Ideas, ideas

Thanks to my friend Julie, I have gotten interested in pinterest.  There are so many lovelies on there!
It inspires me to make things!  Ideas, too many ideas can be overwhelming.  Where do you start? What do you want to do first?  Do you have what you need on hand, etc., etc., etc!

I had brought quite a bit of my mom's craft supplies back with me.  Buttons, doillies, ribbon roses, that sort of thing.  She does not craft that much any more and I like to have choices when I am making something.  Today I unloaded the items from the box  and put everything where it is supposed to go in the craft room.

I had also done some thrift store shopping while in Michigan.  Prices there, MUCH cheaper than here in Tampa.  I got a couple of cute slip dresses and short crocheted sweaters, to make a couple of outfits for my etsy shop.  In the shabby, boho, cowgirl style.  I started the dyeing process yesterday.  I love dyeing things.  I have used rit dye since I was a teenager, with great results.  Yesterday was NOT my day.
                                                                                                                                                              The color guide on the rit website steered me wrong.  Well I guess it can be the computer and my eyes, too!.  Was trying for olive green.  Used a combo of kelly green, lemon yellow and sunshine orange.  The color was NOT olive and the little underslip came out ORANGE!  If this had been my first dyeing project I probably would never have attempted it again!  The color did not take evenly either.  So, I started over.  Bleached the dress back to white.  Slip remained orange even after bleach.
So I cut the slip out.  I decided to go with a smoky lavender color instead.  And today it came out beautifully! 

So, I will make a list of what I want to make and start there!   My boss will be back in the office this week, so back to a normal routine- and being TIRED!  The list will probably be as far as the creating gets! :-)

Marietta

Kitty cats

When I was in Michigan I got cat advice from my friend Julie and her family.  She has always had cats, and actually thought that I did not like cats!  Me, who now has 3 in my home??
Her advice is that I have to let the three kitties work things out for themselves and not over protect Gemma.  VERY hard for me.  On Monday I let Yoshi go in to the bedroom, he and Gemma touched noses, she hissed and turned to walk away and he chased her!  That makes me SO mad!  My family said, " I needed to get over it!"

                                                   Abby- a sweetie

Abby affectionately known as "little girl"

but NOT so little! :-)

Yoshi loves being a baby on Amanda's lap

A face only a Mamma can love!

But you can't stay mad at him!

 

So we will see how it all goes in

Kittyville!

 

Marietta

 

 

Back Home

I got home last eve from Michigan.  There were a few days with sunshine, and several with cloudy, cold, drizzly.  It is those latter days that make me glad I now live in Florida.  I was chilly there! But the fall colors were beautiful!

My Mom was doing okay.  For the first time in my life she seemed old to me.  Losing my Dad is devastating to all of us.  When my brother and sister in law came over we discussed different memories of my Dad and that was nice, things I had not heard.  My brothers were 17, 12 and 8 when I was born.  I grew up from the time I was 8 without my brothers in the house. Our Dad had mellowed a lot by the time I came along.  There is a void there that can never be filled, but I dealt with being there a lot better than I thought I would.

I got to spend time with my sweet,dear friend Julie.  We have known each other since we were 3 or so.
She got me through the painful teen years!  Last year she gave me strength through my Dad's loss.  It is nice to have a friend who loves you no matter what, and she is that kind of friend!

The trees were all orange and yellow.  The beans in the fields were combined and the fields disked afterward.  The corn was still standing waiting for its turn.  One morning I walked out to get the paper and all you could hear was the sound of the birds. So serene.I decided after 32 years in the city I do miss the country and my small town roots- if only it was NOT cold there!

 

Frost in the front yard

 

This tree is always lovely!

 

 

Even though there was frost, my Mom's flowers

stayed nice!

 

Marietta

 

 

 

 

 

October

October is here and will fly by.  I am leaving tomorrow morning to Michigan to visit my Mom.  Looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time.  It will be one year on October 30 since my Dad passed away.  Somehow I think this visit will be harder than the one in March.

Our daughter went to London and Amsterdam in September and is traveling again next week, too.
She is a bridesmaid in her best friend Jen's wedding next week and is very excited. Her dress should be back in our hands tomorrow after alterations!

My husband will have cat duty while we are both gone.  We had made some slight forward progress, but last weekend took a couple steps back in them getting along.  Maybe I am too protective of Gemma(my kitty), but that is my nature in all things that I love, so . . .

 

This is the mad hatter costume I made.

It is for sale in my Etsy shop.

 

 

                                                        Gemma, helping with the blog!

                                                            Yoshi & Abby

Recipe-Banana Bars

This recipe is  my mother-in-law's.  These banana bars were a staple in my husband's home when he was growing up.  They are quick and easy.  There are always too ripe bananas around and these bars are yummy!

 

Banana Bars

 

1/2 c. butter or margarine

1 1/2 c. sugar

2-3 ripe mashed bananas

2 eggs

3/4 c. sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 c. flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

 

 

Cream buter and sugar, add eggs and sour cream.

Add mashed bananas.

Add vanilla, flour, salt and baking soda.

 

Lightly grease a cookie sheet( with sides).

Pour batter into pan.

 

Bake at 350 degress

approximately 30 min.

ovens vary.  I start checking at 20 mins.

 

You may eat them plain or frost them,

Cut into bars when cooled.

 

 

 

I used agave and white granulated sugar

 

 

Add in the eggs and mix until creamy

 

 

 

Mash the ripe bananas in a separate bowl.

try not to leave big chunks.

 

 

Add in sour cream (I used light) and mashed bananas.

 

 

 

Next the dry ingredients.

 

But sure you are using baking SODA not baking powder.

The soda comes with the orange label.

 

Spread evenly onto a cookie sheet.  A 9 x 13 pan would be okay too.

You would need to bake a little longer.

 

 

Bake until golden brown.

 

Ready to eat!

 

Enjoy!