Making Pretty Things For sweetlaraine.etsy.com

I recently finished several pretty pieces of jewelry to add to my sweetlaraine shop on etsy. I am working with a new wire that instead of being dead soft is half hard. The pain in my shoulders and neck might be caused by the added strength it takes to wrap the wire. In any case....I think I will go to see the doctor early next month.

I am very pleased with the result of this creative session. I may try to purchase a darker color wire next time I go to town. I like the silver look but also like the darker tarnished brass look.

I am also working on several pairs of earrings using vintage cracker jacks charms as the dangle. It is getting harder and harder to find these little celluloid charms.
Lucky for me....I have all the time in the world.

Have a great and productive day !

Laraine

Getting Things Cleaned Up For Spring

Spent the major portion of last week getting the yard cleaned up and ready for spring planting. Thank God I had the help of my neighbors because I really don't have the strength to dig up dead trees etc. etc. The only mistake made was that someone thought a crepe Myrtle tree was a bush and cut it down to about 12 inches. It should come back slowly but a 5 years of growth was removed.

I am looking forward to going to Lowes and purchasing some new trees. My vegetable garden this year will be planted in containers.

I was wondering why my arms were hurting, and looking at the yard, I think I have figured out why.

Have a great day !

Laraine

Words to Live By

Try to live by these words a little bit each day!

Have a great one !

Laraine

Tuscan Chicken and Broccoli

When the weather gets cold, I love to make something hearty in my slow cooker. I saw a wonderful recipe for Tuscan chicken and Artichokes at www.recipe.com. Since I could not find any frozen artichokes at my local store I substituted frozen broccoli.

You will need

one package of frozen broccoli
1 medium onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic chopped.
1 package of chicken thighs. ( mine were boneless and I cut them in half )
1 tsp of Mediterranean seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
2 fresh green zucchini
1 package of yellow zucchini.............I like zucchini
1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes ( if more than a cup use them all up )
chopped parsley
2 cups of broth ( I used beef broth because I was out of chicken broth )

Layer the frozen broccoli, onion, garlic, frozen yellow zucchini in slow cooker. Top with cut up chicken and broth. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
Add tomatoes sliced green zucchini and cover and cook for another half hour or until the veggies are cooked.

Serve in a large soup bowl with french bread on the side.

Very Yummy!!

Have a great day!!!

Laraine

That Two Tier Rattan Pie Plate That Went to Dara's House

This is what that two tier rattan pie plate looks like when Dara makes and decorates cake pops. YUM ! YUM !

Yellowstone Battle for Life

I you have a few hours to spair.....may I suggest this three part series on Yellowstone National Park available on netflix.

I have always been interested in the "Druid" pack of wolves in Yellowstone. Happily the pack is featured in the winter episode.

The series is broken up into three seasonal parts. I have seen the winter season and look forward to being able to find the time to watch the last two episodes.

Have a wonderful Day.

Laraine

The Hobbit House

Several weeks ago, I saw "hobbit trailer" on my dogpile home page as a google item. Happily I thought of a very small trailer that I could pull behind my truck and go camping on the beach. NO........It was a trailer for a new Lord of the Rings Hobbit movie. Disappointment.........

I did a little searching around and came upon this website. www.simondale.net/house/index.html

Apparently this young handyman man over in England has built a true hobbit house. It's really cute but does not have many of the amenities we take for granted. I admire his creativity and most of all, I admire his wife, who seems to be leading a true homesteader's wife existence. I don't think these people would ever consider disposable diapers or paper plates and napkins.

They are starting work on a new house that also is in harmony with the land. I think you will find their site interesting.

Have a wonderful day!

Laraine

One Lovely Weekend

I spent last weekend visiting my beautiful Daughter and her family. We three girls went thrifting and had a lovely lunch at Marie Callenders Restaurant. We took over the chaos section of the restaurant.......little did we know that Chloe was running a low grade fever and promptly got sick when we got home. There is nothing more heartbreaking than a two year old throwing up. She did not understand what was happening and she sure did not like it. Amazingly she was all better in a few hours and back up and playing.
She loves balls and balloons and loves to throw then at me whether I am ready or not.

Marie Callenders creamy lemon pie is to die for. I have not tasted anything so delicious in a long time.

As much as I love visiting.....I also love coming home to my quiet life in my little cottage.

My daughter Dara is amazing. I don't remember my life raising my children, being as busy as hers is. She is taking classes at collage...raising two daughters...taking care of the house....taking care of her two dogs....and taking care of her husband.
She is a very strong person and I am very proud of her.

Have a wonderful day!!

Laraine