10 Pretty Piggies

I was so blessed by my super talented friend Ellen today! She gave me an amazing pedicure. I got to enjoy her company and a couple hours of being TOTALLY pampered. Thanks LN, Love you!

Melted Fabric Flowers

Thats right! MELTED fabric flowers! This is just about the funnest craft ever! I saw this on another blog the day before our churches womens retreat and just HAD to try it out. I couldn't wait until I got home, so when my friend Ellen (Another super talented friend of mine) and I were running an errand that weekend, I stopped by a Joannes Fabric store and picked up some fabric to try it out. I then spent the afternoon melting fabric over a tiny candle in my room. I think I actually got high off the fumes...Anyway, here are the instructions, I will post a pic of the flowers for you to see the final product.You will need:
silk or synthetic fabric (I used lining)
a candle
scissors
long handled tweezers
various jars and lids for circle patterns
at least 6 circles of various sizes cut from fabric
After cutting circles of fabric, cut slits into the circles but not all the way to the center.Hold circle of fabric one at a time over flame from candle (Use the tweezers for the smaller circles) until edges begin to shrivel up and warp. After all the circles have been melted to your satisfaction, attach with a safety pin or a dot of hot glue to form a flower. Each one will turn out diffrently. You can then make a hair accesory or pin out of your flower. Send me of pic of the final project! I can't wait to see how they turn out!Have fun. And expect to have a burned finger or two. Oh, and I would highly (No pun intended) recomend a well ventilated area for this project.

Easy Pork BBQ Sandwiches

You won't believe how easy and delicious this is to make!
5-lbs pork picnic roast
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 bottles of BBQ sauce

Place pork in Crockpot, pour enough water in to come 1/2 way up the side of the meat. (No need to brown) Sprinkle garlic and seasoning on top. Cook the heck out of it for about 5-6 hours. Remove any pieces of fat, shred and pour your fav BBQ sauce on top. Mix well. Serve on hamburger buns. Yummo! Enjoy!

PS this gets a 10 rating of the 1-10 scale of picky eaters, just so ya know.

Happy Fall "yall!

I've missed you dear Blogger Family! We have been super busy. This summer we moved to a house about half the size of our other home in hopes of saving some money. My dear friend Dana suprised me and came out to help with the move. Can you believe that? All the way from Texas to California to help me move and lift my spirits. And did she ever! I am so blessed to have her in my life. I have also started to work at a Hotel nearby. I won't say the name but it starts with an "H" and rhymes with "Wilton." I work at the front desk and twice a week I do the night audit. Yes thats right, I work the "Grave-Yard/Hoot Owl." 11pm to 7am. Can you believe it? Let me tell you, I have seen some C-R-A-Z-Y stuff going on! I will share some stories with you soon. But for now I want to finish catching up with you. This place is finally starting to feel like home. I have my pictures up and my cozy antique quilts. My dishes are in the cupboard and a pumpkin scented candle is burning. It is coming along. One of my favorite quotes is by Oliver Wendell Holmes...it says, "Where we love is home. Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts." I think that about sums it up. Home is where our heart is. This has been quite a ride for all of us, and quite a transition. But I know that God is working it all out for our good and His glory! I hope to hear from you soon, and promise to write again sooner than later. Till next time....Love Jodi

Salted Caramel Bars

10 T butter melted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg yolk
1 2/3 cups all purpoe flour
Caramel topping
Sea salt flakes
Oven at 350. Line a 9x9 inch pan with a strip of foil or parchment paper allowing edges to hang over.
In a bowl stir together butter, sugar and salt, whisk in egg yolk, then flour. Transfer to the pan and press evenly into the bottom. Prick dough with a fork. Refrigerate 10 minutes, then bake 30 minutes until light brown. Prepare topping and pour evenly over shortbread, cool in pan at least 2 hours. Lift bars from pan and cut into squares.
Caramel topping
In a small saucepan over medium heat combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 6 tablespoons light corn syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar and 2 Tablespoons heavy cream. Cook until sugar is disolved. Bring to a boil. When mixture begins to bubble, stir constantly for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour on top of bars.Sprinkle with a little Sea salt.
Enjoy! Till next time, Jodi
This is out of this world yummy! Enjot

Mistletoe

It is finally here! After being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes last December, Georgia had to learn how to test and monitor her Blood Glucose levels and give herself shots of insulin. Then she had to learn how to Carbohydrate Count. All of this was leading up to getting the insulin pump which acts as her pancreas, delivering insulin in a steady dose throughout the day and night. Her doctor finally said she had learned all she needed to and approved the pump. She has now mastered the pump and all of its workings as well. She is quite an amazing girl,and has taken on so much responsibility since her diagnosis last year. We are very proud of her. She decided to give it a name, and since it is green (she got to pick from several colors) and it came to us in December, she named it Mistletoe. I admit it was difficult to accept that a machine would be attached to my child. But it really is helping. I am grateful for good insurance and amazing technology! Till the next post, Love, Jodi

December

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to this month. We made cookies with my Mom (it would not be Christmas without them!)and Georgia made a nativity scene with her American girl dolls, how cute is that? We always decorate a gingerbread house, but this year the beagle ate part of it. We left her on her own for 5 minutes and the next thing you know, the gingerbread house is missing it's roof! Things like this make for great memories though...Share your holiday memories with me, I would LOVE to hear about them! Till next time, Jodi

Darlenes sweet desert cottage

I have known Darlene for a couple of years now, however it was just this summer that I was able to get to know her and she has since become a very dear friend of mine. Around town she was rumored to be an incredible decorator, and I asked her if she would mind if I came over and took some pictures for my blog. She agreed and was gracious and welcoming. The rumors were true! Her home is all at once charming, darling and delightful. With walls the palest-fairy-wing-green and cranberry-red, and accents of both throughout. She effortlessly mixes antiques with new furnishings, and arranges cherished family heirlooms in a simple yet creative and fresh way. I was absolutly charmed by her beautiful home. Now I need to get her over here to work on my house....

Is this THE most beautiful bed you have ever seen? I love the simplicity and height.

Darling!

The bright red mirror makes a gorgeous focal point in the master bathroom.

The charming guest bedroom.

A sweet mix of vintage prints and antique photographs.

What a beautiful contrast the fairy-wing-green and the cranberry-red walls make.

Shelves and even windows are made into displays.

Cozy, charming and delightful.

I love how she groups like colors together.

Isn't this color beautiful?

What time is it? It's time to paint your walls red!

I love the angle that the books are at. I plan on trying this myself.

The watch in the glass dome belonged to Darlenes husbands father, the crystal cracked so to protect it from dust, she placed it here.

This precious teddy belongs to Darlenes husband, it was his when he was a child.

A great way to add some charm to a doorway.

Antique china plates with the same color scheme.

How suprising and sweet to see a picture of two lovers tucked between a pair of teapots.

I love to see cherished family pictures, they make the diffrence between a house and a home.

Time worn and well loved, vintage sugar and creamer and silver spoons.

Cups and spoons ready for a tea party.

This chair was found at a yard sale where the lady selling it explained that her father had had carved it. WHY would you sell this treasure?