Cat's Crafty Corner

Want To See Pictures of My New Grandbaby?

Remember you can click to enlarge and if the picture is large you can use your down arrows to scroll down, even if there is not a scroller to the right.

Here they are... my little two pound bundle of joy.

Can you see the tongue? Proof that this little tyke is definitely related to the von Hassel's.

My brother Chris, always, I mean always, sticks his tongue out for pictures, even today at 44 years old or once instead, once in a while a middle finger. A photo without him doing it is very rare, yeah you guess it, he is a pain in the... LOL

Further proof that it is related to a von Hassel. Check out that nose, just like great-grandpa.

For those that are too modest, cover your eyes.

No I didn't do the arrow, the nurse who did the sonogram kindly did. LOL and they didn't want to know what sex the baby was. LOL I guess the young one had different ideas LOL.

I was going to outline the photos in Paint Shop but my dear son beat me to it. Now if you can see the file names, I DID NOT name them. The Daddy to be did.

I didn't realize it, but I guess the little guy is also giving the finger. LOL yeah hon definitely a child of yours LOL.

Naturally the last one definitely does not need an outline ;-)

I always have problems making out sonograms, it only took a few seconds and I was able to see these. I guess technology has come a long way baby LOL. My doctor didn't believe in having a sonogram unless there was some medical reason so both my boys didn't have their pictures taken.

Keep these three in your thoughts and prayers as they are being hit very hard by this economy and can really use all good vibes right now. They are going through very tough times.

Hugs!!! Namaste!!!!

Quotes

I saw this quote the other day and it really resonated with me.

There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it.

George Bernard Shaw

LOL I should add... and everyone thinks theirs is the right one. Even though Buddhism is not a religion I know some family members would be very offended that I took my vows. I don't quite know how but I've been told that we have very strong ties to Martin Luther (the hang the thesis on the church door Luther). Matter-of-fact I was talking about it to a very dear friend of mine, Joan and her friend. My aunt and her brother (my uncle, but not of the same family who claims ties to Martin Luther) were also at the table. Tante Jennifer knows that I did my vows and I consider her my spiritual go-to and guide. When I was talking about being a Buddhist, my uncle said, laughingly I might add, "traitor." I said "No, I feel all religions lead us to the same path, just that people are on different paths. But Buddhism is not a religion." He agreed and that was that. Not sure why but for some reason it came to mind, I guess when I read the above quote. Hugs!!!! Namaste!!!!

Dinner Planning for the Week

Life has been real crazy lately, had some bad news from a family member and that always throws me in a tizzy. If you've been wondering why all this organizing - this is one reason. I tend to do that when I get rotten news.

I also put aside my shawl and Mom's knitting to do a small test knit. It was tons of fun but all I will say about it for now.

I overhauled my craft studio - big time. I mean I went through baskets, storage boxes, and shelves, now everything from buttons to scrapbooking supplies is in its place. My knitting is in one area (I do need to go through those baskets and put like yarn with like yarn), sewing in another and scrapbooking another, floors are empty, drafting table clear, new redone corkboard hung up, and pictures rehung.

Monday - Chicken w/Rice and Mushroom
Tuesday - Leftovers (this will be trend until my class is done end of May)
Wednesday - Homemade pizza
Thursday - We might eat out or do quick sandwiches. This is meditation night and sweet DH joined me last Thursday for the first time. He said it was exactly what he needed, so if he comes again we'll go out to eat before, if not the sandwiches. I don't like to push as far as these things go so I'll just let him decide.
Friday - Fish (flounder or tilipia, with rice and asparagus)

If you are wondering why I don't put in the weekends it is because I never know what we are doing. If we are out and running around and get a late start we end up having lunner out. LOL like Saturday we both extremely overslept and didn't get out of the house until 2:00. Did some running around and stopped for lunch. LOL yeah right, when we were back in the car I said to hubby that I'll make some fish and rice tonight for dinner and looked at the time, it was 5:00. I started laughing and said I guess we're not having fish tonight. Sunday's I do cook but it depends sometimes I make a "Sunday dinner," or we just do "grab and growl" which is grab something to eat when your stomach growls. I am also hoping this weekend to head to Charlotte to Ikea.

OH I found a wonderful little give away at Embroidery Treasures - 21 Fat Quarters. I stumbled on her site yesterday when I was browsing the Internet before bed and loved it, I subscribed to her feed.

Saturday I made a Date, Raisin, Walnut bread to have for Sunday breakfast (it has to sit overnight in an airtight container), hubby made eggs and we also had leftover biscuits (I made them the other night to have with strawberries). The bread ended up delic. especially with cream cheese. I had all the ingredients on hand which I love, I hate seeing a recipe and then have to go out to get something for it. I love dates, and I always have them on hand. For dinner I opted to stay home, so hubby made some delicious Orange and Ginger fish with black rice and beans YUM!!!! For dessert he made rice pudding from the black rice. LOL the black rice turns a purple after cooking, it was really very good even though it looked funky.

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

Sad So Sad

I am all for art, heck I even call myself a fiber artist but this is absolutely insane. I went to this site and signed the petition. Be forewarned the pictures are extremely distressing. I used Bablefish to translate for me but not to sign the petition I went back to my web browser.

What Color Is Your Psyche

Your Psyche is Blue

You are deeply emotional and very connected to everything (and everyone) around you. By simply understanding other people, you are able to help them heal and let go. While you are a very deep and thoughtful person, you do have a very silly, superficial side. When you are too blue: the weight of the world's problems hangs over you When you don't have enough blue: you lack perspective and understanding

What Color Is Your Psyche?

Sausages!

WARNING!! Graphic Intense

Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments yesterday on the corkboard. It really means a lot to me.

Today was the day I made the sausage. DH stopped to Williams and Sonoma and picked up my stuffer attachment for the KitchenAid's Meat Grinder.

The casing is packed in salt so first thing was to soak the casing in warm water for 30 minutes, then rinse a few times. I then grabbed a section and ran warm water through it.

I mixed together, 1 pound each - Turkey, Pork and Beef, added 1/2 tsp Anise, 1/2 TBSP Fennel, Salt, and Pepper and 4 cloves Garlic crushed. It asked for 1/2 cup of chilled red wine, I didn't have any chilled, so I used the ice water substitute it called for. Since this was my first time I didn't want to play to much. Next time I'm going to experiment with different flavors.

Next I greased the stuffer attachment and put on the casing.

I tied a string around the end, and realized I didn't need such a big string. I also could have tied the casing.

Here are the first three links:

I twisted in-between each link, but later I took the string and tied them off, as I couldn't get the twists to stay. I'll read up on that later to see which is the proper way to do this.

A close-up.

First Batch:

All done!!! The top six links, which were my last six to do, have Queso cheese inside. DH bought this cheese by mistake and it only tastes good when melted (at least to us), so I thought it would be perfect in his sausage for tonight.

This made about 23 links and my friend Mary Ann from Three Waters Farm will get a few links. I'm not going to spin night at her shop tonight in Carrborro, so I'll drop them off to her tomorrow on my way to meditation. I put six links aside for DH's dinner and froze the rest. He tends to take his lunch from leftovers so I'm making a few extra for his lunch tomorrow. From beginning to end it took me two hours which I didn't think was bad considering it was my first time. I also have some of that bread dough resting and will throw that in the oven and then make some pasta and sauce for dinner.

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!

Corkboard Makeover

I have one of those plain jane corkboards and have always wanted to make it over. If you read my posts you know that hubby helped me staple on the material. Unfortunately the staples were too long also, but I left them in until I was done. Hubby also helped me put on the ribbon, we used double sided tape, a lot easier and less messier than a glue gun. Yesterday I measured and marked where I wanted to place my ribbons and hot glued them on. I measured 4 1/2" out from the corners and placed a mark, I measured the middle of each side and placed a mark. The ribbon, which I love buy the way, (I bought the same ribbon years ago when I decoupaged my Yorkie box, I'll get a picture, and in '05 when I redid a Micheal's project book to hold those small free project papers you get at the stores) was on clearance at two different Michael's I went to, so I hoarded. Oops oh yeah, sorry got sidetracked, the ribbon is half green and half lavender so I used that as a placement guideline on my markings. After all ribbons were glued to the edges and back I then went through and glued just where they meet and then onto the fabric. I wanted to be able to tuck things under the ribbon so I did not glue the whole length. Then hubby reattached the frame for me. I also made a little tack bag to hang on the corkboard.

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I love the purple flower magnets, they came in a set but I don't remember of what, I do remember a magnet to-do list, shows you how long I've had them.

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I didn't use any pattern for board or bag. I just measured the corkboard, measured and cut the material. I then laid the corkboard in the center of the material, folded the corners in and then the sides. As I held them tight DH stapled. I did this all the way around the board. For the bag I knew the general size I wanted and just cut the material. I used the same material as the corkboard and the back of the bag is the little tiny flowers you see in the picture. That was a tablecloth I messed up so I'm using the material for odd and end things. No test knitting for me today. My class Journey Without A Goal, The Tantric Wisdom of the Buddha is tonight and I need to finish my reading. Once I'm done with that I can sit and knit.

*Remember you can click to make bigger

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!

Because I Love You All

Hey I'm an enabler. LOLOL I know Red Dirt Knitter, this is a little different then the email I sent you LOL this one has caffeine LOL.

Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!