Guilty Pleasures....

I've been pondering the notion of posting my, so- called, "Guilty Pleasures" for some time now. I have mentioned a few before, in previous posts. Now, maybe it's because I've been thinking of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" or maybe I've been more indulgent lately, but I now feel brave enough to share my "shame." Keep in mind, some of these on the list are guilts of pleasures past. So, here it is in no particular order:

1. The TV show S Club 7, a friend and floor mate of mine, Jacob, turned me on to this show in college. I walked into his dorm room while He was watching it and I couldn't stop laughing. It is about a British bubble gum pop band a la Spice Girls or ABBA. The band was some sort of spin-off of the Spice Girls. I think they had the same manager or founder, something like that. The show was all camp and it was delicious!

2. Doctor Who the guilt began while I was in Junior High and later became a healthy obsession. The older shows made me laugh at the low budget costumes and sets. Now the show makes me laugh because of the good writing. I can't wait to see the Christmas Special this Christmas night when they time travel to Charles Dickens' time of The Christmas Carol, brilliant!

3. Coronation Street, a hugely popular British soap opera set in the Manchester area. I can't even explain why I like this show so much. They don't do the raised eyebrow to transition to another scene, nor do any of the women look like they're fighting a fart to transition to another scene- something that I witnessed on numerous American soap operas growing up. Tonight, the CBC is having a special all about Canada's obsession with Coronation Street. I will certainly be watching that tonight!

4. Gossip Girl, I lower my head in complete embarrassment over this one. I just think that the characters are over the top and Leighton Meester is hilarious as the character "Blair." The characters on the show are so vapid and narcissistic that the gooeyness of the show sticks with you, like Milk Duds. It's just plain silly. I blame the nations preoccupation with reality television on my shameful television choices.

5. The Twilight Saga, I am too old for this crap, I mean really, I am a University educated woman! I've never had braces and I am a loyal "Buffy" fan. I am a vampire purist- vampires aren't nice. "Angel" wasn't even nice when he was "Angelis" ! It's just so, so bad.

I was given the first three books from the series by my sister; and I read them all in a few days. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning, fighting sleep just because I needed to see what was happening next. Then I forced myself to leave my cave for a few days and not buy the final book. I worried that if I didn't get some sun exposure, I may start to look like a "Cullen". So, after a few days of withdrawal, I bought the final book and retreated to my cave for two days, the book was large.

Then, I bought the first movie, which made me giggle because it's really absurd in so many ways. It's even funnier after a few beers! Now, I'm looking forward to seeing Eclipse. Yes, the movie's been out for a while and yes it's on DVD. However, I'm hoping Santa will treat me with the two disc wide screen set, and there is no way I'd go to see these movies in public. I went to a Lord of the Rings movie once- it was opening night. I was really out of place there. Like Barry Manilow at a Rob Zombie concert. Wouldn't that be hilarious though, Barry opening for Rob?!

6. Pretty Little Liars- This is a TV show shown on ABC Family and is based on a series of novels. Once again, this is geared towards the teen audience. However, it is fun to watch when you want to unwind. It has intrigue and suspense. The actresses on the show aren't bad actors compared to the actors on other ABC Family shows. It features Chad Lowe and Holly Marie Combs as the main characters parents- as an adult who was a teenager in the 1990's these actors are familiar. The shows plot is wrapped around a mystery- who killed our friend, what are we hiding etc. As a fan of Agatha Christie, I love a juicy murder mystery. Even though this murder mystery is coated in lip gloss, skinny jeans and Cosmogirl, it still is amusingly preferable to any "reality" show.

7. Peach Blossoms- called by my sister as "old people candy" I love the stuff! It reminds me of Christmas, and the peanut butter center is such a surprise!

8. Wii Golf- My favorite way to blow off steam. I want to get a real set of clubs, put on my favorite argyle and head out to the nearest range. However, based on my bowling abilities on the Wii and my actual bowling abilities, I'm guessing I'm better suited for croquet.

So, there you go, my secret shame is no longer. Given the popularity of the things I've listed, I am clearly not the only one who indulges.

Soon, I'll be gearing up for the holiday. I've already decorated the interior of the house, when it warms above freezing I'll decorate the porch. We still haven't bought a tree, but I'm sure we will next week. I'll be baking up a storm soon to! When that time comes, I'll share. Until then~Toodaloo!

It's December!

So, it has been a long time since my last post. In fact, November passed by without even a note from me- my many apologies to you all. This past month has been a busy one! There was the holidays to experience, which was a lot of fun, not at all hectic. Also, I had a new nephew arrive, so I had a lot of fun entertaining my sister while we waited for him to come. We watched a lot of spooky shows, and while she was out, I caught up on the show Doc Martin. Here are a few photos of things that were in my world this past month......

These are a sort of yellow daisy in a large patch. I

passed these each day on my way to work and on my way home. They are just so cheerful! However, now that the cold has arrived, they are gone.

This Halloween, it snowed in the morning, completely coating the ground and garden. If you look at the angels head, you can see a bit of snow. I took this picture early in the storm. Later, there was a lot more snow.

This week, my father did something awesome, and I was happy to help him with this. We got a new doggy. My mother missed having a dog. I think we'll always miss sweet Brandy Bozo, but giving a new friend a loving home is very therapeutic. His name is "Fred."

Introducing Fred, the super wonder Pini Poo!

When I'm not at work, I am still making yummy treats at home or visiting with my friends. This particular month had me busier than usual because I was going from place to place and helping out my sisters. It's always fun to help my sisters, because I get to spend time with them and be silly, just having coffee together. Also, I get to spend more time with my nephews and that too is a ton of fun. Now, I have Christmas to look forward to as well as play time with Fred. I've already begun decorating for the holiday! I'll post about that and treats soon!

Until then~ Toodaloo!

Autumn Warmth

October is here already! Our weather has been so strange lately, that it's hard to tell what season it is. However, the colors speak for themselves. Today, the air is crisp, once again. So far, I've only put up a few decorations for Fall. However, in a few weeks, I'll get out my Halloween stash. I try not to decorate too soon, because mid October tends to be stormy and it stretches out my cobwebbing. I try to decorate around Columbus day weekend, or after.

I have been indulging in some of my fall traditions. A few weekends ago, I made root soup! It's soooo yummy. I add as many root vegetables and herbs as I can, along with bratwurst. I even used some turnip from the garden.

Also, I made bread pudding with apples and craisins! These sorts of foods tend to warm me up and really are enjoyed best in the Fall.

Today, I made mincemeat bars and a potato and meatball soup in the crock pot . I really love this time of year for crock pot cooking, especially during the busy week. Once again, I'm enjoying cozy food.

I am also starting a new craft for myself and my sisters, whom I'll be visiting next weekend. I hope to finish the craft by the time I go away. I think that if I work on the project a little at a time in the afternoons, I should be able to finish them with ease. I hope to post the craft when I return later that week. Until then~Toodahloo!

It's Starting To Feel Like September!

I haven't posted in a while. Summer was winding down, and as a result, I needed to finish up some projects before the school year began. I have been so busy and adjusting to my school year routine. When I have it solid, I hope to post more.

So, a few weeks ago, I went to the church auction. I won a baby changing table for $1.00! When I went to take it home, I discovered that it came with all kinds of baby bedding and a wall hanging that just happens to be the decor for my sisters nursery! So, I got a sturdy wooden changing table AND a garbage bag of baby bedding for, yes, $1.00! So, my sister is taking the bedding, but she doesn't need a changing table. I, however, needed a TV stand. With my bedroom, I inherited an old entertainment center that we had since the 90's and it took up a lot of space; I really wanted it gone. So, I converted the changing table into a TV stand.

**Sidenote**

That is Merlin napping on the table. Whenever something new is brought into the home, he sleeps on it. His eyes, usually don't look like that. Clearly, he is trying to use his feline tricks to get me to feed him something yummy.

I began my project by removing the top slats, the top bars, and the plywood. Thank goodness ABCFamily was playing the movie Can't Buy Me Love, it really kept me in high spirits as a dismantled the furniture.

The next day, I recycled some of the wooden slats and I used them to run parallel to the slat positioned in the middle, that way there would be more support for the top. After that, I used decorative molding and screwed it to the front; attaching it to each shelf. That way, it could support the weight of a television.

Then, I took the plywood top and I used it as a template to cut another piece of plywood, in order to have an extra layer for the top, making it more sturdy and durable.

Finally, I took some white household paint that we had on hand and tinted it using acrylic craft paints. I guess you could call the color "jade."

There you have it. I now have a much cleaner shelving unit for my television, plus I have storage for my Cd's, games, and some of my DVDs. The best part is, I did it myself by reusing old stuff from the house and the changing table.

This weekend, I had a much earned girl day with my bestie and I picked up some decorations for Fall at the Dollar Store. Soon, I'll be decorating and making spice cookies in the shapes of leaves. I made my first baked apples the other day!- So very delicious! I am also getting into the fall mood by watching movies that I always watch in the fall. Last night, I watched The Others, so scary- I got the DVD in the cheap bin the other day. Soon, I'll be watching The Village and Nosferatu. What really is getting me excited, though, is that the Fall premier of Being Erica will be on in a few weeks! I can't wait to see what happens after she goes through the door that she picked. Now that I have such a fabulous TV stand, I can enjoy my viewing pleasure in style.

Well, I think that I have more than made up for lost time. When I bake, craft or decorate again, I'll update you. Unitl then~ Toodaloo!

The Leaves Are Changing

The other day, I was looking around the house for some sand paper. I am working on another furniture project, which I'll update on later. While searching for the aforesaid paper, I stumbled upon a pile of old cookbooks. Among the books was a ledger.

Inside the ledger was a bunch of handwritten recipes and beside each recipe the name of the woman (in parenthesis) from whom the recipe was given by. Also, tucked into the pages, throughout the book, were a bunch of newspaper and magazine clippings of recipes.

From the dates of the clippings, I was able to figure out that the book was kept during the 1950's. There were even recipes from the woman's friends with little notes written with them. The penmanship was very pretty, and it was sweet to see the collection of recipes that this woman took the time to record. I used her mother's molasses cookie recipe to make a large batch of cookies. I think this recipe is the best molasses cookie recipe I've ever used! My mother told me that it was very similar to the recipe that her mother used. They are very big and very yummy! This ledger was an exciting find and, certainly, a treasure.

Yesterday, I went to the coast and enjoyed a sunny day at the beach, then I went and visited some other fun places nearby. I've visited this place nearly every summer since I was a little girl. I've always loved the old sites and the remnants of colonial dwellings. This place pictured is a very old cemetary that overlooks the harbor. It's fun to go there and read the old stones and learn about the history of the place.

There is something about smelling the salt air, especially when you first step out in the morning, that is so calming.

That morning, before I left for the coast, I noticed that the leaves on the trees are beginning to change- the first whisperings of Fall. This week, I'll be working on a furniture project. When it is completed I write all about it. Until next time~ Toodaloo!

I Finished Some Projects!

I finished the quilt that I was making for a nephew to be, finally! After washing it, I was hanging it on the clothes line, when I saw that one little seam didn't get sewn. So, after the quilt was dry, I grabbed the quilt and gave a quick zig zag stitch to mend the flaw. I really do love my new sewing machine, I must say. I am able to get so many projects done faster with this machine.






The other day, I made oatmeal raspberry scones. The raspberries came from the backyard garden. I had never made these kind of scones before, but since we've had such a great harvest, so far, I thought I'd experiment. When raspberries bake in an oven, the juices start to flow and the most fantastic smells drift out of the oven. My nephews visited this weekend, and long story short, once they discovered Auntie's scones, they Houdini'd the pastries.

Now, I have more time to develop other projects. School will be starting at the end of the month. So, I am beginning to prepare now. I bought an old waffle iron at the thrift store this weekend. It's great, it makes four rectangular waffles which are a perfect fit for the toaster. The irons can be reversed and the other side is flat- which can be used as a griddle. I went on line and found a recipe for multigrain waffles. I made an experimental batch. They were great. The idea is that on Saturdays, I make a large batch of waffles and freeze them. Then, throughout the week, I can grab a few from the freezer and toast them for breakfast. This will provide a filling, yet, wholesome breakfast that won't take any time to make. Effective time management in the mornings during the school year is crucial. If I start my day in a stress- filled frenzy, the rest of my day will be a mess. So, this is very helpful. I have started another experiment, which I'll detail at another time. Until then~ Toodaloo!

My Recliner Was A Pirate Ship

So, Merlin has taken out is anger at the loss of Brandy on my bed. He has decided that the best way to show me how much he loves me is by urinating on my bed. Once, he had the grace to wait until I was not asleep and out of my bed. So, my new nickname for him is "Betsy-Wetsy," but only when I'm really tired and annoyed.
On the one hand, I have compassion, on the other hand, I'm totally grossed out. So, last night, I was really looking forward to crawling into bed and I discovered that the bed wetting bandit had struck again. So, I grabbed a pillow and a quilt and went to the living room recliner.
Remember when you were so small that you a a sibling could sit on the recliner together and spend a good hour on your "pirate ship" fighting against the sharks? Well, that was my night last night. I cozied on the recliner and channel surfed. It's so fun indulging in late night re-runs. I watched Bravo! for a while. Then I found a full hour of Sex and the City. Oh, to indulge in that was delightful. Well, at 4 am the birds were chirping and I decided to camp out on a pile of pillows on my bedroom floor for a quick cat nap. I've got my bedding all "Downy soft" on the clothes line and I think I'll sleep with one eye open tonight. Finger Crossed!
Until Next time~ Toodaloo!

I Made Lemon Whoopie Pies!

I knew that there must be a way to make Lemon Whoopie Pies. However, when searching on line for a recipe, I only found one; and it didn't look like it would come out the way that I wanted. So, I compared the recipe to regular whoopie pie recipes and made my own recipe. The cookies were lemon flavored as was the filling. The first batch was a trial run and from the experience I was able to see which parts need some tweaking.

These did taste yummy, but I can do better- next time.

On my last post, I wrote about reading The Selected Journals of L. M. Montgomery. So far, I've read Volume II and I am reading Volume IV now and I have Volume V for later. The other two Volumes I haven't read only because I don't have them in my possession. I have yet to find Volumes: I and III in hardcover at a reasonable price. If you're a fan of her literature these are very insightful with regards to her inspiration. You'd also like to read them if you're at all interested in history.

What I like about these books most is not just the interesting parts from history but also it has the essense of "If I knew then, what I know now" sort of insight. The first journal begins when she was a teenager and the other volumes go on well into adulthood allowing the reader to see her emotional growth. When reading her journals, it's like sitting with an elder next door neighbor over tea and having them tell you about their experiences and learning from them.

When she wrote about the loss of a beloved pet, it made me feel like it was okay to mourn so deeply. So, in a lot of ways, I am grateful to have these books (as a fan) and even more grateful ( as a lady) that she had the insight to write so diligently throughout her life, with the intent to have her journals published.

Okay, in other news, now I am on the final stages of finishing a quilt that I'm building for a nephew who'll be arriving in the fall. When that is finished, I'll post a picture of it. Until then~ Toodaloo!

Merlin Is Depressed

Poor kit cat. I wondered how the loss of Brandy would affect Merlin. Just last week, he started acting peculiarly. I think it finally occured to him that our Puppy Love was gone. He kept sneaking outside ( he's an indoor cat) and into the attic or in the cellar. I think that he was searching for his pal. So, I gave him some treats today, and I am going to find some herbs at the health food store to sprinkle on his food. I researched online and found suggestions on how to alleviate his melancholy.
I was reading Volume IV of The Select Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery in one of her first entries she wrote about the family dog having died. She and her little boy, Stuart, were heartbroken. She asked whether or not it was worth it to love creatures so much, if your heart could break so harshly ( I'm paraphrasing, here) . Then, she came to the conclusion that it was worth it in the long run, to had been able to know the dog, and play and love it at all was a joy. She wrote about her pet cats, she had a lot throughout her life. She loved her cats, dearly and often included cat- human relationships in her novels. As funny as some of her stories about her cats were, it was tragically heart wrenching to read her words of sorrow after the death of one of her beloved cats.

I think Merlin, will come around, with extra treats and kisses, he'll recover as we all must do. I believe, that in a few weeks time, he'll start to put on weight, and by October, he'll be a bit of a "butterball." I guess, I'll have to wait and see. Until next time~ Toodaloo!

Hot, Yucky, Hot!

I don't have a photo, because I am too hot to take one and too hot to load one on. However, I thought that I should post something since it has been a long time from my last posting.
it is hot in New England! I don't mind the heat, but the humidity is nasty! It's thighs sticking to vinyl hot and I'm not liking it! Also, there seems to be some sort of pervy conspiracy against women in the summer. Meaning, we're hard pressed to find moderately priced- weather appropriate clothing that doesn't scream "Hey, film Me on the beach at Spring Break for Girls With Low Self- Esteem!" ( I love the show Arrested Developement)

I mean really, yes I am hot (temperature wise), but that doesn't mean I want people to think that I am HOT or that I am trying to look so. Sometimes, the world makes me feel like some ditz popping up in the corn field, telling a corny joke a la Hee- Haw. When really, I just want to be comfortable. Instead, I have to exchange physical comfort for emotional discomfort. As a result, I stay home on those days; on hot days when I need to go somewhere, I wear skirts.

Unfortunately, since the weather has been so sweltering, I haven't done laundry. Now, I don't have weather appropriate skirts clean. So, I'm wearing shorts so short I could be in a 1970's Nair ad and I actually need to venture out today. I think that most people will understand the appropriateness of my garm, and not pay too much attention. Mostly, people have their own lives to worry about and since I am, otherwise, dressed conservatively, they won't notice me at all. I'll just blend in with all the other gals who were forced into the same predicament. I think that our culture should create a fair balance and force men to dress like Carrot Top; then I wouldn't be so annoyed. When the thermometer reads 72 degrees F. in the day time, I'll post again. Until then~ Toodaloo!

You Will Be In My Heart- Always!

One week ago, today, I experienced the greatest sadness of my life. My sweet puppy love, my "honey-child-sister-friend," passed away. For the passed six months, she wasn't herself and she was very elderly for a dog. To say that she was a loyal companion would not only be a huge understatement, it would almost be an insult to her legacy.

We adopted her when I was seventeen years old. Every day, when I came home from school, she was always there to greet me. Which helped my lonely teenage heart after having all of my siblings grow up and move out. When I packed all of my belongings up for college, I sat with her and another pup we had, then, and I explained to her why I was leaving. I told her where I'd be and that I'd always come back. I expressed how much I wished she could go with me, but that, she'd be unhappy living in a tiny dorm room. After the first week, I had a crying fit, because I was homesick for my puppy. Whenever I'd come home to visit, she was at the door to greet me. Sometimes, she even came for the ride to pick me up- she loved car rides.

When I had finished college, I lived at home again and she and I did everything together. I never went for a walk without her. Then, I went away for work and moved to another state. I missed her. A life without her involved in it made me homesick. When I did come back home, she was there to greet me. Then, I got very sick and she took care of me while I was home. Then I went away, out of state, to have surgery and to remain for treatment. I was homesick for Brandy those two weeks. When I came home, she was there to greet me. I don't think I ever saw her more excited, nor give me so many kisses as when I came home that day.

After that day, she never left my side. She slept with me every night. She closely guarded my bedroom door so that only she would allow those whom she deemed safe to enter in. She took me for walks and helped me gain my balance back. She was my physical therapist, in a way. She always knew when a walk was about to happen, even before I began the riual of preparation. She had an uncanny way of knowing what I was thinking.

When I began work again, I'd come home from school and she would be at the door to greet me. Now, she is in a better place. I take comfort in knowing, that I was there when she went; with the sun shining on her face, the soft grass under her belly and the fresh air and sounds of chirping birds swirling around her. I know she felt loved, and I know she loved me. Now, I am homesick again, but I feel that some day, when I come home, she'll be there to greet me. Until next time~Toodaloo!

It's Fathers Day!

I have not posted for a while, as life has been busy, dreadful, heartbreaking, and I've needed time to mend myself. I'll give more details and a proper post on certain subjects another time. Today, however, is all about Dad.
Yesterday was such a warm day here and I was rushing around getting things done, but still taking time to hang. I went with my Pappy to visit my grandparents; my Grampa cracks me up. I never leave his home without laughing. After the visit, I rushed home to clean the house before my sister arrived with her boys.
Then, I made a carrot cake, from a mix, to which I added freshly grated carrots and extra cinnamon. I used a store bought cream cheese frosting ( geesh, I should have added extra cream cheese to that). My Pappy loved the cake, and thought it was homemade- I fessed up though. We had a fun dinner with burgers, brats, and macaroni salad from a recipe that my Mom made when we were kids.
So, tonight, I'll make pizza from scratch and have a low key dinner.
Can I just say, I have really fantastic parents! My situation in life is very different from my peers, so the fact that I'm still at home makes perfect sense when the details are understood. I really do enjoy doing nice things for my parents on a regular basis so that they know how much I appreciate them. However, I do like to do more on holidays. It's nice when my siblings are able to be there too, it just makes it more special.
I've been extremely blessed when it comes to my friends and family. Not all of my friends have the same connection to their parents that I have with mine. My parents are funny, loving, forgiving, patient, and tremendously kind. They are both tremendously thoughtful too. Like I said, I'm blessed.
I like to think that because I have the parents that I have, I have the kind of friends that I have. The way that my parents raised me, made me to be the person who attracts the friendships that I've had for over a decade (or two). To have my friends and siblings is a huge blessing, but it's an even greater blessing to be a friend and a sibling. So, A Super Duper Fathers Day to You!
Until Next Time ~Toodaloo!

It's Sunny Outside!

So, I have not posted for a while. Everyday life and stuff has had me occupied. I've begun work on a quilt for my sister and I even managed to make a shoulder bag. I think that handbags are fun and cute, but they are not always practical. I saw my summer coming up before me and in it I saw myself running around to the park, the lake, the library, the store, etc. To be honest a handbag is something that once you take it with you, you're constantly aware of it, because you need to keep a strong hold of it.
So, I made a shoulder bag out of a few pairs of old corduruoy pants, an old shirt of my Dad's and a fabric package that some bed sheets came in. It is large, but not too large, it sturdy. With pockets, so everything is neatly organized. I have room to hold extras, like a book or a sandwich. Also, it has a front flap to cover everything up. Now, I have a bag that holds everything that I need and I feel secure with it. I know that it will stay on me. I won't need to constantly shift the strap/handle, and I'll never worry about forgetting it anywhere.
So, I am very happy with the endeavor. Soon, school will be coming to a close- so that is a time saver. For the most part though, I've been so busy that by the end of the day, I am whiped out! However, here's a delicious lemon tart....BBC America has been running old episodes of Doctor Who. So, my afternoons are very fun and relaxing. Also, the garden is starting to really grow and this year my peony has four flowers! Each year it gets bigger and produces more flowers. I can't wait for them to open, they'll be so pretty. When they do, I'll post some photos. Until next time! ~Toodaloo!

Wish I Was There!

Well, let me see.... a while back, when I was building my mothers quilt, my sewing machine broke on me. As I was sewing away, a wheel went flying rapidly through the air. I was bummed for sure; luckily, I was only putting on the edging. Hence, sandwiching the quilt. So, I was able to do the rest by hand. So, this weekend, I treated myself to a new sewing machine that was on sale. I purchased a Brother- Limited Edition Project Runway sewing machine. It is nifty! I has all of these stitches that it can do, it embroiders, cross stitches, does automatic button holes, and it self- threads its needle! Oh, this new toy will bring so much fun to my crafts and I will not get as frustrated on this machine. My other machine, my trusty Singer, I've had since college. I was taking a costume design class, which required sewing. I got the machine as a Christmas gift and I've used it a lot over the years. I do hope that it can be fixed so that I have a back-up machine. At any rate, this summer, I hope to have fun with my machine.

I watched Hamlet the other night- it was FANTASTIC! Patrick Stewart was down right evil in this movie! It was very fun to watch.

Today absolutely must be a day of relaxation and pampering. I think a cappucino is needed as well as a good home manicure. On the plus side, it's sunny with cheerful birds chirping. Although, I do wish to be at the beach today, or rather on the coast. The salt air would do my heart some good. Puppy is getting older rapidly and she is having troubles which saddens me greatly. One some days she is terribly sick and depressed and other days she's her lively self. It's hard though, we're connected to each other like "Elliott" and "E.T."

So, a little sprucing up of myself and a treat from Ladytoesocks' cafe and I'll be fabulous! Until then~ Toodaloo!

Sunshine!

What a fantastic Spring morning this has been! It is so nice to open all of the windows and let the fresh air breeze throught the house. This morning, the sun is shining and the birds are chirping and it is so easy to be in a great mood.
Today is Cinqo de Mayo, so I'll be having homemade burritos tonight.Today, however, I'll be making lemon bars. Last weekend, I made delicious coffee bars. Have you ever had those? It is something my mother used to make when I was a kid and I always loved opening my Cabbage Patch Kid lunch box after a Bewitched re-run and finding a coffee bar. The moment brightened my, otherwise, boring day at the babysitters. So, Saturday, I found a good recipe online and made some. Lately though, I've been craving a lot of citrus food. On Sunday, I made a lemon meringue pie. That is gone now, and so are the bars. So, today the lemon bars will do.
So, this weekend is mothers day and I'll be celebrating with my sisters and Mum. I'm making my traditional fancy pants meal and dessert. I'm making an herb garden as a gift for my Mum. I'm putting it near the back steps. She'll love that!
Also, here is something exciting! The other night, I couldn't sleep. So, while channel surfing in the wee hours of the morning, I stumbled on a man on PBS who looked like David Tennant- but didn't sound like him. I looked at him for a while and it occured to me that it was David Tennant. That it was Hamlet that I was watching. I remembered reading that he spoke with an English accent for the role. So, I watched it. It was fanatastic- he's a great actor. Guess who else was in it....Patrick Stewart! Yes," Cpt. Jean Luc Piccard" and "Doctor Who" as "Claudius" and "Hamlet!" I giggle, snort, and shift my glasses as I speak! Well, the movie was long; by 3:00 a.m. there was an intermission, and I hoped the show would be continued until another night. However, it kept going and I knew that if I continued on I'd be up until 5:00 am. So, at 3:30 a.m. I turned of the tv, defeated. So- I preordered it on Walmart.com and it will be arriving in a few days. When it comes, Brandy and I will lock ourselves in our cave armed with coffee, a bowl of popcorn and an adult diaper and we won't be seen until sunset. We can hardly wait! Until next time~ Toodaloo!

It's Raining!

So, yet again, it is raining. This season has had some rather, unusual weather. It makes me wonder what the summer will bring. I looked out the window to find that the trees now have leaves! I am not exactly sure when this occured, since when I took Brandy for a walk, just the other day, the trees were still budding. Perhaps, the buds were larger than I observed them to be. However, there are most certainly leaves on the trees. They are not completely open, and I am sure the rain is putting a damper on their progress. I forget how soon May will be here, so I guess it makes sense. I rarely go outside, so it's easy for me to lose track of time.

The birthday gathering came and went on Saturday. Kids were running around everywhere and the normal chaos that ensues with 10 year olds came my way. I did make a yummy hamburger cake, as promised.

I made the tomatoes out of gelatin and the shredded lettuce was tinted coconut. The sesame seeds were miniature marshmallows that had been cut in half. I used tinted frosting for the mustard and tinted strawberry jam was used for barbecue sauce. The bun was a butter cake and the burger was a devils food cake. It was yummy and it made me laugh everytime I looked at it. The kids got a kick out of it too!

I also made some yummy caramel apples. By the time I took this picture, the caramel had slumped off of the apples. I wish I'd taken a picture directly after I made them. Unfortunately, I was doing so many things that morning, in preparations, that taking a picture slipped from my mind.

Other than that, I've been working on a painting off and on since the weekend, and I hope to finish it soon. I may show a picture of it when I'm done, then again, maybe I won't? Until then~ Toodaloo!

Judy Blume and Other Things

'Tis late in the evening and realized that I neglected to talk about Judy Blume in my previous post, which is silly of me, considering. Then again, considering the title of my post, it stands to reason that I am a bit absent minded.
I should be sleeping, as I am tired and I have a busy morning ahead of me tomorrow. I felt that I needed to write about some of my favorite childrens book authors. For some strange reason, I have always confused Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. I'm not sure why that is, but to this day, I still confuse them.
I know that Beverly Cleary wrote the "Ramona" books, while Judy Blume wrote books like "Blubber." Perhaps, I confuse them because they both had young girls as the major characters and they wrote for similar audiences. However, I think that if you read their books as an adult, you'll find bigger differences.
I never read the "Margaret" book that Judy Blume wrote. In fact, I think that a lot of her books I shyed away from as a young girl, because I was a bit skiddish about the subject matter of them. Last summer, my library was having book sales all throughout the summer. During one of these sales I grabbed the book "Blubber" and after reading it, I really wished I'd read it when I was a young lass. I'm not sure why girls act like they, sometimes, do. I think that everyone should read the book. It is odd, the movie, Mean Girls shows how girls behave when they are put together. When you watch the movie, you're sort of glad that you're out of high school. Then, you turn on the tv, and Bravo has they're own version in the form of the series Real Housewives. Oddly, a lot of the women on the show are single and I'm pretty sure they spend more time at parties than at home. At least, that is the bulk of what is shown- parties, fashion shows, and cocktail hour with the ladies. I guess the kids are with the nanny. So, that may not be what they do when the cameras are gone, and I'm sure the show is editted that way. I guess somebody thinks that seeing cat fighting at a party is more interesting than seeing these women actually being housewives.
At any rate, it's hard seeing grown women behave that way, and I wish they would all get a copy of "Blubber." I think that it would make them be better people. Maybe it's easy to revert back to behaving the way we did when we were kids. However, when you're an adult, with an adult heart and you read that book- everything comes back to mind. All the awful stuff you endured as a kid. It's harder as a grown-up reading that book, because we've all been there. The thing is, it reminds even the kindest heart to try harder. That's my thoughts. Until next time~ Toodaloo!

Are You There Sanity? It's Me, Ladytoesocks.

This title has been whirling through my head for the passed few months. This week is vacation week. I am not going away for the week, exactly. Instead, I am going back to Me! Today, I have dedicated the day to cleaning. I mean, clearing away all of the laundry, dusting, wiping down dirty surfaces, sweeping and washing floors.

This doesn't sound like much of a vacation, I know. However, it is very uplifting to remove all physical and tactile debris in order to emotionally and mentally relax. The rest of the week will be free for me to do low maintanance work. That way, I can dedicate my week to doing what I love to do. I will read lots of L.M. Montgomery books, I'll paint, I'll make sculptures, I'll bake, and I have cappucino while watching Steven & Chris.

I don't have any particular images for this post. So, I'm showing some garden photos from my garden. I think these pictures are cheerful, and evoke the feeling of Spring and Summer.

Later this week, I'll be hosting a birthday party for my nephew. I'm going with a carnival theme. I'll post about that when the time comes. Until then.~ Toodaloo!

A Task Complete

Well, I finished the quilt that I was making for my mother, last night. I tried to take a decent picture of it today. However, the one that I did take, somehow, got erased. Merlin clearly likes the quilt. I think that he'll probably try to claim it as his own, because that it just the way he is.

He couldn't understand why I was so determined to get a picture of the quilt. He was simply, minding his own business, taking a luxurious morning nap. When suddenly, a quilt was thrown on top of him as though he were some damned dirty ape! Pour Que? Perhaps it had something to do with him napping on the table, which is a flat surface on which I could lay a quilt onto. Hmmm.


At the end of the photo session, he was happy to look good for the camera.


In other news, I spent the day cleaning and that makes for a happier Ladytoesocks. This Friday school is off. So, I took today off, instead. I'll teach on Friday and get things done today. On those days when errands need to be done, it's really hard to squeeze in school and keep a kid focused. So, I'd rather get all of the stressful stuff out of the way for the week, which will make the rest of the week a breeze. I'll let you know how it all works out for me. Until then ~Toodaloo!

April Showers

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm feeling soggy. On the bright side of things, I am able to get a lot of laundry and projects done. I'm nearing the finish line with the quilt that I am constructing for my mother. The other day, I assembled new book shelves for my bedroom. It's nice, because the clutter has gone away and I can, once again, relax in my cave. Also, my books and my DVD's are so organized now that I'm giddy.

Also this week, I made some magic in the kitchen.

After an exhausting start to the day on Wednesday, I decided to make brownies. Then I had an awful idea; rather than making the normal cheesecake marble brownies, I thought I'd make them be peanut butter cheesecake marble brownies. I don't know why I do these things! I'm just a sinister chef in the kitchen. These treats went fast. Remarkably there are a few left. However, in my family, we all want to be nice and save the last treats for others, so then they stay around longer until someone finally folds.

Also in the kitchen, I made a quiche using the left over ham and asparagus from our Easter dinner. This time, I used frozen pie crust. Honestly, some days I have so many things that I need to get done around the house, that making pie crust isn't fun and is more of a chore than anything else. I love quiche! It's one of those dishes that can be used for any meal and can be made in so many different ways. You could pretty much look in your cupboard and refridgerator and find random items to throw together in a quiche and as long as they are bound together with egg and cheese, it will come out delicious. There certainly are some things that wouldn't go together, like fruit cocktail and baked beans; but you get the idea.

So today, I'll complete the quilt, clean the laundry, watch the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice and then maybe read a little short story from Lucy Maud Montgomery. Also, Doctor Who will be on tonight. I think this is the last time for a while that they'll be airing the David Tennant episodes. Next week, I think, they'll be showing the new episodes. I think I might have to get the David Tennant episodes on DVD, starting with series two. I'm starting to get all misty eyed. Sigh.

I guess I'll cross that bridge when it comes. Until then~ Toodaloo!

Chocolate Guacamole

So, last weekend, out of boredom, I decided to be adventurous with one of my cookbooks. I pulled out one cookbook which uses trickery in the kitchen; i.e. adding vegetables to dishes without detection. Since I am not sure how copyrights go, I'll neglect to name the cookbook. I'll just say that you can find it in a lot of department stores and it is a fantastic and fun cookbook.

So, to the point.... I've used the recipes in the book before, but mainly, only the main dish recipes, never the desserts. Here is where the adventure begins.

The recipe was Chocolate Pudding. Only, it didn't include eggs, or milk, or even granulated sugar. It did have cocoa powder, powdered sugar and avocado---Jump Back!

The process of making the pudding was much less tedious than the traditional method. However, I did deviate from the recipe a bit and used a mixer to fluff it up a little.

Was it any good? Yes, it was very chocolatey; as such, I highly recommend this when you need a serious chocolate fix. Did it taste like pudding? Not exactly, this stuff was pretty dense and a little grainy. It actually tasted like brownie batter. So, if you like eating brownie batter, now you can do it without care. Did it taste like chocolate guacamole? It depends on who you talk to regarding this issue. Yes, initially, I could taste the avocado. However, after a few bites, it wasn't noticable. I think that if an unsuspecting consumer tasted it, they probably could tell there was something different about the pudding, but wouldn't know what it was.

More importantly, I had a 9 year old eating this whenever I said it was okay. So, if a kid will eat it, it was a success. He knew about the fruit in it, because he saw me making it, and was rather fascinated with the idea.

I think that if you added some flour and baking soda to the mixture, you could make some awesome brownies with it. I highly recommend this to my vegan friends because the only ingredient that would need alteration would be the margarine. That is an easy switcheroo!

In other news, today I am spring cleaning- sort of. My bedroom is getting cluttered, so I bought another set of book shelves. I think this will help me reorganize my stuff and then I'll feel less claustrophobic in my room. Also, I am nearly done with the quilt that I've been working on. So, all in all, it will be a busy week. Until next time~ Toodaloo!

Being Domestic

A few weeks back, I decided to visit my local thrift store and I found a few treasures. This apron appears to be hand made and is so gosh darn cute. I use it when I am cleaning the house. I started using aprons a few years back when I came to understand that no matter how hard I try, I am messy when baking. No matter how delicately I mix cake batter, it always seems to splatter on me. Flour is the biggest culprit when it comes to messes.


Aprons, although very "June Cleaver," really do save me from a lot of grief. So, this frilly little darling is used when I clean to keep dust, grime, and cleaners off of my duds.

This spiffy mug I purchased along with the apron and a vintage Roy Rogers book that I snagged for my Pappy. When people see me walk in the room with coffee in that mug, they know right away that I am one classy lady!







Today, I believe, is Maple Sunday. To celebrate, I made myself some crepes topped with sliced Mackintosh Apples, cinnamon sugar, and home made maple syrup. I, Ladytoesocks, certainly did not make that syrup. Yes, I do tend to go a little "Martha Stewart" most of the time. However, I cannot show this syrup without saying that my Pappy made this syrup from sap taken from the maple tree in out back yard.

Yes, it has been a rather domestic weekend, I currently have a pot roast in the oven, the laundry is being done, and off and on I've been working on a quilt for my mother. I have collected old flannel shirts from my Pappy, which I've cut up the shirts to make patches. I am now in the process of making squares. Within a few weeks, my Mum, can cozy up in a throw quilt made from her husbands shirts, and I think that is just so nice.

That is all for now. I'll keep you updated on my domestic adventures. Until then~ Toodaloo!

Ohhhhhh, It's Good to Be Back!

Yes, it HAS been a while. Do let me explain. My computer was sick, I couldn't post while it was not feeling well. Also, it took me a while to finally remember to pick up some batteries for my camera so that I could post pictures within my posts. Lastly, winter was bringing me down. I am at my least creative in the winter.


One reason I am less creative in the winter is the lack of sunshine and bird calls. As much as I love the winter holidays, looking out of doors tends to be monochromatic. It lacks inspiration for me. Also, with the holidays my creative energy is focused on making goodies and gifts for friends and family. On the practical side of the matter, it is unpleasant to paint in the winter because of the fumes. Naturally, I tend to paint more in the spring and summer months when I may air out my room with an open window.


Now, however, Spring is soon approaching. I began hearing the Phoebe in February and on random days I could smell Spring air. So, my creative urges are being rekindled.

As for March- we just had St. Patricks day.



I made a green velvet cake with minty cookies and cream frosting!
I didn't edit the photo before posting, so it's a little dark.
The cake is the color of moss.









I also made Irish soda bread!

This went great with our New England boil dinner!

Tonight, I shall work on a quilt. I hope you had a great St. Patricks Day!
Until next time~ Toodaloo!

Oh, I'm a Hermit!

Yes, it is true, I am living like a hermit. It is now February and it is freezing outside. The kind of cold, where if you step outside the water on your eyeballs and the moisture in your mouth screams "Holy Crap, what are you doing?" Still, no pictures of my doings. You cannot rely on rechargable batteries for a digital camera. The batteries may be better for the environment ~ I'm still on the fence on that one- but, they need to be charged every time you want to use them.

Today, I am going to make some cold cream. I have this pink spiral bound notebook that I've had for years. In it I've written various home remedies and recipes for girly things like facials, bubble baths, soaps, shampoos, etc. I would periodically peruse websites that had such recipes and record them in my own sort of beauty journal. So, today I am finaly going to try the cold cream recipe.

On another blog that I follow, a woman told of using her own concoction to cleanse her face that doesn't include soap. She had a link to another website that had an article about this and the recipe for the concoction and the benefits of it. Well, a month ago, I made the stuff and it really works! My face is a lot cleaner and regular facial soap dries the heck out of my face now.

I think that over time, we condition of skin to be accustomed to chemicals and less harsh ingredients. However, this often leads to unpleasant things like uneven skin tone and breakouts. Well, when I'd been using my concoction for a few weeks, I was tired and lazy one night, so I used some facial soap that I had still. It was a gel based soap, used to cleanse and fight aging etc. Wow, after using that my skin freaked out. So, the moral of the experience tells me this- be a little more conscience of what I do to myself.

In other news, I bought the movie Easy Virtue the other night. That is a fun movie with an even more fun soundtrack. The soundtrack has some music from the 1930's ( the time period of the film) but , what is even more fun about it is that they took modern songs and gave them a frisky 1930's jazz style. My favorite is the cover of the song "Sex Bomb." The version I remember was by Tom Jones- which in and of itself is a hilarious song. Turning it into a 30's jazz song is not only absurdly hilarious, it's genius! Yep, I think I'll track this down and add it to my soundtrack collection.

That is all, I must eat. I'll write later and detail how my cold cream came out. Until then~ Toodaloo!

January is Nearly Over!

So, I have been busying myself with domestic overload. After a much needed "girl day" last week, I was thrust forward into hermitdome. Working from home is convenient. However, this past Saturday was the re-scheduled family Christmas party. This meant that I was going to go a little over the top in the kitchen as I tend to do in these situations. Friday night, I began my ritual by inserting the DVD Enchanted into my kitchen DVD player then, I went wild. I began by making nice with the dirty dishes in the sink so that I could have a clean work environment. Then, I made a yellow butter cake from a box.

Our family Christmas dinner is usually a Mexican themed meal. So, I decided that my contribution to the feast would be a flan inspired dessert trifle. So, while the cake was baking in the oven, I made home made caramel fudge sauce, which was time consuming, but much easier than imaginable.

Then, I made a custard like gem known as Panne Cotta. I found the recipe on line and tweaked it slightly to taste like custard so that it would have the essence of flan. The recipe called for unflavored gelatine, which got me really excited, because I've always wanted to try that stuff. Folks, if you've never had Panne Cotta before, I urge to make friends with it, you will not be sorry. Panna Cotta could be used for a number of tricks such as enticing someone to clean the bathroom or the litterbox for you, or as a metaphorical white flag after a minor domestic. It can also be a great way to brighten someones day or even just to cheer yourself up. Yes, Panne Cotta is the dessert to know.

I digress, so after the cake had baked and cooled, and the movie ended. I put in the movie Persuassion to get me through the rest of my work. The Panne Cotta needed to gel over night, so I layered one layer of cake in the trifle dish and some of the caramel sauce on top. I put the remaining parts in the refrigerator and went to bed- it was 1:00 a.m. So, at 6:30 a.m. I was up again and the Panne Cotta gelled into a thing of beauty. I layered half of that on top of the caramel then I added more cake, more carmel and the rest of the Panne Cotta. Holy cow, my flan trifle was soooo yummy!

I do have other food stuff to discuss, but Steven and Chris will be on soon, so I need to go make a latte. Until then~Toodaloo!

My Name Is "Ladytoesocks" and I'm a "Doctor Who"-aholic.

It is true. I tried, in vain, to avoid this mess. During my high school and college years, I was a fan of Tom Baker's "Dr." One early morning while in college, dealing helplessly with insomnia, I turned on the tv and spotted Doctor Who again. Much to my dismay, it wasn't Mr. Baker as the Time Lord, but a different Dr. I had to look away and sigh.

The show went away for a while, and I moved on.. never forgetting the lovely show I so enjoyed Saturday's on PBS. Then, it came back, new, with better graphics and better special effects. I couldn't do it, I could not watch a Doctor clad in, what appeared to be, leather......I missed the scarf.

Then, about a month ago, I was once again dealing with the torment of insomnia. I turned on the tv and there he was...another version of the Dr. This time Catherine Tate was playing is Tardis side kick. So, I thought "what the heck, she makes me laugh". I watched, became a bit addicted, and then I found it on BBC America, once again on Saturday night. It was as though something fanastic from childhood was calling me back to a happy place- like the the sound of the ice cream truck in the summer.

David Tennant was the current Dr. and he is a fantastic actor. He breathed new life into the Dr. Even though he lacked the flashy scarf, he had a long coat. In fact he is quite the snappy dresser and has good hair. So, talent and a good fashion sense drew me in; not to mention great writing.
Well, the New Year weekend was filled with a Doctor Who marathon on BBC America. Showing the shows in which David Tennant played the tenacious Time Lord. He decided to leave the show while he was still loving playing the doctor. (I think he didn't want to get burnt out on the role, because he has been a fan for most of his life.) It was sad though. Just when I was finally able to love the Doctor again, he was reborn into a new Doctor.

So, today I am mourning the loss with house work. Filling the void with organizing cupboards and spot treating set in stains of imbedded modeling clay and maple syrup. I must say though, that after a two-day marathon, I'm a bit drained from all the excitement. My body feels like I spent the weekend sustaining myself on M&M's, Coca-Cola, and Disco. Yes, Doctor Who is a lot like a sugar rush.

I think these bones are trying to tell me to start moving around again. perhaps some cardio will seep it's way back into my morning routine. I'll see how that works out for me. I'll update when things develop. Until then~ Toodaloo!