CHRISTMAS AT THE LAKE!!!!

I believe this was one of the nicest Christmas's we have ever experienced!!!

  We were all together for Christmas Eve, Ben, Melissa and Devin, Brandon, Aubrey and Ryan, my folks, Dave and I and our friend from Arkansas, Marilyn.  We had our normal appetizer buffet with seafood, wings, dips, meatballs, etc.  Lots of fun presents and good cheer!!!

The kids have always had Christmas in Middleton, WI.  When they were little we went to Cornell a couple of times but they only remember Middleton, so this was different for them.  Ben and Melissa took of later Christmas Eve and headed to Iowa City so they could be in Wisconsin for Christmas Day.  Brandon and Aubrey are leaving Tuesday for a few days in the Dells, Ryan is going to be so surprised at the indoor water parks!!!  And Brandon has to hit Delaney's surplus!!!!

Sunday we fired up the new smoker Ben got Dad and did a turkey and was that good!!!  We haven't worked with a smoker made like this before so we were not sure.  It's a keeper, what a wonderful bird.  I rubbed it down with Emeril's Bayou Blast and wrapped it in wet cheesecloth and smoked it boob side down for 3-4 hours, the last hour we turned it over, mopped it and then took off the cheescloth for the last half hour, YUM!!!!!  Moist and delish!!!

A big thanks to Linda for the reindeer cookie idea!!!  Darling and they taste great!!!

It's been a wild couple of months but things are coming together and I know we made the right decision to move to Missouri!!! 

                       And now a Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Quilt Jackets!!!

Here's my Mom Marjorie modeling one of the coats, 

doesn't she look fab for 90 years old!!!!!?????

Sorry folks, I'm on a roll, 
got most of the boxes unpacked and put away,
 at least it feels that way, may not look that way!!!!!

                               We are settled in and machines are plugged in, 
                                                                      I'm SEWING!!!!!

Now I know some folks would have a fit cutting up these old quilts BUT, like I mentioned before, I really don't know who made them or when, they don't fit on any bed I own, they are falling apart and I believe in upcycling so now we can wear them!!!  They are fragile and will not wear well but what the hey!!!   I think they are kind of fun!!!  I used some old pattern that was hanging around, I left off the shirt tales and on the beige one I lost the collar and buttons.  And for the button holes I just sewing a narrow rectangle and cut it open.  My machines would not do a nice button hole with all that thickness, I assembled the jacket on my industrial machine.

We have been having wild nights with the dogs, the last three nights they start pawing at us while we are sleeping, they shake and carry on like I don't know what!!!
  Abbey is sleeping in the laundry room closet, they try to get in the shower with us, it's very unlike any of them to behave this way.
 Then they sit and shake and cry, it's been horrible.  So this morning while trying to calm one of them the smoke alarm chirped AGAIN!!!and she shook her head and then the light went on!!!  I bet the noise hurts their ears, they are trying to hide from the noise.  And since these alarms were no doubt put in all at once 3-4 of them were chirping!!!  So, all the batteries are out, I tried putting new ones in and chirping increased, they are kind of fancy so they must have to be reset, can't find the directions, they must be here!!!!

So, our nights have been short what with all the dog drama!!!  Then today we had some good news, our one dog has become diabetic so we are on insulin.  I last purchased the insulin from Costco in Wisconsin and it cost around $80.00 I called Wally World here, they need no prescription and the cost is $24.88, now that's something to chew on.  Talk about MARK-UP!!!
  I could just scream, I hate supporting Wally World but they got ya but the short hairs!!

                        Once again thanks for joining me, please share any ideas you have for old quilts and pics.

And Y'all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

                   
                                 

Birthday Time!!!!

Great Grandpa Jack loves holding  Devin !!!  It is the best part of his day.  Great Grandma Marge likes baby watching the best!!!  What fun to see the four generations!!!

Tonight we celebrated the birthdays of Melissa, Brandon and Aubrey!!!  We had a dinner here at our new home in Osage Beach!!!  It is such fun to be near our kids and their spouses and grand daughter Devin.

Tonight I got going with the muffin tins, I made mac and cheese in the giant muffin tins homemade cheese sauce with bacon and bread crumb top.  Then I made mashed potatoes cooked in chicken broth mashed with sour cream, cream cheese and butter topped with shredded cheese.  They went nicely with sirloin steak sliced thin and shrimp, tossed salad and chocolate banana bundt cake.  I really like using the muffin tins they are cute and make life easy!!

I keep threatening to start sewing, butttttt it has been hard, I love to sew but really I was burned out and needed a rest!!!  I did do an order and will patch Brandon's jeans this week.  I also cut out a jacket out of an old quilt I had.  I actually have several old quilts and I decided I have had them hanging around for 30 plus years, they don't fit on any bed I own these days so I am going to make them into something useful!!!  A jacket will be the first project.  More on that later.

We have been running to Columbia for Dad's nose surgery, they got all the melanoma but the graft is questionable so back on Friday.  The we have a friend coming for Christmas from Arkansas, the kids will be here Christmas Eve and then they are heading up North.  I don't mind running to Columbia I got a membership for Sam's from my friend Lynne so I can replace my Costco runs, not as nice a Costco but it works well.

The best news this week, Dave got a job with a local slaughter house so he is back cutting meat.  Like the old days, the custom orders still have all the stuff like liver and tongue and heart, interesting!!!!  And all the custom are hanging beef, no boxes like the stores!!!  Back to lifting hind quarters!!!!  He was pretty excited and so are we!!!!!

  Someone has to work!!!

                                                     Have a wonderful Holiday Season!!!!!!

MISSOURI TURKEY DAY!!!!!

We're still pinching ourselves, we can't believe we are finally here!!!  

Today was a beautiful warm sunny day, we cooked up a storm, turkey/ham and all the fixin's. 

 The kids were here along with our new grand daughter, got the 4 generation pics to boot!!!

 We pulled out the cherry table grandpa built years ago and finally had our dinner on it!!!

And it's official, I have Missouri license plates on my little car!!! 

 Now, back for the drivers license.

The dogs are enjoying their new yard, Cody and Abbey are doing well laying around the front yard without leashes but Dakota, never can trust him.  Even with his legs and diabetes he will do his best to run off.  The deer have disappeared for a few days, we have upwards or 7-8 deer hanging around here most everyday, tons of acorns to munch on.  I thought the dogs would scare them off but they don't seem to care, they come right near the cars and us.

Black Friday will not see us at the big box stores, I am going to do my best to buy American, homemade,handmade, recycled, etc for the holiday season.  I plan to visit a store that carries handmade in Missouri items tomorrow.

I can't say we don't miss Wisconsin because we do, we just hope everyone can come see us and we will be back to visit!!!!!

                                 Have a wonderful Holiday Weekend!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!! WE ARE HERE!!!! MISSOURIANS!!!!??

November 18th we had the last of 18 years worth of stuff packed and loaded in a 20 foot U-Haul truck and headed south!!!!  It was a very sad and exciting day, I never thought I would ever really leave Wisconsin, after all I arrived 30 years ago for 30 days and look what happened!!!!!  I must say it has been a wonderful 30+ years with many, many good friends, neighbors, customers and people passing thru!!!  I can't thank you all enough!!!!! 

 Each and everyone of you have brought something special to my life,

 THANK YOU!!!!!

Well, as some of you know we had our first granddaughter  Saturday Nov. 5, she is a doll and here are a few pics I took.  The professional photos are on their way!!!  She is so cute and sweet, not much fussing and just a joy to "baby watch"!!!  Her name is Devin Marie Krokson, 6lbs. 8 ozs. 20" long!!!  She is now 6lbs. 10 ozs 2 weeks later!!!   And the clothes are just the best, Melissa got some of the cutest outfits, all the girls have great taste!!!!

And now the real work begins, where do we put it all!!! 

 Already went to Lowes for storage and shelves, Dave got them up and it's only a small dent.

 We really thought we had cleared the decked but we were wrong, lots to do!!!

                                Hey everyone, have a HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

MIssouri and Brisket!!!!!

When I used to live in MO. in the 70"s I worked for a woman who had a fun restaurant called the Calico Cupboard and they made brisket in the Nesco for Sunday buffett.  It cooked all night with stuffing on the bottom of the pan and a big 12 lb. brisket on top!!!!!  Delish but very greasy, all the flavor but????????

So, we got down to MO. and called our favorite shop to buy meat and of course they had a full brisket. 11 lbs.  So since we don't have a smoker or grill yet we decided to prepare it the Jewish way,  tons of onions, ketchup, Heinz, of course, and vinegar and brown sugar, yum yum, can't go wrong with that combo!!!  Slow cook at 300 for hours and hours till it falls apart.  Again it had lots of grease but lots of flavor.  Really a great way to prepare brisket in the cooler months, plus wonderful leftovers!!!!!  We could have trimmed the fat but what fun is that?????

 And here's a few pics of my folks new digs!!!!

                     

 Ben and some friends got the porch screened in and we are anxious to hang out there!!!!

Not much crafting going on around here, lots of wedding alterations and lots of ideas flowing, now just a bit of time to get back at it!!! 

                                 Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!!!!!!
                           
                                      

Mom's 90th Birthday !!!!!!

It has been months since I did a blog,

I do not know where the time goes but it sure flys by!!!!  Lots going on here!!!!

  The shop is busy and moving my folks to Missouri from Arkansas has taken some time.

I brought my folks home with me for 2 weeks so we could do dome Wisconsin things and have a birthday party.  We head back to MO for Labor Day Weekend!!!!

We grilled brats, chicken and burgers and had some close friends and family to celebrate,wonderful weather and great company!!!!

The recycling bug has bit again!!!!!!!

                                                   Fun project  to go Green!!!!

 I have a customer, Jessica, who owns Cozgroovy Green Cleaning Co. here in the Madison area. 

 She needed her cleaning aprons fixed so I suggested some recycled denim aprons instead of her aprons.  

She agreed and I think we came up with some pretty cool cleaning aprons!!!! 

 These are made from old jeans, new denim and old pockets.  

They are lined and double and triple stitched to hold up during the work process.

Basically I took 3 jean legs and trimmed them up, sewed them together, surged and top-stitched, cut out a basic cobbler apron added assorted pockets, loop, ties from the old aprons with clasps and such and added Jessica's Logo, and here we go...an all green recycled apron!!!!!

You can reach Jessica at Cozgroovy.com for more info on her business, and to have your home cleaned the green way!!!

It's a stormy, windy day and certainly not warm enough for me!!! 

 I sorted my stash room with my friend Carolyn for Mother's Day and what a difference that made. 

  I suppose we should have been relaxing but it was so nice to have a friend pushing me along to purge, something I'm not very good at!!!!

                                      We had a fun day and now it's back to Stabbinrags!!!!!

                                      

Is Spring Coming?????

Not quite here in Wisconsin!!!

This has been the most forlorn, dismal, wet and dreary spring I can remember and after such a long delightful winter  I can't wait to see what summer really brings us!!!

I  had a fun week!! 

 

 Last Saturday our sewing guild had a workshop and we made covers for journals or photo albums using the Alabama Chanin method or reverse applicate

 I spoke of this earlier and made a  recycled jacket up with denim leaves appliqued on with embroidery floss.  Now I made this t-shirt using her exact method. 

I started out with 2 t-shirts from Wally World and then

 I stenciled on the black shirt with a soft gold paint,

I used her stencils you can use any store bought or make your own.

  Stencil on your pattern and let dry.

  Then put the shirts together and pin in place and hand applique around the paint.

  She leaves the knots on the top for extra dimension you can do whatever you like top or under

.  Then take a small scissor and cut out the center of the applique leaving 1/4" inch of paint showing. 

 Cut away the t-shirt underneath and save to make flowers or use under another shirt.

  So for $10. for 2 shirts,, $1.60 for the paint and 50c for the floss and about 3 hours including drying time I have a one of a kind t-shirt!!!! 

 Use a hair dryer to speed up the paint drying!!!

                                                             

After playing around with this concept a person can do endless items....I'm thinking Christmas stockings with initials, or shirts too. 

 Knits are good to use but with denim fraying out it looks nice too. 

 Coin purses, wallets, purses , any kind of stuffed animal,  pillows, any home dec. 

 This is a great technique and you can make it your own so easily.

                                                                    And the Mirror!!!  

                                                                               

We have an older home and the mirrors in the bathrooms are having issues on the edges!!! 

 So I saw in a magazine where they trimmed a small mirror with the printed duct tape.  

Well, since this bathroom is jungle style I choose the animal print, it doesn't match my painting but it sure makes the mirror look a ton better!!! 

                                                   Ducktape is the answer for everything!!!!        

                    Hope your Spring is going well,  happy sewing and crafting

                                                 

Branson Mo. or Bust!!!!!!

It's been a long time since I wrote on the blog, it's been sooooo busy!!!! 

 My friend Lynne and I made a trip to Branson Mo. the first part of April.  

We had a great time shopped, did a few shows, ate some good and some bad food and stayed in a very nice condo and had good weather!!!

We left Madison and went down thru Iowa and took a side trip to Herman Mo. a town I had once worked in years ago, fun to see that cute German river town, full of cute shops, eateries and wineries.  Then we headed south to Branson.

We saw the Amazing Animal Show and the illusionist Kirby VanBurch both shows were good

.  We ate at the College of the Ozarks which was wonderful and a small cafe in the old downtown Branson run by folks in a rehab program and had the best Chicken fried steak, homemade mashed taters etc. 

 Our dining experiences outside of the College and the Cafe were very dismal.

  Branson is over run with Malls and chain everything very hard to find a local anything!!! 

 On Sunday we joined the thousands of Christian teenagers at Silver Dollar City for their grand opening of the season, they celebrate that with all these teen Christian kids from MO. AR. and OK.

  They were great entertainment between attending the meetings and making out they were a blast to watch!!!!!  

Oh yes I do remember Church Camp, always a must do!!!!!

Then we headed up the hill to Lake of the Ozarks and spent the night with my son and his wife, had dinner and left the next morning to north to Wisconsin!!!

The Illusionist is the guy who was on TV with the amazing helicopter gig, he has a full sized helicopter appear in nothing flat, I do not know how this all works but he did some really wild things and a must go to show if in Branson!!!!

We have had a horrid spring and today is cold and wet and a possibility of snow, yay!!!

I love Wisconsin!!!!!