HELP...I'm Spring Cleaning....

......AND I CAN'T STOP!!!!!!
OMG....what the be-jeebers is going on!!! I normally am not like this!!! I actually want to clean!!!! Maybe it was the combination of my son being away for the weekend and the nice weather!! I got out of work early on Friday, by choice, and that is where the trouble began.....
the Sweetie Man was home so we shopped for garden stuff, curtains, shades, etc....we ate a wonderful dinner at Red Lobster.....went to a Teatime Stitchery, a cross stitch store I wanted to see and bought this stash....

....then we came home and sat on the porch and relaxed. Come Saturday we sorta went Spring Clean CRAZY!!! It was lots of fun tho and the house looks ready for Spring! Even my son complimented it when he came home. I even did some decorating in his room. I actually took the curtains that were in my living room (sheers) and hung them in my son's room then took the original curtains (the checkered print) and turned them into the valance.....I believe in recycling till it's unusable!
In the living room I took an old sheet and sorta made a valance out of it after hanging some new curtains and a nice shade.....

And I got these curtains at Walmart....I thought they were cute...tho the pic is rather dark.
I also got a little surprise in the mail from Pam last week (sorry, I don't think she has a blog) but I was in a fat quarter swap with her and to thank me for what I sent her, she sent me this great gift.....

That was so sweet of her. These are some items that are on my dream list at Life's a Stitch. Thanks again, Pam!

So just in case yinz guys (KARE!) were wondering where I disappeared to...that was it!
I did manage to do a few crafty things...especially since it was a rainy sorta day on Sunday. I finished this bookmark which I'm going to include as an "extra" in a package being sent.

And I finished another Project Linus edging...


And speaking of PL....my Chapter coordinator sent us all an email saying that she would no longer be doing PL and gave us some lead names to turn blankets into. That's a bummer big time. I got all these fleece blankets she gave me to edge and I gotta take them into Pittsburgh to deliver them. She was like about 5 minutes from my house. Oh, well...gotta do what ya gotta do....I'll keep chugging along on for the kids!

Oh, and I gotta tell ya...I took a small class on self defense for women that was being taught in our City Hall by our Police Officers. It was very interesting to say the least. We got to do alot of hands on sorta stuff...basically beat up on the police officers who wore protective gear. They all know me cause I work in the same building with them...so I had my share of teasing. (they love to tease me cause I'm always playing jokes on them) It was fun and informative! The newspaper is supposed to do an article on it....should be online also so I'll give yinz all the link when it appears. I can't say I wasn't sore for a couple of days after with all the weird moves I learned...but I'm back to normal now...what's normal for me anyway!
And last but not least, one of the days I had to go to the class, my son was nice enough to go down to Pittsburgh and stand in line for an autographed copy of Jodi Picoult's new book, "Nineteen Minutes"....it's #1 on the bestseller list this week.


She's my favorite author! I was bummed that my self-defense class was on the same day but he offered to go for me and get it! (with a little urging from his gal pal) He did have to sit through a question and answer period....but he said when he got it signed, Jodi told him what a good son he was to do that for me....I agree!!!
That's about it for now! It's Spring....it's warm! (though the weather man did mention the "S" word for Wednesday...just a smidgen tho) We are on the right tract tho, weather wise! Now, it's off to do a little crafting and watch the first episode of the Bachelor (love those "cat fights") So, till next time, yinz crazy guys......

It was a "doggone" beautiful weekend!!!

Well, if yinz guys live anywhere near SW PA, you know that we had a BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon. The sweetie man and I, being as we are changing our eating and exercising habits, (note the 1 lb. weight loss...better than a gain!)we hit the road to wonderful Northmoreland Park. No greenery on the trees, but lots of folks around. This park has a beautiful 1.1 mile walkway around the lake. In the summer you can also ride paddle boats on the lake. It's very clean and there are fishing areas, picnic areas and even a nice little boat house. It's not officially open yet but it was still very enjoyable.

We walked around the lake twice and brought some outdoor chairs and sat near the lake for awhile...the sweetie man did a crossword and I tried to read but dozed off....now that's the way to spend a warm Sunday afternoon!!

Everyone asks how the puppies are doing so I thought I would show you a few pics. They may look like they are vicious with each other, but actually they are playing. Our 8 month big baby, Eros, (aka "Thunder") follows little Chloe (aka "Lightening") around all the time..he just adores her..luckily she is fixed. I must say they did fight over a pig year yesterday and Chloe had to be physically removed from the scene when they got a little too rough and wouldn't break it up, and not without a little blood shed! Everyone was okay...not to worry. But when they finally were back in contact, they licked each other in the face....kids, geez!!!! (check out Lucille Ball on the TV next to Eros' face!!)








Someone in my house thought it would be funny if he took a pic of me cleaning Eros' cage...(you know who you are, "sweetie man"!)I did fit in the cage with room to spare but I wasn't exactly dressed for picture taking! (it does look funny tho!)

The puppies are getting better with all their "nasty" habits so I'm hoping that in the near future we can do some major updating of some old stuff in our house like rugs and furniture! We figured it would be fruitless to get new rugs now with them around as puppies....this is a very old house and it still needs alot but all in due time. I always feel that the most important thing is there...LOTS OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER!!!

Okay...just so no one feels slighted on this post....here is a great swap I recieved from Evelyn on the Great Bookmark Exchange. A beautiful handknitted bookmark, some chocolate, spring stationary, a knitted flower pin (which I plan on attaching to a purse I'm making), some flower seeds (which will be definately planted), an adorable lamb pen and of course a book entitled "Knitting, a Novel"....how nice and Spring-like at that!!! I loved that she did it in a theme! Thanks again, Evelyn.
And I also was in a fat quarter swap. Got this one from Jen! You are supposed to swap 3 pieces but she gave me 4....the extra being that beautiful butterfly piece! Thanks, Jen!

It makes me start itching to work on my quilts! A relative of mine, whom I love dearly, (won't say who yet) just told me she was pregnant (BIG YIPPEE!!!!)so I'll be quilting soon anyway...and crocheting....and knitting....and cross stitching!!!!

Well, that's about it for today. The weather is once again warm and sunny with a little rain thrown in and that's okay. We did break out the front porch swing on Sunday and sat and did a crossword together, the sweetie man and I. I'm terrible at them but he insists that I can do them. I'm also playing scrabble with him...it's he's fav game and he plays it on the computer...so after all these years I said I would give it a shot...I stink at it, of course, and he keeps wanting to help me (he's so sweet) but it is fun. We even took a shortened version of it to Starbucks on Saturday and sat in the back with our coffee and played.
That's about it for my weekend! Hope yours was awesome too! So, till next time, yinz crazy guys......

Lots to Show 'n Tell....

Hey, yinz guys......HAPPY SPRING!!!!!! Woo-hoo...my favorite season!!!! I realize the temps go up and down these days and snow flurries are sometimes in the air...but we are heading in the right direction!!!!
Next a BIG YIPPEE YAHOO for Kare's puppy, Sadie who is going to be A-OK!!!! She has one expensive female part tho...(Sadie that is...not Kare!) but she'll be back to normal soon!!!! We were all pulling for ya, Sadie, girl!!!!
Next (see I told ya I had alot)....my weight ticker is back in action as you can see! The Sweetie Man has a "man surgery" coming up and he has to drop a few to have it or the doc won't do it and the surgery is a MUST....SOOOOOO....I'm in with him on the weight loss bandwagon....35-40 for each of us. (plus we'll both look awesome at my nephew's upcoming wedding!) We started on Monday with lo-cal and lots of walking...so far so good! Wish us luck!!! I'll post my progress on Mondays. (join in if you like)
I know it looks like I'm doing alot but not really...I just don't post everyday. Here's some pics of what I've been up too.....
First off, two edgings for Project Linus blankets...

I still love doing these. I'm not doing them as fast as I ought to. Remember when I told you my PL coordinator gave me a bunch of fleece to edge? Well, if I was home more, I would be whipping them out left and right...so easy and so much fun to see the results.

Next, as you know the Sweetie Man's daughter is serving in Afghanistan in the Army. We are very proud of her. We got this care package together with the blanket and slippers I showed you awhile back done in cami yarn but we couldn't resist adding these little goodies for an Easter surprise.
Introducing CAMI BUNNY....


and CAMI CHICK...

How cute are those! The Bunny holds jelly beans or whatever and the Chick holds a plastic egg with candy. You may remember the Bunny from a post I did last year but in pastel yarn colors. Every year I manage to have to make a few of these and I end up asking people for milk jugs to do them. You would think I would cut the plastic for them all year...duh!! Anyway, we are also sending her some candy and a couple of books. Her husband is in the army also but is in North Carolina. Don't worry, we are sending him something too. They are newlyweds and had to be separated for about a year. She's in a safer area working inside so that's good thing. Hope she likes the gifts! Please keep her and all of our brave men and women serving our country always in your prayers.

I had a secret project I was working on that I can tell you about now. It's a cross stitch of Pittsburgh's Gateway Clipper Majestic that cruises the three rivers here. If you are a regular of my blog you probably remember that the Sweetie Man and I had three cruises last year on it, one being on my 50th Birthday. Well, for Valentines' Day (tho he got it late) I did a cross stitch of the boat with the dates we went last year on cruises. It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

He loved it!!! I ended up giving it to him at the end of February tho...a little late. The cross stitch store periodically gets patterns of scenic areas in Pittsburgh. I've done for my brother's family the Pittsburgh skyline, one of the inclines that go up Mt. Washington and the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. I did them very long ago before the onset of digital cameras but next time I'm at their house, if she still has them hanging on the wall, I'll take a pic of them. I would like to redo them for my house but I can't seem to find the incline one and the store no longer carries it. Someone locally just basically drew them out but they were very detailed and nice.

I also did a cross stitch for the Great Bookmark Exchange.
I actually got this on online...check out this pattern. Very cute...very easy. I'm sorta in a bookmark kick lately. I managed to get yet another cross stitch bookmark book and these two gems after the tax money came in.

The Egyptian one I may make something for my sister who just came back from her dream vacation in Egypt. (shhhhh) Some very colorful things in there. I'm personally not into Egyptology (?) but I'm always on the lookout for future gifts. The sampler book.....well I just love old sampler patterns and reproduction patterns. The older the better. If I had the money, I'd probably collect them.
Well, I think I gave yinz guys enough to chew on for a day or so. Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my previous post. I hope you enjoyed that short video...I must have watched it five times! Well, it's off to make a pot of Hot Dog Soup and then to the Idol results show! What???? You don't remember my Hot Dog Soup recipe...well, by golly, here it is....

One package hot dogs cooked and sliced into bite size pieces.
One can of baked beans
One can of bean and bacon soup and one can of water
One can of cheddar cheese soup and one can of water
About 3 potatoes, peeled, cubed and cooked
Put it all in a pot till it 's good and hot.....serve with a side salad or fresh bread.
(don't forget to take some "Beano" afterward unless you live alone!)

Till tomorrow, yinz crazy guys........

Feeling philosophical....

This past weekend, the sweetie man, my son, and his gal pal spent time together talking alot about different things....how you feel at different stages of your life...how your past affects your future...how people in your life affect how you feel. It was quite interesting...two people in their fifties and two college age kids. Sometimes I just shook my head thinking, wow, you've got a lot to learn. And likewise, had it been the sweetie man and I talking to an 80 year couple, I'm sure they would shake their heads and say the same to us.
We talked alot about what is important in life to each of us....that was probably the most amazing aspect to me....how much you change through the years on what is important to you. I could write at length about what each person said but everyone is so different in their views. I also believe you are ALLOWED to change your views as well as your likes/dislikes....this part irks me a bit, because in my past, as I did change, I always heard my ex say, "you didn't used to like that...you only like that now because so and so likes it....you're being brainwashed", etc.... It was as if it were wrong to change...change is good....I was afraid to change for awhile and that is sad. No one should be afraid of change...of learning new things, enjoying new experiences....tossing the old ideas and bringing in fresh new ones.
I have to tell you that one big thing I changed is my love of dogs. I thought I was strictly a cat person. We had dogs when we were little but we weren't really as involved with them...they were outside and that was it. I still love cats and actually all animals, but there is something about dogs that has just tugged on my heart.....cats and dogs both can teach us so much about life if you watch and listen to them. God definately put them here for a reason and I'm really starting to see it. Sometimes I think to myself that I could just hear my ex saying, " you didn't used to like dogs" as though it were wrong for me to have this incredible attachment to them....but you know what....maybe I did love them all along and all the muck and mud that was put on me or that I took in from people in my life is being washed away....and as I get older I'm realizing what truly is important to me...what truly gives me happiness.
Anyway, on that note, take a moment and enjoy this little clip that was sent to me....(and turn on the sound for a nice effect) DO YOU REMEMBER LOVE
Enjoy, yinz crazy, guys.....(and thanks for listening)

I know...2 posts in one day....

I just had to post this....got it from Sue at Good Yarns....



Your Celebrity Boob Twin:

Your Celebrity Boob Twin:

Lucy Lawless

Who's Your Celebrity Boob Twin?

How do you like that!!!! LUCY IS THE SAME SIZE AS LUCY.....GO FIGURE, YINZ GUYS!!!

Bored????

In case I'm boring you lately with the lack of interesting stuff on my blog....keep in mind that it could be worse....check out the world's smallest website!

Till next time, yinz crazy guys.....

Scary......

Saw this on Brandy's blog....this is almost TOO accurate for me......Ya gotta take this quiz and see if your's is true to form also....

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have low extroversion. You are quiet and reserved in most social situations. A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you. You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people. Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness. You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly. Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone. You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is medium. You are generally broad minded when it come to new things. But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it. You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue.

The Five Factor Personality Test

Finally ready to post....

I think I've sufficiently recovered from my "laugh hangover" from the weekend. I'm really not a big game-playing person....you usually have to drag me to play but once I start I don't want to stop. These new games are usually the only ones I will agree to play tho...ya know, the ones where people have to make up answers or questions or figure out definitions. I'm definately not a monopoly player and I'm not crazy about cards...tho I do enjoy dominos. Anyway, to make a long story short, there were six of us playing Balderdash and it was hilarious. Plus the whole weekend of just watching T.V. or a movie or just sitting around and talking was great.....but then again Sweetie Man and I really click with his daughter's family which makes it all the more fun. My son kept the little guy busy with the Wii (the recently destroyed part came in the mail luckily)so they had a blast also. And speaking of my future stepdaughter, she gave me a lovely gift for really no reason at all...

I was so touched by this. I only have one son and no daughter, so this poem was really special. It sits in my living room where I can see it everytime I walk in there.
She and I also had a relaxing time cross stitching. She hadn't done it in awhile and wanted a quick review and I also sent her down to my local cross stitch store. After getting a new pattern of her favorite dog, we plopped ourselves down while the men did a little cooking, and cross stitched some of the weekend away...very relaxing. I managed to finish up this little ornament to add to my other dog and kitty (see past posts)....

I made a few purchases myself this past weekend at the cross stitch store (it's dangerous when your tax refund comes in)



Actually the last pepper one I got free. Donna, the store owner and excellent cross stitcher, knew I liked peppers and thought I would enjoy it. Neat, uh?
I also did a little crocheting and finished up the gloves from the recent Crochet Today mag (again see past post)....

Wow, were these ever easy....and I used just Red Heart Sport. I had a little trouble finding the buckle I wanted but I finally did at JoAnns.
Though I finished this crocheted hat awhile back for Sweetie Man, I finally was able to take a nice pic of it so you can see how it matches his car (don't ask...I guess it's a man thing). A very easy pattern on the label of Chunky Wool-ease....just basic garter stitch on #11 needles then sewn up the side and gathered at the top. He loves it cause he said it keeps his ears really warm on those cold mornings going into work. (check out the little snowflakes in the air)
Wow, I think I had something for everyone in this post...knitting, crocheting, and cross stitching...imagine that!
Now with all that said and done this past weekend, you can see why I needed some recovery time...but definately well worth it. Off to watch American Idol...(hope the girls do better than than the boys did yesterday!).... till next time, yinz crazy guys.....

I'm here as I promised...

...but that's about all I can muster up for yinz guys! I knew I would laugh this past weekend with our company, but I never knew I could have a "laugh hangover". I laughed so much and so hard I think I used muscles I didn't even know I had. I'm still recovering so hang in there and I'll be good as new tomorrow...I hope! Till tomorrow, yinz crazy guys....(footnote: The game, Balderdash, should have a warning label on it: "Those 50 and over should consult their physician before playing any part of this game!")

For all you weight watchers....

Thought I would send yinz guys a little "diet" humor to keep you busy this weekend. I'll be AWOL till Monday as we're getting some company today and we'll be busy "laughing" all weekend! (don't ask!) Anyway, I liked these little cartoons because I'm known for saying "if there are raisins in it, it's Healthy!" So enjoy these little ditties and I'll talk to yinz crazy guys on Monday.....

This doesn't look good!

This is what happens when you leave a 9 month old puppy alone in a living room while you quickly run upstairs to put curlers in your hair .....

This is a Sensor Bar for a Nintendo Wii....basically the whole system is useless without this little 9 1/2 by 3/4 inch bar. Chloe (who looked the most guilty over it) thought it was something new to chew on and within a blink of an eye....crunch! (take note, Kare!) I was more worried about how my son would react....he was okay (luckily his girlfriend forewarned him for us)....I think the fact that we ordered it online within two hours since we could not get it at any stores in town, eased the pain also! (the things we do for our kids!)
On a happier note, I managed to do more crocheting this past weekend than anything as I'm trying to finish up some items I need to mail out. I finished up the slippers for Sweetie Man's daughter.
These are really warm but because you need to use two strands of yarn, for me, they are hard on the hands and I periodically have to take breaks inbetween. (okay, so I'm getting old...but only in the hands) They are very easy to do tho.
I also finished up two crocheted caliometry headbands for my niece which will go out this week...(I promise, Alexis!) She asked for the color I had pictured in a previous post and a brown one. Now all I gotta do is make one for myself! I love those!

I've also been working on some cross stitch. This is the wedding cross stitch for my nephew who is getting married in the Summer.
The weird part is that I bought it a long time ago not knowing who I was going to make it for. I recently found out they are doing the theme of Cinderella for their wedding and just by chance this will say "Happily Ever After" above their names.


How cool is that. It is very detailed with different stitches I've never done and little pearl beads around the outside. I'm also taking the advise of many of you and working my cross stitches in areas rather than doing all of one color then moving to the next. I'm definately doing less frogging. This piece will be a good challenge for me...and when it comes to crafts, I love a challenge!

Anyone get this magazine by the way?


Lots of nice things in it. I personally have started on the crocheted fingerless gloves. They are so cute. I'm using Red Heart sport. This mag is nice because it gives you substitutions for the yarns in the patterns. I also like the froggy hat which I'm going to make for my neighbor who loves frogs and has a little 2 1/2 month old boy.


That should be cute (pics to follow...don't worry!)
Also got this mag over the weekend but only for the hawk moth cross stitch. I like butterflies and Sweetie Man is interested in butterflies and moths. (tho the cottage cross stitches are very tempting also)

And last on my list, did anyone see this book on GMA last week?

I just got it from paperback swap. Once it was on TV, it did go fast on that site too. Go figure! Well, it is very good by the way. It's just filled with daily reflections that are really enjoyable to read. Check it out...probably can get it used cheap on amazon.

Oh, one more thing...Sweetie Man took me to an IMAX Theatre over the weekend to see "Night At The Museum." That is some Big Butt Screen...let me tell you. Sweetie Man said he got a kick out of listening to me laugh. We were only two of about six people in the theatre and the fact that I laugh loud and was so into the movie cause the screen was big that you literally forget there is anyone else around, could probably be a "kick" for just about anyone....if not a total embarassment...sorry, Sweetie Man. It was a good movie and lots of fun!

Well, I think I've bored you enough, so I'm going to go make dinner (don't get excited, it's just BLT's and chips and pickles) and watch Wife Swap. So till next time, yinz crazy guys.....

Bookmark this post.....

That's right, yinz guys....bookmark this post cause I'm cooking from scratch!!!! I don't like to cook (or do laundry). When I make dinner it usually consists of scrambled eggs and hot dogs...grilled cheese and soup....or anything that a "George Foreman" will cook. What do I like to do, you ask? I love to do dishes! Sweetie Man wants to get a dishwasher but I don't want one! I enjoy baking also. This is why he and I make such a good team....He cooks, I clean up and get dessert (heck, someone has to open the bag of cookies and pour the milk!)
Anyway, I thought I would make (at my son's suggestion)...MANACOTTI....from scratch! I thought about doing the frozen stuff but I figured the fresh would probably take just as much time so I opted to bake it....FOR REAL! (Had to google a recipe tho)
I stuffed those noodles and everything...okay, the bread was frozen but not bad for a non-cook! (oh, that's wine flavored kool-aid in the upper left..) My mom was a really good cook and she loved to bake. I sorta left the kitchen when she was cooking and didn't pay any attention...but come Sunday afternoon, I wanted to bake and she taught me. I'm not the best baker but I do enjoy it. Go figure!
Also, I've been working on something that I can't show you right now......but it's been my project all week. I promise I'll show you when it's done. (pretend you see a WIP here!)
I did manage to finish an edging on a blanket for Sweetie Man's daughter in Afghanastan. It did need to be army colors so it's rifle green fleece with cami yarn.
Now I'm working on some crocheted slippers...I'm half way through the 3 pairs.
There are just so many projects I want to do....just not enough time in the day!
Well, that's about it for tonight. Not much, I know, but remember...I WAS cooking tonight! So, enjoy the evening....till tomorrow, yinz crazy guys....