Halloween is just around the corner...

I finally finished decorating my house for Halloween. Halloween is not my favorite time; my favorite is Christmas. I go out all decorating between Thanksgiving to Christmas.

At any rate, I just finished two new decorations for Halloween.

Here my new wreath with too many sequins to count, but let me tell you a little story behind this wreath...I started it two years ago. When I first received the kit, the directions were missing from the kit I ordered online so I contacted the company and they vowed to send them to me.

They did indeed send them, but the directions they sent were not the directions for the same kit I ordered.

So another contact to the company and FINALLY...I received the correct directions.

I got started right away because it was very close to the Fall season. As I have done before, I left the directions next to my chair and did a few errands. When I got back to sewing my wreath, my cockapoo, Dolly, had eaten a corner off the direction sheet. Argh!

Panic set in...I was able to tape the directions together, but I decided to put the kit away which I sometimes do when I get frustrated with the item I am working on.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed the unfinished kit in my craft room and decided it was time to get serious and finish it. I got my wreath finished in time for this year's decorations.

Here is the finished wreath hanging on my cellar door and it is now hanging on a hook above the fireplace mantle from my beloved grandmother's home.

I always loved being at my grandmother's house when I was growing up. The ornate mantle is like having a piece of my childhood in my home now.


Sadly, my Dolly passed away a week ago today; I miss her dearly! She was always there with me and I loved her even though she did have a habit of eating paper...




Anyway, over the weekend I finished a new throw pillow to go with an afghan I purchased several years ago...

Now all my witches, scarecrows and pumpkins are decorating my house inside and outside.

I am ready for the Fall!     Bring it on...

Fun, Fun, Fun...

We took our grandson to The Wild Animal Park in Chittenango, New York last Wednesday...

He had a great time (so did we!).

So many animals; some you can buy food to feed and others, for obvious reasons, are only to look at and take pictures.

A great place to visit when you are in Central New York! We definitely plan to take another trip to visit in the Fall!

Another trip on the Erie Canal...

This time, I took my grandson on the Erie Canal Cruise. It was a beautiful day for the ride and the boat was filled with passengers.

Over the past weekend, I crocheted a crab hat for my grandson to wear and I think he looks pretty darn cute in it. (I'm a little prejudice, I know!)

We sat on the upper deck so we could take pictures. The highlight of the ride for my grandson was when Captain Jerry let him spend some time in the control room.

If you are in the CNY area, this is a trip you should definitely plan on taking. Captain Jerry is very knowledgeable about the canal and he is quite entertaining!

Mia Emily; my new fur baby...

I have to  show everyone the newest addition to our fur family:

This is Mia Emily...a rescue dog; she is about 3 or 4 years old and a real charmer!

Ever since I rescued my first Pomeranian, Gracie, who is now 8 years old, I have fallen completely in love with Pomeranians. They are just so sweet and lovable and make great companion dogs. Gracie loves to sit on a pillow sleeping next to me as I crochet.

Here's the whole gang...

Erie Canal Cruises...

If you live in or visit Central New York, you should plan on an afternoon cruise along the Erie Canal on either the Lil’ Diamond II or Lil’ Diamond III. The tours are run by Erie Canal Cruises and last about two (2) hours!

I took the cruise on July 6th; it was a warm and overcast day, but that didn't put a damper on the ride. Of course, I had to crochet a "special hat" to wear just for the fun of it!

Here is a video of the pictures I took as we rolled along the canal.



I have already promised my grandson a ride in a couple of weeks since he is studying the Erie Canal in school. First, I have to crochet him a hat to wear...I think a fish hat will do!

I will post pictures for sure!

A Free Class for the Baker...

Just in time for the 4th of July! Craftsy has teamed up with TodayFood to bring you a baking experience like none other! Join pastry chef Gesine Bullock-Prado and learn the secrets to her amazing pies & tarts.

This offer is for today only; you can enroll in this class for FREE (a $39.99 value)!

Details:

• Ends: Wednesday, June 28th at 11:59pm MST

• Offer: Enroll in Pies & Tarts for Every Season for FREE

This is a wonderful offer. If you have never taken a class on Craftsy, here is a chance to take one for FREE. Once you sign up for the class, it is yours forever to view any time you wish. I actually have several different classes on all kinds of different subjects; sewing, painting, drawing, etc.

Click on the picture to be taken to the class offer! Add the class to your cart, hit edit cart and use coupon code TODAYPIE. You won't be disappointed!

Almost the end of June...

I think I definitely have too much on my plate at the moment. While I haven't been blogging on here, my other blogs have kept me quite busy. I have also been designing some new patterns for my shop. I will definitely try to do better at keeping this up-to-date.

It was a busy Spring doing yard work and adding some plants and ornaments to my backyard to attract the birds, chipmunks and squirrels. It's a chore sometimes to keep the bird feeders full. The hummingbirds are in their glory with the new flowers and feeder we added around our deck.

One of the squirrels that frequents our yard can be seen in the picture below hanging upside down on the new bird feeder my son and daughter-in-law gave me for my birthday. I added a turquoise arrow so you might be able to see him.

I also want to brag about my grandson; isn't he a cutie? This was taken at the school's end-of-year choral and band concert. He sings in the choir.

I can't believe he is almost as tall as I am. Time sure does fly!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer; it is supposed to be very hot and humid starting on Friday which means I will be spending time in my studio where it is air-conditioned!

Wow! It's been a long time...

...since I last posted!

One thing that is bad about having your own business is that you are the only one that works to keep it going!

I'm looking out my studio window right now and there are actually snow flurries in the air. I took pictures of the snow storm of 2017, but never got a chance to post them. I'll refrain from posting them now because by Monday, the weather is going to take a drastic change; it is reported that it will be in the 70s next week!

I can't wait to get out and start walking again. I just bought a stroller for my two dogs to ride in as I walk. My family thinks I have lost it, but I couldn't think of a better way for my 16 year old Cockapoo to join me while I walk. She is hard of hearing and just about blind, but she has a lot of spunk left in her. I used to walk her on a leash all the time, but I fear it may be a little difficult for her now. With the stroller, I will be able to continue getting her out and about. I will have to post pictures of her first ride in the stroller.

Enjoy the weekend; I will be starting my Easter cooking.

Feeling a little Spring Fever here in CNY...

Look at our weather station this past Saturday...

February 18, 2017 and it's 58 degrees...seven (7) day low was 17 degrees. Oh, my goodness! If only the winter weather was done, but I know we can expect more cold and snow at least through March; that's just CNY weather for you! Actually, March can be quite nasty.

At any rate, I have to share another recipe...this time for Spicy Orange Chicken which I made for dinner on Saturday. (The recipe actually made more than in picture, but by the time I grabbed my ipad to take a picture, everyone had already taken a plateful.)

This was super simple to make and so delicious.

After cutting up the chicken and marinating for a couple of hours according to the recipe, the rest of the meal took less 30 minutes to finish.

I served it with Basmati rice and fresh strawberries.

If you would like the recipe, I have included it in my Pinterest, or just click on the picture to go directly to the recipe found on the Tidy Mom blog.

So, what to do on a cold, snowy day like today...

I'm not a skier; too old for sledding down the hill; and basically, not a fan of shovelling! So, I did the only thing I could under the circumstances; I made some homemade Chicken Tortellini Soup...

...and homemade Oatmeal Bread....

Yummy...so good! Both were recipes I found on Pinterest and definitely keepers!

You can get both of the recipes by visiting my Recipes from the web that are keepers Pinterest board!

Stay warm CNYers!  The weather forecast is calling for more snow throughout the overnight!  Yikes!

Pasta e Fagioli Soup anyone?

Okay, so there is one good thing about winter in Central New York...the homenade soups, stews and other hearty meals that can stave off the winter chill!

Take for instance this soup that I made on Saturday from a recipe I found on the internet...

Life Made Sweeter is the author of this recipe and they also provide a video showing step by step how to make it.

The recipe is touted as being a copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s Pasta e Fagioli soup. I've never eaten at Olive Garden so I don't have a comparison, but this soup is absolutely delicious. Best of all, it is made in a slow cooker so after you do the prep work, you have the rest of the afternoon free to do other things. I love my slow cooker!

I made a couple of changes to the recipe. It calls for ground turkey, but I prefer ground round; I also didn't have any fennel seeds on hand so I just omitted them. I did add the balsamic vinegar which the recipe says is optional, but I didn't add any additional water as I was using it as a topping for some spaghetti squash that I also cooked for dinner.

I recommend this recipe for anyone who loves their vegetables.

You can get a copy of the recipe by clicking on the above picture...enjoy!

Central New York in the Winter...

Two days ago, the temperature was 40-50 degrees; no snow on the ground and almost early springlike weather.

Last night we get bombarded with freezing rain; sleet; and heavy, wet snow. Hopefully, my azaleas will not be affected by this sudden blast of cold weather.

54 days until it is officially Spring, but in Central New York that is no guarantee that this cold, snowy weather will come to an end; I am sure this will not be the last snowfall of the season!

I can't wait for the warmer weather, but until then, the freshly fallen snow sure looks pretty...from inside my home, that is!

Spaghetti Squash...

I have often heard people talk about spaghetti squash, but I never tried it...until this weekend.

Now I know not everyone is a vegetable person like me, but you really have to try it! I made a recipe I found on the internet using fresh cherry tomatoes, spinach and lemon juice & chicken:

Lemon Chicken And Spaghetti Squash

It was definitely a winner. Best of all, the spaghetti squash tastes great on its own as a side dish.

Since it is only available in the fall and winter, I will be buying a couple more and freezing small portions to enjoy this summer.

Give it a try...click on the picture to get the recipe on Buzz Feed.

Wow...look at my African Violet flower!

First, of all...I'm back. I hope everyone had a great holiday season.

We had a very busy Christmas holiday at my house. Two of my children were home for all the festivities and there was cooking and enough food to feed a small army! Unfortunately, three of us ended up with the flu, but all are well now.

A while back, I wrote about my new African Violet plants that I ordered from Lyndon Lyon Greenhouse. They have started blooming...just look at the size of the flowers on one plant. It is almost as big as the dark green leaves!

This one is called "Kristi's Spunk"; just beautiful with shades of purples, pinks and blues! What a wonderful way to brighten up my studio during the winter season.

Oh well, the holiday is over...time to get back to work!