Red Geranium Cottage

California Sunshine

I know I've been MIA.  If I've not been traveling I've been busy working on my website which is going great.  I'm back because a few of you and you know who you are, have requested a blog post.   :)  So here ya go.   

I just got home on the 12th from California. This was the first time back since moving two years ago.  Where did that time go? My BFF went in for routine surgery and all went wrong a week before I was to leave for Ca. For a few days she was even in a coma so the doctors could try to stop the bleeding.  I had my trip already planned before any of this happened and her husband Jeff asked me not to change a thing. And I didn't,  I'm so glad I was there to help take care of her.  She was in a coma for days, two stints in her legs to try and stop  bleeding that just would not stop, and three surgeries in all I think it was.  I've never been  so afraid I would lose someone as I was this time. All I could do was sit here by the phone, cry, and wait for updates from her hubby.  He was awesome at the text messages to keep several of us up to date on what was happening. I can not imagine what he was going through sitting there in the waiting room just waiting for anyone to come out and tell him something.  What was to be a three hour surgery ended up lasting for ten hours that day and lots more to come after that.  It just goes to show you, always tell your loved ones that you do love them everyday because you never know when it might be the last time.  Nancy is doing much better thank goodness.  But she has a long road ahead of her to recover fully.  

Who knew that Build a Bear delivered cats??  One of Nancy's good friends sent this to her.  Poor thing has lost so much weight, like she had any to give up.  

I've never seen so many flowers except in a florist.  There house smelled soooooo good.  And beautiful flowers everywhere.  She has so many nice friends.   I took a picture of lots of them but I think they are on my phone.  This one I did take a picture of because my Boo sent them to Nancy.  Aren't they pretty?

This little cutie also arrived.  Just in time to cheer her up.  If you need one of these you can go to Nicole's website and buy you one too.  But Nicole made this one specially for Nancy.  Don't you love the antique red cross pin Annie is wearing?  

Once Nancy came home we did alot of sitting in her backyard taking in the sun.  I loved her backyard. So pretty and the view...........wow!!  After snow it was nice to see flowers blooming.  

I've never seen lemons as big as the ones on this tree. I mean they were huge. Some of them looked like grapefruit they were so big. 

I wish I had this lemon tree in my backyard.  

Nancy planted those red geraniums just for my visit I'm sure.  Good thing she did this before she went into the hospital.  Or I'd be planting my own.  haaaa

Our friend Beth came over to sew with us and just hang out. We weren't sure how much sewing Nancy could do but she just enjoyed sitting there listening to us talk.  Better than hearing beepers and IV drips going off all day and night I'm sure. 

We celebrated Beth's birthday while she was there.  Look at the cute little cupcake in the glass dome Nancy got her. Actually we all got one.  

Lots of gifties for the birthday girl.

Cute huh????   It was quite tasty too.

I told you we loved Nicole's dolls. Nancy had these made just for all of us that got together to sew.  You know which one is mine I'm sure.  That one in RED!!  Look at the cute little sewing cases Nicole found to go on everyone of them.  Love mine!!  

Check these out!  And you'll never guess who bought them for Nancy and I.   Her hubby!!!  What a nice surprise, he went to the store to get some groceries and came back with these for us.  

Jeff cooked and cooked and cooked. Can I just tell you, what a nice guy he is? I didn't really know Jeff well before this trip but I can honestly say that he is a great guy!  He took such good care of Nancy,  he worried himself sick I'm sure, he cleaned and he cleaned and he cleaned.  He had my room and my own bathroom all ready when I got there,  He made sure anything we needed he got for us. He even picked me up at the airport late one night because my flight kept getting delayed and delayed.  

Are you smelling these?  Jeff did this coating on the two chickens and did the rotisserie on the grill.  They were soooooo good.  This guy can cook let me tell you.  

I made my Lobster Bisque and my Chicken Crotch aka cacciatore for two meals but Jeff did the rest. He even made us homemade waffles for breakfast one day.  I wanted to bring him home!! But Hunka might not like that.  Neither would Nancy. 

Say hello to Piper!  This is one of Nancy and Jeff's cats.  I walked by this basket one day and it moved.  I jumped back, then say those eyes!  lolol   That was the funniest thing ever to see her jump in there and go to sleep. 

The reason I was going to California was because Nancy belongs to a quilting group and has for years and years. Well they asked me a year ago if I'd like to come and sew with them for the weekend when they do their spring quiltover.  Are you kidding??  I couldn't wait.  What a nice group of girls.  We went over and played games and just hung out. Nancy and I didn't do any sewing but it was nice to see what everyone was working on. Oh and win prizes!!  Oh yea I did win some nice prizes plus everyone gets gifts in this group.I left with a nice bag full of goodies.  I need to take a picture and post them.  I told them I'd be back!!!   

Nancy had these cookies made for quiltover. Everyone got one.  Aren't they the cutest things????  She told this lady that she wanted quilt blocks as cookies and the lady did an awesome job.  Who wanted to eat those???  Too pretty.

I made all of these to give everyone. Unfortunately I only got a picture of the backside.  haaaaaaaaa   What was I thinking????  You can get the cute little pattern free at Allsorts.com    They are so cute I could smack myself upside the head for not taking a picture of the front.  Grrrrrrr   

Here's the stitching that I got done on my trip.  I did more but need to take pictures of them too. I love anything done by Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches.  Did you know she has a new book coming out?  You can preorder it on my website.  

Looks like a cute book doesn't it?  And it's her FIRST one.  

This is in the book too.

 I worked on my "All Creatures Great and Small".  I'm doing a stitch along on my Daisy Cottage website/blog.  These are so cute and fast. 

Do you like Annie Downs of Hatched and Patched like I do? Well she's got a new book coming out too. And yes you guessed it, I have it ready to preorder on my website too.  Looks like a good one!!

That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by!!!  And remember, tell your loved ones that you LOVE them everyday!!!!!  You never know when you might not get the chance to say it again.   I love you Nancy!!!! And I'm glad you are on the road to recovery.  Please don't ever scare us like that again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A great Mother's Day!!

How's everyone doing out there??  I'm winding down on the job.  After tomorrow it's only ONE day to go.  We had our little "Alphabet"  ceremony yesterday.  they were all given a certificate and the cute little ABC necklace they made earlier.  Every time we do something like that I have to fight back my tears.  I know I'm going to miss those little kids so much.  One little girl told me yesterday....Miss Sharon I won't see you anymore when I am done here.  Ok just stab me in my heart. lol  She said,  "I'm going to miss you."  Monday is the last day of school but Wed. we're having a picnic at the park.  I've gotta say I'm really enjoyed this job.  I never in a million years would have thought I'd add Preschool teacher to my resume.  Ok I don't really have a resume.  lolol  But if I did. 

I don't think I shared my Mother's Day with you.  It was a great day. Wilster invited us over for a BBQ.  Boo came into town so we all went to Wilsters for the day. I love my boys so much and I can't tell you how happy I am that this was my first Mother's Day back in Missouri where I was able to spend it with both of them. 

Now I must ask you,  how many MEN does it take to put up a badmitten set??  A Boo, a Wilster and a Hunka!! 

 

 

Uh oh someone is going to show them how it's done.

 

Now there all trying to figure out what's going wrong.  You see I'm just standing back taking my pictures quietly. 

 

Looks like we got a game!!!  This thing was such a piece of #@** that Bill took it back and told them that he had two engineers at his house and even THEY couldn't figure this out. I say, did you ask your mom to help???  Ummm just sayin.

 

Wilster decided it was time for a snow cone!  Who knew he had his very own machine?  I'd be visiting more often if I had known that.  Don't ya love a snow cone?? 

 

Check it out, he even has his own supply of flavors.

 

 

Boo approves!!

 

I love when Wilster laughs.  He has the most infectious laugh you'll ever hear. 

 

All in all it was a great day. I got a Starbuck's gift card, a Norstroms gift card, flowers, more flowers, a cake, a DVD of Big Love and the best gift was being with the boys.  

If you get a minute go check out my Etsy shop. I added new stuff today.  These are just a couple of the new books.  Love both of them.  

 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Back to Paducah we go for some food and Tara's booth

A girls gotta eat and feed the hungry man that traveled with her.  And boy did we eat. We traveled about 20 miles outside of Paducah I think it was, to a place called Miss Patti's.  I went there several years ago with my  friend Tommye, Vida and Sandy on our first trip to Paducah.  The food was amazing.  Needless to say I wanted hunka to try it too.  Then there's this guy that works with him at his little part time job and he told him...OMG you have to eat at Miss Patti's.  So eat we did.  I think you'll enjoy the pictures. 

 

We of course ate at Patti's not Bill's.  Poor Bill I'm sure his food is good too.  

 

The bathrooms were so neat.  I took a picture for your viewing pleasure while "sitting" if you get my drift. This is the lock on the door.  Isn't that cool?  I loved it. Ok I know it doesn't take much to entertain me.  Go ahead and say it.  

 

Now for some food.

Bread anyone??  Can I just tell you, this bread is to die for!!  And that strawberry butter....OHMYGAWD!!!  

 

Fried dill  pickles perhaps????

 

And now for the main course.  Hunka's pork chop was 2 inches thick.  He was in hog heaven.  The baked potatoes are huge!!!   And that hunk of white stuff on top is all butter! Even hunka didn't eat all that butter and he loves butter.   Not sure who's gonna eat that green stuff lying there when you have a heaping mound of ooey gooey butter.  

 

I had the teriyaki chicken.  I love anything covered in teriyaki.  But honestly that potato almost made me gag.  Does one need that MUCH cheese AND butter??  ICK!!  They must love them some butter in KY.  

 

How about some dessert? They had something on the menu that I wanted to try just because of the name. But we were too full.  I think they named this in  for my Boo.  

 

Let's go back outside because I need to walk off this meal. 

 

Isn't this pretty?

 

 

What a quaint little chapel.

 

This guys going to be dinner soon I bet. This is only a face a mother could love.  Seriously. Look how big it is compared to those little birds on the right.   

 

Look at that face and that RED scarf around his neck.  At least he likes RED.  

Across the street was a shop called, what else?? The Pink Tractor.  Don't ya love it?  Every girl needs a pink tractor.  

 

Back for more shopping and look who I found.  Tara!!!  I met her first at the quilt show in Chicago a couple years ago. She is the nicest gal and has some awesome patterns, kits and a great booth!  

 

I love all her patterns.  I'll just show the pictures and let you enjoy.  You can contact Tara is your interested in any. She has kits for several of them too.  I already bought mine.  :-)

 

 

 

I bought the kit for the little blue one only I got it in RED.  Big surprise huh??  

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour. I think that's almost the end of the pictures.  

 

 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Dumpster #5 filled!!

What a weekend.  We filled our 5th dumpster full of .....crap!!  Today we went thru all the cabinets in our four bathroom. Yes we have four bathrooms to go with the four attic's.  I told hunka we have to take photos for you of our four attics.  You ask and you shall get.   So stay tuned for that. Matter of fact the kids that are going to be living here already told us that they are going to be playing hide and seek up in those attics.  lol  I  say to that...........knock yourself out.   OH not really knock yourself out but knock yourself out. 

Hunka was going thru his stuff in the bathroom cabinets and he finds calamine lotion from 2001 and asks me if it's still good. I say if you want to put it on your body.  Then he finds allergy pills from 2006.......again, if YOU want to take them go ahead.   And it goes on and on and on.  I swear he thinks nothing ever expires.  

While packing and going thru stuff I found some of my quilts that I had forgotten about......

I found these blocks I did along time ago.   

 

I loved these teacups.  I never did finish the whole set.

 

Not sure what I was doing here. 

 

Rick Rack anyone?????   How about you Miss Polka Dot???

 

I made this quilt over 16 years ago at a shop in Northern, Ca. Bad photo of it. I love the quilt. It's really a table topper size.

 

Love this one.

 

 

These last two quilts still need to be finished and then quilted.  This quilt I'm making king size to fit my bed.

 

I found this great stack of fabric.  Ok so it's more than just a "stack".   I think I filled up three totes full of it.  These are the colors I'm doing the new kitchen in. 

 

 

Now for the wonton recipe several of you have been asking for.  You can see a photo of them over at Deb's blog. They are sooooo good.

Hidden Valley Ranch Sausage Stars

2 cups cooked crumbled sausage....if you can find the maple sausage it's the best.

1 1/2 C. grated cheddar cheese

1 1/2 C. grated monterey jack cheese

1 c. prepared Ranch dressing. Do not use the bottled kind make your own from the little packet.

1 pkg wonton wrappers.

cook sausage, drain grease from sausage......mix prepared dressing mix with sausage, and cheese.   take your wonton wrappers and put them in a cupcake or muffin tin......fill each spot with a spoonfuls of the mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 5 to 8 min. or until bubbly.   I'm warning you they are soooo good. You can mix up a batch of the mixture and it keeps for several days.  When you fill like a wonton go in the kitchen and whip yourself up one or ten.   lol    Even if you make all of them up you can freeze them and reheat in the microwave later.  You've been warned!!!! This and a cheeseball..................OH MY GAWD!!!!!!!!!!    HEAVEN........I'm in HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!1

Ok my girlie's, that's it for tonight.  Again I thank you for your kind comments, I love reading them, especially now being sooo dang busy.  I look forward to each of them and I'm trying to answer all of you.  This week I'll be seeing my buddy Tammy and hopefully Janine before I leave.  I'm sure tears will be flowing, I cant take this you know.   I cry easy. 

Someone help me PLEASE!!!!

 

I think I've lost it.   This is NOT the way to boil eggs.

Hunka said he was going to the store and I thought I heard him leave. But then I also heard a pop! I went into the kitchen, looked around and no hunka.  Hmmm, so I went back into my sewing room.   About 5 min. later another POP, POP!!!!  I went back into the kitchen and I had eggs exploding all over the place!!!!  I have to say this is a first.

 

See that thing upside down there? That WAS the egg thing letting you know there DONE.  DUH!!  I think I knew they were done when I walked in.  That pan went into the trash. 

 

Heck no I didn't give up. We were cravin some deviled eggs. But you can bet I kept an eye on these.  I didn't leave the kitchen.

 

Voila!!!!  

 

Back to the sewing room I went after the egg drama.  Man oh man am I finding alot of stuff.  Look at all the Liberty Homestead fabs.  I love these.  I must like pink???  These fabrics have the look of being hand dyed but they are sooo soft like flannel, but not .  Liberty Homestead uses these for doing stitchery in her quilts that you see in her books.  I love them!!!  And her books too.  That's a whole different photo. 

 

More plastic tubs............ 

 

And still more.....

 

Boxes anyone??????

 

This is the cleanest you will EVER see my cutting table.  Oh how I wanna mess it up.

 

While digging I've found some kits and fabric that I just don't want to take.  If your interested just send me an email. 

1)  Gatherings kit from Moda.  54 1/2 x 70 1/2........... $55 plus shipping.  

SOLD thank you.

 

 

Here are the fabs from inside.

 

2)  Assorted flannels, Thimbleberries, Moda, Marcus, etc.  5 1/2 plus yards.....$30 plus shipping

 

In the next couple days I'll have some more. 

The cleaning continues,  and I'm sure it will right up till the day that truck rolls up in front.  I spent today cleaning out the cabinets and drawers in the laundry room, and the kitchen.  I must say they look so much better.  Even clean for the new owners.

LOSER MONDAY

 

Can I just tell you girls how happy I am for all of you.  And we had a record number of post tonight.  WOOHOOOO    That's what I like to see.  Sorry I'm posting so late but I really have been reading all of your blogs.  I even posted on the ones that had their loser post tonight.  WE had 25 at last count.

 Several of you posted your soup recipes.  Now I have to say go to Jen's blog and get ready for a laugh. Her soup recipe is hysterical, then as I'm reading blogs I see that Kimtried to pull the same thing on us.  Go have a look.  All the soup "recipes"  look good and Arlette gave us a meatloaf recipe which I've got to try. Sounds like your all either stay put or losing a little here and there.  No one really said they've gained alot back.  So it's all good. As long as we're on the right track.  We're "trying" to be healthier.  And I do mean "TRYING". Sometimes it's not so easy like when you go out with the girlie's and order dessert.  Well it came with the meal what were we to do???  I promised a photo of it so if you don't want to see look away now.   So seriously do you see how small it is?? Deb held up a quarter to give you an idea. They call it a "shot" i think.  We three went to P.F.Changs and these came with our meal.  Deb did pass it up I must say while Nancy and I........well you know.

 

Speaking of soup recipes..........Here's my hot n sour soup. OMG that was good but man was it ever spicy. Made my nose run. I know more info than you need but it's true it did. And ok so I don't have the recipe for it. Just a photo.  And I'm sure it is low cal.

 

Now Jeansaid she saw on tv that you can exercise and lose weight by lifting your children while exercising.  Now if I lift Boo and Wilster, I'd be in the hospital which I guess would ultimately lead to weight loss because hospital food sucks.  Speaking of Jean, she is our winner from last weeks game.  Jean send me your address and I'll get your gifty out to you.  The answers were 1) Kim or Kathy  2) Brenda 3) Jean 4) Janessa 5) Kris 6) Rachel.  Thanks for playing along. 

Since I've been gaining, uh I mean losing I've had to resort to this.............don't laugh you know we all need a little stretch now and then.  And I gotta say it feels darn good too.

 

Great job ladies. See you next week same place same time.  Ok maybe not the same time but the same place.  Keep up the good work. 

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Before I forget I wanna show my goodies that Nancy gave us at our Valentine dinner in March.   We're hoping for a St. Patrick's dinner in April.  We're having a certain someone's birthday dinner next.  WOOHOOOO  You know we'll have some good photos from that.

Don't ya love all my goodies?? I love that red cake plate.  It's got hearts all over it.  I love cake stands.  I know I cant have cake but I can look at my stand cant I?

 

Cute isn't it?  Sorry my photos didn't do well with all that red. 

 

I love the little Mary E. box.  It's the Queen of Everything.  And I love my little bag she made. It's the cutest!!!!!

 

All this was inside our bag Nancy made us.  I forgot to put my Foster Grants in the photo because I was wearing them. 

 

This was soo cute. My photo sucks but trust me it's cute.  It's a fob for my scissors and this needle thingy, Nancy said you can use it for cross stitch but I'm putting it on one of my pincushions.  Thanks for everything Nancy.    I had so much fun with you and Deb.

 

Gotta wrap this up before the clock strikes midnight.   I cant miss Loser Monday now can I???   I'd never hear the end of it.  Off to dream of a brownie.   wink wink. 

Tomorrow I'll share a blog that is having a great house BOM going on.  I'm lovin it.

Look............... a little pumpkin!!!!!!

Happy Sunday!!  I can't seem to get back into the groove here.  Once I do get back into it I'll be on the road again.  Three more days till I leave for Houston.  I didn't even bother putting the suitcase away.  I came home took my stuff out , hunka put his stuff in and when he gets back, I'll put my crap back in it once again.  LOL   Talk about a revolving door around here. 

I've got lots to show you from my trip but first I have to show you some photos from my lunch with Cheryl and the star of the show........LUKE.   Her lovely daughter in law Megan came too. It was such a nice afternoon.  We could have talked and cooed over that baby forever.  We were there to celebrate Cheryl's birthday but someone stole the show. 

OMG you tell me that is not the cutest dang baby????  Dont you dare disagree with me.  He is adorable. And what about that HAT???  Grandma Polka Dot brought that for him.  We laughed so hard when Megan put it on him.  It is sooooo cute.   Megan is going to take him to the pumpkin patch and get his photo taken.  Wont that be cute?  Luke is one pretty baby.  

 

Me jealous??? Oh of course not,  huh uh, not me.  OK YES I AM!!!   Megan asked if I wanted to hold Luke?? WHAT are you kidding?? HAND HIM OVER!!!  Do you think they would notice is I slipped out with him??  His pumpkin hat might give us away.  I was in heaven holding this little guy.  Thank you soo much Megan for joining us. 

 

CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!!! 

 

Of course I took photos of what we ate too.  The food was delish.  We went to a place that Megan used to work. I think it was called Martha Greene's.  It was an eating place and a bakery.  I could have taken home one of everything. 

Cheryl had this french toast something that was to die for. 

 

Megan and I had the Reuben sammy.  YUMMY!!! And I had Sweet Potato french fries. Why because my butt isnt quite big enough yet.  Sure throw in some ranch for dipping.  You bet ya!!!! Miss Megan has fruit!!  WHATEVER!!!!   Just kidding Megan.  That's why you look like you do and I..............well you know. 

 

Cheryl gave me some great goodies but I still need to take a few snaps of them.  I'll show tomorrow.   Love everything!!!! 

After lunch with the girls and the little pumpkin I stopped by Nordstroms to see my Sista Deb.  She was busy selling her smell goods.  We sat and chatted for awhile before I headed home.  But tomorrow she and I are going on a little field trip. WOOHOOOOO   Some girl bonding.  

Today I did a little sewing in the room.  Trying to get back into it.  I'd rather just lie down and take a nappy pie. 

Got all the blocks done on this. Now I just need to quilt it.  It turned out pretty good I think. 

 

Then I worked on this one.  Still lots to do on it.

 

And look Wilster took one of my little table topper. And he even used it. OMG  I was shocked.   I loved seeing a quilt on display in that house.  WOOHOOO  I'm making progress.  Shhhhhhh dont tell him. He even saved his pumpkin bucket I sent him last year.  There's hope yet.  Now to work on Boo.  I mean with the name BOO shouldn't you have some Halloweenie decor in your house?? 

 

Hunka and I have some new entertainment in da house. We are WII atticks.  This could be why I'm slow in the blogging area since I've been home.  We are hooked.   Last night Hunka got so into it that he swung his arm around with the remote in his hand and knocked over a big glass of water right into the little drawer of the coffee table.  All the tv remotes were soaked.  All I can say girls is................I'm glad HE DID IT and not me.   Oh lordy could you even imagine if I would have been so stupid as to do that.  Uh did I say stupid??? Oh please forgive me.   But if I would have done it you bet it would have been STUPID.  I'm just sayin.   Yes I would be the stupid one on the left wearing the red dress.  And yes that does say MUFFY.  Alright????   Now you know another one of my secrets.  And I'm just full of em.  I didnt say full of IT I said em!!   Hunka thinks he looks pretty HOT over there in his blue shirt and glasses doesnt he?? 

   

Oh look something has caught our attention over on the left.   LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!  

Gotta go WII now.  That didnt sound right did it??