Crocheting while watching a movie

It was a busy Sunday. We sanded, swept, vacuumed & sanded some more. I went on a solo excursion to Menards to get the ceiling texture stuff, came back, cooked dinner, Ken applied the texture stuff, did dishes, laundry, swept. swept again, showered. Once all that was done it was time for Ken to hit the road and for myself to whip up a pear smoothie and watch "Amish Grace" on LMN. http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/amish-grace What a great movie! No, not only because I like to learn about the Amish, but because it really made me think.

It's based on a true story. In 2007 a gunman went into a one room Amish school and opened fire, killing and wounding children. The gunman was upset/angry with God because his baby daughter died. The Amish forgive, no matter what needs forgiveness. The story and movie followed one woman's journey into forgiving the gunman.

If someone murdered your child, would you be able to forgive? Now, I don't have kids but, I love my pets as if they were. I also have nieces and nephews and the thought of anything happening to them sickens me. I would be mortified, and downright angry. I'm going to definitely watch it again and really think about it.

I crocheted this baby sundress, headband and dress shoes while I watched the movie.

By candlelight

We spent our Earth Hour last night making our way through the house lit only by candles.

We played three games of Yahtzee at the dining room table. Ken was fortunate enough to get a Yahtzee.

And by golly, so was I!! Which, really, is a miracle.

We did this all in our jammies, messy hair, no makeup, only lit by candles, in our "under construction" dining room.

Ken took a video of the candle lighting. I made a make shift lantern with a canning jar, water, oil and cotton yarn. It worked and provided us much more light than the candles did.

I think we need to practice Earth Hour more often than once a year. How about turning out your lights, your television, computers, phones, etc at least once a week? I know I'm game. This was fun.

Earth Hour

On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people, organizations, corporations and governments around the world will come together to make a bold statement about their concern for climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. In the U.S. where we are already feeling the impacts of climate change, Earth Hour sends a clear message that Americans care about this issue and want to turn the lights out on dirty air, dangerous dependency on foreign oil and costly climate change impacts, and make the switch to cleaner air, a strong economic future and a more secure nation.

Participation is easy. By flipping off your lights on March 27th at 8:30 p.m. local time you will be making the switch to a cleaner, more secure nation and prosperous America.

Stay tuned to see how we participate in Earth Hour and what changes we have made and are hoping to make.

Did you participate in Earth Hour? What did you do? What changes have you made or are making to ensure a healthier Earth for future generations?

Our McKenzie Elizabeth loves to chillaz on the couch. Yes, we allow our pets to sit on the furniture. She just had surgery on the 23rd to have a growth on her neck removed. I dunno about you, but this doesn't look too comfy to me.

"My true friends dont mind if the dogs bark at them, the dogs drool on them, the dogs jump on them, when they sit on the couch they get hairy, the dogs drop slobbered toys in their laps, the dogs lick them on the lips, the dogs have bodily functions in their presence, and most, my true friends dont mind the sign on the door.. DOGS LIVE HERE... IF YOU DONT LIKE IT .... GO LAY BY YOUR BOWL!
The Dog"

We are so happy our sweet sweet girl is going to be alright and is recovering nicely. =)

Food Inc.

Ken & I watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC tonight & holy WHA!!! The crap our school systems are being fed is absurd. I will never eat another chicken nugget. Ever.

After watching that, upon recommendation of my friend, we rented Food Inc. on Demand....Holy flippan skittles!! I suggest you rent it. Today. It's a real eye opener.

I would consider myself somewhat aware and a conscientious food shopper. Of course I make some less that swell choices, but I am learning as I go. This movie opened my eyes even more so. I am thankful that our butcher provides us with free range Amish chicken. I have a veggie garden and am hoping to secure a plot at our community garden as I mentioned before. Our town has a great Farmer's Market in the Summer and Fall that I frequent once or twice a week. We've come to know several of the vendors. There is one family there, we call them the hillbillies...coolest family. Ever. They have a huge honkan garden and live off of what they grow. Maybe this summer I'll take a picture of them (with their permission of course.)

Anytootles, check out the movie. Believe that you can make a difference. Eat healthy, cook at home, feel good.

Foodie Friday: Pizza Crust

It seems we never get a picture of what we make anymore. The fact that it doesn't stay on our plate that long is a good thing. The recipe I'm going to share is for pizza crust. We like homemade pizza with a thin, crispy crust. Ken gets the credit for this recipe. He found it online and then made his own adjustments and additions which gave us the best crust. Ever. This is a no rise crust and if rolled thin enough, you will have two crusts. One for now, one to freeze for a later date...unless you're really hungry or have a big family.

.25oz packet active dry yeast
1/4tsp sugar
3/4 cup 110 degree water
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2tsp salt
Garlic powder
cornmeal

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water, allow to rest for 8 minutes

In a separate bowl : combine flour and salt

Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture and mix with a heavy spoon.

Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes

If you want a very thin crust split the dough in two. If you prefer a more hand tossed crust use the whole thing. We like a thin crispy crust so we split the dough & freeze the other half for a later time.

working from the edges to the center, press dough into a 12 inch circle. We even use a floured rolling pin to get it thin and even

lightly grease the pizza pan, sprinkle lightly with cornmeal and place dough on top. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder. (we believe everything tastes better with garlic)

Spread sauce over crust (we use our homemade, home canned stuff) and top with toppings

Bake at 500 degrees for 8-12 minutes, or until edges are golden.

ENJOY =)

Over or under? Before or after?

The never ending dilemma is do I vacuum before or after I dust? What is the proper protocol? I posted this as my facebook status today to see what my fabulous friends do.

In my home I vacuum first. I do this is because we have 5 indoor dogs and two indoor cats. The dogs track in dust & dirt & the cats I am sure have traces of litter on their paws., even though we use clumping litter. When I vacuum dust gets stirred around and lands on my end tables, etc. It would be absurd to dust first and have the vacuum stir up dust.

What do you use to deodorize your carpet and rugs? I sprinkle baking soda on my carpet, let it sit for about 5-10 minutes & then vacuum it up. To freshen the couches, drapes and other fabrics I make my own "Febreeze" mixing 4 parts water to one part liquid fabric softener & two tablespoons baking soda. I would love to replace the fabric softener with an essential oil or other fragrance. I don't want to damage our furniture, drapes, etc. Do you any of you know of a natural, non chemically, yummy smelling deodorizer? Keep in mind, we have pets.

We are in the middle of remodeling the whole back part of our house. Once we are finished there will be NO carpeting on our main floor. I'm pretty stoked about that. Poor Ken has allergies up the wazoo. Both seasonal & pet. Bare floors will be so much better and easier to clean. Carpet traps in so much dirt...even if you are an avid vacuum-er like myself.

One more thing that has to be a certain way in my home is the toilet paper. It must, and I mean MUST be dispensed in the over position. Never under....NEVER. In fact, if I go to your house or anywhere that I use the ladies room I will change it to the proper position. No, I won't look in your cabinets and be a snoop. But I will change the roll.

My reasoning for this is....we all know why we go to grab the tp.....why would we want it on the wall!!! By having it in the under position you are being forced to touch your bathroom hands on your wall...DISGUSTING!!!

One more thing to add to the previous one more thing...sprinkling the bathtub with baking soda and then spraying with vinegar gets out all those hard water stains, disinfects & leaves everything all sparkly and fresh =)

p.s. I hope you don't leave your toothbrush on the sink...Where is your toothbrush? Perched on the bathroom sink? Then let's hope you don't mind brushing your teeth with toilet water. Not to gross you out, but, check out the May issue of Prevention, they reported on 16 alarming, germ-breeding spots that are a whole lot nastier that you might have imagined.

Take your commode: There are 3.2 million microbes per square inch in the average toilet bowl, according to germ expert Chuck Gerba, PhD, a professor of environmental microbiology at University of Arizona. When you flush, aerosolized toilet funk is propelled as far as 6 FEET, settling on the floor, the sink, and yes, your toothbrush. Shutting the lid, of course, is probably a smart move, but at the very least, put anything that goes inside your mouth behind closed doors (your medicine cabinet will do just fine).

On that note, I am off to clean.

This happened in Escanaba

Last Friday, which was March 19th Ken & I ventured into our local Walmart to pick up pet food & other necessities. When we came across this:

They were all set up for the release of New Moon. They even played up the whole, who's team are you on? Team Edward or Team Cullen. I have never laughed so hard. There were actually a handful of teeny bopplet girls camped out, sitting on the floor, holding Twilight memorabilia...at 4pm!!! Ken made the comment that he'd like to tell those girls that the store had a list you had to sign if you wanted a copy & that the list was full!! He obviously was joking bus seriously...can you imagine if he'd said that to them? LOL!!

We enjoyed the movie & knew it was one that we were going to add to our library of movies we own. I refused to stand in line for such nonsense though. Just the thought of cooing girls getting all emo over fictional characters makes my skin crawl. Before you think I am a prude, keep in mind, the biggest thing for me was New Kids On The Block. I ONCE was one of those emo teeny bopper girls. Had NKOTB came to my area I would have spent DAYS waiting. But, this is Escanaba, MI. Most people don't know we exist. Anytootles, Ken & I jumped in the truck at 5 till midnight, made our way to Walmart and found this:

My cousin's wife was in line!! I caught her on camera while she talked on the phone.

Even this older woman, whom I do not know was standing in line...at midnight for her copy!! Someone should have given her a Kleenex...or at least told her there are video cameras and a goofy 30 something year old taking random pictures!! EWWWWW

We were at the very back of the line.

I can't believe I stood in a line...for a movie....at midnight. The line went fast and we got our copy, stopped off at McDonald's for a Shamrock Shake and went home. We got home at almost 1am & were too tired to watch the movie.

Who knew my lil hometown that not many know exist would have a turnout like this...for a movie!!

In the garden

I'm a planner and a list maker. I have lists of projects that I have planned that have their own lists. I've addressed my somewhat compulsive list making many times.

Today's list is all about my raised garden box layout. I'm adopting the idea of square foot gardening, however, my squares are 1' X 16". After researching what plants get along with others, and which don't go hand and hand, I've come up with this layout:

This layout plan is not completely definite however. I called the MSU extension here in town and inquired about purchasing/renting a plot of land at our community garden. Each plot at our Community garden is 30' X 30' and it's only $25 for the season. That's including water!! I won't know if I have a plot until May 3rd though. If I am awarded a plot I will plant oodles upon oodles of tomatoes and corn, broccoli and cauliflower. In the meantime, I have to get the garden box ready. I know it still needs more compost. We'll be getting it this weekend. So, today I marked off my boxes and wrote on the inside of the box what will be planted where. I can pretty much see the veggies growing, picking a fresh garden salad, roasting ears of corn and popping a sun warmed strawberry right. in. my. mouth. There are no nasty chemicals used in my gardens. I won't be spending hours scrubbing waxy, filmy, pesticide, chemically fertilized veggies. Nope. The veggies and the flowers we grow do so naturally.

After I had fun in the back I ventured to the front garden beds. Daffodils and tulips are peeking up out of the soil.

Soon bright shades of yellow, pinks, purples, reds and oranges will be in full bloom.

The front side garden is perking up with sprouts too. Soon, the iris' and crocus' will be in bloom under the lilac tree.

Lookie here!! I'm not sure what this is called but it was at Ken's Nana's house. Nana loved this plant & she always said that after she passed away she'd like it planted at her grave. She had so much of it growing so we took a little slip of it to take home. If you look down by the base of the twiggy branch you'll see new growth just beginning to come up. YAHOOOO!!!

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden." ~Ruth Stout

A serious case of the giggle squirts

A good Bloggy friend, Melanie, recently did a post on laughter. I took it personally when she said she encourages you (in my mind, meaning me...)to write down what makes you (again, meaning ME) laugh. Remember, I took her post personally. She didn't come out and say, "Hey, Kat, write down what makes you laugh" But, I'm gonna do it...cuz I'm cool like that!! Beware: I laugh at some pretty bizarre off the wall things.

When my dogs fart. It gets me every stinkan' time!! Brayden runs up the stairs and loud pops come out of him, McKenzie is known to do big ole' stretches & let one rip. She then gives her butt a mean look, looks at me like I did something & goes back to sleep. I'm not even kidding, it gets me every time!!

I get the giggle squirts when people use silly words. Yes, I love grammar & find great joy in diagramming sentences. I even edited my friend's book. That's how much I LOVE grammar. I also like random, nonsensical ooberously sillified words that provide the most quirky run on sentences.

When Ken dances randomly. I'm not talking about a calm dance. I'm talking about when a song comes on when we're cooking in the kitchen and he wiggles his butt, claps his hands, does some sort of pelvic Elvis like thrust!! He's a nut!! He also does a pretty stellar impersonation of Urkel, Flipper and a cow's moooooo.

Kids. In general kids make me giggle. The way they look at their surroundings and the innocent ways they verbally respond to something. They are by far the most blunt, say it as it is, humans ever.

I sometimes find myself giggling at a project I'm working on. Or if I'm spinning yarn.

My pets. The way Arizona pounces on her toy with her front paws, the way Macey's whole body wiggles when she's excited, when Allison stares at the sky when we ask her where the birds are, McKenzie's awkward ears (we wouldn't have them clipped), Brayden being such a boinging boy. You'd swear he had a lil tigger in him. Our cats Buster & Betsey. Betsey trying to clean her belly, she's so darn chubby. Buster sitting up on his hind legs while rubbing his face with his front paws.

Old couples. No, I'm not laughing AT them, I think it's so darn tootan cute when elderly couples are still in love. You can see it in their eyes and their actions. I don't know how seeing that doesn't make someone doesn't get smiley when they see that.

My tortoise, Chloe. She bobs her head as if she's jammin to some reggae. I don't know why she does this, but when I say her name, she pokes her lil head out and rocks out.

The dog park in Chicago that we go by a couple times a week when we are on the road.

On a couple occasions I saw my fish fart. I know, another fart thing. But seriously, I had my face up to the tank watching it suck on the glass. It began doing it's "business". I should have removed my face from the glass but those sucky lips attached to the glass amuse me. Apparently I was infringing on his privacy & all of a sudden a poof of poo proceeded by bubbles came out of "that" area. I backed up, quickly telephoned Ken and told him I saw our fish fart!!

Hearing someone else having a good belly rolling, gut busting, loud, snorting laugh!!

I don't know about you but I'd be completely lost without my daily dose of laughter!! I double dog dare ya to make a list of what makes you smile or laugh. =)

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~e.e. cummings

McKenzie Elizabeth

This picture was taken a couple months ago of our Mckenzie Elizabeth. She loves to snuggle buggle and be covered up. Today we dropped her off at the vet to have the growth on her neck removed. The vet had to do a urinalysis to be sure her kidneys were functioning properly before they could put her under. Everything came back superb and they were able to operate.

I am pleased to tell you, Kenzie pup is home and resting comfortably. =)

14 years of wedded bliss

On March 23rd, 1996 I married my best friend, my soulmate, my Ken. I'm not quite sure if I can even put into words just how much he means to me. I think our wedding song does a pretty good job. Enjoy the pics =)

Because You Loved Me lyrics

Songwriters: Warren, Diane;

Sung by : Celine Dion

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right

New years Eve 2009

New years Day sleigh ride

For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful, baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through
Through it all

in Kokomo, IN at his cousin's wedding

Halloween 1995

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me

Engagement pic, 1995

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me, ooh, baby

Ken's Homecoming dance, 1995

Standing in Dave & Lindsey's wedding

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach

The Award Banquet, 2010

You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love, I had it all

New Years Day 2009

I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe, I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because
I was loved by you

Hiking along the cliffs of Lake Superior

Watching the sunset on the beach while camping

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me

Cannon Falls, Alberta, MI

visiting our babies memorial site along the cliffs of lake Superior

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

Fayette, MI

Another hike along Lake Superior's Pictured Rocks National shore

You were always there for me, the tender wind that carried me
The light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

outside of Lambeau Field, where the Green Bay Packers kick butt =)

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me

Hiking in the Porcupine Mountains, MI

Hangin out in Esky, waiting for the Fall Parade

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'cause you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

By our City Tree this year

Ringing in 2010 outside watching fireworks

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me

Sleigh Ride on New Years Day

Fayette State Park, MI

Lifted me up when I couldn't reachYou gave me faith 'cause you believed

Two youngin's got hitched 3-23-96

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

with my main squeeze at the deli =)

I'm everything I am....

Because you loved me

Looking up

Things are calming down here. We took McKenzie to our normal vet today & she will have surgery tomorrow to have the growth removed. Thank goodness, someone finally listened and is doing their job.

We had a great day today. We took the pups to camp to run off oodles of energy they had all festered up, worked in the yard, went to the compost site, put the patio furniture out, grilled out and had a bonfire. It was a great, sunshiney day with my hubbykins.

I know I went into some pretty personal and deep emotions in my previous post. All too often people think I am always happy go lucky saying my goofy words. I am usually happy go lucky, go with the flow and positive. But, I am human. I think that previous post proved that.

One of the many things I love about my relationship with my husband is that we are not afraid to discuss things. We lay it all out on the line, hold nothing back. We work through all problems life throws at us. If he had a blog I am certain he'd have a post or two like the one I had yesterday. He also gets discouraged with me. We stayed up till the wee hours of the morning discussing his feelings and thoughts as well as mine. The thing with Ken & I is, we are both pretty stubborn and rather outspoken. Sometimes he says things that hurt my feelings and sometimes I say things that hurt his feelings. We both do it.

It's not easy for him to deal with me feeling like crud as often as I do. He is so frustrated with Meniere's taking so much of my life. I don't blame him one bit. I am not too fond of meniere's either. He has some family crap that is weighing on him right now, we're both worried about our Mckenzie Elizabeth. Yes, my dog has a middle name...all our pets do. =) We both have thoughts and emotions about my one sister who is going into premature labor. We both agree, we'd never put ourselves out to adopt ever again. I told him how much it hurt me that we didn't go to camp to meet my rescuer, and we discussed my other sister who kept her pregnancy a secret.

We both had several things festering within ourselves. It just so happens, that we both cracked at the same time. We don't fight often at all. But I believe if you are comfortable with your mate you can have some heated discussions. Believe me, those even happen to us. All too often people see Ken & I think we are always so honkey dorey. Well, we're not, not always. We're two humans with deep emotions, a slight smidgen of bullheadedness, and outspoken.

Those three things just so happen to be three of the many things that attract me to my hubby. Tomorrow is our 14th wedding anniversary. We will bring our Kenzie pup to the vet for her surgery, maybe go to the deli for a bagel & sit by the phone waiting for an update. If all goes well Ken will be going on the road. Pending Kenzie's condition we may all go trucking. I want to thank you for allowing me to vent on my blog, and be a real person, and most of all for being a wunnaful friend. Things are looking up =)

Tugging at my emotions

What a week!! I am so ready to put it behind me and start fresh.

It all started on Wednesday evening when my friend called to ask me questions about her new Iphone. We were having a great conversation, and then she told me about my sister who is pregnant. The crazy thing is, Ken & I didn't know. Turns out, she is due in a few weeks. I got to hear from one of my very best friends about my sister's pregnancy, she's having another girl. I had a little chat with my sister that ended in her pretty much shutting me out of her life because I will not tolerate drama and lies. It broke me down at first because once upon a time her and I were close. There comes a point in life when you get tired of chasing everyone and trying to fix everything, but it's not giving up. It's realizing you don't need certain people and the drama they bring. I'm done.

On Thursday night Ken got home. It's always nice having him home. I love that geek =)

My sister Bobbie was in the hospital having contractions. She is only 7 months along. There has been talk they want us to adopt the baby. We've had too many negatives with trying to adopt and we realize it's just not meant to be. The hurt isn't worth it. I am hoping and praying my sister will be able to keep the baby in awhile longer and that my niece will be born healthy.

On Friday we bought a big honkan grill for our anniversary. It's a bigger version of our smoker. It's pretty much been Ken's dream grill. I am certain that "it's a man thing" We're going to be able to invite the whole neighborhood over when we fill this beast with meat.

So, the weekend was starting out alright, I was pretty much over the whole ordeal on Wednesday night and realized I will be fine.

Saturday morning I woke up around 6am and needed a drink, I turned on the lamp on my bedside table & saw blood all over the place. I'm serious, the floor looked like a massacre. It was on the walls, all over the pet bed, the white carpeting and my dog Mckenzie. She has a growth on her neck that burst. I know, gross. It was horrible, and that's putting it nicely. We took her downstairs and applied pressure. Ken phoned the Vet and left a message with the vet on call. What a mess. After about 45 minutes the vet on call phoned us and told us to try to stop the bleeding and that we could come in at 9am when they open. What??? It was before 6am, our dog's neck is squirting blood and we have to wait 3 flippan hours? UGH!! We were able to stop the bleeding & took her in at 9am. The vet ran a number of tests,, but didn't clean her wound or even bandage it. They said that they could operate on Monday morning. So, we'd have to wait two more days. We were alright with that I guess. A few hundred dollars later, and mind you, nothing done to the wound, we were sent home with antibiotics, and the assumption that McKenzie would have surgery on Monday morning.

Ken and I were sitting at the kitchen bar eating lunch and the vet called. Ken took the call. They went on to say Kenzies thyroid levels were low and her kidney levels on the high side. They said they are going to run another test which costs another $150. That test would be sent down to MSU...because they can read the test better!!! What the heck!! Flashback: two weeks earlier that same vet did that to my friend when his pup was sick....something wasn't right. Ken called and said no to the test and to go ahead with the surgery, they said no. That this new test will be back in 7-10 days and they have us penciled in for the 31st to have the growth removed. WHAT??? Excuse me? My dog is bleeding profusely, from her neck and you expect me to wait 7-10 days so you can run more tests? I think NOT!!

Saturday afternoon my step mom called me and told me the most boggling thing. If you remember from previous posts, I have been searching pretty much my whole life to find the man who saved my life when I was 5 days old. I, along with my biological parents (Jim & Karen) and their friend Joe was involved in a horrific accident when I was 5 days old. Long story short, I wasn't breathing, a cop gave me cpr...and here I am =) Anyways, Donna (my real dad's wife) said "Kat, you're never going to believe this. The man who pulled you from the car accident is at our camp right now" WHAT???? She went on to tell me Jim called her from his cell phone. My brother , Bruce was also up at camp & his neighbor, Hank was there as well. They were tapping maple trees and making syrup. They started talking about accidents after Bruce poked his eye with a stick & this Hank fella spoke of this gruesome accident he came upon years ago. Jim realized it was our accident. That's the story Donna told me. I told her to have Jim call me when he gets home. I told ken of this news & we debated on going up to camp so I could meet my rescuer. We'd take Mckenzie with us. We decided to stay home. Ken said the grill was hot and we'd have to stop and get gas. I thought that meant he didn't want to go, maybe my wanting to go was being selfish. So, we stayed home and he put chicken on the grill. My sister Jamie & her husband stopped over so they had dinner with us. My mind wandered the whole time. I wonder if this man would want to meet me, what would I say to him if and when I meet him? Knowing this information has always been my dream...and there I sat, at the table, pretending to be happy. Pretending I didn't want to be up at camp thanking my hero, still thinking maybe I was being selfish to want to go. I always imagined the day when I'd find out who saved me would be like...and this was nothing like it.

Saturday night Mckenzie's neck began bleeding horribly again. We have no emergency vet here at all on the weekends. We had friends over when it all happened. We were able to get the bleeding under control and we finished watching our movie.

Jim called me today when he got home from camp and told me the whole story and what Hank said about the accident. How the driver of the car had been decapitated, the woman in the backseat was screaming, her back was broken, and she had on a bracelet from the hospital. It was then he and the officer realized there was a baby in the car. The baby being, me. He told Jim about the gawker who lit a cigarette while scoping things out, how Hank unloaded on the guy to get away, there was gas, about the driver of the truck that hit us, how he smelled of alcohol, how the baby's head was the shape of a pancake, how he gave the officer his phone # to call with any updates of the family in the car, about how he always wondered if that baby lived... What are the chances that the man who pulled me from the car would be at my camp? Hank is my brother Bruce's neighbor as I mentioned before...I have so much to be thankful for. I owe a lot to this man. I find myself pretending I am not as excited as I am because it doesn't seem to be phasing ken at all. Maybe I am being odd, but I always thought he'd be excited. I know if someone saved my husbands life when he was young and he had spent pretty much his whole life wondering and searching, I would be ecstatic to meet them. But no, we stayed home..because the grill was hot & we'd have to get stop and get gas. Like I said, I never envisioned the day I find out who saved me would be like this... I am so excited to finally have some answers and I look forward to meeting him real soon.

Tomorrow we will be taking McKenzie to another vet and hopefully they will take care of her.

It's been quite the week of ups and downs, hurt, sadness, and anger, excitement and drama. I plan on going on the road this week as long as McKenzie is fine. I need a break...

Foodie Friday: Cranberry, walnut, poppyseed salad

Are you tired of the same old tossed salads with non nutrient rich iceberg lettuce? If so, you've gotta try this!! As most of my friends know, Ken & I frequent our local deli. I usually get the chicken, cranberry, walnut poppyseed wrap. Oh, folks, I'm telling you...it's delish. Ken dared me to change it up one day so I had the sandwich in salad form at the deli. Holy taste bud bliss!! I'm sorry Ranch Dressing, but you have been replaced!!

I'm not going to run to the deli each time I want a salad. I eat at least 1 salad per day and it's so doable to make it at home. In fact, you're kinda nuts to go out an purchase salads when they can be made inexpensively right at home. We don't purchase the bagged crud either...unless it's on a really good sale. Instead, we purchase a nice head of romaine, some spinach (which when out of season comes in a bag) a head of iceberg (yeah the nutrient-less stuff), carrots, you name it. It all gets tossed in a big honkan bowl & put in the fridge.

So, back to this particular salad...you can cut everything up and put it in a bowl or cut as you need. I like having the leafy greens cut up and in a bowl readily accessible.

You'll need:

Spinach
romaine
iceberg lettuce, or green leaf lettuce is fab too
dried cranberries (referred to as Craisens. They can be found in the same aisle as chocolate chips...by the nuts)
halved or chopped walnuts
Cucumbers
Poppyseed dressing (I use Kraft)
Cesar croutons

It's pretty self explanatory how to make a salad. Cut up the greens, cukes, sprinkle with a handful of dried cranberries, walnuts, and croutons. Add a bit of poppyseed dressing....then escape to taste bud bliss. The deli puts tomatoes and chicken salad on theirs. I despise raw tomatoes with a passion and just haven't made chicken salad to add to mine. Remember, I'm on a quest to lose 50lbs.

This salad is especially tasty while sitting on the patio outside in the sunshine, as your clothes dry on the line. It is also delish while sitting in your jammies, curled up on the recliner. =)

The day I went to craft Heaven

I totally forgot I purchased this fabric for a long summer skirt. Actually I will most likely make two, one for my sister too. =)

Seeing I was up in my craft room yesterday I decided to take some more pictures. Last summer several friends & family members told me of an ad in the newspaper about a FREE pattern giveaway. Ok, hold up....did that just say FREE??? PATTERNS??? In the same sentence? Ok, so that is right up my alley folks. Both Ken & I thought it had to be some sort of joke. We almost didn't go but decided to check it out. If it ended up being a joke we'd chalk it up to a nice mid morning drive. We arrived at the home of the sale. Women were sitting in a 2.5 car garage & there were boxes everywhere. I hopped out of the truck & asked if this was the pattern giveaway place. These women greeted me with a smile, said "yes" quite enthusiastically & handed me a big honkan empty box, asked me what sorts of crafts I do and told me more empty boxes were to the left. I recognized the one gal, I worked with her husband years ago. She went on to tell me to take anything.

Ok, now remember how I said I was in a 2.5 car garage? This garage had boxes stacked, up to my hips, wall to wall...all filled with patterns. Crochet patterns, knitting patterns, sewing patterns, quilting patterns, miniature dollhouse furniture patterns, cross stitch patterns, wooden toy patterns....you name it, there was a pattern for it, in this very garage. There were several tables set up which were sub categorized into specific craft patterns. They even had an area of boxes especially for Christmas patterns. The sew your own teddy bear & and teddy bear clothing pattern section was HUGE. I'm not even kidding. I had died and gone to crafting Heaven. Who could have as much passion for all things crafty as much as I? Apparently these people.

I thumbed through some patterns, asking how much $ they would like. They said, no $. I was like, "seriously?" Surely I had to give them something. It was then the sister of the gal I knew came to me and told me the story of these patterns. They were her mother in laws. Her mother in law had a large fetish that pretty much was out of control. This out of control activity was, purchasing patterns. For anything, and everything. Now it made sense why there was soooo much. The mother in law sadly passed away a year or so before this pattern giveaway. It had taken the daughter in law and her sister & Mom a whole year to get all the patterns organized enough to hold this giveaway event. She stated that her Mother in law was an amazing woman and she loved those patterns, even though she never used them. She collected them. The daughter in law stated that she just wanted to see the patterns go to a new home, someone who would cherish these patterns, and use them to make things for their loved ones. She was so sincere and she wanted me to TAKE, for FREE all the patterns I could possibly fit into my truck. She could tell I was an avid crafter & would give these patterns a loving home. Ken & I spent a good few hours at the giveaway, scouring boxes, laughing, talking, sometimes I had tears in my eyes while the family of this woman told us stories of her. They kept the boxes coming. If a box started to become half full I would turn around and another box would be ready for me.

I think by the time we left there I had 6 boxes of patterns. Sewing patterns, crochet patterns, plastic canvas patterns, dollhouse furniture patterns, knitting, etc. We left with a smile and new friends. We exchanged phone numbers and the daughter in law gave me her phone number and email address.

I have organized all of the patterns on bookcases and in two large file cabinets. You know, the ones human size? They are categorized and then subcategorized, and subcategorized again for easy access. I can get an idea of crocheting baby booties and go to the crochet category, then the baby crochet, then to the hats & booties section. I'd like to think these patterns have a lovely home.

Christmas craft books, crochet magazines and other crafty books take residence on this shelf.

This is actually a drawer that contains Nana's old patterns. I am going to categorize them but leave them in their own drawer. Is it odd that I do not want to mix Nana's patterns with the free ones?

This is the other drawer of Nana's crafting supplies which were given to me after she passed.

One of the many drawers of organized, readily accessible patterns just waiting to be used. I am not an avid knitter. Nana taught me how to knit but I never really got a nac for it. I'm hoping to learn again though. I will take some of these books with us when we go camping this summer.

Those who know me, know that I am a HUGE Christmas fanatic. A whole drawer of Christmas yuletide joy is what you see here!! =)

Friends, if you need a pattern, ask me before you go purchase one. Chances are, I could hook you up. No pun intended.

I am ready to hop back onto my sewing machine & fire up Nana's machine. I just know that these patterns will come in handy. Friends, please don't be surprised if you see me and I have fragments of thread in my hair, on my clothing or on the bottom of my socks.

Happy crafting, friends