Buckets of Soap

Do you ever find yourself doing things out of habit and then wonder, "Why am I doing this?" It happens that I asked myself that question when I brought my packages of bar soap home. When I was a little girl, maybe four or five years old, I remember excitedly unwrapping the bars of soap, placing them in an old gallon ice cream bucket, and storing them on the linen closet shelf next to the towels. It has been several years since I have done this ritual. My mom thought that exposing the soap to the air would dry it out causing it to harden and hence last longer. I have no idea if this theory is true, but I don't mind one way or the other. I unwrap my soap and put it in a bucket anyway!

Idaho Potato

I love Idaho Potatoes. I grew up eating them. I miss digging fresh ones from the field. The smell of dirt lingering in the storage room through the burlap bag. I have to settle for ones from the grocery store, which are still good, but it was such a shock for me to learn that people don't grow their own.

Oven-Baked French Fries
4 medium Idaho potatoes

1/4 cup olive oil

salt to taste

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice the potatoes into wedges. (The thinner the better.)

2. In a bowl, toss the potatoes with the oil to coat. Lay them on a baking sheet and cook for 25 minutes turning at least once. Add salt to taste.

Makes 4 servings

And then there is fry sauce. It's that blob of pinkish glob at the bottom of the picture. It's delicious and I am also shocked that everyone here eats their fries with ketchup.

Frosted Flakes

This picture was made by placing a piece of black construction paper in the snow storm. The paper had to be cold so that the flakes did not melt when they hit the surface. I only wish I had a better lens so I could get a little more detail.

A Diamond

Diamond rings and love seem to go hand in hand. Since it is Valentines day I thought I would share my diamond story.
It was a lovely fall day. We drove up the canyon for a pic-nic. It was fast food from Taco Time. My sister missed the hand rolled tacos, and it was the perfect way to top off her visit. We hiked around with our little ones and then drove to the airport. She was flying home after her annual visit to the Western United States. When I got home I snagged my wedding ring on my daughter's baby blanket. I looked down to see two prongs and my diamond missing. I was sick to my stomach. I had been so many places. How would I ever hope to find it.
But... luck was on my side, or should I say "love" was on my side. My husband asked if I could give him a haircut. He pulled the rugs out of the bathroom and went to get the clippers. I was sitting on the side of the tub when out of the corner of my eye I saw something sparkling. I picked it up and my heart skipped a beat. It was my diamond! Of all the places I had been, my diamond managed to fall out in my bathroom. Of all the people to help me find it, it was my true love!

Think Spring!

Since it is bitterly cold out and I am pining for spring I thought some flowers would cheer me up. I hope you enjoy. And please, think spring.



What are you pining for?

You Make me Laugh!

"Why do piano teachers houses smell funny?"

"Why are giraffes necks so long?"

"Now we have to flutter like a fairy so we can catch him." Said by Lulu when she saw her dad drive away in the car.

"What's under our kitchen floor?"

Making Valentines

Called me lazy. I do not have the energy to buy them. I would have to get in my car and drive for at least 15 minutes one way. Take small child in and out of car seat, be bombarded by plethoras of choices, and distracted by "sale" signs. So I took the easy way out! I have all the supplies at my fingertips. (Thanks to numerous other "shopping trips.")

Supplies: cardstock, stamps from JoAnn's and Stamp'in Up, ribbon from a broken hair barrette.

The altered book

Here is a little update about my experience making an altered book. So far, I have recoved my book in some embelished paper. The picture shows the book, in progress. I have purchased sand paper, rubber cement, and elmer's glue to work on the inside. I will add more pictures as it comes along. I am excited to finish this!

My Collection

Overlooked subject two: Collections.

My favorite collection is my rubber stamps. I am already hating the idea that I dumped them into a big pile for a picture. But, there you have it: My stamps all together in one spot!

Stamp collecting can avalanche into collections of other sorts; inks, markers, pens, papers, well.... you get the idea.

Dewey's Pizza

This salad is amazing! There is nothing quite like sharing yummy food with family and it helps if your really hungry. For Martin Luther King Day we ate at Dewey's Pizza located in northern Kentucky at Newport on the Levee, on the banks of the Ohio river. We ordered the house salad which contains pine nuts, sun-dried craisins, and goat cheese on a bed of field greens with romaine lettuce. The dressing is Dewey's own house balsamic vinaigrette. Our Pizza was the Bronx Bomber which includes a red sauce with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green pepper, and black olives. For the kids we ordered the X-Pepperoni and Hawaiian. All of the food was incredibly fresh and delicious. There was a twenty minute wait for a table, but it was worth it.

Before we indulged in the local cuisine we visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. We saw a slave pen which is an actual structure found on a farm in Kentucky and rebuilt in the Freedom Center. The exhibit From Slavery to Freedom had a room with the ship names, used in trafficking slaves, carved in stone on the wall. In the center of the room was a column with pebbles, glass beads, and stones to represented all the slaves who died on the voyage. The room was lighted in such a way as to evoke the sea, with greens and blues. It was a very educational way to honor and celebrate diversity.