I SERIOUSLY can't wait!!!

Here are some informational clips from Entertainment Tonight regarding the New Moon movie. I seriously can't wait. Although it means summer will be over at least I have something to look forward to!

Finishes

I'm proud to say I have 4 of my finishes done. This was such a great incentive for me to get long awaited projects underway. The first "finish" I did was to clean the fish tank. Let me tell you Karma was at work the day I decided to clean it. My husband and son slept in the camper overnight and Rayna was asleep in her room upstairs, so I was left to my own devices to turn on the water and off, as I have the Python Syphon system. This enables you to hook a hose up to the tap and turn it on, walk over to the tank and turn the valve and water comes out (or gets sucked up the hose, depending on which stage of cleaning you're at.) Previous years, this has worked fantastic for me. Keep in mind also, that I haven't cleaned the tank since I got pregnant with Rayna, so at least a year has passed since my fish tank has been cleaned. Water has evaporated and I have added more to it, but nothing has been properly scrubbed and syphoned out. I had a large shark and a fairly large sucker fish left in the tank. So I began by syphoning the water out. (I had already pulled out the plants and scraped the algae off the glass with a blade, as no amount of scrubbing gets it off, I think the tank gets too much sun.) Halfway through syphoning my sucker fish goes belly up on the bottom and is sucking at the ceiling. Not good. By morning he is dead. Then I stop the suction and run to the sink to drain the yucky water from the hose to get it cleared out so I can run clean water back into the tank. I run the water for several minutes into a cup with the fish tank thermometer to make sure it is the right temperature before starting it into the hose. When it is just right, I twist the adaptor on the tap to start the water into the hose... soaking #1. The plastic ring that fits into the tap to connect the hose blows off the tap and the water is spraying full blast into the sink, and onto me. I turn the water off, take the rubber ring out of the adaptor to secure it into the tap farther (the threads are stripped on the lower half of the plastic ring) and reattach the hose to the tap. I re-do the water temp check, and again, the hose blows off the tap. Soaking #2. I go through this whole process one more time, and finally success. Water starts to flow through the long hose towards the living room where the fish tank sits. I rush over to the tank, and I grab the siphon end of the hose where the water will come out, and as I start to turn the valve to allow the water to come out, the whole plastic casing around the valve cracks in half, and water is gushing out and spraying full blast (go hard or go home) all over me, the wall, the carpet and the fish tank. I slam the broken end of the hose spurting water into the fish tank, {swear} and look around for a towel to wipe down the wall. I don't bother to try to sop up the carpet as my socks seem to be fairly absorbent. This can be referred to as soaking #3. I am now soaked (at least with clean water and not poopy fish water) from the boobs down. So now I wait for the tank to refill, the sucker is still belly up in the corner, sucking at nothing. I realize that since the valve is cracked in half that I'm going to have to sprint to the kitchen to turn off the tap. The tank fills, and this is it!! I dash for the kitchen...and wipe out on the lino as my wet socks have zero grip. I flail and thrash and make it back to a standing position to finish my race to the tap. Thankfully I beat the hose, and the tank didn't overflow before I got there. This will teach me for leaving the tank so long! Then to add insult to injury the shark that I had left died the next morning as well. I think it was too much of a shock to their system to have clean water! The shark I had in the tank for almost 10 years, he was about 6" long, so I was sad he didn't make it, but I've started over with 6 little tiny fish and a new sucker and a resolve to clean the tank at least every three months. Also, just a note, I don't think there was anything wrong with my Python cleaner, I think it just got brittle from sitting too long not being used, as I've had it for several years. I am able to order parts to repair my kit online (thank goodness! They're $99 to replace the whole thing!)

My second finish was Rayna's pregnancy journal. I had a hard time with it as I was trying to write it as if I had kept it up while I was actually pregnant, but gave up and wrote it in the past tense as I am finishing it 8 months after the fact. I am glad to have it done though, and now need to get started on her baby book so I don't forget all the facts for that!!

I also finished my new slippers, my Mary Jane Skimmers.

I love them they are so comfy, the bottoms are super thick and cushy so I love wearing them, and I can make them any color. You can buy the pattern for them from Sylver Designs. Please don't look at how white my feet are between the luscious purple...it's been a long winter.

I also finished my niece E's tutu in time for her birthday. You can find a great tutu-tutorial on the Make it And Love It blog. She's totally in "princess" mode, so it was totally appropriate and she loved it! Rayna modeled it first of course...

Mmmmm, tasty!! Lol. Rayna eats everything, and the tutu was no exception. She had a bit of fun with all the fluff!

The birthday girl wore it for the rest of the party, and the rest of the evening too I was told!
I love how the sunlight hit the pom-pom on her wand, looks so magical! What a sweetheart. Isn't she beautiful? She just turned three. I hope those curls never go away.

I have a few more things on the list to take care of, I'm hoping to for sure get the basement cleaned out (I have a due date for that as well as the garage sale is coming up fast!) and I now have enough of the Moda Oh Cherry Oh material to make the apron I want. Hope you are all getting things finished up if you need to! Click on the Spring To Finish button on the sidebar to join in the challenge!

Spring to Finish 2

I decided to join Jacquie over at Tall Grass Prairie Studio in her Spring To Finish challenge. She basically enters you for every "finish" you have, and you decide what qualifies as a finish, and it can be anything, not just quilting. Here is my list of things I would like to finish in May:

1. E's tutu birthday gift.
2. Clean the fish tank. (Hasn't been done in like a year. Yes, it's disgusting and I feel sorry for the two fish remaining in the tank.)
3. Finish Rayna's pregnancy journal. What? She's only seven months old.
4. Start on her baby book before I completely forget everything.
5. Finish my cat blackwork/cross stitch.
6. Finish Rayna's cross stitch.
7. Make myself some new slippers, as it seems even when it's +20C outside I still have cold feet.
8. Get our finances organized and budgeted.
9. Get all my digital photos organized.
10. Get the basement cleared out in time for my sister's garage sale. I have to do some serious de-junking. I should say de-cluttering as most of it is brand new stuff that I just don't have room for. I'm really bad for buying crafts especially and never getting around to DOING them.
11. Make myself an apron so when I'm doing dishes I can keep my belly dry. I manage to splash myself every time I do dishes.

I think that is a lofty enough list for one month, especially since I'm already 5 days in! I better get cracking. Have projects you need to finish? Come join! I'll be keeping you posted as to what I get accomplished. It will definitely be a challenge though, as I also have the trailer to clean and we'll be going camping for a weekend in there somewhere too. Good thing the sun has been shining, I'll need the energy!

Sad Dad

I saw this fellow featured on Oprah. His name is Matt, and he became a single parent after his wife died of a pulmonary embolism. The day after their daughter was born. He had to take his brand new baby girl home, and deal with the loss of his wife at the same time. This is an amazing story and every post I read tonight made me cry. This man loves his wife so much. (I am using present tense as it is clear he will never stop loving her.) I kept that Oprah show on my PVR as on the episode, they said he was blogging about his day to day life raising Madeline. I re-watched it tonight and looked up his blog. It is beautiful and sad and hilarious. If you're interested, check it out HERE.

Yummy Summer Salad

First of all I have a sick baby. She has her first cold at seven months old and is none too happy about it. We have the humidifier going in her room and one of those plug in Benalyn cold-scent things that puts the eucalyptus smell in the room as well. She had a long hot steamy shower this morning that helped clear her sinuses out. And she slept a lot. When she was awake she was a little cranky which is so out of character! My poor little angel baby. (And I'm such a dedicated blogger I woke her up taking this picture so I could tell you all about it! Don't worry though, she went right back to sleep. And yes, her eyes are partially open, she sleeps like this quite often. Creepy, isn't it?!)Then the cactus on my windowsill is blooming. I have been taking photos every couple days as this is a slow process, and I will scrapbook them on one layout together, but here is what the cactus bloom looks like today.I used my macro lens for these photos, as the bloom is actually only the size of the tip of your pinkie finger, maybe. Then because we have had a wonderful surge of sunny weather (my son needed sunblock and was wearing a tank top and shorts today and my husband ended up with a sun burn) I decided to break out an old recipe that I love. It's actually called Seven Fruit Salad and was submitted by a Martha Cutler and was published in the 2003 edition of the Light and Tasty magazine. (Now called Healthy Cooking). I am a subscriber, and at the end of the year they send out (for purchase) a hardcover book featuring all the recipes from the issues from the past year, so luckily I still have access to all my favorites!

Don't these look nummy? These are what started the whole fruit salad craving in the first place. Again, I love my macro lens.

So I started with a large can of peaches (don't worry the full recipe is at the bottom lol). And this is also what I love about this recipe, half of it is canned items, and I usually have them on hand so when inspiration hits, voila! A healthy snack is born.

Then I added two small cans of orange segments. Mmm I loves me some orange segments. I know, it doesn't look much different but I showed you the picture anyways. It gets better, wait for it....

Then I added a regular can of pineapple chunks.Cut up a cup of green grapes (I have little mouths that will be scarfing this down!) and added them too. Need to add some color!Then I added a cup quarted strawberries. Mmmm. Berries. Who doesn't like strawberries? Seriously. I love eating them dipped in sugar. Anyways, focus!! I added strawberries.And lastly I added in 1 cup of cherry pie filling.

Mix up this fantabulous concoction and your dessert/snack/breakfast is ready. Isn't it beautiful??

I don't think it even looks as luscious and gooey as it actually is. The pie filling makes kind of a glaze that is just sweet enough. Have a closer look:

Now, you may be saying to yourselves, "Now Rose, peaches, oranges, pineapple, grapes, strawberries and cherries - that's only SIX fruits. I thought this was SEVEN fruit salad?" I have to admit, since trying this recipe six years ago, I have never had blueberries on hand when I've made it. I asked my husband to bring some home, and if the store didn't have any to bring blackberries instead, but he didn't bring either, so I just omitted them. That's my little secret. Well, not anymore. hehe. This is a very versatile recipe though and you can change it up any way you like.

This is great so many ways! Top with a little dream whip and a mint sprig to make it look fancy. Add some yogurt and granola for a healthy, delicious breakfast. Switch out the fruits to make it different, use what's seasonal. I actually hollowed out a watermelon and made a dessert basket filled with this salad for a family reunion once. Disclaimer: This is not a photo of the actual salad I made, but...it's close enough and you get the idea hehe.

So here it is...{insert drumroll}...as featured in Light & Tasty Magazine:

Seven Fruit Salad

This refreshing fruit medley, lightly coated with cherry pie filling, makes a great picnic dish. You can substitute other fruits, such as red grapes or bananas, and use strawberry pie filling instead of cherry. -Martha Cutler

1 can (29 oz) reduced sugar sliced peaches, drained

2 cans (11 oz each) mandarin orange segments, drained

1 can (20 oz) unsweetened pineapple chunks, drained

1 cup green grapes

1 cup halved fresh strawberries

1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1 cup reduced sugar cherry pie filling

In a large bowl, combine the peaches, oranges, pineapple and pie filling. Add the strawberries, grapes and blueberries, stir gently. Store leftovers in the refridgerator. Yield: 10 servings.

Nutritional Info: 1 serving = 3/4 cup = 104 calories, trace fat, 0 cholesterol, 6mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 1 g protein. Diabetic Exchange: 1-1/2 fruit

Enjoy!

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This is the message I got and I don't think anyone can see me anymore!!?

Found this fix on one of the message boards for anyone that needs it...

"hi everybody!!! i know this error + 1) you sign out blogger + 2) and sign in blogger > go to Layout > Edit HTML > you click "Download Full Template" + 3) you go to "Pick New Template" and choose New Template for your blog your blog will appear ^^ + 4) you go to agian "Layout > Edit HTML" and browser "your old Template" -> and OK!!!"