Later,

Debbie

Oink, oink, oink

This little piggy went to market...

David took me shopping today.  He didn't buy me anything for my birthday because he didn't know what I wanted. 

And what did I want?  That's right, you know it:

Say it all together now...FABRIC!  As much as I could get!  *snort*

So...wanna see?

                                      

                                        

                                         

                                          

                                                 

                                                         *Doing the happy dance!*

 

I know, I know...I have lots of fabric...and now...I have these!

But what you don't know...yet...is that I also ordered some more from equilter.  They had a 50% off sale online (that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!)

And...I may order some more from etsy!

And...Hancock's has Warm and Natural batting 50% off tomorrow and I'm going to buy a box.  Gotta have batting to make quilts with all this fabric! 

And...David and William are taking me to AllSteak in Cullman Saturday night.  We were suppose to go on my birthday, but an unfortunate incident messed that up.  (I won't go into it, but it was bad, bad, bad...made me sad.)  I think William will be bringing his new girlfriend *squeal*...lol!  I'll be nice...I promise.   I'm really happy he has one, everybody needs somebody.  (As for his ex-girlfriends?  Ummm...less said the better!)

I want to apologize again for the ellipsis (...'s).  I use them because it's the way I talk. "Talk, talk, talk...(pause)...talk more...(pause for emphasis)...talk!"  Oh...and while I'm at it...I'll also apologize for the exclamation marks.  I'm really not illiterate, I did go to college.  And I even had an "A" in English Comp.  For that matter, I had a 4.0 overall.  Just sayin'!  (My English professor would roll over in his grave...thank goodness he's still alive!  "Sorry, Dr. Cross!"  I'm not for you still being alive, but...well, you know!)

Gotta go and look at quilt patterns! 

Later,

Debbie

Today is my day...

Yesterday was good...good food, good presents, good times.

But...today is my day.

                                          

                                        Happy Birthday to ME!

Later,

Debbie

In the "Nick" of Time

 

                                             Finished!...

                       My first Christmas Quilt

                           

 

                Merry Christmas to All

              and to All a

              Good-Night!

Later,

Debbie

My New CRACK!

                                   

                                                  Toffee Cookies!  Yummmmy!

I've been busy today (who hasn't?).  While 'Bama Girl and BF was here, I cooked, cleaned, and cut her hair.  After they  left to go to his parents, I cleaned house, washed clothes and cooked.

                                        

                  Precious, huh?  Gag!  Too sweet...kinda like the picture below!

                              

                                                     

Tomorrow, I have to go back to the grocery store and replace all the food they ate that was suppose to be for Christmas!  Then, I've got to go look for a new coffee table and end-tables (I guess this is what David and I will be buying each other!  Surprise!  Not!)

I pick David up from the airport about 9 tomorrow night...I hope it's not later!  I miss him...he hasn't been home since Thanksgiving!

In between family, cooking and cleaning...I'm also working on something that I started last Thursday, but it's not finished yet!  But, I'll give you a sneak peek!

                                       

Guess I'll go now...still have lots to do!

Later,

Debbie

Where's your Christmas spirit?

 

                               

                                 

                      

 

                                

                                                           Bah Humbug!

 

Later,

Debbie

I am not a snowman...

It's really, really cold here.   If you don't believe it, look at the pool:

                                

I put the turtle on the ice to prove it...

                                   

I tried to talk Chance into going out there, but he was having none of it:

                                    

                                                          I am not a snowman!

Disregard the leaves suspended in the ice!  I promise I had all the leaves out  after the last storm.  But ...even though I've been out in the cold taking pictures, you can forget the idea that I'll be out there digging out the new ones that have fallen!

Later,

Debbie

Red Quilt

I think I should name this "Red Quilt on the Farm".  On the farm it's a cold, cold day...a good day for a quilt!

                              

 

The wind was blowing so hard I had to move it to the other side of the fence, but before I did, I got this picture with the back showing:

                                    

And this is what is embroidered in the middle (before quilting):

                                     

It's for 'Bama Girl's BF's mother as a gift for Christmas...did you follow that?  The mother (Suzy) is getting re-married soon and 'Bama Girl wanted to make something special for her.

'Bama Girl did most of the piecing and sewing and I did the borders and quilting for her...after all, she's busy studying for finals and being engaged (can't expect her to do everything!). 

 

Later,

Debbie

PS:  My Darlin' 'Bama Girl, you can click on the pictures to see your handiwork up close!

First comes love...

                                        'Bama Girl is engaged.

 

How do I feel about it? 

I'm okay.  I really like her fiance'.  He's nice.  He's cute.  He's sweet. He's smart.  And...he loves her a lot!  And she thinks he hung the moon.  So, as long as he makes her happy...I'm happy.  But if he should mess up?...temporary insanity is my plea.  (Not really...I'm too cute to go to jail!)

Am I worried?

Yes. ..even though they promised they wouldn't get married for 3-5 years or at least until one of them was out of law school and had a job.  He's a senior and she's a junior at the University of Alabama.  He'll be graduating this year, and I'm afraid that one of them might get an offer from a school out of state.  And it could be either one.  If not him, it may be her...will she go?  So,  of course I'm worried...she's my baby!

C'est la vie!

Well, gotta go...Bridezillas and Say Yes to the Dress  is coming on!

Later,

Debbie

Thank you to all my friends!

Thanks for commenting and emailing me.  I still don't know what's wrong and I lost my template, even though I downloaded and saved it...???  : (      

But, the good news is that I can "see" it and get nice comments!

Hopefully, when 'Bama Girl comes home we can make another.  I'm not a whiz with html...she is.  For now I'm going to try this one...maybe the comments will work?

Later,

Debbie

Comment...plz

I'm begging for a comment or two. 'Cause I'm lame like that!

No, not really...I've been having problems with my blog concerning comments and I need someone to test it.  I can comment if I sign out, but no one else has commented and that's the only way I'll know if the problem is fixed...I know my blog is boring lately...but sheesh...

So, if you do comment and can't see it...e-mail me.

Thanks!

Later,

Debbie

So much has happened...

But I've been unable to post because I've had 'blog' problems.  The problem is not fixed...yet.  Hopefully, 'Bama Girl will come home soon and help!  So...I'll just give a few highlights of the past couple of weeks.

 

1.  I won a give-away from Susan (sorry I'm so slow posting this)! 

 

                                         This is what I found in the box!

                                        

                                                                 And this......

                                           

                                                                And this!

                                           

Thanks you so much, Susan!  I love it all...the candy was yum!

 

2.  My brother and sister-in-law from Louisiana stopped by for a visit on their way to the Smokies and Atlanta. 

                                            

 

3.  A couple of days later, my mother and sister came to visit from Louisiana also!  Fun times!  We went to Scottsboro, AL to Unclaimed Baggage.  Strange stuff people lose in their luggage.  Shopping in Huntsville and Decatur.  Ate at the best place in the world (well...maybe not the world!)  The Ole Cookstove in Danville, AL.  It's an Amish all-you-can-eat buffet.  Good stuff!  Ham, meatloaf, chicken, mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese, vegetables, desserts!  Oh my goodness...the corn and sweet potatoes were so good...I didn't even eat dessert!  If you're ever in the area...stop...you'll be glad you did!

                                         

 

4.  I got the house decorated for Christmas with 'Bama Girl and BF's help.

                                                   

 

                                   

 

5.  Snow day!

                                   

                                                              It's sooooo cold!

 

6.    'Bama wins SEC title over Gators! 

                                     

                                                   

7.  I've been working on a couple of quilts.  I'm planning on quilting them this afternoon...pictures later!

 

I also have some other news, but that will have to wait until another post.  Stay tuned!

Later,

Debbie

Happy, happy, happy...

Birthday to 'Bama Girl!  21 years...

                               

                                                     Awwww!

        

                                      

                                                               Wow!

21 years ago on our 10th anniversary I was giving birth....yay me!

 

Soooo....

Happy Anniversary to us!  31 years...

                                           

                                                               Yeah...wow.

                          I was skinny and David was rockin' those glasses!

 

Later,

Debbie

Mondegreens

Do you know what they are? 

I knew what they were,  I just didn't know there was a name for it! 

A mondegreen is generally used for misheard song lyrics, although technically it can apply to any speech.

I usually hear a mondegreen in songs.  For instance:

In the BeeGee's song "More than a Woman", I hear "Bald-headed Woman".

Give me the Beach Boys and free my soul.  Actual lyrics:  Give me the beat boys and free my soul.

I can remember being in church and belting out "Bringing in the sheets, bringing in the sheets, we shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheets."  And in my mind it made sense...we'd all be happy when we had clean sheets to sleep on!

My beautiful, smart daughter is full of mondegreens...mostly in everyday speech!  Bless her heart, she's goofy!

                                      

                                                  But...she gets it from her dad!

A lot of her modegreens have to do with food.

While in elementary school, she went on vacation with a friend to the beach.  When they went out to dinner, she ordered fried clowns.  Nobody knew what she was ordering...not the waiter...not the friend...not her friend's parents!  Poor thing, she never got her fried clams!  She still blames us!

My favorite of all is her "holiday mondegreen"!

We have "canberry sauce" for Thanksgiving!

And you know?  It makes sense!  Gotta love her!

But, sometimes I wonder what her boyfriend thinks.  Have they gone to a seafood restaurant together yet? 

                                  

             He probably wouldn't think anything about it...he's goofy, too!

 

Note:  I guess the whole reason for this post is that I'm missing her...thank goodness Thanksgiving break is around the corner!  Love you, 'Bama Girl...I'll have the canberry sauce ready!

 

Later,

Debbie

P.S.     Do you have a favorite mondegreen?

Mmmm, Pound Cake!

I'm suppose to put a new recipe up every so often and today I made a pound cake that is...so easy...so moist...so gone!

 

                                       Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks!!!) softened

(1) 8 ounce package cream cheese - softened

(3) cups sugar

(6) eggs

(1) egg yolk

(2) teaspoons vanilla extract

(3) cups  flour

Directions:

1. preheat oven to 325F. Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan, tube pan, or 2 9-by-5 inch loaf pans

2. Combine butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and egg yolk, and vanilla in large bowl: beat until smooth.

3. Add cake flour 1/2 cup at a time. Stir together until smooth.

4. Pour into pan. Bake 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

                                      

                                     

I've never had any problem with this recipe,  it always turns out great.  One thing I don't do that the recipe says is to grease and flour...I use Pam.  It always seem to work, plus I hate to grease and flour!  And if you think you must...here's a little tip!  Mix equal parts shortening and flour in a small bowl then use this mixture and you won't have flour all over the place...it works!

 

Later,

Debbie

Whoops!

I forgot to show what I did with the "B" I made...silly me!

                        

Yeah, ya'll are going to have to put up with my decorating... again!  Now that the closing on my old house is over, I'm trying to get my new one in order.

Trust me, I'd much rather be doing something else.  Like quilting!  But, I can't play until everything else is done.  I'm kinda OCD about that...I don't quilt or craft until my house is clean, I've always been that way...weird, huh?  I hope I can be finished with the house before Thanksgiving...but then I'll have to decorate for Christmas...it's never-ending!  Nah, I'll probably be through with the most of the decorating and re-arranging by next week!  (I keep telling myself that!)

Wow!  That was boring!

I am taking a day off from the decorating Friday to go to a craft show with my friend Bonnie.  We're suppose to go to the one in Cullman and out for lunch.  Fun!

Later,

Debbie

You're so crafty! Part One

Is it just me or does being crafty make you think of glue and popcycle sticks!

(Oh...Can you believe it?  2 posts in 2 days!  I'm on a roll, people!)

I know you're all saying..."Get on with it!"

Okay, I was at the local craft store  the other day and I had a project in mind.  One of the things I needed was an initial of our last name.  The metal ones with cut-outs were $24.99 (of course I had downloaded the 40% off coupon, but really...)  So, this is what I came up with (and only a mere fraction of the cost!)

What you need:

                                     

           Wood letter, paint, wood appliqués, rub-n-buff, and hot glue

                                             (I had the glue, rub-n-buff and paint.)

                                            

                                                           Glue on the appliqués.

                                        

                                                  Paint black or any color you wish.

                                          

                                    Highlight appliqués with rub-in-buff.  I used silver.

Disclaimer:

                       Do as I say, not as I do!  Use gloves if you paint the sides!

                                            

Ya'll be crafty, 'k?

Later,

Debbie

Closing

We're trying to close on our old house.  The buyers had an inspector to come in and he was a JERK!  (I've called him some other not-so-nice words).  So, I've been running around putting out fires.  He wrote a 50 page inspection report which scared the young couple because they're first-time home buyers.  There's really nothing majorly wrong with the house, but he made it sound as if there were.  For instance, he wanted us to drill a hole in a $5000 piece of seamless granite which had been treated to never need polishing all for....wait for it...a $5.oo device that plumbers say is obsolete.  So...I had to call the company and have them e-mail a letter stating that drilling or cutting into the granite would compromise the integrity of the material and void the warranty.  And I'm having to do this with several of his recommendations.  Debbie. is. not. happy.

I also have been driving to Decatur at least once a day...40 minutes there...40 minutes back!

Okay...I'll quit having my pity party and show you what I see everyday on my way home!

                                

                                              Wait for it.....

 

              Wait for it.....

 

                                             

                                                      Ta Dahhhhhhhh                                    

Click on the picture, the colors are gorgeous!  It's what makes the drive worth it!

Later,

Debbie

View from the porch...

                                

                         

            

Life is pretty good. 

1.  We sold our house in Decatur. 

2.  I'm getting all my furniture and "stuff" moved to the farm...finally!

3.  My family is healthy and happy (as far as I know).

4.  Alabama is #1!

What more could I want?

Now I'm off to pack up the attic and garage so that William and one of his friends can bring the "stuff" here.  I've hired some professionals to move the furniture Saturday.  David will be home  Oct. 30th and our closing is Nov. 2nd.  So...I'll be busy for the next week or so.  Be back soon!

Later,

Debbie

S is for SOUP

Occasionally, my son has called and asked for a recipe or wants to know how to cook something.  'Bama Girl has also asked me to write down some of my recipes because she's thinking of moving into an apartment next year. 

So.  I decided to use my blog to put a few recipes up for the "cooking-challenged" .  This is "sorta-semi-homemade".  Anyone who is not so challenged should know that  my children do not know their way around a kitchen.  I'm not even sure they own a  measuring cup, know the difference between T. and t. (For their benefit:  T = tablespoon...t = teaspoon) and I'm pretty sure neither have ever opened a cookbook!  That being said...my first recipe.

                                                 Vegetable Beef Soup

Ingredients: 

Stew meat (fat removed)                          1 cup flour

2 pkg. frozen soup vegetables                 1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can Petite cut tomatoes                          1 can Tomato soup

2 cans beef broth (use soup can)            1 onion

Seasoning salt, garlic powder, pepper (1 t. each)

1/4 cup oil

                                 

Put oil into pot and heat on medium high.

Mix flour and seasonings on plate or in bowl; dredge meat in this mixture:

                                     

     (I'll not use a white plate for taking pictures again.  Live and learn!)

Put meat into pot and stir frequently so all the meat will brown.

                                         

                                              The flour will help thicken the soup.

While the meat is browning, rough chop the onion.

                                                  

Add the onion to the meat and cook about 5 minutes or until onions are almost done.

                                        

*I don't like tomato pieces in my soup...that's just me!  So...I put the Rotel and Petite tomatoes in my handy dandy Magic Bullet!  This is optional.

                                                                  

Add the tomatoes, soup, and beef broth to the meat mixure.

                                            

Add frozen veggies.

                                         

Cook on stovetop for 3-4 hours or in the crockpot 8 hours.  (Guess what my kids are getting for Christmas?)

Taste before serving...may need more salt (mine did!).

Serve with cornbread muffins (get a box and read the directions...duh!).

                                        

This really is a good recipe, quick and easy when you're in a hurry.  If you're not in a hurry you can chop your own veggies, use homemade broth, make your muffins from scratch...whatever...I'm not sure I  like you anyway...you... you... Stepford Mom!   ; )   

Later,

Debbie

PS:    Roll Tide  #1