Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorial Day and an Unexpected Bonfire

We celebrated Memorial Day in the usual way. Family, fun, food......and a bonfire.

It started out with a challenge. We decided to cook ribs, which I had never cooked before. I went to my favorite source of information, the Internet. Reading several recipes I learned that slow and low was the best way to go. (hey, that rhymes) I prepared the ribs as directed, set my grill to the right temp and placed them on the grill. Now, I over estimated how big my grill was and the three racks of ribs didn't fit. I placed one on the upper rack of the grill and two on the lower. Imagine my surprise, after a while, to find that the ribs I had placed on the upper rack were cooking perfectly while those on the bottom were still raw.


After two hours, the ribs on the upper rack were perfect, but the bottom two were still cooking too slow. I decided (because it was close to time to eat) it crank up the heat. When it was time to eat (we couldn't wait any longer) I pulled the "perfect" rack off thinking we would start with those, turned the heat back down, and put the other two racks on the top rack.
I believe it was no more than 15 minutes, from the time I put them on the top rack, to when I went to check them again. When I opened the grill, I saw nothing but flames. Sometimes, when you grill you have flare ups from the fat dripping down. This was expected, but it took a minute for my mind to process the fact that this wasn't a flare up in the bottom of the grill, the actual ribs were on FIRE!

One was singed a little, but this one, was a briquette~ Black and charcoal all over. I still can't imagine how, after turning down the heat and putting them on the top rack, this happened.

Ah well, we had one delicious rack of ribs, one that was so so and then this one. It added a little excitement and amusement to the day.
Funny side note: My oldest daughter's boyfriend came over later and ate some and took the rest home. Goes to show teenage boys will eat anything!


Saturday, May 23, 2009

Treasury Fun

This was inspired and mostly created by one of my daughters. She thought it would be fun to try so we searched and created together. I think it's pretty good. Though, when I checked the list this morning it was DEAD LAST in the list...lol. Oh well, it was fun to do with her. Maybe it'll spark some of that creativity lurking in her and she'll get some inspiration to create!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Second Treasury this Week


Okay, okay, I said I was going to feature my friends, but this time I wasn't totally altruistic. Although I didn't put any of my items (as if it would work) I was hoping to put together something timely so that it might have a chance of being FP material. I think it is, but, who can say? I'll share it with you, this may be the only way it gets seen...lol.


*oh wait, TenthStreetSaks is a friend...( the super toiletry bag second row, middle.) does that count?


**EDIT: after I posted this I went back to Etsy and, guess what, IT WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE! LOL too funny!!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

You Put the Lime in the Coconut......

My new goal is to try to make treasuries. I think it is an important tool to getting yourself seen and out there in the Etsy community. So far, I haven't been picked for many so I thought, why sit and wait..I'll make my own. Now I don't put my own items in a treasury (although I believe it is allowed to have one), instead of thinking of how I can be put in them, I'll highlight all my friends, favorites, and fun things I find. Do unto others kind of thing...it keeps the focus off of me.

So, this is my new one. Be sure to check out LindaGJ.etsy.com. She is ALWAYS including me in her treasuries supporting the Houston team. She does the cutest artwork featuring her little black and white kitty, Peanut. Also be sure to check out Burntmill.etsy.com. I use her soaps and they are amazing. I'm going to be ordering that lime/coconut soap as soon as the treasury expires (lol, don't want it to disappear out of there).

Other great shops owned by super people are LoveErica.etsy.com and Stavroula.etsy.com. Both are my chat buddies and are always charming, helpful and encouraging.

oh yea, and click on my treasury...help me support these great artists.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Afternoon Snack


Yummy treat~ Jealous?
I grew up with a Dad who always had a garden. Tomatoes were his thing. He would have normal tomato plants growing six and seven feet tall with more tomatoes that we and our neighbors and friends could eat. It was commonplace to go out in the garden with the salt shaker, pick a huge tomato and sit and eat it. Hot and fresh off the vine.
Well, this is hardly the size my dad grew (it being a grape tomato and all) it still tasted wonderful, right off the vine.

Monday, May 18, 2009

I love Picnik!


I love this feature in Picnic~ If you pay their $25.oo per year fee you get many more options for the collage...but this one works just fine.

Pictured clockwise:

Fly Lariat Necklace - sterling silver lariat necklace with a fine silver bird charm (made by me).

Marseilles Necklace with Vintage French Cabochons

Brocade Necklace - Fine Silver Antique Button Charm

Riviera Jeweled Necklace with Vintage French Cabochons (real French Vintage cabochons and a one of a kind necklace)

Ah, it's fun to do new things...

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Quiet and Calm Mother's Day? NO WAY!!!


This is how I spent my mothers day! I went to see the new Star Trek movie. Now, while I watched Star Trek re-runs as a kid I wouldn't call myself a die hard fan or Trekkie, but I really liked this movie. It was so exciting I found myself gripping the theater seat! Really! I even surprised myself.

It was fast, but not too complicated of a plot. The new characters had similarities to the old characters which made it fun for those of us who knew the old stuff (my kids didn't get it), but it was still brand new enough that if you had never seen a Star Trek episode you would know what was going on.

It was loud, fast and exciting. Just the way I would rather spend "my" day!

Oh, and Zachary Quinto...if you look past the eyebrows and funny haircut and ears...nice~ just sayin'

Saturday, May 9, 2009

New Treasury!


I'm in a new treasury~ yay. Thanks Linda! LindaGJ.etsy.com is such a great curator. She supports our Houston Mini Team with wonderful treasuries. I want to be like her someday and be a treasury hunter~
Check out this article I wrote about her on our Team blog.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Etsy Chatters Blog Giveaway!


Etsy Chatters Blog has reached 100 followers and now they want to thank you! They are giving away a $50 gift certificate to any shop on their list (mine included, yay~) to their readers. Go HERE to find out the details and how you can participate.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Pairing Old With New

While rooting through my pile of vintage broken jewelry I found two long strands of rosary chain. They were both dirty and yellowish, so I thought I'd see what potential they had. Wow! What amazing things I found under the dirt.

One had opaque glass beads (the one in the picture) and the other has very tiny freshwater pearls. At least I think they are, it's hard to know when its vintage.

So, for a new piece I have paired the old with the new. The longer strand is the vintage rosary chain with the opaque glass beads and the shorter is an oxidized sterling silver chain with a briolette wrapped in oxidized sterling silver wire. It's very pretty on...now if I can get my daughter to model it for me.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Pseudo Bucket List

I found this posted on this blog http://casualcottage.blogspot.com/ while I was blog surfing.
It's really interesting. The things in bold are things I have done. Feel free to copy and paste this list into your own blog and bold the items that you have done. Just the exercise of marking the things you've done is very eye opening.....there are alot of things I've never done!!Have fun with this.
1. Started your own blog (yay!)
2. Slept under the stars (grew up in N.M. camped all the time)
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (camping in NM)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (yep..)
7. Been to Disneyland/world (best vacation ever!)
8. Climbed a mountain (New Mexico, yay)
9. Held a praying mantis (loved bugs as a kid, NOT ANYMORE)
10. Sang a solo (when I was younger...not brave enough now)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (daily working on it)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (- tonite...ugh....)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (see earlier posts here)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight (shared a room with a little sister, of course I have)
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (why not? )
24. Built a snow fort (did a year in Wisconsin...lots of snow)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (satisfaction doesn't come from money)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (does it count if it was in a "rock gym"?)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (with injured daughter)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing (much cooler than I thought it would)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (Hank, a crazy troll looking toy I chewed all the hair off)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (tailbone...how glamorous!)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury (b-0-r-i-n-g civil case)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (three times)
95. Seen the Alamo in person (I live in Texas, of course!)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone (why is this on the list? who doesn't?)
99. Been stung by a bee

Copy this list and fill it out. It's interesting to see what you have done and maybe decide on a few that you want to do.

Minute Harvest

My garden has grown so well I have begun to harvest a little. My little tomatos have turned red. Right now they are only good for a snack, but, they are delicious~

I have lots of green beans, but for some reason they are not very tasty when cooked. They are tough and have a yuky flavor. I like to eat them raw the best anyway, but how to get the kids to eat them??? I'll have to work on that.
I have lots of baby cucumbers and baby peas, but none that are big enough to pick, yet. These sugar snap peas are my favorite. They grow so well until it gets too hot, then they wilt. I planted them in the shadow of my loquat tree, so hopefully I'll get a few weeks more out of them.




These onions have been in the ground since I planted them last year. I am not sure what happened, but they were only good for the smaller leek type onions until now..they are huge~ I'm saving them for a cookout...they'll be great on hamburgers~ (actually I don't like onions at all, but my family does.)

And peppers, yum. They are destined for pizza and salads and sharing with neighbors.




Saturday, May 2, 2009

The Best Way to Re-Gift

I love getting orchids. I love how they are usually given as live plants that have amazingly gorgeous and unusual flowers. You should really *look* at one some time. Amazing, beautiful and a little scary. Something between an alien and a bug. I also love how they last such a long time.

I was given one last year for either my birthday or Mother's Day. (I can't remember which because they are two weeks apart). I enjoyed it in my kitchen for such along time...to the last.. until the last pitiful wilted petal fell.

I took the remainder of the plant outside to sit in one of my flower beads. I have done this before and that one eventually it died.
Well, this particular plant didn't die. Imagine my surprise when I found little buds had sprouted out of the old stem (which experts say to remove, but i didn't).

So now this birthday/Mother's day, I have my orchid, again! I can't bring it inside because I don't know what critters have taken up residence in the pot; however, it is still a sweet surprise and beautiful.