WANTED: Bob's Red Engine Walkers......Hospice Hike 2014

Only caption I can come up with......Love this!

Bob's Red Engine Walkers are gearing up for the Hospice Hike and we have 12 people registered to participate (Team goal: 20 hikers!).  We've also had donations to help us reach our team goal of $1000!  We are now at $700!

If you are thinking of joining us, don't be afraid of the walk!  It's not a run....It's not a fast paced trot....It's a leisurely stroll through Governor's Land and only two miles.  You walk that far when grocery shopping....at Short Pump shopping....or at a flea market! 

Additional perks.....for the first 20 people to register to walk, you'll get a free t-shirt! I don't have a live version to share with you, but I can show you the artwork.....



T-shirt front!  The t-shirts will be red, of course!  (I drew the truck and then my friend and co-worker redid it into a format we could use for the t-shirts - Thanks Kealan!)



The back of the shirts will have a saying that Dad used to say all the time.....Great Day!  Great Day...look at that old truck!  Great Day...that's a good report card! Or sometimes just.....Great Day!  We felt that saying was appropriate for this occasion as well!

T-shirts will be ordered next week so if planning to join us, please message me your t-shirt size (unisex sizes)!

The link below will take you directly to my web-page via Hospice House and just follow the directions to join a team.  The team to join of course is Bob's Red Engine Walkers!

http://williamsburghikeforhospice.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1094150&lis=0&kntae1094150=AB2C4335D1B245A98CA6C4FC5E044803&supid=402144180

The countless hours of the Hospice House staff and volunteers are such a blessing to those in need.  Yes, our loved ones were patients and in need of comforting during those final weeks, days and hours.  But we needed the care and compassion as well and what better way to give back to this wonderful establishment in our very own community.....Let's Hike for Hospice!

Love you all!

Robin

What else? Make cookies!

What does one do with leftover white chocolate and a box of carrot cake mix?

What else......MAKE COOKIES!

When  Peyton was here for a visit this past weekend, I promised her we'd make cookies.  Grammie went to work to find the easiest recipe because I knew the fun would be in the icing of the cookies.  And....I was right! 

The Funfetti cookies, made from a Funfetti cake mix were a hit!  And yes, the strawberry icing was the exact final touch they needed.

I started thinking....what other cake mixes would work?  I just so happened to have a carrot cake and because this afternoon was the first time all week I'd felt like moving, I needed to do something. 

Here is my recipe:

• 1 box of cake mix
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• icing (or in this case dipping chocolate!)

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large mixing bowl, combine first 5 ingredients and mix well.  Batter will be thick because this is cookies, not a cake!

I used my Pampered Chef cookie dough scoop and on a lightly grease cookie sheet, dropped each scoop about 2 inches apart.  Lightly press down each scoop. I'll warn you now, don't try and squeeze all the cookies onto one cookie sheet!  They spread out and you'll have one large cookie bar vs individual cookies.

Cook for 10-12 minutes at 350.  Mine weren't quite ready after 12 minutes, so I cooked them for another 2 minutes.  Put the cookies on a cooling rack and then move to a plate/platter.....waiting patiently to be dipped!

 If you are planning to dip the cookies into white chocolate like I did.  You might as well wait until after the cookies have cooled completely before starting the melting process.  It only takes a few minutes and you don't want to dip warm cookies. 



These lovely wafers can be found at your local grocery store in the baking section.  Suggestion:  Get the real chocolate!  Why go to all this trouble and then use fake chocolate?  DONTMAKENODERNSENSE!



Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper and start dipping!  I tipped the bowl up a little so I could get as much on one side as possible. Let the extra chocolate fall off into your bowl and then place on the parchment paper. (Now you can put them close together).

I had leftover chocolate!  Imagine that!  I sure wasn't going to let it go to waste, so I double two Ziploc bags and poured the rest into the bag.  I let it all pool into one corner and barely snipped off a corner.  See where I'm going with this?

I drizzled the undipped portion of the cookie with the chocolate and then let them cool for about 20 minutes.  The chocolate doesn't take long to harden and after not having much of an appetite this week......I assumed the position on the couch with my newly created carrot cake cookie and enjoyed every bite!

ENJOY!

A Sewing Frenzy with my Brother!

Growing up, the oldest of two girls.  And the only children in our family of four....I remember wanting an older brother!  Ha! 

Maybe that's why I thoroughly enjoy using my Brother sewing machine! It's nothing fancy and it won't embroider or monogram anything (pause for a moment of silence while I dream!)  OK - back to reality!

I recently pulled out my sewing machine because I had to make the curtains for our family room (that's another post!) and that lead to pillow covers...that lead to curtains for the kitchen......an apron.....and of course the most fabulous pink hat!

Here we go.....

 



This is me playing with Photo Explosion!



These were probably the easiest curtains I've ever made.  The fun floral print is backed with burlap and looks like a roman shade, but it's not.  I simply made one panel the width and length of the entire window.  Made a casing at the top for spring rod #1 and set it in place.  I placed spring rod #2 about 10 inches below #1 and draped the panel over it.  Next, I measured 10 inches down and put spring rod #3 in place and you guess it...draped it one last time.  With a straight pin, I did secure them in place but once the burlap and fabric relaxed, it would probably be fine.

 

The pillow on the right was the start of a small quilt top I made many years ago and never did get around to finishing it.  Now that I'm using red as an accent color in the kitchen and family room, it's perfect as a pillow top.  See...it does pay to hold on to things!

I love making pillows because I am by no means a perfectionist when I sew.  Sometimes I'll wing it and other times I'll follow the pattern to the final step.

Here's an example of winging it.....

Ladies - you know when your husband, boyfriend, etc. wears that certain pair of jeans?  This WAS that pair of jeans.  Stephen decided he no longer wanted to wear them because they had a hole in the knee.  I swiped those bad boys out of the trash and made myself an apron!  D'Lawd...don't make no dern sense to throw away a perfectly good pair of jeans!

I used scraps from my pillow making frenzy, kitchen curtains and a little black and white check. 

I cut out one square using pinking shears and then used it as a guide to cut out the rest.  I pinned them around the apron (not on the bottom though) and pinned them into place.  I freestyled around the apron about 5 times with my sewing machine..... making sure at least one of the stitches caught the corner of each square.  Next I added the ties around the waist and neck and I'm done!  What else ya got in that closet you want to get rid of?

This hat has nothing to do with my sewing frenzy but I do love it.  I did however buy it during a thrift shop frenzy with Kathy & Cindy.....$1.00

I do have another pant leg from those jeans!  So here's what I'm thinking.....if you'd like an apron, put a comment on the actual blog post and I'll put your name in the hat.  Drawing will be.....MONDAY, MARCH 10TH!! (I'm trying to get exposure for my blog so please put your comment on the blog not Facebook).

Now get your Brother out of the closet and start sewing!   

2014 Williamsburg Hike for Hospice.....Bob's Red Engine Walkers!

2014 Williamsburg Hike for Hospice

We all hope a Hospice relationship is one we never have to encounter.  But chances are we have or know of someone who has.  And I know I'll be forever grateful for the kindness and compassion Dad's Hospice nurse showed both Mom & Dad.  And...she had to drive from over past Smithfield.  A nurse following her calling!

I can't believe it's been two years since Dad took his last breath here on this earth.  For about a week prior, I'd sit with him and he'd hold my hand and pray.  He'd say out loud...It's not time yet Bob!  It's not time yet.  Monday, February 6th....he knew.  He took his oxygen off and entered the Promise Land!  I'm certain Pap was there waiting for him....doing a jig! 

Friends, when it's their time, they will know.  And when they've been under the care of Hospice, the staff and volunteers are there for you each step of the way.  They know it's hard....they know the months to come aren't going to be any easier....but from personal experience, the minute the nurse walked into the house our healing began.  Was the healing immediate?  Oh no!  Not by a long shot (as I sit here using my sweatshirt sleeve as a tissue).  But her kind words and knowledge of 'what to do next' made the next few days bearable.  And for that support, I want to give back. And, I'd like to ask you to consider doing the same.

http://williamsburghikeforhospice.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1094150&lis=1&kntae1094150=B7670658BB3C4B37BA331BA14C0BC152&supId=402144180

Our team goal is to have 20 walkers!  We will have team t-shirts and for the first 20 people to register, the t-shirt will be FREE!  (make sure you message me your size after registering).  If you cannot join us, but would like to make a donation, the link above will walk you through that process. 



Dad driving Engine 3 in the Christmas Parade.  The same truck that took him for his final ride!  Love ya Dad!



Several have inquired about purchasing a t-shirt and we will be happy to order one for you.  The cost will be $15 ($5 going towards our total Hospice donation).  Make sure you get your money and sizes to me by March 28th!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your love and support. 

The Chips are free.....and so is the HEAT!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

As with every year, I tried to find something clever to give for Valentine's Day!  For the last two weeks, I've been scanning Pinterest and yes, I did find some cute ideas.  But I didn't find THE idea!

 

Enter one chips and salsa lovin' husband (he is crunching in the background as I type!) and I came up with an idea I think will be perfect. 

 

I've been wanting to try making my own salsa and while looking for a good recipe, I stumbled on a quick one and decided to just wing it and see what I came up with.  Well, I'm here to tell you it's pretty stinkin' good! Wait!  Should the words 'pretty' and 'stinkin' be used in the same sentence to describe something you are going to eat? 

 

Quick rundown of the recipe.....really this could not be easier!

 

• 1 can Great-Value Fire-roasted diced tomatoes - Salsa ready
• 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes (I like it HOT!) or you can get the sissy can called 'Original' or 'Mild"
• 1 can diced green chilies
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 clove of garlic
• Cumin, to taste

Before you start...drain the cans of tomatoes but SAVE the juices in a small bowl. 

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients, except for the onion, garlic and Cumin.  In medium pan, saute' onion, garlic and Cumin in olive oil until slightly browned.  Just before ready, add enough of the saved juices to deglaze the pan (get all the good stuff off the bottom of the pan) and continue to stir for another minute or two.

Add onion mixture to your salsa and stir well.  It's good right away, but even better if you put it in an airtight container (mason jars work great) and let it set overnight in the refrigerator. D'lawd...some good eatin'!

 

OK - back to business for my Valentine treats!

 

Off I went to Walmart - again!  I needed to buy the goods and the cute little mason jars!

 

After the salsa was added to the jars, they were placed neatly in the 'frig.  The HEAT needs to permeate throughout all the 'maters in the jar.   In a perfect world, I would have tried canning the jars of salsa.  That's another day! 

 

I sat down at the computer and tried to come up with a cute little poem that would be appropriate to give co-workers, but all in fun for Valentine's Day too.  Here's what I came up with....

I'm showing you the entire page so you'll see how easy it is to do a bunch of tags at once. And, instead of white paper (which would be fine too), I used a piece of leftover scrapbook paper. It reads.....Valentine's are red-Chocolates are sweet-The chips are free-And so is the HEAT!

 

 

 

These small brown envelopes were in my stash of "Ya Nevah Know!" and worked perfectly! 

 

I also found cute plastic bags at the Dollar Tree with red hearts and for each jar of salsa, I'll give them a small bag of FREE chips (get it?)...the Chips are Free!

 

 

 

I'll probably check out my stash again for some raffia to tie around the jar, but if I don't have any, that's fine too!  I'm learning not to sweat the small stuff!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and someone or something will happen tomorrow to touch your heart!  This doesn't have to be a day of spending lots of money to say you care....it could really just be a post-it note that simply says....You make my heart smile!

 

WARNING:  If you are on my team at work and reading this before tomorrow...bring milk! (Just kidding - it's not THAT hot!)

 

Love ya...mean it!

 

E-I-E-I-OH this was so much fun!

And on that farm he had a bull.....E-I-E-I-O!  Meet my new friend, T-Bone!



You might remember several months ago, James City County made the national news when this handsome fella decided to explore Forge Road.  Such an innocent face!

We recently had the opportunity to visit Toano Stables and our friend, Tonya Meadows greeted us with open arms to show us around.  Here stands a woman who's hair salon is decorated with her favorite posters of Marilyn Monroe  and with the quick flip of a switch (or change into brown farm boots), her own beauty starts to shine.  She's home....she's on the farm!



Since moving into our new home, I've wanted a photo of a cow, herd of cows....something to commemorate the once active farmland, we now live on.  So far, I've been drawn to paintings, but when Tonya & Todd added two beauties to their own farm, I knew I had to go visit....with camera in hand!

I threw on my best high heels and off we went!  Ha! Ha!  That's surely a joke!

I wasn't even five steps from the truck and there were already wonderful sights to capture on film!

You know I love the truck!

And let me introduce you to Lola & Millie.......just adorable! I wanted to reach in and just rub on them, but the barbed wire prevented that from happening.  Having a bucket of grain helped coax them to the fence, but they were very interested in what that strange lady with the camera was doing.  And, I love those long white eyelashes!

Millie & Lola



Miss Lola was the first to come to the fence.  She stepped back a little with the click of the camera but didn't take long to come back for me.  Photo hog!



Millie...that face is going to take you places!





T-Bone is definitely boss of the pasture!



And then there were chickens!  They were cool too, but just look at those awesome colors. I love the teal hen house, brown hens and let's talk about that mean rooster!  Todd tried to introduce another rooster and it was quickly discovered that would NOT be happening....No! No! No! Not today! 

Star!  Another one of God's beautiful creatures!

Such a great afternoon and I want to thank Tonya & Todd for allowing us to come look around and take some photographs of their wonderful creatures....and their amazing life on the farm! 

I'm not sure yet whether I want to try my hand at painting or play around with the different enhancements to the digital photos.  I'll probably try both!

Great day!

Craft Challenge #1

Craft Challenge......What's a girl to do with a set of horns?

A little horn history.....Growing up I thought my Uncle Jesse was the absolute coolest (and he's still pretty awesome!) and when he moved out of Grandma Susie's house, he left these behind.  For the life of me, I cannot remember why in the world I snatched them up, but here they are!

Now here's the dilemma..."as is" they are a little too giddy-up and yee-haw for my flavor.  They've been sitting on my dining room table for a few weeks now and we put dinner around them, sit and drink our morning coffee around them.......but what in the world am I going to do with them?

Here's why I'm even considering it.....As you know I'll soon have a deer head mounted on the wall and I've been looking at decorating possibilities that will not only please my husband, but make me happy too!  

I've seen several white ceramic deer heads that are considerably smaller and thought I'd start looking for one to hang with ....ummm...let's call him "Bubba".  Then I came across these lovely horns and my mind started spinning.  Here are my thoughts and I'd love your feedback....(click on the blog and leave me your ideas!)

• Leave them alone (let me clarify too - they are NOT real horns!)
• Spray paint the entire piece a glossy white
• Spray paint the horns white and then wrap a jute twine around the center suede pieces.
• What else?

I'm anxious to see what ideas you come up with!

TGIF - enjoy your weekend!