Wishing you and yours,

a happy and healthy holiday.

Merry Christmas!

4 more days till Christmas! Yikes! How fast it went this year. Still have shopping to do. Still have baking to do. Last week was a busy week. Between the kids school events, work and just trying to fit things in. Gosh, wish I had another week to work with. Been receiving some ornaments from the swaps I signed up for. Some beautiful ornaments. Such talented ladies out there. They are all hanging on my tree.

I also been sending out. Had quite a few to send out. Really enjoyed making them. This was one of the batches I sent out.

When I get a chance, I'll post some more swap pictures. Really need to get off this thing and get some things done. Will be busy making Christmas bark today and cookies. Lots of cookies! My tree is lite and the carols are playing.

Have a Holly Jolly Day!!

Susan

The week started out with a blanket of snow. Unusually for us. We never get any snow. Thinking maybe it'll be a bad winter.

Spent most of the week finishing up on some ornaments. Need to get them in the mail this weekend. Thinking of doing some more for our own tree. Some of them came out so cute.

Also going out this weekend will be my Snowman swap and my Secret Santa. Had fun putting together those packages. Something about picking out holiday items. There are so many cute things to put into the packages. Never have a problem making or picking something out. Just hope my partners like their packages.

Today I'll be baking up some cookies. Have a dozen or so plates to make for gifts. So need to get started on that. If anyone has any tried and true cookie recipes to share, would love to have them. I'm always looking for some different cookies to make. Off I go.......

Enjoy your day!
Susan

Turned out to be a beautiful day outside. Was able to put up some decorations and lights. The warmer weather does make it easier to do. Plus, that cup of pumpkin latte helped a bit. Which I keep telling myself. Need to stop spending on the little things that add up. Honestly, don't need the extra calories. But I do enjoy it so much.

Wanted to post some pictures. Cant. When I went to take them, my battery needed charging. So the pictures must wait. Been busy working on my swaps and some holiday decorations. Didn't have to spend anything this year on supplies. Had so much from last year and the years prior. Love those kind of projects that don't cost a penny.

Well off I go back outside to finish up. Wishing you all a good day!
Susan

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rainy days are for.........

baking,

cooking

and creating!

Have a good day!

Susan

Corn Pudding

1 stick of butter, melted

1 can cream corn

1 can of whole corn

1 pkg of corn muffin mix

8oz sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and 8x8 pan.

Mix all ingredients together well.

Pour into greased pan. Bake for approx 45 mins.

Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Serve warm

For more true and tried recipes. Go check out The Pumpkin Patch.

Trista is our host for "Tasty Thursdays"

This week is a recipe for Thanksgiving.

Have a good day!

Susan

Lately I feel that there isn't enough time in the day. With the school events, hockey events, work, the kids after school activities and home. I want to do so much. But, when I get home, I just want to crash. But while having those days. I think of what I want to be doing. Like maybe some sewing. Putting new wallpaper up. Maybe painting the kitchen. Do you know the days I'm talking about? Just no time to yourself kind of days. Well after one of those days, really a couple of those days. I felt like hell. No life in me. Then, the doorbell rang and there was a swap package from Annie. A nice happy surprise for me! Usually, when the doorbell rings, it's for someone else. Not this time. I opened the box with ds. What a wonderful package it was.

Annie, I love everything. Thank you.

It made my day.

It also inspired me to plan my days more and to make time for the things I want to do.

Have a good day!

Susan

Thrifty finds

The colors are fading away. After two days of rain and high winds. There are hardly any leaves left on the trees. Which means, need to go and rake. Something I dont want to think about.

Yesterday I had a chance to stop at the thrift stores. My first stop. With baskets to put my cookies in this year. Old ornaments, cards, ribbons and bows. The snowman playing the piano, cute! Ceramic snowmen to plates. $5.00 well spent. Everything was in great shape. Left with a smile on my face.

Thinking, there is another shop on the way home. Should I stop. Yes! When I walked into the store. There it was. On top of a cabinet all lite up. Went right to it. Mine! All for $4.50. Left with another smile on my face. I love the holidays!

Have a great day!
Susan

Giveaways!

While looking at all the wonderful blogs out there. Came across some great giveaways. The first one was at The Buzy Bee. Kate has a wonderful purse, wallet and tissue cozy. The whole set is just beautiful. Sandy at For the Love of Prims is having a giveaway for her 100th post. You have to check it out, lots of wonderful items. Sharon over at My Vintage Studio is having her November giveaway. She is actual offering 2 giveaways, Christmas Santas and Vintage Shabby.

Go check them out, time is running out. If not for the giveaways, check out their wonderful blogs!

Susan

Pudding Cake

1 pkg of yellow cake mix

1 pkg of instant pudding, vanilla or chocolate

2 cups milk

1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven 350 degrees

Make the cake mix according to package. Pour into a 13X9 greased pan.

Pour pudding mix in a separate bowl. Add milk and sugar. Mix well, until thick.

Pour pudding over cake mix.

Bake for approx. 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Let cool, store in fridge.

Beautiful day today. Suppose to be up into the 60's.

Great weather for the kids to trick or treat.

I finished my sons costume last night. He was thrilled with it.
So was I!

Made some mini muffins for the class party today.

Need to get going, don't forget to take a treat on the way out.

Enjoy your day.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Susan

My son had a hockey tournament in Lake Placid,

so we decided to make it a family trip.

Beautiful drive there and back. Only took us 6 hrs.

Mirror Lake

The view from our balcony.

We only had one day of rain.

We all had a wonderful time. It was a great experience for the boys. They were so excited to play on the Olympic rink. I think they are going to remember it for a long time.

Halloween Party

Welcome!

Today was a beautiful day.

Made some corn muffins early this morning.

Please, help yourself.

Some of my friends stopped by to visit.

Showed them around the place.

We had some pie and just chatted some more.

Now it's time to get down for business. We all bought some odds and ends with us. Going to chat some more and create some things. Cant wait to see what everyone makes.

This is my pile.

Thanks for stopping by........until tomorrow.
Dont forget to stop by at Vanessa's and check out some more links.

Susan

Been busy pulling out the Fall decorations. I have boxes and boxes to go through. I'm also one to buy after the holidays and just put it away for next year. Love opening up those boxes to find some goodies.

I received my Fall swap from Melissa. Some cute things. My son had a blast opening up the package and finding all the goodies.

Here are some of the goodies I sent her for my package. We had fun putting it together.

Now it's time to start getting ready for the party at Vanessa's. Should be alot of fun!

Wasn't around last week. My mom wasn't feeling well, so I needed to stay there for awhile. Now that I'm back home, need to get things done. I have quite a few swaps that will be going out. Which I'm so sorry to my partners for being late. With the kids going here and there, my mom, work and still dealing with the insurance company on some items. It's just been crazy. Hoping this week is a calm one. Need to get back on track. Need to start working on some of my projects!

Today is the first day of Fall! Will be decorating today and baking. I have some pumpkin breads in the oven. MMMM! Smells so good in here. I have alot on my list to do today. I also have to find my card reader to post some pictures. Cant find it anyplace.

Off I go. Happy Fall everyone! Enjoy your day.
Susan

9/11...Never Forget

Prayers to those of 9/11 and their families.

Getting back into the swing of things

Gosh, where do I start. Let's see. Vacation. Decided to extend vacation. Family comes back home. Opens door, only to find, someone helped themselves to their belongings. Family reports, take inventory, cleans. Family takes off to stay with family. House is equipped with alarm. TV comes. Computer is installed. Family comes home.

Didn't want to make a long post. I'm happy to say, all is well and I'm home now. Since talking with others, It could of been worse. So I should be thankful. Just want to know. What gives someone the right to take something that doesn't belong to them? I know I couldn't take something that wasn't mine.


Susan

Will be away till the 19th.

Happy Summer!

I guess it is safe to say, some of my swap partners should of received their swap by now. This was sent to Jill . It was for My Favorite Things swap. Sent some scrapping things with candles and a clay kit.

This package was sent to Sarah for the Parasols, Pink Lemonade & Polka Dots Summer Swap. Had fun putting that together. And it all fit into the container for easy shipping.

Today is garage sale day. We are hitting the town, staying close to home. There were lots of signs posted around town yesterday. Some of them were estate sales. Which I love to go and look. Never know what you could find.

Off to get started, early bird catches the worm!

Have a good day, stay cool!

Susan

Will the housework get done?

With summer here and the kids home. I just want to do so much with them. I mean, it's summer vacation, they should have fun. They should be going here and there. Enjoying this and that. But some times, there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything. The days just seem to go by faster and faster.

The housework might not get done now. But everything will get done. Eventually it will. The dishes will get done. Just like the laundry. Might be late at night when everyone is sleeping. Or early morning with my cup of coffee. I know it will get done.

It's summer, I want to enjoy the time with the kids. Mr going on 10, keeps me busy. Weather it's going to ride the merry go round or just ride his bike. He loves to go. So I think, I'll enjoy this summer of going here and there, enjoying this and that. Everything will get done.

Hope your enjoying your summer,

Susan

It's Saturday! Yeah! In a bit, I will be out of here scouting the area garage sales. Yesterday when I was around town, there were so many signs up. Figured, I'll hit some of them to see what goodies I could find.

Happy to say I have a couple of swaps being wrapped up this weekend and heading out. I don't have any pictures. Because I am unable to locate my camera. It's here someplace. Just don't know where. Come out, come out, wherever you are... :) Wish it was that easy.

Before I go, let me tell you. There is a giveaway at Fresh from the Farm. It is for a Pear and Berries Soy Candle. MMMM! I bet that smells wonderful. Hurry, the drawing will be on Monday.

Off I go to start my day.
Have a good weekend!
Susan

There were so many garage sales around town yesterday. We decided to just stay in town and check them out.

$12...how could I not. The frame plus the

quilt are in great shape. Just need to clean it up.

$3 for both. The bucket, will be going on the back

patio with some flowers in it. The plant stand, maybe

change the color and add a potted plant.

$8 for all 6!

75 cents for all 3!

Love those garage sales!

Have a good day.

Susan

Playing catch up here. We took a spur of the moment trip to the shore. Packed some bags and went. Felt good to leave everything behind. The weather was perfect, you couldnt of asked for anything more. Went fishing, hit a couple of markets and really just enjoyed the days.

Found a bunch of goodies!

Now it's time to kick it in gear and get back to reality. There will be more vacation days to come. Hopefully soon! For now....school is out!

Welcome Summer!

Today is a good day to finish painting some butterflies.

Break in the new tubes that my son just had to have.

And BBQ

Enjoy your weekend!

Susan