, to many players and to many things going on....its not just about the letters. If it gets better I'll let ya know!

Splish,Splash Look whose takin a bath!

This little guy decided he wanted to try out my bath products. I think he got my bad ones because he lost way to much weight! Not much left of him!

I saw this idea somewhere in a magazine and just HAD to do it. This bathroom dosnt get used to much so I figure he can sit in here til Halloween. Suppossedly, he's taken a bubble bath, kinda looks like that. Baldyman loves it, my son said I'm losing my mind....but hey, the one who is losing their mind is the one who THOUGHT of this idea--I just used it! Either way, pretty cute huh?

Thinking Girl!

Wow! Been along long time since I made a thinking girl post. I'm taking a couple days off of my regular job so I actually h ave time to play around. I'm in the process of teaching myself to learn how to make candles. I only wish I had another stretch of time to take...so much to learn.

Anyhow, I was blog reading this morning and came across a post that got me thinking, hence the thinking girl! Why do most of us blog? Surely most of us have some sort of reason. To vent, to utilize a tool to promote our home based business, to just have a place to come to, to meet fellow potential freinds...I dont know...many reasons I guess. For me personally, I began this blog just have something to do, that was it., Period. I found I got to enjoy the recipes, the home decorating and even many of you ladies. So much talent out there...so much.
I personally made the decision to keep my blog pretty much drama free (sometimes I cant help but rant about politics though) and I figure most of us have difficult enough lives that we dont want to come to blogland and see more "crap". Still, at times "crap" is there.

The one thing I see time and time again is people betrayed online--that wont ever end. But..what does confuse me to no end, is when people complain about "freindships" online and how they have been hurt, ignored--etc. It amazes me that some people will complain about this--and yet they do it all the time. I've been to many many blogs--as I'm sure most of you have...and many many times--the blog owner will NOT even pay us a visit..extend the courtesy. And then, that very same person will complain about this being done to them. I'm sorry folks but I cannot understand that...at all. If you are trying to support and encourage fellow bloggers--the courtesy needs to be extended..period. Now I know so many blogs are so "busy" with followers that it would take days to drop a quick post....I get that...BUT...over time a quick hello, how are you would be appreciated.

My blog to me, is just as important as anyones blog is to them...and no blog is more worthy than another. Why do things we do in "real life" in time--end up h ere also? Again, I think life is hard enough--coming here for smiles, ideas, encouragement should be what its all about. Remember when strangers come visit--they are looking for the same courtesy. Their blog is important to them also.

Drama, to me, needs no place here. I wont be a part of it, at all. Blogging to me, NEEDS to be stress free.

My thinking girl thoughts for today!

Zuchinni Quiche

Its been a LONG LONG time since I shared a recipe with all of you, and tonight when I put this on my plate I thought....this looks so dam good (pardon my language) that I have to take a picture and post the recipe. After I ate it...I am sooo glad to tell you--its AWESOME! Now, lucky me I was able to walk outside and pick my zuchinni and use it fresh. The pumpkin bread I made from scratch also, and it was the best I've had....very moist. And an extra note before I post the recipe.....check out the candle. I am teaching myself how to make candles to add to my bodycare line. This is my first candle and its a success. I'm making soy candles in containers and once I learn how to do it good enough to sell, I will also add votives, tealights. I plan on carrying a regular Victorian Jar line--(6.5 oz) and then for special holidays I will have candle's like above--in pumpkins, christmas jars etc. Soo, if you like Zuchinni,, please make this recipe. I found it in a magazine but tweaked it to what i like and my husband who isnt a huge fan of Quiche, couldnt stop eating this. I threatened to slap him if he didnt leave a slice for me for lunch tomorrow!

Zuchinni Quiche

1 Tube of Crescent Roll Mix
3 Medium Zuchinni ( i used the small zuchinni and just put it one and then sliced up a big one I had)
Diced Ham
Minced Garlic
2 TB Butter ( I never measure)
Fresh Parsley, Fresh Dill
Pepper ( I never add salt)
1 Cup Monteray JacK cheese
3 Eggs
Cut Up Onion
Take the Crescent roll dough apart and place it in a greased pie plate..you will have to play with it. The pointed side faces the middle of the pie plate.


Fry up your zuchinni, minced garlic, onion, ham in olive oil. Add 1/2 of the cheese when Zuchinni is near done.

Put this mixture in the Pie Crust Plate. Place some butter on the top of this..I just placed 2 spoonfuls. I use I cant believe its not butter. Then mix 3 eggs and pour over this. Sprinkle rest of cheese on top. Bake 350 until its set approx 30 minutes. I also placed some foil around edge of crust so it wouldnt be to dark.

Let sit for about 5 minutes--slice and enjoy!

Haunted Buffet!

Instead of serving desserts, I"m serving "hands". I decided not to store the cake server for Halloween, but instead place a h and inside it. I know my grandkids will enjoy this! Each Halloween we have a Party for the girls and I try to make it more "scarier" each year,,but in a fun way!
Also, since i made the decision to do a more elegant decor this year, finding her is awesome. A black crow is no longer just a black crow when she is dressed in diamonds! and click on the picture you can see she has sparkles in her hat.
and here is the buffet from a distance, looks better at night. All kinds of creepy things are popping up around my place.

More Halloween Decor!

I guess you could say i'm officially accepting that summer in Wisconsin is closing and Fall has arrived. This is my fireplace. I cant wait for Halloween to hand out treats, my pumpkin is always ready for Grandchildren's little hands or my kids when they pop in or guests. I end up filling up this pumpkin at least 3-4 times before Halloween is even here. Once the pumpkin is on the fireplace mantel, everyone knows there are goodies in it.
I dont do tablescapes. This would be as close as I come. I decorate my table for Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years and Easter Dinner. Thats it! I've added Halloween now to. I even forgot that I have a Ghost and Pumpkin Salt and Pepper Shaker.
And here is my fireplace all lit up! I still have so much more to put out,,,this isnt even a touch of what I have. I'm going to scale back though, big time. I've told my kids to come pick out thru my decorations because I'm scaling down and what dosnt go--is getting donated. Last night it was a great night to have the fireplace lit up once again, all decorated. I hope everyone had a nice weekend and you can all say We are officially into Fall!

Fall and Halloween Beginnings

Last year during Fall I saw these pumpkins on many of your blogs and fell in love with them. This year i decided I was going to grace my home with them. I placed them in my Swan dish and they are on the coffee table in the living room. I love em!
Being Sunday and just grazing at home, I am beginning to go threw all my Halloween Decorations. Its simple, I have to much. Much of it will go this year. I'm still on my quest of de-cluttering and that includes all my decorations. I will sacle it down to my favorites and thats it. My kids can pick thru it--the rest is going to be donated. AND.. I have alot. This year my plan is to have several big things--a few small things and thats enough. I dont know if there is such as thing as "classy scary decorating" but that is where I'm at...like Martha Stewart. I cant wait to put her witch up. I pulled out a couple of things to start placing around the house. I cant officially go nuts until after Labor Day and even then--I'm kinda pushing it. But hey, I'm one of those that feels the holidays (all of them) are way to short so I like to enjoy the decorations long before the "official" day.

Perfect Sunflower

I love having sunflowers towards the end of summer. I looked this weekend at the couple of stores I was at and they werent in the prettiest shape. When I came home from work yesterday I saw this on my coffee table. Isnt she pretty?

Baldyman went out to the flower shop and picked one up. I love how they have a matching vase. Sometimes, the perfect flower is just one pretty one. I missed planting sunflowers this season, totally forgot, so going to the shop to get one is something we just have to do this year.
Do any of you have sunflowers that you can just walk outside and pick and enjoy for a few days?

A storm and a Duck Rain Coat!

Here's Ms Ellie outside playing in the rain. She's wearing a little duck rain coat I found for her. Isnt she adorable? She wouldnt talk to me or look at me so I could get the front of the coat. It has a duck face. She's been a real little monster lately. This was a weird storm we had last week, you could literally see the rain coming like curtains and you had time to get inside. We have a small set of woods behind the houses where we live and you could also hear the rain in the woods before it hit us.
I tried to capture the rainbow, maybe if you click on the picture and enlarge it, you will be able to see the rainbow. These are the summer rainstorms I enjoy, they dont last all day and they still allow you to be outside. There wasnt much lightning with this one either so as bad as the sky looks, Ellie was able to play outside.

Boo--well almost Boo!

More Halloween goodies I found this weekend! I found this witch at Marshalls. It sits on a stand and is made of out of like plywood. I think she's adorable. I'm thinking I'll place her on the front porch.
Its possible these are her feet. Sadly, she may have been pulled apart, well thats the vision I have since its Halloween and I like to think scary thoughts. These will grace my front door as a greeting.
AND....I already started using this glass. Ghouls just want to have fun. What woman dosnt love a good hearty laugh and a good glass to drink something from. This was purchased from Kirklands. They have some really cute Halloween stuff this season. I found a ton of goodies there, but this was my only purchase. Hope your weekend was great!

Middle of the night monster!

Every morning I kid you not, I wake up to this! Every rug in my house is messed up. Doesnt miss a room.
These are my new ones, and last night she must have really been mad because she really messed this one up.
and here she is, the middle of the night monster of the house....Ms. Genie. She's on guard right now watching the UPS man. Whenever the UPS man comes she runs thru the house like a nutcase, barking and howling. When I get a package she's really insane. I dont know why she does this at night--but when we go to bed I can hear her start scratching at the rugs and pulling on them. By morning, she's hit every room.

Do any of your pets do weird things around your home while your sleeping?

Homemade Bread Pudding-Biltmore Recipe!

Does this NOT look so good you could eat the entire pan? I LOVE LOVE LOVE bread pudding. I've tried many recipes and this one will be the one I keep and use. The Biltmore Estate Asheville North Carolina makes this bread pudding. I've been wanting to try this for along time and finally yesterday since it was a rainy day here I did some cooking. This is so good alone, I dont mind forgoing the Caramel Sauce...hey you probably need to save some calories anyhow. My guess is this is about 2000 per look!

8 Cups Cubed day old bread 1-3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
9 eggs 1 Cup Sugar
2-1/4 Cups milk 3/4 butter melted
3 tsps vanilla extract 1-1/2 tsp cinnamon

Place bread cubes in a greased 9x13x2 pan. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk cream, sugar, butter, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour evenly over bread. Bake uncovered 350 for 40-45 minutes until a knife in center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.

Caramel Sauce:

1 Cup Sugar 1/2 Cup water
1 TB Lemon Juice 2 TB butter
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

Bring sugar and water and lemon juice to boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook until sugar
is dissolved and mixture turns amber color ( this takes awhile) Stir in butter until melted. Add Cream, remove from heat. Serve over pudding.

*And yes I added raisins to the recipe,,,I cannot eat bread pudding without a raisin in every bite.

Cards, What do you do with them?

For all of the special days in our lives thruout the year, so many of us get blessed to get so many beautiful cards from our loved ones. I dont know about you, but i HATE to toss them out. Cards are expensive, cards have alot of sentiment, and you know when someone has taken time to pick out a card with thoughts of you in mind.

I have cards all over the house in piles because I cant toss them out. At Christmas I pull out favorites from years gone by and some that came from special people. Those are easy to deal with because they are packed away for most of our year.

What about the cards we get for Mothers and Fathers Day, our birthdays, sweetest day...etc. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on what to do with them or Just exactly what do some of you do?

Welcome Baby Eli to the World!

Elijah Gregory was born today! I was there and cant even remember the time..but it was around noon. I was privilged once again to see another grandchild enter our world. He's a beautiful baby boy and one of the calmest babies I've seen ever. Whats funny is his Daddy (my oldest son) did just as he did when he entered the world, he just looked around and kept looking and checking things out. I still remember laughing at how he just laid there and looked around.
Above photo is of Baldyman and Eli, and here is me and Baby Eli.
Here he is just minutes after birth--not even cleaned up and already looking really good.
AND....proud Mom and Dad, Toshina and Jason. She had a very early trip to the hospital so I know she's pretty wore out. Hopefully Eli will be as calm at home and she can get back on her feet real quick.

All the babies are born now--safe and sound. This makes #5 of grandchildren for me and Baldyman. We were talking today at how we had 5 children and now we stand at 5 grandkids.

Farmers Market, Day at the Lakefront

On Saturday, (sniff-sniff) I had to return my car. My lease has come to an end. I was going to take before and after pictures of it, but decided to just let it go. I'm now joining the ranks of driving around in a clunker BUT no payments! Which means more money for things like Farmers Market...so my sadness ended real quick! This is Rose and Jim by the fountain where the Farmers Market is held in Kenosha. She is holding my flowers because she was to cheap to buy her own.
This is a photo from a little park where all the boats are docked. Its very pretty here.
This is the farmers market. In the background are all these condos, which I think would be a great place to live right now. Baldyman dosnt agree and so I wont get to live on the lake by the Farmers Market with a huge fountain view. He is mean.
This photo is of me laying in the little water sprayers. What? You dont see me? Well look real close, I dont have any makeup on to cover my green color and i'm laying on my back....ohhh you didnt know I was a turtle in my real life--Well I am!
And this is me of course. I'm holding the flowers that I paid for--not Rose. Again, she was to cheap to buy her own. I bought another Halloween item-which I'll post later. I dont want to depress you that its actually coming. We also bought some fresh veggies which we will eat today and of course these flowers! It was a very nice day.

A Life Changing Book--A must Read

I'll be honest, while I love to read, these days I mainly read decorating magazines so that I can drift away in dreamland and not use my brain. I have been watching this book for awhile on the shelves and picked it up a couple of times to buy--but finally did purchase it a couple of weeks ago. I dont like reading anything to "heavy" because after my daily job--I'm just not worth much. I began reading this book a couple of days ago and the beginning of it was so so--didnt really catch my attention. Yesterday I continued on and it began to grip me as I saw how the Author was leading us into a "new" relationship with our God. I became so amazed and drawn into it I couldnt put it down. I had the day off of work today and i laid around all day and finished this book.

I took several breaks--to sob...literally sob. I was bawling by myself in my room..but it was a good cry, a soul cleansing cry. I'm so amazed that this author took such a difficult topic we all struggle with and made it so clear! The story begins with a man who's little girl is abducted and murdered. That is gut wrenching to any of us..losing our child in such a horrific manner. This Author was able to take our minds off of that horrendous incident and get us focused on our relationship with our Creator in a way I've never seen done before. It was done with humor, wit, grace and even sadness and anger. He was able to help me distinquish my questions about the Trinity and even God as our Master. I simply could not put this book down. I pray they make a movie from this book because I truly believe it will change many lives. So many of struggle with things such as "Why do bad things happen to good people", Or why Dosnt God prevent some things from happening since he can?, and how does God feel about us...and even better, what could heaven be like? All these things were presented in a way that I felt my questions were answered, my hopes have changed and I'm grasping why Bad things do happen. I'm also feeling like this presentation of eternity is much more believeable and real to me. I truly beleive this is how Heaven could be like..and How God wanted us to live here.

I know many of you have a faith,,,if you havent read this book--RUN to get it. You wont be sorry. I think my heart is different and I do think I will read this book again and again to bring me back to this place, to remind me to NEVER judge again, to never have doubt, and to always remember how God loves each and every one of us--even the worst of the worst--and I now know why. I have to say--I got it!

I cannot stress enough to get this...you will be amazed. I passed it on to my daughter in law tonight and I intend on continuing to pass it around. Thats my tip for the weekend!

Something wrong with this picture!

Well two things VERY wrong with this picture. First off, its my new chair and I barely have gotten to sit in it...AND.....we dont have a cat! Soo how did this sneaky little fellow get in here you wonder...well our son moved directly next door to us and before he moved in we were watching his cat for him. For some odd reason this cat likes being with us more than his own master. After our son moved in--I notice Peschy just wont go home. Every time we come and go, he will either run in or run out but he's always here. I think he approves of the new comfy chair.
Both of these photos I snapped this morning before going to work. It just occured to me--I have Genie on the sofa, Peschy who isnt mine on the new chair and I'm running off to work. These two clowns are enjoying my furniture and soft jazz music while I"m out pounding the pavement. Do they have a clue as to what we do for them?

Do you ever look at your animals as your on the way out the door, it really is funny watching them all spread out and snoozin away and we can barely find our keys. I'd say they have a pretty good life.

New Comfy Chair!

Look what came in today! Got a call when I got home from work that my chair had arrived. Me and Baldyman went to Madison to pick it up. Its VERYYY comfy...we spent the night kicking each other out so we could snuggle up. The living room is just about done now, just gotta make some TV switches in the Fall and maybe new curtains, not sure yet.

We are having a ton of rain the last few days, flowers are doing great and the grass is green again. Looks like we are in for some humid and hot temps soon. Maybe it will fill like summer again and I can stop checking out Halloween Decorations!