She Was Old Fashioned

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

It's very apparent to me that I am no longer interested in blogging at least on a personal level. So I have decided to give up this blog. I can no longer come up with things to say about my life because the things in my life sometimes drive me insane. Thankfully I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and he is a great help to me. I feel it is better to not say things sometimes then to whine about the things that you cannot change. God is really the only one that can show us how to deal with problems effectively, but first we must let him and secondly of course sometimes we have to ourselves make drastic changes in the process so God can show us how to be comfortable and happy in a situation that you cannot change perhaps forever. Yes it's one of those kind of problems.

I have been concentration a lot on my craft. Many crafts which help the stress for me. These past weeks I have been fascinated with making angles, angel earrings, angel suncatchers and pendants.
Here in this photo I have taken Swarovski Crystal Beads and created some lovely angel pendants and suncatchers.

I have been working on my craft blog and will be there blogging, so if you're interested to read what I have been up to as far as crafting goes then I hope to see you there.

Here is a photo to show the difference in size between pendant and mini suncatcher.

I really love this idea because it makes it personal when someone can have a little angel for their birth month as a little crystal suncatcher or a pendant.

I just made these so I have not posted them to my website yet, but will get it done this week.

I do hope all my blogging friends have a wonderful new year and may God Bless you and give you a blessed happy new year!

Here is the address to my craft blog

http://www.shinymoonbeams.com

Merry Christmas -The Greatest Gift of All -

2011-12-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Greatest Gift of All

In the greatest of all passages there is described the greatest of all gifts. If it is a gift from God, we know apriori that it is a great gift. Jesus once asked if any father would give his son a stone when he asked for bread, or a snake for a fish. If, He said, you give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give good gifts to His? (Matt. 7:9-11). God, then, is a Father and He will only give good gifts to men. (cf. James 1:17).

The best of all possible gifts God has given -- Jesus Christ. And John knew, as no one else, what a remarkable gift it was! What was the gift like? A gift of the Word made flesh and dwelling among men. What was Jesus like? (Have we not all asked that question?) "Full of grace and truth." What did men see when they saw Jesus? Glory, glory like an only child has from his father. What did Jesus bring when He came? "Grace and truth." What did Jesus come to do? To make known to the world what God is like, the God no man has as yet seen. (John 1:14-18). To this John adds that they had been privileged to drink of Jesus' fullness, fullness so extraordinary that it could only be described as a fullness consisting of blessing upon blessing. (1:16).

Hope your Christmas is Blessed

Hugs Kat

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:19:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!

Today I am cooking for a party of 12, my family and 2 good friends that are like family to us and so they come to every family gather we have just about. We are so thankful for them and our precious family. We are thankful that even though we are afflicted with many ailments they are not serious and all my family is doing well, cancers have been cured in two family members over the years, God is good. We are so thankful our ancestors came to this wonderful land we call America so long ago, from Scotland, England, Ireland mainly. I have read about my family ancestors in the civil war and other wars, their struggles for us to get where we are, may we take care to preserve our heritage, that God has blessed us with. We will eat the traditional Thanksgiving day feast that I will prepare for my family today. It's a lot of work but I enjoy doing it.

Remember when I posted this recipe? Thanksgiving Blessing Mix, well I am posting it again or the link rather because now I have a photo to go with the recipe.
You Can print the recipe from this link.
http://www.shinymoonbeams.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-blessings-mix.html

I made the cute eat pie stick and some place cards for Thanksgiving, I am doing a lot of paper crafts, you can check out my craft blog for all that I have been doing craft wise.

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS MIX

2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks

2 cups small pretzels

1 cup candy corn

1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins

1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds

1 cup M&Ms chocolate candy

16 Hershey's chocolate kisses

In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients except Hershey's Kisses. Place 1/3 to 1/2 cup Blessing Mix in small cellophane treat bags. Add one Hershey's Kiss to each bag. Close bag with chenille stem or twist-tie.

I made a card stock attachment that reads:

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS MIX

Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our abundance.

Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer.

Candy Corn: Hardships of the Pilgrim's first winter. Food was so scarce that the settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn per day.

Nut or Seeds: Promise of a future harvest, one will reap only if seeds are planted and tended to with diligence.

Dried Fruits/Raisin : Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.

M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.

Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

Isn't this a wonderful recipe? Are you counting your blessings?

Psalm 145:7

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

These cute graphics were made by Countryside Haven, she is no longer online, they are so sweet. I got them many years ago.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cookies Anyone?

2011-11-21T21:07:00.000-08:00

How is everyone good I hope? Are you ready for Thanksgiving? for your tummies to expand with delicious food...... with family and friends. I know I am.

As a thank you to my neigbor for allowing us to use his water this week so we didn't have to stay in a hotel, I baked him these cookies today.

Neiman Marcus $250.00 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Now I don't know for sure where this recipe came from, but I have had it since the late 90's when I had a website on geocites.

I posted the link to the recipe below and started putting all the recipes in PDF files for easy printing.

You have to try this cookie recipe, it really is the best. It's great for a church crowds because it makes a lot about 112 small cookies.

http://www.krystalkats.com/Recipes/NM.pdf

Wet

2011-11-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

It's so chilly out and I cannot believe it's going to be Thanksgiving next week.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving I am not a good blogger so just in case I don't get back here, I want you all to have a blessed Thanksgiving day.

I was almost feeling normal again when I woke up to a huge problem yesterday. Last week the city of Lincoln was working on my neighbors main water pipes, the cities side for that particular house, what they say is their responsibility. Well they left and now my house main pipes broke at the main box causing water to run like a hose into the gutter and into the drain in the street just as if I left the water on full blast, can we say ka-ching to a huge water bill.
Lincoln water came to my house yesterday morning after I called them, but before I had a chance to shower and get some water into pitchers. I had to answer the door to the water man looking like one tousled woman in my mismatched PJ's and fluffy bathrobe. This was so embarrassing to me. Gees!
I told him to leave the water on for a bit because I had to shower and save some water, he got so angry with me. I was wow dude it's my water running down the drain and I am paying for it thanks to you, now I am going to take a shower and put some water into pitchers.
He left never to return, I almost regretted that decision but at the same time I wouldn't even have water to wash my face, hands or brush my teeth. Eww!
Well Steve was in the Bay area all day for a meeting and he could not get back home or even answer his phone, thankfully he was not anywhere near these outburst of riots to add to my worry.
In the meantime I had taken my shower and began calling LIncoln water right away and I could never get them to come back out, they said it's not their problem the line is on my property not theres.
So I went to look in the main water line box and it was full of water gushing over and I could not turn off the water it would run all day unless I called a plumber.
Well no plumber until 4pm and the water spilled into the gutter all day.
The plumber charged me $150.00 and said it would be $1700.00 to fix. I said I can't have him fix it until my husband comes home so they just shot it off and I paid them and they told me what they thought it was saying it was the cities fault.
Steve called his friend Fred and his son who are construction workers and plumbers and they came out in the dark and tried to fix it, but it could not be fixed last night it was to dark. Fred, Steve and my neighbor fixed it up so my neighbor is funneling his water into our home through a hose until tomorrow when they can see properly. At least Fred will not charge us that much as the other plumbers because he is our friend and Steve works on his cars, corvettes and vintage trucks.
It's just fishy to me that after 7 days of the city out here working on my neighbors main water lines that ours is now broke. Fred says it's due to pressure and I am unable to get the city to answer to me why they came onto my property and got into my main box last week. That is not even something they are allowed to do is run a hose from your house, let alone ask me such a question, it's their problem to fix. The already charge us outrages cost for water, the bill was $80.00 for the month of September.

Day 2 no water, still the city cannot tell me why they were into my main box last week. They say it's a coincidence that now my line is broken, really! I don't think so. I guess I will have to let a judge decide if it's a coincidence or not.

Who among me would think that if the city worked on your neighbors main for seven days, would say it's a coincidence that your main is now broke?

I actually have no photos today to share imagine that, well I do actually but I had to rant here, I don't know how I am going to handle this, meaning legally or just except the cost, I think it's the principe of the thing though how they lie about being in my main water line box after I said they could not funnel a hose from my house to wherever or whatever they were going to do. It's all
very suspicious and strange.

~Update~ Steve did a barter with his friend Fred who owns the condo in Monterey so we were able to get it fixed with the barter deal they made.

The city said it was a coincidence and that was that. So we had to fix it, I hate to see what my water bill will be next month. GRRRRRR! That part really makes me mad!

Count it all to Joy and Thanksgiving Blessing Mix

2011-11-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have been away for about a month except for yesterday's post about Elizabeth.

I have been so stressed out these past months and when I am stressed I am also depressed and the last thing I want to do is write in my blog.

I feel a little better today, I hope that will continue for awhile. Everything is fine between my husband and I just thought I would get that out, it's not the thing that depresses me, he is a huge support for me and I don't know what I would ever do without him. I hate to even think of it, it scares me so much.

Every since I met him he has been the kindest man I have ever known.

So even though I have been so stressed out you have to count it all to joy when you look into Baby Rylans little sweet face and my granddaughter Morgan's eyes. They really are the sunshine in my life. I always remember singing to my kids and Morgan you are my Sunshine. I have not yet sang that to Rylan.

Here is a photo I took of him yesterday while he was visiting me with his mommy. Kirsten goes back to work in about 10 days, it's going to be so hard for her. She cries every day to leave her sweet baby. I used to tell her that would be hard on her but she did not believe me until she had Rylan.

Here is a Thanksgiving Blessing Mix my friend Lori sent to me in a email in 2007 that I found in my old emails this morning. I have some emails saved to an external harddrive.

I hope you enjoy it and you can copy it and pass it along, it's pretty cool and so fitting for this time of year.

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS MIX

2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks

2 cups small pretzels

1 cup candy corn

1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins

1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds

1 cup M&Ms chocolate candy

16 Hershey's chocolate kisses

I made a card stock attachment that reads:

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS MIX

Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our abundance.

Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer.

Candy Corn: Hardships of the Pilgrim's first winter. Food was so scarce that the settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn per day.

Nut or Seeds: Promise of a future harvest, one will reap only if seeds are planted and tended to with diligence.

Dried Fruits/Raisin : Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.

M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.

Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

Isn't this a wonderful recipe? Are you counting your blessings?

Good Bye Elizabeth

2011-11-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I learned some shocking news about an online friend Elizabeth. I have known her since about 1996 or 1997. We met while sharing website we made through Geo Cities a close knit country graphics lovers group of gals. She always had a beautiful website, all the cutest ever country graphics. Her website was adorned with her love for tea and her dog at the time Tequila.
A very private person always since I have known her, you knew very little about her. I did read back in many of her last post and notice that she did talk about how she was feeling a lot. It was very subtle.
She was only a year older then I, I'm sorry to say it was her birthday recently and by the looks of her facebook page it seems she might have been ill that day. From what I understand she passed away on October 22nd. Her birthday was October 3rd and I don't see any posts from her on that date or beyond. My imagination can only wonder what must have happened, what she must have gone through. It saddens my heart to hear this about her. There is speculation that she died from Hepatitis but this is a mystery to me as to why she would die from that. I hope we can find out more about why she passed away soon.
The last I have heard from her was October 1, this was her favorite time of year.
She was a huge Beardie Collie lover and she had lost her beloved Tequila a few years ago and then later after much nudging she eventually got Buddy. Her husband worked away from home a lot so I know Buddy her dog was a huge comfort to her.
She had moved from New York to Mississippi and seemed to love it very much, she loved to take photos like me and loved her Mac Computer as much as I love mine.

She had a thing for purses the name brand kind, loved to read and watch movies and drink tea and visit with her friends and take walks.

I took her last two photos from her blog to post here to remember her by. This last photo she had on her blog is of a tea candle in the leaf trivet, it's so fitting of her to leave a bit of light behind when she went away.

Here is her wonderful and constant companion Buddy.

She said he could not be a show dog because his eyes were one brown and one blue, but that is very unique and kind of cool to me, how silly for that not to be a show dog!
It's all I can imagine is Buddy looking everywhere for his beloved Elizabeth.

Good Bye Elizabeth I will miss you so much!

Happy October 1st

2011-10-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

The weather has turned to fall just in time for the first day of October, I cannot believe that fall is here, it seems like a long year to me, but at the same time, time seems to be flying by.

This week I was very busy, Shock!, Steve had the five days off like I said in my last post, I spent a day with Kirsten and Rylan and we made flowers, we are working on a project. We are using McGill's Paper Punches to make the flowers.

Here is the flower we made. Kirsten made the flower I painted the edges and cut the shapes using the punches. Didn't it turn out so pretty? this is a sunflower.

Here is a photo I took of Rylan and Kirsten while they were here.

Rylan is 6 weeks old already, he sleeps to much during the day and then cries all evening long driving Kirsten to tears. I told to try and stimulate him during the day to keep him awake a bit.

He is so cute but still so tiny. Newborn clothes are still a bit big on him.

On Thursday my mom came up and we made two chocolate pecan pies for Shane's birthday. Friday I had the family over that's 9 of us now not including Glenn, Kirsten's husband who is on the road or Rylan who is to young to sit at the table. I have a growing family!

I have a recipe that I make a lot for myself that I made up and thought I would share it with you. I have pretty much given up beef and am eating only fish, chicken and turkey, that is not to say that I never have a steak or some other type of meat, but generally I don't eat it. It's not because I don't like eating beef, I do, I just think fish, chicken and turkey are healthy choices we also eat a lot more beans such as black beans and refried beans and a lot more fruit these days. We had gotten out of eating healthy and we are back on track though I did eat some pie for Shane's birthday.

Here is the recipe California Salmon Patties, it's located for download in a PDF file for easy printing on my crystal suncatcher website.

Have a happy first day of October!

Into Nature

2011-09-21T00:51:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful time of year.....so many great things to photograph. When I take photos of all the wonderful things God put on this earth for us to enjoy I get so excited!

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." (Genesis 1:1, 31)

Hope everyone is having a great day! I am going to see my new grandson this Friday and my daughter. Last week I went to the movies with Morgan and we seen The Smurf's it was a cute movie and I had fun seeing her and being with her.

Steve had a mini vacation this week, five days off, so we went to dinner with friends in Old Sacramento to my favorite Restaurant called Joe's Grab Shack and then another day we went to a movie (Contagion) it was good, one day we were lazy and another we went shopping and bought an iPad (which I really really like), then another Steve went to visit a friend and I stayed home and took photos and made a fall wreath which I have not photographed yet. Imagine that! It's pretty cute and made of paper.

I really like what blogger has done to the photos, you can see them all in a slideshow, blogger is so wonderful now and easy I am so glad I am using it! It's so much faster and easier to manage then wordpress, which you yourself have to constantly update, which is a HUGE pain for the busy person who just wants to write and blog.

Click on the photos to see them in a slideshow. I l o o o v e...this feature! what do you think? I love all the new things that blogger has done it's great!

Have a great week!

Monarch Butterfly from my Garden

Hummingbird from my garden

Roses from my garden

Garden Spider Very Big

Recap Blogger Posts

2011-09-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

I posted several times to blogger last week all at once. I have several titles I had written and posted them all in one day when I had time, but no one had a chance to read them before I added my last post. So here they are if you care to read any of them that may interest you.

I will go back to 8-15 and start there, that's two days before baby Rylan arrived and I was super busy helping my daughter with the baby after his arrival and before.

Three Recipes for Ezekiel Bread (Ezekiel 4:9) August 15

Baby Rylan Arrives August 31

Banana, Pumpkin, Blueberry Quick Bread Recipe PDF Printable August 9

Labor Day Weekend Fishing Trip to Sugar PIne Placer County CA August 9

The Sea (Redecorating) August 9

My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software August 9

Our Little Owl August 10

Our Little Owl

2011-09-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

For Kirsten's baby theme I made owls for Rylan, his quilt for one and now that he is born I crocheted a cute owl hat for him.

I did it just so we could take photos of him, but he can fit better into by winter, but for now it was fun to snap some shots of him, but he is was a wiggly worm on Tuesday and we couldn't get him to keep his eyes in the right spot. He is just learning how to focus.

Rylan is Wearing a Cute Crocheted Baby Cap.

It's very hot and does not feel anything like September. After a nice summer we are finally get a heat wave. I am so not liking this.

My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software

2011-09-09T12:19:00.000-07:00

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$10 off promo code

STMMMS70842

http://www.mymemories.com/

The Sea

2011-09-09T01:24:00.000-07:00

When Steve and I were in Monterey and Carmel in July we seen a really pretty ship clock by Rhythm. We were not able to find the clock while we were there so when I got home I went to our local jewelry shop that is a family run business. The people are so friendly there. I knew they sold Rhythm clocks so I asked to see their catalog to look for the ship clock by Rhythm. I found it quickly and it was a decent price so I ordered it and it took about three or four weeks to arrive. I was so excited to pick it up finally a few weeks ago and while I was picking it up they had two darling starfish tall candle holders, I thought perfect! so I bought two matching starfish candle holders.

I knew I had no place to put it that would fit with any themes in our house except our guest bedroom which is beach theme. I didn't want to put it in there since no one would ever see it, unless they were in the guest room.
Steve is always talking about wanting to buy some paintings to hang over our mantel in the great room so I talked to him about what he would think if we put the clock on the mantel? he liked the idea but we would need some paintings. He said he wanted a ship in the waves. Though I liked the idea of the sea, the ship and waves seemed a bit boring and perhaps a bit mysterious, and wanted something more soothing and quaint.

Two weeks ago on Saturday night about a week after Kirsten had Rylan, her husband had made it home for the week and we invited the family and mom out to dinner to have mexican food at El Chorito's. The family is my son and his wife and my granddaughter and then Kirsten and her husband and her two step kids, and baby Rylan along with my mom. We had a wonderful family dinner in celebration of our new family member. But while on the way there Steve and I took a detour to look at art and we found some we liked that was affordable. After I had purchased the clock we were out looking for some art and it was so expensive for everything we liked. In any event we happened upon some and brought it home and Steve hung it above our mantel and it looks great! We're very happy with our new look and I am very happy we didn't have to repaint our one cranberry wall!

The new paintings is of a little town in Italy by the sea il mare, il Maditerraneo. To the west of Italy is the Ligurian Sea (Mar Ligure), and to the Tyrrhenian sea (Tirreno).
Traditionally Italy villages are constructed by protective locations, often in the hills above the sea and that is what these paintings remind me of. I think it looks a bit like Taormina, Sicily, but I am not sure about the Palm Tree in the painting, I just never really thought Italy had Palm Trees.

The little mirrors inbetween the paintings were taken from the guest room and brought into the great room to seperate the paintings, they have little starfish, clamshells and nautical's around the mirrors.

I also finally removed the blue and white birds from the mantel to keep it simple and clean.

The white candles were removed and replaced with buttercup gold candles.

Labor Day Weekend Fishing Trip to Sugar PIne Placer County CA

2011-09-09T00:02:00.000-07:00

We had a great fishing trip this past Labor Day weekend to Sugar Pine for a little fishing trip. I was surprised the Lake was so gorgeous tucked away in a serene and not crowded atmosphere located in Placer County CA, not far from our home near Foresthill, it was not over crowded at all for Labor Day weekend.

My husband had been there fishing before with our neighbor, but I had never to the lake. The lake is a watershed to the American River and boating is only allowed at low speed. The lake is surrounded by Sugar Pines and apparently there is a path all around the lake that was hiked throughout the day as we were there by several hikers, the lake is easy for hiking. Though we did not hike around the lake we fished from the bank, we were not able to catch any fish other then a tiny trout that we threw back into the lake. I was thinking because it was Labor Day weekend and many were swimming near us that we were not seem to catch any fish.

All and all it was worth the short drive from our home because there was no traffic to fight to get there going through sleepy Foresthill. The Foreshill bridge looked to be having updating but we escaped the inconvenience because of the holiday. The lake has a camping ground area and they were full. We will definitely be back for another fishing trip really soon and hopefully catch some trout or bass.

Here are some photos I took of the lake, it's just gorgeous. We brought our little pups Edee and Effie on our fishing trip and I brought little beach chairs for them to sit on because they are pampered pets. The jumped right up in them like they deserved them and knew the chairs were for them.

Happy Fishing!

Banana, Pumpkin, Blueberry Quick Bread Recipe

2011-09-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a really yummy quick recipe I made up using Bisquick, Banana's, Pumpkin, Blueberries, Walnuts and Flaxseeds. It's a super food recipe. The bread was a big hit with the hubby.
Print my recipe here from my PDF file Banana, Pumpkin, Blueberry Quick Bread Recipe

Baby Rylan Arrives

2011-08-31T10:11:00.000-07:00

Good Wednesday morning to you!

My new grandson has arrived! he weighed 7 lbs and 11 oz. He was born on August 19 just after 1 am. He will be two weeks old this Friday. It's been a very long two weeks.
He is just adorable as any Grammy would think.

I have been so busy the weeks before Kirsten gave birth and then last week I spent so much time with her and the baby until her husband arrived back home from his long hall trucking job to meet his new son. Kirsten gave birth to baby Rylan three weeks early if they got her due date correct in the first place, Glenn her husband was in Kentucky.

Kirsten had a difficult birth becaue Rylan was coming out sideways, shoulder first which they call Dystocia. I had never heard of that, but while watching Baby Rylan being born I knew something was wrong, but I had to stay calm so Kirsten would not know that something was wrong and freak out. Rylan was not breathing for the longest time, it was very scary. The doctor had to keep turning Rylan to get him out.
Here is a link to a video of an animation of Dystocia, it's not a real birth. Here is the link. It's an interesting video of just what happened. I have not shown Kirsten the video because that would just upset her. Even though she wanted to know how everyone knew there was something wrong. Praise the Lord no injury to Kirsten or Baby Rylan. He is healthy and all is well.

I chose three photos to show off one of Kirsten and her baby boy and one of Morgan my granddaughter with her new cousin Baby Rylan. That is what we have been calling him, and one of Rylan alone, he is actually laying in his snugabunny baby swing, but you can't see that.

I posted a recipe of Ezekiel bread in my last post but was not able to visit anyone. So go check out the recipes.

I have a yummy recipe I made up this weekend, I will share that next time. It's a yummy MUFA bread recipe.

Have a great Wednesday.

Three Recipes for Ezekiel Bread (Ezekiel 4:9)

2011-08-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

A while back I posted a recipe for Scripture Cake on my blog. Since I am on a big health kick I was wanting to find the bread I used to purchase back in the 90's called Ezekiel's Bread. I have not been able to find it for a very long time. I did however do a search online and found it available in a few health food stores. So I will check out the price on the bread one day while I am out.

One bread I purchase a lot of is the Oregon's Western Hazelnut Bread and the Innkeepers Bread which you can find in Placer County at select Safeway's and Winco's. It's not exactly like Ezekiel Bread but I find it to be very healthy and delicious to boot.

I am posting three recipe's for Ezekiel Bread and one is for the bread machine. I am going to make one of these and post it up soon. But for now I am posting the three recipes I have from my cookbooks.

Inspired by the Holy Scripture verse Ezekiel 4:9., "Take also unto thee Wheat, and Barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and Spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make bread of it..."

Recipe #1 by Hand

4 envelopes dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup warm water
8 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups soy flour
1/2 cup millet flour
1 cup mashed cooked lintels
4 to 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 to 3/4 cup honey
4 cups water
1 tablespoon Celtic salt

Stir in the yeast and the 1 tablespoon honey into the 1 cup warm water and lets stand for 10 minutes. Place the whole wheat flour, barley flour, soy flour, millet flour, and rye flour in a large bowl and stir to combine. Combine the lentils, olive oil, the 1/2 to 3/4 cup honey, and 1/2 cup of the water in a blender; process until smooth. Combine the lentil mixture and the remaining 3 1/2 cups water in a large bowl; stir until well mixed. Stir in 2 cups of the flour mixture. Stir in the yeast mixture. Add the salt and the remaining flour. Knead until smooth on the floured board. Place in a oiled bowl. Let rise, covered, in a warm place until doubled in bulk. Knead again. Divide into 4 equal portions. Shape each portion into a large loaf. Place in greased loaf pans. Let rise, covered, in warm place until doubled in bulk. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minuets to 1 hour or until bread test done.

No nutritional information given.

Yield 4 Loaves - Recipe from book What Would Jesus Eat

Recipe # 2 Ezekiel Bread by Hand (be sure to read this all the way through before beginning it is a completely organic method probably more like what Jesus would eat).

Dry Flour Ingredients

2 cups unbleached organic whole wheat flour
3/4 cup amaranth flour
1/4 cup lentil flour
1 3/4 cup rye flour
1/2 cup barley flour
2 tablespoons soybean flour*
2 tablespoons kidney-bean flour*
2 tablespoons lentil flour*
2 tablespoons sea salt

Follow directions below to make the flour for the ingredients with the eserik.
Combine all these ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

For Yeast Mixture:
4 Tbsp yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
4 Tbsp organic honey
In a small bowl combine all ingredients and set aside.

Liquid For Flour Mixture:
3/4 cup organic honey
1/2 cup safflower or olive oil
2 cups ski, soy or rice, goat or almond milk (Your preference)
Combine these ingredients in a medium bowl.

*To make these flours: sprout dried beans. (See how to sprout beans). Once they have sprouted, allow them to dry again by placing them in a colander in the fridge overnight (put a plate underneath or catch and drips). Grind to a flour-like consistency in the food mill or coffee grinder. If you don't want to bother with sprouting the beans, simply soak and cook dried beans. Allow them to cook until soft. Then rinse and drain them very well. Dry the beans as explained beforehand. Grind cooked beans in a food mill or coffee grinder.

HOW TO SPROUT DRIED BEANS
To soak nuts, seeds and grains
1. fill a glass jar or container half way with nuts, seeds or grains.
2. Fill the container with water.
3. Each nut, seed or grain has a different soak time. Barley requires two days of soaking before it can be used the recipe. Rinse every 12 hours.
4. After the correct soaking time has passed, dump out the water in the jar and rinse the contents several times. Drain. The soaked barley can be stored in the refrigerator or a few days, otherwise you can now begin the sprouting process.

TO SPOUT NUTS, SEEDS, AND GRAINS
1. Place the soaked grain, nut or seed in a glass jar. Place a piece of muslin or cheesecloth over the jar and secure it with an elastic band or lid. If securing with cheesecloth with a lid, do not include lid insert. This keeps dust out.
2. Put the jar in a dark place for 24 hours. Then find a sunny place and set in this area.
3. As the sprouts grow, you will have to refresh the water every four hours.

That means you need to rinse the old water out and place fresh water back in the jar. You can do this through the cheesecloth you have secured over the top of the jar. Simply dump out the old water. Fill the jar with fresh water and turn in upside down. Do this twice and then fill with fresh water for the next growing stage.

PREPARATION:
1. Pour liquid for flour mixture over the flour mixture in the large bowl. Add the yeast mixture and mix until all ingredients are moistened. The dough needs to resemble a muffin batter at this point. Use more flour if the dough is too wet. If the dough is too dry use more warm milk. Do not overwork the dough.

2. Divide dough among four loaf pans sprayed lightly with cooking spray. Place loaf pans in a warm area with no cooling breeze nearby. Cover lightly with a damp tea towel. Let rise for one hour.

3. After an hour, place loaf pans in a preheated 375 F oven. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. A cake tester should come out clean and the top should bounce back when done.

This is a dense bread so it won't rise high in the pan when baking.

Nutritional Value Per Serving

Calories 99 l Calories from fat: 19 l Protein 3g l Carbs: 16g Dietary Fiber 2g l Sugars 0.3g l Sodium: 12mg l

Recipe #3 Ezekiel Bread for the Bread Machine

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/4 cup red kidney beans (cooked and drained) 1/4 cup lentils
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp organic honey
3/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup amaranth flour
1 cup whole wheat bread flour
1/2 cup barley flour
1/2 cup millet flour
2 Tbsp vital gluten
1 1/2 tsp yeast

Preparation
1. Put all ingredients in the breach machine, choose a medium bake program and press start.

Additions
Add 1 cup raisins to the recipe to increase the sweetness.
Dust the top of the loaves with sesame seeds before baking.

Makes 1 large loaf 99 Calories, Calories from fat 19, Protein 3g, Carbs 16g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugar 0.3g, Fat 2g, Sodium 12mg

I like the organic recipe, but that's to much work! so I would choose the easier ones personally. But if you're up to the task the organic one is probably a lot of fun to make.

Have a great week!

Hooked on Crochet

2011-08-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hello, I hope you're doing fine. The weather has been much cooler this summer and I am enjoying it. One more birthday to go that is my husband Steve's. I want to get him a nice gift and he has left me a hint on accident, so I am going shopping for it tomorrow, It's a tool and then I am going to get him a few shirts, he hates to shop for himself and then something sweet.

I am looking forward to crocheting up some Christmas gifts and have been crocheting a lot in the evenings, it's very relaxing. Before I started doing this craft again I was pacing and edgy in the evening. Steve does not get home until about 7 each evening, and on his days off he watches a lot of TV and I am really not into TV. I was not in the mood to read or watch TV. Then I purchased a subscription to Crochet Today and pulled out my yarn and started crocheting again. I have not made anything that was in the Crochet Today magazine except a few small things. All the things I have crocheted so far have been from other sources. I am making my mom a purple Amineko a cute purple one, her favorite color is purple.
Here is going to be my next project a baby cocoon & Cape. I bought this pattern to make baby Rylan a one.

The first one I am going to make is the brown and blue baby bear, I have the blue yarn but need to get the correct brown, I hope to have this made before the baby gets here. The second one I will make for Christmas, the orange cape, but I will make it in blue.

Exercise..I'm enjoying the NordicTrack very much. I am up to 2 miles daily on a 3 incline. The only motivation I need it seeing how many calories I am burning. It was 275 calories yesterday. My goal is to get to six miles daily. I can see that will be a lot of calories burned and I am really looking forward to making my goal. I have cut back on eating also so I can lose at least 6 lbs or 10 would be ideal. I tend to gain weight in my stomach. The rest of stays small, I don't want to look like a chicken as I age.

2 Cor 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Until next time, have a great week.

Turning the Calender

2011-08-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

Happy August!
A life without love is like a year without summer. ~Swedish Proverb
Yesterday we had Kirsten and the kids over for her birthday dinner. I made taco salads, I had a cute fluted style backing pan to heat up large tortilla's to make home-made taco shells. It was really good. For Dessert we had Chocolate Soufflé and since Brandon does not like Chocolate I had to make vanilla pudding also. Who can't love chocolate right?? that is so funny to me.

Kirsten amost 8 months along

Brandon and Kayla Kirsten's step children

I made a cute owl bag for my crochet yarn to stash in when I am working on small projects and carry around the house to where I am working at that moment. I love it! I want to make this pattern again for perhaps a small purse for me. Although I have my eye on a darling purse I want up at the Ross where you can get name brand purses for really cheap.

Steve and I bought a really uptown NordicTrack, it's not the top of the line but very very nice and has the iFit. Last night I walked one mile on it. I plan on walking everyday and would like to reach up to 6 miles on a incline, that is my goal. Since we get so hot in the summer and so cold in the winter this is going to be a great! and I can walk all year long no matter the weather.

We really turned the house upside down just putting that in our guest room. First off we didn't have TV in that room, so not to take up so much room Steve built some shelving in the closet to accommodate a TV and all the trimmings including gaming stuff. What a great idea, the TV is all tucked away in the closet that was practically empty and does not end up taking up more space in our guest room after putting in the huge NordicTrack.

We also needed another TV, so he bought a new flat screen and he moved our older TV into the guest room and put the new one in our bedroom.

My husband is superman because this was a very heavy lifting job the weight of the NordicTrack was over 300 lbs.

Here is the one we bought, I am so excited about it.

Here is the specs on it.

Train for performance and run for success with the NordicTrack C 1500. This runner's treadmill features a large motor, an oversized display, a Polar® wireless chest pulse and a revolutionary -3% decline. Compatible with iFit Live™*, this treadmill delivers workouts Powered by Google Maps™, training with Jillian Michaels and automatic speed and incline controls. This wireless technology is the ultimate workout experience! The C 1500 also features a Compatible Music Port for iPod®** and 24 built-in workout apps.*Requires iFit Live™ wireless adapter. Wireless adapter sold separately

**iPod is a trademark of Apple, Inc., registered in the US and other countries. iPod® not included.Google is a registered trademark of Google, Inc.

Have a great week!

Amazing Hummingbirds

2011-07-27T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hi how are you? I hope good. I was hoping things would calm down after the baby shower, but I have a lot of family birthday's now. Morgan's, Kirsten's and Steve's, DIL's and Kirsten's step son Brandon. That's to many all at once.

I made another amineko cat, I made a few mistakes, but it's still cute. This one is for Morgan, I named it Meika.

It was Morgan's birthday this past Saturday, it's hard to believe she is 13 years old! She was in Southern CA, so I was not able to visit her on her birthday. I am going to take her tomorrow shopping and to the Cheesecake Factory.
Above she is with my mom and Kirsten at Kirsten's baby shower and below she is with me in Carmel CA in 2003. She sure has changed a lot, her hair is so different now, but very pretty. She has the thickest hair I have ever seen. Of course I was a lot younger then to.

I love taking photos of birds and the past few weeks I have been trying to photograph close ups of the birds, I have taken quite a few good photos of the ones that visit my backyard for feeding. You will have to pop the photo open big to see them close up, I put them altogether in one large collage. Hummingbirds are just so amazing. I love watching them.

Here is a recipe for Hummingbird Nectar Solution.

Four parts of water to one part sugar (1/4 cup of sugar for every cup of water).

Bring solution to a boil, stir until sugar is dissolved. Let it cool & fill feeders.

Don't use molasses, honey or artificial sugars. There is no need to add red food coloring.

Change feeder solution every three to four days to avoid mold.

I took a little video of frolicking hummingbirds.

Have a great week!

Marilyn Monroe Diaper Bag #2 & Kirsten's Baby Shower

2011-07-20T00:33:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely baby shower for Kirsten, I made Cake Pops, I made them as toppers for cupcakes in owl and monkey theme. We had a little luncheon, games, prices and punch. It was a lot of fun and Kirsten got a lot of adorable baby things.

Have you heard of Cake Pops? it says they are easy to make, I didn't find them easy to make at all, but I did make them. They sort of looked like little monsters to me, but everyone thought they were cute, but they did not see the photo in the book like me! LOL! I also had a bit of a problem getting them to her house without messing up the frosting.

I finished the second Marilyn Monroe Diaper Bag, it turned out really cute. I realized I never posted the finished first one so I am posting both here. So here they both are. I guess they have peeked a bit of interest and I have had several request to make them, but I assure you I am not interested in making them for anyone. I will think about posting how to make them in a future perhaps.

Kirsten loved her baby quilt and she wants me to make more things with that fabric the little owls are just adorable and the fabric is bright and cheery.

After the baby shower I put Pippa in the baby swing I bought and I put the quilt in the baby crib, cleaned up the mess and then Ti'Dora (in photo below) Kirsten's best friend and I cut tags off the baby clothes and figured out what size clothes Kirsten had received as gifts so we could see if she needed any more. But she had enough of all clothes, so that was great.

My mom gave her money to buy a stroller and car seat and she went shopping for those things after the baby shower and a few other things on her list that she did not get, so now she is all set for little Bambino, that is what I call him. Bambino is Italian for "little boy."

Here is Kirsten with her friend Ti'Dora, Kirsten has about six more weeks to go and has gained 21 lbs and they tell her to eat more. We will see how much weight she gets on before the baby is born, you know those last weeks are brutal. However she will be on Maternity leave in 2 weeks so she will probably put on some weight then I would think. But isn't 21 lbs enough? I don't know why you would need to gain more then 25 lbs total.

Have a great week!

Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine

2011-07-13T01:14:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day here in Northern CA! it's breezy and cool. Steve and I had a wonderful anniversary weekend in Monterey/Carmel. I cannot tell you how great it was to get back up there and get away from it all. Instead of writing a lot I am going to photo blog. Even though we had a great time it was not sunny the whole weekend we were there. Boo!

Here we are window shopping in Carmel

Here is the pups sitting in my carry all bag, they were cold while Steve went to get us coffee, cafe mocha for me and black coffee for him. He never drinks anything fancy.

The Lone Cypress Tree on the 17 mile drive, this is where the famous Pebble Beach is along this route with million dollar homes and famous golf courses. The Lone Cypress tree is over 200 years old and is one of the most famous trees in the world. I think our pamphlet said the "Most Famous".

Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove. this was such an ugly day. Thankfully we have been to Monterey and Carmel on sunny days as well. We met some people from Austria, they wanted to know if it was always that weather there every day. We said no, they were sorry they didn't get to see a sunny day.

Here is the necklace I made to wear on our trip it's crocheted Balls, crystal beads and square tile washers with sterling silver chain. I also made another necklace similar with a crocheted front, but it was to big for me, however I got a lot of compliments on it on Facebook, even someone wanted the pattern. That would be a no.

Here is the crochet cat Amineko I made Kirsten, I named it Pippa, which is a girls name and means lover of horses. I just chose the name randomly. I read about the name and it's mostly a girls name, but my kitty is blue. I like the name so it stays until and unless Kirsten changes it. I made it for the baby.

Another photo of Pippa up close. I believe that Amineko is Japanese for cat. Hello My Name is Amineko is a cute book with a story of the crafty crochet cat. It has patterns to make the cat and clothes as well as poses of the kitty in two sizes, it also shows you how to construct Amineko, different expressions, about yarn. It even shows you how to crochet in a basic step. Very cute book.

This is the baby quilt it's all done, it's two sided, one side is owls and green the other side is blue with patchwork. I quilted the baby quilt so it gives it a nice snuggy look.

Squirrel eating out of Steve's Hand from katwhite on Vimeo.
Here is a video we took in Monterey of the Steve feeding the squirrels right from his hand.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, California from katwhite on Vimeo.
A beautiful day in Monterey at the Aquarium on Canary Row.
This last video is of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I put it together for everyone to see the awesome creatures that God has made.

Have a great day!

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already the 4th of July. I hope you have a wonderful day!

It was cool weather just last week and today it's going to be over 100 degrees, it just came up on us so fast. I am not going to the park this year for fireworks or having a BBQ. The kids are on their own today to come up with their own food and entertainment. Steve and I are going to stay out of the heat and meet my mom for lunch at Marie Calenders.

Next weekend we will be off to Monterey and Carmel for our anniversary. I am so looking forward to it.

I started a new project Friday night, I am making a Amineko the crochet cat, it's very popular as I was doing a search on the Internet for it and wow everyone that crochets is making this cat. It's been out a few years. I am almost done, it's going to be for Kirsten's baby Rylan. I am making the cat a teal blue, but the next one I am going to make for Morgan is going to be green and tan or cream. I can't wait to show off the cute kitty!

Here is a bit about Amineko the cat.

I can't make any profit from amazon anymore because of Gov Brown in CA, but that's a topic for someone else to talk about. But here is the link to the book above. Although my husband and I are trying to plot our way out of California we hope within 5 years.

Hello My Name is Amineko follows the journey of Amineko the Crochet Cat and his crocheted friends as they eat, sleep, and have lots of fun and adventures. The book comes with complete step-by-step photography and instructions for creating an Amineko of your very own and personalizing this cute cat with different facial expressions, clothing, and even bedding. Hundreds of color photographs tell the adorable tales, and mischief, that Amineko and his friends find themselves in, with complete instructions for knitting adventures of your own.

About the Author

Born in Tokyo 1967, Nekoyama has been a life-long lover of cats. Cats and their endearing mischief have never failed to cheer her up. She created her first Amineko by accident and has never looked back. Today, she and her husband are the proud parents of many Aminekos. Nekoyama’s first book, A Day In the Life of Amineko, was published in Japan in 2005.

I am going to have to rent a truck to get everything to Kristen's baby shower I have purchased so many things off her Registry and made so many things for baby Rylan. I also bought an adorable baby swing for the baby with all the bells and whistles.

The baby swing is by Fisher Price called my Little Snugabunny Cradle and Swing.

I finished Kirsten's diaper bag and now I am working on a second one. I have the second diaper bag almost done it is hot pink.

The photo here is of the first one I did for her, I wish I had made the bag with a stiff interfacing in it, so I am making another, but it turned out okay.

The other project I am working on is a crochet necklace with crochet beads to wear on our trip to Monterey. I am almost done with that. Steve is amazed at how I am juggling so many projects all at once, but that also means I don't have a lot of time for anything else right now.

Have a happy safe 4th of July!

~Kat

Marilyn Monroe Diaper Bag?

2011-06-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's almost July! first it rained and rained all the way through May. About a week after June came we got nice weather for a few days, then it got really really hot, now today it's been warm, but this evening it's cool and tomorrow and Wednesday is suppose to rain. Usually if we get rain in June it's muggy out, but right now it's not muggy at all. I love this nice cool breeze, we opened the windows and turned off the air conditioner. I think I am going to enjoy this beautiful weather!

Yes as you can tell by my title a Marilyn Monroe Diaper bag is in the works. I don't think many people request this for a diaper bag, but Kirsten has and I tried to buy one anywhere and everywhere because I didn't want to make it when I seen there is no Marilyn Monroe fabric. It's been interesting thinking of how to make this diaper bag. One day Steve and I went out shopping and I dragged him to Joann's with me, well he only went because there is a guitar store next door. After he looked around in there for a spell he came over to Joann's and helped me pick out buttons and fabric for Kirsten's diaper bag. I bought some cute black fabric with musical notes on it, Steve said why musical notes? Marilyn didn't sing, but surely she did sing, Happy Birthday Mr. President....happy birthday to you. I looked at other black fabric but nothing was as pretty as the musical notes. Before we had arrived to Joann's, I had stopped at a kiosk in the mall and bought a Marilyn Monroe t-shirt to cut up and put on the diaper bag. I have not finished it, but I will post my undone bag here since it might be awhile since I get back here. I will be sure to post the finished diaper bag next time I post. I don't have the handle on the bag or in innards in it yet and it is not finished off. It will look really pretty when it's done, so far I just have a bottle pocket on one side and the screen tee of Marilyn cut out and sewn on the front.

I am in the midst of planning Kirsten's baby shower it will be in a few weeks on July 16, the weekend before that is our 23rd anniversary, July 9, and we will be spending the weekend in our friends condo in Monterey/Carmel California. The condo sits up on a hill over looking the ocean. We plan on dining at our favorite restaurants and visiting the aquarium and driving the 17 mile drive and combing the beaches. Isn't God's world beautiful!

After I finish the diaper bag I will begin the baby quilt. Everything is ready to go, so one thing right after the other until finished and ready to go before the baby shower and baby arrival. Kirsten is 7 months pregnant now and doing well. Her stomach is hard as a rock and she is caring the baby really low, she has from the beginning. I am getting excited to meet my new grandson.

I have forged a relationship with Kirsten's new family and the kids are just adorable they love me and I them. I go over to her house every other week and cook a nice dinner with bread and dessert. Her husband Glenn is always on the road trucking so she can use the company and I have a nice time visiting with Kirsten, Kayla and Brandon. Kirsten really appreciates the home cooked meal after working all day. She will go on maternity leave at the end of July. Baby is due at the end of August or beginning of September, the due date has changed a few times.

I have gone with Morgan to the movies lately quite a few times and with Kirsten's step kids Kayla and Brandon to $5.00 Tuesday's. this is awesome, we go to the movies all the time now that we found out about $5.00 Tuesday's. First Morgan and I seen Rio that was cute, then last week I watched with all the kids, Judy Moody and the not so Bummer Summer, in the same week I watched a good movie with Steve called Midnight in Paris, this is a good movie. I enjoyed it because of the art and literature elements and fantasy as well as gorgeous Paris scenery. Owen Wison and Rachel McAdams was in the movie, she is in everything it seems. I gave Morgan a gift card to the UA movie theater to go with her friends on $5.00 Tuesday's. She was excited when we left the movies and I stopped and bought her a gift card. Afterwards I take the kids to Sonic or if it's just Morgan and I we go to Panera Bread and chat and have some bagels and cream cheese and salad.

I hope you're having a fun summer?

Happy Summer!

2011-06-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

As Summer officially begans today, let us remember that;

To everything there is a season, A time for
every purpose under heaven.
( Ecclesiastes 3:1 )

Summer's Golden Days

Summer spills her golden days
Upon the earth in lust displays.
She softly sways the apple trees
As songbirds sing sweet melodies.
Summer wears a flower flock
Of goldenrod and hollyhock.
She spreads her magic uncontrolled
In blankets colored bright and bold.
Summer sings her lullabies
To buzzing bees and butterflies.
Silver moonbeams light the night;
I see a falling star in flight.
God sends the Summer scenery,
The birds, the bees, the greenery.
His tranquil nights and sun-filled days
He sends in summertime displays.
Poet, Nora M. Bozeman

2011-05-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

I have been MIA and I am another year older since I last posted, life is just so busy at times and there just is not enough time to do all the things I would love to do. Probably this is going to be a long post so I can get you all caught up on what's been going on in my life, of course I won't tell you everything just the fun things and important stuff (like what Kirsten's having a boy or girl?. I hope all is well with everyone and no one has been in the areas getting the floods?

It's all I have to say about today being the end of the world is this...strait from the bible.

"Of the day and hour knows no man, no not even the angels in heaven, but my Father only." (Matthew 24:36), If the Lord should come today though I am ready to go.

There are some serious things going on in the middle east and with Israel. I have posted on Facebook these links. Facebook is a great way to spread God's word and about what is going on the world. If you're not on Facebook get on there, what are you waiting for??

Christians and non Christians should take the time to read this if you don't keep up with the news of the day. Mike Evans keeps up with all the events of the middle east and Israel and I have learned so much from reading is letters and website and new magazine.

http://jerusalemprayerteam.org/articles/TheEndOfIsrael.asp

http://jerusalemprayerteam.org/articles/SpiritWars.asp

http://jerusalemprayerteam.org/articles/IsChristsReturnImminent.asp

Pray for Peace in Jerusalem Psalm 122:6.

Post your prayers.

Read Mike Evans most recent email.

This post was stared just days before my birthday April 9, but I got busy, really busy. My mom and I have been trying to find a place for her husband because he has Dementia and other problems it has been hard. We have not gotten the final diagnosis yet, but we hope to get one soon after June 1. We have looked several places but they think it won't be a good fit for him. so we continue to look. However we are putting off looking anymore until we get that diagnosis. And on top of that, my mom hurt her back and has not been able to do much at all. She has been not been able to get in and out of bed or sleep laying down. This has been going on since before Easter.

Finally it's a gorgeous sunny day in Northern California the past two days, it's been off and on rain, snow and nasty weather. Of course our weather has not been anything as horrid as the floods along the Mississippi River. Those poor people. And the awful earthquake in Japan.

I finally know that my daughter is having a boy, she found out April 8, the day before my birthday. I was a bit disappointed at first because I wanted her to have a girl but her and Glenn were very excited it's a boy, that is what they wanted. So I am happy for them both. Of course I am no longer disappointed. However Kirsten has been having a lot of difficulties adjusting to her new life. It's been so stressful this year in so many ways.........

We had a nice family Easter, I hope you did as well. Here is our little family yearly photo, I do one of the whole family each year on Easter. Glenn is missing, and we have two new members of the family, little Brandon and sweet Kayla, standing by where Kirsten sits. She is now over 6 months pregnant. In the center is my sweet granddaughter Morgan in the back my DIL and son Shane and Steve and I. In the front by Kirsten my mom.

Family Easter Photo at My House.

Steve and I went to Santa Cruz this past week on Monday it was fun but a cold windy day.

This is the Santa Cruz Lighthouse

We found a covered bridge not far from Santa Cruz the Felton Covered Bridge.

I have to show you the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, sorry it's a cloudy day but click on the photo to zoom in and see it. I love the Boardwalk it's such a fun place. I love the song Under the Boardwalk by the Beach Boys.....Down by the sea. A favorite and popular destination in Northern CA.

You can't go to Santa Cruz without having good food, try Emily's Good Things to Eat for yummy food and coffee cakes.

Soon I will be having another contest, it's going to be a good one! I will post about that next time.

My latest project has been to make two wild orchids to make brooches or a brooch necklace combo. Those are so popular these days. I made two so far, need to attach them to pin and add a nice filagree Pendant Setting and some gold chain.

First One

Second One

(This was the post title of the Post I Didn't Post in April)
Kat's Garden - April Showers Bring May Flowers

(Previously written) before April 9, 2011
This Saturday (April 9) is my birthday, not excited at all. The bad news hate birthdays, well mine, but on the good side I love gifts though. My mom bought me a really cute Fossil watch, from the Rose Collection with a Mother of Pearl band band. The watch if a Vintage style and a bit glitzy. I really love it. I get so many compliments on it. It's a bit pricey.

This past weekend my husband and I worked in our garden. I planted lots of flowers and fertizled everything in my yard and garden.

I took a fairly good photo of a hummingbird.

I want to talk about gardens today.

The first garden I want to post about is the garden one should plant if they want to attract birds.

Bird Attracting Garden Plant These Flowers

Aster, Marigold, Coreopsis, Cornflower, Cosmos, Larkspur, Portulaca, Purple Cornflower, Sunflower, Zinnias

For Hummingbirds there is huge list of plants to to attract hummingbirds, so I will just name a few.

Plants

Depending on where you can plant these;

Daylily, Larkspur, Foxglove, Fuchsia, Hosta, Hummingbird trumpet, Nasturtium, Snapdragon, Zinnia.

That list is just a few of many.

Some vines to plant are;

Azalea, Butterfly Bush, Bottlebrush, Crimson-Flowering currant, Flame acanthus, Flowering quince, Hardy fuchsia, Hibiscus, Lantana, Lilac, Manzanita, Red buckeye, Shrimp plant, Strawberry, Sultan's turban, Turk's cap, Weigela or cardinal shrub

Then there are trees you can plant also

Trees

Buckeye, Black Locust, Citrus, Flowering crabapple, Hawthorn, Mimosa or silk tree, Red hoarse chestnut, Siberian peat tree, Tulip poplar,

Here is what I planted in my garden, not many things that are the list really, but hopefully the birds, butterflies and hummingbirds will enjoy them anyway. I also have feeders out, so that will definitely attract them.

Dianthus, Coleus, French Marigold Dwarf, Viola, Persian Buttercup, Kalanchoe, Marguerite Daisy, Candytuft, Bonanza Marigold. I have already planted some mums, lily and Daffodils, Lantana, Amaryllis, some daisies and a few other things.

I took this photo with my little flip video recorder. It's such a great little video recorder, but it's hard to keep it steady. However it's great to keep in your pocket it's that small.

Besides my garden, I did another bird quilled. So far I have two of six birds quilled. First I did the Robin which I talked about in my last post and then didn't visit anyone, sorry about that.

Finally I am done...

Quilled Robin Bird and Finch Video

2011-03-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

The weather has been just awful rain, rain, rain everyday rain, I am so sick of the rain. As I write this today I am watching my Finches from my craft room window eating from their bird feeder. They are such beautiful birds.

I thought today I would share another love of mine besides beading and sewing and crochet, I also love paper crafts. I made a Quilled Bird using a traced pattern. It was fun. I am going to make six more, but first I am going to add some flowers and branches to this one for a piece of quilled artwork to be framed. But for now I wanted to show off the cute little quilled Robin bird. I just adore birds and love to watch birds. I am backyard bird watcher and feed them all the through the year. I mostly adore finches because they sing so beautifully.

Here above I posted a video of a Finch in my backyard that I taped last year, I think the Finches sing so pretty. Now to see the bird close up you need to click on the video in my blog and then click it again until it fills your full screen and you will see this beautiful bird close up and it's a beauty.

About Kirsten - Kirsten does not have the plecenta previa as first thought by the Doctor. Her regular Doctor was away and when he returned she seen him and he said no that is not what is wrong with her at all. That's good news. He said sometimes this happens to women during the first trimester and goes away. She is into her second trimester now so hopefully this won't happen again. My family all thinks the baby will be a boy, but I say girl, she will find out April 8th the day before my birthday. So that's coming up really quick. I finally doubted myself today if it was a girl or boy, but I still say girl.

Things are moving along quite slowly with my moms situation with her husband, which is not my dad, my dad passed away several years ago and he and my mom divorced when I was 15 years old. He ran off with another woman, that always hurt me because I never got to see him much after that and only spent one holiday with him that was a Easter, but at least my whole family was there that day including my brothers, it had been over 25 years we were all in the same place at the same time, the next time we would all be together again would be in 2003 at my brother Kirk's wedding to a Vietnamese woman. Back to my dad, everybody has pain in their past that hurts really really bad.... right? and this is one of those things for sure, but something good came out of it..... just as sometimes things do, and at the time I was going to an Assembly of God church because I always loved going to church and was singing in the youth choir. After my dad left, my mom and brothers came to church with me and they were all saved. So praise the Lord for Gods Mercy and Grace he has shown upon my family. Eventually my dad was saved to and he is now in heaven!

Just like the clouds in this photo I took the other day near our home, I have learned in life that clouds come and clouds go and one day this cloud that causes much pain in my life will certainly go.

Have a nice Sunday!

~kat

The One True Thing

2011-03-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Lately I have had many struggles, I know that God is teaching me patience and as I go through my struggles it seems the world is falling apart at the seams, but along the way I know that God is with me and is the one true thing that gets me through each day.
And as I go through each day I know that my struggles are so small compared to so many in the world that are currently suffering so much. I pray for them.

Kirsten is struggling with her pregnancy and her new life. I worry about her and it's been hard to help her through these choices she has made for herself, I try but I know only God is able to do this, I am merely here as her mother and hopefully a comfort to her when I can be. I love her so much and pray that God will give her strength to meet her new life challenges and to carry her baby to term. Kirsten has plecenta previa, I guess it's common but I have never heard of it.

My mom has many difficulties with her aging husband and his health problems as he continues to go down hill it seem quite quickly these days. My mom and I found someone to help us with all the ropes one must go through to get someone in a home. I pray all goes well with this so my mom can have some peace in her life, she so deserves it, she is 78 years old. I pray I can be a shoulder to lean on and be there for her when she needs me the most.

I have courage because I have faith in God

I may have thought that courage is needed only in a crisis or when great physical strength and emotional fortitude is needed.
Yet at times I feel as if I need courage to do simple things. For instance, I may hesitate to speak up in my workplace or in my home even though I believe I have a good idea or plan. So I pray to have the courage of my convictions and to share them in a clear and loving way.
If a challenge seems to be looming over me, I know to affirm that God is my help in every need. I will never have to though anything without the guidance of my beloved Creator. I have courage that is based on my faith in God to bring me though any challenge.

Daily Word

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your hearts take courage; wait for the Lord!". Psalm 27:14

To help keep me calm during these times I love to bead and create interesting intricate designs so I made this twisted wire branch pearl necklace.

Happy Spring!

Paper Roses

2011-03-06T15:55:00.000-08:00

Remember that song that Marie Osmond sang called paper roses?...I grew up listening to the Osmond's and it was my favorite show on TV in the early 70's every Friday night. When I was a younger child I would watch Laugh In with my dad, my mom didn't much care for that show because she through Goldie Hawn was practically naked in her bikini. Mom was right, but still I loved watching that show with my dad and enjoy laughing at their silliness.

Lately I have been so fascinated with flowers it really started with my photography, with my photographing flowers from my garden, then last year I wanted to make flower earrings, this year I want to make flowers with paper. It seems I am always moving into a new phase in my crafting. I guess that is just how life is you go from one phase to another.

Today I am going to post a tutorial online from Martha Stewards sight, but the young woman who was on her show and makes these roses with coffee filters has her own website called mommymakesroses.com

She is a young mom of three and her roses are just gorgeous, I am going to try some of these for the Easter table. I seen them being made and it looks doable.

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/paper-roses

Well now a days my favorite show comes on Friday's but it's called "Who Do You Think You Are"

It's a very fascinating show and even sometimes quite touching...well most times. I love Genealogy so for me this is the greatest show, to see people connect and find out where they came from and what their ancestors went through is just fascinating. It makes me realize how easy we have it today, thanks to their hard work and perseverance. It makes you want to hold on even harder to our American culture and traditions.

Well Kirsten is doing fine, she had to go the emergency room just before her wedding day because she was spotting, but all was well they sent her for bed rest for one week, she got married then after about 2 days she got a horrid flu, from both ends, back to the Dr. she went to see if the baby was okay because she had terrible stomach pains, they took a sonogram and the baby was waving at her she said. LOL! I said ya, the baby is saying hey, you're not taking very good care of me in here!!, well of course she cannot help any of the things that have happened but she is having a hard time. I just pray that the baby makes it and if he/she does, they will be a real trooper. So far Kirsten has been to the emergency room twice for spotting and then came the flu. She had a tiny bit of morning sickness for one week. Glenn had to leave and is back on the road, I don't know when he will be back. In the meantime Kirsten is working and caring for two kids and pregnant with her own living at Glenn's cousins house. She is looking for a place to live so when the baby comes they will be all set with a place of their own. She says she is having a hard time finding a place to live and wants to live in the same area as my mom because of where the kids go to school. Apparently it's hard to find a place to rent over there right now. I am going to try to help her, but I also have this situation with my mom and her husband who needs to go into a home. Getting people into a home when they need to go and won't is not easy.

Go check out my Jewelry blog, I have made some pretty cute things lately.

Have a beautiful blessed Sunday!

Wedding Prayer for Marriage

2011-02-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

The wedding was beautiful but cold congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Fanning

They were married at the Four Seasons Lake Tahoe on a very cold winter day January 26, 2011.

That is the only photo of Kirsten and Glenn, this one was posted online by the photographer.

Wedding Prayer for Marriage

Hand in hand, we come before you, O Lord.

Hand in hand, we are stepping out in faith.

We, who are gathered here, ask that you would take this couple into your hands. Help them, O Lord, to keep firm in the commitments they have just made.

Guide them, O God, as they become a family, as they each change through the years. May they be flexible as they are faithful.

And Lord, help us all to be your hands if there be need. Strengthen, tenderly all of our commitments, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

I quilled them designs onto a photo mat to use in an old Vintage Frame from Kirsten's grandma and added some of my mom's Vintage Pearls, the rest of the pearls are those kind that you use in Scrapbooking. I have taken the only photo I have and printed it out on my laser printer and inserted that into the frame to present her with the gift tomorrow when I see her. I feel so lucky to have been able to download this one photo from the photographer, it was nice of her to allow it.

While I was quilling this design for Kirsten's frame, I couldn't resist to try to make a necklace so I did, I quilled a rose with some leaves. I added some stuff over the top of the paper to make it stiff and it looks really shiny in the photo. It will protect the design in the necklace from getting ruined.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68807196/romantic-quilled-rose-necklace-in-dusty

I didn't get to get around to visit many blogs last week, because I was so busy making this and doing things that needed to get done before the wedding and also at home and with a sick pet.

Edee was sick and I had to take her to the vets' she had pain on her underside when we would pick her up, they gave her pain meds and did a test for pancreatitis, but she did not have that, so the next thing would be to get an x-ray but she seems to be doing fine, I gather she either had gas that was stuck or she has arthritis, though they tell me she is to young, but her exam said Senior exam on my $239.00 vet bill, so if she is a Senior at 5 for a Senior Exam then perhaps she is a Senior for arthritis. Just saying........

I hope you all had a great week!

Last Minute Wedding Frazzle

2011-02-19T18:55:00.000-08:00

Well all the plans are made for Kisten's wedding will take place at the Four Season's Lake Tahoe on the 26th.

I am feeling ubiquitous this week with so many things do do before the wedding.
The plan is we leave the house at 12 for a 5PM wedding, we will be there in plenty of time, but we want to change into some proper wedding attire. Steve will drive and my mom is coming with us. As far as I know there will be just a few there because they are eloping.
She is having wedding photos taken before the wedding at the great vista's in Lake Tahoe ad then some photos during the ceremony and a few afterwards. I think the whole wedding is going to be under $1000.00, minus her hair, nails, dress, shoes and Glenn's Tux and that is with the wedding photos, hotel and ceremony.

I Have received her new dress and a shawl to go over the dress. She will come up to my house tomorrow and will put on the dress, shoes and shawl and Jewelry so we can see how it all looks together. She is making her hair appointment for some cute up-do of some sort with a flower in her hair, she loves hair bling.

Here are some photo's of the new dress with Shawl.

Very Marilyn Monroe inspired I think. I really love this dress more then the other one. This dress is going to be so cute with those shoes I got her.

I know you've already seen the necklace but I am putting everything in one post, so I can look back and see this if I want to in one place.

There are earrings also, but I have not photographed them.

Kirsten is 12 weeks pregnant now and she will find out the day before my birthday what the sex of the baby is, my birthday is April 9, so she will know on the 8th. Yay! so excited!

So hopefully it does not snow on our way there to Lake Tahoe, we live about 1 hour and half away but icy, slick roads will slow us down for sure. It's really been snowing these past few days and just up the road from us they are getting snow.

For Kirsten's wedding gift I am making her a frame to put her wedding photo in, well not a frame, but I am taking a old Vintage frame that was her grandmother Betty's, that is my x's mom who has passed on, and I am going to go get a mat this week with a oval opening (I Hope), and then I am going to make quilled designs on the mat, in swirls, leafs and make paper roses and inside the paper roses I am going to put some loose pearls that were my moms that she never had strung. So she will have something in her frame from both her grandmother's, I thought that would be kind of sweet. The roses will be hot pink, because that is the color she wants in her wedding and she is really liking that color right now. It's going to be good to have this wedding stuff behind us, and we can look forward to the new addition to the family. I predict a girl still, but all the men are saying it's a boy as well as Kirsten's friends, we will see.

What did I make this week? I beaded a dragonfly, cute! I really like it.

Well that's about it........I will leave you with this photo of me in our friends Fred's truck, he is the one that owns a condo in Monterey that we stay in, Steve does all the engine work for him on his truck and we have it parked in our garage right now, Steve actually took my SUV out of the garage and put this truck in there. I see how my vehicle rates.
Anywho.....I had him take a photo of me in this sweet 68 chevy, unfortunately I didn't have any makeup on or nice clothes on either for this fun photo. But it's about the truck not me.

Please pray that there won't be any snow on the 26th, I will not drive up to Lake Tahoe if it's snowing, well steve is driving...but there is one corner on hwy 50 that scares me to death and I cannot go around that part of the mountain if it's snowing I freak out and especially if it is snowing.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T21:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I made white cupcakes today for Steve with pineapple and then decorated them with hearts and sprinkles. I made him for dinner some lasagna too, he had to work so we didn't do anything special. We don't give gifts for Valentine's day. But he gives me cards and I usually bake him something sweet.

I made these cupcakes with those new silicone heart bakers by Wilton I have the individual ones, I would have preferred the silicone pan style. these barley look like hearts do you think? Wilton, I mean my cupcake??

Here is what they look like.

I'm so sorry I didn't get to visit anyone this last week, I guess a break would be good for me right about now. I am going to try to get around this week though.

I have all my Wedding Jewelry done and uploaded to the Internet and all my orders out and I am feeling finally caught up.

Kirsten's dress won't fit her anymore, but her wedding date is finally set to February 26, so I picked out another dress for her and sent her this time to Macy's near her house to try it on and it fits. She is not happy with the pregnancy pooch. I have an answer for that......in any event it is what it is so told her to be happy, she has wanted a baby for a very long time. I got her a shawl to wrap around her because it's going to be cold in Lake Tahoe. This dress was a lot cheaper then the other one, but the other one was so cute, I do like this one also though.
Here is the link to the dress. If you missed last weeks post you can see Kirsten in the other dress, the one she grew out of because of her pregnancy. Here is the cute Shawl.
Check out my last weeks post, because I also talk about my Itso containers they are awesome, next month I am going to get some more of them.

Today I put on my Etsy Shop $5.00 earrings for a Valentine's day special. I don't get many sales from there they all come over to my online store and purchase there instead, that's okay because it's like cheap advertisement for me. If you want to check out the earrings go here.

Here is the wedding set I made for my friends daughter who is getting married in March, I named it after her, Natalie. It's called Natalie's Simple Elegance. Her mom just got it today and she is going to give it to her daughter as a gift to wear with her dress. That is so sweet. Deanne the mother used to be my neighbor when I was married to my first husband when we lived near Mather Air Force base. They took off and moved to Idaho and I never seen them again but we've kept in touch all these years. At the time I was pregnant with Kirsten and I had my son, Deanne had no children yet and now she has four daughter's, we are both the same age.

I made a simple album containing all the wedding and prom jewelry I made for people to easily browse though and linked it to my Krystal Kat's .
Here is the link to browse through the jewelry.

Well I guess I have run out of things to say, except I am so looking forward to spring because we are going to Carmel/Montery to stay in our friends condo, we go often and they are always so gracious to allow us to stay there in their gorgeous duplex that looks over the ocean up on a hill. Steve barters with them, working on their vehicles and some are old trucks and Fred, the owner will not let anyone touch his old truck except Steve.

Which reminds me my sweetie installed a dimmer switch in our bathroom this weekend, we have a huge bathroom and sometimes all those lights are so bright! he is my superman that is what I call him.

I was just thinking of all the news and thinking upon Israel God's Chosen people. I pray very much for their safety and that the US supports them. Peace to Israel.
I thought of this chapter, Matthew 6. Another thing I think upon very much is abortion, I pray that we will stop killing our unborn children in the US, it's just despicable. Sorry to end on a sad note, but these are things that are really bringing America down along with many other sins of our nation and including turning our backs on God's commandments. ~Kat

The Busy Beader

2011-02-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

Hello, I never got to blog last week. I can't remember what I did that took me all week to do, but I know I cleaned the house, did laundry and visited with my daughter and my mom twice.

Later in the week I organized all my beads, so I can find things, I was not able to find things and then I found these great little organizers called Itso you can find them at Target.

Last year I did a make over to my craft room and bought this big cabinet to put my craft things in so they are out of the way. I love it and everything stays nice and neat, just the way I like it.

My craft room cabinet

This is the Itso in the fuchsia and pink and the tall plastic containers.

This side Itso needs two more containers for the top, but they are so great! I love them. I had no idea I could find something that would work for me! I have this cabinet fixed up different now, because I got the two new sliders to fit in the top of the Itso.

This weekend I was busy making wedding jewelry for a friends daughter, and last week I made a necklace and earrings for Kirsten. When Kirsten was married to her first husband I made Jewelry for the whole wedding party. I remembered how I loved designing wedding jewelry and I am very traditional when it comes to wedding jewelry, so I made several pieces and named each piece after girls I know, or girls names I love or people whom I have made wedding jewelry for. Here is a link to the jewelry at my Etsy shop. I will eventually get it over to my website and make a webpage for it. Some of it is prom style also. I have a few more ideas.
Here is a little artistic collage I made of the Jewelry which does not do it justice at all.

I never really thought of my making jewelry as a talent or all that artistic, but I make jewelry for my hair stylist for her no charge I just bring her things and I get so many compliments, many have told me that God has blessed me with this talent. I had to stop and think why I never thought of it as a God given talent? But my customers admire my talent and the quality and workmanship. So those are wonderful compliments. So thank you God for this talent!
I have been beading since I was 14 years old, my dad used to take me up to the bead shop and so did my mom and I would spend all my allowance and baby-sitting money there.
Later when I was pregnant with Shane I borrowed a sewing machine and taught myself to sew, I made Shane a Bicentennial baby quilt and other baby things. I graduated from high school in the Bicentennial year of 1976.
When my first husband and I moved to Lincoln and bought a house a few years after I graduated high school, I would shop for fabric through the Sears catalog because there were not any stores in our area at all. I would make Kirsten little cute dresses and both the kids PJ's. Then I learned to crochet and later cross-stitch. Now I do everything that is a craft, there are a few things I don't like but mostly I love them all.

Here is a photo of Kirsten in her dress, she is not wearing make-up and her hair is wet. I am not sure her dress will fit by the time the wedding comes, she is suppose to get married on the 26th of this month but we don't know for sure with Glenn's training schedule. She is getting a pregnant belly. The top bust of her dress needs to be taken in, but we can't yet until we know for sure when she is getting married probably in Lake Tahoe because it's close and fast and easy.

Yes that's my Indian Pink bedroom. LOL!

Here is Kirsten's first wedding photo (2006) with her hair all done up and her pretty dress.

Here is Morgan in 2006 with Kirsten my how she has changed! see the Jewelry Kirsten has on, also Morgan but you cannot see it on her.

Kirsten will be so disappointed if the dress does not fit when Glenn gets home and then it's gong to be a mad dash to the store to find something that fits. I am thinking David's Bridal Maternity dress. Something around $170.00 which is what I paid for this dress. I would just assume buy things for the baby with the money but I know she wants a special day, so she shall have it.

Have a great week!

Kirsten's Prenatal Appointment

2011-01-26T21:16:00.000-08:00

I'm home from seeing Kirsten's baby...I guess now she believes there is really a baby in her belly, we seen the heart beat and seen little legs, arms and head. All is well with baby and Kirsten. I scanned my new grandbaby's first pic (Ultrasound). He/She is beautiful! Now that Kirsten has been told three times she is pregnant I guess she will believe it.

Here is my little Grandbaby everyone is calling He/She peanut.

It was such a long time at the doctor's for the first prenatal appointment. Gees! The baby is due on September 2. I am off a few days on the ticker above.

So what do you think is it going to be a boy or girl? I am thinking a girl.

Tomorrow I have to go downtown Sacramento for my Ear appointment to the Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor. I dread it and wanted to cancel my appointment, but it took me so long to get it.

So does anyone wonder why Edee wears a pink sweater our Chihuahua and Effie does not wear any sweater? my mom was thinking that people must wonder why Edee wears sweaters and Effie does not. Just in case you're wondering as my mom thinks that people might..... it's because Effie the Black and Red Chihuahua and Yorkie mix does not like sweaters and or harness either but she has to wear that and she runs and hides under the bed every time she sees me getting the dog things out. LOL!
The only way to get her out of the bed it to shake the treat container. I have my ways.

I had something else I was going to say but I forgot so I will keep this very short. Have a great Thursday I will be back to blog more next week....

Busy Weekend

2011-01-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

We had a really busy weekend.......we went to Chico California to see another covered bridge and then on Saturday we went to Old Sacramento with friends for the Suspects Mystery Dinner, that was really good.

It was nice and sunny outside so it was a great weekend to be busy in Northern California. The mornings were chilly, but the days were around 60 degrees, the mountain tops glistened with snow. It was truly beautiful winter days.

Tomorrow I go with Kirsten to her first prenatal appointment. Her Fiancee Glenn is still away and she does not know when he will be back home, he is in training for a truck driving position he took when he was not able to find work. It has taken him away from his kids and Kirsten. He was able to come home for a few days at Christmas and one day on the 18th that's it since Thanksgiving. Perhaps he might be on his own very soon and no longer driving with a trainer.

Thursday I have my ear, nose and throat appointment in Sacramento I am not good finding my way around down there I hope I can find it.

Steve got his W2 yesterday, I was surprised how much less he made last year then the year before and the year before that. Our house is not even worth what we paid for it. Gas prices are going up and food prices are rising as well and inflation is really going to set in this year. I think we are in for a very difficult year. All the money that we owe in the US cannot even be paid back if they taxed every single citizen 100% of their income. Those are shocking statistics. It makes you want to really get on your knees and pray to God to heal our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

That's a pretty profound verse from the Holy Bible.

My son and DIL asked me to pick Morgan up from school for three weeks, every week they canceled and today they forgot to tell me not to pick her up from school, so I showed up to pick her up, which takes me over 10 minutes to get there and waited for over half hour and then I finally realized she is not coming and has probably been picked up. I called and sure enough she has been picked up from school by her mom. I thought she was working? apparently not. I was not happy.

Here are a few photos we took this weekend.

Honey Run Covered Bridge Chico California from katwhite on Vimeo.

Edee is really afraid of cracks in wood, so I took a cute video of her being afraid. Poor thing, she first began being afraid after we went to Moonstone Beach one year and squirrels were poking their heads out of the wood walkway on the beach. Oh goodness I cannot stand to hear my own voice. Especially talking to the dogs.

This is a photo of the Honey Run Covered Bridge located just outside Chico California. The landscape is much more beautiful in the spring, but it's nice to take winter landscape photos as well.

Pop the photo big if you want to see it better.

Here is a photo of one of my pups Edee and me inside the bridge, look at all that real wood! so pretty.

This photo below is of Steve as you can see we are ever so close to Paradise. Who among me would like to go there?

Here is a few photos from Saturday night at the Delta King in Old Sacramento.

Behind Steve and I is the Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River.

We got a dot on this photo because we forgot to put the rubber eye cap on to keep this from happening.

Well have a great week!

Completed Vintage Art Bird and Flower Bracelets and Necklaces, Angels Too

2011-01-20T00:04:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it's less then a month from Valentine's day and it seems like we just finished with Christmas! I didn't even really think about making Valentine crafts because I felt so lazy after Christmas, but I had a burst of energy this week.

So in my last post I talked about the Ice Resin, well it works great. I love it. I think the jewelry pieces turned out really pretty, it's not an exact science but the results were pretty darn good.

You can click on this photo to make it larger. It really shows off the resin after it's set for a few days. I made this larger gold heart into a cute necklace, I am just showing the bottom part here, I added the little red bead to the chain.

Another gold Vintage Art Heart, I added a cute branch and some red beads to this necklace. I have some silver ones ready for me to add into necklaces, but I have not gotten that far yet.

Here are the gold photo frames that I used for the Victorian images instead of photos, I used pearls and cute rose bud beads.

Here is the silver Vintage art photo frame bracelets, I used pearls and the rose bud beads on these also.

Round Gold Bezel Vintage Art Bracelet

Round Silver Bezel Vintage Art Bracelet

Cute hand display to show off your jewelry. So you can find this jewelry at my website I am in the process of posting it there.

Today I went to buy a pair of shoes to wear with my purple and black dress, I was suppose to go to the store and get some black strappy sandals that you can wear with nylons, without the toe part. I found them the other day and fit perfect and great price too. When I got to the store I was distracted buy a darling pair of silver sandals that had rhinestones and beads at the top, both have a slight heal both the black and silver, I brought home the silver sandals and put them to the dress and discovered there is that toe part........darn what was I thinking! I can't bare to return them I love them so much now, so tomorrow I have to go back to the store and hopefully the last pair of black strappy sandals are still there in size 6, they were the only ones I liked that were black. I don't even own a black pair of sandals, I guess I got rid of my old ones, they were to big. I really need to get those sandals or my toes will be very cold and my legs without nylons this time of year.......

The reason I need them, is this weekend we are going to Old Sacramento to the Suspects Murder Mystery Dinner on the Delta King on the Sacramento River with our best friends Roger and Peggy. I've never been to the Mystery Dinner and either have they. The Delta King has a fantastically interesting history if you would like to read about it, it is the . If you ever come to Sacramento you definitely need to go to Old Sacramento. I don't live in Sacramento, but we live close about 40 minutes. I don't really go to Sacramento much at all these days, but I go a few times a year and usually it's always to Old Sacramento or the Zoo or something like that. I prefer my own stomping grounds up here in Placer County where the city is small and quaint.

Interesting tid bit the King and her identical twin is the Delta Queen now located now in Tenn. History here very fascinating.

One more thing.....my daughter is worrying way to much about everything. I don't think I was as bad as her when I was pregnant, because I was to young and stupid at 17 and 18 to know better. I guess the older you get the more you worry. I figured when Kirsten's child is 20, she will be the same age I am right now. She really has her hands full with Glenn's two kids and he is still in training for the truck driving. He got to come home but for one day, it's hard on the kids and Kirsten I guess they all cried when he left. Kirsten has her first prenatal appointment next week, we will know the dates better and for sure how far along she is after this appointment. She seems to feeling fine and her clothes still fit despite the fact she is somewhere between 8-9 weeks. I hope the dress I bought her still fits for the wedding they are planning in March, it will be a Justice of the Peace she says or Lake Tahoe if the weather is good for the drive there.

Until next time stay warm and cozy and read a good book. I am reading a great book right now. I can't wait to come back and tell you about our dinner! so excited!!!!

Making Vintage Art & Valentine Jewelry

2011-01-17T15:49:00.000-08:00

I started making some Vintage Art and Valentine Jewelry today using Mod Podge all in one sealer and glue. I am also going to use a product called Ice Resin, I've never tried this, so I am excited to see how it will turn out. I have my heater turned up really high at the moment to get the Ice Resin at room temperature before I begin as stated in the directions.

So here is a photo of some of the jewelry I am about to put Ice Resin on, the small square pieces are all finished and I just need to make them into beaded bracelets. The small framed art pieces can also be used to put your own personal photos in. The hearts and oval pieces I will use for necklaces and those will get the ice resin put on.

I photographed the above photo before I added the art to one of the small frames to show you what the frame looks like before you add the art or a photograph.

Below is the framed pieces, they are already to make into bracelets. I will add some beads and stretch beading wire for easy on and off cute vintage art jewelry.

I decorated the pieces with cute vintage birds and flowers shown in the above photo.

Above are the pieces I am going to use the Ice Resin on. I will do it after the house is nice and toasty warm, because it's really cold out today and I want to makes sure the resin sets correctly without bubbles, so I am currently warming up the house to a hotter temperature then what I normally keep it at.

Here is a piece of art before placing it into the jewelry frames. You can use any art you want from old magazines, used calenders, old cards, printables or even your own art.

Okay well I am off to try out the resin, I will come back in a few days and show you what I made with all this, the resin pieces will take days to dry, the others I should have ready later this week.

Have a great week.......and if you would like to check out my jewelry website where I will place the finished pieces for sale when I am done go to www.krystalkats.com, here is one I finished late this evening after posting this to my blog.
http://krystalkats.com/jewels/index.php?item=530

10 Things God Wants You To Remember

2011-01-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

1. I will give you rest
2.I will bless you
3. I will not fail
4. I will strengthen you
5. I will provide for you
6. I will answer you
7. I will be with you
8. I believe in you
9. I am for you
10. I love you

I found this "10 Things God Wants You To Remember" the other day while looking for birthday bags that we recycle over and over again through the family, one bag I needed for Kayla's birthday this last week and my moms birthday on December 31. I had not seen mom this new year yet until Friday when we spent the day together and I took her to Marie Calendars for lunch. We had a nice salad and some delicious my favorite pie of all time is the German Chocolate pie. Yummy! It's hard to believe my mom is 78 years old the grandma to 6 grand children, 4 step grandchildren and one great granddaughter, that is my granddaughter Morgan. Soon she will have two great grandkids, so I told her she needs to stay healthy this year to see the new baby that Kirsten is going to have. Oh.... you hadn't heard I am going to be a grandma again!

I wish I knew if it was a boy or girl I want to make a quilt and crochet a baby hooded blanket but I guess you don't find out until about 4 months along? I am not sure about this.

Kirsten has so many questions since she is a first time mom so I bought her a book to read. She can't believe she is pregnant, because she does not have any symptoms. She did have to go to the emergency room last week because she had horrid pain, but they found that she has a cyst on her ovary and the baby is just fine. So that was good news, it really gave us quite a fright.

Here is the quilt I am going to make as soon as I find out if it's pink or blue. It's the quilt I want to make for the baby, I love the Ohio Stars for two reason's, my mom was born in Ohio and Kirsten loves Stars.

I love this quilt just the way it is, so I don't want to change much about it, I will not be able to find fabric just like exactly like that, that would be so nice though but would only work for a girl. If it's a boy I will make it mainly blue.
My two favorite magazines are this new one called "Sew Scrappy" Quilts for Fabric Lovers by Better Homes and Garden and "Quilts and More" neither can you get a subscription so I have to look all over town for the Quilts and more usually to get one, I hardly ever find it in the area we live in, but have to travel here and there for it.

I fit right in with women my age this time around because all my friends my age are now becoming grandma's so it's so exciting! last time I was the only one my age and everyone thought Morgan was my child, one of my best friends had her own baby the year Morgan was born. To funny! Now she is both a grandma and mom to a 12 year old, it's interesting how women are having children later and later these days.

I learned a new craft this past week called quilling I love it, I plan to make an owl for my first large project & for my first smaller project I made my mom a card wit a quilled snowflake on it.
I made my own owl pattern last year and sewed Morgan an owl pillow and I will use that same pattern to make a paper quilled owl to frame and then hang on the wall. I am so excited to get started on these crafts, I just love to quilt and sew and I love paper crafts. Okay, Okay I love all crafts just about........

I'm Going to be a Grammy Again

2011-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2011!

May God's Peace be with you all this new year! Bless you all!

A photo of an ornament from our Christmas Tree.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. Psalm 4: 8

I found out I am going to be a grammy again just yesterday. I have one granddaughter who was born in 1998, Morgan, she is 12 years old. I was a very young Grammy and it was a shock then as it is now. Already this year is headed in a direction that I had not planned or thought would be quite yet. This very year by Christmas we will have a new member to the family, I just can't believe it!

Yesterday Kirsten called and said she had something to tell me, I knew right away what it was. Moms just know these things. The day before I had told my husband if we had had any children together we would have named our daughter Naomi. Today Kirsten told me if she has a girl she will name her Naomi and if it's a boy Eli. Glenn and her will get married when he gets home, all this is happening the way she said it would not happen, but it is what it is.
Glenn has been gone, he has taken a job as a trucker and has been gone a lot. Kirsten is taking care of his children while he is away. Their mother is not able to care for them, she is a drug addict, so Glenn has full custody of his children. Kirsten will be their mother.

We have the dress for Kirsten, we have the shoes for Kirsten, we just need the wedding! my family is growing so fast! Late August is the possible due date or early September for the babies arrival. Kirsten will know when she goes for her first prenatal appointment. She has begun taking her prenatal vitamins already so that is good.

I am a little nervous about all this and it has not all sunk in yet! Kirsten was shocked too because she had no symptoms what so ever, but she was having a burning feeling in her stomach and that is why she went to the Doctor yesterday. They gave her a blood test and that is how they found out she was pregnant. She never thought she could get pregnant, that is because her first husband didn't want any kids and had a vasectomy before he was 20 years old. Kirsten married him anyway out of naivety and thinking they could adopt, but he didn't want that either. He lied to her saying he did. The marriage ended. They were together about 8 years total and 3 married, so she had a false sense of security most likely about getting pregnant. I remember just at Christmas I told her to be careful and several times I said take your time, slow down.

Naturally being a Christian and having a Christian family when she told me about the baby we discussed her having the baby and dedicating it to the Lord as both her brother Shane and her have been as well as Morgan. Please remember her in your prayers today and the new baby growing inside her, that God will keep his hand on them both and have his hand in this matter. It all just makes me a bit nervous and unsettled at this point. I want to be excited, I am excited but I am so nervous about everything. I know Kirsten is too, but she says don't worry the wedding is happening ASAP.

After Christmas

2010-12-29T14:31:00.000-08:00

Steve has been off work since December 19 and just returned to work today so we've been very very busy. I decided to do a small entry with photos to describe what we've been up to.

On December 18 the kids and family came up to our house and we had Christmas together. I ordered pizza and I loved it, I was able to spend quality time with the family instead of being in the kitchen. After we ate dinner I plugged my ipod in to Steve's new Home Theater System and played music for everyone, then soon we were playing all kinds of music and everyone was dancing. It was a lot of fun and the kids were so excited.

A photo of me before my hair cut with my hair pinned up taken before Christmas with my sweetie.

Our Christmas Tree before we opened the gifts.

Here is my granddaughter Morgan with Kirsten's Fiancé's daughter Kayla and their pillow pets. Two Ladybugs.

Here is Brandon, Kirsten's Fiancé's son.

Here is a photo of everyone opening their gifts.

Mom passing out gifts to everyone with Steve and the kids.

Here is a photo of Morgan, me and my mom. this photo was taken on the 18th before my short haircut.

Here is a very blurry photo of me with my new haircut. I love it!!! my hair is naturally curly so it looks really cute with this short style.

the photo is blurry because I am learning how to use my new Christmas present a Nikon D3100 DSLR camera. I am learning more and more each day!

For Christmas I bought Steve a Home Theater System and he bought me the camera. He was not suppose to buy the camera, but that is what happens when he goes shopping without me, I get spoiled.....

After Christmas we took off to the snow about 30 minutes away.

testing out the camera not a good shot it's a bit dark.

This one turned out dark too, but I lightened it in my Adobe Photoshop Elements Program.

It was dark under the trees, we went for a walk in the snow and when we made it to the top of the hill we started falling in the snow where the sun was shining on that part of the snow, I was not sure what was under our feet so we had to turn back. I had to carry Edee the dog on the right, she hates to touch the snow, but Effie our black and red dog loves the snow.

This photo turned out good, a photo from my garden.

We went to the movies twice while Steve was off and watched two good movies. "How Do You Know" and "True Grit". We didn't pay for any of the movies we had gift certificates we put to good use.

So that's our Christmas....how was yours? ours was very very blessed.

Messiah Prophesied, Isaiah 9: 6

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Christmas Door Hanger and Funny Pets

2010-12-17T12:19:00.000-08:00

Today I had to be out of the house by 8:40 am. I had to leave early for an appointment with my allergist. I was hoping I would not have to have any more allergy shots, but that is not meant to be quite yet I guess. I have been having bad earaches at night and I have had two Doctor's look in my ears but they cannot see anything wrong. So now I have to go to a Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. Ugg! My Doctor even told me that he never heard of anyone only having earaches at night. It happens to me whatever side of my head I am sleeping on, that that side of my ear will hurt really really bad even sometimes excruciating pain. I do have the earaches during the day too, but not as much, mostly only at night when I sleep it's really Weird, though my ears are very sensitive because they hurt when it's windy and cold too. I have to wear a hat.

This weekend my family is coming over and we are having our Christmas get together. I won't be fixing any Christmas dinner this year. I am so glad to be having a year off from doing that. Once everyone gets their gifts my tree will be so naked under it except for the few presents for Steve and I. That is going to be strange because this is the first time we have done this. Anyway I am going to get pizza for everyone and have out some pies and other things. It will be so easy.

I just wanted to post my Christmas snowman door hanger I made recently to give to a friend for Christmas today. I also wanted to post some photos of my pets here today, I love to decorate them all for the holidays.....they are so cute!

Here is the door hanger I quilted for a friend of mine for a Christmas gift. It has little red Christmas bells on the bottom.

Here is my cat Tabitha hiding in our linen closet, don't mind the mess in there, I didn't know she jumped in there and was about to close the door when I seen her.

Here Tabitha is sleeping behind a pillow she pushed out of the way and I put a Christmas hat on her. She didn't even mind.

Here is a pillow pal that I bought for one of the kids and Edee and Effie went crazy over it. It's a stuffed toy and when you release the velcro it's a nice pillow.

Here is Effie checking out another pillow pal. I like this ladybug one, it's so cute!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kitchen Updates Before and After

2010-12-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

Good Morning,

It's going to be another rainy week, after a very foggy weekend. But it has not been that chilly the past few weeks. For three days I have not had to use my heater!
We had a gorgeous sunny day yesterday and was in the mid 60's.

Thank you to those who read my Christmas story, I don't have part ll yet but I hope to soon. I appreciate it. I love to tell stories, apparently those that came high tailed it out of here thinking my post was a long post, but it was actually a story.....a cute story I thought and funny and a bit sad at the same time. I really wanted that lady to have the umbrella.

Steve has four days off this week and then the week of Christmas he will be on a little vacation.
He has to take his vacation time or lose it, so he is taking it!

Steve put our sink in here are the before and after photos.

After a Granite Sink with Stainless Steel Faucet

Before, white sink and white faucet very out of place.

Well I am in a big hurry today so I will try to come back later in the week for another post. Have a great week!

Christmas Stories-The Old Lady in the Hot Pink Pants

2010-12-08T22:02:00.000-08:00

It was a rainy day in early December when my husband and I decided to go Christmas shopping. We had just paid off a bill and and I thought we should treat ourselves to a special gift for Christmas and for sticking to our budget and getting another bill paid off before moving on to the last bill, so a bit of celebration was in order. We decided to get Steve a new Blue Ray Home Theater System to replace his 10 year old system. And for our house we decided to get a granite sink and stainless steel faucet since we had been working so hard in the kitchen this year to upgrade it and take down that ugly tacky wall-border. This would be the finishing touch and a cherry on top and to finally remove after 7 years the ugly white porcelain sink that didn't match or granite at all with white faucet in our kitchen.

It was Wednesday and I asked my husband if he would like to go out for breakfast before going shopping, he said yes he would love that. So we decided on Mimi's Cafe. We had a nice breakfast there and lots of hot delicious coffee. I was in the mood for sharing old memories of my teenage years about how busy I was working and being happy in the youth group at the Orangevale Assembly of God Church singing in the choir and traveling and singing in many other Assembly of God Church's back in the late 70's. How I baby-sat a little boy with a glass eye that had to be taken out each night before he went to bed and how this grossed me out at first, but eventually as long as I didn't have to touch it it was fine with me. How I read him stories before bed with his eye out. It was interesting. I also went on about how I worked as a waitress for my friend Annette's mom's restaurant on the weekends and I told Steve how later I wanted to work so bad that I asked my mom to take me to a Restaurant that had a add in the paper that was hiring for an interview. I didn't get that job because I was to young, but it was my first interview. I would also go on a two week adventure back backing in the Sierra Mountains for summer school credit through a science class so I could graduate early and get on with my life. This was an amazing trip! we would walk through the high Sierra mountains every day cooking and sleeping in our little pup tents, learning how to survive in nature. The water was freezing and it was July and there was still snow on the ground. We had to do everything out doors and I mean everything, except sleeping in our tiny pup tents. I am extremely afraid of bears and luckily we never seen not one.

After breakfast Steve and I went to the post office so I could send a package to a jewelry customer of mine. It already had the label on it and so we just had to drop it and go, thus avoiding the long Christmas lines at the post office.

On the way to the post office I seen an old lady that was very tall and slender, it was raining outside and she was wearing a bright red long style rain coat and hot pink pants and carrying an old pocket book that looked to be an evening bag from the 1950's. She had on a bright red cap that looked knitted on her head and she was wearing make-up and looked physically very healthy. I would say she was at least 80 years old, if not older. The umbrella she was holding over her head was completely useless, the nylon fabric was completely falling off the frame of the umbrella, but she was proudly carrying the umbrella as if it was working perfectly.

I told my husband Steve it would nice if we bought her a new umbrella. After we left the post office we set off to find the old lady in the hot pink pants, last we seen her she was headed in the direction of the grocery store. We thought about how we might give her an umbrella. I told Steve she might be quite proud and will not except this umbrella from us once we purchase it, so we discussed how we might approach her once we found her. But our thoughts would not match up to the way it went down once we did find her.

First we decided to get the umbrella so we went into a CVS Pharmacy, I think that is the name of this Pharmacy and we found a bright red umbrella to match her coat. We purchased it and now we had to find her, we looked everywhere in the shopping center, as I told Steve I felt like we were casing the joint.
The little old lady in the hot pink pants was no where to be found. I told Steve lets go..... I know God will show me her again, he always brings people back to me that he wants me to help. "So if it is God's will for us to help her, I will see her again someday" I said.
Then I reminded him of another time I was to help a disabled vet man that was mentally challenged and how God told me to invite him to Thanksgiving dinner while I was in the grocery store and how I told God no that's just silly, then days later he showed up at our church service for the very first time, and I went over to introduce myself to him and asked him for his phone number and told him he was invited to Thanksgiving day dinner at our house. He did come to dinner and I will never know why God wanted me to do this, but I know that he did and I did eventually obey him and perhaps this was to proof to this man that God really does exist. He spent Thanksgiving with my family that year I think it was 2004.

So I put the umbrella down in our SUV and off we went onto the HWY to begin our great shopping adventure of which I was really excited that I had finally talked Steve into allowing us to get him this Christmas gift of the Home Theater System. Steve loves to give gifts, but he does not like to get them it seems.
All of sudden there walking along the HWY on a dangerous part of the road on a wintery December day was the old lady in the hot pink pants. I told Steve "there she is!", I said,
"where," he said, I said "there" and he once again said "where", he said it again and I again pointing in the direction of her each time I said there, finally he seen her. In order for us to get to her we would have to turn at the light and make a left u-turn. We waited and waited at the light for it to turn green for us to go and finally it did, but not until she got all the way down the block. Steve drove up where he thought she might walk, but once again she eluded us and had turned down onto a small street leading towards the grocery store parking lot. Steve stopped the SUV and I jumped out and ran towards the old woman in the hot pink pants, I had no idea what I was going to say, but she was getting away from me so I had to hurry to catch up to her, finally I yelled out, "hello ma'am!" she quickly turned around and in a sharp tone, said "What do you want"!, of which I can understand her tone with me that she might have been frightened by a stranger running up behind her yelling out ma'am! ma'am!
So I said to her "I noticed your umbrella ma'am is falling apart, so I would like to give you this one" as I held out the bright red umbrella all shiny and new. She said "oh no, these people in this neighborhood make you pay a tip for that." I knew at this moment she was not quite right, so what to say next was running through my head. I said, "oh no that is not going to happen ma'am, this is a gift for you and you do not have to pay for it at all and it's red like your coat."
She said once again "no you don't know these people in this neighborhood they will make you pay a tip".
I said "ma'am this is a gift from God, he wants you to have the umbrella." Then she was really mad at me I could see by her reaction and frustration in her body movements and eyes that I was pestering her on her nice little walk in the rain. She said to me very sharply "I think you should save the money for yourself and go get the roots on your head bleached they are starting to show through!" and then she quickly turned and walked away into the rain. I stood there for a second, kind of embarrassed because I knew people could see this going on, but then I started to laugh knowing that God wanted me to do this and he knows I am relentless and so I put the umbrella back in the SUV and told Steve what she said and we laughed and laughed all the way to the store for our Christmas shopping adventure.

I know God will lead me back to the little old lady in the hot pink pants. I know about where she lives, our town is rather small and I know I can find out who she is and bring the umbrella to her old little house and put it on the porch or I can try approaching her again. However it happens I know that God is in control of all things and even though she didn't except God's gift today, perhaps tomorrow she will.

Please note I am not a professional writer and I know many will critique my writing skills, English and punctuation, and that's okay. I personally am a believer in working with what you got, so I do and did. I only say this because I have been criticized before by those much smarter then I in English and writing. I have a desire to write, but I have not yet pursued to perfect this great skill, so until I do please be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet.

I hope you enjoyed the story? it is completely all true and when I find the little old lady in the hot pink pants I hope this story will have a happy ending and she might receive the gift of the umbrella that God wanted me to give and be dry on her next walk in the rain.

Here is a photo I took the day before yesterday around the corner from my house with a little bit of snow on the top of the Sierra Mountains after our wonderful cold freezing weather we had a few weeks ago. I was thinking I should have taken this photo last week when you could see the snow at a much higher elevation it was picture perfect.

Would you like to enter my free give-a-way??? See the previous post it's free and painless!

http://www.she-was-old-fashioned.com/2010/12/krystal-kats-give-way-coffee-candy-gift.html

Krystal Kat's Give-A-Way, Coffee, Candy, Gift Card Who Can Resist!

2010-12-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

Okay here is a Give-A-Way and it's pretty easy to enter this one. It's all you have to do is one thing.

Do you have a Facebook site? if so then click this link and click the like button, find the photo on this photo on the Facebook wall of Krystal Kat's and post under the photo that you want to be in the give-a-way. That's it you're entered. Good Luck and Merry Christmas!

Here is the link to my Facebook site.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KrystalKats/121771004552684?created

Merry Christmas!

One Cold November

2010-11-30T22:44:00.000-08:00

Golly gee........ I am sure feeling much better about things. I think God is answering my prayers and I think I am almost done with this nagging problem. Praise the Lord!

I have started to keep a prayer journal and I will try to write in it each evening or morning. I think that will help me a lot with my feelings and emotions which I have a hard time with my emotions.

I love this verse from the bible Psalms 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.

This is from the New International Version although I normally read the King James bible.

What a crazy world in which we live and it can sometimes be completely overwhelming. I am so glad I have Jesus to help me along the way.

I love to listen to Hal Lindsey and read the Rapture Alert. Both very interesting Christian websites.

It sure is very cold for November.....I was going to take a photo of the snow capped mountains but I had to pick Morgan up from school today and dashed out of the house to get her and forgot my camera. I took her shopping for her Christmas present. She will not get them yet, but I needed her foot with us. She has grown so tall, she is about 5'4" tall now and her feet are huge at size 11 or 12 in women's! She wanted boots but try as we might several times now we have not been able to find boots that fit her feet. So today she picked out two pairs of sneakers by Converse and another popular brand. They are really cute shoes. She was happy but not happy that she could not have them yet, I said patience my dear and she said I don't like patience, I said yeah I know what you mean I am not a fan either sometimes but we must have it. She picked out some bright neon colored socks, so she wanted to take those home since she could not take home the 2 pairs of sneakers and I said that would be okay. So she was happy and sweet today we had a nice day together. When I get her alone she is as good as gold. I made her put her cell phone away and said be with the one your with. She is a constant texter and she is only 12 years old.

I got home at 6pm and I made dinner it had to be quick, so I made Pork Chop Apple Bake it's a quick easy delicious dinner.

Here is how you make it. Cook 4 pork chops in extra virgin olive oil with salt and pepper until no longer red. In baking dish put in a can of your favorite Bush Baked Beans, I use bold and spicy.
Then put in about 4 or 5 cored and skins removed Fuji apples on top the beans and slice them as you would for pie, you can add a bit of sugar and cinnamon if you like. I do not do this because I do not like mine sweet. Lay your pork chops on top of the apples and beans and bake covered in foil for about 40 minutes and 10 uncovered at 350 F.

I got Kirsten's shoes for her wedding and her dress will be here Friday. She and Glenn have decided to elope because Glenn lost his job and had to take a job with a trucking company and will be traveling for 10 weeks at a time. Kirsten will be caring for his two children while he is away. So when he returns in February I think they might elope. I picked out Kirsten's dress for her and shoes and was surprised she allowed me to choose this dress for her. It's so pretty! I love the shoes too she is gonna be so pretty. I think she is so brave to take on all this, I am not sure I could do it. She is so much like her step father my husband Steve! it's amazing!!!!
When we met and married Steve got two kids too!
Here is her wedding dress, I hope it will fit her well it's just darling. Here are the shoes t-strap glitzy sandals.

To bad I cannot download the sandals and dress photos but instead only link to them. I liked it in the old days when you could take the photo of the item you were buying and save it your computer and put it on your website.

In any event Kirsten and Glenn will probably run off to Lake Tahoe to get married, that is what everyone does around here for quick weddings, it's so close to us and so beautiful. Steve and I got married there across from the Lake one July day in 1988 on the California side of Lake Tahoe. I didn't want to get married in Nevada. I wonder what Kirsten will do?

Well I figured out why my son does not like that I am not cooking on Christmas! because his wife is working that day. Morgan talks a lot and I don't have to say a thing but learn so much! LOL! she was just rambling on and on and said how her dad cannot live without her mom and he depends on her to do so much for him. Kids say the funniest things and a lot of what they say when they are thinking out loud is so true.

We are going to hang Christmas lights this weekend and decorate for Christmas. Next week we have a bit of Christmas shopping to do for us! we are going to put a cherry on top for our kitchen remodel this year (well kind of), more of a updating and new appliances because our stove that came in the house 7 years ago broke and so that started a whole make-over in the kitchen, but we are thinking of getting a new sink and faucet. Right now we have stainless steel appliances with a white sink and it does not match the granite counter top, so we are going to get a beige sink and stainless steel faucet. Steve wanted all stainless steel but I thought that would be ugly.... so we had to compromise, he could have a stainless steel faucet that I use! LOL and I would get the beige porcelain sink. He didn't care for the new granite sinks at all they have out and they are suppose to be very sanitary. I really like them but they won't match our granite anyway and I don't want to clash granite.
Here is the before and after photos of the kitchen dining room with wall border and without. So much less busy now. I am not sure I ever took any photos of the stainless steel appliances because they were hard to photograph, besides I am not one to get excited about appliances. I do get excited about clothes, dishes and beads though.

Have a great December!
"Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things,
but just look what they can do when they stick together.,, -Vista M. Kelly

Turkey Leftovers

2010-11-29T14:13:00.000-08:00

Steve cooked two turkey's in our new indoor electric turkey fryer by Masterbuilt. Here is what it looks like, click here. We did not pay that much for ours not even close. We cooked it in Peanut oil and the turkey was the moistest turkey we've ever had and it cooked in 45 minutes!
I didn't take any photos on Thanksgiving and Kirsten wanted to know why? Wow are you kidding me! I was so busy cooking and cleaning. With the new additions to our family I am thinking it's time to pass the torch. Having one granddaughter is easy, but having two extra kids during the holidays is a lot and it's not gradual when one day you are a rather small family and the next your daughter is dating a man with 2 kids.
The more Steve and I try to fit everyone for the holidays the more problems arise. Before we had all the food on the small old table in our kitchen dining area and put the fold out tables in the great room and we would all eat in there, now we had the reverse going on, everyone sat at the new big table and we had the food in the great room and we cannot fit everyone at the new table either so three have to sit in the great room anyway which they are alienated from the rest of us.
It would be nice to be able to have a huge dining room or large family room, but this house is plenty large enough for Steve and I at around 1700 square feet. 3 bedrooms all large rooms except one and the great room and large kitchen and a nice laundry room inside the house not like our old house that had the laundry room in the garage. We also have a super large 3 car garage. My husband and father in law put cabinets out there so we have tons of storage.

So for Christmas I have decided to not do Christmas at our house, but instead do a Christmas eve gathering, but Kirsten would not be able to come, so I changed it to December 18. Both my son and daughter are not happy about this, they like Christmas day celebration. I feel bad for them, but it's the way it is and it feels right for me to finally say it's getting to much for me. I think that's okay.

I talked to Steve about it and we had a nice long talk.....we decided to stick with my thoughts of passing the torch at least at Christmas or just do a Christmas eve gathering or as close to Christmas as we can get it. The kids will have to take it from here. For the Christmas gathering I will order Pizza and that way it will be so much easier on me.

I think on Christmas day Steve and I are going out to dinner with some friends of ours that are empty nesters also and bringing my mom. I have been cooking Thanksgiving and Christmas since I was 21 years old. Time for me to retire from doing both and only do one or the other for now on.

So what did you do with your leftover turkey? I made Turkey Tortilla soup it was really good. It made a big pot so we get to eat it again tonight.

I used the recipe from this website.

Remember how I have talked over and over again about how it's been a difficult year for me? I bet some of you wonder what I am talking about after all some of it has been financial yet we are still doing okay even with Steve's $30,000.00 loss to our income in the past 2 years. We are thankful to God for keeping us afloat but all my problems have not been financial, much of it has been way beyond money but more about something that happened this year and it's been really hard on me mentally. I have anguished and prayed over and over about it, yet it won't seem to go away. I do pray that God will resolve this soon I am feeling quite spent over it. Now many people would be ruined with a $30,000.00 loss to their income it is only by the grace of God that we have not. I just ran into a old friend this morning that told me he lost everything these past two years except family and beans! he told me many people would commit suicide but not him, he was happy eating beans. He always makes me laugh... it was my old neighbor.

This probably might be my last post this month so until December have a great week!

Lights

2010-11-18T13:25:00.000-08:00

Kia and Jeanna from Happy Snappy has a little thing going on called Guest Blogger Month where you can submit a photo that represents light to you. I thought I would try it because I just bought some new lights for my Christmas Tree. For like 10 years I have had white lights on the tree only, I am bored with white lights and notice that color is back in. Yay!
So here is the photo I submitted although it's not exactly as I had planned, but it reminds me of lights and the holidays of course and my favorite winter mug with the snowman on a handmade mitten coaster, which you can't see all that well.

We are almost ready for Christmas, I only have a few gifts to get. I do not like to shop after Thanksgiving. I have three kids to buy for this year with Kirsten's Fiancée Glenn's two and my own granddaughter Morgan. I am afraid I am spoiling Kirsten my daughter though this year because I bought her quite a few things and then a pair of darling silver rhinestone shoes and I am also paying for her wedding dress. My husband does not think I should do it because she has been married before and in 2006 she had a big wedding to her first husband. But I just want to see her happy and be beautiful the day of her next wedding because there are so many things I would have loved to have changed in my own life and I am very happy with my second husband Steve and wish her the same happiness that I have had.
I do not like divorce at all and when I got married the first time I thought it would be forever, but I was 17 and that was just not meant to be.
I just felt that this gift of the dress and shoes is a gesture of my desire to see her happy. My husband is usually the one that is the BIG spoiler but this time it's me. LOL! although I do spoil Morgan a lot, but she is my only grandchild so far.

Tomorrow I am going to see my granddaughter Morgan and daughter Kirsten. We are going to meet near the mall. We are going to have a little snack (probably frozen yogurt), and then walk around the mall for awhile. I am going to bring my camera so I can take some photos if I see anything interesting.

Steve and I got a indoor deep fryer for Turkey or other foods, but it holds a turkey up to 14 lbs. We bought two turkey's to cook in the fryer for Thanksgiving. You use peanut oil so it's healthy and the turkey cooks in about 45 minutes or about 1 hour for the size turkey we have. So it's going to be pretty easy to cook two turkeys'.

I'm looking forward to the holidays because it's been a strange year and I love the holidays.. and enjoy getting the family all together. Although Easter Sunday is my favorite celebration because it marks the day Jesus Christ was resurrected after spending three days in his tomb.

Have a great weekend!

Blueberry Muffins

2010-11-16T01:11:00.000-08:00

I just felt like making some yummy Blueberry muffins. I love blueberries. Did you know that blueberries are a super food? Here is a list of super foods. Be sure to eat your super foods!

It's not a good photo because of the shadows...but the muffins still look yummy.

Blueberry Muffins Recipe

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups Gold Medal Flour

1/4 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh blueberries or 3/4 cup well drained frozen thawed blueberries

Heat oven to 400 F. Grease bottoms only of 12 muffin cups. Beat egg; stir in milk and oil. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt just until flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Immediately remove from pan.

Lots of people are now getting their Health Insurance open enrollment information and are finding their insurance has been cancelled or raised or Insurance completely modified to be only Catastrophe Insurance. I am really hoping and praying that the new elected leaders and those that remain get us back on track with our health insurance and get this economy back healthy again and stop spending money and creating new entitlement programs we can't afford. We will get our bad news or hopefully not so bad news in the spring. I pray it will not be bad. I really love our insurance plan. I get so angry when I think about how our insurance has been messed with. Now that Steve and I are getting older and have paid into health insurance all these years it might be that we end up with completely unacceptable insurance and completely insufficient to our needs. But not to worry the playing field was just made even, so everyone is equal, even if they have not earned it. Now because of this government my husband I must suffer. Great!

Try teaching this method to a child with his Christmas presents, halloween candy or grades that he earned. It's called Socialism and I say no thank-you!

I might add that my husband and I give what we want to give and we don't need the government to take from us to give to others. It might work great for them, but it's not working great for us.

In our own budgets all across the country many people have had to cut back. Our government works for us not the reverse, but these days it seems we work for them when their salaries are higher along with great pensions and perks. The private sector middle class American job is under assault. But the government votes themselves raises and tries to tax us for more pet projects. I am really sick of it. I find it absolutely disgusting and down right immoral that our Unties States of America Government has done this to the American people. But I guess you can say it's our fault for voting for the leaders we have, there is a saying that folks get the government they deserve. In other words vote wisely.

Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821) wrote in 1811: “Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle merite.” ("Every nation has the government it deserves.")

1 Timothy 2:1-2, says we should pray for everyone, including "kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives."

In the mood to take a quiz to see how much you know about the bible? They say that atheist and agnostic do better on this test then Christians. I got 54%. I only did it once but afterwards if you go through all the reading you can see the answers. As I was reading the answers I noticed my first instinct was right on many of the questions I missed. So go with your instinct or first thought. Take the test and tell me what percentage you got. Here is the link. I took it a second time, not reading the answers and got 73%. I will have to look later at what I am missing, but much of it is about other religions which I do not know those answers.

Happy Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

Today is the day to Honor Veteran's that have served our great country. I would like to say Thank you to those I know and don't know that protect and defend so we are able to live the life's we do.

My dad now deceased is a Veteran. He served in Korea twice and Vietnam in the USAF Air Force. When he retired he retired a Sr Master Sergeant which I hear is hard to get. He did many things during his service in the Air Force. For a time he was a recruiter and in Vietnam he was a historian of the war. He had many other jobs in the Air Force as well.

We traveled the world with my dad. When I was born in Dover Delaware that very year we lived four places. Of course Delaware and then onto Ohio and then the Bay area Northern CA and from there onto France for nearly four years. Traveling was fun, but hard to make friends only to lose them.

Many times I was without my dad in my life it was very hard on me. Here is a little poem that expresses my feelings a bit.

I Miss You

I miss you in the morning,
I miss you late at night,
But I know what you are doing
Is good and just and right.

You’re always in my thoughts;
I hope that you can see
I’m proud of you for serving
Our country, God, and me.

And when you’re home again
I won’t miss you anymore,
But I’ll always admire your courage
For fighting in this war.

By Joanna Fuchs
I support the Wounded Warrior Project.
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

My Dad Norman Eyles Carter Jr.

My dad was born December 20, 1933 Chicago Illinois - Died August 2004 in San Antonio Texas

Here is a bit about my dad. My dad was born in the city of Chicago Illinois and he was a street kid, always in trouble and pretty tuff, he claims he had a ruff childhood and from what I hear it was.

I have never lived in a big city, but from photos of Chicago even back when my dad was born the city is crowded. I personally freak out in the city, any big city.

I feel very fortunate to live in rural areas most of my life or small cities.

My grandfather served in the Army his dad, also Norman Eyles Carter Sr. and his father before him Henry Carter served in the Army and his father before him William H. Carter served in the civil war. All these Carter men lived and worked in Chicago Illinois.

I have a photo of each one of them except William H. Carter that served in the civil war. He was the first Carter to arrive to Chicago from our family moving there from Athens New York. He married Susan Eyles born in England.

Here is a photo of my grandfather and great grandfather. As I stated I have no photo of my great great grandfather William H. Carter.

Norman Eyles Carter Sr.

Henry Carter with wife Effie Myrtle Smith Carter

This is Henry Carter with wife Effie, she has the same name as my dog. LOL! not being rude, I did it because we have a dog named Edie and Effie sounded good with that name. I do not know who the little child is in the photo, but it is one of my great grandmother's granddaughters.

It would be nice to come across a photo of my great great grandfather William H. Carter, perhaps I can eventually by searching the photo archives of the civil war. The Internet is great for this!

Did the name Norman Eyles Carter stop with my dad? nope it was passed one more time to my youngest brother Norman Eyles Carter III, he had no sons, but two daughters.

Eyles is a middle name used for the Carter men, but was actually a last name that was passed all the way down into the 5th generation. That is amazing! it was my great great grandmothers last name and made for easy tracking of the family back to England.

Have a great Veteran's Day!

Old Sacramento

2010-11-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

Good Sunday morning, what a rainy day! yesterday was so pretty the sun was shining and it was a gorgeous California day in November.

I have not been online much, spending time doing other things, sometimes it's good to not blog but get things done and move around a lot. I need to do that and often. I am wiggle worm anyway.

For those wanting the recipes to the Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin Pie you can find them at Libby's website. I just used recipes on the backs of the Libby Pumpkin cans. I made the original pumpkin pie recipe and the pumpkin bread recipe, it had walnuts in it.

It was a fantastic election across the land in the USA last week. Steve and my family were excited about the historic elections last week and the resulsts, it stopped at California. Keep California in your prayers, things are not great here. I guess that depends on who you ask, but for average person like us it's a huge struggle to dodge the taxes they want to impose upon us. We cleaned house locally, so thankful for that. One proposition that was passed here will give them the power to do just that, tax us anytime they want. I think people did not understand the proposition.

Friday Steve and I drove to Old Sacramento to go to the California History Museum underground tour of old Sac but they were sold out of the tour tickets and we were the first in the door, they apparently sold out online but it did not say that, nor did it say to purchase your tickets beforehand or call. It was not organized well at all. In any event we made the best of it and walked around and then had lunch at the Joe's Crab Shack this is my favorite restaurant.

I always love trying on goofy glasses when I go to Old Sacramento so this is my tradition.

Here is what I ate, crab cakes with fries and coleslaw, yummy!

Photos of Old Sacramento the Tower Bridge

Below My Favorite Restaurant Joe's Crab Shack

Steve and I in front of the Tower Bridge our photo was taken by a happy Canadian tourist.

On the Sacramento River

Nope this proposition didn't pass the marijuana initiative in California we didn't need another societal ill. So hopefully this ashtray will be retired.

Well that's about it for our day in Old Sacramento. Hope you have a great week!

He Went to Jared

2010-10-23T22:52:00.000-07:00

I have not posted in quite awhile because I have not really had much to say. Been a bit quiet I guess. We have not been taking road trips, but we've been busy around the house and Steve is working on a car to sell. He is actually finished with it this weekend, but we have to wait to get the pink slip from CA DMV before we can sell it. He put a new engine in it and did some other work. The car is a blue Saturn. He does this about three times a year making a few grand. It's a nice way for him to make some extra money and keeps him busy doing something he likes to do.

Well it's official Kirsten and Glenn are engaged and she has a beautiful ring! Last Sunday Glenn came up to the house to ask Steve for Kirsten's hand in marriage and funny thing.......she didn't know he came! I had to wait until Wednesday when he proposed to her, she said yes and they have planned a June wedding of 2011.
She already knows what dress she wants, so we have an appointment to look at the dress late November. I think we picked out a pair of silver shoes too, but we will see.

We had some excitement this week, it was sad excitement though. A arsonist kid age 23 started a fire at the Galleria Mall Roseville CA on Thursday. The fire spread and the roof at Macy's caved in and water and a mess ruined the mall and no one can go into the mall and shop. It's a huge mall in Placer County CA. Federal agents have been called in to investigate the Galleria Mall.
They said that all the stores will have to salvage off their inventory and it be sold and also the people that work there are without jobs. That's a lot of people. It's devastating to our area.
I had been at the mall just last week on Saturday with Glenn's daughter Kayla and had planned to go there again with Morgan on Thursday, but that didn't happen. I had taken Kayla shopping and bought her an outfit and jacket just last Saturday and was at the mall on Monday again or was it Tuesday? can't remember now. I had started some Christmas shopping this week and planned on going there again to Christmas shop with Morgan, vowing not to shop online this year. I still won't shop online this year, but I will have to drive to another mall or shop at Khol's or whatever I can find that is closer then driving into Sacramento.

I did get to see Morgan on Thursday though, but we went to the DQ and then to the park and walked around. It was a beautiful park that I used to take Morgan to when she was a young and also my kids.

Our trip to the pumpkin patch was cancelled due to rain today and tomorrow we can't go ether because it is going to rain then also. Gees....... everything we plan is just not happening. I hope next week will be nice weather, it just went from warm weather to chilly rainy weather, My dogs are not happy. I love chilly weather but I love the sun. I don't like rain or cloudy days. I am so spoiled by the sun we have in California. Were we live the sky is so beautiful this time of year with big fluffy fall clouds and when the sun shines it's so pretty.

Steve took down the border at the top of the wall and the results...... gorgeous!

Above after the wall border was taken down.

Fruit Wall Hanging

Before, the wall border was up and it was to busy......Steve had to remove it, what a mess it was. Never again will I put up a wall border.

Yummy Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Nut Bread I baked and put on the new table then we devoured it! well not all at once.

Gourds for fall decoration in the kitchen

I had to add this one last photos of the crystal suncatchers I make. I am starting to take photos of them outside on sunny days. You have to click on it to see it's full beauty. Sure beats the indoor photos. It's so hard to photograph jewelry I have to make a lightbox so I don't get all those ugly shadows. I found some great directions for taking photos indoors using the lightbox. Here is the link in case anyone is interested, it would be good for other things as well as you will see when you click this link. It's so easy to make I must try it.

Have a great weekend!

Prayers go up and blessings come down.
Yiddish Proverb

Crazy Days

2010-10-04T23:21:00.000-07:00

I still have not been able to get my gmail account back from the hackers, google is no help.

Today I got a phone call from my second cousin Martin thinking maybe the scam might be real or maybe he better call me, so he called me but only after he sent them an email back. I pray everything will be okay for him and I have sent out everyone emails that I know to send to, but some were not in my contacts but on Facebook. I feel so terrible about this. I have had so many friends contact me and also my cousins on my moms side of the family. They are the sweetest people you would ever want to meet everyone of them, but my dads side is so aloof, even my dad was aloof, apparently a family trait.

I am crocheting some fingerless mittens right now and enjoying the fabulous fall weather. I made these cute pumpkin earrings to give to my mom and friends.

My plans for the week are to go to the grocery store, give the dogs a bath and get their nails trimmed. Perhaps pay bills, that would be the wise thing to do on payday.

I plan on getting together with my daughter and her boyfriend and kids for some fall outings.

This weekend I had a birthday lunch with Shane, Morgan my mom and me at a place called Chicago Fire. It was nice.

My writing style is matter of factly because I am just so frustrated about all the problems of the hack and email fiasco and other problems going on.
Lately it is just hard to concentrate and I have to try really hard to focus. I swear this is an awful year. But like I said in my last post it could be worse, and I refuse to be a defeatist. I am aware that I have not written about the details of my situations, but it is best to keep some things to ones self at times and not share everything openly that is your mind. I have certainly learned that from the past...well at least I have learned that....wink!

However on the other hand I have seen God's hand in my life and he has definitely guided me through as much of this as I have allowed him to. The only times he has not guided me is when I thought I could do it better I guess, and when would that be you ask? well never of course because God can always do it better then I can. Okay there was a little emotion. Wew! I thought I was becoming aloof like my dad.

Here is two beautiful photos to show you the clouds and the moon. I like them both this time of year, I am tired of the hot sun.

These photos were taken from my garden. I don't take the greatest night shots, but this one was fair.

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
Helen Keller

Have a beautiful week! ~Kat