Time In A Bottle

You know the song I'm sure. "If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I'd like to do..." The thing is, all the time we think we save by eating fast food, using microwaves, calculators, etc. is gone and time is for spending, not saving. This picture above is an absolute reminder of that to me.

Karen was our neighbor for 5 years. Then we moved to here and she moved to California. We haven't seen her for 6 years and when she left Zac was about up to her middle. Time didn't stand still. Kids grew, things changed. Karen came into town and surprised us with a visit. It was great to see her and was a little perk for an uneventful afternoon!

One of the things I do like to do with my time is create. So, I have been taking discarded ( and no, I didn't drink all that wine! And I knew that's exactly what you are thinking!! haa haa) wine bottles and wrapping them with jute and making new vases out of them. It's really easy. I found some jute in the dollar bin at Target and had no idea what I would do with it. But, I saw this on a blog and I would like to give someone else the credit for the idea but, I can't remember where I saw it. ( See? Time is taking away my memory... boo hoo)

I used some of my Grandmothers old buttons on some and glued stones to some others. I have given away them and this was the only one left with the stones. They are a nice "earthy" touch to a room.

My daugher has been buying fresh Gerber Daises to keep in them every week but, it seemed that Fresh Market flowers weren't so "fresh" this week and they all faded out pretty quickly. We have some HUGE hydrangea bushes in our backyard so, I cut some for the bottles.

Here's one on a table in the guest room. I am not a real "beachy" decor gal but, since it's summer and I had some cool shells my Mom gave me, I thought it looked pretty good. Oh, and that candle had funky pictures on it and I wrapped it in burlap, ribbon and added a little shell.

Here's another on at her home ( I think all these bottles are girls for some reason, maybe because they are so curvy?) on the side table in the living room. Notice this lamp? I have to tell you about it down below.

These three lovely ladies are gracing the kitchen table. I should sprinkle a few votive candles in there for some mood, right?

Okay...this lamp. WAS.....a very bright brassy touch lamp that I found, so it was free and it worked! I spray painted it a Satin Black and I love it! It is right at home in the living room. I also added a tassel I had and tied it on with some jute ( my new best friend) . Oops. Wish I had taken a before shot but, I guess I got too excited and started painting.

And how about this lamp? I am beginning to have "Lamp Obsession". I love lamp. This one was free also. Found it. It was brown with a burgundy and gold striped lamp shade. I painted it the same as the other one and just put a different shade on it. Yes, that's two new lamps for the living room and one can of spray paint. $2.99. I know. Ridiculous. Oh and since I have this "Lamp Issue" , I have found 3 more that I am currently working on. My new motto. "LET NO TABLE GOETH WITHOUT A LAMPETH"

Karen and I. She is looking awesome! California life is agreeing with her. Her sons and Zac were big buddies back in the day. We used to take them to school everyday. I was not expecting company that day ( obviously by the outfit, the hair, the lack of make-up) but, to me, this picture is priceless. By the way, one day, you may be seeing her son on TV playing football or running in the Olympics. Stay tuned.

Another thing I have been making. A cool jewelry organizer! I did not come up with this idea on my own. I have been browsing blogs at night and people are so creative!! I just changed it up a little. This is an old brown frame that used to hold a Needle Point with Z's birth statistics on it. I painted it black. I believe I might be addicted to the black spray paint. I got some wooden knobs from JoAnn's Craft store, some ribbon, a gerber daisy and some burlap. Total cost I think....about $ 5 or $ 6 dollars.

It looks really good hanging in RLH's closet and I am working on another on for KMH's closet. It's fun to make and all you need is the supplies and a handy glue gun. And by the way, I nearly burned one of my fingers to the bone. TO THE BONE!!!!!!

And just one more thing I made this past month. I'm sorry. Is this post too long? A chalkboard plate for the kitchen counter! Made from a square plate and a can of chalkboard paint. I had a hard time finding plates that would work. I found this one in TJMaxx in NC. It was $ 2.99!! Yay!

I also made one for my Mom for Mother's day out of a plate with yellow and green scrolls around the edge. Looked great in her kitchen! I made one for my Mother in law that was with a red plate. She likes apple stuff and I thought the red was nice. She said she uses it everyday. Oh, and I made one for my Daughter in law and my friend, JoAnn. It's a really nice gift, I think. We use ours for writing the dinner menu on, wishing each other a good day, quoting lines from our favorite movies and giving instructions while I'm out to the kids.

I hope maybe I gave you a few ideas as I found all my ideas from someones blog and I hope that today you'll SPEND YOUR TIME and NOT SAVE IT!

My Name Is Michael

Where does the time go? My first born son just celebrated his 26th birthday?? woah....My first born son just celebrated his 26th birthday. Does that make me feel old? No, but definantly older. It just reminds me how quickly they go from little boys into men. No more legos, hot-wheels, G.I. Joes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. ( did I ever tell you about him flushing them all down the toilet because on the cartoon they live in the sewer?) And those things get quickly replaced with cars, guitars, fishing poles, baseball gloves and then....a girlfriend who turns in to his wife and then a daughter. It's been a rollercoaster ride that's had flips, dips, hanging upside downs, times where you can't breathe, and times where you can't stop laughing or smiling. All worth it.
.

We had some great birthday parties. My favorite one being his 14th, when we rented the giant jumping house and he and his friends held pretend wrestling matches. We had an announcer and fake wrestling contracts for everyone to sign. I even got in a match with my friend, Tara. And it was so hot, and those kids were thirsty! I remember picking up coke cans for days afterwards.

This year Mother was in town so she spoiled him with a big country style dinner and of course, her speciality, a 12-layer Chocolate Cake and homemade Milky-Way Ice-Cream.

Here he is with his first best friend. His Moma Catty. Yes, he made up her name. She was always his favorire person to play with. He also called me Mommy until a couple of years ago, now I am Mah. Being the first born you get to make up all the names. Cool. May this year be one of the best ever to you. Your Mah loves you very much!

You Are My Sunshine

It happened again. For the 44th time. I had another birthday and I am extremely thankful to have another one. We celebrated on Mothers Day with a delicious meal cooked by my son and daughter in law at their home. Ray and the kids spoiled me with flowers and charms for my Pandora Bracelet and we all had lunch together again the next day. These are my most favorite people in the world and how blessed I am that they call me Mommy or Mah, or Nay or Jannie or just Jana.Sorry that Ray isn't pictured, someone had to take the picture.

My brother and his wife sent me one of the best gifts I have ever gotten. It was a video in my e-mail of my nephew and niece singing Happy Birthday to me and singing other awesome songs to, like You Are My Sunshine. And my new niece was in the video though at one month old, she's not singing yet.It made me cry and I have probably watched it over 15 times so far. When Kissy came over the next day, I showed it to her and she loved it. She now asks for it and here are some photos of her watching it.
There they are on the computer singing and she is loving it. Her smile is huge. Wait til you see below.
This is the face she makes when Baby Charley makes a little cry. She's really worried about her.
And this is the HUGE smile she has when Gracie is singing You Are My Sunshine. I love it and I love my family so much!
This is the first cookie cake I have ever gotten that didn't say "JANA". Rachel had them put my Grandmother name on it and I think it's just perfect!

There's No Place Like Home

Though, I have never lived in this house and it's not the house I grew up in, it's like going home. If the saying is true, "home is where your heart is", then it's one of my homes, for none other than, My Mom and Dad live here. I didn't get to choose them and they didn't get to choose me. I think Jesus did an outstanding job of putting us together!
Their yard and all their plants are beautiful! My Mom has always had a green thumb with anything and spring time definantly shows off all her hard work. Their grass is really fun to walk in when your're barefooted. No stickers at all!
Aren't they just the cutest with one of their good looking Grandsons?( he just so happens to be my baby boy!) They are blessed with one son, one daughter, one son in law, one daughter in law, three Grandsons, three Grandaughters and one Great-Grandaughter and they have been married FOR EVER! Not really, just Fifty years! Seems like forever to me since they've been together since I was born! And they have more friends than anyone else I know. We can't go ANYWHERE in their town without them knowing someone there. It's funny.
See? I was barefooted? These are my feet as I wait on the curb for the.........................................
ICE CREAM MAN!!

I love this about their neighborhood. I heard the music, grabbed my purse, the camera and hollered for everyone to come!!! ( reminds me of being a little girl)
He has a great selection and although it was almost dinner time, we all got some kind of ice cream and it DIDN'T ruin our dinner. ( whoever told us that was way wrong)
She likes her "horse-slobber"bar. That's what Daddy used to call these with the kids when they were little. The name stuck.
Z chose one of their specialty ice cream pops. The ice cream man said it was the first day they were selling them and we were the first to buy it. Of course, he said this, after the purchase but, it was a good taste for Z.( and no, his ear lobes are not bleeding)
Daddy got an orange cream 'sicle. I tried it too, it was good. I went for the traditionally plain chocolate fudge bar. I don't venture out much on ice cream flavors. Like to play it safe.
His bar had super powers of turning his tongue every color in the rainbow all at the same time.
The next door neighbor's Doggy even came over hoping for some desert!
What a blessing to spend a little extra time with the people who love us more than anyone else in the world ( besides Jesus, of course) and the feeling is completely mutual. They are the best and we all love them and then we miss them when it's time to come home.

If I Knew You were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake

My Daughter-in-law was having a birthday. Not just any birthday. Her 25th. Quarter of a century.I was going to make a birthday lunch for her and what birthday meal is ever complete without a cake? But, I know she LOVES cheesecake. So, I thought I would go buy one.

Then I remembered I have a cheesecake pan. I have never used it. Apparently I think that making a cheesecake from scratch is reserved for Professional Cooks. ( and I usually most always take the easy road for cooking, like box mixes for instance) And also I was a little intimidated by that pan. I have no idea why. It has never been used. I think we got it as a wedding gift, ummmm 26 plus years ago.

But, in my wanting to bless her on her birthday I decided to get out that pan and find a recipe and take on the challenge. I found a recipe I liked in a Southern Living Christmas Cookbook. It's called Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake. All three of those words make me hungry.
Above are all the ingredients you needed. Cream Cheese, eggs, butter, oreos, sugar,vanilla, heavy cream and chocolate chunks. And that good 'ole cheesecake pan sitting all so lonely over the years in the cupboard. You need a good mixer like the NICE Kitchen Aid pictured below. It belongs to my daughter but, she's sweet enough to let me use it when needed.

First step, was the coarsely chop about 20 of the oreos, which I enjoyed doing with my HUGE knife. A lovely Christmas gift one year from my Brother. My oldest son just sharpened all my knives and I have nearly cut off my fingers many times. But, thankfully, all my appendages are accounted for.
This picture is just to scare ya. Boo! I spent most of my time this afternoon popping in and out of my youngest sons room looking like this. Don't worry though, he's 17, passed the age of being scared of his Mommy.
After I crushed the cookies, I mixed it with some melted butter and that made the crust of the cheesecake. I did have a lovely assistant helping me. It took a while to set up these cooking pictures. ( harder than we thought)

Me.......* do it slower, I can't get a clear shot*

Her.....* you're being too picky, this bowl is hot, I'm just gonna dump it in*

Me......*lets re-d0 this one*

Her......* you are strange*

Me......* it's for my bbllllooooogggg*
Same rolling pin we got at our wedding shower in October of 1983. Practically an antique.After mixing all the cream cheese, she adds the sugar.
Then the four large eggs but, slowly one at a time.

And these are the ingredients that put the cheesecake over the top. The chunks of chocolate, the chopped oreos and what desert is worth a flip without some vanilla extract? Yum!

Sometimes when I wear the mask, it makes her want to wear it too. She was stirring and wearing and wearing and stirring. But, ever so gently. We couldn't wait to lick the bowl and the spatula. Yes, even though there were raw eggs in the batter. It would be worth it to us if we got some sickness form it. Totally worth it.
Into the pan. Oh, if pans could talk, I know this one was excited!! Used for the first time...EVER!!
But, now I can't lick the spatula with my mask on. The holes are too small. I am just devastated.
Oh there, I got some. Just a little though, this mask is a great dieting idea. Maybe I could market it. Eat whatever fits through this little hole and you'll lose pounds like crazy. No, not going to do it. Reminds me of being wired shut too much and drinking everything through a straw. * big breath* and that's a WHOLE other story.
Look at all these dirty dishes.

Who will wash them? Hello? Where did everyone

go? Somebody want to help?

Who am I kidding? I'll get to them later!
And the cheesecake is finished and the house smells terrific! Now, if we can just wait until tomorrow to taste it.
We did it. We waited and she was thrilled with her Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake Birthday Cake. It really was rich an yummy and enjoyed by everyone. (even the littlest Hanselwoman)