new frame

Scott made a new frame for one of my pictures - he also distressed it after painting - I love it!!

Home of a Needleworker by Little House Needleworks

Here is the frame detail

and here is the wall it went on. I love this picture because you can see the wall in my kitchen plus some of  my chickens!!

Scott got the little shelf thing in Estes Park - it isn't holding anything right now - so cute!
I guess I should tell you what those pictures are
My Dwelling Place - Little House Needleworks
Tempest in a Teacup - free by Teresa Wentzler
Blackbird House Zipper Kit by Bent Creek
The rooster penny rug came out of a library book - sorry no idea!!
The kid picture  is in a magazine I have and I can see what it is if you want to know - I'll even tell you the issue and everything. Email if you want to know!

my first 2013 finish!!

Here it is .... I took a picture and then a few so you can see the detail. I changed the beads to Mill Hill. I changed the thread that wasn't varigated to DMC. I kept all the Gloriana, Gentle Art, Caron Waterlilies, Kreinik braid and Perle cottons.  I did the Ravenhill Herb Farm with all the correct threads and I don't think you can tell a difference - so expensive!!

So here is the Jingle Bells Tree Farm

Top

trees

more trees

bottom

YAY!! 

another recipe

Hello,
I wanted to share another recipe with you. I found it on Pinterest. The recipe says to coat each side, which I did the first time, but who has time for that? The next time I laid the slices on my foil lined pan, sprayed them with my misto filled with olive oil and then sprinkled the mixture over the top. Just as good and a little less fat since I didn't use a a tablespoon. If you try it - let me know what you think!!

 Zucchini Parmesan Crisps From "The Food You Crave"

Cooking spray

1 pound zucchini (about 2 medium)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup Panko  breadcrumbs 

1/8 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini with the oil. In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan, bread crumbs, salt, and a few turns of pepper. Dip each round into the Parmesan mixture, coating it evenly on both sides, and place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake the zucchini rounds until browned and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings

Serving size: 1/2 cup

Per Serving:

Calories 105; Total fat 6g (Sat fat 2g, Mono fat 2g, Poly fat 0g); Protein 5g; Carb 8.5g; Fiber 1.5g; Cholesterol 1mg; Sodium 222mg

cooking

Howdy folks,
 When I make a grocery list I do a week menu at the same time - sometimes I don't do it right though! I put what I needed for this recipe on the list - I put "chicken", thinking that I would have the good sense to know what I was talking about. Well, it turns out that I didn't. I bought thin sliced boneless skinless breasts instead. Lucky for me I did buy 1.5 pounds because they didn't have a smaller portion. I decided to make it anyway. I wanted to make the fantastic roasted Parmesan green beans so I put the oven at 400. I cooked the chicken 8 minutes - added the beans for 10 - shake them and cook 5 more. Dinner was done - and fabulous!! If you make the green beans - double the beans and Parmesan but NOT the oil. Add spices by sight. You will thank me later because you will want extra - they are soo good. Here is the chicken recipe - it was originally in a  Weight Watchers magazine but when I looked for it I found it on a blog called Make a whisk. I can't vouch for the site because that is the only recipe I've looked at - but anyway  -  oven-fried chicken with sage gravy.  It turned out so good. There were six breasts in the package and it's a meal for 4. I made it for five so Scott and I could have it for lunch (Ryder ate with us)  so I cut up the smallest breast and added a little to all the others. I might have to make this again next week - nothing better than fabulous "fried" chicken!!
That is all - have a good evening!

another dishcloth

the squarest one so far!!

Hello

Howdy folks,
Hope you had a nice weekend. I sure did. We mostly hung out at home. Went to dinner with our friends - Al and Joanie. For Valentine's Day we had gone to dinner and a movie the week before but on Valentine's Day when I got home from work at 620 am Scott had made heart-shaped french toast with cherry sauce and berries - plus he got me roses. Scott is wonderful!!

My Valentine!!

 Scott made chicken broth - he ended up with 12.5 quarts. That will last me a month or so! 

Scott made more bread - he didn't like the way the last bread turned out - it had a big air pocket in it. It still tasted fabulous. He didn't like the way the new bread turned out either - says the crust is too crunchy and the bread is too dense. Again, I like it - a little butter and Bon Maman fig preserves - fantastic! I think Scott should have a cooking and framing blog - but he doesn't really have time because he is so busy!
I finished the snow section of the bottom of  Jingle Bells Tree Farm I started on the left and went down to the bottom. Then I started on the top right - did they match up? Hell no! Only one thread off - but I had to undo the top right section and started from the bottom. There are two stitches that don't match up but it's in the falling snow part so nobody will notice. I am so close to being done!!!

We have been using the dishcloths I made - boy are they silly looking. When they get wet they stretch out into odd shapes - knitting may not be for me. I am afraid to make a scarf - wonder what shape it will be!! I should take a picture - weird! 

Scott made tacos with flank steak and his fantastic salsa for dinner tonight - he sure is a good cooker!! ha! 

Scott and the cat may be tired of me taking pictures of them - oh well - they should stop being so cute. 

Have a good week! Hope you had a nice Valentine's Day!! 

award

Hello folks,
So, I managed to get myself nominated for an award. When I got the envelope in my mailbox I initially thought I would not go. But my husband thinks I should and he invited my children to come as well. You may or may not know I am a dispatcher for a police department . The award is being given to me for a call involving a five year old that needed to go to a neighbor's house because his mom was having a seizure. The only person home at the neighbor's house  was a 16 year old. They went back to the house, the older boy keeping mom safe and the younger one waving down help. (there was more to it but I think you get the idea) I had expected that the boys would get an award but the address of the homes is in the county and we are city police. So, County has to give them an award. I think they are the ones deserving this award - they were so brave and exhibited strength that even some adults don't have. I feel that I was merely doing my job. I appreciate being noticed for doing my job but I am only one digit on the "hand" that responds and, sometimes, literally picks up the pieces. I don't even "get any on me". I believe that every one of my coworkers has had at least one call that may have been what ended their career. These calls can be emotional, psychological things and can be hard to handle, but they did what needed to be done. This wasn't my first hard call - one of mine was a woman whispering I love you to her husband because she was sure she was dying. A choking child where the ambulance responding was in an accident. The crew you work with really helps they can be there when I need help and when I need to walk away. My husband is also a stable person for me to lean on. I, alone, do not deserve an award. So, having said that - I will graciously accept the award on behalf of all of us. Yes, my name is on it but I could not have done it alone. (sappy but whatever)
It seems as though I am making a big deal out of this but this was the hardest call I have had - even though everyone lived -I was sure I was done dispatching. I told Scott I wouldn't be going back. I did go back, and here we are.
To all the people who save lives every day and keep out streets safe - keep up the good work!

knitting finish

Good morning folks,
I just finished this dishcloth that I got from Ravelry called Be My Dishcloth it's knitted. Lily Sugar'n Cream Solids the color is called Hot Purple. I made it to the halfway mark once and it looked awful. So I tore it out,  renumbered the pattern, and put a sticky on it so I could use hash marks to keep track of where I was - I hope it gets easier as I get better at knitting.

more cooking!

Hello,
I have a few more recipes to share with you! This week we tried a new recipe - another Skinny Taste winner!!! Slow-cooker chicken black bean tacos the slow-cooker part is misleading because it only cooks two hours but this is a fantastic recipe - loved the cabbage!!
Another recipe that I love is green chili - there are lots of different ways to make green chili - everybody does it different. I can't remember where I got this one. It has potatoes in it but I still serve it with La Flavorita tortilla chips - 60 calories per ounce and they don't taste like diet chips! Also reduced fat cheese and low fat sour cream.

Green Chili

1 T vegetable oil
1 chopped onion
3 garlic cloves minced
1 1/2 pork trimmed and cubed
1 t and 1 t red chili powder
1 t white vinegar
1 T cumin
1 t oregano
1 t salt
ground pepper to taste
2 c chicken broth
1 1/4 Yukon potatoes scrubbed and cubed
1 15 oz can diced tomato
8-16 oz green chilies

 Heat oil in pan, add onion and garlic. Cook 5 minutes stirring frequently add pork and spices. Cook until browned. Add remaining ingredients and cook until potatoes are tender.
I don't have calories on this one and I have it listed as 4 regular points for a cup I sure hope that's right - or I've been having more points than I should. I make this about every other week!!  
That's it for this week. Hope your week is filled with healthy food worth eating!!

Cooking

Hello,
This week I made one of my favorite things - mango coconut chia pudding I eat it for breakfast with a banana. This time though, I doubled the recipe. I was inspired by Taylor to use other fruit. I used mango, blueberries and strawberries. The last two have fewer points so I used a little more. I used 3/4 c mango and 1/2 of each of the other two. I used two Tablespoons honey for sweetening and no coconut so it is still the same points. Can't wait to have some - kills me that it has to sit for a few hours!!

I also made this wonderful Mongolian beef recipe that I serve with broccoli that I just steam.  Not sure where I got the recipe.

Mongolian Beef

 1 T dark sesame
2t minced garlic
5 green onions cut into 1 inch pieces
1 lb flank steak cut into thin strips
1/4 c water
2 T soy sauce
1 T and 1 t cornstarch
2 t crushed red pepper
2 t brown sugar

Mix water and next four ingredients and set aside. Heat oil over medium heat, add garlic, green onions and cook stirring frequently. Add beef and cook. Add mixture until thick - only a few seconds. Serve over jasmine rice.
  It is 234 calories, 11g fat, 25.4 protein, 637g carbs 335 mg sodium without broccoli and rice.

 This dish is fantastic and it cooks up quick.

weekend stuff

Hello!
Hope you all had a good weekend. Mine was good!! Started off good with some fun stuff I ordered from 123Stitch I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting packages!!

2012 Prairie Schooler Santa, Little Sheep Virtue - Hope, Autumn Bliss by Bent Creek

Friday we went out on our Valentine's Date. We ate at the Vietnamese Cafe - we love this place!! I had the combo noodle bowl mmmm Scott had curry seafood - so tasty!! We went and saw Identity Thief  - love it!! It is pretty entertaining. We had a nice date - that Scott is fun to go out with!! 

Happy Valentines Day! 

Saturday was lovely - snowed a little, I sat in my pjs, stitching all day, drinking tea - perfect right!!  Scott made homemade bread - fantastic! He also made cherry cobbler with walnuts, oats and cherries left over from our tipsy cherry pitting day! It was delicious served with ice cream! I put a bag of pinto beans in the crock pot with a piece of salt pork and it cooked all day. We eat it with green chilies, cheese and tortillas - great for a snowy day!

homemade bread 

cherry cobbler 

I slept most of Sunday away and stitched some more. I am really making progress on Victoria Sampler Jingle Bells Tree Farm just have the bottom section to do. Scott made another frame. This time it was for Mosey N Me - the key to Christmas that I just finished - looks fabulous!!! I love the barn wood!!

Only two people signed up for the give-away. The person who won has not contacted me - how long do I wait before I just give it to the other person who signed up?  I guess there will be no more of that give-away nonsense. 

That's it folks - weekend is over and it's time to get back to work. Stay tuned for some cooking stuff. Have a good week!

Cooking

I only cooked once this weekend. We ate out two nights!! We had Super Bowl junk one night - baaad!! I made a new recipe that I really like - Scott and Ryder liked it too. I got it from online - Emily Bites. I think they would be good with chicken or beef in them - it would raise the points but it might be worth it because it might make them more filling. If you try them let me know what you think!!

Hello

Howdy folks,
Hope you all had a nice weekend! I had a good weekend. On Thursday I slept 4 hours after work. Got my stitches out - woo hoo!! Looks good - will look better as the days go by. I did all my boring house cleaning and grocery shopping. Scott and I went to eat at Sweet Tomatoes - it made Scott sick. He was sick all Friday with a stomach ache. Poor guy. 
On Friday I put together a letterboxing day for us in Boulder. So we went letterboxing on Saturday! Let me say this about Boulder people - they are fecally irresponsible - dog poo every place on trails. Some of them pick it up and leave the bags on the trail - niiice. Plus - trails in Boulder are dogs on leash - but these jerks have theirs off leash and they just let their stinky ugly dogs come right over and sniff you - rude! Next time I am taking my kids - I will make them poop on the trail and approach every person they see and get in their space. I'm sure my kids wont go for this - maybe a cattle prod would be more effective anyway. 

We hiked this one hike (can't tell you where - secret!) I thought I was gonna DIE. It was 1.15 miles to where we needed to be - when we got there the thing we were after was frozen to the ground and could not be budged. I was so mad. It takes a lot to get this large woman up a steep trail for 1.15 miles!! I think it has a 2500 foot gain - but we didn't go all the way to the top, so I can't take credit for the whole gain. Today I am sore - for nothing I might add. I did find a fun app for my droid - Runkeeper. It tells you how far you have gone, how long it is taking, estimated time for a mile and calories burned. So I can tell you that it took us 1:04:04 hours to make a 2.32 mile round trip and I burned 411 calories. Cool - right! I am sure I will use it again. We now have found 795 boxes!! 

I love that man!

We went to Lollicup - LOVE IT!! I got almond milk tea with green apple jelly and Scott got a peach snow. We ate some dumplings but they are not worth mentioning. The drinks are so fun!! The green apple jelly was so flavorful! I want to go there all the time!!

Fun drinks!

big straws - so you can "drink" the jelly!

I finally got the "craft packs' ready - by that I mean I have a calendar and I am trying to make sure I do all my crafts in a week so they all get done eventually, because.... I would never finish the knitting project I have started if I never get to it so I have c1 which is the cross stitch I am always working on, c2 knit or crochet, c3 hand quilting. c4 my huge Santa project. and c5 the quilt on the rack. I try to get all five in on one week then I have two "free" days and I can work on any of the packs. Yeah - anal I know. I also have one for working out - w1 elliptical  w2 treadmill, w3 yoga, w4 bike and w5 weights because hiking makes me realize that just doing the elliptical is not enough - my legs hurt like hell. Gotta get this stuff done.

  On Sunday I put a new quilt on my rack. My Gram made this - don't know the name of the pattern but I will try to find it. She did such beautiful work I hope I don't ruin it with my quilting!! 

I put my buttons in a cute container

I tried to figure out what these pieces go to - I got a lot of my Gram's quilt things after she left us. Problem is they have been coming to me in small batches for the last ten years - with no matching fabric or pattern. I am not creative enough to just make stuff - I have to follow a pattern. 

Here is something I got of hers once - I had the fabric for it too but could not find the pattern - the small plain white triangles in the corners of the dark blue make it not match any pattern anywhere. So, I just made a single wall quilt - pretty!

and I Valentined the door to my craft room! Yes, I left the crow on there - love it! 

Don't forget to look at our new listings on ebay  stb90125 That is all. I am back at work. Hope you have a lovely dog poo free week!!

Winner!!

Linda you are the lucky winner - please send me an address and i will mail it to you!!

Cooking

I posted this recipe before but it got deleted. So here it is again and I even found the original post.
I used *gasp* canned pumpkin.I used pecans instead of pumpkin seeds and whipped cream instead of mascapone. Fantastic!!
Pumpkin Bread Pudding