Simplicity

When I got these two pillowcases at Canton I thought I would add some embroidery to them. Once I got them home I decided I like them just the way they are. Of course, I could still change my mind.

Dapoppins - LOL. Yes, Squeaky is a dog! She belongs to my daughter-in-law. I 'think' she is a Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix.

Hubby's home

PDA, pager, business phone and personal phone. You can always tell when hubby is home. All of his 'attachments' end up on top of this bookcase in the living room and that is where they stay every night and every weekend unless one of the phones needs charging.

Melissa - thanks for the comments on names. I sometimes think I'm the only one with that particular pet peeve. If you were close by I would be happy to have lunch with you!

Tina - that sweet little doggie sheds like you wouldn't believe! I can't believe she has any hair left on her body after all I've swept and sucked up!

Linda - you need to get that blog going!

Been fighting a migraine since Thursday - I'm not exactly creative today.

can you say humid?

Man the humidity is terrible today! The weatherman says we have some cooler temps coming next week and I hope he is right! (he actually used the term 'cold front'!) The last couple of days got away from me but I want to say thanks to those who have stopped by and left comments. Amazing how good it can make you feel to just read nice comments!

Linda - Yes, Canton is great. An experience like no other! LOL Be sure to let me know when you get your blog up.

Lani - there is no 'recipe'! I used one of those package things. This one was from McCormick I think, made for slow cookers and this one was for pot roast, but I used stew meat instead. Throw it all in and cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

One more bit of old business before I get to the new stuff! Becky at http://sweetcottagedreams.blogspot.com/ tagged me in the name game (my first tag!) so here goes. You are supposed to use your middle name and tell things about yourself. My middle name is Annette - why couldn't I have a short middle name?

Anxiety - yep, I have issues.

Nuts - I'm nuts about

Needlework (two for one!)

Envy - I envy people who are full of self confidence. I don't have a 's' for shy so that will have to do.

Tina is short for LaTennia (pronounced LaTina)

Timothy is my middle child and I HATE it when people shorten his name to Tim or Timmy or whatever. I know, considering my first name that is somewhat of a double standard but from the day I was born, I never went by anything other than Tina. Timothy was never anything but Timothy until he got in 6th grade band. Really set me off when I introduced myself as Timothy's mother and his teacher had a blank look on his face until I gave my last name. 'Oh, Tim' NO, TIMOTHY. Can you tell that is a button pusher. Pretty much everywhere except home he goes by Tim these days but he is 23 and nothing I can do about that, but he is still Timothy at home!

Even though my kids are all grown, I still don't have an empty nest.

I'm supposed to tag 7 people here, but not that many people read my blog and several of those have already been tagged so if you are reading this and haven't already played this game, consider yourself tagged. Stop by Becky's blog for instructions!

Okay - now to new business! I went to an estate sale this morning. I did not get out early because I knew it would be packed and well, I just don't get dressed that early if I don't have to be at work! Anyway - I picked up these three thimbles. I didn't come across them until I was on my way out and I had a lunch date so I didn't get to look as much as I would have liked - probably a good thing, there were tons of them! I also picked up this cute little box - I think my thread winders might have found a new home. Lastly - check out these buttons! There were 3 bags of them but another girl and I spotted them at the same time - she was closer so I only got the one bag. My favorites are the two right on top. I haven't even opened the little baggie and looked at the loose ones yet. Will see if I can resist going back tomorrow to see if they have any thimbles left.

House guest

We have a 'house guest' this week - well, actually Squeaky will be here for 2 weeks. Nicholas was here but he went back to Nac to meet some 'fans'. Jason (baby boy) and Nicholas were in a series of internet videos back in the spring. http://one.revver.com/find/user/maddisonatkins (this should take you to the page - note, these are college kids so you have been warned! LOL They are in reverse order so make sure to start with the first one if you are going to watch them) Apparently they have 'fans' who were in Nac yesterday and wanted to meet them. Jason will be bringing him back either today or tomorrow to stay for a bit. Anyway - Autumn isn't at all fond of Squeaky. She stays as far away as she can! Maybe by the end of the two weeks they will at least make nice with each other - I don't think they are going to be friends!

Other than dog sitting it was a pretty quiet weekend here. I did stitch some yesterday, but no pictures yet. I added names to a family tree I stitched for my mother in 1983 but I think I am going to put new mats on it before I put it back together - I'll take a picture then. I also stitched up a little freebie and am going to try to make one of those biscornu thingies I keep seeing - I just love those little things and I'm hoping they are not hard to make! If I don't make a total mess out of it, I might have a pic of that tomorrow.

Thanks for the comments on my dough bowl and door knobs. I have been collecting them for a bit and had them just here and there. I like having them all together.

Hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend!

In the oven!

This cake is so good - and it's so easy to make! It has been a favorite around here for a long time and is one of those things you probably always have everything you need on hand. This one should be ready in about 45 minutes!

Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1 pkg instant vanilla pudding mix

1 pkg instant chocolate pudding mix

1 1/2 cup water

4 eggs

1/2 Crisco oil

1 (6oz) pkg chocolate chips (I like to use the mini chips)

Mix first 6 ingredients until thick. Fold in chocolate chips. Bake in Bundt cake pan for one hour @350.

'First Monday'

We went to Canton yesterday. They still call it 'First Monday' even though they are open the Thursday through the Sunday before the first Monday of the month. (when it started 100+ years ago it was actually on the first Monday)Thankfully the weather isn't quite as hot as it has been. Don't get me wrong - it is still plenty hot, but it is at least bearable if you get in the shade and catch a breeze! I picked up this cute sign that I hung over my living room window and the dough bowl to put my glass doorknobs in. Still not sure it is exactly what I want to display them in, but it will do till the right thing comes along. I picked up a few pillowcases too, but they are in the laundry so those pictures will have to wait.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

making do

I was going to make 'Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding' for dessert last night http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_21275,00.html but when I went to the store they didn't have Chessman cookies so I thought, okay - I'll use Lorna Doone cookies, nope, they didn't have those either - 'Nilla Wafers will have to do. Then they didn't have the French Vanilla pudding mix (I love small town shopping) So, while I started with Paula Deen's recipe it wasn't exactly the same but it was still yumm, yumm! (oops - forgot the bananas in the first picture!)

Esther and Melissa - what happened? We waited until 6:00, but then had to have dinner without you! Melissa, you aren't but a few hours away.