If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Retro - and quite delicious-strawberry pie

My mom found this recipe in a Betty Crocker cookbook - I don't know what year but I am guessing a 1960s edition or so.  She made it often, especially for Sunday lunch.
I copied down her recipe years ago and cooked it yesterday for our lunch today.

Below is a photo of my recipe card- I had to make one change. Sliced and sweetened frozen strawberries, they used to come in a rectangle can- are not sold anywhere around here. So I used a pound box of fresh strawberries, chopped them in about 1/2 inch size pieces and added just 2 T of sugar. Then I stirred them into sugar free strawberry jello, as the recipe said to.

I used a 9 inch baked crust, instead of the called for 8 inch baked crust. 
Today, it was topped with cool whip but it would of been even more delicious with real whipped cream. 

Hope you all had a happy pleasant Mothers Day.  Some of our children were here today for lunch. I made this pie and quiche. My husband grilled chicken and my daughter cooked homemade Mac and cheese and 7 layer dip with chips. 

Strawberries are plentiful and low cost right now.
 If you need a quick dessert, I recommend this retro Strawberry Minute Pie.


Saturday, May 3, 2014

Planting seeds and a new pocket hose

We needed new water hoses and I did some research on the new compact hoses.
After scanning the 2000 or so ratings for pocket hoses on Amazon, it sounded like it would work for us. 
Pocket hoses are not durable with high water pressure and with big yards. (We don't have either)

I was still a little wary so I bought one at Walmart so it would be easy to return if it was a huge failure. 

I used it today for the first time and I think it will be perfect for our small yard and for watering the outdoor plants. It is small enough to just wind it up on the faucet- no big hose reel or holder needed.

We've got an unplanted flower bed in the front and I think zinnias will be the easiest and least expensive choice. My husband picked out 4 packs of bright color zinnias. I mixed them all together and planted them in 2 rows this morning. 
So hopefully in 6 weeks or so, there will be a hedge of colorful zinnias. 

My mom always grew zinnias and I think they are so pretty and make really nice bouquets too.
But I don't see zinnias in other yards much - they used to be in most every yard. 

Friday, May 2, 2014

Flowers for cookies


My son needed cookies for a work event. 
Baking cookies is one of my favorite things to do so I baked 4 kinds 
He offered to pay me but I declined, I prefer to just cook because I like to cook. 
One of his events used this huge bouquet and afterwards, he brought them to me. 
I think they are beautiful - white hydrangea and daisies, red roses, blue flowers that I have no clue as to their name and a big gladiola coming out of the top. 


3 of the 4 batches of cookies - all decorated with red, white and blue sprinkles.  

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Small gifts from the heart

Life seems to get more elaborate everyday, our houses are bigger, stores are huge,  parties and weddings are bigger and many gifts are big.
But some of the most meaningful gifts I've ever received are small, made with love gifts. 

This cross stitch book mark - I've kept it in my Bible since 1987.  Aunt Evelyn stitched patchwork hearts on one side and our names on the other. Isn't it so sweet? 
Son Bobby made this hanging heart from a wire clothes hanger- probably around 1992. 
Son Jimmy made this cross bookmark with variegated yarn and plastic canvas, free hand, probably around the same time his brother made the wire heart.
My Aunt Ann painted this light switch plate for me about 50 years ago - the plate is metal and I am pretty sure she used oil paints as they have been durable.

My mom made this little book for son Bobby when he was 1-2 years old. This was before fancy scrap book supplies.  It is just 3 large index cards folded in half and stapled together. She decorated it with stickers and cut out photos from my dad's farm magazines.  
It was one of Bobby's favorite possessions and was looked at and read so many times, I am not sure how it is still intact.

Gift giving season is starting- Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations, weddings, spring birthdays and spring babies-  I think heart-felt little gifts can be wonderful. 


Do you have any  tiny love-filled gifts like mine?

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Slow down week


It's been a very busy 4 weeks here with a big birthday party, Easter celebrating and house guests 4 weekends in a row.
The house was in pretty good shape Monday morning, and I was feeling a little tired, so I did not make my usual weekly to-do list. I plan to just do the upkeep that really needs done and in my free time, I will just do things I want to. 
Not that I am sitting around and just eating bonbons.....grands will here 4 days, I did laundry and changed sheets yesterday and cleaned the tile floors this morning.  

But I am not making a list and scratching things off, so I just feel more relaxed.  I am sure next week, I will be back happily working my to do list.


I sewed  a quick hack project this morning.
grand daughter Elizabeth had a queen size comforter that she wanted cut down to fit her toddler bed. 

so, I just cut off the size that would fit- I used the edge so there were just sides that needed to be finished off.  
a few weeks go, Elizabeth saw this Minnie Mouse blanket binding in my sewing room and asked if I would make her something with it.  It was perfect to finish off those edges - so I killed 2 birds with 1 stone. 
there was enough binding to go around 3 sides, which makes it look more balanced, and less of a hack job.  
That scrap of the binding is all that was left.  


hopefully she will have sweet dreams with this cozy comforter,  now just her size


we went to our favorite  thrift store Saturday.  
I found more spoons and knives and these are really nice,  Community Stainless. They were 2/25 cents.
Now we have more than enough flatware for big meals.  
2 dresses for me $3.50 each
and would you believe one more Ethan Allen piece? a tall hutch,  all maple and birch for $140!