Well Winter is finally here

I can't complain now that a "real" snow storm is on it's way today cuz we have had a "gentle" time of it so far.  Yes, we've gotten some snow, but the sun has melted it all with in a day!  Warm weather has been on and off here in VA as in many other States.  Today we are expecting 6 + inches up here in the mountains, and by the looks and feel of the air outside it's gonna start any minute.  I have my fireplace going with  lots of crocheting to do. (2 baby blankets to be done in a week) 

If you were wondering why I haven't been doing much painting that's the reason.  I've been making  little knitted neck scarves, and making fine doilies.  Then there's this bright idea I had to paint a scene on the replaced wall in our bathroom.  Our hotwater heater busted last year which was fixed and the old wall replaced, but I hadn't painted it yet.  So I thought why not a mural...I used to lots of them, but since the last knee replacement I've discovered it was just too difficult to do a whole wall...painting down at the bottom was the problem..see I can't get on my knees anymore. This should be interesting to see how I finish it..ehheeh

Just the beginning of the 5x7 feet

This doily is white measuring 17.5 inches

in diameter

This one measures 29 inches in diameter

This little one measures 14 inches in diameter

Little short neck scarves, warm but a great fit

I've made all different colors with

Wool Ease thick and chunky yarn by Lion Brand

I had orders for 5 in this color, purple

Pssst, I thought if you were interested making any you can purchase the yarn for just $2.79 a skein from Walmart where all other places charges far more.

It takes only one skien to make one...I don't have a pattern but I cast on large knitting needles 9  and you would knit then purl 4 to 5 times then reversing the pattern to make the design.  Drop 2 stitches in the middle of one row then add 2 stitches on the row after...If anyone finds a pattern plz share it with me..hehehe!!!

love and peace to all of you!!!

Stay warm and safe!

Well the snow has started in the time it took me to write this blog!

Well it's finally come, my Birthday!

Today my twin bro and I celebrate our 69th Birthday....one I can't hardly believe is here...Most of the time I think of myself as middle aged...hummm do you suppose The 60s are the new 40s these days??  I actually don't feel any older, in fact I feel younger than I did a year ago.  I've recovered from the second knee replacement, and am walking much better.  I'm just so thankful God is allowing me to still be around...course I'm not afraid of dying cuz I know I'll go to a better place....but there are things I want to finish if it be HIS will.  I called my twin bro this morning finding him in good spirits too.  We have a connection even tho we don't see each other as often as we'd like.  He's in Maryland, I'm in Virginia...maybe a couple hours apart.  It's a shame we get so busy that we can't see our way to go visit.  I think this year will be different...I'm going to make a point of taking my hubby down so we can visit....I'm thinking of going to GA next year to visit my dear sister, Mary it's been about 3 yrs now since we last saw each other.  Perhaps I'll have a birthday party for our mom who will be 94 in April...that would give us all the chance to visit...

In the front yard

On the side of the house

Beautiful tree in the back yard

beyond our fence in the back

Love this tree with the sqirrel nest

Christmas Cactus blooming again

Napoleon running for the back door thinking he can

catch the dog on TV

Napoleon watching TV

Napoleon getting ready to pounce

Now I want to share some new photos of what it looked like very early this morning...what  a pleasant surprise, but it's now after 2pm and the trees are clear and the sun is shining some.  Of coursh I got the ones of Napoleon backwards..eheheh!!!

Hope all of you have a Birthday today our sometime in Feb. are having a wonderful day...God has been good to me and I'm so very thankful for His Love and peace and grace!!
Blessings to all my friends out there in Computer land~

I got this recipe from a friend, and love it...

Good morning, I was taking a break from creating new jewelry a couple days ago so decided to bake an "Apple Dapple Cake"  I have to say it was a big hit for those who stopped by before it was all gone..hehehe~~

Apple Dapple Cake
1 1/2 cups oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups (all purpose) flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup coconut (you can use the frozen if you like)
1 cup black walnuts chopped (you can use regular walnuts)
3 cups peeled apples ( I used apples I'd canned in water)
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup raisins ( I used dried cranberries instead)

Mix oil, sugar & eggs at once.  Sift together flour, soda, & salt then add to mixture.  Chop together raisins, coconut, walnuts and apples, add to mixture along with the vanilla.
Bake @ 325 F for 1  1/2  hrs in tube pan.  Batter will be thick!
Icing
1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup butter then boil for 2   1/2 mins.
If you want a more sweet cake use long picks to puncture cake so you can drizzle icing down into the cake.  I just brushed on the icing all over the cake...
I have to tell ya, I've baked many cakes, and I think this one is my fav.  I'll have to share my " Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake" (when I find the recipe) hehehe!!

Blessings as you go thru your busy day, and remember to start with God's word for it's the only true guide for our lives here on earth!!!  (((hugs)))

A SPLENDID ADVENTURE: more on listening

A SPLENDID ADVENTURE: more on listening

Well it's well into the New Years already!

Can't believe it's already the 5th of Jan 2012 and I'm just now post a Happy New Years to all of you.  It's been said the older you get the more quickly the time goes by.  I can't imagine it going any faster than it does now...at 68 soon to be 69!  heheheh!!

I've been doing some painting the past couple days after working for weeks creating jewelry to sell at the Christmas Bazaars during Nov and Dec 2011.  Now, we've had a little snow (maybe 2.5 inches), and the bitter cold we've experienced the past 2 days has changed to temps in the 40's and promises to be in the high 50's over the weekend.  Yay!

We've really had a very gentle winter so far so we can't complain here in the East.  My concern is that this will be the trend in the coming years making it difficult for many animals who thrive in the bitter cold.  We must get serious about changing things that will help, don't we?

I painted a black and white painting on canvas measuring 18x24" for my dear hubby.  He'd loved one I created a couple years ago, but sold to a friend who's actually made arrangements for him to get it in the event she should pass away before he does.  What a special friend I have in her.

I thought I'd share some photos of what it looks like here at home after the little snow we had a couple days ago, and of the painting in black and white, and the one I did for my daughter, Missy and her BF for Christmas.  She wanted a folksy village of sorts with NO animals. (not even a bird) hehehe!

Dewey's painting

Missy & Skip's painting

the tree that fell and busted the fence down back last week

A very cold morning!

The sun coming up this morning!

Beautiful...

Happy New Year to all

Blessings

Twas a Bright and Beautiful Christmas day

We Celebrate the Birth of our precious Jesus with joy and peace knowing HE is the perfect gift from God so those who believe and trust in God's word that we cannot be separated from God for all eternity!  I get goosebumps each time I think about how God created the way by coming down from Heaven as a child...not just any child, but as Jesus our Saviour who lived as a man for such a short time teaching that through HIM we could have an awesome relationship with God.    Over the years I have to admit I was consumed with the gift giving not the most important reason for the season.  Sure the giving and receiving of gifts is fun, and represents all those who came to the manger so many years ago with their presents for the new born KING....but now my way of thinking is the giving is so much more...it's giving to those who are in need not just at Christmas, but all year long.  It's amazing how you can help in so many ways even when you aren't doing that well financially.  I'm smiling to myself because some things have happened in the past couple weeks to show me how much some really care.  My dear hubby hasn't been working much cuz his business is slow, and he's been down with the flu.  My precious ex-daughter-in-law, Debbie invited me to lunch last Tuesday...when she drove up I noticed a huge box in the back seat of her car.  Yep, she brought everything (and more) that we needed to fix  for a wonderful Christmas Dinner even down to the Apple pie!!  I cried with tears of joy knowing how much her heart was enjoying the giving too. 

Friday night we started up to the mountains of Wardensville, WV to meet with family and friends for a Christmas Dinner.   It was good to see Dewey's exwife, and her hubby.  From the first time we met we became fast friends...that was 29 yrs ago. Lisa, Dewey's daughter, and her daugher, Harley and one of her sons, Cody was there.  My daughter and her BF and his two children got there later as it was their first trip up there.  We all had a great time celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. 

Saturday evening we went to see Janet, Hunter and Gracie...we miss seeing them since she and Lee split up...she'll always be a part of our family!  When we left we were going down one of the winding roads when Dewey stopped and asked if I saw that white thing in the woods...we turned around and got a better look!  It was a really pretty white deer all alone just staring at us.    As we drove on I saw a falling star...it was amazing as I hadn't seen one in years...to me it was like a reminder from God that we were about to celebrate the birth of our King, Jesus.  I thanked HIM for that beautiful sign, then continued to thank HIM for the gift of life with HIM through his son, Jesus Chirst.  I pray for those who still don't know HIM...that their hearts will accept that free gift so they will live forever too.
Many blessings to all who love our Lord and are waiting for Jesus' return!!
Now for some photos...there are many too!

The white deer

Janet & Hunter

Janet & Gracie

Dan our Santa Claus

Harley

Hunter with angel he made

Joanne & Dan's home

Lisa in the doorway

Sunrise

Beautiful tree

Awesome Sunset 122011

Whoops, I deleated the photo of my grandchildren...yikes

Okay heres Kristin (Julie behind her) Corbin and Megan with her BF...Beautiful GC wouldn't you agree?  I need to get new photos of the others...we love them all so much...Happy Holidays!!!

Sure have missed posting!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all....


The past month I've been so busy making jewelry, creating paintings, and attending Christmas Bazaars (where I've done quite well Praise be to God) that I've neglected posting here.


I don't remember if I posted about having my mom visit for 2 weeks while my bro and his lovely wife joined their son and his lovely wife for some visiting away from home.  It was a very special time with mom who will be 94 this coming April.  True I was getting ready for shows, but did spend most of the 2 weeks enjoying all her favorite GAME shows till towards the end of her visit we discovered we both loved playing RUMMY~  I was amazed at how good she was at beating me!!!  Twas  really quiet when she went home.   


Ok, I'm going to share some photos with you and and promise to come and visit more often...course I need to visit all my friend's blogs too...I need more than 24 hrs in the day..hhehehehe

Sunny our fat cat

Julie my daughter in Law

Sadieblue,Wrinkles, Napoleon

Little Sadieblue in her warm sweater!