Butterfly Jungle

To Pupate

2011-12-11T18:51:00.001-05:00

pupate: Verb 1. pupate - develop into a pupa; "the insect larva pupate" -come to have or undergo a change So that's where things stand right now. I am entering a season of change, a time of growth and transformation. I don't mean to be vague or mysterious but I find that it's simply too difficult to share. I wonder if caterpillars know that someday they will be a butterfly? I wonder if

Thankful

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Source This saying has been popping up on Pinterest lately and I've been trying to keep it in mind on a daily basis. We get so busy at our house trying to get through one thing in order to get to the next that I often whip through many of my daily tasks by rote without thinking much. Unfortunately, that sometimes includes my daily prayers. It's not that I don't recognize the ways I've

Pipe-Cleaner Christmas Trees

2011-11-23T11:59:00.000-05:00

I never planned on such an early Christmas post but like it or not, Christmas is barreling down on us. I hate that I think of it that way sometimes but I not only have a personal Christmas, I also have Christmas at work- more trees and decorations, more food and festivities, more hustle and bustle. Any time I can cut the work load without sacrificing the holiday spirit- I'm all for it.

Chrysalis- and I Don't Mean Me

2011-11-09T11:51:00.002-05:00

I just finished reading Chrysalis: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets of Metamorphosis by Kim Todd. Maria Merian was born in Frankfurt, Germany and grew up in the family publishing business. Her artistic talents were encouraged and nurtured almost from the day she could hold a paint brush. Ms. Merian was also fascinated by butterflies, moths, caterpillars, and metamorphosis. As a

Terra Cotta Goodie Pumpkins

2011-10-27T14:22:00.000-04:00

OK, so I was a bit pre-mature with my last post when I stated that it was my token, thereby meaning "only", Halloween post. Just wanted to quickly share these little pumpkin goodie "bags" I made to take to work on Monday for our little staff shin-dig. These are made with the two smallest terra cotta clay pots- 1 1/2" and 2 1/2". Paint them orange and black or use chalkboard paint, which I

This Year's Token Halloween Post

2011-10-23T23:30:00.002-04:00

OK, here it is- this year's Halloween post. While I've been doing some fun cute things at work with my patients for Halloween, those activities don't really fit in here for a variety of reasons, and there just hasn't been much in the way of spare time for me to work on anything for The Jungle. Except for this funky candle holder. This was supposed to be a tutorial today but when I went

October- Opalicious Opulence

2011-10-12T21:01:00.001-04:00

Image via List-of-Birthstones.com Image by Striving To A Goal via Flickr Image via James Alfredson Victorian Era Solid Jelly Opal Locket In Gold Setting- $14,999 Image via Estate Fine Jewelry Something a bit different this month for our birthstone. Unlike most birthstones, opals are not a mineral but rather are a mineraloid, which do not have a crystalline

Chuy's Creamy Jalapeno Dip. Maybe.

2011-09-30T11:06:00.003-04:00

Image via BBC News Way back in the Miami Vice days of the mid- 80's, I spent plenty of time at the original Chuy's Mexican Restaurant in Austin, Texas on Barton Springs Road. I was working for the city Parks Department and our office was in Zilker Park, just up the road from Chuy's. Great margaritas. Fabulous chili rellenos- my favorite, though the Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom was pretty

No Bake Heaven

2011-09-25T21:30:00.002-04:00

OK- I'm a sucker for chocolate cookies and bars. Honestly, cookies are my very favorite dessert. Right after ice cream. But ice cream is in a class all of its own and should always be understood, when speaking to me or to anyone from whom I am biologically descended, to be THE dessert of choice. But after ice cream, when we come back down to the mortal plane, are cookies. Homemade cookies-

The King of Butterflies

2011-09-17T22:50:00.000-04:00

Image by Tim Hamilton via Flickr It's been since July that we've taken a look at a butterfly so we're long overdue. We all know this beauty. The king of butterflies, as it's been called, the monarch. Or The Monarch, Danaus plexippus. The Monarch Butterfly was discovered and named in 1874 by Samuel H. Scudder and has become widely known for its incredible migration. But it isn't

Sapphires of September

2011-09-12T21:40:00.000-04:00

Image via Simply Gemstones Kashmir Sapphires Image via Palagems The Hall Necklace- 195 carats of sapphire Currently at Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the Smithsonian Image via DCPages Image via GemSelect Hey, wait a minute! What are those fancy colored stones doing in September's Sapphire post? Well, it turns out that

Ten Years

2011-09-11T09:05:00.000-04:00

Image via Our English I was at work that beautiful early autumn Tuesday. The skies were clear as crystal here on the east coast. We watched the events of that day unfold with our patients. Some of us gathered in one gentleman's room, watching the television and discussing how anyone could accidentally hit the Trade Center. We were hoping it was an accident. Then we saw the second plane

Say Something Nice & Then Play Some Music

2011-09-07T22:17:00.001-04:00

I don't know, September has been odd. I've been soooo busy with soooo many projects. I started off the Labor Day weekend by sleeping for 15 hours straight. It was glorious, let me tell ya, but I've been completely out of sync until yesterday. I think it was yesterday. Was that Tuesday? Anyway, I thought about posting today with a "See ya in a few weeks when I get it together" message but I just

So What About The Bowl?

2011-08-31T06:00:00.002-04:00

We found this lamp in one of the (now burned to ashes) sheds after we bought our old farm place. I know nothing about milk glass other than it comes in other colors besides white and sometimes has hobnails. Our lamp is wired for electric so I'm not going to go out on a limb and call it a rare, very old piece other than the previous owners of our farmhouse seemed to have been pack-rats

It's Summer So It's Slaw

2011-08-28T06:00:00.010-04:00

I'm not so much a fan of most mayo-based cole slaws because it's so easy to go way overboard with the mayo. I like just enough mayo to hold things together a bit. I don't like my cabbage doin' the backstroke in mayonnaise while I'm trying to eat it. With all due respect and acknowledging that we all have our own foodie quirks, no, I wouldn't eat this- I just can't get past all that mayo.

Sinister Things Going On At Our House

2011-08-25T06:00:00.002-04:00

We live in this really old beat up antique house. It's an old farmhouse, soon 200 years old. We've done a tremendous amount of work on this house- nothing fancy or elaborate mind you, just trying to get it up to date. Have you wired a 200 year old house for modern living, which includes Internet and more than one outlet per room? Shesh! One thing, however, (OK, not the only thing) that we have

Starfish Suncatchers

2011-08-21T06:00:00.004-04:00

Sorry about the wonky colors and photos in this post. I just couldn't get them right. Every now and then I get on a Shrinky Dinks kick and I must be entering one of those phases now because I keep thinking of ways to fool around with Shrinky Dinks. I came up with this Star Fish Sun Catcher after seeing a post about star fish. This project was originally made for The Creativity Greenhouse,

Dala Delights

2011-08-14T18:15:00.000-04:00

I do hope that you've had a chance to visit the Flickr Group for the Dala Horse Craftalong. So many equine beauties! Look for the Dala Horse Craftalong button in the sidebar to the right, give it a click, and prepare for a feast of crafty delights. The Craftlong ends on August 21st but you can continue to add photos to the group after that. I love Dala Horses. They have such great history and a

Sweet Basil- A Bit On The Wrists, A Dab Behind The Ears

2011-08-12T06:00:00.002-04:00

It just looks so sweet when you walk into the room. My mom always, and I mean always, has a simple arrangement on her kitchen table. Not usually too fancy, just something that highlights the actual flower, not the arrangement. And once you "Ooh" and "Aww" over the flowers, you step back and say, "You know, that's a precious arrangement you've got going there." This summer she seems to be

Summer Green of August- Peridot

2011-08-08T06:00:00.001-04:00

Image via Just Gemstones Image via PalaGems Image via Rose Diamonds Peridot. Per'i-dot or pear-a-doe, either one is used, the former probably the correct pronunciation, the later having come into common enough usage to be included in several dictionaries and other reference materials. It is mentioned in the Bible as Chrysolite, the seventh stone in the foundation of the

Carina's Dala Horse CraftAlong

2011-08-04T06:00:00.016-04:00

I jumped in with both feet, or maybe that's with all four hooves, after seeing the Dala Horse Craftalong over on Carina's Craftblog. Image via Carina's Craftblog Carina, along with Hanna (iHanna), Kathryn (The Pickled Herring) and Pam (Gingerbread Snowflakes), are running a Dala Horse Craftalong through August 21st. Go immediately to Carina's post here for the details and/or click on

Blueberry Zucchini Heaven

2011-08-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

When I taste tested this bread, right out of the oven, I wasn't so sure the recipe, from All Recipes, was going to be a keeper. But we'll get into that in a minute. Click over to the recipe at allrecipes.com for the instructions. The ingredients are pretty straight forward- the usual bread ingredients plus our zucchini and blueberries. I did add about a half a cup of walnuts. Does that mean I

Music All Around Us- Guitar Strings

2011-07-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

Photo by Joey DiMuli via 365 Project I've been coming across all kinds of music videos and posts lately about unexpected places we find or are inspired to create music, unusual interpretations or use of music, and just raw musical talent, both in plain view and hidden in surprising places/people. Photo via Piano Playing Info I took piano for years and while I'm slowly descending

It Wasn't Just Hitler

2011-07-26T06:00:00.002-04:00

(Warning- this post is for history buffs. There are no cute crafts, sinfully yummy recipes, or whimsical reminiscences. Not even any butterflies. Sorry, but History is what I read and like to share. Expect more. You've been warned.) Finished this book lthe other night. In 1933, William Dodd became the US Ambassador to Germany. In The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson follows Dodd's first year

It's Too Hot To Make A Margarita

2011-07-26T05:29:00.000-04:00

Boy! Have we been having some stinking hot weather! So when it gets really hot, I start thinking about margaritas. Photo by Lumiago via Flickr No, not Margarita daisies, though that does remind me that I need to get out and do some trimming. It also makes me remember that the nurse on duty when I had my Zippy was named Margarita. What a coincidence because that's how I got in that shape

Lemonade Season

2011-07-23T06:00:00.003-04:00

Image via That's My Letter Jaime over at That's My Letter recently shared how she made this lovely lemonade sign, above, for her Etsy shop. It's an easy to follow tutorial and the sign really is a cutie. It got me thinking back to when my Zippy was a kid (more of a kid than she is now- growing up so quickly). We talked every summer about having a Sunflower and Lemonade stand. We planned to

Piano Key Butterfly

2011-07-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

Photo via ImageKind A secret joy of mine is to play the piano late at night when no one is at home. I especially love to do so in the summer, with the windows open. I sweat and drip all over the keys and as soon as I hear a car pull into the driveway the private concert is over. I stumbled across the Piano Key Butterfly the other day and now I will think of them every time I'm pounding

Full of Grace

2011-07-17T13:12:00.000-04:00

Do you remember this pitiful, dirty, wormy little German Shep-Black Lab mix of a runt? This is the photo her owner texted me when I called about the free puppies. Can you see the sadness in her eyes? Even cleaned up the day we brought her home, she was still pretty pitiful. It's been a long time since I've worried about a puppy as much as I worried about her those first few days. Five weeks

Padpa .. what?

2011-07-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

In this month's birthstone post about rubies, something was mentioned, only once, in passing, that I would like to re-visit. Of course I had to check this out when I first saw it mentioned while researching rubies since it was bling I had never heard of before. So let me introduce you to a very beautiful chunk of corundum by saying ... Image via The Natural Sapphire Company Oh look!

And Flowers Too

2011-07-08T09:52:00.000-04:00

I am so thrilled to have been featured again on the Crafty Crow, this time in their Fourth of July Round-Up with the Fireworks T-Shirts we made last year. I love each and every one of the comments that have been coming in and am so glad that so many of you had a great time doing this project with your kids. Click here to jump over to that post to get the low down and the "How To". Dawnetta sent

July Rubies- It's All About Red

2011-07-06T07:46:00.000-04:00

Image via FAQS Once, when Zippy was maybe 4 years old, I was telling her about how I had swallowed a ladybug in my orange juice one morning while she was still in my tummy. Immediately, my Zippy Extraordinaire put things together and figured out that must be the reason her favorite color is red. Red has always been her Number One color, which is super handy since July's sassy red Ruby is

Allegiance

2011-07-04T14:11:00.000-04:00

I loved the Red Skelton Show when I was a kid. I realize that dates me, but he was just so silly and goofy, how could you not like him? Now I have a kid who is equally silly and goofy, whose favorite color is red. I like that. Anyway, that's all to introduce this video. Red Skelton at his best. A great big ol' goof ball who comes out of the blue with heartfelt sincerity. Perhaps we've given

July 2nd- A Good Day For Love

2011-07-02T06:00:00.004-04:00

This post will be similar to last year's anniversary post without all the pictures. Today is the 17th anniversary of the best decision I ever made in my life. Oh, I've made some poor choices in my day, but saying "Yes" to Big 'Un was The Best Choice I've ever made. (I call him Big 'Un because you notice I'm standing on the step above him. Farm fed) But today, as we head out, I'm thinking about

Bing! Went The Strings Of My Heart

2011-07-01T06:00:00.015-04:00

It's Fruity Fun Friday and today my heart strings are all about Bing Cherries. Mmmm... We recently scored some Bing Cheeries from Mountain Valley Orchards while on a trip. It's a sweet little farm market in Cavetown, PA specializing in fruit and fresh produce as well as some herbs and baked goods. We stopped by early in the morning on our way home so we had our pick of all the day's

Paper strip Collages

2011-06-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

Way back last May (already!), one of my very first posts on The Butterfly Jungle was a test post. I knew no one was listening and I was mainly just playing and experimenting. Actually, that's what The Butterfly Jungle is for me: playing, experimenting, sharing, goofing around. It's not my vocation, it's one of many avocations. Anyway, if you've clicked over to that post you know that I was

Hummus Among Us- Black Bean Hummus

2011-06-24T06:00:00.004-04:00

The other day I was talking to a lovely woman from Lebanon and naturally we were soon talking about food. She is such a genteel soul, one of those people who are classy without ever trying, but she was clearly, in the most ladylike manner, disgusted with me for not making my hummus by first soaking the dry garbanzos, then cooking, etc. She assured me several times that it is easy to do, which

100 years of Silence- The Yellow-Crested Spangle

2011-06-21T06:00:00.002-04:00

Well, this is The Butterfly Jungle, a place to celebrate beauty and surprises in life, so I thought it would be fun to periodically post a quick feature about one of our beautiful winged Lepidoptera wonders- common, rare, striking, beautiful, simple, huge, tiny. And what a better way to kick things off with a bit a joyful news, a butterfly that was sighted in 2009 after a 100 year absence. I give

Ah, The Pearl - June

2011-06-17T12:39:00.001-04:00

Image via Akoya Pearl Image via Shreve, Crump, & Low Look how beautifully the pearls in this brooch are graduated. Image via Bijouterie Sudha Can you just imagine the first guy to crack open a mollusk and find a pearl? I'm sure he was mystified as well as enchanted. I've always felt a bit of an attachment to pearls. As a kid, we used to pry open freshwater mussels

Be Still My Reading Heart

2011-06-10T10:14:00.000-04:00

Image via Fotocommunity.de I let out an audible gasp when I stumbled upon this picture. My first thought, after I started breathing again, was "You wouldn't see me for days." Photo by sendung via Flickr From what I've been able to discover, this is the central reading room of the study center at the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar, Germany. One million volumes. Just sharing.

Periodic Table Of Sewing

2011-06-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

Image by The Scientific Seamstress In my heart of heart, once everything else is said and done, I am a sewer. Not a seamstress, not an amazing creative force with fabric and a Janome-- just a sewer. I go off on tangents and love to explore new creative outlets, try out cool new projects, techniques, and possibilities. But at the end of the day, or week, or month (because sometimes it's a good

Oh Look- Peonies!

2011-06-04T06:57:00.000-04:00

We are finally getting some spring weather, though the early part of this week was more like full-on summer. But hey- I'm not complaining. The pool is full, the rain has stopped- along with the thunder, lightning, hail and 60 mile-a-hour winds- and the peonies are all decked out in their ruffles and petticoats. There were plenty of flowers in our yard when we bought the house fifteen years

It's Puppy Love

2011-05-25T20:13:00.001-04:00

Image via Healthy Pet Food Guide She was supposed to be a German Shepherd. I mean, just look at that gorgeous dog. I have long told myself that my next dog, and she would be MY dog, was going to be a German Shepherd. Female. I already have her wonderful name picked out, for goodness sakes! After my beloved Senor Poquito passed away last fall, I was surprised by how much I missed that cranky

It's A Butterfly Birthday!

2011-05-24T06:00:00.004-04:00

Image via Wordlicious The Butterfly Jungle is one year old today! Wow- that hardly seems possible. I had hoped to have a nice birthday cake recipe to share with some really neat chocolate lace butterflies I found but life gets busy and suddenly I slapped myself on the forehead and exclaimed, "Oh, man! Tomorrow's the birthday." So I'm simply not going to sweat it. We'll catch up later,

Precious Fruit Salad

2011-05-14T22:13:00.000-04:00

It's been some time since I've posted a Fruity Fun Friday and even though today is Saturday, let's go with it. I was in the produce section of the grocery store this past week and I guess it was the one day of sun we've had since March but I was feeling all spring-y. The outcome of that was that I was throwing fruit into my cart like a greedy, gluttonous maniac. Oh, we like fruit at our house

Ramps

2011-05-08T17:04:00.000-04:00

Photo by beautifulcataya via Flickr When I moved to this part of the world many years ago, I went backpacking that first spring with a college church group that I had joined. We hiked out pretty far that first day, up and down the hills, and spent a very windy night in our tents. I had heard a few comments about "getting to the ramps tomorrow" and figured it was some sort of

May Emeralds, "Nothing Gets Greener"

2011-05-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

Image via Mad Mariner Hooker Emerald Brooch, set by Tiffany. 75.47 carats Image via Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 17th century carved emerald and diamond brooch.Image via Palagems The Chalk Emerald, 37.8 carats. Considered one of the world's finest emeralds due to it incredible clarity and color. Image via Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Hm

Happy May Day

2011-05-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

1. Maypole, 2. May Day in Annapolis, 2009, 3. Maybe, 4. Maypole May 1st is May Day! I'm not talking about the politicized holiday of organized labor and not even so much the pre-Christian, neo-pagan, Celtic, or Druid festivals. No, I'm talking about just silly dancing and being happy that it looks like spring may actually happen. We've had a pretty rough April weather-wise and I'm hoping and

Plates From An Old Bible- The Easter Story

2011-04-23T22:06:00.000-04:00

When we moved into our house fifteen years ago, we found a small trunk full of books out in the barn. OK- it was more of a shed but for some reason we called it the barn. Wishful thinking maybe. Anyway, the books dated from the mid 1800's and most were in pretty bad shape: tattered, mouse eaten, rain soaked. It really broke my heart as that's the kind of thing I love to stumble upon. We

April Diamonds. The Queen of Bling

2011-04-15T16:38:00.000-04:00

Via Yale Jewelers Not bad for crystallized carbon, eh? You know, carbon- the same stuff we burn as fuel. Via Clean Technica OK, that's only technically true so I'll clear up the little myth that coal becomes diamonds. I live in a coal-producing region, so trust me, I checked this out because how cool would it be to till up a big honkin' diamond while working in the garden? Coal

Good-bye Sweet Carbs

2011-03-19T06:00:00.006-04:00

Can I even describe what a bummer it is to get discouraging lab results back right smack dab in the middle of the holidays? By Brit Abroad in USA Triglycerides. The Curse of my family tree for generations. Some in my family have "elevated" triglyceride levels, some have "high" levels. Some of the lucky family tree climbers have "very high" triglyceride levels, meaning greater than 500.

Lamp Shade Graffiti

2011-03-16T12:46:00.001-04:00

I was messing around in the Family Waiting Area at work the other day-- just straightening things up so it would look nice. It's not a fancy little room but it's a good place for families to have some quiet and privacy. Or a quick nap. Anyway, I was sorting and stacking the magazines on the end tables when I noticed one of the lampshades. Someone had drawn a design over the entire surface of

A Rainbow of Your Own

2011-03-09T14:05:00.000-05:00

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day- a rainbow for that pot of gold. I was brainstorming St. Patrick's Day projects at work one day and I wanted something that was colorful and not green. It's been a long, gray winter in my next of the woods so colorful was a high priority. I keep a stash of terra cotta pots on hand and as I stood looking at them in my craft closet the whole thing sort of

March Bling- Aquamarine

2011-03-05T16:57:00.000-05:00

Via GemStoneStories Today we are going to have a lesson in Latin. They don't teach Latin as much in school any more so this is our chance. "Aqua"- water"Mare"- sea Aquamarine- "Water of the Sea" Seriously, what other Latin do you really need to know? If you are a March baby in search of a birthstone or if your 18th wedding anniversary is approaching, you just march (ah ha!- no pun

Knifty Flowers

2011-02-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Last time I shared my fun and adventures with becoming a knitter. Well- OK, with learning how to cheat at knitting with a neat-o gadget called the Knifty Knitter. Today we're going to look at the Knifty Knitter gadget for making flowers. I originally assumed that this was to be used with yarn but the directions that come with it say to use raffia. No raffia in the house so ribbon was the

Knifty Knitter

2011-02-21T06:00:00.005-05:00

By aspenmoonarts via Flickr My sister is a fabulous knitter. I'm a knotter and I'm knot (! ah ha ha) kidding. I've fooled around with crochet a bit (bless my Grandma's heart for patiently showing me the basics way back when) and that goes a bit better for me since there's only one implement. Knitting has two implements, which means more things with which to stab myself. Don't get me wrong- I

Signs of Spring

2011-02-18T22:26:00.000-05:00

Well, so far 2011 has been crazy! Beginning in January, I was sick with a respiratory infection, then a sinus infection, then a gastro-intestinal malady that was so horrific we aren't even going to go into details. I didn't realize how physically bad I felt until last week when I finally seemed to have regained most of my vigor. It feels so good to feel good that not even the last bit of that

My Token Valentine Post- sort of

2011-02-12T00:04:00.003-05:00

Look at that magnificent under bite. This is Remy, my daughter's two and a half year old Rat Terrier. Ratties are an American breed, popular in the first half of the 1900's. Bred from a mix of strong, fast hunting dogs with good sniffers, Rat Terriers were used to control the rodent population on farms. They mostly lived in the barn and for a while, your farm wasn't a farm if you didn't have

Granola Brittle

2011-02-09T06:00:00.004-05:00

OK, I have to say that the first time I saw Granola Brittle in the grocery store I was a little confused. Not only did it come in one of those plain plastic containers, vaguely like the suet containers, it seemed to have a good bit of what I swear was millet. So even though I bought some to try, I thought it might actually be intended for feeding birds. Especially after I ate some. It was OK

If A Dog Were Your Teacher

2011-02-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

If a dog were your teacher, you would learn stuff like: When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. by carolvinzant via Flickr Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. by jmtimages via Flickr Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience. Let others know when they’ve invaded your

February Bling- It's Amethyst!

2011-02-02T06:13:00.000-05:00

by opacity via Flickr Oh my.... how gorgeous can you get? The Amethyst was adopted as the official birthstone of February in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers. It is may also be given for the 4th, 6th, and 17th wedding anniversary. If you need an excuse. Via Fairchild & Co. Amethyst is quartz. We learned last month that January's garnet can be found in a

Our Elusive Barn Owl

2011-01-29T11:56:00.000-05:00

If this is your image, please let me know immediately so I can credit you. It's awesome. I saw it! I finally saw it! via National Wildlife Federation And just in time for Valentine's Day, with it's beautiful heart-shaped face. by Brian Scott via Flickr I have been hearing this gorgeous bird's eerie shriek off and on since before Christmas, usually in the pre-dawn hours when I

Tortellini Spinach Casserole- Mmmm

2011-01-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

OK- I'll just let you think that this is the sensibly sized serving of Tortellini Spinach Casserole that I usually eat. Oh baby is this casserole a little slice (or big helping) of heaven. No, I do not remember where I originally got this recipe but a quick Internet search brought me to Taste of Home and the exact same recipe. So we'll give them the credit and you can click here to go check it

Colonel Mustard On The Chest With A Poultice

2011-01-20T14:42:00.000-05:00

My husband has been is heaven the past couple of days. I've been a coughing maniac and have lost 100% of my voice. I mean absolutely 100% - not one croak left in my throat. It just doesn't have the same effect to stand there mouthing up a storm with only an occasional squeal to get Big Un's attention. Takes the joy right out of a good nagging. Kidding, I try not to do that though I suppose some

Oh Look- A Strandbeest

2011-01-15T09:57:00.000-05:00

I have decided that Engineers are really cool people. Dream it up, figure it out, and make it- even if it's outrageous. When you throw in a good helping of creativity and a wild imagination, iced with the sweet frosting of passion, well, you get Theo Jansen... by JulianBleecker via Flickr ... and his Strandbeests. Animaris Umerus - Part 2 from Alexander Schlichter on Vimeo. Must.

Franken-rasers

2011-01-10T06:00:00.003-05:00

It's just an eraser. Right? I mean, what can you do with an eraser? Well, you can erase things of course. And ..... um..... ...um, you can... um... Well, if you're a rather creative Tween with a good imagination, strong engineering skills, and patience for little diddling work, you can ... Franken-Raser ! Beginning in Kindergarten, Zippy used to regularly bring home erasers that were

Bling! January- Garnet

2011-01-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

SheKnows.com Oh so sparkly and pretty! I'm sure this has been done but I thought it would be fun to take a peek at the birthstone for each month as we move through 2011. I'm not a gemologist or an amateur jeweller (so our peek will be pretty basic). I just like sparkly things! There is a great deal of folklore and history and personal significance connected to birthstones. Those things are

Interior Storm Windows

2011-01-03T06:00:00.005-05:00

via Sciencephoto.org We've all seen those thermo heat loss images that show how a home transfers heat from the inside to the outside. The idea is to show us places in a home where heat is leaking away from us and into the cold winter night so we can plug those leaky areas in order to save on our energy costs. The more blue and green an image is, the better that home is keeping the heat

New Year's Resolution

2010-12-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

The top New Year's Resolutions, year after year, according to USA.gov, are: •Drink Less Alcohol •Get a Better Education •Get a Better Job •Get Fit •Lose Weight

Lefsa

2010-12-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

When a load of potatoes are put on to boil in my mother's kitchen and the lefsa griddle comes out, you know it's beginning to look alot like Christmas. Though lefsa is eaten year round, for us, and many Norwegian-American families, it's an annual Christmas season tradition to gather in someone's kitchen and make lefsa. It's a relaxing afternoon because there is a certain amount of time spent

Mamie Eisenhower's Fudge

2010-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

I've seen Mamie's Fudge, Million Dollar Fudge, Crazy Mamie's Fudge, all sorts of names. There are also several different recipes under each name. After a bit of Internet research, seems that this particular recipe is Mamie Eisenhower's recipe, or is attributed to her. Where she got it from is anybody's guess. I found the recipe in a magazine several years back but it is also in the Eisenhower

Count Down Calendar (Advent Calendar)

2010-12-11T06:00:00.005-05:00

Are we there yet? Can't you just remember how when you were a kid it seemed as though Christmas would never, I mean NEVER, arrive? I swear, counting the days until Christmas- several times a day- was how my Zippy learned to count. Here's a Countdown Calendar project to get your little Santa's Helpers in on the act. This can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like for it to be. Start

Fruktsuppe - Norwegian Fruit Soup

2010-12-09T06:00:00.009-05:00

Yes, Virginia, there is a Fruit Soup. And it's delicious. Norwegian Fruit Soup is a warm soup based on dried fruits. Yes, I meant to say "warm." There are as many recipes for Fruit Soup as there are Norwegian families. But ours is the right one! Just kidding. Some of the recipes seem strange and unappetizing to me, that's true, but it's mainly because I've never tried them. Some recipes look

Oh Look- A Snowflake!

2010-12-06T06:00:00.005-05:00

by Gwen<3you via Flickr Creative Commons We've had snow most of this past week. Nothing like last year's relentless battering, just a scrubby snow. Daily, steady, maybe an inch of accumulation before it blows away. If you haven't gotten any snow, go to the Get Flurrious website. I love those online snowflake sites but this one is my latest favorite. The site was created as a fundraiser for

Under The Weather, Just Enough

2010-12-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

by candyls via Flickr Creative Commons OK, I'm coming- just a minute. Why is it that we always get a bug when we're the busiest? I've been down the last couple of days or so with a strange and relentless tummy bug. I've spent my evenings curled up under the covers with a cup of hot tea instead of working on wonderful Christmas crafty things. Not too sick to go to work or limp

A Question About Deer Hunting

2010-11-29T06:00:00.003-05:00

by thekevinchang via Flickr So, being the first Monday after Thanksgiving, it's deer season here in my neck of the woods. We'll wear orange for the next couple of weeks when working outside or taking the daily walk. by Brad Trump Photography via Flickr I'm not really a big fan of guns. I'm not anti-gun and I understand that some folks like to shoot some target on occasion or put meat in

Thanksgiving Centerpiece

2010-11-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

We have a nice Thanksgiving meal each year where I work and these pics are of last year's centerpiece. We used five square tables lined up so it looks like a long banquet table. These pictures aren't the best as they were taken with my iphone. I spray painted some of those foam craft pumpkins from the Dollar Tree silver and cut out some "thankful" phrases from heavy silvery paper using my

Paula Deen Is Trying To Kill Us

2010-11-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

from PaulaDeen.com Isn't she so sweet and cute, all smiles and southern charm?NO- don't be fooled! I don't care how much she looks like my friend Cheryl, Paula Deen is trying to kill us. But what a way to go. I came across her recipe for classic pumpkin pie on the Food Network website while looking for pumpkin roll filling recipes. This pie is full of fat and sugar and, of course, butter.

Turkey Cookies From Outer Space. Or Some Where.

2010-11-20T10:20:00.000-05:00

from Pillsbury.com OK, yes-- I'm probably the last person in the world to see these cute little Turkey Cookies. Click on the link under the photo to go to Pillsbury's page for the instructions and recipes. Anyway-- Zippy and I decided not to be the only people on the planet who missed the Turkey Cookie Boat so we gave it a go. Confession time- we used store bought sugar cookies instead of

I've Got Gas & I Couldn't Be Happier !!

2010-11-13T22:35:00.001-05:00

Oh wait-- let me explain... I've got propane gas and couldn't be happier. Our home has had natural gas service for decades. Once we replaced the original boiler, we've had little to no problems. Why replace the boiler, you ask? Prior to purchasing our home we had a home inspection done. The inspector took one look at the boiler and laughed. Apparently this old McKeesport Furnace boiler was

Getting Reved Up

2010-11-04T15:17:00.000-04:00

by Sebastein b. via Flickr What? It's November 4th? But, isn't it October something? Like October 4th? Amazing. by Peiro Sierra via Flickr First I would like to send a shout out to Pam at Gingerbread Snowflakes for including me in her post yesterday on all the great crafts and projects for the holiday season. Click here to go see all the fun. Thanks Pam! Is it approaching. Pam reminded me

Lady Bug Lady Bug - Get Out of My Home!

2010-11-01T06:00:00.003-04:00

by Luca5 via Flickr Creative Commons When we looked at our home, as potential buyers, on a very cold day in January, we saw a lady bug or two and gosh golly weren't they cute! by Mamboman1 via Flicker Creative Commons We looked at our house a second time and sure enough, there they were-- a couple cute lady bugs. OK, six-- but they're so cute. by Automania (Mike) via

The Scary Cat at Our House

2010-10-27T06:00:00.010-04:00

Smudge. She's the Alpha Dog at our house.Aloof but loving under her own terms.She can rub against our legs.When she feels like it. Sometimes we can pet her-on the head, behind the ears, but not the back.Sometimes she lets me pet her all the way down her tail,giving it a little twirl,but she better be in front of a full bowl of food when I do. Always maintain eye contact with her,so you can see

Chicken Dip

2010-10-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

I've always loved, and given a work out to, my big red crock pot. The past several weeks we've been without a source of gas for the stove (more on that in a few days) so the ol' crock pot has been doing extra duty. I was in a bit of a quandary when a recent family get together required my bringing a couple of dishes and someone had already signed up for veggie and fruit trays. Then I remembered

A New Project To Think About- Amen Sister!!

2010-10-23T06:00:00.001-04:00

Our church has been in the midst of a remodeling project this summer. New platform, choir risers, walnut paneling, stonework, audio-visual.... the works. New carpet is the next big thing to happen, beginning this week. But in order to put in new carpet, you have to unbolt and remove all the pews. And if you're taking out the pews, may as well go with new seating too. That means .... ... a mini

Halloween Candles, Take Two

2010-10-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I shared a tutorial for this little Mod Podge Halloween votive. After trying it out, I decided that it would be just a bit too "fiddly" for the patients that I have right now so I started pondering how to get a similar look that was a bit more straight forward. I started thinking about a post I had seen over the summer on Gingerbread Snowflakes about using Mod Podge and food coloring

Halloween Candles

2010-10-19T05:30:00.000-04:00

I was messing around trying to get a craft together for work the other day so I went with a tried and true project-- Mod Podge Anything! I know, this has been done- but I hadn't done it yet so away I went.. You need: Small roundish candle votive Orange tissue paper Mod Podge Black scrapbook or construction paper Glitter glue in a bottle with a tip Scissors Wax paper This perfectly shaped

Halloween Costumes on Parade

2010-10-17T06:00:00.008-04:00

When I was a kid, Halloween costumes were pretty much a cobbled together affair for most of us. Some kids got those flimsy printed jumpsuit things that they wore over their clothes, or maybe we scored one of those plastic face masks with elastic around the back of your head and cut out holes for your eyes and nose. Here are some photos I found on the web. These are Ben Cooper costumes. Ben Cooper

Smash Those Pumpkins

2010-10-16T06:00:00.005-04:00

I made these pink pumpkins for a breast cancer awareness display at work. I did a very quick count just now and came up with fourteen beautiful women whom I know who have battled breast cancer. Family, friends, co-workers. Not all of those fourteen women won their battle. So Save the Ta-Tas. Grammy Your Mammies. Smash Your Pumpkins. Do whatever it takes to equip yourself with the

It's Candy Corn Season! Yippee!

2010-10-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

I try to eat healthy. I really do. But I have a sweet tooth that just about busts out of my head, so it can be difficult at times. And candy corn- oh momma. Yes, these can make your teeth hurt if you eat more than five or six. There are very few things that I can't somehow manage to jam into a food group in order to justify eating it but candy corn is one of those things. Having a bag of candy

Senor Poquito- A Good Buddy

2010-10-11T06:00:00.007-04:00

We got Senor Poquito ("Mr. Little Bit") in March of 1998. We were told he was three weeks old and the mother had died three hours after delivering Pokey and two other pups. The owner was desperate to find homes for them. His eyes were open when we brought him home but if he was three weeks old it was just barely. We always thought something was a bit fishy about his story but there he was- cute

Paper Quilts

2010-10-06T15:17:00.000-04:00

Whether you like cooler weather or not, fall coming around the corner means one snuggly thing for certain- quilt season. I have been fortunate to receive a few old quilts, mostly made by my husband's grandmother, and love love love them. The quilts I really like are the ones that have been used and worn. Those frayed edges and pulled seams speak of years of warmth and comfort. I can just

Checking the Look- Need Your Comments

2010-10-01T10:37:00.006-04:00

NOTE- This is a post regarding a header that is no longer in use. But you can still check out my Dad's infared picture and then visit this post for the peach recipe! OK- before you move on down to the next part of today's post (yummy peaches!) please take a minute to ponder the new seasonal look here in the jungle, particularly the header. I'm thinking it's maybe too macabre. Maybe back in the

Fruity Fun Friday- Peaches

2010-10-01T06:00:00.011-04:00

Yea- Peaches! We've been getting some pretty nice peaches in the grocery store and I think I'm about to start growing fuzz since I've been eating so many. Peaches are actually available most of the year, depending on the variety. The third most popular fruit grown in the United States, peaches were first cultivated in China centuries ago where they were thought to endow longevity. Peaches were

Autumn Things and a Craft

2010-09-25T19:52:00.000-04:00

Well, it has begun. I noticed the first changing colors about two weeks ago. We've had a pretty dry summer so I'm not sure how our colors will be this year but no need to panic as here in my Zone 6 neck of the woods our peek colors are usually not until mid-October. Last year's colors were simply fantastic. All the elements were just right- plenty of rain, cool nights, and warm sunny days. I

Buzzard Sunday

2010-09-19T06:00:00.003-04:00

Sometimes you're in the right place at the right time and if you're really lucky you have your camera with you. Our home is on a "mostly straight" stretch of road in a rural area. Vehicles tend to travel much faster than they should. And because we are in a rural area we have tons of deer. Both ends of our property road frontage as well as a couple of places in between have heavily travelled

Treasures

2010-09-13T06:00:00.007-04:00

by Tasayu Tasnaphun via Flickr It's been a busy week with a crazy work schedule and the next few weeks look about the same. Even though I didn't get to any posts or fun projects this past week, I did manage to uncover some treasure. by opacity via Flickr I recently saw a collection of photos of the spaces where people blog. My first reaction to the group of photos as a whole was, with all

Grilled Angel Food Cake with Fruit Salsa

2010-09-04T14:55:00.000-04:00

OK- while we have the grill fired up for the Labor Day weekend, let's make this totally awesome dessert. Super easy-easy (my favorite kind) and delicious. There's a whole lot going on in your mouth when you eat this so get ready .... Ingredients: Angel food cake, made according to directions Pound cake can be used instead but isn't nearly as good. That's just a personal

Big Gas Beans

2010-09-03T18:28:00.003-04:00

By Su-Lin via Flickr Creative Commons Labor Day, the unofficial last weekend of summer, is almost upon us. Here's our chance to throw that last big cookout before fall starts to nudge in on our warm weather fun. I had to get the very lovely picnic photo above from Flickr (why don't my picnics look that cute?) as it turns out that the only cookout photos I have document last spring's demise of

Photo Challenge- Orange

2010-09-01T13:01:00.001-04:00

I issued myself another photo challenge a couple of weeks ago. At the time it seemed that selecting the color orange would be a tricky task but turns out not so much. The parameters of this challenge were simple. One- the subject had to be orange. Two- and here's where it got fun at times- I couldn't touch the object to photograph it. I could move over, under, and around it. I could change

Things That Made Me Smile- August

2010-08-28T09:54:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy week. No, I didn't get everything done and I worried about way too many things that are out of my control. But there were things this past week that brought a smile not just to my face but to my heart as well. Some were big things, most were small but they were each a nice little surprise to enjoy and cherish. Like a sudden butterfly. It's good to smile, on your face and in