Thursday, November 26, 2009

New Items - Tea Wallets


With all these scraps of fabric here, had to find something useful to make with them. And some are such cute prints too so we came up with tea wallets! Great to carry your teabags and sugar/sweetener with you so they stay clean and nice in your purse. They'd make great gifts for your favorite tea lover too. And now through Cyber Monday, shipping is free to anywhere in the world!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Recycled, repurposed, etc...


So we've been madly working to get some stuff together for The HodgePodgery - a new shop opening up in downtown Harrisburg. All kinds of ideas - just need to see what works and what doesn't. One thing is some reusable coffee sleeves - made from odds and ends of old clothing, decorator fabric samples, scraps and vintage buttons. I think they're coming out kind of interesting looking - quite a variety. Hopefully they'll sell : ) I've stopped by a couple times at the shop now - it's looking very nice - the paint colors are great - love the odds and ends of vintage pieces for display and stuff. Ok...back to the sewing machine...

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

More on the critter...


So...the little critter continues to keep me busy. We've had a couple trips to the vet - once for a check up and another to check on some intestinal issues. Some antibiotics and we seem good to go. She's getting much better on her feet - scampering around the floor when we let her loose to play - she can move pretty fast these days. Got a giant box that gives her plenty of room to play but keeps her safe since she's still so small. Going on six weeks old now. I'm proud to say she's using the litter box all on her own, but solid food isn't quite all that appealing yet. We're working on that one. She's got this tube-y toy thing to crawl in and play in and the neighbor gave her this little stuffed yellow monkey that she bats around. And my niece got her this green floppy stuffed dog when she was here visiting - she loves to curl up next to it, and even under it if she can. She frequently sticks her head underneath it and all you can see is her little backside sticking out. Hopefully in a few more weeks she'll be weaned and ready to find a good home.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Kitty Update



So far the baby kitten raising is going well. She's growing and getting feisty - it's getting to be a challenge when trying to feed her. We have a battle over the bottle - she claws and gets all fussy periodically...trying to get her to calm down and nurse quietly is not that easy sometimes. Cripes. She's a bit more active now but she still sleeps quite a bit - she creeps around on the floor and she tries to nibble fingers and even faces but she doesn't really have teeth yet. Guess we'll have to come up with some kind of containment larger than the carrier - it will be soon time to set her up with a little pan of litter to get used to, and some food/milk mush so she gets the idea of eating other than just out of a bottle. Boy, is this going to get messy - just like a human infant. At least human babies don't have claws! The little critter is starting to remind me of the plant from Little Shop of Horrors...the meow version of "Feed Me"! Might have to call her Audrey 3.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Baby Mama

Well, I'm a mom again it seems. Sort of. One of these goofy wild cats decided to abandon her baby kitten on my doorstep. She comes back once in a while but refuses to have anything to do with the little thing. I just didn't have the heart to leave it out there to die, mewing loudly as it was, and wandering blindly around. So I brought it in and made it a nice little nest in a cat carrier. Then I went online and scrounged up what information I could find on taking care of a tiny kitten. This one must not have been more than a day or two old. Went out and bought a bottle and kitten formula. Now keep in mind, this is a lot like having an infant again - bottle feedings every couple hours or so, cleaning it's little bottom and holding it. Criminey. It does sort of grow on you though, the funny looking little critter. It's eyes aren't open yet, hardly any ears yet either...but it's soft and fuzzy and it makes tiny little purring noises. Hopefully this fostering thing goes well and it grows up to be a cute little kitten - which will need a home since I'm already up to my backside in cats it seems. Funny, this is pretty much how I ended up with the cats I have now...uh oh!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Toaster Oven Giveaway

I found this giveaway thru Twitter - it's hosted by @mommieswithcent. They're giving away the cutest toaster oven - I like having appliances that look pretty too. And snacks from Tyson too - I've got to try some of them, they sound yummy. Check it out on the the blog here - Mommies With Cents - good luck!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

My lawn is taking over...

The grass is growing like crazy these days. I'm certain it knew that the riding mower quit working and thought it could go run wild and free. We did manage to get the mower serviced and all but I really wanted a bagging attachment so all that long grass didn't clump up all over. Went to Home Depot and bought what I was told was the correct item. Major pain putting the thing together...only to find out it didn't fit. Aagghh! Called the store - they said I needed an adapter. Called the company that makes the mower - they said no, it's the wrong bagger entirely. Oh nuts. Took the darn thing back to the store and went to the dealer where we bought the mower. Got a different bagger. Guess what? I can't get this one to fit right either. I can't stand it - the shop said they'd see about sending someone over to help figure out why this one doesn't fit - that works for me. Gotta love the independent stores - they're very nice and helpful. I did have to end up just mowing the yard - it now looks like a field. Might have to try raking the piles of grass clippings if it doesn't rain. Hopefully we can get this yard looking a bit better than it does - I am so not the "Lawn Ranger" : ) And by the way - Happy Earth Day! Go plant something, recycle or reuse something, get some earth friendly cleaning products...or just something to help the environment today - and keep it up!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Spring JavaCupcake Collaboration Giveaway!

Fantastic giveaway with some yummy prizes - go to Java Cupcake's Blog for details! I'll post more info here later - got to get the furniture moved - carpet people coming tomorrow!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

New Giveaway!

So...I'm participating in a giveaway with some people I've met on Twitter. No details as of yet, but keep an eye out - should be coming up by the end of the week. And for Twitter updates - follow @JavaCupcake , @OhSoSweetTreats and @frostedtreats . Wow, those all sound yummy, don't they?

Monday, March 16, 2009

Chocolate chip cookies anyone?

Who could resist a warm chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven? That's the best time to eat them, in my opinion. With a cold glass of milk. The boss however, likes them after they've sat for a day. And since he whined repeatedly about bringing him cookies - I broke down and baked a batch. Or two. He is kinda sweet in his crabby way - and he's addicted to chocolate chip cookies apparently. Had to bake plenty so that everyone at home got some, and everyone else at work got some....and the boss got his own container (as he knows he will!). And I even shared some with a new Twitter friend from Lancaster Newspapers who stopped by to pick hers up. I do enjoy baking - and it's nice to have some place to share the goodies. I'm sure we don't need to eat all these calories ourselves!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Friendly's!

Went out to run errands and decided to have dinner out at Friendly's. Not a bad little place to eat - and of course, the ice cream is always good. Embarrassed my daughter by shooting my straw paper at her. What fun - she actually leaned to the side right about the time I took aim and blew the straw paper - shot it right past her onto the next table - HA! Good thing only the waitress was over there cleaning the table off. Life's too short to act like an adult, right? Mom was a blast - she kept waving and making faces at a toddler two tables away. I'm sure his parents would have preferred that he actually sit and eat his dinner. Couldn't convince Mom to sit there and quit distracting him either. Taking an 86 year old woman with Alzheimer's out is certainly an experience and a challenge.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Muffins!

Ok, I've been sadly neglecting my blog here. I've really got to get busy and keep up with things better. So for your reading enjoyment - another recipe! Chelsea got an interesting little book for Christmas from her grandmother - '1 Mix, 100 Muffins'. Every kind of muffins from sweet to savory. Yum! So we tried out a recipe, actually she made them, I just ate a bunch. They were pretty tasty. Here it is:

Mini Bleu Cheese and Pear Muffins

oil or melted butter for greasing (unless using liners)
14oz/400g canned pear halves in natural juice, drained
2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
freshly ground black pepper
heaping 3/4 cup finely crumbled bleu cheese such as Stilton or Gorgonzola
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
6 Tbsp. sunflower oil or melted, cooled butter
heaping 1/4 cup walnut pieces

~Preheat the oven to 400 degrees/200C. Grease two 24-cup mini muffin pans or line with paper liners. Chop the pears into small pieces. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper to taste into a large bowl. Stir in the bleu cheese and pears.
~Lightly beat the eggs in a large pitcher or bowl, then beat in the milk and oil. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the beaten liquid ingredients. Stir gently until just combined; do not overmix.
~Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan. Scatter the walnuts over the tops of the muffins. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, until well risen, golden brown and firm to the touch.
~Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then serve warm.

These would be great served with a bowl of soup or stew...a wonderful cold winter meal!