SOCIAL MEDIA


Monday, January 30, 2012
from The Brave Girls Club

Happy Birthday to Me, my 60th!






Wow, I have reached this day! These photos are sort of a dream about a party to dream of...and if only I could wear these shoes. Nicole and Bryan visited us for the weekend..very enjoyable.  They gave me a very pretty scarf, and other things. I saw hubby smile.



I would love these boots!



I love this vintage card.

Black Forest Cake

Friday, January 27, 2012


This yummy recipe is from Judy at Mennonite Girls Can Cook. This food blog is fun to follow.  I am making this dessert today, to take to the family gathering on Saturday. I think that everyone will love it.


I like to make new things, it makes me a better cook. I had planned to make an old standby...however that changed when I saw this post!




  • 4 cups mini-marshmallows
  • 1 chocolate or devils food cake mix
  • 1 can cherry pie filling
  • Cool Whip or whipped cream


  1. Pour the mini-marshmallows into a 9" by 13" greased baking pan
  2. Make the cake mix according to the directions on the package. Pour over the marshmallows.
  3. Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly over the cake mix Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  4. Cool. 
  5. Frost if desired,
  6. When ready to serve, top with Whipped Cream or Cool Whip.

The Junk Monkey in Oakridge Oregon

Thursday, January 26, 2012




My friend Jonathan Short has a shop in town called Junk Monkey. He has all kinds of things there, antiques, chocolate, original oil paintings, reworked and vintage jewelry. All kinds of things to enjoy. Please stop by and see him when you come through Oakridge. Jonathan is very knowledgeable about jewelry...I ask him questions all the time. He is my information resource for remaking jewelry, and I am currently making myself University of Oregon jewelry...yellow and green. I have collected used jewelry to take apart for my project. My bracelet is going to be fashioned with the idea of this one...not as many beads...maybe 1/3 of this beauty. He sells on Ebay, and on his website, Junk Monkey. There is going to be an Antique Fair coming this summer, and I plan to be there too.

French Toast Love

Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I don't know about you, but I love really good French Toast!  Ree Drummond featured Berry Butter French Toast on Pioneer Woman last week.  I am definitely making it for guests and myself this weekend. Lovely breakfast with sausage or bacon, with orange juice. Yum!  I like to make a homemade peach topping for french toast.

Here is a link to her recipe. Ree Drummond on Food Network.

Ree talked about stocking her pantry. Her list is featured on her blog. Here is the link thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/ . You will need to open a list from her blog.




Making an Artsy Recipe Book

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

OK, another project...I am crazy, however the winter rainy season just gets to me. Keeping busy with small projects makes the time go by...and I feel happy being creative. This is a pretty simple project, chipboard or cardstock, with pretty paper glued onto it, and gluing my favorite recipes to the card. I think that themed books are how I am doing this. Soups and Stews, Casseroles, Bread, Dessert, my get the idea! 

Updates on this very rainy day


I thought that maybe it is time to update you about some of my projects that I have posted.

  • I have managed to relearn knitting.  I am making mistakes as I am practicing. I purchased some needles at the thrift store, and some yarn to practice with. I just keep knitting until I am doing it right. I found free knitting patterns at All Free Knitting.
  • Cooking for Hubby has ceased, he is on an extreme diet.
  • My fingernails are looking terrific with the OPI nail products. I recommend the products, they are working for me. I not doing much dish washing...and that makes a big improvement.
  • I found that Michaels art and craft store carries a line of craft paint that works well on leather and plastics. Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylics. 
  • I am practicing with my camera. 
  • I am finishing some sewing projects! Yeah...happy about that one.
  • I am working on the cleaning out stuff and tossing it or giving it away.
  • Planning for a family gathering on Jan 28th.
  • Planning for house guests coming for the weekend.
  • I got a new drivers license today, with a new photo. Oregon is making us prove our citizenship with Passports, and SSN verification.
  • I stopped by my friend Jonathan's shop Junk Monkey. He is so talented, and remakes old jewelry into beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces.  I wanted to learn how he puts the items together. I want to make myself an Oregon Ducks bracelet from odds and ends, into a unique, personalized, wow, I did that myself.

Making new Kitchen Towels with Moda Fabric

Sunday, January 22, 2012


These are the fabrics that I used today to make new kitchen towels.  Moda makes kitchen toweling that is 16" wide and hemmed along the sides.  I rarely go to Portland...where Fabric Depot is the top fabric store.  I get their coupons and sale flyer's via regular mail, and try to visit when the best sales are happening. They carry a good line of Moda Fabric, and is the only place to get the kitchen toweling. I get the fabric with a 50% off coupon, so the price is really good.  Look at the Fabric Depot blog for towel ideas.

Learning to Knit...Again.

It has been many, many years since I knitted. My mother taught me about 1975. I still have one pair of her needles. I hope that a refresher lesson or two with a friend will help me to remember those skills. I still remember how to play the guitar...so this should be the same..right. I think that I can do this while hubby is driving and I am the passenger, because we drive 1 hour to get to the large city to shop. I have some needles and yarn to start my first project, a long scarf. I just love scarves! I want to make fingerless gloves too, to go with the scarf.

I love these custom Painted Boots!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

These are terrific, I have an old pair that I have been planning to paint...and now I have so much motivation to go ahead. A blog that I follow, just posted about how she is now doing this. Check out her blog Hopscotch Dandelions. She has so much talent, and the idea to do this custom work is unique. I like wearing my boots during the winter. Wow, I love these!

Oregon Coast Lighthouses

Friday, January 20, 2012

This is the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. It is located just north of Newport OR.  I love to visit this area. Scenic, great beaches, and places to stay.  When my daughter was growing up, she and I spent every spring break in this area. Lodgings were located on beautiful sand beaches, long walks, gathering shells, agates, and flying kites. The Oregon Coast Museum is here, and I highly recommend visiting there. At one time, the Orca Whale from Free Willy lived there. There are interesting changing exhibits, and it is very nice to visit. 



The is the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, built 1871, and said to be haunted. This lighthouse is now a Museum and open to the public most days. The state park where is it located is right beside the Yaquina Bay Bridge. 




I have a friend who owns a home in Newport. I think that she will let me rent it for a few days.  My to do list includes a trip to the Oregon Coast sometime in the spring.  Some people enjoy the storm season, but I like nice weather...it is so much nicer for beach walking. It is fun to see the Gray Whale migration along the coast in the spring. I have not been there in three years...and I am looking forward to a trip! April sounds good.

Friends, Sisters, Farmgirls, Brave Girls, Sigma Kappas

Thursday, January 19, 2012


It doesn't matter if you are good friends or sisters, the company of like minded women is important.  Brave Girls Club has taught me much about having gratitude for the good people in my life.  There are times when family are needed, or girl friends, or pets, or spouse, or myself.  I appreciate all of them. Very much indeed!  Keep the dearest ones close.

A DIY Project - a cell phone charging holder

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I have been thinking about sewing something to use when charging my cell phone.  I was looking on the Internet for ideas. There are some ideas out there. I came across this idea. I think that it is the best one. Inexpensive, easy to make, and easy to personalize. Here is the link to the tutorial www.makeit-loveit.com.  I am looking for a bottle to use. Unfortunately my housecleaning has tossed of many of these types of items needed to make this. These would make cute little gifts.

The Pioneer Woman's Dr Pepper Pork

Monday, January 16, 2012

I love this recipe, it is so good. This photo and recipe are from The Pioneer Woman blog, go to this link to see her complete post about this recipe.


My plan to cook for my hubby has been sidelined. His Dr told him to lose weight and exercise. He needs to drop these lbs to stop his path to diabetes. I understand this, to stop this terrible disease before it happens to you.


Thus, he is eating omelet's, meat, and lettuce salad. The Atkins Diet. It works for him. There are some difficult side affects, it affects the brain with the lack of carbohydrates.

Artful Blogging

Sunday, January 15, 2012



This snowy Sunday found me reading my Nook (e-reader) until the battery needed charging.  I picked up my new copy of Artful Blogging and read it cover to cover.  The magazine is expensive by my standards ($15.99), so I purchased it with a Joanne's 50% off coupon.  I am amazed by the beautiful blogs that are featured. These blogs feature photos that look professional. Many of these ladies have been published several times...so I need not be surprised. I am inspired to improve my own blog.


I sometimes need new ideas to blog about...so I think that I will use my point and shoot digital camera more.  I will walk around the farm and see if I can get some photos of the fresh snow. Tomorrow. 

Butternut Squash and Apples in the Camp Dutch Oven

Saturday, January 14, 2012
Ready to Bake

Ready to Eat
The Dutch Oven club that we belong to, had a cookout today.  The weather was cold but not raining or snowing.  I looked for a recipe to make with some of the Butternut Squash that I grew last summer. I found this one that won a Scouting Grand Prize in 1990. I thought that it must be really good...a winner! It can be made at home in your oven too. Simple to make, and delicious. The good thing about this recipe is can it can be adjusted to feed a few or or a crowd.  Here is the recipe for 4 people as a side dish.


1 medium Butternut Squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices.
4 apples, cored and cut into slices. Put into oven safe casserole, or dutch oven with lids.


Then add these things mixed together, over the top.
1/2 stick melted butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 T flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg (I like cinnamon better, so I used it.)


Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes, covered.



Where is the Winter? Answer- coming to us on Sunday.

Friday, January 13, 2012

OK, right now it is sunny and unusually warm. I dried sheets outside today. However, if the forecast is correct, this will be gone Saturday night... and we will be into a normal winter weather pattern. It will be snowing and cold on Sunday.  All good things must come to an end. Time to get out my winter clothing and put the flannel sheets on the bed...and maybe a warmer blanket as well. This photo was taken last winter. It is my Hubby and his tractor, plowing the driveway. BTW, this Branson tractor is wonderful! We love it! It is compact in size, but big in horsepower.  It handles the hay mower and baler just great.  We purchased it used, a widow did not want it, or to make payments on it. The dealer repo'd it, and then we traded in our old Massey. The Branson is 2 years old with low use on it. Great for our small farm.

Pioneer Woman Cooks - Season 2 on Food Network

Thursday, January 12, 2012
Ree Drummond's Season 2 of The Pioneer Woman Cooks starts on Saturday, January 14, 2012. The show is on Food Network. 10 am Pacific. The Pioneer Woman is her blog.


I am excited for her new season.  I guess that I just don't have many TV shows that I follow.


Jamie Oliver has a new show, What America Eats, where he traveling around the USA. He is learning about all the different foods and places across the USA. I just saw a new show yesterday, He was in Cody Wyoming. They were cowboy cooking. Outdoor Dutch Ovens, and over the coals. I am really "in" to that type of cooking...so I enjoyed that show very much. Jamie Oliver is his website.

Be Fair, Compassionate, and Kind to Yourself !

Wednesday, January 11, 2012


See the Brave Girls Club for these messages.

Happiness!!

Monday, January 9, 2012

I just want to share with you one of my longtime favorite quotes.


"Happiness is a journey, not a destination; happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it's too late. The time for happiness is today not tomorrow." Paul H. Dunn


I have someone close to me that is living in the past, and I need to discuss this with her.  At the end of the road, and it is too late for happiness...will she say that it was worth tracking this man, stalking him, haunting herself. This relationship happened 30 years ago...it is long past time to let it go...he does not care and certainly this obsession is damaging to her heart and soul.  Forgive yourself..it is important...move forward in your journey in happiness.

I am grateful for a nice hot shower.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

I would love to have an outdoor shower to use in the hot weather..and I think that this one is cute, functional, and private.


My indoor shower is fine, the feeling of warm water falling on me is a pleasure I would not want to give up. Baths in a tub are not my thing. I do like an outdoor hot tub! Sitting in one and watching the stars is lovely.



Parent Trap

Saturday, January 7, 2012
 Haley Mills


Lindsey Lohan

I watched both of these films today. I like both of them... it would be difficult to choose my favorite.  However, that said...I do tend to go with newer movie. Lindsey was excellent in that role. Not much like that today...too bad.

Piles of Magazines

Friday, January 6, 2012
Nice and Organized


Going away pile.



I am taking on the mountain of magazines I have been keeping.  That is a bit of exaggeration.  I have about 300+ pounds of surplus magazines. Some are really nice collections that I do not want to keep. I think that I somehow believe that the prices that I paid for these gems, somehow means that I need to justify by keeping them.  Well, now they are leaving my life and space. My decision is made. My addiction is still strong enough that there are some I am keeping, about 20 pounds worth.   

I am keeping with my plan of 1 hour of housekeeping, and 1 hour of getting rid of surplus stuff.

Work, Work, Work!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Yep, that is me, today. I took down the Christmas tree, and all the decorations. I took the time to organize the decorations into 3 tubs to store for next year, yay....I will have everything ready to go.  My blogging friend Candy, whose blog is Lazy J Bar C Farm, wrote a post about scheduling... her plan to tackle housecleaning. Candy's post inspired me to think about my home. My plan is 1 hour of housecleaning daily, and 1 hour of going through my stuff to pare it down. I think that I boxed up stuff in 2008, and haven't needed or looked at it since then. Well, to me that says...what? Get rid of it!  I think that I may Craigslist some of it. Magazines, Mother Earth News, Grit, Hobby Farms, Countryside, Country Living, Organic Gardening, and more various titles.
Wish me luck!

Embrace Yourself

Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Hello 2012. I am wondering about the year, and where I choose to take myself.  I have ideas and goals to focus my attention.

  • To be authentic and true to myself.
  • To believe that I will make my dreams come true.
  • To live my best life.
  • To spend my time on earth, on things that are important to me.
  • To be kind, and forgiving.
  • To always learn, whenever and however I can.
Well...I guess that list says a lot of things.  I will turn 60 yrs this month and have time left...and I want to use it in ways that are good for me. I am giving up activities that are not the very best for me.

Oregon Ducks Win the 2012 Rose Bowl!





Yesterday was the Rose Bowl, in Pasadena California.  It has been 95 years since the University of Oregon Ducks won the Rose Bowl. The game yesterday was the Ducks vs Minnesota Badgers. A very exciting and entertaining game! Both teams were great, and it was so close.  The Ducks have gone to so many Bowl games and lost....big disappointments. Now, all the fans have a win! The University of Oregon is still on winter break, and the city folks are proudly wearing their Duck gear...me too. Happy FANS!!


Go Ducks!