Friday Funny

A teenage boy had just passed his driving test and inquired of his
father as to when they could discuss his use of the car.

His father said he'd make a deal with his son: 'You bring your grades
up from a C to a B average, study your Bible a little, and get your
hair cut. Then we'll talk about the car.'

The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he'd settle for the
offer, and they agreed on it.

After about six weeks his father said, 'Son, you've brought your grades
up and I've observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I'm
disappointed you haven't had your hair cut.

The boy said, 'You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've
noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the
Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair...and there's even strong
evidence that Jesus had long hair.'

To this his father replied, 'Did you also notice they all walked
everywhere they went?'

Children's Day in Japan

May 5th might be Cinco de Mayo here in the states but did you know that in Japan May 5th is Children's Day?

Celebrating the elderly or the time-wisened individuals is commonplace in Japan but they don't forget about the kids.

This is a great day to celebrate with banners, prizes and candy.

I think we should lobby for a Children's Day here in the states.

What do you think?

Wearable Words

We used to play Scrabble all the time but this game has lost a few pieces. But, I didn't want to throw it out. So I figured out a way to recraft the pieces. My husband drilled eye hooks on the top.
I threaded a ribbon into the hook. I'm going to send these to a few friends - they can use these as bookmarks or replace the ribbon with a nice chain and hang it or wear it.

What do you think of this idea?

Tulip Tuesday

We went to Woodland, Washington for the Tulip and Lilac festivals. I love tulips but lilacs are my absolute favorite.




What's your favorite flower?

May Day is on its Way - Here's How to Make a May Basket

When I was little, we used to make May Day baskets out of paper and fill them with flowers. We'd hang them on the neighbors' doors, ring the bell and run off. Then we'd hide in the bushes and watch the door swing open to see the surprised expressions on our neighbor's faces.

Then when my kids were little, I helped them make the same paper baskets and hang them on the neighbor's doors.

May 1st is May Day and it's just around the corner. So, if you want to get ready, you might want to start making your baskets now. Here's how:

1) First I start with some pretty papers (these could be leftover gift wrapping paper).

I can also mix papers and adhere them to one another with spray-on adhesive.

2) Then I cover them in contact paper (I keep a roll around the house)

3) I roll the paper into a cone

4) I staple the edges and tape them down.
5) I punch a hole on either side

6) Then I string a ribbon through the holes

7) And stuff some flower foam down inside.
8) I use a little water holder that I can wedge into the foam and stick a bouquet into the water.

On May Day I'll fill these up and hang them on the doors.

I'll pick the flowers from my yard to make my bouquets.


May Day has traditionally been a day of celebration which involves dancing around a May pole and delivering May baskets filled with flowers onto the doors of houses.

Some people might call May day a celebration of spring and a flower festival.

In many countries, May Day is a celebration of International Workers' Day, or Labor Day, a day of political demonstrations and celebrations organized by the unions.

Traditional English May Day includes dancing, crowning a May Queen and celebrations involving a Maypole. The Maypole is adorned with ribbons that kids hold on to as they dance around the pole. This creates a beautiful multi-colored pole.

Wanna Go?

There's one place I want to see: Ireland. I've never been - maybe one day.
Is there any place you'd like to see?

Graduation

I made it - I graduated from cake decorating class - basics I.

It's not as EZ as you might think. Making those flowers, leaves and borders takes practice - but I love working with food. The best part is in the end, when I get to have my cake and EAT IT TOO :)

Earth-Friendly Friday - ICE STONE

Have you ever heard of ICE STONE? Well, I hadn't before this past weekend. My hubby and I went out looking for tile for our bathtub surround. It's time to redo that area once again. But, we wanted to look at ecofriendly alternatives.

Ice Stone surfaces can be used for kitchen countertops, backsplashes, bathrooms, tabletops, and more.

ICE STONE is created from 100% recycled glass mixed with cement. Take a peek over at Icestone.biz to see their selection.

I love the idea of reusing while we're remodeling. How 'bout you?

Magic, Myth and Make-believe

Basil is a wonderful plant for making pesto or seasoning soup but did you know that some people believe it has "magical" properties?

I read that basil can be used as an aphrodisiac or even to breed scorpions. And, some people believe you can use basil to heal scorpion bites and stomach troubles or to drive away flies.

I found one recipe on-line that said if you take three crushed basil leaves and put them under a clay pot, a tiny scorpion will be born.

Amazing what a little plant can do...:)

Writers . . . Working . . .WINNING

Writing is something we do because we love it. It's like breathing for some of us. We've been doing it as long as we can remember but sometimes . . . when we get to a spot that gets tough, we feel like we're starting to climb an unbreachable path

And we keep on writing, and working and working. . .
even though it seems like the path is getting steeper and more difficult and making it over to the other side is going to be impossible


But if you keep at it, and work through those hills, it will be smooth sailing before you know what happened



So keep on that path. . . keep on going . . . there's only one way to reach your destination - and the steps to your goal are right in front of you.

Tuesday - Tour

How 'bout taking a trip around the city?

Portland beneath the bridges and standing on top

Swimming with the big. . .ducks

Writing might seem a little scary and submitting . . . like jumping off a cliff


We all have fears. What if someone doesn't like what we write? Wonder if it offends someone or people think it's stupid?

Writers pour out their souls, using paper and ink, onto the page. And, sending that "baby" out into the world of agents, editors and publishers might feel more like standing on the edge of a cliff and looking over the edge, than merely submitting a story.

But all it takes is one small step forward. . .

and that little leap just might take you into an entirely new world.

All it takes is a little persistance before you'll be swimming like the big ducks.


So submit those stories, get them out of those drawers, send them off.

I'm sure things will go swimmingly for you.

Date Night

Lars and I rarely go out by ourselves. We usually take the kids or some other family members when we dine out. It just seems too expensive to go out very often so it's usually for a special occasion. So Saturday night we got dressed up and went to Pazzo's in downtown Portland for dinner. Lars had the duck and I had the New York steak. We finished up with a frozen lemon mousse, which we shared because we'd already stuffed ourselves with the homemade bread. It was oh so yummy!

Send in the Clowns

There ought to be clowns.

So send in the clowns.

My first project from my cake decorating class. It's been so much fun! Now I can have my cake and eat it too. :)

Earth-Friendly Friday

I love it when people are creative in recycling. This purse was made from recycled seatbelts - how cool is that? I wish I was so creative. And these purses are not too expensive. Check out this site to see a whole selection.

I may have to get one of these.

YIKES

It's TAX DAY - April 15th!



Starbucks is offering free brewed coffee if you bring in a reusable coffee mug. Help save the planet and bring a little caffeinated cheer to what some might call a gloomy day.

Happy Tax Day!

Answer to Word for Wedneday

If you guessed the word RES means a tangible thing. Then you were "write". If you don't believe me, check it out here.

Word for Wednesday - a game for Writers

Guess what the word means. Put your guess in the comments and then come back at three to see if you guessed write or wrong.

Word: RES

TIME OUT TUESDAY

One of the perks of working at google, I guess. I'd like a time-out in one of these little time-capsules.

How 'bout you?

Monday Music

These guys are great. Check 'em out.

Movie Review - Clash of the Titans

It was old school for me. I remember when Clash of the Titans came out--originally. It was great back then and it was even better today.

My daughter and I went to see it together. We both enjoyed it so I guess that means that old school and new school - rule!

It was filled with amazing graphics and excitement and with wonderful actors and actresses, this couldn't be beat.

I loved how they did Pegasus. It was like a modern day Black Stallion. Beautiful horse.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon. I would recommend seeing this movie.

You Can't Have Your Cake - If Your Dog Eats It Too

Tonight (Friday) was my second cake decorating class. I stayed up Thursday night baking my cake and mixing and coloring my thick, thin and medium frostings so I'd be ready for my class.

But I feel like a beauty school drop out - or a cake school drop out. Because it's hard to believe I'm back in school and I had to tell my teacher "my dog ate my homework" :(

It's true.

I had my cake inside my cake carrier - you can see the carrier on the table in the Friday post above. I had the cake inside the carrier, all ready to take to class when I went to work. I wasn't expecting the call I got from my daughter.

"Mom," Kara's voice sounded strange. I knew something was wrong.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Sasha. . .ate your cake."

She'd never jumped up on the kitchen table before today. Somehow that very smart dog got my cake carrier cover off my cake and . . . ate my homework. Could anything be worse?

The center was filled with chocolate pudding - not good for dogs. So I'm expecting a sick little puppy tonight.

So next week I'm going to have to redouble my efforts and bring in one amazing cake so I don't get kicked out of class. I never thought I'd have to worry about flunking out of school again.

Earth-Friendly Friday - Gardening "Green" House

I’ve always wanted a greenhouse but with three kids and two currently in college…that dream will have to wait. But, I’m not a quitter and I never give up that easily. So, what’s a girl to do?

How ‘bout a bread bag?

“Huh?” You might ask.

Well, a plastic bread bag is the perfect growing environment for starter seedlings. I simply need to supply a little sunlight – which isn’t always EZ in Portland, Oregon, and a little water—heck, that one’s EZ-smeezy here in the Pacific Northwest. That liquid sunshine falls from our skies – nearly daily.

Anyway, so I’m creating my own mini-greenhouse and the results have been fantabulous! Just look at this Scarlet runner bean, which I have grown from a tiny seedling. This weekend I’m planning to wean this baby out into the garden. I’m just hoping we won’t have any killing frosts. When you grow these little guys, taking care of them daily, it’s hard to lose any to Mother Nature.

I’ll keep you posted on Scarlet’s progress.

Answer to Thought for Thursday

Answer to how the three horses made history in 1944: They all hit the finish line at the same time - it was the first triple dead heat in a stakes race.

Thought for Thursday

This might make you think...

In 1944, how did three horses make history at Aqueduct Racetrack? The three horses were Brownie, Bossuet, and Wait A Bit.

Come out and play...

Take a guess - put it in the comments section and then come back around 3:00 p.m. to see if you were right.

Answer to Word for Wedneday

The word Contumacious means stubbornly perverse, disobedient, willful and if you want to see more, check it out here.

Word for Wednesday - a game for Writers

Word: Contumacious

Come on - take a guess - what could it mean?

Put your guess in the comments and then come back around 3:00 to see if you were right

Tuesday Tatoes

Easter Dinner always involves a lot of family, friends and - of course - food. And one of the things I always tell my kids is "recipes are just a guideline". I grew up in a family with nine kids and not a lot of money - so Mom made due. She could feed a family with nothing more than a can of tuna and a bag of pasta. I don't know how she did it but I do know she taught me to be resourceful. So, when I heard that Paula Deen was having a cooking contest - I thought I could do that. I decided to throw together my own little recipe of sour cream and onion potatoes. Here's how I did it:

but I didn't film the two minced cloves of garlic I sauteed in butter and blended in with the potatoes.

When I told my husband I was making up this recipe he said, "No. I don't want to be a guinea pig - especially on Easter. Besides, the sour cream and cheese will probably curdle. They didn't.

Today, my husband called me at work during lunch when he was eating a helping of leftover ham and potatoes. He said, "these are the best mashed potatoes I ever had. How come you don't make 'em more often?"

Maybe because I just came up with the recipe on Sunday.

So, do you have any EZ fun family recipes you'd like to share?

Three May Writing Contests - thanks to Writer's Market

THREE MAY WRITING CONTESTS

WritersMarket.com lists more than 1,000 contests and awards for a range of writing genres, including fiction, nonfiction, journalism, poetry, writing for children, scriptwriting, and more. Here are three with May deadlines:

The Bordighera Italian-American Poetry Prize is offered annually to find the best unpublished poetry manuscripts, in English, by an American of Italian descent. The deadline is May 31; the prize is $2,000 and bilingual book publication to be divided between the poet and consigned translator.

The Alexander Patterson Cappon Fiction Award is offered annually for unpublished fiction to discover and reward new and upcoming writers. Deadline is May 18; the prize is $1,500 and publication in a volume of New Letters. There is a $15 entry fee.

The Sow's Ear Chapbook Prize is offered for poetry chapbook manuscripts of 22-26 pages. Deadline is May 1. The prize is $1,000 and 25 copies of the published chapbook. There is a $27 reading fee that includes a one-year subscription to The Sow's Ear Review.

Wishes

Just wanted to say
WISHING you a hopping day!

It's Raining Cupcakes

I just started Lisa Schroeder's new book, It's Raining Cupcakes and it's really cute - and I'm talking about more than the cover, which is adorable. This is a middle grade story. I'll let you know more about it when I'm done but suffice it to say, it seems to be a tasty treat.

The story starts with Red Velvet cupcakes and quickly moves to Strawberry Lemonade cupcakes, which inspired me to make a few cupcakes of my own for Easter.

If you'd like to make these same little baskets, just get some pipe cleaners at the store and all you have to do to make the grass for the baskets is mix frosting, with coconut and green food coloring. You can decorate the basket with a couple jelly beans or even malted eggs, maybe even a little peep.

Whatever you do, I hope you all have a sweet weekend ;)

GRANDMA WENT TO HAWAII AND ALL I GOT . . .

WAS THIS STUPID SHIRT.

Actually, my son went to Pair-us (no room for Mom and Dad) and all I got was this bag. . . but I really do love it.

It's made out of a plastic tarp-like material. In the handles are little rubber tubes so that they are cushiony on my fingers when I'm hauling my food out to the car. And, with the holiday weekend and the two dinners I'm planning, believe me-- that haul was heavy. The bag could have probably carried the entire pig out of the store and into my car. That tarp material doesn't tear. And, with this luxurious bag I've never forgotten it in my car or back at home. It's kinda cool to be carrying a French bag into the food aisles.

And, who knows maybe I'll even throw in a croissant - might as well dream I'm in Paris.

Happy April Fool's Day-Duff and Buddy Better Watch Out

But this is NO joke.

I'm a true Wannabe: Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes


Have any of you watched Cake Boss or The Ace of Cakes? I love 'em - but I hate 'em too.

Those guys are a bunch of frauds. They make that cake decorating look so EZ-smeazy that even I thought I could do it. But, if you've followed my blog maybe you might have seen my fondant FAIL. That cake was an absolute disaster. But I'm not a quitter--especially when it comes to food, just look at me and you'll know that's true. So what did I do. . . ?

I signed up for my first-ever cake-decorating class through Joann Fabrics. I know - who would have thought that a fabric store would have cake decorating classes, but they have that and more: knitting, crocheting, sewing--okay you might have expected sewing classes at a fabric store but you get my point.

So for the next four-weeks, I'll be doing my homework, reading my course materials and climbing my way up from that fondant fail floor to a final fondant rematch.

Keep your fingers crossed. I'll keep you posted and we'll see if a little expert guidance--thanks to Joann--can help a wannabe Cake Boss or a new Ace of Cakes...heck, Duff and Buddy better watch out--this might be the start of a beautiful relationship between me and cake decorating.

And with a little luck--or maybe a whole lotta luck--I might just be on my way to becoming the new Queen of Cakes;)

What can I say, my Mom taught me to dream BIG.