Everything's Comin' Up Daisies!

I've got a new bag for summer! Won't that look cute with a pair of jean shorts, a yellow or pink Tee and flip-flops? I used the pattern Flea Market Bag by Grand Revival. It's an easy, well-written pattern and fun to make.


This one is for my Mom's birthday on May 2. I planned on making her one anyway, but she saw the one my daughter, Kaleigh made and requested one. Kaleigh's is pretty 'hot'. Hers is made from (inside) hot pink material with black polka-dots and (outside) black material with hot pink polka-dots. Perfect choice for a nearly 14 yo girl! I have one more to make for my sister-in-law's birthday in June. I'll post a pic of Kaleigh's and hers then.
And speaking of handbags, look in my sidebar under Favorite Blogs and click on Bumble Bee Bags. Christina has some very pretty ones she's busy making. Very inspirational!

Still Chilly Here-Bring On the Comfort Food

As the weather has gone from an unseasonable 80 degrees to a more seasonable 60, I made a treat for my family last night that would warm our chilled bones; Bread Pudding. It's a comfort food I grew up with and my dad gave me a recipe he found just the other night. I healthed it up a bit as I'm trying to watch the calories. I don't eat any artificial sweeteners, but if you do you could probably cut even more calories than I did.
Bread Pudding
8 slices toasted, lightly buttered low-cal wheat or Italian bread cut into squares
(my dad used regular white bread)
4 eggs, beaten (my dad used 6)
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
4 cups milk
3/4 cup raisins
Put toast in 9X13. Mix rest of ingredients with beater and pour over toast. Sprinkle with raisins on top, if desired. Bake at 325 for 1 hour.

I'm Not Loafin', Honest

I've been busy creating, honest. My hands have been busy. Posting, well, alittle lazy on, but making stuff, I've been right on.
There's a small yarn shop in Wakefield, RI tucked behind some shops on Main Street called Knit One, Purl Two. A delightful shop! The owner is sweet and helpful and the shop is loaded with inspiration. This beach bag caught my eye, and I knew I had to make it. Would you believe I whipped this bag out in five evenings? I just love it. It's made of a soft cotton., It's floppy and and casual and just what a beach bag should be. It's all set and waiting for me to take to the beach. I could just smell the lotion and hear the waves crashing already!
I know the yarn cost me about $24.00. Can't remember the name of it for the life of me, though. If you'd like to make one, google the shop. I know they still have it on display as I talked to someone from the shop about blocking it. The pattern is free!

One More Gray Hair on Mama's Head

The day started off like any other. Some schoolwork, tidying of house, lunch and afternoon playtime. The girls asked if they could go next door to play in the sandbox with their little five year old friend, Michael. I thought, why not? While the girls were next door, I was putzying around my room; cleaning up here and there, reading a few e-mails, you know, basically relaxing.
Next thing you know, I heard blood-shivering screams, and they were coming from my daughters! I took off outside along with Casey and Kaleigh. Poor Kierra was running down the hill, her head, face and shirt covered in blood. She was screaming that she had been shot with a BB gun! The five year old neighbor boy had picked up his 12 year old brother's BB gun, (which was an older model) and shot it. He didn't aim it at her, so it really wasn't intentional. His brother had been looking to shoot chipmunks and had the gun pumped, and then left it while he went in the house. The little kids were in the garage and were just a few feet from each other.
Anyway, my son scooped Kierra up in his arms, while I ran in the house and called my husband, frantically telling him to GET HOME! My neighbor ran in too, and the two of us were saying "What do we do?" We were scared to death! We got a cloth and put it on the side of her head to try to stop the bleeding, while I called 911. I cannot express how upset I was. Two ambulances came, one a basic unit, the other a paramedic unit. At the same time, my husband pulled in. We live in the country, and although our town has an ambulance, it's volunteer, and most of the people that run the ambulance are at work. It took quite a bit of time for them to pull a crew together. At the same time, the paramedic unit from the next town over was called as it was a trauma to the head.
Without going into too much detail, they took my daugther and husband to the hospital where they made an incision to remove the BB that was lodged in the side of Kierra's head. My older boys, both that are in the emergency "business" could have helped had they been home, but of course, they weren't!
Yes, one more gray hair... thank goodness for hair color.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Here I am, blowing out all my candles... in one shot, too! Had a great time celebrating my special day. Enjoying my kiddoes, out to dinner with my hubby, and a wonderful, home-made birthday cake. It just doesn't get any better than that! Thank you, God... I feel completely blessed...

Embroidered Pillowcases

I haven't embroidered for a really long time. I've done other types of needlework, but not embroidery. This was a fun way to get back into it. These two cases are for my parent's anniversary this month. I hope they have sweet dreams on them.



A close-up of the embroidery.