It's Saturday

it's Saturday AM

2:30 AM

and I'm awake. 

Wide awake.

My mind is full of all the things

that I want need to get accomplished over my weekend...

Like finish stitching March's Word Play, 

and complete it's patterns instructions,

pattern cover graphics need to be generated...

there's no time for a breather between March and April's word play,

no week off this time around...

I need to get Aprils finished 

ASAP

so it can be released

at the upcoming TNNA show.

I need to get some punch needle patterns

for spring
sketched & punched.

I need to get my W-2's done

and
sales tax paid
before the end of the month.

I need to get my 2011 taxes

 to the accountant

before April 1
this year,

in case grand baby #2 decides to come early,

like her brother did...

so I can go help!

I need to order some items we are sold
out of
at Country Stitches.

I roll over and look at the clock 

and
I think it now says something
like 2:33 AM.

I'm pretty sure 

by now 

the clock might not be moving...

So,
I continue to toss and turn

with my mind
full of stuff 

I've got to get done.

It's now 4:00 AM.
  

Yep,
I saw 3:00 AM,
too.

  So,
I decided my
cluttered mind wins,

and I get up.

  Up for the day.
No one in the neighborhood is up with me...
Nope,
we are the only house
with lights on...

The coffee pot is on.

It's 4:00 AM
and
my day of stitching has begun.

Coffee pot is empty by 6:00 AM.
 you know you are in for a long day
when this happens...

While stitching
and
drinking coffee
like a maniac,
I must add,
my mind turns to
"what's for lunch",
"what's for dinner"???

I decided it

was going to be 

just a

"cook-one-meal-eat-leftovers-the-rest-of-the-meals-type-of-weekend"...

does anyone else do this??

Hmmmm...

what makes really really good leftovers? 
Lasagna!

This is a new recipe that I tried on my family over the holiday,

with some adjustments made to it, 

by yours truly...

  It was to be made in a crock-pot,

but I needed to speed things up a tad

and it works in an oven too.

  I don't like cottage cheese, 

makes me gag,

literally.  
{looks like baby barf, sorry}

So it is something 

that I always omit

from any lasagna recipe. 

What caught my eye 

with this recipe

is there is no cottage cheese,

but calls for Alfredo sauce instead, yummers... 

It also calls for the

no-boil lasagna noodles. 

Perfect, 

one less messy step

that I don't enjoy doing..

.my noodles always rip

{sigh}

So folks, today's recipe share is

DELICIOUS CREAMY LASAGNA

 

Let's start, shall we?  

 

Brown one pound of ground beef, with 1/2 chopped onion, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked.

 

And while the hamburger is browning, gather up these necessary ingredients...

 

After hamburger is browned; drain.

 

  Return hamburger to pan and stir in 8 oz of tomato sauce, 26 oz of your favorite pasta sauce

(our family favorite is Bertolli).  Add 2 tsps. of Italian seasoning mix.

 

Stir; mixing well.

 

Grease a glass cake pan.  Spread 3/4 cup of the meat mixture into the bottom of the pan.

 

Layer 3 no-boil noodles over the sauce.

 

Spread evenly with 1/3 of the Alfredo sauce.

 

Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

 

Spread evenly with 1/3 of the beef mixture.  Repeat layers two more times, ending with the beef mixture.

 

Sprinkle 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese over the top.  Cover with tin foil and bake at 325 degrees for one hour.  Remove tin foil and bake for an additional 20 - 30 minutes or until the top is nicely browned.

 

Let set at room temp for 15 minutes to set-up.  Cut into servings, using a pizza cutter for easy cutting!

Serve with a fresh green salad and toasted garlic french baguette bread.

Click on arrow for a printable version of the recipe!

Brrrrr.....

I think

 

on this 

cold & snowy

Iowa morning...

 

I'll let

my 

needle & thread

take me

to a warmer place...

 

a place where

daffodils are blooming

&

the bees are just 

beginning to awaken...

 

Where Peter Cottontails

are nibbling 

on 

dandelions

(and maybe my daffodils, too)

Would you like to join me?

Bundle up & stay warm folks,

Brenda

What inspires me...

It's usually color that inspires me.

 

Old & worn colors

from 

old ditties 

that I collect...

 

Look at the color of the roof on this little house.

A little cardboard Putz house

(circa 1900 - 1920's).

Little houses I get out each Christmas and set in my window sills

and on cupboard shelves.

 This old rusty red is my favorite color.

 

Old hand painted composition nativity sheep...

look at that color of  the grass

An old shutter green.

 

Just take in the lovely shade of white

these old stick leg Putz sheep

have turned with time...

a dirty shaker white,

my favorite shade of white.

So these little collectibles,

in their old & worn colors,

that I get out each  December 

was my inspiration

for the soon to be released 

March Word Play pattern...

Silly isn't it though? 

When I think of March,

the first thought that comes to mind

is the saying,

"In like a lion, out like a lamb"...  

or vice versa. 

Living in Iowa we always hoped for the out like a lamb.  

When I think of March,

I think of St Patricks Day 

and 

Ireland.

a country I would love to visit some day...

.  My husbands mother was born in Ireland. 

She would later meet her military husband,

an become a war bride.

  I think of the beautiful green emerald jewelry 

she would wear in the month of March, 

jewelry that was gifted to her

by her jeweler husband.

Emeralds very similar in color 

to the old chippy paint on my composition sheep...

  It's fun to try and visualize

what the countryside of Ireland

must look like...

  What comes to mind

is very lush green countryside,

with gently rolling hills.. 

Little white bungalow houses

with perhaps red tile roofs 

 a  maybe even a little old man

out herding his flock...

When I think of March, I think of the four leaf clover,

or a shamrock 

and the little story 

that goes with it

about bringing one good luck. 

  I couldn't design

March's Word Play chart without adding this motif....

I spent many of summer days

of my childhood days on the farm,

looking for four leaf clovers. 

  When one was found

we would tuck it

between the pages our old black bible 

to dry and safekeepings...

Silly

isn't it

how patterns come to be...

Have a good day,
Brenda

estos son deliciosos!

translation,
"these are delicious"!

 {Fajita Pulled-Pork Wraps with Avocado-Onion Slaw}

Today's recipe share is a new recipe try for me,

and it earned itself a smiley face :0)

The recipe was located while perusing through my stacks and stacks of cookbook magazines. I have a real weakness for these...  I stand and glance at them, while waiting in the check-out lane of the grocery store and I have a real hard time resisting the temptation to buy...

anyone else have a "cookbook magazine weakness"???  

It's a crock pot recipe and would make a wonderful item to serve if you're hosting a super-bowl gathering.   The recipe comes from a magazine by Pillsbury, titled Slow Cooker - 325 hearty recipes  

Let's begin, shall we...

 

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.   Brown all sides of a 3 pound pork shoulder/butt roast until nicely browned.  Season with freshly ground salt and pepper.  It is this step that will seal in the meat juices.

After meat is browned, place in a low temp crock pot; cook for 7 - 8 hours or until the meat starts to fall apart.

 

When the meat is done, shred with two forks...

the meat will easily fall apart,

yummy!

Go ahead, snitch a taste...

season with salt and pepper to your liking.

Add 2 tsp chili powder, 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin and one 16 oz jar of mild, thick and chunky salsa;mix well.

Now it's time to make the Avocado-Onion Slaw...

don't skip this part folks,

it is what really makes these fajitas good.  The slaw adds a nice and creamy crunch. 

 

Finely chop 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Using one medium onion, halved and thinly sliced

Pit and peel two medium sized avocados.

Cut into 1/2" cubes.

In a medium bowl, mix 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons white vinegar and 1/2 tsp salt.  Stir in onions and cilantro.

Gently stir in avocado chunks.

 

 Warm tortillas (6 inch size) according to package directions.  Spoon pork mixture on tortillas; top with avocado-onion slaw.

 

And for an added kick,

if you wish,

season with freshly ground pepper and a dash of lemon/lime salt...

adds just the right about of lemon-lime kick!

Spanish Rice makes a quick and easy side dish to these fajitas.

Click the Play button below for a printable version of this recipe!

Enjoy, Brenda

More Floss Keeps!

Available this evening around 6 PM'ish CST,

on

www.countrystitchesonline.com

Great little stitching tools to keep your floss

all together in one place,

and with a little bling at the same time...

stitch in style!!!

We've even added a few new ones to the collection!

Floss keeps feature photo snippets of samplers

from my collection of antiques...
measuring in at just 1 1/4" square!

You can see them

here.

Have a good week everyone,

Brenda

I can laugh...

because I'm Beckham's grandmother

Baby Monitors...

something that wasn't available when Beckham's momma and uncle were babies.

Beckham and his momma and daddy moved into a new home this fall and it was decided that perhaps a baby monitor might come in handy in their bigger home.

I was impressed, these are the coolest things since sliced bread.  

Why,

I even mentioned to my adult children

they would still come in handy

  when the kids are in high school

and dating...

okay

sorry,

got side-tracked there...

Back to Beckham...

At nap time or bed time I just love sitting next to the "downstairs monitor" and listen to this little guy...

  

before falling into a slumber,

Beckham sings the abc song

over 

and over

and over...

so sweet,

"next time won't you sing wis meeeeeeeee"

{precious}

After the songs are over

we move onto stories...

stories Beckham tells

in his own words

about 

Thomas, 

Percy

Gordan

 James

and

Cranky, of course!

Beckham turned 3 in November and still wants to sleep in his crib.  

No interest in his big boy bed,

with big boy covers...

  Beckham thinks it's more fun to climb out of the crib,

then take naps these days...

I received a phone call this morning from Beckham's mommy

and

we talked about painting, stenciling, antiquing, the weather, recipes

and Beckham...

  Momma seemed a wee tad frustrated,

as napping

is becoming more and more a thing of the past..

Remember those days?

  Last evening he was tucked into his crib at bed time,

and a few minutes later

momma and daddy could hear him (on the baby monitor)

climb out of  his crib.

He seems to have it now mastered without

falling...

  Momma says to daddy,

"Go get him".

  Daddy says, lets just wait & see what he does.

CLICK.

{The sound of the baby monitor being shut off.}

The one in Beckhams room.

By Beckham.

Yes, momma's telling me the story

and

I'm laughing my fanny off,

 nearly falling of my chair...

momma however,

didn't see the same humor in it...

I can laugh because I'm the grandma,

right?

I'm thinking mommy and daddy just got busted.

Busted for eavesdropping on their 3 year old,

by their 3 year old!

You see,

there is some urgency in getting Beckham 

to liking his big boy bed

and his big boy covers...

Come tax day,

or there abouts

he's going to be a big brother!

The new baby will need that crib in a few months...

the transition to his big boy bed needs to happen,

soon-like.

Beckham's going to have a baby sister

and 

we are bursting with excitement!!!

Grandma's been buying little girl out fits

with matching shoes...

A little pair of denim espadrilles

for a casual,

play with big brother,

type of day...

Little pink leathers

for dress up

type of days...

and

of course,

every little girls closet

must have a pair 

of zebra shoes in it...

right?

.

Have a good weekend,

Brenda

Welcome Phebe...

Phebe has come to rest

her weary threads

upon the walls of our home. 

Meet Phebe...

Please pardon her holes. 

She is a little ragged around the edges 

and

even missing in some places. 

Her edges are paper thin.

She cost me more

then what I probably should have paid for her,

{sigh}

but I like her,

alot...

holes and all :-)

My first 18th century sampler,

"Phebe Cooper - 1791"

She is old.

Two hundred twenty one years old,

to be exact...

1791 was the year.  

How old is that?

  Let's think about this for a bit,

shall we?

In 1791 George Washington was president. 

  The Betsy Ross 13 star flag was flying.

There were just the 13 original colonies,

with Vermont becoming the 14th in that year.

The Bill of Rights was signed,

in the same year... 

When I think about her age,

it makes me feel better about

the holes, the stitch loss

and 

my purchase...

Do I sound like someone who is justifying

a purchase? :-)

These are all things I will tell the 

dh when he asks me "how much"???

A brick house, a dog, a sheep, a cow and a man with walking stick

adorn this piece...

some of my favorite sampler motifs. 

Proverbs Chapter 3:13-18 are stitched over 1,

with the rest of the sampler worked over 2 threads. 

To the best of my counting abilities (without cheaters on),

it appears to be about a 52 - 54 count linen.  

Yes,

those letters worked over 1 thread 

are teeny tiny folks...so dainty!

Let's just say Phebe had good vision.

Question,

did they have cheaters (magnifiers) in the late 1700's??

Young eyes perhaps?

Rows of the alphabet 

are worked along the top, 

some in regular cross stitch

and 

some in tiny eyelet stitches,

a stitch I'm still trying to perfect...

The sampler came to me

by way

of a

Connecticut estate auction. 

Makes me wonder

how someone could part 

with such a piece,

a family heirloom...

So kids of mine,

if you're reading your mother's blog posting today...

remember to tell your kids

someday,

that the samplers don't get sold

when I'm gone!!!

Have a good weekend,

Brenda

Where is he????

He's late,

it's 7:30 PM...

he should have been home over an hour ago...

Where is he?

 

Doesn't he know 

I've been sitting here,

on this chair,

looking out the window,

 waiting to hear his pick up truck

pull in the driveway 

for over 2 1/2 hours now,

so I can 

run to the door,

greet him,

&

get my tummy rubbed?????

{sigh}
I thought today would never end,
tough day at the kitty office...