Retro Fun Vintage Style Apron

Hey Ladies check out this fun and awesome apron from Sew4Home <<<< Click Here. There you will find the instructions for making this amazing and fun looking apron :)

This apron is another Sew4Home design original, complete with a free downloadable pattern. Love, love, love the sweetheart neckline and matching mini-sweet pockets. The happy bottom flounce will have you skipping around your kitchen, just like when you used to twirl in your big-girl-fancy-party-dress... oh, don't even try to tell me you didn't do that! The Simply Sweet floral fabric has the perfect vintage feel, while the big polka dot accents add a modern zing. Clever knotted ties allow infinite adjustability for the neck and waist so you can make a Retro Fun: Vintage Style Apron for every shape and size of family member and friend.

Arr Arr Snicker Snicker Snicker :)

I ALWAYS THOUGHT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT WALLY - WORLD.

MURDER AT WAL-MART...

Tired of constantly being broke & stuck in an unhappy
marriage, a young husband decided to solve both problems by taking out a
large insurance policy on his wife with himself as the beneficiary, and then
arranging to have her killed.

A 'friend of a friend' put him in touch with a nefarious
dark-side underworld figure who went by the name of 'Artie...'
Artie then explained to the husband that his going price
for snuffing out a spouse was $5,000..


The husband said he was willing to pay that amount, but that he
wouldn't have any cash on hand until he could collect his wife's
insurance money.

Artie insisted on being paid at least something up front,
so the man opened his wallet, displaying the single dollar bill that
rested inside. Artie sighed, rolled his eyes, & reluctantly agreed to
accept the dollar as down payment for the dirty deed.

A few days later, Artie followed the man's wife to the
local Super Wal-Mart store. There, he surprised her in the produce
department & proceeded to strangle her with his gloved hands. As the
poor unsuspecting woman drew her last breath & slumped to the floor.

The manager of the produce department stumbled
unexpectedly onto the murder scene Unwilling to leave any living
witnesses behind, ol' Artie had no choice but to strangle the produce manager as well..
However, unknown to Artie, the entire proceedings were
captured by the hidden security cameras & observed by the store's
security guard, who immediately called the police. Artie was caught and
arrested before he could even leave the store...
Under intense questioning at the police station, Artie
revealed the whole sordid plan, including his unusual financial
arrangements with the hapless husband who was also quickly arrested.
The next day in the newspaper, the headline declared...
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.
.
.
.
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.
.
.
.
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'ARTIE CHOKES 2 for $1.00 @ WAL-MART!'

Another fun block swap on Pins and Needles

Katie B who is a member of Pins and Needles is holding another fun block swap. She has all the details on the rules of the swap on Pins and Needles. If your interested in playing in the swap run over and take a look see ;) Click Here :)

Another Fun Tutorial

Isn't this little needle book amazing?? I love all the wonderful detail on these little turtles. Who wouldn't like to have one of these? Count me in... I want one for sure :) .... You can find the pattern and tutorial at Craft Passion. Thank you Craft Passion for sharing your wonderful fun tutorial with us :) Don't forget to look ladies.. she offers the pattern too :)

Is it too Early for Christmas???

I found the most amazing tutorial at Firefliesandjellybeans. I am not going to tell you what it is. You will just have to run over there and see. I can tell you though once you see it......... you will realize its just like a potato chip... you will have to have more than one. I think I will make these for my family as Christmas Gift this year. These little sweeties can be stashed anywhere. Purse, backpack, glove box, tackle box.... anywhere you can stuff it... Oh yes this is a very fun and useful idea. Come back and let me know what you think after visiting Firefliesandjellybeans :O)

Tuesday in Ta Town

When you just seem to think you have everything caught up ...
At least when it comes to sewing..... you look around and you are needing to catch up on something.
I have posted several times that I have joined in on this International Siggy Block Swap. Well those little babies just mysteriously keep showing up at my door step and I love it. This swap has been so effortless other than making the little single blocks and shipping them out to far away places like Australia, Germany, The Netherlands and so forth. I have to admit I am now 6 blocks behind again!! LOL that is one weeks mail that has came into the Oleo Ranch. The envelopes contain these very very wonderful fun little blocks. Its like Christmas everyday when I go out to the mail box. The mail box should not be called a mail box... it should be called the Mystery box. It's always a surprise to see all of the wonderful creations that keep coming in to the Oleo Ranch. My mail man asked me one time.. whats going on that everyday that I deliver 2-6 different packages. I chatted with him a while about all the apron swaps, the doll swaps, and the block swaps that I participate in... and how I am usually the swap Mommie. This is the reason you have to work so hard delivering packages to my house. Of course after telling him all about the swaps and so on.... I had him hooked and he said his wife would like to participate in something like that. Well of course I told him my web address and told him to tell her come and join in on the fun. Sad to say she has never joined in on the fun. But the invitation was out there for her ;) I even have my local post office ladies looking forward to hearing what I am hosting in the swaps. It seems like the Pitty and I go into the local post office at least once a week to mail something out. Its sort of funny... sometimes the Pitty has to stay home because I have to go to places she can't go and the post office ladies are upset.... because they don't get to see her all dressed up so cute in her sweet little dresses.
Which brings me back around the block on the Siggy blocks... I went yesterday to find a cute stamp to use on my blocks. I looked at several fabric and craft shops. I was unable to find something fun. It just dawned on me as I am writing this post that I was almost right next door to the Scrap Book Garden. LOL I know that a scrap book joint would have tons of stamps. Ouch as APP slaps her head with her hand.. I am such an oaf sometimes.
I have received some very clever blocks..they have wonderful hand stitching, awesome appliques and cute cute stamps that have been colored in. I am hoping to find just the right theme for my block... if anyone has any fun suggestions... please share with me. I don't want it to be just a block.. I want them to be an awesome block :) I was also wondering... I have purchased a couple of those fabric writing pens. .... but the point is way to big and the lines are very fat and I don't like the looks of a fat line... Anyone know what sort of pen I can use to get a nice fine line???

Last Post of the Day LOL

I haven't done a lot of baking/cooking lately but these look like something I will have to try out really really soon :) I got the recipe from..... Playing House.

Nanaimo Bars
Adapted from The City of Nanaimo
Makes ~50 bars

Bottom Layer
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
¼ cup sugar
5 tbsp. cocoa powder
1 egg, beaten
1 ¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
½ c. finely chopped almonds
1 cup coconut
½ c. Heath toffee bits (optional)

Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, nuts, and toffee if using. Press firmly into an ungreased 8" x 8" pan.

Middle Layer
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 Tbsp. and 2 Tsp. half-and-half
2 Tbsp. vanilla custard powder or powdered vanilla pudding mix
2 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

Top Layer
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer. Chill in refrigerator for several hours before cutting and serving. Cut into small pieces, they're rich!

Easter Apron Swap

I thought I would show everyone the apron I made for my Easter Apron swap. I hosted this fun swap for my Pins and Needles group. I loved this little apron so much.... it was very hard to let go of it. LOL at least they didn't have to pry my cold fingers off it... I did let it go be-grudgingly. LOL No really.... I am happy my partner got it.. and she loved it :)
I do believe it has been my best apron so far..
Next to the awesome crow one that I made Awtmnnymf.
What You think????

For some reason I just want to chatter today.. maybe its because I haven't felt up to much. Now I am feeling much more like my old self!! The meds must have started kicking in.
I went outside today got out the ladder and went up on the roof and fixed the siding on the house. The same siding that my Bubba promised to fix for me last spring. Well I got tired of looking at it hanging there and went and did it myself.
After that I went out to the barn yard and started playing with the hay burners. They the horses... really loved me out there playing with them... Baby boy went chasing after his horse ball. LOL only thing I have not taught him how to bring it back once he picks it up with his teeth. I wonder if I can teach him how to play fetch like a dog???
That is another thing that makes you go HUMMMMMMMMMM ;) lol
The rest of the day is going to be spent sewing.. I have a big day tomorrow doing financial business. I can hardly wait to do that stuff... NOT!!
I need to do some research later today.. I need to put up a new barn, shed, or garage. I need to get on line and find some prices. I have once again been waiting on help.... so I figured the way to get it done is just do it myself... that is how I use to operate .. when I wasn't long in the tooth.
I have to say thanks again to everyone for your wonderful notes, card, emails and words of concern for my health. Ladies... your sweeties for thinking of me.... I could not have done it without all your kind words....
I hope I am back on track for fun blog posts and other such nonsense :)
APP

Chocolate Chip Cookie

I have had this recipe for a while I got it from Blonde Ambition in the Kitchen.

Copycat Levain Bakery Throw Down Cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla (next time I would add more)
3 1/4 cups flour (use a tad more if dough seems too sticky)
3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups good quality semisweet chocolate chips (I used half semisweet and half milk chocolate) (can use up to 2 cups, you be the judge)
1 cup walnuts (I omitted)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix flour, salt, and baking powder and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside. Beat the butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in eggs, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. The dough will be stiff and thick. Finish mixing by hand if needed until just combined. Gently fold in chips and nuts if using.

Use a 1/4 measuring cup to scoop out dough balls. Place dough onto one of two parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. You can make smaller dough balls but be sure to adjust baking times as needed to prevent browning. Bake 15-25 minutes (depending on the size of your cookies and your oven) or until cookies are pale brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy. I baked my cookies for 17 minutes exactly.

Cool cookies on cookie sheets for 10 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack until cooled completely. Serve or store in airtight container.

Thank you to all of my sweet readers for all of your sweet sweet words of condolences.. I feel that every word and thought and prayer has helped ease mine and Apache's pain. Our morning started out with another beautiful sunrise here in Ta Town. Seeing such a wondrous site makes one realize all of the magic that life has to offer. I am handling the loss of my sweet girl much better today. I know that one needs a bit of time to grieve. Yesterday was the day for me and my sweet boy. Like several mentioned I spent most of the day going back and forth outside checking on the little guy. Petting him.... loving on him..... and just standing there beside him as he nibbled on grass. He finally settled down toward night fall. I am so thankful for that. Hearing his squeals was killing me.. because I knew the reason for them. I finally had to take a nap.. I could not stand to hear them any longer. I have to admit I was sort of thread worn myself by the late afternoon. When I awoke from my nap he was much quieter.. I wonder if it was the drunk he had on lol. Well anyway we are both much better today.
Thank you again for your wonderful words of care and concern.

Ok I have to answer some of the questions and statements in your sweet comments. I call him the little guy but he is 7 years old and almost as big as his mother was. She was a big box car quarter horse, at 15.4 hands tall. To get her height..... you multiply 15.4 by 4 inches which is a hand and you will see how tall she is at the withers. Neck and Head don't count on height. The equal sum is how tall she is. (then divide by 12 to get the feet) Apache is about a 15.2 hands in height. Which was aprox 4 and 1/2 foot (plus give or take a few inches) tall at the withers. Here is another example his back is just below my chin height. I am Just a tad over 5' 4" in height. They both were bred from old foundation stock. Both horses blood lines were bred to cut cattle. They have the size and bulk to muscle the cows if need be. My Gillee girl loved herding cattle. If those rank old heifers would not go she would just run up on them and shove them ahead with her broad chest. Yes they went and they went fast with her behind them. Gillee would almost tip toe in a herd and slowly pull the one I wanted out without the others moving a muscle. She was very quite when needed around the cows. She would lower her head down and just shuffle in and slowly shuffle out. It really was quite amazing being on her back when she was working the cattle. Yes we did have a few get away from us. But very seldom did that happen.
Now its time for her boy to do the needed work ;)

I have checked on the poor baby boy this morning and he is finally quiet and out in the far pasture eating grass with the other two horses. Which are Mo Fox trotters. They the trotters are bred for distance and the smooth ride.
His is being much calmer today...for this I am very thankful.
Once again ladies thank you so much for your sweet words of caring and concern!

A tearful Goodbye

Gillee
AKA: Swiss Miss
My 1st owned,
and my greatest Champion!
I love you and I will miss you dearly.

I had to get up very early this morning to meet a man that I knew nothing about. This wonderful kind stranger agreed to help me take my old sweet girl to the vets for one last time. I am always so amazed at the kindness of strangers. When you are really down and need the help ... there will always be that kind stranger who is willing to help you when needed.
Thank you kind stranger!!!
I had called Doc last week and told him I think its time to make some hard decisions regarding my sweet Gillee. I told D0c that she needs to come see you, one last time. She is loosing weight faster than I can keep it on her. Doc agreed with me and said that was a good decision on my part. He was concerned with her having a stroke or me finding her out in the pasture in worse shape. I told Doc that I could not do this at the oleo ranch, it was just too hard. I also told him I didn't have means to bring her in to the clinic. I inquired if he could come and get her. He told me he thought he could find someone that was willing to help.
Over the course of this last week I have made a new friend.. Pat has been so kind and giving to me. She was willing to help me anyway she could regarding my old girl. We chatted 4 or 5 times and she told me that she had a hand she would send to help me. The hand showed up right on time and was very sweet polite and very kind and gentle with me and my old girl. Gillee loaded up without incident and the total stranger.. and I tell you I still do not know the mans name... he drove my little girl down the road like she was fine porcelain... he drove with caution and care. I am so thankful to these total strangers for helping me in this very difficult time .. I don't know if I could have done it without them.
I received their gentle encouragement and unwavering support.
I know I did the right thing.. but it is very hard after you have been loving and caring for a creature for over 21 years to have to come to this final decision. Gillee came to live with me when she was six, and we have had wonderful loving times together. I spent countless hours with my girl. She taught me so many great things in life... Mostly she taught me unwavering love and kindness. She was always gentle, sweet and loved me unconditionally. She always looked forward to me coming out to the pasture to see her. Whether we were going to a horse show or riding down the road.. or just playing tag in the lot...she was happy to see me.
I tell you my sweet friends I don't really know what is breaking my heart the most right now.. having to say good by to my sweet Gillee girl or her baby boy standing out at the pasture gate pawing at it and squealing. Wanting her to come to him.
I asked Nadine yesterday on the phone.. when did she think the sad and bad things were going to stop haunting me! Nadine agree it was time that some good should come into my life and soon. So ladies keep my sweet Gillee Girl in your thoughts and prayers, and don't forget to throw in a few good thoughts for wonderful things to happen in my life too! I could surly use some good times again!
Hugs
M

Update:
Gillee's Baby Boy 6 hours later was still having a very hard go of his mom being gone. He is still squealing and striking out at the gate and rearing and tearing it up out in the pasture. The last time he got upset like that we had to call the vet out and give him 37 stitches across his forehead and face. I am so worried about him. I finally called the vet and we decided for the best interest of the horse.... we have sedated him. He is now out in the pasture looking like a drunk little ole man. All cross eyed and woozy. He is only squealing once in a while now. I am hoping this drunk will stay on for a while..... so he will have a tad bit of time in getting accustom to his mom being gone.. Poor Poor little guy.

Yesterdays adventures

Some of you know it was my Birthday yesterday :) I didn't get the Birthday that Mommy planned. She was very sick the two days before my Birthday. I even thought Mommy was going to have to go to the Hospital.. But she got better with lots of rest. Besides Mommy could not find my favorite tasty treat FROSTY PAWS Ice Cream. Its ice cream made for us sweet puppies. Our store was out!! So I had to just settle for old dried biscuits as my special treat for my Birthday. LOL when Mommy wasn't looking Malcolm snuck me potato chips.. He always sneaks me chips when Mommy isn't looking.. NO wonder she can't keep the lbs off me!
Yeah I am now 4 years old and still as silly as I was when I was a puppy. I went with Mommy to Momma Bears house for Easter Sunday :) I discovered that there was about 5 small boys that live down the block. Momma Bear calls them her cookie monsters because they come down once a day to get a small treat. She said they usually get fruit snacks because they are good for them. Whats with this good for snack thing???

Mommy had a very hard time getting me to listen and stay in the yard because I wanted to play with the little boys.The little guys would chase me and I would run circles around them. Sometimes I would stop and lay down to let them catch up .. but I'd pop up and off I would run again. We played this way for about 30 mins. Then Mommy made me come inside the house. She thought that was enough exercise for me for the day. I'm not use to all of that running... I do play but not that hard... because Mommie is old and slow.. but I was faster than a speeding bullet running circles around those boys. LOL the boys could never catch up to me!! NO matter how hard they tried. I would run by them and jump on the back of their knees and down they would go giggling all the way.
After I came back in the house I got a big hand full of yummy treats sent to me by my great and wonderful friend Nadine. She told Mommy that I would like these little cheese nips. I go crazy looking silly so Mommy will break down and give me more than the small hand full she always gives me. I barked, I sat up, I laid down, I even gave her the ^5 to get more. But Mommy would not budge on more treats. So I had to just say ok.. I'll take a nap.. I am quite tired I did play hard...
Of course here is my favorite place to nap :)

WATCH FOR IT!!!... IT'S COMING!!!

Hello Ladies... I am very happy to say all of the Holly Jolly blocks are now in the mail to your homes. If you owe me postage... Please Pay :) I will be send you an email advising the amount owed. You can pay me via pay-pal through my donation button here on the blog. If you just want to donate a penny or too more to help defer the cost of shipping/packaging for those that might neglect to pay.... that would be great with me too.
Thank you everyone for being so patient in getting your blocks.. it has been a very long drawn out affair. I hope everyone when they get their blocks feel it was all worth the delay and trouble in getting them out to you ;) I can tell you there were some awesome blocks that I never got to post. For that I am very very sorry. I started having health problems and that hindered my fun in this swap. I am so sorry if you felt I dropped the ball on this swap. I did not mean to do that to any of you!!
Anyway I had fun making and sharing my blocks with the ones in my group. Also I wish to thank each and everyone of you that sent sweet little extras to me and also to those that allowed me to keep one of your wonderful fun blocks.

THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH AND A MILLION TIMES MORE!!