Friday, June 27, 2014

Ha, Two Posts in One Month!

We're on a roll now!

What's happened to me? I used to post twice a week. Now, it's twice a month and I'm thrilled to get that. It's not that I am working, have small children, or really anything pressing my time. Should we go with laziness? Do I want to admit that? Nah, denial is a wonderful place to live. 

So, in the last three weeks - I've stitched on my lighthouse


(my last picture - so, there is progress!)


Had a birthday - 

Chocolate Turtle Cake from Michelangelo's Bakery
Played with the kids -

Garin is 7 and Alivia will be 4 in August

Bryce is 7 months! 

And attended a memorial celebration for my father-in-law -

DH - Rob, his cousin Duane, and Uncles Lawrence, Tim, and Ron
(Please note - they all have the exact same nose!)
The other day I blew 2-3 hours just editing photos I've taken since Thanksgiving 2013. I moved over 1500 to my external hard drive. Way too many grave stone pictures. Thank goodness I won't be printing those. But, I think I have easily 400 pictures to print. Shoot, there are 234 just from our anniversary trip. Maybe I should scale them back a bit...

Rob and I have a new niece - actually our first great-niece. We have two great-nephews already. Haven't gotten to see her yet and the photos I've been sent are a bit bleary. So, hopefully I will get a good shot soon. 

Logan just sent me a link he found for pizza rolls. Sounds like something I might make for the 4th. 

Here's the recipe - 

Frozen bread dough *homemade is fine as well*
Pepperoni
Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Olive oil
Italian seasoning
1/4 cup tomato sauce (Optional)
Directions:

 -Loosely cover the frozen bread dough with plastic wrap. Allow the dough to thaw for a few hours at room temperature. When the dough is completely thawed it will be slightly puffed up.
Here’s a tip: Spray the plastic wrap with cooking oil, or brush it with cooking oil and lay it, oiled side down on the bread dough. This allows the bread dough to rise and move easily under the plastic wrap without it sticking or holding back the dough.
- Roll dough out to an approximately 11 x 11 inch square. One frozen dough log makes one pepperoni roll.
- Brush dough with olive oil or whatever cooking oil you prefer. Lay pepperoni on the dough covering entire surface. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Next, sprinkle it with shredded Parmesan cheese and lightly sprinkle it with Italian seasoning. Add a sprinkling of garlic salt (optional).
- Roll up the dough starting at one edge of the square.
- Place rolls on baking sheet, leaving space between them if you are making more than one roll. Brush some melted butter on top of the uncooked pepperoni roll(s).
- Bake at 375 degrees F for approximately 15 to 25 minutes. Oven temperatures and times may vary. When done, the top of the rolls should be golden brown and you should be able to make a tapping sound on the crust with your fingernail (the same as when baking bread).
Make sure you allow your pepperoni roll to cool completely before slicing and serving it.

I think I may have to add pizza sauce inside instead of dipping them. Although, it may get messy too. Things to ponder. My sister just told me not to add the sauce inside - it causes the dough to be soggy. 

Well, time to get off here and start the laundry. Had to dry after my shower this morning with a hand towel. Definitely time to do the laundry. 

Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!
Denise 





Monday, June 2, 2014

Being Grateful...

Every night as I lie in bed I count off at least 5 things that happened that day for which I am thankful. As silly as it sounds - lately I have realized I am thankful for being grateful. After looking at the pictures for this post - I see how lucky I have been.

Maybe you won't get what I see in this post and that's okay. I know. So, are you ready for some pictures?

This year I have forgone the hanging flowers and opted for the always longed for Boston Ferns. And my flowers have a purpose this year. We are having a 6th of July porch party and I want the porch bathed in red, white, and blue. So, I got red, white, and purple (gotta go with what's available) flowers.



Yesterday morning I read the paper out here enjoying every minute. This morning it feels muggy after the showers of last night.

I do have stitching pics to show! Unbelievable, I know! There has been a decision lately that I will try to stitch after Rob heads for bed. No more computers after 9:30p. Oh, there have been a few slips, but I find myself itching to get in that chair and stitch.

Here's my finished Ink Circle piece from earlier this spring. It still isn't ironed - please forgive.

Ink Circles - Fleur de Lys
Peoria Purple WDW linen
and a silk floss 
Too lazy this morning to run and find out the color of floss. Bad blogger!

But, I do have progress to show on my 272 Words! I've been taking it easy on this because I know MJ isn't finding many minutes to stitch with her busy schedule. And my deadline for finishing this is in November. There's a 3 day stitching retreat between now and then that I have great plans for. 

Before ~ 

And now ~ 


And my lighthouse is showing progress too! 

Before ~ 


And now ~ 


Looking at these pictures together make me realize how many more hours I have to go and how many hours I have spent on this. I used to track the minutes...I even have a note book. Better get that back out. Last I saw I had logged over 300 hours on it. 

Logan had a friend over the other day and he shows off the library, stitching, and genealogy rooms. When he got to my stitching - the girl touched the lighthouse and said it looked like a painting. 

Today finds me getting groceries and making macaroni salad for the genealogy picnic tonight. You have warned me how obsessive genealogy can be. I am now a member of one round table and two county societies. Tomorrow finds me in Columbus hoping to find an adoption record. (Fat chance, but I must try) Then I will have 2 of 3 First Families buttoned up. The last family, the Little's, may be difficult to prove. Last week, I managed to head to 3 genealogy libraries. And I found another book about my ancestors. Oh, goody, more family! lol

Time to get moving - Hope your day is as brilliant as you are!
Denise