Hot Slaw

This is a wonderful recipe for a delicious hot dog slaw that is sweet with a little heat!

HOT SLAW
1 GAL shredded cabbage
3 shredded carrots
1 cup white vinegar
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp. black pepper
3 bell peppers, chopped
3 onions, chopped
3 cups sugar
3 cups mustard
1 1/2 tsp powdered cayenne pepper

Mix vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, black and cayenne pepper together. Add the veggies and bring this mixture to a boil and put in jars and seal.

I am so thankful today for the ability to see, hear, speak, smell and hear. We tend to take these "simple" 5 senses for granted. I am thankful that God gave me these five senses so I can enjoy all His creation!

Mandy's Shower Gift

I finally have a picture of one of the baby gifts I have gotten done. This is outfit I bought and made matching burp cloths. The burp cloths are diapers with a ribbon attached to one and pastel rickrack attached to the other. I bought the elephant designs on Embroidery Library a few months back and the face on the one came from Band to Bows and I added the wording with a program I have called Monogram Wizard. I think having them coordinate make a "boutique" gift look. They haven't chosen a name for the little girl yet and the shower is this week so these don't have a name on them.
I just have to brag a moment today and praise God for my wonderful neighbors! I have lived here nearly 33 years and I am surrounded by wonderful and loving folks, some family and all families of the heart. They never bother me but if I call on someone for help, they are right there ready and willing. Steve and I were just discussing this the other night, what a blessing all our neighbors are! Each of us watch out for the other!

Easy Sausage Balls

Now I know you saw that title and said "OH NO, not another sausage ball recipe"! Well, I found this one to be the BEST one I have tried and the EASIEST...

SAUSAGE BALLS
2 cups Pioneer baking mix
1/2 cup water
1 lb. hot pork sausage (I use Groggans)
12 oz grated sharp Cheddar cheese

Put sausage and cheese in a bowl and microwave until warm (about 30 secs in mine)
Mix this together and add the Pioneer mix and water. Mix all of this well with hands and make into 1 1/2 inch balls and bake at 400 for about 12-15 minutes. (I do spray the pan with a cooking spray but you could use parchment paper!)

Heating the sausage and cheese will cut down on mixing time by half! These are delicious and can be frozen after cooking and cooling for a quick snack or breakfast....that is if you have any left!

Thankfully today I am getting some more baby gifts made for the upcoming babies popping up all around me! I just love doing these things and will be posting some pictures soon of finished gifts. There may be lots of repeats as far as the item in the gift, but they will all look different with the different fabrics and such!

Kids Hooded Towel Tutorial

You can buy hooded towels for infants that are really cute but you can make them from matching store bought bath and hand towels that are so much better! They are made from thicker fabrics and last longer like regular towels do plus they are larger and seem to me more absorbent.
Beckie over at http://infarrantlycreative.blogspot.com (or simply click on the Kids Hooded Towel Tutorial) has created a wonderful tutorial for making these wonderful hooded towels. She kindly gave me permission to use a link to her and her picture for this post. I have made them before and plan to make more in the future. Visit Beckie's blog and enjoy your visit there!
I am so thankful today that I can get on the internet and find folks like myself that enjoy creating things and sharing their love and thankfulness for God's blessings. I have found so much creative inspiration and Christian inspiration just sitting here in the comfort of my own home by visiting places on the web.

Appliqued Christmas Stocking

This is one of the Christmas stockings I did for the grandkids. I used some applique designs from www.sewmanydesigns.com and a variety of other designs. I did do this stocking out of red and white fleece and added some decorative trim. Fleece won't be my choice on the next ones. It just doesn't hang well to me. The pattern was traced from a paper Christmas gift bag I got at the Dollar Store and it made a nice size stocking.
Today I was up early and got Emilee and Parker to school. Its hard getting back in the routine school requires but helps me to get myself back on a schedule, somewhat anyway! Today I have finished the laundry and once again I wonder where all those clothes come from...we don't have that many it seems when we are trying to dress to go somewhere!! I am so thankful to be able to have a washer and dryer! I would never be able to handle carrying clothes to the laundrymat with my problems walking so today I just want to say I sure am blessed to have these handy machines here at my disposale whenever I need to use them....funny the little things in life we take for granted!

Machine Embroidery Applique for Kids

You just have to love sewing for kids! Pictured is an outfit I made for Emilee, my granddaughter, when she was about 3. Its just a simple little top with carpis, you know the pattern books are full of these, made from pink and white gingham check. I added a bunny from www.sewmanydesigns.com in applique. I needed something for the pants to make the outfit look complete and emailed Marilyn Brandon, the owner of Sew Many Designs, and told her I would pay her to digitize me a heart applique. Marilyn was so sweet she sent me the heart applique free! If you have never done embroidery applique on your embroidery machine, hop over to Marilyn's site or google "machine embroidery applique designs" and you will find tons of stuff! This is from the Marilyn's design collection called Hop Into Spring. Marilyn has an extensive collection of things for giving these plain Jane patterns a quick boutique look! Each design will include a text of instructions for helping you applique the design. I am not affiliated with Sew Many Designs in any way other than that of a happy customer! Look through her project pages and see some other ideas customers have posted using her designs. In fact, you will find that I have posted this very outfit in the customer project pages.
Oh, and you will find that you can use up some scraps of fabrics you have laying around when doing embroidery applique!
Today was a wonderful day! Its still warm but there was a breeze. We were able to take the 3 grands to church with us this morning. Its a wonderful time to spend with them and introduce them to God and His Word.

Chicken Salad

4 chicken breasts boiled in water with 1 stick of butter
(boil the chicken for a long time and it will just fall apart and be very tender)
2 cups sliced red seedless grapes
1 peeled and chopped Grannie Smith Apple
2 small cans drained pineapple tidbits
about 1 cup (more or less) of toasted chopped pecans (I just put them in a nonstick skillet and get them warm so the oils will really let go of flavor, but keep them stirred!)
about 2 tbls sugar
about a 1 1/2 cups of chopped sweet pickles or sweet salad cubes
Get a large jar of HELLMAN'S mayo and you'll just add and stir until it looks like it is creamy enough, you can always add more later if you need too
Better if you make it the night before its to be served
You can adjust your ingredients if you wanted to make a smaller amount

This is a big hit at showers and get-togethers. My sister gave me the recipe.

Today I am so thankful to be up, dressed and feeling better. I have had a bout of just not feeling too well. Maybe its the heat? The sun is shining and although it promises to be a very hot day, its beautiful. Only God could create the beauty of sunshine!

Meet Belle

This is another family member.......my malta-poo, Tinkerbelle, or more commonly known as Belle to us. Belle doesn't know she is a D-O-G. Where ever you find me in the house you will usually find Belle. She is almost 14 years old and still in really good health except for some skin tags that the vet says can be removed but will likely return, so we just deal with them as long as they aren't seeming to irritate her too much. She used to have her own chair in the sewing room, or what she thought was HER chair. In fact, one day my daughter was here and sat in the chair as we were looking something up on the computer and Belle kept jumping on my leg and pawing at it and crying or dancing around whining. Casey asked what was wrong with her and I told her she was in Belle's chair. She got up, Belle hushed and jumped up in her chair. Casey says that is one spoiled dog! Since, I have gotten her a basket with a pillow in it because it takes less room and Belle doesn't have to jump into the chair each time we come to the sewing/computer room. I know lots of folks don't care for a pet in the house, but Belle is now such a part of the family I can't imagine life without her. Since I am aging right along, I will likely not have another dog, but I do love having Belle around! She is a wonderful companion and lots of company for me.
Today I am thankful for a growing family! Not only is my daughter expecting, but I have two nephews and wives expecting babies and all are due within 7 months of each other. My youngest nephew, Jake, called yesterday to tell me the news. This will be their first born so it is especially exciting for them. I told him so many were having babies I was afraid to drink the water. His reply was "Aunt Rita, drinking water isn't what does it!" I told you all before, our family has lots of laughs!
I am so excited for all of them and pray God will bless each one with healthy pregnancies and healthy babies!

Easy Italian Beef

Italian Beef

1 2-3 lb chuck roast
1 package Italian Dressing Mix
1 jar drained pepperoncini peppers
1 package Au Jus gravy mix

Wash the roast and place in crock pot. Cover with the peppers (I normally remove the stems) and cover with Italian Dressing Mix.
When the roast becomes tender (approx. 6 hours) remove some of the liquid and mix with the Au Jus gravy mix and return to the crock pot and allow it to cook another 20-30 minutes. If you feel you don't have enough juices, add some water. Some like to serve the sandwich "dipped" but I don't really care for soggy bread!! Serve on hoagie buns for a hearty sandwich! Wonderful for those days you don't want to spend lots of time in the kitchen but want folks to think you did!

This makes a very hearty MAN'S sandwich, but really a good one for ladies too! The peppers are not too spicy but you could add some spicy ones if you prefer.

Thankful today that my back is feeling better. A couple years ago I spent much time at the acupuncture's office getting this problem resolved and it worked well until the last couple days. I think I am just tired. I don't like complaining, so I am thankful for the pain to be gone for a bit!

Get a Tissue for this book!

I recently read this book. It is an early American setting and about the lives of three migrant siblings that lose their parents. It follows each of them as they are orphaned and then grow up, two wishing to find the others and one that is unaware until unfortunate circumstances and finds she is actually adopted but knows nothing of the other 2 siblings. Couldn't put it down. Each ones story is heart wrenching and the fact that it refers to the "Orphan Train" that carried orphans to the mid-west to be given to families and sometimes only for the fact they are old enough to work and help support the family.
This book shows how the 2 older siblings lean on God's guidance in their lives and has a wonderful ending. I had never read a book by this author before but read the reviews on it and all of them were very good. I cried many times throughout the book but it left me with a wonderful feeling and appreciation for family.
Reading this book sure did help enforce in me to be thankful for my family and my own situation growing up. We had plenty of love and the right amount of discipline!

Gifts for Baby

I seem to be going through a phase of baby showers! I am currently making burp cloths using cloth diapers, ribbons and embroidery machine designs. I am also doing just rectangle squares of 2 pieces of flannel sewn together for burp cloths. I remember my son, Chris, was really a bad "spitter" and you never had enough burp cloths around! Here http://www.its-sew-karren.com/diaper-burp-cloths.html you will find a nice article about these burp cloths made from diapers and some good online sources for buying good diapers.
Today I have posted a picture of a baby gift made a couple years ago. Its a baby's dirty clothes bag. I used a free design for the crown and with embroidery software Monogram Wizard Plus I created the saying "Even a Princess has dirty laundry" then did some embroidery applique to place little girls dresses on the bag. Its a simple drawstring top. The embroidery designs can be found from A Bit of Stitch here http://www.secretsof.com/content/817. I also love putting these designs on the burp cloths with the baby's name.
Sadly today I have a friend that has lost her mother in a tragic auto accident. Like always I feel helpless in saying the right words to comfort this family. I do the only thing I can, I pray for the comfort that God can give them at this time. I do believe, although I sometimes act as if this isn't enough, offering ones name in prayer is the greatest thing we can do for others! I am thankful we have a loving God that hears and answers our prayers!

Back to School Time Already!

My 2 oldest grandchildren will be starting to school Wednesday. I can't believe that the summer with them has passed so quickly. They sure do dread going, but I know that there is some excitement in getting to see friends again that they haven't seen since last spring.
Today is my day with them and shortly we are going to town for them to spend their allowance and possibly go to the movies. The morning has been spent playing games on the Playstation, watching Nick TV and last time I looked the living room floor was full of toys as they set up their "town" using the Fisher-Price toys their dad played with as a child! One thing for sure, we have gotten our money's worth from those toys!
I am so thankful for the time with them. It is truly a blessing to be able to be at home and have days like today with them, although sometimes it requires refereeing fusses! I absolutely believe being a grandparent is one of God's greatest blessings!