primcreek

2011-07-17T09:54:00.002-05:00

On ebay now...

2011-07-04T15:57:00.001-05:00

Barefoot Uncle Sam is on ebay now...

2011-05-22T16:54:00.001-05:00

New doll clothes at the shop...

2011-05-22T16:52:00.000-05:00

My newest creation is on her way to her new owner in Kentucky.

2011-04-11T17:46:00.002-05:00

Auction link is HERE.

2011-04-11T17:43:00.001-05:00

Spring may be here after all. I sure hope so. These are in my yard already.

2011-04-09T07:30:00.003-05:00

This is the absolutely fabulous matchbox dotee that I recieved from Martha Hannema from The Netherlands. Isn't she gorgeous?!?!?! Thank you Martha!

2011-04-07T15:54:00.002-05:00

KB from A Patchwork World has made the cutest carrots ever!! Make your own here.

2011-04-03T09:28:00.002-05:00

On ebay now... Mammy and Lil Moe
ebay link

2011-03-05T13:31:00.001-06:00

My sweet Winter dotee made by Carole Marie Storla! Love her! Thank you Carole Marie!!!

2011-03-05T13:29:00.001-06:00

My new cell phone cozy. I made it out of a two coordinating fat quarters, and a button from grandma's tin. I love it. It velcros to a ring on my purse. No more digging around to find it. Success!!

2011-03-05T13:24:00.002-06:00

On ebay now....

For more photos, please visit my ebay link.

2011-03-05T13:21:00.003-06:00

I bought a table top ironing board from my local thrift about a year ago. I recently decided that I was pretty tired of looking at that circa Brady Bunch cover. So, I made a new one.

Before......

and after....

2011-01-17T05:24:00.006-06:00

This is my cat Maggie. She is 6 years old. It is hard to believe that just last Summer she was skin and bones and almost hairless. It turned out she had a flea allergy. Her vet is awesome. Look at her now. Lazy kitty. Just the way it should be. Oh to be that blissful!

2011-01-17T05:19:00.002-06:00

"Faith is taking the first step, even

when you don't see the whole

staircase. "

------ Martin Luther King Jr.

2011-01-09T17:19:00.002-06:00

My cat Milo. Very sweet and affectionate, but slightly quirky!

2011-01-09T17:17:00.002-06:00

I love this picture! My youngest son is learning to play his grandfather's guitar. Does my heart good.

2011-01-01T13:56:00.003-06:00

Here is Serenity Joy with her new bunny! I think she likes it! Makes all those pin jabs I received while making it, well worth it.

2010-12-27T18:28:00.002-06:00

Got leftover Christmas ham? This is yummy good....

Cheesy Ham Fettuccine

1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 cups leftover ham, chopped
2 17oz. jars Ragu double cheddar sauce
1/3 c. milk
1 16oz. pkg fettuccine

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Meanwhile, in skillet, heat butter and olive oil. Add onion and garlic. Cook and stir 3 minutes. Add green pepper and ham. Cook and stir until pepper is tender, about 5 minutes. Add pasta to water and stir. Add cheese sauce and milk to skillet mixture. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer until pasta is done.

Drain pasta, and place on plate. Spoon sauce over top.

2010-12-27T18:21:00.002-06:00

This is a bunny doll I made for a co-worker's granddaughter who was born a few months ago. It's just a rabbit, I know, but this one is just a tad bit special. It is made from a pair of furry lounge pants that her mommy wore when she was pregnant with her. Serenity Joy, I hope you like your new companion.

2010-12-19T19:14:00.004-06:00

Epsom salts?? You're kidding! Nope. Check out these luminaries at Crafts by Amanda.

2010-12-15T18:20:00.003-06:00

For all of us primitive nuts, this tree is just too cute. Get the tutorial here at Preferably Prim!

2010-12-11T17:16:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday to my favorite

little boy, and the light of my life,

my grandson Kaleb!

2010-12-10T18:45:00.003-06:00

Baked Mexican Chicken

4 - 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 tsp taco seasoning mix

1 10oz can enchilada sauce

corn tortillas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle taco seasoning mix over chicken. Pour enchilada sauce over chicken and bake for 1 hour or until tender. Serve with warmed corn tortillas. Serves 4 to 6.

Frito Salad

1 head iceberg lettuce
1 onion, chopped

1 16 oz pkg shredded cheddar cheese

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 15oz can chili beans, rinsed and drained

1 8oz bottle Catalina dressing

1 13oz bag fritos, crushed

Tear lettuce into bite size pieces. Add onion, cheese, tomatoes, beans and dressing. Just before serving, toss with corn chips. Serves 4 to 6.

2010-12-09T05:52:00.005-06:00

Over the summer I decided to get a new kitten. I have a cat named Maggie who is just not a very friendly sort. She is not affectionate at all. She just loves me for her food bowl and that is it. With hubby being gone most of the time now, and my kids having a better social life than I do, I was hoping Milo would keep me company. Milo started out as Molly, but then along came the discovery of a "couple" of things, thus becoming Milo. He is an extremely affectionate animal, but very curious and gutsy.

Like most cats (except for Maggie the Grinch) he loves boxes. Look closely at the top pic. he loves to take the pins from my pin cusions. He just pulls them out with his mouth and drops them to the floor. A real pain in the caboose.

2010-12-07T18:52:00.002-06:00

Dinner at my house...

Lemonade Chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 16 oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/3 c. soy sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place chicken in sprayed 9 x 13 baking dish. Combine lemonade concentrate, soy sauce and garlic powder. Pour over chicken. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Spoon drippings over chicken and bake uncovered for aditional 10 minutes. Serves 6.

Vegetable Fried Rice

1 -1/2 TBSP cooking oil
1 c. chopped onions
2 c. cold cooked rice
2 eggs, beaten
2 TBSP soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt
2 c. chopped vegetables ( carrots, celery, broccoli, etc )

In a hot skillet, heat oil, stirring constantly. Cook onions until lightly browned. Add cold rice and saute. Beat together eggs, soy sauce, and salt. Add to rice mixture, stirring constantly. Add vegetables. Stir fry until veggies are done to your liking.

2010-12-07T18:41:00.003-06:00

Gotta love these red mittens that Lark Crafts has shared with us. Quick and easy gift to have on hand, and I might need a pair or two myself. Make your own with this tutorial.

2010-12-06T19:23:00.005-06:00

2010-12-06T18:49:00.003-06:00

I did something over the weekend that I have not done in probably over 15 years......paid money for a cookbook. The web is so convenient, I can look up any recipe I might want. Plus, I have a reather extensive collection of cookbooks from all the years I was addicted to them. Most of them came from garage sales, some of them Christmas gifts. The one I purchased last weekend came from Dollar General. It is called " 1001 Recipes: Short, easy, inexpensive". Paid 5 bucks for it, and it was 5 dollars well spent. I love it. Since our weather here in Southern Illinois has been in the teens the past few days, I have been happily exploring the soup section of my new book. Here are a few of the recipes I have tried so far and found to be exactly what the title promises, not to mention plain yummy!

Incredible Broccoli-Cheese Soup

1 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped broccoli

2 TBSP butter

1/2 of a small onion, chopped

1/4 c. flour

1 16 oz. carton half and half cream

1 14 oz. can chicken broth ( I used hot water and a 1- 1/2 tsp chicken bouillon granules)

1 8 oz. pkg. cubed mild mexican velveeta cheese ( I used plain generic velveeta )

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Punch several holes in broccoli package and microwave for 5 minutes. Turn package and microwave addistional 4 minutes. Leave in microwave for 3 minutes.

In large saucepan, melt butter and saute onion, but do not brown. Add flour, stir and gradually add cream, chicken broth, salt and pepper.

Stir constantly and heat until mixture is slightly thick. Do not let mixture come to boil. Add cheese, stir and heat until cheese melts. Add cooked broccoli. Serve piping hot. Serves 6.

Beefy Vegetable Soup

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 46 oz. can cocktail vegetable juice ( I assumed this was V-8. Anyways, it worked fine.)

1 packet onion soup mix

1 3oz pkg. beef flavored ramen noodles

1 16 oz. package frozen mixed vegetables

In large soup pot over medium heat, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Drain. Stir in cocktail juice, soup mix, contents of noodle seasioning packet, and mixed vegetables.

Heat mixture to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 6 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Return to boiling. Break up noodles, add to soup. Cook for 3 minutes. Serves 4.

Six Can Chicken Soup

1 14 oz. can chicken broth

1 10 oz. can cream of chicken soup

1 12oz. can chicken breast

1 15 oz. can chili beans

1 10oz. can diced tomatoes and green chiles

1 16 oz. bag tortilla chips

1 8oz. pkg shredded cheese

Sour cream

In sauce pan combine broth, soup, chicken, beans, and tomatoes and green chiles. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve over a few crused tortilla chips and top with cheese and sour cream.

2010-05-20T06:07:00.001-05:00

EASY CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER

1/2 lb. sliced bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 onion, chopped
2-3 bouillon cubes
1/2 chicken, stewed, deboned and cut in pieces
1 can creamed corn
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can cream of potato soup

Fry bacon until fairly crisp. Drain grease, add onions and cook until slightly brown. Add corn and soup mixed as directed on can, substituting chicken stock for water. Add bouillon and chicken and cook over low heat until piping hot, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Serve with tossed green salad and warm bread. Makes 6 generous servings.
Cream of mushroom soup can be substituted for the potato if you wish.

2010-05-16T17:57:00.001-05:00

Here are some doll outfits that I made to sell in my sister's store. All three are made of fleece which is super easy to sew.

2010-05-16T17:48:00.004-05:00

I actually have things growing in my yard that are looking decent! I have never been able to grow anything. Nothing! I seriously killed an air fern once. My mother could put a twig in dirt and it would grow into something beautiful. One of my sisters can grow beautiful, lush things. Not me. Well, maybe I am learning. I am trying anyway. When we bought our house two years ago I decided that I had to learn. Lots of reading and lots of failures, but here are some things that actually seem to like me and are doing what I would like for them to do. Yay me!!

2010-05-16T12:45:00.005-05:00

Here is my grandson Kaleb making jello jigglers. The apron he is wearing is made from a Dollar Tree dish towel. Yes, he has clippys in his hair. He was complaining that his hair was in his way, so we clipped it back. Daddy got him a haircut the day after he saw this picture.

And here he is with his new toolbelt I made for him. I guess this is his tough, tool packin' he-man look!

2010-03-10T05:58:00.003-06:00

This stamp tutorial by Maximum Rabbit Designs is just completely brilliant! Especially if you are a button nut like me.

2010-03-09T21:09:00.002-06:00

On ebay now.....

2010-03-03T09:57:00.001-06:00

I have no idea why I love needle books so much, but I do. I have never met one I didn't like. These books by Little Birdie Secrets are just so stinkin cute. I may have to have a couple, or a dozen, or...

2010-03-03T09:53:00.002-06:00

All of my dotee swap partners have recieved their dotees, so now I can post pics of what I made for them.

For the partner who is fond of orange and green...

For the lover of ocean creatures...

And for the partner who likes skulls...

2010-02-11T06:51:00.003-06:00

You have seen the scrabble tile pendants, well now we have this brilliant idea from Abundant Blessings. Keychains made from Jenga blocks! How cool!!

2010-02-10T19:54:00.002-06:00

The winter dotee I received in the Delightful Dotees swap.

2010-02-10T19:49:00.002-06:00

Here are the dotees I have received from the Dotee Swap Round 8 over on Craftster. I love them all!! When my partners have the dotees I made for them, I will post photos of those also.

2010-01-04T13:21:00.001-06:00

Got this book in the mail today! YAY ME!!! Of course I am chomping at the bit to get into it, but I am making myself finish the order I have for a princess dress first. How agonizing! I can see I am going to need another suitcase.

2010-01-04T08:56:00.004-06:00

Here is a project I actually completed this week. The original idea belongs to the brilliant lady behind this blog " Old Days-Old Ways. She has such terrific ideas. This entire cape and hat set cost a total of $1.34. I paid a buck for two Santa hats on clearance, and 34 cents for a yard of satin ribbon. The buttons and thread I already had. I think it turned out pretty good. I am happy with it.

Yes, I know the poor dear has no clothes on underneath. Forgive me this time. I could not be bothered to sort thru this to come up with something....

The suitcase is a vintage Samsonite that I got for 3 bucks at our local thrift store. It is in mint condition. When I was a little girl I always wanted a real suitcase filled with real dollclothes. I finally have it. I am 47 years old folks and living my childhood dream here.

You can see tiny little underwear on the top of the pile. Those were created from a tutorial written by the very same lady who wrote the cape tutorial. I told ya she was brilliant.

2010-01-03T09:10:00.002-06:00

I have been spending long hours at work since Christmas day due to unforseen staffing problems. Long story short, someone quit because she was mad that I was not able to give her New Year's Day off. Sigh! Boy does that girl have some growing up to do. Anyway, the silver lining is that I actually had a good time with my staff while there. We played music, sang and just laughed a lot. It was sort of a blessing in disguise. I have now hired a very capable lady to replace the brat, and life goes on.

I did suffer from grandson withdrawals though, so this past Thursday, I spent my one and only day off playing with him. We made a hot mess of the living room with all the toys and other activities we chose to do, but it was lots of fun.

Intently coloring a picture for Meme's fridge...

And as he calls it, making funny hair...

2009-12-26T06:43:00.002-06:00

Santa was a big deal with my grandson this year. Every single Santa he saw, he had to go talk to. He was always quite excited about it and could not understand why there were some children afraid of Santa. Here is a picture of Kaleb with Santa at his preschool party. Then the following pic is of his class singing their Christmas songs for everyone.

2009-12-26T06:23:00.002-06:00

Alex Anderson Quilts is offering 12 days of free redwork patterns! Get them here.

2009-12-25T08:35:00.001-06:00

2009-12-21T06:59:00.002-06:00

I am sooo gonna make these!!!!! I have a whole box full of vintage wooden spools that have been patiently waiting for this craft. You can find the tutorial here at Make Mine Beautiful.

2009-12-20T14:14:00.002-06:00

Just look at these fun clothespin magnets! Who couldn't use these? I am off to the dollar store to get some clothepins, and then I will get out all those scrapbook paper scraps I have been saving for some reason! You can find the tutorial for these over at Blue Cricket Design.

2009-12-20T13:51:00.001-06:00

Boy have I ever been a bad, bad blogger!! I have been so busy with work and other things! I did manage to finish this cute Annie doll for my 2 year old neice who loves baby dolls. I wanted to give her something special that nobody else would give her. So, I decided to make her a raggedy. Her clothes are done with velcro closures so that I can make her more outfits if need be. ( I am hoping!)

2009-11-11T18:22:00.003-06:00

I have not made a Morse bag in quite some time. I received some fabulous fabric from Sharon in my Halloween swap, and as soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be a bag. Here it is in all it's glory. I added the ribbon trim and the flower to the basic Morse bag. Not familiar with Morse bags? Here is the link.

2009-11-11T18:19:00.002-06:00

I received this beautiful Fall dotee from Laura Ann....

and from Lori, this gorgeous surprise dotee.....

Thank you ladies! These little darlings have already become cherished members of my collection.

2009-11-11T18:18:00.002-06:00

Jammies for Molly! A 94 cent remnant, and my own pattern....

2009-10-31T22:16:00.002-05:00

By day, my sweet, innocent grandson Kaleb.....

By night, the infamous Captain Hook!

I am proud to say that he was the only Captain Hook at his preschool's Halloween party. He did meet up with Peter Pan and Tink though. He and Peter had a sword fight later that had to be broken up. He had a wonderful time and the costume survived the entire night. Score one for Meme.

2009-10-31T22:13:00.003-05:00

Here is a pic of the cover I made for myheating pad this weekend. I have had it forever, it is my friend. The original cover died years ago. I kept saying I was gonna make another instead of wrapping a towel around it whenever I needed to use it. I finally got around to getting it done. I made it out of lilac colored fleece with cotton blends for the applique. I just drew the owl, cut out the pieces and machine sewed them on. I am pretty happy with it. Not a very good pic, but you get the idea.

2009-10-31T22:11:00.001-05:00

New outfits for my dolly fashionistas.....

2009-10-14T18:33:00.002-05:00

These patchwork trimmed towels from Sew4Home would make a fantastic gift! I want some.

2009-10-11T19:06:00.001-05:00

On ebay now...

Poor Ugly Ol' Mildred

Grumpy Mammy

2009-09-28T05:59:00.002-05:00

Most of us crafters have probably made a tag or two, but for those who have not, The Feathered Nest has an awesome tutorial on making them. You probably already have everything you need right at home. These make gorgeous gift tags. You can make them to match your gift wrap.

2009-09-27T10:34:00.002-05:00

These Halloween mini books by Elle's Studio are terrific. I think I will need to make one every year for Halloween for my grandson. ( who by the way STILL has not decided what he wants to be for trick or treating. Times a wastin', and my sewing hours are limited.)

2009-09-27T08:33:00.002-05:00

I would like to show you the results of the Belindy swap that I participated in over at primraggchatters. It is a lively group with a bunch of very talented ladies. ( thanks Shagsy for all you do.)

Anyway...
this is the Belindy I made for Susie...

and here is the adorable Belindy Susie made for me...

Susie meticulously recreated a Belindy that belongs to someone else in the group. (with permission of course). She did a perfect job. Thanks again Susie for being so thoughtful. By the way folks, Susie sews all of her dolls by hand. Yep...with a needle and thread. Now THAT is dedication.

2009-09-12T07:35:00.002-05:00

This Miniature Purse Project is so cute!

2009-09-01T21:30:00.001-05:00

Check out my primitive offerings for September on The Primitive Gathering.

2009-09-01T11:06:00.002-05:00

Obsessively Stitching shares how she makes her own personalized clothing labels. Brilliant!!!

2009-08-25T07:13:00.001-05:00

More owl cuteness HERE.

2009-08-23T09:44:00.002-05:00

Here are the fantabulous dotee dolls I recieved in the Craftster.com round 6 dotee swap.

From kewlmomma...

from craftymamma...

from winstongang...

Thank you ladies for a very enjoyable dotee swap! I am ready for round 7! Woo hoooo!!!!!

2009-08-23T09:39:00.002-05:00

New doll clothes...

This one is a cheat basicly. The tshirt I bought for 4 bucks from ebay. The American Girl doll was posed with this shirt and a pair of green shorts. Purchasing the shorts required some crazy money. So, I found the exact same shade of green for 69 cents in the Wally World remnant bin and voila! A pair of cute cuffed capris.

Untroducing Molly. She is a rescue dolly I bought second hand. I have worked and worked on that hair, and as you see, still have more to do. Not sure if I will really be able to make her look as pretty as she probably once was, but oh well. She has a home with me. I am always drawn to misfit, worn out, well played with dolls for some reason. Anyway, this outfit came out of my head. I reworked a pattern to accomodate the changes I wanted to make. Again, walmart scrap bin, and this time some cute flower appliques that I got at Hancocks for 99 cents. Splurged that time! LOL.

2009-08-18T20:38:00.001-05:00

Cute, cute, CUTE!!!!!

Get the tutorial here.

2009-08-15T15:04:00.002-05:00

This is my new fur baby Bessy. She is a rescue kitty. I am not sure how old she is. We estimate between 12 and 14 weeks. These are not a very good pictures. I have problems getting pictures of her because she is rarely still. She is adapting nicely to our household. I wish my other cat would get used to her. Maggie hates her and is mean to her. Bessy is scared to go to the potty box because of Maggie, so I have to take her to the potty like a little baby. So far her favorite things are:

driving me nuts when I am sewing by batting everything that is not nailed down. She likes to take pins out of my pincushion with her mouth and drop them on the floor.

Cheetos

Poptarts

iced tea

Meesy (her toy mouse)

tearing the crap out of the ficus tree by my front door

2009-08-15T15:00:00.001-05:00

Lindsay is wearing pants that I bought from ebay, and a top that I sewed from scrap fabric I had leftover from crafting a bag holder. I dont much care for this top, it was a pain in the butt. I would like to attempt it again to see if I can do better, but I am not sure about tackling it.

2009-08-15T14:58:00.001-05:00

More doll clothes...

This is Molly. Her outfit is repurposed from a pair of old jeans and a cotton baby onesie. The top was very complicated, and I didnt think I was gonna have enough fabric, but in the end I won. I am very partial to strawberries, and I just had to have this one.

2009-08-15T14:54:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple of dotees I recieved from friends I have met on craftster. This is from the dotee round 6 swap. I love them!! So addicting.

From craftymama

and from kewlmomma

I made three dotees for this swap. I still have one partner who has not recieved yet, so I will not post mine. I will wait until she has recieved hers so that I dont spoil her surprise.

2009-08-09T15:22:00.002-05:00

Here are a few recipes to help you cope with your garden bounty....

Chicken and Green Bean Stir Fry
*******************************
1 lb. boneless chicken breasts
1 lemon1 clove garlic
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1/4 c. salted peanuts
1/2 lb. green beans
Salt to taste
1/3 c. chicken stock or canned broth
1 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. oil

Cut chicken into strips. Squeeze 1 tablespoon lemon juice and mince garlic. Marinate chicken in lemon juice, garlic and 1 tablespoon soy sauce in a bowl. Cook string beans until tender about 8 minutes in boiling water, drain. Chop peanuts. Combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, stock and cornstarch. Heat oil in large frying pan or wok. Remove chicken from marinade and add to hot pan. Cook, stirring constantly until chicken is done, about 5 minutes. Push chicken to one side and stir in stock mixture to pan drippings. Stir chicken into sauce and add cooked beans. Cook until beans are heated through about 1 minute. Serve sprinkled with lemon rind and peanuts over rice.

2009-08-09T15:20:00.000-05:00

Stir Fried Green Beans
**********************
1-2 lbs. fresh green beans
soy sauce
sesame seeds
butter
Wash and remove ends from the beans. I use a wok but a large frying pan may also be used. Heat pan on medium-high. Add 1-2 tablespoons of butter in pan and add the green beans. Splash soy sauce to coat beans. Stir continuously. Add sesame seeds and cook for 7-10 minutes.

2009-08-09T15:11:00.000-05:00

CUCUMBER RELISH

6 c. ground cucumbers
3 c. ground carrots
3 c. ground onion
3 lg. sweet green pepper
1 tbsp. salt

Mix together and let stand 2 hours, then drain through colander. Mix:
4 c. sugar4 c. vinegar1 tsp. mustard seed1 tsp. celery seed1 tsp. turmeric
Add relish mixture. Boil 1/2 hour. Place in sterilized jars and seal immediately. Make approximately 7 pints.

2009-08-09T15:09:00.000-05:00

TOMATO RELISH
*****************
3 qts. tomatoes, chopped
2 c. onions, chopped
1 c. green pepper, chopped
3 c. celery, chopped
1/4 c. salt
1 1/2 tbsp. black pepper
2 c. white sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. vinegar (white)

Pour salt on tomatoes, onions, green pepper and celery. Refrigerate overnight. Drain but don't press. Put in large kettle and add pepper, sugars and vinegar. Cook until thick. Boil and stir another 35-40 minutes. Don't let it stick to pan. Put in hot jars and seal. Great with chips and meats as a relish. For a milder
taste, decrease black pepper usage.

2009-08-09T15:06:00.001-05:00

Cheddar Zucchini Casserole
**************************
2 pounds zucchini, sliced (approximately 6 cups)
salt and pepper
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs, divided
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, drained, crumbled
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon melted butter

Cook zucchini in a small amount of salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
In a medium bowl, sightly beat egg yolks; stir in sour cream and flour. In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; fold into the sour cream mixture. In a baking dish, about 12 x 7-inches, layer half of the zucchini, half of the sour cream mixture, and half the Cheddar cheese; sprinkle with all of the crumbled bacon. Repeat layers of zucchini, sour cream mixture, and cheese. Toss bread crumbs with melted butter; sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes.Serves 6 to 8.

2009-08-09T15:04:00.001-05:00

Zucchini Pizza
**************
3 cups grated zucchini
3 eggs, well beaten
1/2 cup flour
salt to taste
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup chopped black olives
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1/2 cup finely chopped Italian pickled peppers or chopped marinated artichoke hearts
jalapeno pepper rings, as desired

1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
3 to 4 small tomatoes, thinly sliced
salt and pepper, to taste

Generously butter a 9x13-inch baking pan. Preheat oven to 450°. Put grated zucchini in a colandar and press out as much excess liquid as possible. Put zucchini in a mixing bowl. Add well-beaten eggs, flour and salt. Mix well and spread in buttered pan. Bake in a 450° oven for 8 minutes. Remove pan and reduce oven temperature to 350°. Cover the zucchini base with cheese. Combine ripe olives, onion, and chopped pickled peppers. Spread over cheese. Arrange jalapeno pepper rings over top. Sprinkle with fresh or dried herbs. Arrange tomatoes on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 350°, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Serves 4 to 6.

2009-08-03T15:36:00.001-05:00

Make your own designer mouse pad!

2009-07-23T18:04:00.002-05:00

Temporary remedies for a toothache...

A Favorite Remedy For Toothache Pain Relief Is To Use Cloves, Also Effective For Pain Caused By Dry Socket

Salt Water: Mix a heaping spoonful of salt in a small glass of lukewarm to warm water, swoosh around the tooth and inside your mouth for as long as you can, spit out. Repeat a couple times, the pain should subside.

Cloves: This is an old timer’s remedy, rest a clove against the sore area until pain goes away. You can also apply a drop or two of clove oil (too much can be toxic) or make a thick paste of ground cloves and water or ground cloves and olive oil to apply to tooth and surrounding area.

Alcohol: Swoosh a bit of whiskey, scotch, brandy or vodka around the tooth, a strong mouthwash that contains alcohol will do the trick too. Spit out.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Swoosh a bit of hydrogen peroxide around the painful tooth and gum area. If the taste is too horrid for you, try diluting with a bit of water. Spit out.

Vanilla Extract: Saturate a cotton ball with vanilla extract and hold in place over problem tooth. Can also use a cotton swab dipped in extract and carefully swab the painful area.

Almond Extract: Same method of treatment as with Vanilla Extract (above).
Peppermint Extract: Same method of treatment as with Vanilla Extract (above).

Lemon Extract: Same method of treatment as with Vanilla Extract (above).
Tea Tree Oil: Tea Tree Oil proves it’s usefulness again by being an effective treatment for toothache pain, just a drop or two on the affected tooth and gum area will do the trick. You can also apply some to a cotton swab and hold on the tooth or add a few drops of tea tree oil to a small glass of lukewarm to warm water and swoosh this around the sore tooth.

Oil Of Oregano: Mix a few drops of this with a bit of olive oil, then saturate a cotton ball with mixture and hold over tooth and surrounding gum area. Can replace the olive oil with lukewarm water if preferred.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar (ACV) and hold it in place over sore tooth until pain goes away. Can also try regular household vinegar.

Ginger Root: Take a fresh piece of ginger and chew it a bit with the problem tooth for instant pain relief.

Garlic: Take a clove of garlic, smash it and apply to tooth (settle it between tooth and cheek). You can also mash some garlic with salt and apply to tooth.
Peppermint Leaves: Chew on fresh peppermint leaves and apply to sore tooth. You can also dried leaves, just hold them in place over tooth area.

Potato: Cut a fresh piece of potato (raw, skin off) and hold in place over problem tooth until pain is relieved. Can also pound a piece of raw potato, mix in a bit of salt and apply mash to tooth area.

Lime: Cut a slice or wedge of lime and apply to problem tooth, bite into it if you can to release some of the juice. If the tooth is sensitive to cold, first bring the lime to room temperature if it was refrigerated.

Onion: Slice a piece of fresh onion and hold it inside your mouth around the tooth and gum area for instant pain relief. The onion needs to be freshly cut (so it provides a bit of onion juice).

Cucumber: Slice a fresh piece of cucumber and hold it over the sore tooth. If refrigerated, you might want to bring the cucumber to room temperature before applying (if tooth is sensitive to cold) otherwise a cool piece can be soothing. You can also mash a piece with a bit of salt then apply to tooth.

Plantain: Chew up a fresh plantain leaf. If tooth is too sore to chew, use the other side of your mouth. Once the leaf is macerated a bit apply it to the problem tooth and hold in place until pain disappears.

Cayenne Pepper: Make a paste with cayenne pepper and water, apply to sore area.

Black Pepper: Apply black ground pepper to the sore tooth or make a mix of pepper and salt.

Baking Soda: Take a cotton swab and moisten it with a bit of water, dip it in baking soda (coat the swab really well with baking soda) then rub into tooth and gums until pain subsides. You can also make a mouth rinse by mixing a heaping spoonful of baking soda in a small glass of lukewarm to warm water, dissolve the soda then swish the mixture in your mouth around the sore tooth.
Tea: Make a fresh cup of tea then take the used tea bag (still warm) and stick it in your mouth to hold over the problem tooth. Careful not to tear the bag. The tannins that are naturally in tea leaves can help numb the pain.

Aspirin: Take an aspirin tablet (or baby aspirin) and hold over tooth until aspirin dissolves. Or crush and mix with a bit of water to make a paste and apply to tooth and gums. Careful with this one, aspirin can cause a chemical burn inside the mouth for those who are sensitive to it. **It is recommended to swallow the aspirin for pain relief rather than apply to tooth to prevent chance of oral tissue damage to those sensitive to it.

These tips taken from tipnut.com

2009-07-23T06:47:00.002-05:00

One of my very best friends passed away yesterday. I feel as if a piece of me is missing. I had known her since we were 5 years old. Believe me, that is a long time. She was one of the very few constants I had in my life. In the 42 years of our friendship, we had one fight, which lasted all of about a day. :-) She was so special to me in many ways, and I hope she knows how much I truly loved her. She was a gift given to me by God, because he knew we needed each other. Here is a silly little poem we cut out of a book when we were in second grade. We signed it to all of our cards, recited it to each other, and laughed about how silly it was.

Deb, this is the last time I write this...

I twist your arm,
You twist my leg.
I make you cry,
You make me beg.
I dry your eyes,
You wipe my nose.
And that's the way.
The kissing goes.

Rest in peace dear lady,
I love you.

Deborah Kae Walker

2009-07-19T18:39:00.000-05:00

Some orphan dolls I am listing on ebay this evening...

2009-07-19T18:36:00.002-05:00

A little fashion show...

I made the pattern for this one myself. No, of course I didn't save it. That would have been too smart.

Another pattern I made myself...

I kept scouring ebay for cami tops like this one, and by the time shipping was added on, they were almost 10 bucks. So, I made the pattern for this outfit as well. I see several boo boos, but it works.

2009-07-03T12:48:00.002-05:00

So sorry to disappoint those of you who are following my progress with my dollhouse project. I will not be posting the final room today. My daughter in law was unexpectantly called in to work, and my son is already at work, so the little guy will be with me today. No way I can concentrate on the house with a 3 year old bouncing around.

2009-07-02T18:59:00.003-05:00

This is THE cutest thing!!! I simply have to make one. Meg from Boutique Nutmeg Designs shows you how.

2009-07-02T18:21:00.001-05:00

A dress fit for an island princess. Complete with hair scrunchie even! No shoes for this outfit. I think barefoot is the way to go.

2009-07-02T18:15:00.002-05:00

Time for today's dollhouse post. Today I did the room off the kitchen. Not sure what to call it. Anyway, as my Aussie friends say, "Not happy Jan!" I don't know why I am dissatisfied with this room, but I am. Maybe it will come to me tomorrow while I am doing the last room, the kitchen.

Before:

Most of the cans were made from tiny labels printed from my computer and glued to dowel rods, and those little plastic cylinder looking things you sometimes get in a bottle of pills. I am proud of the tiny fly swatter hanging over by the stool. I do like that. That is made with florists wire and cheesecloth. A real pain in the caboose it was too, but I just had to have one. The sacks in the floor are stamped muslin. Food boxes are printies too. I need more, but my poor eyes are not what they used to be. I will add to it later.

More pics...

Ok, that is it for today. See ya tomorrow.

2009-07-02T13:05:00.002-05:00

I have finished the room for today, but I didnt like any of the pics I took. So for now, I leave you with a picture of Lindsay's new fancy dress. Pics of the dollhouse makeover coming later.

2009-07-01T19:05:00.002-05:00

Check out what I have to offer this month on The Primitive Gathering.

2009-07-01T18:32:00.003-05:00

Today I did what I call the great room. I can still see some things that I would like to do to it, but for now I am happy with it. However, I do need to make a phonebook to go on that table with the phone. That is buggin me.

Before...

and.....TA DA!!!! I love the hodge podge ecclectic look of it all.

and, a few more...

2009-07-01T18:31:00.002-05:00

Picked today AND eaten today. With salt of course. Yes, I know it is bad for me but I love it.

2009-06-30T14:28:00.003-05:00

Ok, here it is. Installment two of my vacation dollhouse saga. Today I worked on the bathroom. This room took longer than the bedroom did. I don't know if it was due to multiple interruptions, two teenage boys being home today, or if it was just because I had to dig, hunt, and make more stuff from my stash. Anyway, first is the obligatory before picture...

Here is the full view...

If you look closely, you can see all the bits and baubles I used to make the bathroom look lived in. I cut a chunk of soap off of our real soap, put it on a glass button and used it for soap on the sink. Another glass button sits on the back of the toilet filled with tiny seashells. A baby washcloth made real nice towels to roll up and display in a basket. Two of them I glued trim on and put at the sink and the tub. Beads make the decorative bottles. The rug is an antique piece of needlepoint I have had stashed for years. The tub itself is actually supposed to be a soap dish for a real home. I think it looks better here in the mini home.

Ok, now for more pics....

Here are the bathroom and bedroom together. Notice one of the girls has already moved in. She also decided against the blue chair I had placed there, and went for the mirror instead. Fine by me.

Tomorrow I tackle the second floor. I will call it the great room. It is a combination dining area and livingroom. Oh boy. I hate to see how long that is gonna take me, but I am determined to finish it.

Stay tuned.....

2009-06-30T09:13:00.002-05:00

New doll clothes...

Wrap skirt and empire blouse

Denim shorts and recycle tee. I made the shorts, but I bought the tee from The Doll Closet on ebay.

2009-06-29T13:40:00.002-05:00

I did it!! I finished the bedroom!! It was iffy there for awhile what with the phone ringing, and me not being able to find anything I wanted in my craft room, but it finally came together.

Before....

Wallpaper is up....

And here it is decorated.....

I have had most of these pieces for years and years. The wallpaper is scrapbook paper that is meant to look faded in spots. The beds I had to make coverings for. I did mattresses and pillows, then I made quilts from an antique quilt I have, and some more pillows for the beds. To the left of the dresser is a small box. It contains tiny handmade worry dolls. Notice the doggy on the chair. I think he looks quite happy there. The rugs are antiques that were in my collection. I did have to paint the dresser and night stand. They were bare wood when I started this morning. I initially intended to make the room all color coordinated. As things progressed, I decided I liked it better this way. Not sure what to do with the floor yet. Will decide that later. Tomorrow I tackle the bathroom.

Yes, I realize this is not in any particular scale, and I do know it is an eclectic mix of objects, and it certainly isnt perfect, but I love it's charm. I want it to be played with, so perfection was not something I was trying to achieve here.

More pics....

2009-06-29T13:38:00.001-05:00

Many weeks ago I posted a link to an eyeglass case pattern. I am finally getting around to posting the pic of the ones I made. Yes, they are all mine. I wear reading glasses, and I cannot keep track of them from one minute to the next, so I have multiple pairs.

2009-06-29T09:29:00.002-05:00

ikat bag shows you how to sew your own hair scrunchies! Here in Southern Illinois the heat index has been over 100! Way too hot for me. I do NOT like to sweat!

2009-06-29T09:24:00.003-05:00

I stumbled upon this very pretty patriotic star pillow by Moda this morning during my web wanderings. If you would like to make one, visit this link.

2009-06-29T09:20:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day of my vacation. Yup, I know. I am stunned and in disbelief also. I have not had a vacation in 4 years. I do not plan to go anywhere. I am turning the ringer off on the phone and ignoring the doorbell. No work. Wow. My plans? The dollhouse that you all see my grandson playing with is getting ready to get a makeover. I have had it since before he was born, and been planning ever since to remodel it. I dont want to take away its antique charm too much, but it does need some help. I am starting with the bedroom. Hopefully I will have pics to post later this evening. I also have a new Lindsay outfit finally to post a pic of, and will be showing off my offerings for The Primitive Gathering as well, so stay tuned.

2009-06-22T19:41:00.002-05:00

I got this one from aol food. Soooo good and it helps me use up my new crop of grape tomatoes~

Braised Green Beans and Summer Vegetables
*************************************************
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, halved and sliced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
1/2 cup white wine or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 pound green beans, trimmed
1 medium summer squash or zucchini, halved and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and oregano and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add wine (or broth) and bring to a boil. Add green beans, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Add summer squash (or zucchini) and tomatoes and continue cooking until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan.

2009-06-22T19:29:00.002-05:00

Boy did life ever get away from me in June! I am another year older, but not necessarily wiser!

Would like to share a few photos....
This one is of windmills in Iowa. I was on my way to a seminar and food show sponsored by Thoms Proestler. The weather was gorgeous.

Here is yet another pic of my number one guy engrossed in the dollhouse. His obsession this day was having dishes IN the dishwasher and a broom for the floor. Much more on the pant slippage and there would have been a plumbers butt crack there.

And last but not least, I have ripe grape tomatoes. Oh are they ever good!

2009-05-31T17:10:00.001-05:00

Painting a stepping stone for Meme's yard...