THOUGHTS: February is quickly coming to a close. It has been a month full of LOVE ! My valentine chocolates are almost gone. With the ending of february means we are that much closer to warm weather, AND the begining of strawberry season! I love them! Nothing is better than starting the day off with an eggo waffle, toasted twice, with strawberries and sugar on top, and ending the day with a chocolate covered strawberry, or two, or three...

THINGS: Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

The key to making good chocolate dipped strawberries and to give it that shiny hard chocolate coating is how you melt the chocolate and adding shortening.

1 package of good chocolate chips

1 heaping tablespoon shortening

about 30 medium sized strawberries

Wash and dry well your strawberries. Lightly spray plate or tray with pam or some kind of cooking spray, this makes it so they don't stick.I use good milk chocolate chips, no need to buy expensive chocolate, unless you want to. Put a whole bag of chocolate chips in a glass bowl along with 1 heaping tablespoon of shortening. The shortening gives it that hard shell. Microwave for 1 minute then stir, the chocolate chips will continue to melt while stirring. Microwave for another 30 seconds, stir again. Repeat 30 seconds and stirring a few more times until chocolate is melted. Be careful, overheating your chocolate will make it lumpy. Tip bowl to make chocolate as deep as possible, so the whole strawberry is submerged, does that make sense? Now you are ready to dip your strawberries. Hold the stem or top of strawberry, Dip, covering most of the strawberry , leave a little of the red showing. Let excess chocolate drip off, lightly scrape chocolate off bottom of strawberry on rim of bowl. Place on plate. refrigerate. They will last a few days in the frig. Beautiful and delicious! Think of someone who needs your love and share.

Love, Joy

THOUGHTS:

Good night, sleep tight

Don't let the bed bugs bite

Wake up right

With all your might
In the morning light

To do what's right

THINGS: Framed letters are fun and easy to make

First decide what size you want to make, mine are 11 x 14

Choose your background fabric. Make sure it is about 2 inches wider on each side so you will have enough room to wrap it onto your back.

Choose coordinating fabric for your letter, then iron on wonder under on the back side of the your coordinating fabric. You can buy wonder under at any fabric store, use as directed on package.

On a piece of paper freehand letter, anyway you like it will be great. Cut it out, now trace it onto the back side of the coordinating fabric, the side with the wonder under on it. Flip the letter the opposite direction. Trace again on wonder under and cut out.

Remove paper coating of wonder under from fabric. Center your letter on your background fabric and iron lightly, not too long, just enough for it to stick. Don't iron back and forth, just place your iron directly on the letter and lift, then move to another spot until it is all secure.

Looking cute! Now at this point if you are a sewer, you can zig-zag or button stitch around the letter. If you are not a sewer, just leave it, it still looks great!

Center your letter on a piece of foam board, this is what I like to use. You can get it at most hobby and craft stores, I got mine at Ben Franklin. A frame shop can even cut you a piece.

Stretch and tape edges to the back of the foam board. I usually use a packing tape, it seems to hold best.

Put it in your frame and secure . I did not put glass on mine, but you certainly can. You did it! How cute is that?

I ordered my ampersand (&) through Pottery Barn. It only came in black so I just spray painted it brown.

Now you will know exactly which side of the bed is yours.

Love, Joy

THOUGHTS: baby toes

I love to smell them

I love to kiss them

I love to play with them

I love to count them

I love to just look at them

THINGS: 50 grandbaby toes and 10 more on their way...

Love, Joy

THOUGHTS: On the look out - CHIRP CHIRP

I have heard a wonderful sound this past week outside. The sound of birds chirping. I love birds, I always have. The love must have come from my childhood. My dad always had parakeets. In every home that I lived in there was a parakeet cage in the back yard. The sound of chirping birds makes me happy.

Last year I made 2 new friends. They chose the planter on my porch to build their nest. I would sit outside each morning and listen to them converse with each other. I could almost understand what they were saying. (no, I'm not crazy, well maybe). I started whistling back at them. O.K., off the subject for a minute. I love to whistle, I am not much of a singer, so I whistle. My dad is a whistler, his way of talking to his birds. My sister is a whistler too. Does anyone remember the whistling duo on Americas Got Talent? That's my sister and I , we should have tried out, I know we would not have been booed off the stage. Back to the birds, each morning I would go out on my deck and whistle for my new friends, and much to my surprise they began responding and would fly up to the deck. I would whistle to them and they would chirp back, SERIOUSLY! Every morning I would dig in my flower bed to find a few plump worms, put them in a small dish set, then put it on the railing of the porch and whistle. They would fly right up to the dish and get the worms.. They would feed them to their little one waiting patiently in the nest.. Our friendship only lasted a month or so. As soon as their baby bird learned to fly they all moved on. I have started whistling and looking for my friends, hoping they will come back this spring.

THINGS: Bird Sampler

I just finished this sampler and had it framed. It is done with hand died wool and embroidery. I loved doing it. Like the pattern? Go to All Through The Night. net. They have many awesome patterns. You can just buy the pattern and sometimes the whole kit. Never done anything like this before? I'll help you . Just leave me a comment. I also have the pattern for those of you who live close.

Love, Joy

P.S. Be kind to your web footed friends

THOUGHTS: Aprons can be deceiving...

There are many reasons why I wear an apron and it's not just cooking...

• while doing housework to avoid getting clothes dirty
• eating, I am good at spilling on myself
• painting, it gets everywhere else but the apron though
• used to wipe grandkids faces and noses
• covers up stain on my shirt
• gives my hubby hope that there is a meal being prepared
• and cooking too

Wearing an apron makes me feel good, confident and domestic. I want to be like June, June Cleaver. She always looked beautiful, her house was perfect, her husband was happy, two good boys, (except when Wally was around), 3 delicious meals every day ( with every food group included) and she was never in a bad mood! She did everything in her apron! How did she do it? I think it gave her super powers like superman or batman in their capes.
Say YES to Aprons!

P.S. I hung my aprons with antique pickle forks. I just bent them and nailed right through the top of the fork. You can use small spoons or small butter knifes too.

THINGS: Banana Nut Cake
Ladies put on your aprons and try this delicious recipe. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and midnight snack.

Cake:

1 cup sugar

2 sticks of butter, melted

1/4 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 bananas, mashed

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

mix together and pour into greased 9 x 13 pan

Topping:

1/2 stick butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

mix and crumble over cake batter (before cooking)

bake 35 min at 350 degrees

love, joy

THOUGHTS: For the love of dishes.....

One of my all time favorite movies is the American President.

The best scene is when the President (Micheal Douglas) takes Sidney Ellen Wade (Annette Benning) into the china room at the White House and tells her this is the dish room. Of course, all you who have seen the movie knows that their first kiss happens there.

The dishes I have collected over the years were stuffed in every nook and cranny of my kitchen and even spilling over into other parts of the house.

So.... Hey! If the White House can have a dish room, why can't I? With some convincing of my hubby, he agreed on the project. Upon its completion, I cristened my new dish room with a kiss from the President(of my house).

THINGS: My most cherished 3 piece dish set was given to me after my grandma passed away. She always used the small bowl for her bottled peaches and the plate for her bread. It has its own special place in my dish room.

Love, joy

THOUGHTS: Waking up this morning to blue sky and sunshine was all I need to rationalize putting on my flip flops. As I opened the front door to get the newspaper, a cold blast of air and seeing a 4ft. pile of snow brought me back to reality. I traded my flip flops for my 70s moon boots and trudged outside. A few hours later I found myself standing in front of the vegetable and flower seed display at target. I dreamt of a spade in one hand, a flower seedling in the other and 10 dirty fingernails. I reassured myself that no matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

THINGS: If you can't grow'm...sew'm

THOUGHTS: A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.

P.S. I have spent the last hour trying to figure out how to put two pictures on one post, I forgot how...being 51 certainly comes with its challenges - HELLO! If I had another brain it would be lonesome! I know what your thinking, what can I say...

THINGS: trolls, trolls, trolls

Last weekend grandpa and I tended (grandma mostly) our 3 year old twin grandkids while their parents were playing in St. George. By saturday afternoon every toy in the closet had been pulled out and played with, well, dumped out anyway...that took all of about 1/2 hour. It looked like k-marts toy department had exploded in the family room. I was getting desperate to find something to entertain the little darlings. I saw one last box. As I opened it, I was taken back about 17 years. It was full of Sami's trolls. I have never been able to part with them. I sat on the floor and took out each one and arranged them on the table. I was totally entertained! As for the grandkids, they were already off to something else.

THINGS: Joys snickerdoodle recipe
(my hubbys favorite)

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter SOFTENED (Really softened)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour

TOPPING: 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 6 Tablespoons sugar

Cream shortening, butter and sugar. Add eggs. Add dry ingredients and mix. Roll dough into balls (heaping tablespoon) roll into cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 13-14 minutes. Sprinkle a little cinn. and sugar on top - cool on rack.

ENJOY! Better yet, package some up in a cellophane bag tied with ribbon and take some to someone.

My Uncle Mitch used to always say, " What do we live life for if it isn't to help each other along the way."

THOUGHTS: O.K. So, we all have fantasies right? Well , in my fantasy world I would have a personal cook and baker, available at my beckoned call. I can hear myself saying, " Could you please make a salad with all my favorite toppings, a homemade pizza, thin crust , green olives, pepperoni, light on the cheese and, oh yes, a slice of perfectly toasted garlic bread . For dessert, I'll have some chocolate cake, not too much frosting though, with enough left over for breakfast." That's not too much to ask is it?

I am not much of a cook, I can muster up something if I have too... Anyway, thought I would send along to you my favorite cookie recipe... well, pretty much the only cookie recipe I make.

THOUGHTS: Last year I was at my friend Pegs home. In her kitchen hung a hand stitched picture made by her aunt, probably done in the 50s. It was beautiful and each stitch was perfect. But it was the saying that I loved the most. I knew I just had to have this saying in my own kitchen. So I made up my own pattern, a simplified version of course. Each day I read it and I am thankful for its words. My everyday trials (i.e. health), I believe, are my Heavenly Fathers gentle reminder of what is really the most important. I am grateful for them.

THINGS: I can put together a kit or help you make your own pattern, if interested.

THOUGHTS: Yesterday I just wanted to scream CABIN FEVER! I just had to get out, this seems to always happen to me this time of year, you can only stay in the house so long ... I asked my hubby if he wanted to go to one of my favorite stores with me and he just looked up at me as if to say ,are you kidding? Well, I just thought I would ask. So off I went to salt lake to RETRO ROSE, the shop is on about 3rd south and 3rd east. It is full of great retro stuff, I bought my girls a valentines surprise, and a few things for myself. I found these old valentine chocolate boxes, a great red doillie, an awesome old canister set and some melmac small plates.

THINGS: I put the darling chocolate boxes in a crystal dish that I bought at an antique store,set it on my new red doillie and placed it on my old red high chair. I feel much better now.

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER - MAYBE...

THOUGHTS

Just when I was thinking and wishing for spring, mother nature reminds me of who is in charge.

I woke up this morning to falling snow that lasted most of the morning. I doddled around the house most of the day frequently looking out the window at the new blanket of snow. I should build a snowman I thought! Yea, a colored snowman, like we use to do growing up! So my hubby tied up my boots and outside I went. As I began rolling the balls I realized, HEY! I don't have the energy like I used to and BRR it is cold! I never got cold as a kid! Well, I finished my new friend and came inside to look at him through the window in my nice warm home.

THINGS

Do you want to make a colored snowman? Easy to do. First shape your snowman. Put a few drops of food coloring, your choice of color ,into a spray bottle and fill with COLD water. Not hot, you don't want to melt it. Just spray the whole thing and then dress your snowman. Try it!

HEARTS TO YOU

THOUGHTS: Wishing you an early HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! One of my fond childhood memories is of valentines day. Decorating my shoe box the night before valentines day, ready to take it to school so it could hold all the valentines from my classmates. I always hoped that there would be some candy too. Most of the time it was just a few small conversation hearts and when you got the big ones -WOW! ( I didn't like the banana or the orange). I would hurry home from school to see what valentine surprise would be waiting. Even thought it was the same thing every year, I was still excited! On the kitchen table, sitting next to my seat ,along with my 5 brothers and sisters, was a small heart shaped box of whitmans choclates and a card from my mom and dad.

Through the years I did the same for my 3 children. I miss doing that. They are all grown and have families of their own. I hope they carry on the tradition.

To my hubby, you are the love of my life. Happy Valentines Day.

THINGS: Making fabric hearts is easy to do. They are fun to decorate your home with or wrap up and give to someone you love.

Take a scrap of red fabric, right sides together and draw a heart , any shape or size. Sew right on the line that you have drawn . Leave about a 2 inch opening so you can turn it . Cut about 1/4 of an inch from the sew line and turn it right side out. Stuff with poly-fill or something similar. When you have it stuffed the way you like it, whip stitch the opening closed. Take a button, any size and sew it through both layers, knotting it on the back. You can do it , I know you can!

THOUGHTS - My hubby is coming home after being gone for 2 weeks. I can't wait to have him home. We have been married 33 years in april and we have always gone on a date every friday night, so I know he is driving as fast as he can to get home so we can have date night.



THINGS - My latest project has been fun to do. House pillows,personalized with house number and favorite house colors. e-mail me if you would like me to make you one...

So, thanks to my incredibly talented niece Wendy,my blog is ready...I sure wish I was. Believe it or not I am just learning how to take pictures off my camera and put it on the computer....

technology...mind boggling to me. First things first, a trip to walmart to get a cord so this magic can happen.

One of my favorite things to do is sew. Now, I haven't always liked it. I used to break out in hives just looking at a sewing machine! After I became well enough to start doing things again, and that's a whole other story for another day...my new friend Kristy and I took a hand quilting class. Neither one of us are very patient so that did not last long, so we faced our fears and started using a machine and the rest is history... I have loved it ever since. I thought it would be fun to show and share with you projects that I am working on.