...And a great time was had by all!

The weather in CNY was absolutely beautiful for our Memorial Day picnic yesterday! Not too hot or humid, but warm and sunny; couldn't ask for a better day.

I have to tell everyone about the recipe I found last week on the King Arthur Flour website. I had no clue that you could actually make the New England style buns at home. There were actually two recipes; one for cornbread hot dog buns and one for buttery hot dog buns. Of course, I as soon as I saw the recipes, I just had to order a New England style hot dog bun pan.

The pan arrived at my door on Saturday and on Sunday evening I was putting the dough together using the recipes I found.

Here is a picture of some the ones I made:

Oh my, they were so good! The best part is that I know exactly what they were made of...no preservatives!

The dough recipe was very easy and required very little kneading unlike some breads I have made in the past. Definitely, they would be easy dough recipes for a beginner to handle. You could even use a bread machine if you have one large enough to handle the dough; I think one that makes a 2 pound loaf would work.

We grilled some of them as we were grilling the hot dogs so they would be warm and slightly crispy. Both buns were delicious, but I particularly liked the cornbread buns. In fact, I am going to work some of the leftover cornbread buns into my diet this week.

As a side dish, I made a Mr. Food recipe for Hillbilly Beans. I have made this recipe many times and I thought it would be a good addition to the hot dogs and cheeseburgers. If you love using a slow cooker, you might want to try this recipe; it's so easy to do. After you put everything together, you set the slow cooker for either 4 hours (high) or 6 hours (low).

When I make the beans, I always cook on low for 6 hours. I also add those little cocktail hotdogs during the last hour of cooking even though the recipe doesn't call for adding them.

In addition, I made Hawaiian Macaroni Salad; my youngest son made tomato pie, pizza muffins and carrot cake; and my oldest son brought shrimp.

You can find the recipes for the hot dog buns and Hillbilly beans on my Pinterest board...Recipes that I have to try.

Come to think about it...I guess I should make a new Pinterest board for recipes that I tried and loved. All three (3) of these recipes would definitely be included on that board!

A little self-promotion...

I'm finally finished hand-sewing the prototype for the pattern I have been working on. Just have to do a little re-reading and clean-up of the written instructions. Before I make my designs available in my Etsy store, I like to make sure that anyone who sews one of my patterns can easily know what I am saying when they read the instructions .

It has taken me almost a year to get to this point with this particular design. Sometimes my patterns just seem to take shape on the first try and sometimes, it takes many tries before I get what I want. In that case, I put it aside for a while and focus on other projects.

That is exactly what I did with this one. The idea was in my head, but the design just didn't come together to suit me until just recently.

Normally, my passion is to create doll patterns, but for variety's sake (variety is the spice of life, right?) I also like to create other sewing patterns as new ideas pop into my head.

This particular design, depicting one of my favorite quotes, uses wool felt and is typically called a candle mat or penny rug which was popular in the 18th century. It can be used as either a table decoration or wall hanging.

That's it for now...I hope everyone will remember to always...

Throwback Thursday...

Thought I would have a little fun since it is Throwback Thursday. I think I was in 4th or 5th grade in this picture.

Wow...how time flies! It doesn't seem like this picture was taken just 20 years ago (probably because it wasn't).

At any rate, I am just happy to be no matter what my age. Age is only a number!

I woke up with good intentions...

...but my furbaby Gracie had other ideas.

So, instead of working to finish the new pattern I plan to add to my shop later this week, I decided to give in to her wishes. (It really didn't take a lot of convincing on her part!)

Gracie is sporting her new haircut...the teddy bear cut that is popular for Pomeranians. It should be a little cooler for the summer months.

Anyway, a little spoiling is in order because she has to go to the vet today for a check-up. I can finish my new design after we get back home!

Life is good!

Another Week-ends Off...

I first have to share my grandson's picture taken at his concert on Wednesday:

That's my little guy...he was a little tired after singing!

O.K., now I have to share what new recipes I made for dinner last night so that I could sorta stick with my diet.

For starters, I made Greek Lemon Pilaf:

Absolutely, delicious...I found the recipe on Food.com.

Next, I made Skinny Honey Lemon Chicken:

Recipe from Ali Ebright (Gimme Some Oven)...Another winner although I didn't use the sesame seeds. Next time I might add a few cashews and fresh broccoli though.

As a side dish, I cut up some fresh strawberries and steamed some baby carrots. Everything together made an excellent dinner and there was enough left for dinner tonight so I would say you could easily feed four (4) people with these recipes.

If you like recipes (or just want to see what things I like to do), check out my Pinterest!

By the way, you can get the two recipes I shared by clicking on the pictures.

It's getting warmer...

Sunshine today in Central New York; sunny enough so I was able to set up my fountain and it worked! I'm still not sure of where it is located; I may change it once I start planting some flowers.

The fountain has two sensors that need direct sunlight for the water to flow. On dreary days, it will only be a bird bath, but that's o.k. too! Even I work better on sunny days!!

At any rate, here is a picture of it today, with the water flowing...

The forecast in the next few days is for it to be in the 70s; the warmer weather can't come soon enough for me. Perhaps, I will be able to have a barbecue for Memorial Day this year. Usually, it is cold and wet that weekend, but there is always hope!

My grandson is singing in a school concert tonight and I will have my movie camera with me for sure!

Bring Your Most Admired Woman to Lunch Today...

...at my grandson's school. It's a tradition every Spring and in the Fall they have the Most Admired Man.

I was honored to join my grandson for a lunch of his choice (I even stole a kiss on his cheek in the hall; the look on his face was precious!). Of course, his choice for lunch was a McDonald's Happy Meal with some cookies added by Grandma. An unheard of lunch in my day, but I guess times change.

He had to show me his loose tooth which is probably one of his last "baby teeth":

As he was eating, he said, "Do you know why I chose you to be my most admired women?" I asked why and he said "Because I love you!"

Being a Grandma is one of the best things in life aside from being a Mom!

I have to share a recipe...

As I have already said in my first post, I am on a diet...and it is actually working!

Part of the fun is looking for healthy recipes that are also delicious as an incentive to keep on the diet even though I have "weekends off".

Last night I made a dish called "Sauteed Orange Chicken" which I found in the May 2016 issue of Woman's Day.

The chicken was juicy, the warmed sliced navel oranges were to die for and the veggies; fresh asparagus and snow peas...what can I say? I also cut up some fresh strawberries to have on the side.

Since there was more than enough for two people, there will be leftovers tonight which will make it an easy dinner; I will be looking for "easy" after visiting with my mother this afternoon.

The weather in Central New York today is cloudy and cold. Yuck! I can't wait to get outside and start decorating my yard with pretty flower planters. I just received a fountain with cherubs that I ordered from QVC and I am anxious to get it set up, but it will have to wait for another day.

If you are wanting to try the recipe I shared, just click on the picture to go directly to the page on Woman's Day magazine website where you can print the complete recipe.

Have a good one, everyone!

Not quite strawberry picking time in CNY yet, but...

...a FREE crochet pattern came across my Facebook newsfeed a couple of weeks ago and I immediately knew I had to make a few to go with the lemons I crocheted at the beginning of April.

I must admit, I have been eating strawberries all winter, but there is nothing like freshly picked strawberries that I can buy from all the local farmer's markets in June.

I used to make homemade strawberry jam, but I haven't done that in quite a few years. As long as my son is home visiting right now, perhaps I can persuade him to help me make a couple of batches (if I let him take some home with him).

Otherwise, I will just cut up some strawberries and put a little Chobani yogurt on top and enjoy while I wait for blueberry season in July!

If anyone is a crocheter and would like the FREE strawberry pattern from craftymarie, just click on the picture to go to her website.

This is a new one on me!

For Mother's Day, my oldest son, along with his wife and my grandson, gave me a beautiful glass wasp catcher.

I have to say that I have never heard of such a thing, but I do have problems with wasps under the eaves over my back door. So, as I always do when I don't know something, I Googled it!

Apparently, I must be one of the only people that have never heard of a wasp catcher. There are all kinds of reviews left by others who have used them. According to the reviews, these beautiful glass catchers work very well.

The directions say to fill the bottom of the vessel with a sugar water mix; I used the same mix that I make for my hummingbird feeder. There is a reservoir around the bottom of the unit with a small hole where wasps can fly in, but are unable to fly back out. Who knew?

At any rate, if this helps to get rid of these pests, I will be one happy person! If not, I will still enjoy the beautiful gift from my children. It actually looks awesome in the sunlight!

Besides the flowers that I received from my daughter earlier in the week, my youngest son gave me some of my favorite perfume and for dinner last night he ordered take-out for several delicious dishes from Symeon's Greek Restaurant. Those of you who are from Central New York probably have either heard of, or eaten at, Symeon's. Absolutely delicious food!

I am so blessed to share such a wonderful Mother's Day with my children yesterday!

Oh, what a night!

I love having my children visiting and eating at my home. The food was good, and the hat was a success. My grandson asked me to make one for his birthday in October (as if I didn't already have plans to do just that!)

As luck would have it, my son brought out his gorilla hat and my grandson immediately asked if he could borrow it. I guess his school is having "Hat Day" this Wednesday and he wants to be King Kong. I love it!

It is actually a nice day here in Central New York with the sun occasionally peeking out. It is definitely time to get the sugar and water solution made for my hummingbirds.

This year, for Mother's Day, my daughter-in-law and son brought me a very pretty glass wasp catcher to hang in my backyard. I never heard of one, but I am going to try it because we definitely have wasps that like to hang-out over our back garage door. I will be posting pictures when I get it hung up.

Has anyone ever heard of a wasp catcher or used one? I would love to hear about it!

The lasagna is in the oven...

...the sausage and peppers are in the Nesco and the cake is in the frig!

I gave the hat to my son and he actually wore it to get coffee at Dunkin Donuts!

The birthday party is tonight and I can't wait for my grandson to see Uncle Steve's hat!

Yesterday, my doorbell rang and Fed Ex handed me a box of flowers. The note inside said "from a secret admirer"! I knew immediately that the "secret admirer" is my daughter, an officer in the U.S. Air Force because it's an inside joke between the two of us.

Aren't the flowers beautiful?

Only three (3) more candles...

then the hat will be finished. I can't wait until tomorrow to see his reaction!

You can bet that I will get some pictures!

I have to share a recipe that came across my Facebook newsfeed today.

I love cinnamon buns. In my younger days, I would make a batch from scratch for my family's Christmas breakfast and give a batch to each of my relatives to share with their families on Christmas morning. Sadly, I haven't done that lately, but I might just start again after seeing this easy recipe.

Click on the picture to get the Cinnamon Bun Recipe

It's made using a 10 inch cast iron skillet (I still have the one my mother gave me shortly after I was married) and store-bought dough. What could be easier if you are looking for homemade taste! I bet it is better than the ones you buy in the freezer or in the dairy aisle in cardboard rolls.

I plan to try the recipe while my son is still here so that I have someone to eat most of them...save one for me though!

I've been busy...

...making the "funny" hat for my son's birthday. It's almost done, just have to add a couple of embellishments.

This isn't the first "funny" hat that I have made for my family; here are a few that I have recently made...:

...and I am sure there will be many more because they each have just as much fun wearing them as I have making them!

Back to my project in my sewing room where nobody dares to come in uninvited!

Time to PARTY!

Birthday party at my house yesterday and, of course, to make it fun, I had to crochet a banner and enlist my youngest son to post it outside in the wee hours of the morning when the birthday boy was sleeping.

Needless to say, I didn't get my omelet with ham and cheese because my youngest son who loves to cook made too many tempting goodies for the party.

Let's see, he made two (2) cakes, a batch of soft pretzels, a tomato pie and a 12" cookie with M&M candies and chocolate chips. On top of that he ordered two pizzas and chicken wings from Tony's Pizza.

I resisted most of the food, but I just had to have some pizza and a piece of the Creamsicle Cake! Oh well, today is another day and my diet shall start again tomorrow.

To be sure that I don't eat anymore cake, I will be taking the rest of it to my mother this afternoon and I am sure she will not turn it down.

It's a gloomy and rainy day in CNY and the week doesn't look much better. No problem...I will be in my sewing room crocheting a special hat to celebrate another birthday next week...a silly surprise hat for my son who was kind enough to put the banner out for this week's birthday!