TUTUS FOR AMERICAN GIRL DOLLS...

FINALLY GOT TO VISIT NEW YORK CITY!

BRIGHT LIGHTS , BIG CITY...THE BIG APPLE WAS ALL IT WAS HYPED UP TO BE, AND MORE!  I DO BELIEVE THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST VACATIONS I'VE EVER TAKEN.  SO MUCH TO SEE...SO MUCH TO DO...SO MANY INTERESTING PEOPLE...SO MUCH HISTORY...AND AMAZING FOOD!  I JUST HAVE TO GO BACK, ONE DAY!

HOT PINK & BLACK TUTU - AGE 3-9 MONTHS

I know I'm going TUTU crazy, but I have several orders.  So, as I finish each one, I am posting them.  About the time I finish the next 3 orders, warm weather will be here and I can start/finish other projects.  (If it ever gets warm...East TN Weather!)  Here is a hot pink and black TUTU I made, with 2 different onsies...matching hairbow, included.  I put the tutu and hairbow on Big Baby to show how it looks.

MORE TUTU FUN... BLACK & LIME GREEN SPARKLE TUTU

SIZE 0-3 MONTHS...

TUTU FUN!

My first attempt at making tutus... I also made a hairbow for the black and white tutu set.  My next tutu will either be baby blue, or ivory...Can't decide!  Easy and fun to make!

MORE STAMPED CANDLES...FUN & EASY PROJECT!

STAMPED CANDLES... I bought a nice, big, candle at Hobby Lobby (half price).  I simply stamped these images onto white tissue paper, using regular black ink, and heated the images onto the candle using a heat gun.  Then, I added a few rhinestone embellishments.  It's a quick way to add a little "OOMP" to an otherwise plain candle!

MORE FAMILY, CROSSING OVER...

RIP Cousin Mike... Such a big heart!

 

Until we meet, again...

STAMPED CANDLES

My first attempt at stamped candles!  Got this craft idea from YouTube.  I stamped the words onto tissue paper, and got the butterflies and flowers from the top layer of a 2-ply napkin.  Then, I wrapped wax paper around the candle and heated a few seconds with a heat gun, and voila!  I added the jeweled embellishment, which I got from the scrapbook section of my local craft store.  (45 for abound $2!)  So easy-peasy that even I can do it!

LOVELY CZECH GLASSWARE!

Here are 3 of each set of glasses from the famous Czech Republic glass factories.  Each piece is hand blown, and has unique properties that are not found anywhere else.  These were given to me as a gift from some very special Czechs, who visit us here in Tennessee, often.   They are adopted family members!   They told me that this particular pattern is from the Egermann Collection, and it is a very old and traditional Czech glass.  I LOVE THEM!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, CALEB! I miss you...

Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July, Caleb!  I love you and miss you, and I am praying that you are safe and happy, wherever you may be.  Love you, always...

Aunt MeMe

MAYAN RUINS / Chichen Itza - Progresso, Mexico 2011

What an awesome experience to stand among the great Mayan Ruins!  Although it was the hottest place I've EVER been, it was so fascinating to learn about this strange and mighty culture.  Spent the day there...could have spent the week!   (photos are copyrighted 2011)

HAPPY EASTER!

May goodness and peace reside in your heart, despite the ugliness that mars this beautiful world. God bless you, all.

Simple Southern-Comfort Food...

"Soup Beans" (pinto beans) and ham, fresh homemade slaw, cornbread, and buttery pound cake with cherry topping. . . A good meal for those days when I especially miss Mama!

Valentine's Day Sweetness...

Strawberry & Vanilla Bundt Cake...Love is in the air!

I didn't have a strawberry cake mix, nor strawberry icing, on hand...so I improvised, and used dry strawberry koolaid for the cake and icing flavoring. Yummy! Very tasty...Can't wait to try lemon and orange!

MAMA'S QUILTS...

Hand-cut, Hand-pieced, Hand-sewn, Hand-quilted... Star of Bethlehem & Wedding Ring:

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE...Moist, delicious, and EASY!

Grandma made this cake every year at Christmas. It is so easy! The recipe will be featured in our local community holiday magazine for 2011.

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE

Moist and delicious, and so easy!

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

dash of salt
1 1/3 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 can fruit cocktail (do not drain)

Mix all ingredients well, adding fruit cocktail, last. Bake at 350 degrees in a bundt pan, 9 x 11 inch pan (metal or glass), or 2 loaf pans. Bake time is 40-45 minutes. Set aside and cool.

ICING:

(Just as moist and delicious without icing...)

1 cup sugar (Grandma used white, but I like to use brown.)

1 12-oz can evaporated milk

3 egg yolks

1 stick margarine

Cook until thick, constantly stirring.

Remove from heat and add the following:

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp orange or lemon juice (optional)

1 cup coconut

1 cup nuts of your choice (I like to use walnuts.)

Spread over your cake, or if you have used a bundt pan, drizzle around the tops and sides. Garnish with RED cherries, or other garnishments. Other options that I sometimes add, are: 2 over-ripe mashed bananas, or cranraisins. ENJOY!

FALL FOLIAGE IN EAST TENNESSEE!

I have been enjoying my ride to work...taking in the colorful Fall trees, that seem to make everything around them appear blah, and boring. Beautiful, vivid, and breathtaking...God is the ultimate artist!

TIME FOR GHOST HUNTING!

This is one place that we rookie ghost hunters always try to visit around October. It is creepy, even during the day. The upstairs bedroom did have a noose in it, but last year when we returned, it was gone. We always get some strange pictures and hear some strange noises when we visit this place! BOO!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CALEB!!! SEPTEMBER 10, 2011

Well, your birthday came and went on September 10, 2011 (this past Saturday), and we didn't get to see you, again. We tried, but we got no response. But we celebrated your birthday, anyway, and posted a video for you on our Facebook pages... We think of you all the time, Caleb, but we especially missed you on your birthday! Birthday #12...growing up, so quickly! Still praying for you and can't wait for the day that we can welcome you home!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CALEB! LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!! -Aunt MeMe

BEAUTIFUL CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA!

BOONE PLANTATION...the Mighty Oaks!

FOLLY BEACH!

Southern charm, the beautiful ocean, lovely homes, rich history, shrimp & grits, benne wafers, and ROMANCE, to boot! Great southern city!

Beautiful old cemeteries, and super creepy! Love it.

No skyscrapers in Charleston! There is a city ordinance that no building can be built taller than the highest church steeple.

Special Avon Items...

I have always been fascinated by Avon items. Some of the older items were very beautiful, and actually well-made. I always wanted a collection of the Ruby Red glassware and plate settings, but as a young mother, I was never financailly able to buy more than a few pieces. My dear departed Mother-in-Law collected Avon Bottles and had a collection that numbered over 600 items. For special reasons, the two items above hold significant meaning to me. First, the green stocking bottle, with the red lid, was given to me by my mother-in-law when she was very sick, and very close to death (several years before she died.) She told me to save it for my son, and give it to him when he grew up (which I did). The second item, the Stetson-Hat smoker's candle, was a gift from me to my dad back in the early 80's. He hardly ever used the candle, but he displayed it on his side table for many years. He was a man of few words, so I knew that by keeping the candle beside his chair, it meant something to him, and THAT meant something to me. Funny how certain things can mean so much to one, and be so insignificant to others. I suppose the old addage of, "One man's trash, is another man's tresure," holds true. (Miss you and love you, Caleb.)

SNOW IN THE SOUTH!

The snow is beautiful, but treacherous, on these back roads in the South. Worse, have been the ice storms that have caused major problems for small southern towns. Local road crews were not prepared for snow storms of this capacity; nor, did they have the resources to deal with the dangerous conditions. I think we are ALL ready for Spring!

Hiwassee Railroad Adventure - Beautiful Fall Leaves!

3 1/2 hour, 50-mile train ride to the beautiful Hiwassee Gorge and Bald Mountain. . . Departure point: Quaint Little Etowah, Tennessee. The train is climate-controlled and very comfoftable. The train crew were so nice and lots of fun, and the leaves were beautiful!

http://www.tvrail.com/hiwassee/