The YardSale is up and running! We set up for it ALL day on Wednesday.. it took 4 of us about 5 hours to tag and display everything... In the process we had people stopping and wanting to pick and peek through everything. I asked my MIL if that was ok.. and she said "sure".. So the day before the sale was suppose to open we made $100!! Not Bad.. All proceeds to this yardsale are going to their Church Food Pantry!

Of course I had to peek and pilfer through some of the stuff and I fell in love with a few things...
My MIL had these cook books.. I remember her using them when I first met her.. and I couldn't believe she was getting rid of them.. so I HAD to grab them...
Will I run out and buy the BRANDS to use these books... doubt it.. but the recipes are cool inside... I took a picture to show you... I have to be honest.. I haven't even heard of some of these brands of food. It might be a regional thing.. I'm not sure???

I also couldn't pass these up.. I am after all... a dish junky!!
My batteries are seriously dying on my camera but I'm being to "frugal" to replace them.. if they are NOT dead.. then I won't... Ü So my pictures become "poorer" UGH!! OH WELL!!
This set is so funny though!! It's missing one bowl and there are a couple chips on the cups but it comes with an ASHTRAY!! I didn't realize they still made Ashtrays... ( ok.. I did... but I've never had to buy one).

Another project I got done this week during the massive RAIN attacks we have taken.. is my window box... my hubby's friend made me this one box.. from recycled deck wood! He was going to burn it and me... well.. being me.. said .. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Can you make me window boxes from it...
So here is the first one he made me!!
Ok.. I have no idea what is UP with this picture... The window Box AND the window are seriously NOT crooked... I don't know if the slats of my house are off a bit.. but if you came and looked at it in person.. it's NOT crooked.. LOL LOL..I can't wait.. by late August all these plants will be gushing and spilling out of this box... it will be NICE against my plain white DRAB.. seriously needs to be PAINTED or SIDED house!!


Lately my son has been changing... you know.. from being 12 to 13 is a BIG leap..from a little man to a semi-big man! I'm finding that the change of life has been MORE of a struggle for my son then daughter! I never realized the emotions that boys can have!! WOW! having grown up with no brothers or boy cousins ( for awhile) it has been quite a learning experience for me!

Well my dear little semi-man WANTS to listen to music.. and some of it I CRINGE at.. and tell him to turn off.. It's NOT something I want him to hear or learn... He really loves the "heavier" sound.. something his mom loved while she was growing up.. * wink wink*... However.. he still wanted to hold on to his Veggie Tales tunes... so maybe the little boy hasn't quite escaped .. YET!

However I am so thankful for Christian Groups out there that have a heavier sound.. Some would say that this ISN'T Christian music.. because it's heavier... and it's not the gospel(Y) sound..

Psalm 68:25 says "In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines"

To me that indicates there was some serious jammin going on while they were glorifying God. So what's wrong with the groups that sound a bit "heavier".. and "louder".. is it wrong to have my son sing about Christ Loudly??? I doubt it.. I believe that God doesn't care how we sing.. it's what we sing... to Him our voices are PERFECT in His Ears... Could they be any less.. NEVER in His eyes...

I have sang since I could walk if not before.. Can I sing GOOD?? To Christ I can.. to others it doesn't matter.. my calling wasn't to sing to spread the Gospel.. but to inspire my son to sing.. because Christ gave him the voice to do it...

Christian music today is being "snuck" into mainstream music.. many of the kids today are listening to GREAT bands.. Life House..Spill Canvas.. Reliant K... and... Even Mercy Me.. and not knowing the difference... but yet hearing the message...

So.. being a mom part of my job is trying to encourage my kids to listen to the RIGHT music... I have failed in some areas... I will be honest.. some of the beats to songs.. I love.. the lyrics.. STINK!! So I wanted to share with you one group.. that my son loves... It's a "harder" sound.. but if you listen to the words.. the message is VERY CLEAR!!

This is FireFlight "You Decide"

I'm still helping my MIL out at her house.. Tomorrow is the Big Day for their yardsale to start. All the Proceeds will go to their church food pantry. They are getting prepared for the many people who will have to chose between eating and heating. This is so sad.

My Son's BaseBall Team Won their Championship game!! Not bad for a team that was doing very poorly in the beginning of the season! Each team has a sponsor and for the past 7 years I have never heard from the Sponsors.. other than their names on our T-Shirts. This year the sponsor called hubby and wanted to offer the kids a gift.. WOW!! That was so nice.. But he wasn't sure what to get the kids... Hubby says "My wife is good at that.. so let her think a few minutes"... The Sponsor said.. "Well come down and I'll give you XX amount of $$'s and you can put them together"... So I did... Can you believe I could NOT find ONE box of Cracker Jacks!! NOT ONE!! So instead I put together a water bottle, sunflowerseeds, Big Chew Gum, and a Gift Card to Olympia!! What a great gift for unsuspecting kiddos!





This past weekend I had TWO Graduation Parties to go to... One of the Graduates wanted me to make her the butterfly cupcakes... I declined... I really didn't have much time.. and I really did NOT enjoy making them.. So I scoured the internet for something different... and I found these.. There were several different versions of them.. so I kind of altered mine a tad bit.. but can't take credit for the original... I thought she might be upset because they were NOT as elaborate as the Butterfly cupcakes.. but she was HAPPY with them.. ( or she at least acted that way.. LOL LOL)
They just little peanut butter cups with squares of Hershey's chocolate, mini bakers M&M's and I piped the tassle on because cutting twizzlers was not in the time crunch... I made the cupcakes and buttercream frosting... she was more excited that it was MY frosting than anything else!




What I've been reading...
Between Sundays .. Ok.. I am NOT a Karen Kingsbury Fan.. NORMALLY .. This book was REALLY GOOD!Some of it.. I think .. a little unrealistic.. but a good story. I was REALLY shocked at the end.. the twist that the Author Chose and I'm sure you will be too if you read it.

My Fun book to read.. Hungry Girl. Great tips on eating better... places to buy things... and just eating better.. If you don't know them.. check them out on Hungry-Girl.com



What I have just started. I heard rave reviews about this book.. I am in Chapter 3 and so far it's ok... I will give it more time before I give you my full thoughts on it...

I was presented this AWARD!! I'll be honest.. I LOVE AWARDS!!

Krystyn from Really, Are you Serious gave this to me... Thank You!!
Ok.. I'll be honest.. I'm not really sure what this award is for.. lol.. I went to the original website and it was all in spanish... forgive me I don't speak spanish... very well... But I'm sharing this award with you all anyway!

Check out Krystyn's blog.. she has the CUTEST little girl who will melt your heart!!!

It even comes with rules, so here you go...
1. Chose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.
4. The award winner and one who has given the prize has to show the link of Arte Y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Show these rules.

So, without further ado...I present this award to ( this was tough.. really tough.. I've spent about an hour this morning trying to decide.. cause I love all the blogs I read!!)

Tanya the Sunday Baker... I found her I believe through a message board.. and have been addicted ever since.. I mean.. come on.. someone who loves to cook... is passionate about her family.. what is NOT to love!!

The Babblings of Mere... Mere was one of the first bloggers that I found... or she found me.. I can't remember.. but she is AMAZING.. this young lady has more wisdom about life than some adults I know! She is ALWAYS positive.. something I truly admire!

Kaye.. My Life in Pictures... WOW we have so many things in common... I love hopping over there and seeing what she has taken a picture of.. or what she is doing.. love her scrapping as well.. Her children ALWAYS have a happy smile.. which shows me.. she's a pretty good fun loving mamma!!!

Crossroadscottage... I love her gardening ideas.. I love how she can make you feel like you went on a mini vacation in her blog. Her random photos of her neighborhood and her surroundings caught my eye and I have been addicted ever since...

Three Moody Cuties.. This blog.. WOW.. what can I say.. she can tell a story as if you are sitting in her kitchen sharing a cup of ... well.. Ice water for me!! Ü ... I fall into the stories and sit there and read.. and soak up all of what she has to say... I'm inspired by her.. and she makes me think about many things...

I'm addicted to the budnt cake BLISS book.. I made another cake.. This time..

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chip Cake


This recipe said that you could cut the cake in half and add a peanut butter frosting to it. Peanut Butter is something that I find less is more. The chips inside were enough to tickle the tastebuds! and if you warmed the cake up to eat for about 15 seconds.. it gave a taste of comfort!



Here is the recipe.. these recipes are EASY because they have boxed cake mixes in all of them.. I kind of call it "cheat" cooking... but it still tastes great!

Serves 10-12
1 Box devil's food cake mix
1 small box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup water
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup peanut-butter chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 12-cup budnt pan using butter and flour or Baker's Joy and set aside.

Stir together the cake and the pudding mixes. Add the water, eggs, and oil and beat on medium for 4 minutes. Gently stir in the peanut butter chips. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out of the cake clean.

Cool for 10 minutes and invert onto a wire rack or serving platter to cool completely.

_____________________________________________________________

This weekend I have 3 parties to go to.. 2 graduation and one baby shower... So I was trying to come up with an idea for a different gift.. So the poor girl doesn't get 12 packages of the same thing... here's what I found to make!!


It's a hand towel.. just a basic one from Wal*Mart for $3.00 Being the crafter that I am.. I had the ribbon.. but bought these cutesy buttons to add...

When you unroll it you get this idea with pockets.. I am going to put in bath time stuff.. I started with just a couple ideas to show you..



This seriously took about 30 minutes to make.. EASY EASY sewing ...



A week or so ago I got these window boxes off of freecycle. I have wanted window boxes for my house since it's WHITE... to me it's kind of plain.. so I wanted to add color.. When I got them they were THIS color...

Now.. They are this color.. I primed and painted them.. ( I didn't do the inside cause you won't see it anyway...


In a few minutes I'm going to run out and put my plants in them!! can't wait!! ( I'll share picture later!!)

For the past two weeks I have been helping my MIL clean out her house...so along the way she has been giving me a few things... and I had to share with you because I LOVE THEM...


This is a pin cushion.. I don't know why.. but I fell in LOVE with it!!! LOL LOL...



Check these out... my MIL MADE these.. it's a plastic netting.. and she put elastic and material around it and made dish covers!!! I was TICKLED by these.. and that she made them!! She gave me four of them... So now .. I can bring dishes to parties without the nasty bugs landing on my "gourmet".. ( tee hee) meals!!


When I walked in the other day she tossed this to me and said that I was the only one to have this.. it truly belonged to me... she said it's NOT and antique but getting close to being one...I found it to be quite the compliment!! WOW!!



Tomorrow I'm dedicating myself to reading all your blogs...
School is finally out and some things are finishing up!! YEAH!!!

Congrats to my nephew.. He graduated High School this past week!! Gosh.. I can't believe how fast he's grown up! When I first met him he was riding around on a tricycle in his underwear all over his kitchen! I grabbed this photo off of snapfish from my in-loves book so sorry that it's so small.

(well some how blogger just ate this picture and now it won't let me load it again.. UGH!!)



Remember the apron I got and the book I presented with it in my blog entry.. well I decided to make one of the bundt cakes. My kids bought me a bunt pan for Christmas about 3 years ago and I'm sad to say I had never used it. Yesterday I grabbed it.. dusted it off and decided to bake this..


This is a Lemonade Cake
I liked it. The first bite really HITS you with it's sweet and tartness but it does kind of leave you wanting a second piece!!

***"I believe that as long as I keep baking, my grandmother hasn't really gone. I believe baking is he best way for me to express love for my people in the present and honor the people of my past, all in one batch." -- Emily Smith, National Public Radio, November 20,2006 ***



I can't believe how YELLOW the cake came out! WOW! the color was amazing!


Lemonade Cake
Serves 10-12

1 small box lemon-flavored gelatin
3/4 cup hot water
1 box (18-ounce) lemon cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 (6-ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a 12-cup bundt pan using butter and flour or baker's Joy and set aside.

combine gelatin mix with water and set aside.

Thoroughly combine cake mix, eggs, and oil. Add the gelatin mixture and beat for 3 minutes.

Pour into the prepared pan.

Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the cake clean.
Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes in the pan.

Combine the lemonade concentrate with the sugar. After the cake has cooled 15 minutes, gently loosen it from the sides of the pan. Pour 2.8 of the lemonade mixture over the cake in the pan, allowing it to run down the sides. Wait 10 minutes and invert the cake onto a serving p latter. Pour the remaining lemonade mixture over the top of the cake.


I'm finishing up the Joyce Meyer book.. let's just say... my opinion changed fast while I was reading it... there are a few parts that really tear your heart out.. it's a GREAT story.. GREAT!!

WHAT?? WHY can't I upload PHOTOS!!! doesn't blogger KNOW I live to upload photos.... GRRRRR and I had a great recipe to share too!!!

Last Weekend I went yardsaleing and got some really cool deals! One of the deals I got was this book:


Now I didn't think that the ice-cream would really turn out the way that you buy it in the store... I first have to admit.. I AM NOT a big Ice-Cream FAN.. AT ALL! Everyone once in a GREAT while I'll cave and get a soft serve... but other than that.. I can pass the ice-cream isle in the grocery store NO PROBLEM!

I have never made Ice-Cream before.. I have never thought of venturing that route because.. well it isn't one of my food passions... However in my family adores Ice-Cream!!

So I went out today and bought the ingredients that I didn't have and decided to make Ben's Chocolate Ice-Cream ( Jerry has his own as well)
I set out on the adventure.. but I didn't have an Ice-Cream maker.. I had missed that deal by minutes... OH WELL.. so I took my chances on FREECYCLE and posted a WANT.. the Ice-Cream Maker... and guess WHAT??? I got a response!! and I found me a FREE Ice-Cream maker.. WOO HOO!!!


I never realized that the "salt" for the maker was the same ROCK SALT we put on the ground to melt our snow here in New England.. had I known what I know NOW!! I would have bought a big bag for MUCH less in the Winter... These bags cost $2.00 for 5lbs.. doesn't sound bad.. but when you can get about 25lbs of Rock Salt for $8.00 it does make a difference.



So I started with the melting of the chocolate but I have mysteriously lost that picture while downloading...
So I went on to cream the eggs, sugar and milk with a pinch of salt and vanilla ( you can kind of see the whisker moving... )




After a minute I added the chocolate mixture and this is what I got out of the solution..


After chilling this for about 2 hours...I put in the machine.. Ok.. I'm going to admit this.. this machine is HORRENDOUSLY LOUD!! Thank goodness I had a good book to read on the swing outside... cause the noise.. is deafening!!!


But after the process was done.. and I chilled the ice-cream for another hour or so.. the kids came home to a treat that looked like this... I got 6 thumbs up ( 3 kiddos.. lol lol) See the little "bits" in it.. it was from some of the chocolate that did NOT get mixed in well while whisking..at first I was bummed... but my son thought they tasted like Brownie Bits.. and I have to tell you.. it did taste good!


Here's a Pansy from my garden.. Had to throw that in for good measure...

And here is the new book I started... I'm on Chapter 3 and I'm going to admit this.. I had to read the first page about 3 times because grammatically it was not adding up to me. You see .. reading my blog you might think I have no idea how to put my sentences and punctuations in correctly.. but I ACED English... now I'm just lazy!! To me it felt like I was reading a page that was written by someone very inexperienced. However I will continue to read on. Some of the reviews for this book are OUTSTANDING... which might lead me to believe because "Joyce Meyers" wrote it ..it's wonderful.... Yes she writes GREAT personal books.. but fictional stories.. I'll let you know!



I'm off to bed so I can get up EARLY and yardsale tomorrow!! What treasure can I find tomorrow??
Last weekend I found a food saver for $1.. I priced them at the store.. it was OVER $100... WOW!! a red tea kettle for my friend.. another mixing bowl... yup.. another pyrex.. baby blankets and a garbage bag full of legos for $3.. and then my cook book find! There was one yardsale where everything was FREE!! Hubby got golf balls .. he was pleased as punch!

So if you have any treasures you find this week.. SHARE!! I'd love to know what you got!

Look What came in the mail for me yesterday!!!


My dearest sweetest Mamma Kim made it for me...( Cajun Quilter)... no one was home to model it for me.. or take my pic in it.. so I had to hang it on the door and take a picture to share with you all.. I am blessed... it is so AWESOME!!! Out of all the crafts in the world.. I lack sewing... or I should say I'm scared of sewing.. LOL LOL...
So now.. I have to try and bake one of these.. with this on!!! I found this book in the library.. and I honestly don't want to give it back!!
The cover attracted me to it.. I'll be honest.. but I sat and read all the recipes... and now I have to at least try ONE! I'll let you know the out come.

Since last weeks episode of me feeling awful I have neglected my garden.. OUCH!! so I'm headed out there today.. but let me share a few pictures with you... My radishes are starting to grow.. I had to pull some out for more space... but they are taking off..
There there is my mixed greens ( lettuce) my favorite.. I think these are almost ready to be picked.. I am so psyched I grew these from seeds and transplanted..I had my doubts.. but they are coming along beautiful!
Summer Squash.. ( see the weeds) I can't wait to sink my teeth into my OWN... Wal*Marts is $1.88lb.. ( rip off) while the regular grocery is $1.29.. But still there is nothing like eating your OWN!!!
Just a random picture at my friends where my garden is.. I was walking by and I LOVE this plant ( no idea what it is.. do you???) and I saw the bumble bee.. that little "bugger" wanted to keep moving.. and this was the BEST shot I got of it!! LOL LOL...

I'm still reading the same book.. it's going slow with this warm weather.. ( can't sit on my swing outback or I'll melt).. so I've been doing cooler stuff inside!!

Tonight after my walk.. I plan on reading blogs.. so write some juicy stuff for me.. OK!!! LOL LOL!!

This week was one of those weeks that flew by and I'm ever so grateful for... however my insurance company is probably spitting nickels on all the claims that will be turned in... OH WELL...
Yesterday I broke down and went to the Chiropractor.. I had to.. nothing was really doing much for the pain.. and when it was painful to brush my own teeth... it wasn't flying for me!

However.. my friend asked me last week ( before my mouth situation) if I would make a cake for a baby shower.. I told her I would.. she called me later in the week to let me know that there wasn't going to be a great amount of people there ( her work).. so I asked if we could go with cupcakes instead... She agreed.. the theme for the baby was Fairies... UGh.. I don't like fairy stuff.. ( sorry if you do..Ü) So I found little fairies at the dollar tree and used those to top some of the cupcakes... and the rest I made chocolate butterflies...

I have come to learn... I am NO chocolatier!!! I struggled making these and I have to tell you.. I hated making these.. ( I won't tell my friend that.. cause I love doing things for my friends) They didn't come out the way I wanted them too.. but I also didn't have the right color chocolates either.. and with my pain.. I couldn't drive a few hours to get them either!! :( Although I was VERY close to calling Pugposse ( Lisa) to see if she wanted to take a ride.. but then I fretted that I wouldn't be any fun with pain.. UGH!!

So here are the cupcakes...





Here's the book I'm trying to read when I can get comfortable.. reading has been slow this week.. I've watched some mindless TV shows... that's for sure!!


Well it's suppose to be in the 90's this weekend... so I'll be sitting by a pool hopefully reading... and weeding my garden that I haven't peeked at all week!! and making window boxes for my house!!! YEE HAA!!
So what ever you're doing this weekend.. HAVE FUN.. STAY COOL... and Love those around you!!!

Thank You for all your thoughts and prayers....
Today I feel the same, but I have a list a mile long that I have to do... so I'm up and about.

I have to tell you... I cant WAIT to see this movie.




Growing up I remember watching this show almost every night.
I don't think that Anne Hathaway or Steve Carell.. being both great actors.. will compare to Don Adams and Barbara Feldon. Barbara Feldon to me had such CLASS and beauty and being a little girl who wouldn't want to be a secret agent. I also secretly thought Don Adams was sooooooo cute.. hey.. I was what...???? NINE!! and I was watching the repeats!

Just for a little reminder here are the REAL agents!




If you see this movie.. let me know what you thought!!
For now... let's discuss it under the "Cone of Silence" or call me on your "shoe phone"

Sometimes in life.... you get thrown some curve balls.... Remember my last post where I said I couldn't wait for the weekend... Well.. the weekend came and went and I spent it in bed! I thought I might have pushed my jaw out of joint... or worse had an abscessed tooth. So after a MILLION different drugs that wouldn't even TOUCH the pain I was experiencing my GRACIOUS dentist took me in yesterday....

The Good news... NO Cavities....
The Bad news...I have facial neuralgia

According to everything I read.. facial neuralgia is the WORST nerve pain anyone can experience and because modern medicine can they gave it a nickname.. "The Suicide Disease".. Nice HUH? I guess the pain can get so bad it drives people mad. After this weekend.. I could see that.

So I ran to my GRACIOUS family physician who took me right in as well and prescribed me a anti-seizure medication to hopefully combat the nerves in my cranium... the downfall to that.. I fell like my body is dragging bricks... UGH!. After taking it last night I still feel the pain but not as intense and it seems to be segregated to one spot now and now whizzing all over my mouth like this weekend.

So.. instead of being bummed about it.. I'm trying to look at the positive in this... what that is right now.. I'm not sure.. but everytime I see this picture of the bunny that I took a few weekends ago.. it makes me laugh!!

If you can believe it... I am reading a book but I can't focus on it.. to even tell you about it... I've been watching mindless TV shows... stuff I can't even BELIEVE people get paid to air.. OH MY!
I haven't been reading blogs cause I can't sit in one place long enough... but know when I get to feeling better.. I'll be back to reading yours!! I promise!!