Peter Cottontail

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail,

Hippity hoppin', Easter's on its way

Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy

A basketful of Easter joy

Things to make your Easter bright and gay

He's got jelly beans for Tommy

Colored eggs for sister Sue

There's an orchid for your mommy

And an Easter bonnet too. Oh!

Here' comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail

Hippity hoppity Happy Easter Day

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail,

Hippity hoppin', Easter's on its way

Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy

A basketful of Easter joy

Things to make your Easter bright and gay

You'll wake up on Easter morning

And you'll know that he was there

When you find those choc'late bunnies

That he's hiding ev’rywhere, Oh!

Here' comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail

Hippity hoppity Happy Easter Day.

Butterfinger Dessert

Butterfinger Dessert

2 1 cup crushed soda crackers

1 stick margarine

2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding

3 cups milk

1 qt. vanilla ice cream

9 oz. whipped topping

4 bars crushed Butterfingers

This dessert is made by layering the ingredients in a 9x13 pan. First, mix crushed crackers (save 1/3 for topping) and melted margarine. Press this evenly into the bottom of the pan. Second, mix instant pudding, milk and softened vanilla ice cream. Spread this evenly over crust. Freeze. Third, spread whipped topping over the ice cream layer. Fourth, sprinkle saved topping and crushed Butterfinger bars on top. Freeze.

Take out 10 minutes before serving Cut into squares.

Downey Quilts Finished

Here is Char's Kid Quilt that she made for the Downey project......bright & perky!This is Carla's quilt top....very nice!

 

Canning Jars

I cannot resist painting canning jars.  There is just something about them that makes me feel warm, cozy and loved.  Some other times I feel like this are when I bake cookies, curl up under a quilt and/or wear an apron.

Spring Tomorrow?

I am so ready for spring to start tomorrow.  This morning, I woke up to snow, and it's still snowing......all of the grass is covered now. What a long, hard winter this has been!Dh bought, cut and split a lot of wood to keep us warm in SW MO. Our driveway looked like thisfor about 2 months and only the 4-wheel drive could make it in and out.  Finally, it dried up just enough to have it rebuilt..$$$$..  This is a beautiful site!

Tutorial for Downeys Quilts for Kids

http://tobycatcreations.blogspot.com

Go here to see the tutorial...thank you for visiting.....

Quilt for a Cause

Create the Downy Heart Quilt

http://www.quiltsforkids.org/volunteer/

http://www.quiltsforkids.org/ 

The Downy Fabric Soft Company is asking for volunteers to make children's quilts for hospitalized kids.  You can request a free quilt kit including a pattern or provide your own fabrics & patterns.

My friends received these kits in the mail.  Downy asks that finished quilts be returned in 4 weeks.

The Perfect Pan!

Look at these perfect brownies......I made them with a Pillsbury box mix and the Perfect Brownie Pan found at https://www.bestbrowniepan.com/  I probably would not have bought this pan for myself, assuming that it wouldn't work and that it would end in my cabinet of bad ideas....lol.....however, a wonderful friend sent it to me as a gift, and this pan is truly amazing!

My friend's dh baked cornbread and brownies with the same results. She and I highly reccomend this pan! 

Happy Again

It's true.....I am happy......not with the weather, not with everything going on in the world & certainly not with cleaning house....but with ME! I can truly get up in the morning & say to myself, "Everything is going to be okay......just look at all the beautiful colors to choose from!" 

I have not mentioned this before on my blog, but I lost a child...a wonderful, beautiful person, a young man & father....a friend.  Finally after almost 3 years, I feel peaceful again......I can hear the birds sing, see the sunshine & hear the  music ........I can remember him without catching my breath & crying.

It feels wonderful to be happy again......Jana

I SPY BAGS

What Could Be More Fun Than an

I Spy Bag?

I used the free pattern from http://ajpadilla.com/patterns/reduce-reuse-recycle/i-spy-bag but you can do an Internet search & find several patterns & even In the Hoop embroidery machine patterns. I started out to make 2 for the grandboys for Christmas. Now, I have made at least 1 1/2 dozen for gifts.......great for young & old alike.

I am back!

I feel like this flamingo with my head down......it has been way too long since I posted....forgive me for that, but I just had to take a break.....I am back now.....Jana

Look What $52.00 Will Buy These Days!

I got all of these groceries for $$52.00.....a whole blueberry pie in the white box......can you see the carton of eggs by the pie.....a whole pineapple, sweet potatoes, lemons, pears, apples, lettuce, cabbage, 4 steaks, a big bag of chicken breasts, a big bag of chicken strips, French fries, rice, pancake mix, tortillas, ground meat, carrots, peppers, onions, a pizza, a bag of potatoes, a carton of milk, cheese, a canteloupe, BBQ Beef, weiners, a can of peaches & more....amazing!

One of the area churches sponsors a program called, Angel Food, a food co-op for any community members who would like to pool their money & buy food at wholesale prices. The food is delivered once a month.....it is on a sign up & pay for ahead of time basis. You can buy as many shares as you want......believe me.....I am signed up & paid for next month......I am hooked!

Please, look around in your community for food co-ops sponsored by local churches. You will welcome you to participate, & you can stretch those $$$ this way.

We Know Cookbook Author!

When Barb Proctor writes a new book, it makes me hungry!

I just received her latest collection of recipes,

Favorite Foods From Finney's and Friends II
A collection of 600 plus recipes gathered by Barbara Proctor.

These are Barb's recipes as well as her Mom, Grandma & friends.
I cannot wait to try Grandma's Lemon Pie on pg 207...it's a country beauty!

Barb has graciously given us a complimentary Soup & Salad recipe from the book. It sounds yummy & springy fresh to me......what a great pot luck dish or a a picnic pleaser.

Alumni Pasta Salad
16 oz. Pkg. Spiral pasta, cooked
3/4 cup green onion, chopped
1/2 cup radishes, sliced
1 small cucumber, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup grated carrot
2 cups broccoli, broken in small pieces
2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
1 cup sliced black olives, optional
1/2 bottle Ranch dressing
1 tsp. Dill weed.
Cook pasta & let cool slightly. Add veggies, dressing & dill weed. Mix all together & refrigerate.
You can add any fresh vegetables that you like....& you can add ham. If salad is dry, add more dressing.
Barb says that this is the best pasta salad she has ever eaten.

To receive an autographed copy of Favorite Foods from Finney's & Friends, send $12.50 + $3.50 shipping...
Barb Proctor
952 SW 60th Lane
Jasper, MO 64755

or contact the author personally proctorosa@hughes.net 417-394-3195

Archives are worth reading!

Don't miss even one of my accumulated opinions, observations, ideas, patterns & country recipes.....visit the archives....it could change your life.......just kidding!

4 Dozen & Stopping

Don't forget to stock up on Easter eggs. This free pattern & tutorial is offered at http://retro-mama.blogspot.com/2009/03/easter-is-in-air.html Be warned, though, I could not stop at 1! They are habit-forming.....

Save $$...eat cereal for patterns!

One of my daughters lived in Kansas City while going to school...I was amazed on one of my visits by the colorful statues of cows, downtown. Really, I could not take my eyes off the painted creatures, & I wanted desperately to touch each one. I could not pick a favorite. I just had to recreate my own gaudy, little herd. Since 3-dimensional art is not my forte', 2-dimensional was my only hope. I thought of turning to paper & paints but settled on fabric & scissors instead.

In no time I had my very own parade of cows....oh, how I plowed through my stash! I selected 9 bright & cheery prints that reminded me of the KC bovine. I drew an outline & used a cereal box to cut a template (I cannot draw cows, but that did not slow me down....lol....!). I varied the position of the tails here & there for artistic-variety. The little appliqued quilt top satisfied my appetite for beef.......sorry, I cannot share the patten, because I threw the template in the trash.....one parade was enough for me, but you are welcome to copy the idea....could be cows, horses, chickens, paper dolls....imagination is your only limit. Do you have an empty cereal box....that is the real question....feed your dh cereal tonight.....tell him that you're saving money on quilting patterns...it will help him swallow it!

Hear the Rooster Crow

March Cupcake Applique

http://www.scribd.com/share/upload/9874936/1pplco44wa9qcx9fwcyz
The free March-themed cupcake applique is ready to share.....click on the link to find it...enjoy!

Country Cooking Recipe

Crust is the key to a good pie. It must be flaky.

After 38 years of pie-baking, this is my crust recipe. If I have used it to bake 1 pie....I have used to bake a thousand.

2 2/3 cups all-purpose white flour (any brand)

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. of sugar (optional)

1 cup white Crisco shortening

Just enough cold water to make a rollable dough

Mix flour, sugar & salt. Add 1 cup Crisco, taking a knife & cutting into the flour until there are several chunks of shortening instead of a big lump.

Mix at low speed until the chunks are even more broken up.

Do not mix much as mixing makes a tough crust.

Starting with 1/2 cup cold water, mix, adding more water a little bit at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Do not mix much as mixing makes a tough crust.
Roll out on floured surface.

This makes a 2-crust cobbler, a large 2-crust pie or 2 single crusts.

February Cupcake Pattern

Click on link for PDF of pattern.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/12785046/February-Cupcake