My Thoughts and Other Spots

Do You Really Understand?

2011-11-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

Most people really don't understand what my religion is all about. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often known my the nickname of Mormons. Many think we are not Christian, but even the name of our church carries His name.

Take just a minute to listen to this man explain what the church and the Book of Mormon mean to him. This will give you a little better idea of what we believe.

I will answer any questions you may have. You can use the Comments link and I will do my best to answer you. If you don't want me to publish your comment and my answer, make sure you put your email in the comment and I will answer you personally.

You may also wish to look for answers at http://www.mormon.org/ .

Sorry. Sometomes the videos cut off on my blog and you can't see the whole thing. You can try double liking on the video and it should pop up to fill the screen. Press ESC key to get back the the regular screen.

Reality hits you hard bro

2011-09-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

This is from a Phoenix news story. As the story about a traffic accident aired, it was really fun to watch the man, Geroge Lindell, because he was so animated! I thought it must have been that he still had so much adrenilin pumping through him from the accident, but he really is this way.

Since this was on the news a couple of days ago, the interview clip has been shown on stations across the nation and even on Glenn Beck.

"Songify" took the interview and made it into a cute little song clip. Hope you enjoy it.

In God We Still Trust

2011-09-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

This song is wonderful! It's by Diamond Rio. This needs to be one of the songs we choose as often as we choose "I'm Proud To Be An American". It reminds us of where we do turn when things get scarry and difficult. It could also help us to chose better polititians
By the Way--The mother of their keyboard player went to high school with my parents. She is a wonderful person.

Happy Accident

2011-09-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

This couple is just too cute for words. Now I know I'm not the only person who burps at inopportune times.

My Memory of the Attack

2011-09-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

10 years ago, I was up earlier than normal and decided to watch TV news instead of reading the newspaper. I came into the newscast about the time they were trying to figure out what had happened at the first of the towers. They talked about a plane but most thought it was some kind of bomb. Then the unthinkable happened and another huge plane went into the other tower. I think the only thing I could do was gasp! That was when the tears started and they weren't going to stop for the rest for the day. I kept switching from one news station to another to get all the information I could. There had to be some kind of reasoning for all this.

Just like most of the nation, I was on my couch glued to the news coverage for the next few days. Trying to take in the magnitude of what had happened was difficult. For the next week the whole nation was quiet; no planes were in the air! I live by an airport so it was really noticeable. Then when the planes began to fly again, we would stop and listen to each one until we were sure it wasn't going down. It took a long time to stop listening to the planes.

Maybe we need to listen to everything more closely; like the voice inside that tells us to be more gentle and kind, to be more aware and proactive, to be ready give our all.

She said it all!

2011-09-08T14:32:00.002-07:00

History repeats itself

2011-07-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

When my oldest daughter was about 16, I asked her to start the dishwasher because I had forgotten to do it. She asked how much to fill the soap container and I told her to fill it about ¾ of the way. A little later, I was in my basement bedroom and heard A LOT of clomping footsteps in the kitchen overhead. Upon investigation, I found my daughter desperately trying to deal with a mountain of suds coming from the front of the dishwasher. I stopped at the kitchen doorway and started laughing!

Daughter = “What are you laughing for?”

Me = “What soap did you use?”

Daughter = “This one” holding up the dishwashing soap

Me = laughing “That’s for the sink, not the dishwasher!”

Daughter = “Well, it was the only one by the sink.”

Me = laughing and holding my sides “Look under the sink. There is a dish WASHER soap that doesn’t suds so much”

Daughter = “Stop laughing! At least you get a clean floor out of it!”

After giving a few tips on how to deal with the suds, I went back down to the bedroom and listened to her working. And I laughed for a long time.

Today, that daughter is 30 and the other daughter is 17. The younger one came quietly into my bedroom and asked what soap to put in the small holder of the dishwasher. I got up to show her and found she had put dishwashing soap into the main soap container. I immediately started laughing and told her she was just like her sister. She took that as a compliment!

When I told her that she would need to be ready to clean up the suds that were going to pour out of the dishwasher, she decided that using paper towels to scrap all the soap out was a better idea. Then I gave her the same lesson I gave her sister, as I laughed and laughed!

She didn’t appreciate the laughter.

When I told my older daughter about it, she said it was a logical thing to do. "Dishes and dishwashing soap. It's just logical" It's also funny!

And to get to see it twice in one lifetime is even better!!!

2011-02-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Most of you who know me, know that I crochet a lot! Some may say that is an understatement. I do carry yarn and hooks with me an indecent amount of the time. But I am in a crochet rut! A crocheted rut takes a lot of yarn and it's never pretty.

I try to make things that will be useful to someone, so that means I do a lot of charity items - hats, baby/youth blankets and a few scarves. I have so many hat patterns that I could put together a book! But the ones I make all seem to be the same or slight variations of the same thing. Like I said, a rut.

Yarn is not cheap and I want to be able to afford the guilty pleasure of buying it, so I get the softest yarn I can for the least expense. That means I buy a lot of Hobby Lobby's "I Love This Yarn" brand. But that can get boring too. There is very little texture using just the one brand of yarn. But I do look longingly at the other yarns and then just put them back.

For $3.99 I can get 355 yards of yarn and have enough to make 2 hats or one scarf or 1/2 to 1/3 of a blanket. Or I can spend $5.99 for 85 to 150 yards of yarn and maybe have enough for one hat. At the higher price, one lapghan can easily cost $50. I'm all for charity, but that kind of money stays home!! Especially when I use so much of it.

You see my dilemma.

So, I have decided that I need to find some homeless yarn and offer it a nice home. The more eclectic the yarn, the better, as long as there is enough to actually make something with. Maybe I'll find a crocheter who can't do it anymore and help them with that yarn-buying-urge that rarely goes away. I could volunteer to be the hands that crochets what they can't.

So if you come across someeone who has a yarn stash...

please remember me.

In the mean time, I'll just have to start cutting up grocery bags to make some PLARN. I just have to move all the yarn to find a place to work on the bags...

2010-12-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

Even though this video picks up in the middle of the song, this is really a nice rendition of the "Halleluiah Chorus" by Silent Monks.

Food Court Flash Mob give Christmas concert

2010-12-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

Conference Glow

2010-10-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today, I have really enjoyed watching the LDS Worldwide General Conference. Conference always seems to come at the times my spirit needs feeding the most and I am never disappointed!

There were so many speakers and so many topics that I can’t make just a brief list. But I have written down the times the Spirit spoke to me about my life and where it needs adjusting. I do love to hear about the things I am doing and feel the encouragement to keep going. No one who listens with an open mind and heart can fail to find a feast. With that feast in mind, I am now stuffed! It will take me the next 6 months to really digest the things that were said and to adjust my life to be more Christ-like and more humble.

I hope you listened and have also been fed. I hope that you will find something for your life in what you heard during these 2 days of wonderful speakers and beautiful music.

I have found a new website for General Conference. http://new.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng
It has all the sessions and you can watch one session or one speaker.

Next Saturday and Sunday, General Conference will be broadcast again in ASL (American Sign Language). The times will be the same as this week (see previous post) and you can both hear and see the talks given, again.

By next week, all the talks will be on the web to be printed or read. http://lds.org/conference/display/0,5234,49-1,00.html This will give just one more way to study what was said and try to implement it in our lives.

I was so excited to hear about 5 new temples that Pres. Monson announced for Portugal, Philippines, Connecticut, Indiana, and Mexico. The work just moves faster and faster. If you stand still, you might get run over!

Such a feast and it never has empty platters.

A Beacon In The Storm

2010-09-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Feeling lost and overwhelmed by all that’s going on in your life and in the world?

Life can be hard at times. And lately, things seem to be harder than usual. When life gets tough, where do you turn? What do you do? For me, its God I turn to.

In the Bible, they had Prophets that lived among them to give counsel and advice. With all the problems and difficulties we face, our day could certainly benefit from having a Prophet.

There is a Prophet of God on the earth today! His name is Thomas S. Monson and he will be speaking to the world on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 & 3. I promise that you will find peace as you watch any of the broadcasts. Prophets bring peace to troubled minds and hearts.

Although, he will be speaking from Salt Lake City, Utah; you can watch him from wherever you live. The talks will be broadcast on BYUTV and on the Internet (http://lds.org/broadcast/gc/1,5161,9199,00.html) . The times of the broadcasts are 10 am and 2 pm both days, MDT (Noon and 4pm Eastern time/ 9 am and 1 pm Pacific time). You can also watch it on the Internet at any time after each broadcast.

There is help for all of us who carry burdens and are suffering. If all you need to do is watch TV for awhile, why not see if it can help you in whatever you are suffering through right now?

Retreat & Heal

2010-09-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

I just got back from an amazing healing “retreat”. My sister went with me so she could learn; I went for the actual healing. We got to stay at my aunt’s home, each of us in different suites. I had the Emerald Isle Suite, and she had the Suite of Dreams. Each had its own bathroom and sitting area. Each suite had so much to look at that you could literally spend hours just looking at things. The emerald Isle Suite had two full walls of books. Books make me happy, even if they are just on the shelves!

I got to meet a wonderful woman, Debra Hale of Debra’s Healing Hands. It’s hard to describe what she does. I suppose the best way to say it is that she facilitates emotionally healing and physical wellness through many different disciplines. One that is hard to describe is “PPR, Purge, Purify and Restore”. It will literally heal you and your ancestors of emotions you are stuck in. That is simplifying the process and trying to explain a wonderful process with inadequate words. In 21 days, I should see even more difference. But I have seen subtle changes ever since the session with Debra.

One of the fun things that happened on this trip happened the second time I was in Debra’s office. As I was leaving, there was a woman in the waiting area who was with the next person for Debra. She & I looked at each other and had this instant recognition. I asked her if she was my friend from long ago Tammy, and she was. JOY! JOY! JOY! I have been actively looking for her in the last few months, but haven’t been able to find her. I found her on the couch.

We hugged and hugged. I think both of us were happy to see each other for the first time in almost 17 years. She was such a wonderful person to sit and talk with and I have missed that. Now the talks will have to be over the phone, but at least, we can talk. At first I think we will probably talk over each other because there is so much to say after 17 years. We have to catch up with each other and the children & grandchildren. I can hardly wait for the many calls to come.

A dress a day blog

2010-08-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

"Marisa Lynch set herself a challenge:

Transform 365 unattractive frocks in 365 days, for $365."

I went to look at her blog and found it hard to look away. She has taken some dresses that I have to admit owning at one time or another, and others that I found myself wondering what she found wrong with them. But she has done a great job in remaking clothes to fit her style. It's worth looking at if you are at all interested in sewing.

http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/

Here are 2 of the dresses she has worked on.

Pretty handy, I'd say! She shows lots of the work she does, or at least the process she uses to recreate something. One day she took a fish from a dress she already remodeled and made it into a necklace. Very creative site.

I tried a new craft

2010-08-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

Look what I did!

It's called Needle Felting.

You start with Roving (unspun wool) and really fine SHARP felting needles. You use something for a pattern or outline and start punching the needle in-out-in-out until the roving begins to "felt". When you are done, you have made unspun wool into a pattern or shape.

First I tried to make a coaster. I used too much roving so it came out pretty thick. But it worked!

The red heart was a last minute idea.

I made a heart stencil and worked it directly onto a jacket that I only wear around the house to keep me warm in our frosty Arizona winters. Today, I tossed it in with the clothes I was washing and it was just fine.

They say you can use wool felt and wool yarn, also. My mind is just going wild with the possibilities. Now I want to get some felting molds and do a few pins and hair clips and figure out something to do on Dear Daughter's clothes.

Let's see. . . what would a 16 year old girl like me to put on her clothes.?.?.?

Keep Going

2010-08-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you wonder if you can keep going. Dispite any plans you made, things just seem to be against you. I understand that situation completely!! I hope this will give you a bit of insipration to keep going for today.

Crocheted Items

2010-08-09T15:09:00.000-07:00

I try to take a picture of each of the items I crochet.

But I often forget until I have given somethng away.

I had a helper for this shot.

Most of these are for children or babies.

Hope the children who receive these will love them to death!

That box of pens and pencils. . .

2010-08-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it.

I love pens and pencils and paper!

I love to walk around a stationary store and just look at everything. I am a sucker for papers, in any form. I love to have cute little pads of paper around me to draw on and write on. In fact, I'd rather have new papers & pens than a bouquet of flowers! Odd, I know, but more affordable.

When they remodeled the apartment (a few years ago), they came out with a full bankers box of pens, pencils & markers. I will say that I was a little surprised at how many there were and I have worked at NOT buying any more (mostly).

Finally it was time to go through the box. So one night before bed, I dragged out the box and started to test the pens and sort everything into pencils, mechanical pencils, pens, colored pencils and markers. I didn't test the markers then, or it would have taken me double the time.

What I ended up with was :

a lot of pencils that need to be sharpened
mechanical pencils that I have to try & put lead in
markers to test sometime this week
colored pencils to sharpen
one box of drug company pens that I will only use at home
a stack regular pens that work
about 150 pens and a few pencils I threw away
even had some paints in there

If anyone wants a few drug company pens to use at home, I can give you a few.

Now I just need to test the markers &sharpen the pencils & test the mechancial pencils.

What I want to know is this: How can I still have a full box when I threw so much away?

Light in my tunnel

2010-08-04T16:31:00.000-07:00

Just when I get to a really low point, there is a blessing waiting for me. This time, it was a blessing of some personal revelation.

I was reading my scriptures on Sunday morning and when I read Alma 13:12 (Book of Mormon), I had a talk come into my mind. It was full blown and almost complete. So I wrote it down with the references. This way I can go back and finish it the next time I need to give a talk.

Wonder when & where that will be.

Just venting

2010-07-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

This is not as happy posting, so I am warning you ahead of time.

There are times when I get down on myself about not being as organized as I have been in the past. Or get upset with myself for not doing all the projects I want to do. I see my siblings or friends homes and I want to cringe when I walk into mine. Then I have to remember that I am not playing with the same team that others play with. My team is really on the “injured reserve” roster.

Just this year, there have been so many “SNAFU”** situations with my meds, that I almost burst into tears at the very thought of any more changes. Dear Hubby has been in bed for most of the last 3 months. Dear Daughter is 16 and, where most girls at that age would be able to help with things around the house, she doesn’t/can’t. The reasons for that are many and complicated, so I won’t even go there right now.

You may not realize how tough it is to live with someone who has depression. It’s BAD and I know that. But you can walk away from them, go to another room, leave the house, and get away from it. The person who has the depression doesn’t get that option. I get to live with myself 24/7, no break, no pause, no let-up! Even sleep isn't a break.

It is really hard to hate living with yourself. How do you “not be with yourself”? Taking a break from the problems of someone else, I can work out. But how do you take a break from yourself and the weirdness that is depression? It ain’t easy!!!! In fact, it’s downright hard!!!

The best way for me to get away from me for a while is to listen to a book (on my MP3) or get involved in a movie. I can let myself fall into what I am listening to or seeing and, for that time, I can be in another place. But the movies and books always end and I’m back to myself again.

Sometimes, I can actually act “normal” for a while- maybe 20 minutes or so. I love those little glimpses into my real self. Now, I just need to get these meds evened out so that 20 minutes can stretch to an hour, then to 3 hours, then to most of a day.

It is not easy for a “normal” person to understand why someone would hurt themselves or wish for death. But after you have been in depression for a while and can’t get away from it, you have a very good understanding of the way that weird depressed mind works.

I really am in a better place than most people with depression. I do know that it can get better, so I just tell myself to exist until then. I take my medication, I don’t take on much of anything outside of helping myself “exist” and I wait. And wait. And, this year, I keep waiting.

Isn’t 7 months long enough?

Apparently it isn’t, so the surviving goes on. . .

**SNAFU = Situation Normal, All F##### Up. It is a term that came from the mid 1940’s, made most popular by the troops in WWII when they expected one thing to happen and something entirely different would happen.

Sisters Pedi

2010-06-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

My birthday & the next sister’s birthday are exactly one week apart. This is usually the excuse that we use to get together and do something. Most often that is going to lunch together. This year we went to get pedicures. We did miss the conversation over lunch though!

Since the birthday girls had never had pedicures, it was a great opportunity to try one. As you can see, we filled the chairs, there was one woman already there, and she was treated to being right in the middle of the group and all the comments and “pass this on” things we had. But she didn’t’ want to be in the pictures. If we had all the sisters together, we would have had to kick her out, since there are 5 of us.

See my pretty toes. The 3 oldest girls picked the same color. They had to pass it back and forth for all of us to use.

My only complaint is that they didn’t “rub my feet” hard enough or long enough. I guess that comes under “foot massage” instead of “pedicure”.

Breakfast Muffins

2010-06-16T09:14:00.002-07:00

I wanted to have something quick and easy in the mornings. My family needs to know that I am trying to have something for them for breakfast other than cold cereal. This is the solution.

Refrigerator Bran Muffins

2 c. boiling water
2 c. 100% Bran Flakes (or similar)
1 c. oil
3 c. sugar (I used some brown sugar)
4 eggs
1 qt. buttermilk (or equivalent)
5 c. flour
5 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 c. Cracklin’ Oat Bran (or similar)
Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg (optional)
2 c. chopped nuts (optional)
2c. raisins (optional)

Pour boiling water over bran flakes. Set aside to cool.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together oil and sugar. Add eggs and buttermilk. Mix together.

Add flour, baking soda and salt (and spices). Mix together. Now add the cooled bran mixture. Then mix in the Cracklin’ Oat Bran (and nuts and raisins). Mixture will be very lumpy because of the Cracklin’ Oat Bran. Store in glass or plastic covered containers in the refrigerator. (It takes about 8-12 hours for the Cracklin Oat Bran to dissolve.) Will keep 5-7 weeks.

When ready to bake, spoon into greased muffin tins or paper baking cups. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 15-20 minutes. Do not under bake or middle will be gooey.

These muffins will keep in a plastic bag or container for up to 3 days.

He loves me

2010-06-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

Today the mailperson rang the doorbell because there was a package too big to fit in the mail box. It was quite heavy. Books, I thought. It was addressed to Dear Hubby, so I gave it to him. When the easy-open pull tabs on the end of the package didn’t work, he handed it back. So I took out my trusty box cutter/hobby knife and opened it quickly. Thinking to hand DH the books he ordered, I reached into the box and what did I find . . .?

My birthday present!

If you know what these are,

you will understand my glee!

I am happy! DH knows me and knows just how to surprise me. I HAD to open a bag and taste them.

AAHHHH, memories of childhood . . .

The box contained more than just one bag; it had FIVE BAGS!!!!!

I do plan to share --with my sister who has a birthday right next to mine.

If you don't know what these are--they are PINION nuts, or pinenuts. YUMMY!

Who has my seat?

2010-06-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

This was written by a Mexican who is now a naturalized US Citizen, and I think it's a great perspective on the illegal immigration issue.

Here is the quote:

"If you had tickets to a sports event, concert, Disneyland, or for an airline flight, and when you got to your assigned seat you found someone else was in that seat, what would you do? You would call for a person in charge of ticket checking and have the person in your seat removed. You would properly be asked to show your ticket, and you would gladly and proudly do so, for you have bought and paid for that seat. The person in your seat would also be asked for a ticket, which they would not be able to produce. They would be called "gate crashers" and they would properly be removed.

Now in this huge stadium called the USA we have had millions of gate crashers. We have been asking security to check for tickets and remove the gate crashers. We have been asking security to have better controls in checking at the door. We have asked security to lock the back doors. Security has failed us. They are still looking the other way. They are afraid to ask to see the tickets. Many people say there is unlimited seating, and whether there is or not, no one should be allowed in for free while the rest of us pay full price!

In "section AZ", of "Stadium USA", we have had enough of the failures of Security. We have decided to do our own ticket checking, and properly remove those who do not have tickets. Now it seems very strange to me that so many people in the other 49 "sections", and even many in our own "section" do not want tickets checked, or even to be asked to show their ticket! Even the head of Security is chastising us, while not doing his own job which he has sworn to do.

My own ticket has been bought and paid for, so I am proudly going to show it when asked to do so. I have a right to my seat, and I want the gate crashers to be asked to show their tickets too. The only reason that I can imagine anyone objecting to being asked for their ticket is that they are in favor of gate crashing, and all of the illegal activities that go with it, such as drug smuggling, gang wars, murder, human smuggling for profit, and many more illegal and inhumane acts that we are trying to prevent with our new legislation. Is that what I am hearing from all of the protestors such as Phoenix Mayor Gordon, US Rep. Grijalva, even President Obama? If you are not in favor of showing tickets, (proof of citizenship, passport, green card, or other legal document) when asked, as I would do proudly, then you must be condoning those illegal activities."
Written by a U.S. Citizen -- Globe, Arizona.

I wish I knew the name of this citizen. They hit the nail on the head in the way they explain the situation!

Crochet page

2010-05-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

I just figures out that you can have individual pages (up to 10) on blogspot. So I have created a CROCHET LINKS page. This has all the links that were on the left side. Look at the top of the page to navigate from this HOM page to the CROCHET LINKS page and back again.

I threw in a couple of pictures to make it not quite so dry as a list. Hope you can find something that will help you as you learn/re-learn to crochet.

Happy Hooking!

How Can I Be

2010-05-26T11:09:00.002-07:00

Street Art

2010-05-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

If I were walking down the street and saw this, it would hold my attention for at least an hour. Just looking at it and figuring out how it was all put together and how many pieces it was. I wonder how many skeins of pink camo yarn it took?

SB 1070

2010-05-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

Last 9th Grade Concert

2010-05-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

Last night was one of those poignant moments. It was the last band concert of the year. But it was also the last band concert for the 9th graders AND for the 8th graders. This is the last year that 9th grade will be at the Junior High’s. Next year, the 9th grade will be at the High Schools, and Junior High will only have 7th and 8th grade.

At the Concert & at the Awards assembly on Tuesday, it was especially poignant to me and Hubby. We have seen so much growth during the last 3 years. The teachers have commented on it, too.

The last 2 Band Concerts have been really fun. Mr. Murphy had them doing some “regular” pieces, but he also had them do some jazz pieces, and they did them well! In the March concert, My Murphy played his Sousaphone (made in the 1930’s) and they really rocked!

Last night, the last piece the band played was Santana’s “Evil Ways” and you should have seen Hubby (a drummer) smile & rock to it! It was so toe-tappin’ that you had to smile and join in. Espeacially at the drum riff at the end of the piece!!! The piece rated a standing ovation, too.

We came home and had to listen to "Evil Ways" on the internet again. It just made the band sound better because of how great they nailed it!

Of course, we got our usual ice cream from MacDonalds on the way home. It's become a tradition now and I think we have to continue it. One chocolate shake, one strawberry shake, one vanilla shake.

Awards Night

2010-05-19T07:47:00.001-07:00

Last night was the 9th grade Awards Assembly. We got a letter that Dear Daughter would be getting an award at the assembly.

With Dad, before the assembly.

Last year, she got one for being the 8th Band Band Student of the Year so we weren’t sure what award she would be getting this year. So we did a lot of speculation. I am happy to say that my guess was right.

It was a really pleasant surprise. It was an award in MATHEMATICS!
"OUTSTANDING MATH STUDENT"

Background: She has been in special ed math for years, but this year she was ready for Algebra, because of some really hard work by the Mrs. Wightman, the math teacher. I began the year with trepidation, but no so for DD! The class only had about 6 or 7 students who were really ready for Algebra and DD was the only girl. I was proud of that fact! But still wondered what the year would bring. Imagine my pleased surprise at the fact that she has maintained an A in Algebra all year!

So it’s understandable that I might think that the award would be in Math. But the fact that she is in a special ed math, made me wonder.

I should have guessed that she was doing really well, after the teacher told me, in December, she would be ready for Geometry next year.

So, onward! Geometry, here she comes!

On stage, waiting for 2 other students to get their plaques.

Dad, Mom, DD, Grandpa

Booties

2010-05-16T10:18:00.001-07:00

I have tried to make slippers before, but the result was not what I wanted. I gave up that aspect of crocheting. But it seems that something always happens to bring us full circle.

And so it did. A cousin of mine had a little baby girl at the end of last year. This little girl is full of special needs, which means she is also full of blessings. They don't live near me, so I have only been able to see pictures of her. She is so small and dainty.

I can't begin to explain the problems this little girl has, mostly because this particular problem is unique to ONE FAMILY in the world! My cousin happened to marry into that family. What are the odds? Really--what are the odds?

So I gave in!

I made my first pair of Premie Baby Booties.

That's a quarter, by the way -- just for reference. They are about 75 cents long!

I think they turned out pretty cute. But I had to guess at the length of her feet, so I hope they fit.

They fit Dear Hubby's largest finger and 2 of mine.

Lapghan for Fisher House

2010-05-12T14:01:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of some blocks I made after they were put together in a lapghan for Fisher House. Makes me feel good to help anyone, but especially wounded soldiers.

Frogging

2010-05-12T13:29:00.003-07:00

I DON'T LIKE FROGS!

ANY KIND!

CUTE

RELAXED

DOESN'T MATTER

I JUST DON'T LIKE THEM

BUT THE WORST KIND IS......

CROCHET FROGGING!!!!

At one time; ALL THIS YARN was part of an almost finished project.

Gabby's New Home

2010-05-12T13:15:00.003-07:00

My brother's family got a hamster for Christmas. Around that same time, I found a "Hamster Cave" pattern. Of course I had to make it. So I did it and finished it in January.

I finally took it to them this week! Everyone had to play with little Gabby. They told me she was soft & furry, but I let them have all the fun.

Gabby started exploring her new cave right away, which made me feel good!
She even had to make sure that the roof was okay.

The Lorenz Manifold

2010-05-04T10:31:00.001-07:00

Math and I just did not get along when I was in school. I can no longer help Dear Daughter with her math because she is now in Algebra. So it’s really funny that I love to crochet mathematical pieces! I guess all knitting & crochet is mathematical, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the Hyperbolic crochet and the Lorenz Manifold.

(http://www.enm.bris.ac.uk/staff/hinke/crochet/)

Yeah, me too! I had no idea what it was, but it looked really cool. The original couple who crocheted it said it took them 85 hours of work. Well, so far, I estimate that I have put in about 20 hours. I skimmed the paper they wrote about it and stopped when I got to something that looked like a pattern. I began and failed, began again and failed again. Then I decided to do some internet searching about it. I found that the pattern actually began on page 22 and I had stopped at about page 10.

Needless to say that has been lots of “frogging” with this project (rip it, rip it).

I have found that I need to count the increases before beginning each round and use some kind of stitch marker to indicate where they will be for each individual round.

Remember that the first stitch for each round is 0, not 1, when creating the Lorenz.

Liquid Laundry Soap--My Own Brand

2010-05-04T10:25:00.001-07:00

After making and using my own DRY laundry soap for about 6 months, it was finally time to try the LIQUID. So about a week ago, after gathering a 5 gallon bucket and an empty liquid laundry soap container, I did it.

I actually thought that it would take a long time to melt the Fels-Naptha in water, but it went surprisingly fast. I had some kitchen jobs lined up to do while I stirred and melted the soap, but only got a couple of them done. My one mistake came when I didn’t plan how to get the 5 gallon bucket full of hot water. I filled it part way in the kitchen but not all the way—I wanted to be able to carry it outside to the laundry room. Then I used the backyard hose to finish filling the bucket. During an Arizona summer, this would probably be fine, but not in a nice cool April. Next time I’ll know to just carry a pot of boiling water out to the bucket.

This liquid has been wonderful as a spot remover as things are checked before washing and so far! It doesn’t leave any soap marks or residue on the clothes, which I got with the dry soap if I didn’t dissolve it completely before adding the clothes.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that it turned out white. Nothing that went into it had any color.

I also added a few drops of Lavender Oil. Next time, I’ll add a lot more! I didn’t take into account that the 5 gallons would actually make 10 gallons! So the lavender smell is all but gone for this batch, but I still know it’s there somewhere.

The cost for this was so minimal, that it is really easy to share with neighbors when they run out!

This is the recipe I used and it can be found at http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores laundry section. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Baby's First Teddy Bear

2010-05-04T10:14:00.001-07:00

I love little projects that work up quickly AND have a real use. This little “Baby’s First Teddy” is one of those quickies. The pattern is found at the Velvet Pumpkin. (http://www.angelfire.com/va/thevelvetpumpkin/Bear.html )

What to do with all those empty pill bottles

2010-05-01T12:46:00.001-07:00

Since everyone in our house takes prescription medications, we end up with a lot of empty pill bottles! I take off the labels and just can’t throw all of them away. So I decided to share a few ideas for using empty pill bottles.

• Store your jewelry. Easy to keep separate and super easy to travel with.
• Store broken jewelry so all the pieces stay together until you can repair it.
• Store small amounts of candy for kids to carry around and feel like they have a “whole package”.
• Store needles so they don’t poke you. They go easily into any project carrying container.
• Create a small sewing kit to keep at work or school.
• Store coins so they don’t fall out into your purse and get lost.
• Store hair pins. Easy to find and use.
• Use them for a portable “sharps” container if you have diabetes.
• Quick rattle for a baby.
• Make great collection containers for children who like to collect things.

Since the sizes of the pill containers vary, there are so many things you can do with them!

If you need a few- I will share some. Just ask!

Truth to calm your soul

2010-04-28T08:02:00.001-07:00

Sometimes we just need to be reminded of our Savoir and His love for us. The video at the Son of Man Project to the music "Miracle from Heaven" will uplift you today and give you that warm feeling you get when truth is right in front of you.

http://sonofmanproject.com/

I hope you enjoy it and will view it often.

I do mornings

2010-04-21T09:58:00.003-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that

"I DON'T DO MORNINGS!!!"

I haven't gotten out of bed before 11:00am for years. Of course, having chronic fatigue is one reason it's been so hard, and I thought it was the only reason.

Surprisingly, I was wrong.

After the fiasco with my meds, lasting two months, I have found a rather great outcome. (No, we aren't finished messing with the meds.) Now my body wakes up betwen 7-8am and it doesn't want to go back to sleep! At first, I kept trying to go back to sleep after getting Dear Daughter off to school, but it just wasn't happpening!

It took me a week to realize what what going on! Dense, I know. So now I actually beat the alarm clock! I don't ever remember THAT happening.

Now the problem is remembering to turn the alarm OFF before leaving the bedroom!

Power of Words

2010-04-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

Words really have a power that we underestimate! This short video illustrates that in a remarkable way.

How did you use your words today?

Wasting Time VS Creative Time

2010-04-09T08:49:00.002-07:00

If you know me very well, you know I always have crochet hooks and yarn or string with me at all times. For me it serves two purposes: 1) I can be creative while waiting in a doctor's office or other place like that and 2) it helps to curb my panic attacks. I use to just carry a book. But I found that I was reading the same paragaph over & over again, so it served no purpose! Since I began to carry a crochet project with me, things have been so easy.

The best part of this is that I have been able to accomplish wonderful in just short snatches of time. Another great result of this is that I have been able to talk with others about crochet. A few times I have made a little toy for some child who has to wait without one. (Could that be called neglect?)

The reason I bring this up is that I am not the only one who benefits from things like this. Today on WikiHow, I found an article about carrying something with you all the time and it isn't just crochet. Take a look and see if you can think of what you might do if you got stuck wiating for someone for a hour or more?

This also helps to cut down on the anger and frustration you might feel at the inconvenience of being forced to wait for something you hadn't planned on.

How To Make A Portable Craft Kit

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Travel-Size-Craft-Kit

Urban Graffiti

2010-04-07T16:29:00.001-07:00

Around New York City, there is some unusual graffiti appearing aroaund the city. If I were there, I would be tempted to add to it.

Maybe I will add to it here.

There are times I wish that I knew how to knit. This is one of those times.

My contribution to the

urban graffiti would be to

COVER ALL THE HOT DOOR HANDLES

in our Arizona summer.

So, who wants to teach me to knit?

Do the lights go off?

2010-04-05T13:30:00.001-07:00

Many times my brothers have asked the question "But how do you KNOW the light goes off when you close the refrigerator door?"

Now I have know the answer.

The light doesn't go off and I have proof! I know the picture is a little out of focus but the line of light that IS IN FOCUS is the light from INSIDE the refrigerator.

Helaman's Army

2010-04-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

This was just too good not to share. I hope you will get a good laugh from it.

General Petraeus:

Top 10 reasons BYU grads make great soldiers

By Sara Israelsen-Hartley

Published: Friday, March 26, 2010 10:37 a.m. MDT

As Gen. David Petraeus began his remarks at BYU Thursday night, the commanding general of U.S. Central Command shared his sense of humor by reading the following list, which was received by waves of laughter and applause.

General Petraeus' Top 10 reasons BYU grads make good soldiers:

10 — They have already been on many a mission.

9 — Army chow is no problem for folks accustomed to eating green Jell-o and shredded carrots.

8 — It's not a problem if they don't know what rank someone is, they just refer to them as Brother or Sister so-and-so.

7 — They never go AWOL. They just call it being less active.

6 — They will seize any objective swiftly if you tell them refreshments will be served.

5 — They know how to make things happen. In fact if you ever need a base built quickly in a barren wasteland, stride out to where you want them to start, plant your walking stick down and say in a loud voice, "This is the place."

4 — They have innovative ideas for handling insurgents — like assigning them home teachers.

3 — They always have a years' supply of provisions on hand.

2 — They are the world's most reliable designated drivers.

1 — They understand how far Iraq has come over the last seven years, and they think that Iraq's old spot in the "Axis of Evil" can now be filled by the University of Utah.

A Prophet is on Earth Today!

2010-04-03T05:50:00.004-07:00

I believe that Christ’s church today would have the same thing; Prophets and Apostles commissioned to testify of Him, receive revelation for our time and to prophecy of things to come. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a living prophet and living apostles who are given those duties.

If you would like to hear a Living Prophet of God and Living Apostles of God, you have that opportunity this Saturday and Sunday.

April 3-4, 10am & 2pm MDT

Watch on BYUTV, or listen at http://www.lds.org/broadcast/gc/0,5161,9080,00.html (you can chose what language you would like)

These are 4 different meetings that will be broadcast to the world. There are more than 13 million people worldwide that will try to find a way to listen to these meetings.

I strongly invite you to take the opportunity to see who is leading The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and what counsel is given to the people of the world.

A Prophet that has been called by God is not only a prophet for His church, but is in reality a Prophet to the world.

For more information about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints go to http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/

Inventive Potato Salad

2010-03-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

I'm at that point in the month where the money is gone. This month is a double whammy because there isn't any meat, potatoes or fresh produce left in the house! Making meals at times like these is a challenge.

Sunday, Dear Daughter wanted to make a salad to help with dinner. Nope.
How about a Potato Salad? Sorry, no again!
She gave up! I missed a wonderful opportunity to have HER ACTUALLY HELP!!

Since she suggested potato salad, I have been wanting to have some. And I want it now! Sometimes, patience is not my strong point. So today I decided we WOULD HAVE IT! And the seach began for "instant potato salad". Then the modifications came because of what we didn't have. This is the result.

End-of-the-Month Potato Salad

Instant potatoes- can add one or two cooked and chopped potatoes

Water

Egg – cooked, peeled & chopped

Celery or celery salt or celery powder

Garlic, roasted garlic or garlic salt

Onion or onion salt (green or purple adds color)

Pickles, dill or sweet, relish or self-chopped, or the pickle juice if that’s all you have

Mustard

Mayonnaise

Salt

Pepper

*Horseradish if you like it.

Amounts are left off so you can suit your tastes.

Heat the water for instant potatoes. Mix in potatoes until they are STIFF. You will be adding things that will make them more liquid, so you don’t want to start with it too loose.

Add the ingredients you would normally add to your potato salad in amounts that appeal to you and your family. Mix and taste to make sure you have a salad and not an “instant potato thing”. You should taste the additions and only taste the potatoes as a part of the flavor!

Chill and enjoy.

**This method is really good if you have someone with trouble chewing or swallowing chunks of potatoes.

***Adding mixed instant potatoes will also help to stretch a potato salad that needs to feed more people. Just check the taste.

To me this is tasting really good. However, if you have family members that go by how the food LOOKS before they will even taste it, you may have to use the last potato in the house so that there are some "lumps".

El Shaddai

2010-03-24T21:07:00.002-07:00

A long time ago, before CD's, I had a cassette tape that included the song "El Shaddai". It wasn't sung by Amy Grant and I would love to be ableto remember who was singing it. I want to share the song with you because of the powerful feelings it brings to me about God.

I am including the lyrics, so those of us who have a hard time understanding the words, can follow along and get the full benefit of the message in the song.

El Shaddai
by: Michael Card and John Thompson

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
El-Elyon na Adonia,
Age to age You're still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
Erkamka na Adonai,
We will praise and lift You high,
El Shaddai.

Through your love and through the ram,
You saved the son of Abraham;
Through the power of your hand,
Turned the sea into dry land.
To the outcast on her knees,
You were the God who really sees,
And by Your might,
You set Your children free.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
El-Elyon na Adonia,
Age to age You're still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
Erkamka na Adonai,
We will praise and lift You high,
El Shaddai.

Through the years You've made it clear,
That the time of Christ was near,
Though the people couldn't see
What Messiah ought to be.
Though Your Word contained the plan,
They just could not understand
Your most awesome work was done
Through the frailty of Your Son.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
El-Elyon na Adonai,
Age to age You're still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
Erkamka na Adonai,
I will praise and lift You high,
El Shaddai.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
El-Elyon na Adonai,
Age to age You're still the same,
By the power of the name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
Erkamka na Adonai,
I will praise and lift You high,
El Shaddai.

Oxymoron

2010-03-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

Famous realtive. Or is it Infamous...

2010-03-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

On HBO there is a show called "United States of Tara" which is based on the life of one of my cousins. Here she is in an interview about the show which starts it's new season March 22. I don't have HBO, so I can't really say anything about the show since I haven't seen it.

It's a good habit!

2010-03-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

If you know me very well, you know that I like to talk. And talk. And talk. And . . . Well, now I can say that it's a good thing if I am talking.

A group of psychologists from the University of Arizona and Washington University in St. Louis set out to find whether happy and unhappy people differ in the types of conversations they tend to have. ...

Here's what the researchers found:

The happiest participants spent 25 percent less time alone and 70 percent more time talking than the unhappiest participants.

The happiest participants also had twice as many substantive conversations and one-third as much small talk as the unhappiest participants. (LiveScience.com)

So those of you who don't talk much, might want to consider doing more of it.

Meat Cake

2010-03-01T14:23:00.004-07:00

Make sure to check the UPDATE at the end of this post!

Have you ever looked at something in your refrigerator and not known what it was? That is what Dear Hubby calls “Meat Cake”. It usually smells and you aren’t sure if it’s worth it to keep the container or if you should just throw it out--food and all!

Then there are the times that there is a SMELL in the fridge and have to clean it out to find what the bad smell is. That’s when you find all the meat cakes and old veggies that you forgot about.

We have been having one of those “SMELLAVENTURES”.

For the last 6 weeks, there has been a distinct and ugly odor whenever we opened the fridge door.

So I cleaned.

I threw out anything that MIGHT resemble a meat cake.

I cleaned, again.

And again!

And again!!

Baking soda did nothing for this smell. . .

I tried using water.

Then I tried vinegar.

Even opening the windows didn’t lessen the impact!

Then we took the back off to see if there was some kind of help there.   There were only dust bunnies inside by the motor—which I vacuumed out after we unplugged it.   But when we moved it, I was kind of thinking that there might be a dead something under it.    But no--it was so clean under there and just had a couple of dust bunnies.   At least I felt good about something.

Now we were at the point where the smell was invading ANTHING THAT WASN’T SEALED.

Plastic wrap or foil didn’t cut it.

I mean sealed!!

It plays with your head to bite into a wonderful leftover chocolate pie and find out it tastes like “That Smell”!

We started to dread it whenever someone opened the fridge door. It didn’t matter where you were in the apartment- you smelled it! And no room deodorizer disguised it. No candle helped lessen the impact. I was beginning to worry that someone would open that door when company was here and then I would see their faces turn green as they hurried to leave.

I began wondering how many Tupperware/Rubbermaid/Ziploc items I should buy so we could use the fridge and actually eat the food that was kept in it. I was figuring how many large sizes I would need and should I put the veggies in sealed bags or in something else.

Then one day I noticed the refrigerator pickles I made a while back. I wanted to taste them and see how they turned out. So I moved everything and brought out the gallon jar filled with cucumber spears that I had made into pickles.

That’s when it hit me. The SMELL wasn’t in the fridge anymore--it was on the counter! The gallon jar had not been sealed, just had a lid on that didn’t seal. I asked Dear Hubby if he smelled THE SMELL. Yes—what was it? So I confessed! It was my fault. Poor guy—he doesn’t even like pickles!

After the pickles had been out for about 10 minutes—there was no more smell INSIDE. Now I had to figure out what to do with the gallon jar. So I tested one of the small pickles, it tasted fine. I left the jar on the counter while I waited to see if I was going to be sick or not. I felt fine.

After an hour, we couldn’t stand having the smell throughout the house all the time. They were a little vinegary! So I got two layers of plastic wrap and held that on with a rubber band before I put the lid back on. Then with a sigh, I put it back in the fridge.

The plastic wrap didn’t help. What was I going to do with them? If I put them in a Tupperware/Rubbermaid container, the container would always smell that way. It was time to make a decision. I put it off and let the jar sit on the counter for a while. The pictures will tell you what I finally did.

So far, I haven’t smelled them again!

So far!!!

UPDATE: The smell came through the ziploc bag! Does anyone need pickles TODAY? Come get them. NOW!!!

Moral of the story: Do not use any extra vinegar in your refrigerator pickles!

TIPS

2010-02-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to share. A good kitchen tip fits in that category! So here is a POTATO TIP:

Talking mode

2010-02-22T19:54:00.000-07:00

If you read 2 posts ago, you know that I have been dealing with changing my medications and it hasn't been fun!

Here is an update.

Short version: I have passed the headache of the withdrawl from med 1 and med 2 is beginning to kick in.

Longer version: Today was the first time I have left the house to go anywhere in 3 weeks! Panic attack for sure. But I did it and feel so much better. I got both shoulders, both elbows, both hips and my stomach all put in place. BIG LONG SIGH!!!!

One way to tell that I am getting better is that I begin to talk, alot. I mean A LOT. I will call someone with a real purpose, but just keep going on and on. It may be annoying to whoever has to listen, but it's a great sign of improvement. (sorry if you are on who has had to listen to me just talk about nothing)

Now we are on to the panic at leaving the house. That usually continues for a while, but should work itself out in the next 2-4 weeks. I have also been able to eat WITH the family, instead of having to eat alone. That is such an improvement over a month ago! My hair, which gets really yucky during these times, is beginning to perk up a little--that will take over 2 months to recover-- at least.

Blessings

2010-02-22T19:37:00.001-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks I have noticed that Dear Daughter only had 3 pair of jeans that fit her. So I looked at the sizes so I would know what to get when I finally had Time/Money together. All her jeans were size 5. Okay, I needed to look at size 6. Got it! Did I tell you that she is 5' 9" and weighs about 105 pounds? Hard figure to fit.

Last night, our neighbor came over and gave DD a box of clothes that she thought may fit her. Great! As DD was looking at them, I thought they were looking kind of large and I hoped she wouldn't insist on wearing clothes that didn't really fit her. All of the pants and shirts were size 8.

Well, being a 16 year old, she decided to try them on. (great, now I can see what we needed to do to make them fit) So the fashion show began and I prepared for the disappointments that awaited her.

Much to my surprize, they all fit! I couldn't believe it! All of them! A few of the blouses need a little more FRONT that she has now, but she was happy with everything.

It was like being at a Jonas Brothers concert--her squeals were consistant and loud during the 45 minute fashion show!

Now she tells me that her jeans leave red marks because they are so tight. Why didn't she say something? I sure would have! I guess blessings come in lots of ways.

Every so often

2010-02-12T10:20:00.002-07:00

Many of you know that I am classified SMI because of being Bi-Polar, having panic attacks, and a few other little things thrown in to make life interesting.

Like a good girl, I take medications to help the chemicals in my brain to come to “normal” levels where I can function pretty well most of the time. With that in mind, every new year brings the possibility that the insurance’s drug formulary may change WITHOUT NOTICE. So for the last few weeks I have been getting use to a new medication to replace one that was taken off the formulary.

This process is NO FUN! Anyone who has ever been on these meds knows that it is a “trial & error” kind of thing to find the right meds and the right dosages. So while this process is taking place, you are basically a basket case! All the chemicals go out of whack pretty quick! You are trying to function in your everyday life and, all of a sudden, your brain is on the wrong track heading for an oncoming train!

It takes a lot of self-discipline to realize that the train is an illusion!

As many times as I have gone through this process, it never gets easier! I do understand the process better, but it is still tough. I understand that my perceptions will be distorted and my emotions will be all over the place. I understand that this is part of the process. I understand that there is no other way to do this (YET).

So, if someday you notice that I am not answering my phone, or not going someplace that I usually go, or not doing the hobbies I love; feel free to ask if my meds are changing! I'll only bite off your head ;O

You might also give TK a pat on the back! He lives with 2 of use that go through this. He is the most understanding and loving husband & father, even through the yucky times.

This picture is of me wearing bull horns, which fits me right now, don't you think? These were made for me by one of my sisters.

Poem by Dear Daughter

2010-02-05T12:32:00.001-07:00

U r the sun of my days
N the hope in my eyes
U r like the waves of an ocean
Washing up against the seashore
On a calm, clear day.

(Note from L: Please note that she is in the texting generation.)

Lots of Pictures -- No Dialog

2010-01-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to get the pictures off my camera. So this will be a large picture dump! I'll write about them later.

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

2010-01-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

Will someone please tell me where to find the cord for my camera to connect to my computer!!
I really need to download pictures.

Did you hide it from me?

Update on TK

2010-01-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

It’s time for an update on T and his diabetes. We won’t go into how he got in this situation because it doesn’t matter now. We are moving forward.

About a week before Christmas, T had a doctor’s appointment. We knew his blood sugar was up, but we weren’t sure how bad it was. Normal blood sugar levels are around 100-120. That day his was over 500!! The doctor looked at him & said “You can go in this insulin or you can go right to the hospital. What is your choice?” She has been working with him & calling if he hasn’t reported to her as soon as she wants him to. She’s great! She really cares about her patients. (I dream about the day I have insurance and can go se her!)

Back to T: He started testing his blood again & giving himself insulin. But that is never the end of the story. Each time you drop your blood sugar very much, you feel sick, to put it mildly! So we were watching him for blood sugar levels and insulin shock! Things went well and over about 2 weeks, the numbers came down to the 300-250 range. That is a really big change! But they got stuck right there and weren’t coming down anymore.

Up the insulin again! The numbers moved a little farther.

Change the insulin again! The numbers got really good!

The difficult part came as T learned how to time the insulin shots. There have been a few times that he has gone into insulin shock! Nothing gets a wife’s worry gland going like watching all the color leave her husband’s face as he lays there sweating and having a hard time talking & staying awake! This is actually a double edged sword—insulin shock is life threatening, but you got to eat a LOT of forbidden foods! One night his sugar got down to 41-- We were giving him glucose tablets, chocolate, candies, anything that was sweet! After about 90 minutes, it had come up to 120! Safe for the moment. (Big sigh)

That has happened a few more times, but it hasn’t been that drastic. After the first time, he learned what the symptoms were & how he would feel. Since that time, he has only gotten down to the 60’s before we main-lined the sugar! It’s amazing how much energy it takes from you when your blood sugar is so skewed! I remember having times of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how tiring it was.

The last day or so, T’s numbers have been really good. They are almost always under 200, which is great considering he started over 500. While all this was going on, he stopped driving. Wise choice, but inconvenient for both of us. He finally is feeling good enough to try driving again on short trips. Now we need to work on his stamina—those short trips take every bit of energy he has!

By the way: IT IS REALLY EXPENSIVE TO BE DIABETIC!!!!

Ummm

2010-01-09T12:58:00.001-07:00

It's time I posted something!
But I can't think of much to post right now.

Well there is one funny thing that happened; but I'll tell you in advance that it's one fo those kind where you "had to be there" to really understand it.

Dear Daughter has been in the teenage yucks for a while and it isn't showing signs of letting up. This particular night, we were leaving my family's Christmas Party. We gathered our things and went out to the van. Doors are opened, things put in wherever, and we started to get in our seats.

DD says, after sitting her skinny 5'9" body on the floor for the program,-- "I'm glad it's over! My butt knucle really hurts!" There is a moments pause as T & I take in what she said, then we start laughing and can't stop. DD thinks we are laughing AT her until one of us finally can say "Butt Knucle? Where is your but knucle?"

Then she tried to repeat the humor a few times.
What age are you when you finally learn that some jokes are only funny the first time?

Changing isn't easy

2009-12-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to change my blog template and it's not working! Hopefuly I will be successful in the near future. So if you are looking for the links I usually have up, check back &, if all goes well, they will be there soon!

I love my family!

2009-12-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

This has been a long year. It has seen some really fun & wonderful things. It has also seen some not so fun or wonderful things. In other words, it has been a very normal year, just like everyone else.

For me, the best parts of the year are those that include family. This year was a really great year for that! I got to have my whole famly together again. I got to celebrate my birthday with all of my children & grandchildren! I haven't been able to say that for well over 10 years!

We were able to take a family picture.

The first one since our oldest grandchild was a baby! So this was a really special year for that reason alone!!!

My son & his family

My daughter & her family.

They are all so wonderful. Even my son-in-law & daughter-in-law are the best ones in the world! When I am with them, I just want to sit & watch them as they go about their day. I miss them so much and feel like I am not as much a part of their lives as I would like to be.

All of them are doing well and making things happen in their lives. All the adults are working to improve their lives and education. All the children are doing well and growing so fast. The grandsons who attend school are doing very well. I think that as they grow, we may have a problem with them being so smart they get bored in school because they are so smart!

It's fun to sit and talk with the kids. They can tell the most interesting stories and can explain things in the most creative ways. It seem that I remember that their parents would do that same thing when they were young.

Sweet Grandchildren make this world wonderful

2009-12-21T10:14:00.001-07:00

This season it has been difficult to find the spirit. I found it through one of my grandson's. This was written by my sweet daughter-in-law and was posted on their private blog. I am sharing this experience.

_________________________________________________________

Yesterday we were driving into the Costco parking lot. Now, our Costco isn't like those we've been used to in the past. . . we can actually find a spot within the first few minutes of driving in, the lines inside don't take 20 minutes to get through, and it's only 5 minutes away from our house! Anyhow, we were nearly to the front of the parking lot when we saw this old (I mean really mature) woman (probably 80's) fall right over her young grandson. She landed on him then hit the pavement with her head. It was really, I mean, really sad to watch. It was the type of thing that just plays over and over in your head because it seems so terrible. People were there to help within seconds. We quickly found a spot and R(L's son) ran over to see if they were okay. The boys kept asking questions about what happened and when we got out, H (5 year old grandson) knelt down right by our van and said a prayer for the lady and the boy.

Tears came to my eyes as I watched my little boy display such compassion for complete strangers. This isn't the first time he has prayed for someone he didn't know. He has such a tender heart! I think we live in a pretty wonderful world. As long as we can witness strangers helping strangers and little boys praying for those strangers. . . I think we'll be ok.

I don't know what happened to the lady and the boy, but the man at Costco said they were going to go to the ER.

My Christmas is here with more WORK

2009-12-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

It was over 2 months ago that my computer died. Usually, that isn't too big of a problem. This time it was!

It was the motherboard that died. (If you know what that is -great. If you don't know let's just say that it is not as easy to fix as most things on the computer.) Since we couldn't do anything about it for a while, I started using T's work laptop. It would only be for a short time, right?

Well, I muddled along and all of a sudden, it had been 2 months! T had gone through ear surgery again and was mostly recovered. Now he needed his laptop back. After all, that's what he neds to make money. Using it when I wasn't was getting to be a problem. So yesterday, we broke down and went to AIRMATE in Mesa. This is the perfect place for us!

We took my dead computer and RICHARD (the owner) was able to give us only what we needed! I kept the same MEMORY, DVD PLAYER and HARD DRIVE! I didn't have to buy a NEW system and pay a ton of money. I got what I needed and it cost much less. RICHARD even put in the MEMORY & DVD PLAYER for me. SO COOL!

Today, I have been going over my old FAVORITES and checking out what I have missed. I didn't realized how much I missed my own system until I started re-visiting the best places and blogs I had forgoten about.

Today I have also realized how much work I have in front of me. I need to re-install all the programs I need to be able to really work. You see my old HARD DRIVE has become the second HARD DRIVE in the system. RICHARD already had a 40G drive in this new one with WINDOWS on it ready to go. Now, in reality, that can take a lot of time. So having WINDOWS installed was great. I still have all my documents & pictures and other junk I save, but I have to put the programs back on to be able to use them.

If you don't understand what the last paragraph meant-don't worry-it just means you don't speak geek!

Anyway, back on my desk-- I still have to find all the program CD's and install them. But I already have my Christmas! (and T's too).

Police in Danger

2009-11-18T13:51:00.001-07:00

T was a cop in his life before me. So he has trained me that anything involving police should be investigated. When I was this, I was obedient and investigated. Then I laughed! Hard! T has a cat that I don't like, too.

If this won't play for you Google "cat climbs police dashcam" and you will find many copies of this.

It's time again

2009-11-16T12:16:00.003-07:00

Well, the time has come again. T will have surgery to finish the surgery he had a year & a half ago.

The next 3 days will be spent doing as many errands as I can, getting the right kind of bandages, getting everything for Thanksgiving dinner, etc. While he recovers, I won't be leaving the house for very long because of his dizziness. So as much as I can do now will really help later.

Also, I have to do all of the jobs T usually does. That's not really too bad, since the jobs will get done when I want them done.

The part I am NOT looking forward to is dealing with Dear Daughter! Lately she has not been speaking to me-which leaves Dad to deal with all the problems. During recovery Dad won't be able to deal with any problems. He will be dealing with sleeping, taking pills and eating as much as he can. Listening to a teenager yelling & complaining will not be on his TO-DO list.

So--I'm making a list--checking it twice-- (you finish the song)

2009-11-10T12:19:00.009-07:00

Well it’s finished!

Another year is in the books.

The ropes and spurs are resting; and so are the riders and the bulls.

The winner has been crowned and the buckle awarded.

So who won? Believe me it was a race that came down to the last day. So close all the way! It was the kind of finals that your dream about—a real race for the buckle! So many times it came down to who could just stay on the bull and get a score. The bulls actually won the Championship round. Out of 15 rides, only 3 riders made it to 8 seconds.

Unfortunately, there were a few injuries, but not as many as there have been in the past. Mostly it was nursing old injuries along to make it through the Finals. The worst was probably was when Ryan McConnel got stepped on in the chest. For most riders this would not have been so serious, but a week before the Finals, Ryan was in an auto accident where his truck rolled a few times and his lung was punctured. The doctors didn’t want him flying to the Finals because the pressurizing of the plane may cause him problems. So he drove from Oklahoma to Las Vegas. He rode really well until one of his get-offs took him right in the way of a rear hoof – a ton of pressure on a recently punctured lung. . . You get the picture. He didn’t ride again in the finals. But his is alive!!! To ride again!

Oh, you want to know who won. Sorry, I forgot that you weren’t watching with me.

The Finals Average winner was J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.). He also made history by being the first rider to cover all 8 of his bulls in the Finals. His winnings were $742,208 over the 2009 season.

The 2009 PBR World Champion was Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) His winnings for the season were $1,601,625.

Did I mention that the new season starts in 2 weeks in Atlanta?

A Little Ditty

2009-11-03T13:05:00.002-07:00

Having lived in Utah, I can really enjoy this little ditty! No one has town names like this! It's almost funny when you have to try finding one of these "unique" names on a map! It looks like someone forgot to check their spelling before they went to print. But the names are really that odd.

Enjoy

My Big Weekends

2009-10-27T11:48:00.005-07:00

Most of you are getting ready for Halloween. I can't stand the day, so I try to ignore it. Since my grandchildren live in other states--I can do that. But I am looking forward to this weekend and nest weekend. In a big way!

It's the PBR Finals!!!!

These riders are the top 3 riders in the world going into the 7 days of finals. But anything can happen and it usually does.

My poor family is kicked off the TV when the Finals are on and since it's once a year, they usually don't complain!

If you need to call me--don't do it when the finals are on TV. I will be busy crocheting and doing commentary from my recliner!

You can watch too. It's on VERSUS Network.

Swine Flu

2009-10-19T13:16:00.005-07:00

Well, most of you know I have been sick since Oct 1st. This is an update on my adventures with the Swine Flu.

I have actually been feeling better! I was so happy to feel good on Friday that I over did it. Just 3 small jobs around the house used every bit of energy I had! So I am taking things slower. More turtle-like.

Some have asked about this, so here is a short version.

Sept 30 is when I started to feel like I was getting sick. The next morning - it was full blown!!! Mostly it was in my head and throat. My ears felt like I had gone up in an airplane without being able to "pop" them. So uncomfortable and painful!

After 2 weeks, my head began to clear a little and it went into my lungs. Then the coughing began!!!! Me & my bladder HATE coughing!!!!!

Now the cough is still there, but not so bad.What did I do/take for it? I did everything I knew about -- all of my Mom's things, some over the counter things, Emergne-C, reflexology (thumbs and sinus on hands), any herbs I had that dealt with sinus, V-8 juice, SunBreeze, Vicks, and LOTS OF REST!!

No, I didn't go to a doctor--no insurance. But I did everything he would have told me to do, and saved the $70-$90 to buy what I needed.

Overall, I have had a reasonably easy bout of this piggy flu! And somehow, Hubby & Dear Daughter have not gotten it. That is the biggest blessing of all! I worked on not spreading it!

Have on hand:
Kleenex - I have used 4 boxes so far.
Over-the-counter medications you prefer.
Vitamin C
Emergen-C (or Airborne)
V-8 juice (ask if you want to know why this & not fruit juice)
Vicks & Sunbreeze
Humidifier
Cough Drops
Masks (to avoid spreading it)
Lysol (to avoid spreading it)
Purell type hand sanitizer (to avoid spreading it)

Death Warmed Over

2009-10-10T15:05:00.003-07:00

What is it about the common cold that can turn you into a whiney little baby? So this post will be mostly that whiney part. . .

On Thursday night, Oct 1, I began to feel like I was getting sick. Then on Friday, it hit full force! The headache, fever, stuffy nose then drippy nose, watery eyes, sneezing, achy, and a throat that hurts so much I don’t want to even breathe through it!!

I put all the medicines, thermometer, tissues, etc. in a crocheted bowl that I carry from my bed to my computer and back to bed. Dear Daughter didn't even realize I was sick until just a few days ago. Don't ask me how it went un-noticed. Maybe she was just relieved to have me not after her to do the things she is suppose to do.

Now it’s Oct 10! I am still sick. It did change a bit and went into my lungs, so I have been coughing up a storm-and then some.

Have I been to the Dr?, you ask. No, I don’t have insurance and there isn’t enough money for that. The Dr would tell me that I have the flu and should rest, drink plenty of fluids, take a pain reliever if I need one. So I have been following the non-doctor prescription. I will admit that this is the worst flu I’ve ever had!!!!

If T gets this, he will end up in the hospital! Diabetes makes him more susceptible to things and this one is a doosy!

Some have asked me if it is swine flu. Well . . . since I haven’t seen a doctor, and no tests have been run, it is impossible to say if it is that particular strain of flu. But I can say it’s nasty stuff! It's so bad that I haven't had a crochet hook in my hand for 10 days!!!

Are you searching??

2009-10-02T21:42:00.004-07:00

When Jesus Christ was on earth, He formed His church with living apostles. When He was not on earth, He had living prophets to guide it. These men were commissioned to testify of Christ, receive revelation for the people at the time they were living and to prophecy of things to come.

I believe that Christ’s church today would have the same thing; Prophets and Apostles commissioned to testify of Him, receive revelation for our time and to prophecy of things to come. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a living prophet and living apostles who are given those duties.

If you would like to hear a

Living Prophet of God

and Living Apostles of God,

you have that opportunity this weekend.

October 3-4, Saturday and Sunday 10am & 2pm MST

Watch on BYUTV, or listen at http://www.lds.org/broadcast/gc/0,5161,8870,00.html (you can chose what language you would like)

These are 4 different meetings that will be broadcast to the world. There are more than 13 million people worldwide that will try to find a way to listen to these meetings.

I strongly invite you to take the opportunity to see who is leading The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and what counsel is given to the people of the world.

A Prophet that has been called by God is not only a prophet for His church, but is in reality a Prophet to the world.

For more information about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints go to “About the Church” at http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5a7f3c7ff44f2010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD&locale=0

FeelGood on TV

2009-09-23T11:56:00.002-07:00

Here is a TV interview about the FeelGood Campaign. It only mentions knitting, but I think that crochet is the way to go!

It lasted a LONG time!

2009-09-22T11:12:00.005-07:00

If you remember back in June, I posted about making Laundry Soap. It lasted until last week! Than means that one large butter container (double recipe) lasted me 15 weeks or 105 days. For reference, I do 8-12 batches of wash a week.

15 weeks X 10 batches = 150 batches of wash

Since you only have to use ONE TABLESPOON per batch. it goes a long way.

You can find the first post here http://thoughtsnspots.blogspot.com/2009/06/homemade-laundry-detergent.html This has the recipe and pictures.

Saturday, I made more, but only a single batch. I love this soap! It has a subtle soft smell and works as well as the expensive stuff. It also is more eco-friendly. The COST is what I love the most! You can't find anything cheaper.

A New Project

2009-09-07T17:39:00.002-07:00

Have you ever heard of “Lands’ End”? Of course you have! To be honest, the closest I ever get is drooling over the catalogs.

Have you ever heard of “Warming Families”? http://www.freewebs.com/warmingfamilies/

How about “One Heart Foundation”? http://oneheart.org/

Well these organizations are working together in Lands’ End “FeelGood Campaign” extending from September 1, 2009 through December 2009.

Excerpt from http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/09-01-2009/0005086370&EDATE=
“This fall, Lands' End will kick off the FeelGood Campaign, a terrific way to shop - and feel good about giving to homeless individuals and families across the country. Beginning September 1st, for every Lands' End FeelGood sweater purchased, the company will donate signature FeelGood yarn to One Heart Foundation's Warming Families, a nationwide knitting charity. Lands' End expects to donate thousands of pounds of yarn to the charity where volunteers plan to knit up to 25,000 hats and other items to warm the homeless and displaced.”

After learning about this, I signed up to help. And since they didn’t have anyone in Arizona to help co-ordinate things here-I signed up for that, too!

So I am busily crocheting hats and T is continuing to work on his loom hats. Right now we have 2 of the large blue IKEA bags FULL of his hats!!!

Working with “Warming Families” as a Chapter-Area Volunteer (CAV) means I also get to find other volunteers to knit or crochet hats for this particular campaign and to help with the regular hats/blankets/lapghans/etc.

If you or anyone you know, would like to help with the “FeelGood Campaign” you can go to the websites below or contact me.

Warming Families http://www.freewebs.com/warmingfamilies/
One Heat Foundation http://oneheart.org/

2009-08-30T13:02:00.002-07:00

Today as Dear Daughter & I were talking about how the cat likes Dad the best, I said "You & me are second fiddles." Dear daughter said "I'm second flute!"

I started laughing and we had to explain what the joke was.

I finally got a roll!

2009-08-26T20:08:00.003-07:00

Since I got my 10th crochet hook, I have wanted to have a hook roll for them. I didn't want to spend the money to buy one. The one I crocheted was not a success-everything kept falling though it, which defeated the purpose.

One of my sisters made THREE for me.

I love them!!

This one is to carry in my purse.

These are what I took out of my purse, but I have found a few more since I took the picture. It will hold regular and long hooks.

This one is to store the LONG hooks.

This list the one I laughed at.

It has 26 pockets, 1 1/2 inches wide each. That makes it

R E A L L Y L O N G ! ! !

If you look you can see that it's folded over twice before it's rolled up.

Here it starts at the foot of our bed and goes almost to the pillows! No, it's not full--yet!

But I haven't found all the hooks I own yet.

And since I have room, I will probably find a few more to buy or inherit or whatever. So if you have hooks you can't store. . .

Newest Niece

2009-08-26T20:01:00.002-07:00

This is my newest little niece. She is so cute and a big hand full already. Last time I saw her she was crawling so it really surprised me when she walked across the room!
Of course, just like all sweet little hand fulls--she tired herself out. Uncle T got to hold her while she slept. That's always the most fun.

zzz-zzz-ZZZ-ZZZ-ZZZ!!!!!

Things for others

2009-08-14T12:36:00.004-07:00

For Miss M- she works very hard teaching the autism class in junior high! I certainly couldn't do it.

For Pam- because she asked.

Headstones

2009-08-14T12:30:00.005-07:00

I am full into doing family history & genealogy. So when I have the chance to get a picture or the full inscription of the headstone of an ancestor, I do it.

This one, I got this summer, for my father. So here your go Dad!

Plarn class in Carefree, AZ

2009-08-14T12:07:00.005-07:00

When you see my hair you will understand how much energy I use when I teach! I promise that before the class began, my hair was "done", not scraggly and wet looking.

Examples of things made with plarn.

I love it when my wonderful friend Robin comes to help.

This bag looked very "harvest" or "Halloween"

Having men in the classes is rare. This particular man caught on really fast and made his have a striped look. Very cool.

I asked them all to let me know what they do with the bag they started. I'm looking forward to seeing a few bags.

Need Your Suggestions

2009-08-09T13:41:00.003-07:00

As most of you know, I have suffered from depression (as a few other things) most of my life. Usually I deal pretty well with it. But sometimes – like now—it gets a little difficult for me. So I need some humor, ideas and communication with the outside world to help right now.

I have begun to stay at home (okay, since it’s 116 outside that may not be too odd). I have not gone to fun family things or boring ones either.

I have gotten into a rut of only doing the housework that literally has to be done. With my small place, that creates a problem after just one day. Imagine how it is after almost a month!

I have food to cook, but can’t seem to figure out what to make—or to find the energy to make it?

There is a towel sitting in the hall (only place for the dirty clothes) waiting to be washed that really stinks. Dear daughter went swimming over a month ago and left the wet towel in a plastic bag—I found it yesterday.

There are so many projects I am excited about doing, but can’t even muster the “umph” to get things out to start any of them.

Yes, I’m complaining. It keeps playing in my mind, and I hate listening to it too. So I have started listening to music or audio books or scriptures on my MP3. I have been taking the medications I should take. I have made myself go places.

I have tried all my own ideas. It’s time for fresh ideas.
I need your ideas. So share!!!!

Comments please

2009-07-31T11:59:00.003-07:00

I know that that lots of people stop by my blog. But I get lonely when no one makes any comments.

How do I know if anyone likes or dislikes what I post?
How do I know if any of the posts are helpful?
How do I know if my attempts at humor work or fall flat?

Please make comments....it gets lonely in here!!

Sharing

2009-07-28T14:03:00.003-07:00

There are a few websites that I check often. They have so much great information that it's hard to stop looking at them! Here are 3 sites that really can help you find a way to do more things than you have time for.

www.wikihow.com

www.cutoutandkeep.net

www.instructables.com

Okay, this is just hilarious to me!

2009-07-27T15:22:00.004-07:00

Hilarious !!!!!

I even sent it to all the relatives that use guns regularly, offering to make them one. So far no one has taken me up on the offer, but maybe one day. . .

This is right up there with the knitted car cover! It begs the question--WHY?

It also begs other questions---

Do the little bits of fiber get into the gun?

Do they make a difference in the mechanisms?

Can you really clean them all off?

Will the little fibers change the ballistics for the gun?

Lots of interesting questions.

I'm still here

2009-07-27T10:20:00.004-07:00

It's been a long time since I posted. Thought I'd at least let you know I'm still here.
Right now, I am up to my eyeballs in PLARN!!!!! I'm getting ready for a class and I have been getting a number of different examples for them to see. Last night I got so bored, I made some cat toys.

In fact the last 2 bags I was going to make out of plarn, I ended up making out of yarn! They look pretty funny with heavy groceries in them---they hang down to my knees!!! But they will hold EVERYTHING!!!!

See how long they are!!! I have 2 cereal boxes (almost empty) in the brown one.

There are 3 cheap towels in the tan one.

When I was cutting and connecting the plastic strips, the cat would not leave me alone. She loves the sound and feel of the plastic.

Finally I made her a toy so she would leave me alone!!

Its Over!

2009-07-16T15:08:00.010-07:00

Well, it's over! I can't believe it! There is such a let-down when a great project is completed. This project has given me that feeling twice. The first was when everything was turned in and ready for the installation. This is the second time-it is gone now! I can't drive to Tempe and see it any more. I can't send anyone to see the beauty that all those pieces of crochet created.

The count of visitors was over 18,000 people! I hope that all of them found something moving about the exhibit. Every time I was there, people would wonder about it and make such insightful comments. That part has been very rewarding.

So now, I wait and watch http://www.theiff.org/ for the next exhibitions and pictures from them.

If you are ever in the position to help the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project, PLEASE take advantage of it!!!! You will be well rewarded; both in your crafting and in your understanding of the earth and our role in the life of everything on it.

Microwave Fudge

2009-07-09T19:28:00.003-07:00

I know I put this recipe on before, but I have changed it a little since then.

Microwave Fudge

4 cups Powdered Sugar
1/4 to 1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cube of butter cut in pieces (not margarine)
1/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla
1/2 to 1 cup peanut butter
nuts (optional)
peppermint pieces (optional)

Mix only the first 4 ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. DO NOT STIR. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and mix until smooth. Using an electric mixer is the best way to do this without leaving lumps of sugar.

Add vanilla, peanut butter and nuts (if using them) and mix until well blended. The mixture should be thick and able to hold it's shape. If it is not pulling cleanly away from the sides of the bowl, add a little more powdered sugar and mix until it is thick enough.

Pour into a buttered dish. Put into the fridge to set and cool. Make sure to lick the beaters and the bowl; you won't want to waste any of this. Cut into pieces and enjoy.

Make this once or twice before you give it as a gift or anything, just to make sure you get the right consistancy. It will be a hardship, I know!

How to stop thinking about the economy:

2009-07-06T17:05:00.002-07:00

Many times I have talked about the health benefits of crocheting or knitting. I have quoted the Mayo Clinic study about this very thing. Since we all know that if it's on TV then it's true. . . Right? Well, here it is from TV:

Watch CBS Videos Online

Too hot to cook--But I want cookies

2009-06-29T15:19:00.005-07:00

Okay, I have a craving for cookies, which seems to happen too often. But I live in the HOT DESERT and its 3:00 pm. I don't want to turn on the HOT OVEN! That would just be helping the outdoor heat come inside!

Need another option.

Cookie dough! Without the eggs!

Cream together:
1/2 cup butter -- softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Add and mix together:
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Last addition:
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Lay out a piece of plastic wrap (about 15-18 inches). Put the dough on to one end of the plastic wrap, beginning about 4-5 inches from one end, and gently form a rectangle. You can make cuts so the dough will break apart or not, your choice.

Bring the long end of the plastic wrap up to cover the dough. Tuck the sides down to close and then fold them over the top. Now bring the 4-5 inch end over to completely cover the dough.

Put wrapped dough into the freezer for a while (as long as your sweet tooth will allow). After the dough has set (it will not completely freeze) open the end and break off your cookie serving.

# of serving this makes depends on the SIZE of the servings.

Mine should be about ready. Gotta go.

This is also great to add to homemade ice cream (after freezing is completed) to make your own "Cookie Dough Ice Cream".

DIY - Breakfast Cereal

2009-06-27T20:04:00.005-07:00

Slowly but surely, I am getting my family to try things we can make instead of buy- like with the laundry soap.

Today I made breakfast cereal. Grape nuts to be exact. I made this years ago, but TK & Dear Daughter haven't tasted it. Yeah, it was a LOOOOOOOONG time ago. This is from my most treasured recipe book "Recipes for Self-Suffecient Living". Sorry, it's out of print!

Grape Nuts Cereal

3 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. brown sugar (depends on your sweet tooth)
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
2 c. milk or buttermilk
2 t. vanilla

OPTIONAL
1 t. cinnamon (I add more)

Maple flavor

Mix thoroughly and pour into a greased jelly roll pan (cookie sheet with sides). Basically any thing that is stiff, like a muffin batter, will work. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Cool completely.

At this point, this looks and smells like cake. Once the cake is cooled completely, cut it into pieces and whirl it into crumbs in the food processor. Don’t process too long because you don’t want it to get gummy.

Spread this crumbly mixture into two jelly roll pans. Bake at 300° for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the grape nuts in the pan in the oven overnight.

After the drying process.

In the bowl ready for milk.

They both tasted it and approved it. Without any sugar added to the bowl.

Let me know if you try this and what your family thinks.

Next week I plan to make the instant hot oatmeal in Maple/Brown Sugar flavor.

True Love at any age

2009-06-26T11:29:00.002-07:00

Sometimes you see something that just makes you smile and warms your heart, no matter what kind of day you are having. This is one of those things. If I'm lucky, I'll be moving as quickly and happily as this couple.

They are in the lobby of a Mayo Clinic (which probably means that one of them is having some kind of test done). The husband will be 90 this year. They have been married for 62 years.

Make your own transfers

2009-06-25T14:49:00.003-07:00

Many of my family & friends like to do Scrapbooking & Card-Making. So here is a new and very simple idea for you.

How to MAKE YOUR OWN TRANSFERS!

http://mollylikestodraw.blogspot.com/2009/02/packing-tape-transfer.html

Uses clear packing tape and water! So easy!

Have fun and send me your first try!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2009-06-24T15:43:00.006-07:00

Let's start with the cost. Remember that I bought enough Soda & Borax to last for a long time. When you read the recipe you will understand. (just ignore the erasers I got on the same trip)

Powdered Laundry Detergent (Top load machine)

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup Washing Soda

½ Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients.

For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

Other recipes for detergents and things can be found at: http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

Not all stores carry WASHING SODA (not BAKING soda). This will be located with the laundry items, probably right next to the Borax. If your regular grocery doesn't have it, then make some phone calls to find out who does have it-save yourself a headache and the gas!

Most stores will carry the Fels-Naptha soap, or something like it, also in the laundry area. Smell the bar through the paper wrapping if you want to. To me it just smells of a basic "clean". If you don't like the smell, you won't like the smell of your clothes. You can also use ZOTE SOAP instead.

This is how the finished product looks. The yellowish is the Fels-Naptha. I still have to figure out how to get it more powdery than this. As you can see there are still some small chunks of yellow.

I put a ONE TABLESPOON measure into the old butter container I used so that everyone knows how much to use. I also wrote it in marker on the top!

Remember-This was a double batch.

Grating & getting the Fels-Naptha soap into a powdered form is the only work on this. The rest is just mixing. I used my food processor-grating the bar itself & then using the blade to get it as small as possible.

You will not need FABRIC SOFTENER with this. Today I washed a fleece blanket and when it came out of the dryer there was no static. I haven't used the softener sheets for a long time just to eliminate the cost. But if you decide you want to use it anyway, there are some recipes for fabric softener on the same page (http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html).

If you do this, please share with me the results.

B2 creation for me

2009-06-23T12:50:00.003-07:00

Since I was out of town for my birthday, my sister decided to wait and do something when I got back into town. This is what she made for me.

Bull Horns!

In order to understand why this was a good gift for me, you must know that I am a big fan of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and watch it just about every weekend it's on.

The reason that the horns are getting rather small on the ends is that I kept forgeting to take pictures of this. Today when I looked at them, I realized it's now or never! Sorry B2.

A Family Portrait

2009-06-19T16:45:00.002-07:00

We finally got everyone together after almost 6 years. I should have let the new mother hold the baby, but I didn't even think about it, I was just happy.

I love them all with everything in me.

Another T-ball game- Different Grandson

2009-06-18T14:11:00.003-07:00

This is my mean look!

This is my cute look!

Ready to KILL the ball.

I'll get it, no matter where it is!

Spectators

My birthday

2009-06-18T14:04:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday to ME (insert song here)

The party.
The party again.

Let's talk.

Yes, I love them!

Margaret Wertheim speaks

2009-06-15T19:46:00.002-07:00

I love to listen to Margaret Wertheim. She is interesting and makes things simple to understand. I have heard her speak 3 times now and I still enjoy it.

Here is a short speach she gave at TED. This is interesting because it helps to explain the HYPERBOLIC CROCHET CORAL REEF and the mathematicls behind it.

This is just over 16 minutes long. Let me know what you think about it.