It's me again, Margaret . . .

I have been so enjoying spring weather and also so busy creating things for The Humble Arts and ebay that I have been neglecting my blog. I know you can tell. It doesn't mean that I haven't been thinking of my online buddies. I have thought of each of my very favorite ones each day and remembered each of them in my prayers. I just seem to have had so little time to get things done that need to be done. And I love blogging. It is my outlet for myself to write down my own little thoughts of what is important to me at the moment. The essence of my day. I don't blog to please others, compete with others, impress others, imitate others. When I blog, it is a release of my little old pea brain.

Like right now, I am wanting to share more about what is important for me personally at the moment. You know, spring time is unique to each of us ~ for different reasons. I mean, I know it is about the rebirth of the earth, the sowing, cultivating and the foreshadowing of the inevitable harvest. I enjoy gardening with weeds and gleaning all sorts of spiritual truths as I do. I enjoy the beauty of the flowers, weeds, trees, the birds, the bees pollinating the blueberry bushes my brother planted 20 years ago.

What I am doing this spring is taking note of which shrubs, tubers, perrenials, runners . . . that came from my grandmothers, my mother, my aunts, my sister, friends . . . and I plan on sharing them with my daughter, my sister and my sister in law and mom. Some things need to be dug up and separated so that they not only remain healthy, but actually flourish under the gardeners skillful pruning.

For example - my Gramma Dolly's Irises (pic above) She transported these Irises from Staten Island, NY to Rockingham County, NC. They had been gifted to her and she wanted to share with her new son in law's Mom something special. That was over 60 years ago. Those irises have been moved, shorn, shared and flourished on this land since.

(black hollyhock grown from seeds that a friend shared with me!)
I also have a wonderful Rose of Sharon that I rooted from my dear Uncle's house in New York a few years ago. I wasn't sure if it would root ~ wow, it rooted well enough for me to give one to my Mom last year - a living memorial for her from her brother and her roots in New York. It has grown way more than I thought it would in just two years since I took that piece!

Gardeners love to share their seeds. It is like having a perpetual reminder of friendship. I have a few little plants in my garden that I received from a dear and precious friend in Roanoke Virginia. She let me dig in her yard in North Carolina before she moved to Virginia. She gave me dried handfuls of Sweet Annie that made my ride back home so very fragrant and each year as Annie comes to visit me again, I think of my sweet friend.

The month of Yes, You May!

It is May 1st at The Humble Arts and you know what that means . . .we are excited about our new creations being unveiled! Hop, skip or surf on over for a visit at
http://www.thehumblearts.com We loves company!

It is almost May 2 and as I sit here typing, bleary and red eyes, I have to wonder where April went to? It seemed a blur of rain and clouds of pollen to me. We had a few late freezes as usual; nothing that did too much damage to our early veggies.

I started May off with a big bang. My motherboard croaked last night as I was uploading the humble arts. Let me tell you friends, I have learned a few lessons here.
Number 1 ~ don't ever delete anything in a fit of anger, especially when you are using an old dinosaur like I was. Karma sucks
Number 2 ~ make sure your computer tech guy likes you really really well. As in bumps you ahead of 3 scheduled appts because he is a nice guy and hates to see middle aged gals who remind him of his momma crying and snuffling eptithets under her breath. I knew he wouldn't be able to resist me. He used to have a crush on my daughter.
Number 3 ~ A computer crash is a real good excuse ~ even in this economy of $3.59 a gallon for gas ~ to pop for a greasy burger from The Circle. My fellow Edenites understand this. You need a double ch'burger from The Circle(with grilled onions, lettuce and a slice of fresh 'mater, please) and hushpuppies from Dicks. We do like our drive in cardiac injector restaurants here.
Number 4 ~ Hubs has learned when to leave me alone and when to come in and rub my shoulders or put those big old hands of his over mine and say sweet things like, "you sure have some red eyes", or "do you reckon I should get you some soap to clean out your mouth?" I am a lucky woman.
I may not get my power bill paid on time this month; I still owe $1000.00 on that blasted water bill (I am whittling it down a few bucks a month) ~ but I have a new puter. YEE HAW!!!

April Showers

We have been getting some very much needed rain and cool weather. Makes me frisky!
All the rain and subsequent wind has blown a lot of the blooms off the azaleas and some of the dogwoods. Still, there is enough beauty to see out there.

I wanted to share with you one of the projects that I have been working on for the May 1 issue of the Humble Arts.
These are my "Two Sisters"

I have to tell you, I have been grooving on these dolls. So much fun to create!! I have also been working on some wall hangings but not quite ready to reveal them yet.
Now that spring is seriously under way, Luscious and I need to spend more time in the garden. We like mudpies, honestly but there is so much muddy red clay out back that I would sink to my knees in it!!
I have been spotting a mess of wild turkeys again with their little brood. So cute to watch them run across the yard into the woods. They are not shy in the least!

It's going to be a RED White & Blue summer for the artists at HARTS and to kick it off, some of the gals have decided to offer up some fun items on ebay. You can get there to view the items by Clicking Here

Here is a sneak peek at what I am offering:

It is an Americana Angel that is a bag holder. She was a lot of fun to make and would love to hang around with you.

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Spring is really here! Cool mornings, thunderstorms, pollen and all. The temps during the day have already been reaching into the 70's. Is it any wonder that spring is a favored time of year for many? My azaleas are really starting to open up, my fingers are gritty and grimy with dirt from weeding; I have to make myself put gloves on. I love to feel the dirt! But occasionally I will get a surprise while weeding and a big old ground spider will jump out at me. I fall on my tush ever so gracefully and start doing the jerk. I hate spiders. Therefore, gloves are my false sense of protection . . .


We have started to cautiously put out some of the veggies we started under lights to get them hardened off. We have two types of lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, bell peppers, squash, and etc. We turned over the compost pile and discovered what appears to be gourds emerging.
Hope that everyone has a great day!
Here's a pic of one of my weeds - I bet you have it too. It is a ground ivy called gil o'er ground.

I want everyone to hurry over to Nene's fantabulous blog and register for her first year anniversary giveaway!
Most of you are familiar with this precious and extremely special friend to me. If you go, be sure and tell her Blondie sent you! LOL.Quick now click on:

Love Conquers All

I promise you, Nene is a TREAT! Let's all help her celebrate!!!!!!

A long read. Flowers and Charlton Heston

I wanted to share a few more pictures of my pretty flowers that are starting to really open up now. The pic above is obviously a shy azalea just starting to show off her beauty. This shrub is always the first azalea of my many dozen to bloom. I planted it beneath this ancient oak in my front yard almost 15 years ago. Notice all the leaves still surrounding it. I hope that the weather continues to improve so I can actually rake the leaves and then mulch them up for my compost!

Next is a little dogwood tree that Luscious dug up from the woods two years ago and planted in the circle of our gravel drive. It is quite happy!



I couldn't resist snapping this pic of the wisteria on our gate arbor. It has no leaves yet, but is just starting it's fragrant blooming.


I have a few lilac bushes, this one is a newer one that is always the first bloomer of my lilacs!



And here is a pic of my rosemary. She is planted redneck style in three stacked tires that have been painted yellow. Rosemary is so happy here and blooms constantly!

Now for the long part of this post . . .

A few days ago (April 5, 2008), Charlton Heston left us to meet his Maker. He is best known for playing Moses back in the 1950's. It is must see tv at our house everytime it is on. Even with the Hollywood inaccuracies to Holy Scripture, it is a compelling movie. People have always needed a hero. Charleston Heston made sure that we remembered that Moses was one.

This is going to be a long post, so if you have other things to do or places to go, I will understand. I am going to print here a speech that Mr. Heston gave to Harvard Law School in 1999. I consider it his best work. It doesn't really take that long to read and you may be surprised at the content. When I first read it almost ten years ago, I was wowed by his total audacity and proud of his innate sense of morality. Agree with him or not, he was proud to be an American! God rest his soul.





'Winning the Cultural War'

Charlton Heston's Speech to the Harvard Law School Forum February 16, 1999

I remember my son when he was five, explaining to his kindergarten class what his father did for a living. "My Daddy," he said, "pretends to be people."

There have been quite a few of them. Prophets from the Old and New Testaments, a couple of Christian saints, generals of various nationalities and different centuries, several kings, three American presidents, a French cardinal and two geniuses, including Michelangelo.

If you want the ceiling re-painted I'll do my best. There always seem to be a lot of different fellows up here. I'm never sure which one of them gets to talk. Right now, I guess I'm the guy.

As I pondered our visit tonight it struck me: If my Creator gave me the gift to connect you with the hearts and minds of those great men, then I want to use that same gift now to re-connect you with your own sense of liberty of your own freedom of thought ... your own compass for what is right.

Dedicating the memorial at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln said of America,"We are now engaged in a great Civil War, testing whether this nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure." Those words are true again. I believe that we are again engaged in a great civil war, a cultural war that's about to hijack your birthright to think and say what resides in your heart. I fear you no longer trust the pulsing lifeblood of liberty inside you ... the stuff that made this country rise from wilderness into the miracle that it is.

Let me back up. About a year ago I became president of the National Rifle Association, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. I ran for office, I was elected, and now I serve ... I serve as a moving target for the media who've called me everything from "ridiculous" and "duped" to a "brain-injured, senile, crazy old man." I know ... I'm pretty old... but I sure as Lord ain't senile.

As I have stood in the crosshairs of those who target Second Amendment freedoms, I've realized that firearms are not the only issue. No, it's much, much bigger than that. I've come to understand that a cultural war is raging across our land, in which, with Orwellian fervor, certain acceptable thoughts and speech are mandated. For example, I marched for civil rights with Dr.King in 1963 - long before Hollywood found it fashionable. But when I told an audience last year that white pride is just as valid as black pride or red pride or anyone else's pride, they called me a racist. I've worked with brilliantly talented homosexuals all my life. But when I told an audience that gay rights should extend no further than your rights or my rights, I was called a homophobe. I served in World War II against the Axis powers. But during a speech, when I drew an analogy between singling out innocent Jews and singling out innocent gun owners, I was called an anti-Semite. Everyone I know knows I would never raise a closed fist against my country. But when I asked an audience to oppose this cultural persecution, I was compared to Timothy McVeigh.

From time to time ,friends and colleagues, they're essentially friends from Time Magazine, say how dare you speak your mind. You are using language not authorized for public consumption!" But I am not afraid. If Americans believed in political correctness, we'd still be King George's boys - subjects bound to the British crown.

In his book, "The End of Sanity," Martin Gross writes that "blatantly irrational behavior is rapidly being established as the norm in almost every area of human endeavor. There seem to be new customs, new rules, new anti-intellectual theories regularly foisted on us from every direction.Underneath, the nation is roiling. Americans know something without a name is undermining the nation, turning the mind mushy when it comes to separating truth from falsehood and right from wrong. And they don't like it."

Let me read a few examples. At Antioch college in Ohio, young men seeking intimacy with a coed must get verbal permission at each step of the process from kissing to petting to final copulation ... all clearly spelled out in a printed college directive.

In New Jersey, despite the death of several patients nationwide who had been infected by dentists who had concealed their AIDs --- the state commissioned announced that health providers who are HIV-positive need not..... need not..... tell their patients that they are infected.

At William and Mary, students tried to change the name of the school team "The Tribe" because it was supposedly insulting to local Indians, only to learn that authentic Virginia chiefs truly like the name.

In San Francisco, city fathers passed an ordinance protecting the rights of transvestites to cross-dress on the job, and for transsexuals to have separate toilet facilities while undergoing sex change surgery.

In New York City, kids who don't speak a word of Spanish have been placed in bilingual classes to learn their three R's in Spanish solely because their last names sound Hispanic.

At the University of Pennsylvania, in a state where thousands died at Gettysburg opposing slavery, the president of that college officially set up segregated dormitory space for black students. Yeah, I know ... that's out of bounds now. Dr. King said "Negroes." Jimmy Baldwin and most of us on the March said "black." But it's a no-no now.

For me, hyphenated identities are awkward ... particularly "Native-American." I'm a Native American, for God's sake. I also happen to be a blood-initiated brother of the Miniconjou Sioux. On my wife's side, my grandson is a thirteenth generation native American... with a capital letter on "American."

Finally, just last month ... David Howard, head of the Washington D.C. Office of Public Advocate, used the word "niggardly" while talking to colleagues about budgetary matters. Of course, "niggardly" means stingy or scanty. But within days Howard was forced to publicly apologize and resign. As columnist Tony Snow wrote: "David Howard got fired because some people in public employ were morons who (a) didn't know the meaning of niggardly,(b) didn't know how to use a dictionary to discover the meaning, and (c) actually demanded that he apologize for their ignorance."

What does all of this mean? It means that telling us what to think has evolved into telling us what to say , so telling us what to do can't be far behind. Before you claim to be a champion of free thought, tell me: Why did political correctness originate on America's campuses? And why do you continue to tolerate it? Why do you, who're supposed to debate ideas, surrender to their suppression? Let's be honest. Who here thinks your professors can say what they really believe? It scares me to death, and should scare you too, that the superstition of political correctness rules the halls of reason. You are the best and the rightist. You, here in the fertile cradle of American academia, here in the castle of learning on the Charles River, you are the cream. But I submit that you, and your counterparts across the land, are the most socially conformed and politically silenced generation since Concord Bridge. And as long as you validate that and abide it ... you are - by your grandfathers' standards - cowards.

Here's another example. Right now at more than one major university, Second Amendment scholars and researchers are being told to shut up about their findings or they'll lose their jobs. Why? Because their research findings would undermine big-city mayor's pending lawsuits that seek to extort hundreds of millions of dollars from firearm manufacturers. I don't care what you think about guns. But if you are not shocked at that, I am shocked at you. Who will guard the raw material of unfettered ideas, if not you?

Who will defend the core value of academia, if you supposed soldiers of free thought and expression lay down your arms and plead, "Don't shoot me." If you talk about race, it does not make you a racist. If you see distinctions between the genders, it does not make you a sexist. If you think critically about a denomination, it does not make you anti-religion.

If you accept but don't celebrate homosexuality, it does not make you a homophobe. Don't let America's universities continue to serve as incubators for this rampant epidemic of new McCarthyism.

But what can you do? How can anyone prevail against such pervasive social subjugation? The answer's been here all along. I learned it 36 years ago, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., standing with Dr. Martin Luther King and two hundred thousand people. You simply ... disobey. Peaceably, yes. Respectfully, of course. Nonviolently, absolutely. But when told how to think or what to say or how to behave, we don't. We disobey social protocol that stifles and stigmatizes personal freedom. I learned the awesome power of disobedience from Dr. King ...who learned it from Gandhi, and Thoreau, and Jesus, and every other great man who led those in the right against those with the might.

Disobedience is in our DNA. We feel innate kinship with that disobedient spirit that tossed tea into Boston Harbor, that sent Thoreau to jail, that refused to sit in the back of the bus, that protested a war in Vietnam. In that same spirit, I am asking you to disavow cultural correctness with massive disobedience of rogue authority, social directives and onerous laws that weaken personal freedom.

But be careful ... it hurts. Disobedience demands that you put yourself at risk. Dr. King stood on lots of balconies. You must be willing to be humiliated ... to endure the modern-day equivalent of the police dogs at Montgomery and the water cannons at Selma. You must be willing to experience discomfort. I'm not complaining, but my own decades of social activism have taken their toll on me.

Let me tell you a story. A few years back I heard about a rapper named Ice-T who was selling a CD called "Cop Killer" celebrating ambushing and murdering police officers. It was being marketed by none other than Time/Warner, the biggest entertainment conglomerate in the world. Police across the country were outraged. Rightfully so-at least one had been murdered. But Time/Warner was stonewalling because the CD was a cash cow for them, and the media were tiptoeing around it because the rapper was black. I heard Time/Warner had a stockholders meeting scheduled in Beverly Hills. I owned some shares at the time, so I decided to attend. What I did there was against the advice of my family and colleagues. I asked for the floor. To a hushed room of a thousand average American stockholders, I simply read the full lyrics of "Cop Killer"- every vicious, vulgar, instructional word.

"I GOT MY 12 GAUGE SAWED OFF
I GOT MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF
I'M ABOUT TO BUST SOME SHOTS OFF
I'M ABOUT TO DUST SOME COPS OFF..."

It got worse, a lot worse. I won't read the rest of it to you. But trust me, the room was a sea of shocked, frozen, blanched faces. The Time/Warner executives squirmed in their chairs and stared at their shoes. They hated me for that. Then I delivered another volley of sick lyric brimming with racist filth, where Ice-T fantasizes about sodomizing two 12-year old nieces of Al and Tipper Gore.

"SHE PUSHED HER BUTT AGAINST MY ...."

Well, I won't do to you here what I did to them. Let's just say I left the room in echoing silence. When I read the lyrics to the waiting press corps, one of them said "We can't print that."

"I know," I replied, "but Time/Warner's selling it."

Two months later, Time/Warner terminated Ice-T's contract. I'll never be offered another film by Warner's, or get a good review from Time magazine. But disobedience means you must be willing to act, not just talk. When a mugger sues his elderly victim for defending herself ... jam the switchboard of the district attorney's office. When your university is pressured to lower standards until 80% of the students graduate with honors... choke the halls of the board of regents. When an 8-year-old boy pecks a girl's cheek on the playground and gets hauled into court for sexual harassment ... march on that school and block its doorways. When someone you elected is seduced by political power and betrays you...petition them, oust them, banish them. When Time magazine's cover portrays millennium nuts as deranged, crazy Christians holding a cross as it did last month ...boycott their magazine and the products it advertises.

So that this nation may long endure, I urge you to follow in the hallowed footsteps of the great disobedience's of history that freed exiles, founded religions, defeated tyrants, and yes, in the hands of an aroused rabble in arms and a few great men, by God's grace, built this country. If Dr. King were here, I think he would agree.

Bonus Time!

Wow, two posts in a day! I just cannot contain myself. The SUN, glorious sun just came out and it is warmish here! Oh yes, I feel like the bard of spring! I am just aching to get out there and rake away all the leaves ~ but I dare not; April is a changeable month around here. I want to keep all my little ones warm until the seasons catch up!
Here are some of my babies that are just bouncing for JOY in my back!
This is the sweet annie I was telling you about earlier this morning. Can't you just smell her sweet goodness??

Here are some phlox that I dug up at my Grannie's. I have lots of her old things. I have no clue how old some of my "Mama's" are. But I do know that I have some that are older than me ~ and that's right on up there with the dirt!


foxglove setting it's leaves . . .
some thyme . . .

my bleeding heart! I have this one under the big oak in my backyard. It is my little prayer garden. . . .


candy tuft . . .

I am aching to really get my fingers and toes caked with red clay mud! Come on Spring! I want to be barefoot again!

Welcome Spring

I know that Spring officially arrived in March. From what I have seen on the news it still looks like a lot of winter weather out there! We had a few warm days and then we plunged back into cold and rainy weather. Not complaining as we need a lot of rain here to make up for all we didn't get last year!
I did get this pic of one of my lovely forsythia bushes. The old folks around here call it "yellow bells"



I also got excited when I noticed that the Dogwoods are starting to set their blooms to open:


And just for fun, I am putting in two images of the eunomys that is climbing up a maple tree off our front porch. I planted it several years ago from one little rooting I pinched off from my grandmother's old place. It is very happy as you can see! It is spiraling around the tree and I took an upclose so that you could see the new leaves and share my joy with me!


In walking around out back, I noticed some Sweet Annie peeking up - of course, not where she should be! And some of my other flower babies will be waking up soon. I can't wait! And you know that I will share them with you!

The Humble Arts has it's latest edition up online now. Sure would appreciate it if you would take a peek. Perhaps something will catch your eye and you will leave there with a new special gift for you or someone else. We have a few new artists added to our ranks this month. Be sure to check them out!
The Humble Arts

Two More HARTS winners!!!!!!!

This weeks two winners are:

Ginny Soper
and
Janet Silloway


The artists who have so generously donated for this week's drawing are:

Annie of Chickadee Primitives

and

JoJo of JoJoCrow Primitives

Ginny will be receiving a lovely cards from Annie!

Janet will be receving her wonderful Gift Certificate from JoJo !

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Why I celebrate Easter

Jn. 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Acts 2:24

"But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for "death to keep its hold on him."

Thanking the Lord for forgiveness of sin, rebirth through Christ and a daily renewal.





Mt. 10:28

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Jn. 6:44

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Luke 20:38

"He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."

The Family Table

This is a little nugget about family get togethers over dinner. A group of my friends have been discussing our Holiday Traditions and what we do, what we eat, etc.
My family generally heads down the hill to my folks house. Every one brings a covered dish and then helps Mom out with the things that she is preparing. Sounds so ordinary doesn't it? Ah, but there is pol'ticking going on behind the scenes. Let me start out with who brings what.
My sis is an excellent cook. She can make a can of collards look and taste gourmet.
Her spread is always must have.
My DD is an aspiring Rachel Ray and is quite the little kitchen diva. She works hard and it tastes delish!
My SIL, well, let's just say, looks can be deceiving. She works hard to bring a palatable looking dish. But you see, I have my Daddy's imagination. It can be very very vivid. I have been inside my SIL's house. I KNOW what her kitchen looks like, so, I am not wont to eat what comes from there. Savvy?
Then comes me. I am a very big foodie. I make some good eats! My Daddy loves my cooking, he just doesn't know it! You see, I made the mistake of telling my Daddy years ago, and I mean years ago as in BC that while married to my first hubs, herein called The Devil, that I used to scrub the toilet with his toothbrush and occasionally feed him a mighty dog casserole, or perhaps let one of the dogs lick his plate before I served him or I am almost ashamed to admit his, give him a good spit and shine in his serving. Okay, I have fessed up.
. . . I have tried to repent. Sisters, I have tried to repent. But even after all these years if I think about it, it still feels good and justified . . . My own dear Daddy even tried to warn Luscious - who you can tell hasn't heeded his advice - Daddy would tell him -" Don't ever get her riled up, son. She has some wicked ways with food."
Okay, anyhow, I shared this with Daddy one day. He has never eaten anything I have cooked since then! Well, he HAS but he doesn't know that I cooked it. I have my sister pass it off as her own. I will then bring an extra broccoli casserole or some other dish that Daddy doesn't care for.
That way, he can say, " Baby, you know I can't eat that." and no one's feelings are hurt.
Now, this is where the fun comes in . . . at least to my warped brain. I have often sweetly asked him over dinner when he visited with bro and his wife recently. He doesn't visit much. Get it? The man who has the vivid imagination is better off NOT knowing what said SIL's kitchen looks like. I find it highly amusing watching him devour her offerings. Shame on me! Hey, I get my kicks where I can!
So this Easter holiday, I will make a few wonderful casseroles and a special coconut pie for my sister to carry in and get all the praises for. If you had ever been in my SIL's house, you would be smiling next to me.

5 things?

My pal Pam of Soft in The Headtagged me to disclose 5 things about me that you may not know. It makes me wonder what you don't know about me?
I think it would be much more fun if we went around tagging folks and asking them, Do you use deodorant, do you wear granny panties, do you floss . . . but that may be too personal?
So, in the nature of wearing my heart on my sleeve, I will post the following:
1. I am related to George Washington. Now before you remark that GW didn't have children, I know that already. When I was a little kiddo, my Grandma Dolly would tell her grands all about our family heritage. We always thought she had a loose screw among the cobwebs. Then my dear Uncle Earl spent years and years doing family geneology and yep, it is documented fact. GW had a brother and we are related to him. Appears that we all descended from his loins on the wrong side of the sheets. Kind of related I guess; makes interesting conversation?

2. I have done makeup and hair in the past for celeb imitators at Universal Studios in Orlando

3. I played Bingo the night before my oldest one was born and won $88.00. I thought it interesting that he was born at 8 minutes after 8 in the evening the following day.

4. My hubby never calls me by name. He always calls me Baby.
5.I like to eat things salty and sweet together. You know, Popcorn and chocolate. Couldn't you tell by looking at my child bearing hips?

Now I am supposed to tag five more folks. Who do I think is game? Hmmmm.
Let's close our eyes and let the fickle finger of fate land where it will (sort of like how I plan on voting this year - you know, the eeney, meeney, miney, mo! method!)
Okay, here goes:
Robin of Bird in Hand
Kat of ScaredyKaterpillarsNoMore
Sharon of Greeneyez2
Courtney of Momma's Goodies
Cora of Hidden Riches

Now if you gals have already been tagged and played and want to sit this one out, that is fine with me.
And by the way, Happy St. Paddy's Day! I am on my way to kiss the Blarney Stone!

Not your typical Rubber Ducky

This afternoon I decided to do something I really hadn't done since the Christmas Holidays. Bake. That's right. I cook almost daily for Luscious Larry ~ however I haven't baked a cookie since then. Pish and Tush. Shame on moi. So, this afternoon, he got a double dose of Momma Blondie's culinary skills.
I made blueberry muffins (had a few blueberries in our freezer from our bushes) and an old time favorite standby Soft Raisin Cookies.
It was fun to be in my kitchen with the sun shining through the windows. I had said windows cracked slightly for the cool cool breeze. I felt almost like Harriet Nelson or even June Cleaver. I didn't have on an apron this afternoon but my scruffy old gray hoodie and tattered blue jeans. Luscious calls it my uniform. I s'pose it is. I am so comfy in this outfit. Betcha you have a favorite ensemb that you prefer! Tell the truth!!
As I was preparing to put one batch on a cooling rack,this one little rascal scurried over to the edge of the platter.

I thought, he looks like a little duck! Luscious agreed. Now that I have the pic, I don't know what it looks like!
I am not seeing the Madonna in my cornflakes and this will NOT end up on ebay; it is far too tasty for that.
What do you think it is???

Oh and here is the recipe for these fabulous cookies!

Soft Raisin Cookies - Blondie's Bestest yet!

1 cup water
2 cups raisins
1 cup shortening
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cup a/p flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Combine raisins and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook for 3 minutes; remove from the heat and let cool (do not drain). In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, gradually add sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture and blend thoroughly. Stir in nut and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 in apart on greased baking sheet. Bake @ 350 for 12-15 minutes. Makes about 6 doz.
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Don't forget to the read post below this one about the Humble Arts Winners!!!!!!!

Good Afternoon, Friends
I wanted to post this as soon as I could - I will be back later hopefully after a big holiday dinner for another post.

We have TWO MORE WINNERS from The Humble Arts month long drawing!!!!!
This weeks two winners are:
Angela Prince-Bex and
Judith Fox

The artists who have so generously donated for this week's drawing are:
Doreen of Vermont Harvest
and
Flora of Bonehead Studio



Congrats to these lucky winners!
If you would like to be entered into the drawings each week the month of March,
please go to The Humble Arts and register for our mailing list! It is easy, free and you just might win!!

Six Word Memoir

Me imitating my Mom. I remember this little ironing board; I got it for Christmas! My six word memoir would have to be:

I WILL NEVER EVER GROW UP
Amy of Abundant Curiosities

tagged me to do a six word memoir meme.This is fun and really neat.
Six words that sum up your life.
Ernest Hemingway was bet $10. that he couldn't sum up his life in six words. He won that bet when he wrote, "For sale, baby shoes, never worn." You can go to Bookbabie's blog and read about the book that was inspired by his quote and how it influenced her to start this meme.



Now the rules are:
1. Write your own six word memoir
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible, so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4. Tag five more blogs with links
5.Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!
I am tagging the following folks with a great sense of humor:

Cathy of Tadpoles and Teacups
Cookie from Curds -and- Whey
Karin of Countryfolk Keepsakes
Lorraine from Piecake Primitives
Steph of Sunshine and Ravioli

Can't wait to read what they right.


My Granny Ethel, who taught me to quilt, crochet, garden and laugh ~ with my baby sis, Cat. Notice the TV to the left. Yep, Mickey Mouse Club was a brand new thing back then! Gosh, even back then, I had a flare for fashion!

Catching up

I have lots to catch up on in the blog world; to all my blogging buddies who have graced me with awards - I haven't forgotten. The past few months have been really a whirlwind.
My plate has been full, as many of yours are as well. I like to blog to share what is going on in my little corner of the world, what I am creating, etc. Helps to sort things out for me in my mind.
I promised to myself to be a more consistent blogger for my own discipline. yeah, right. So, I am going to get caught up here and cheat with a few rolled into one!
I have been given a few neat awards and I am going to put them in my right column - I have to thank a few for giving me the YOU MAKE MY DAY award. What a nice thing to say! I will have to reciprocate of course, with those whose daily reads I enjoy and miss when I can't sit long enough to read! If I have forgotten and neglected to add you, please! forgive me!!!!

Thanks to
Sara

Cookie

I am going to make another post today; in a few minutes actually because the next one deserves it's own little showcase as well.
But before that, I am going to pass this wonderful little award on to the following because they always make my day! Period!!!!
Sarah
Dixie
Robin
Stacey

Okay, gals, pass this one on!

We have TWO winners!

We have TWO winners drawn today - March 9, 2008!
Congrats go to:
Susan Saint-Leaves and Mandie Lancaster

Susan will be receiving a cutie patootie whimsy sheepie from Cookie of Curds-n-Whey!!!



Mandie will be receiving a very hoppy bunny from Stacey of Tattered 'n Torn Primitives!!!

Ladies, your artists will be contacting YOU to get your particulars. Thank YOU for
being a Humble Arts supporter!!

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We will be drawing TWO more winners next Sunday AND continue each Sunday until the end of March for our continuing First Anniversary celebration. There are still LOTS of Great Prizes to be given away! Hop over to: The Humble Arts and take a peek to see what we are offering!

It 's Anniversary Time

Wow! Where has the year gone? This past year has seen a lot of growth, unique talent and friendships built on The Humble Arts! We are celebrating our first anniversary this month. Lots of doorprizes - 2 a week during the month of March!! I hope you will hop on over to The Humble Arts site and register by signing up for our Mailing list!
Be sure and check us out on March 1. Click Here to go right over. Look at the new site and visit each lovely artist.
Many of us have our own blogs and you can find them in the right column of my blog. I know that they would appreciate a visit now and then and a pat on the back for sharing their talent with the world.
We have accomplished what we started out to a year ago - and then some! I feel so very privileged to know these gals. Each one offers their own special style of ~ whimsy, primitive, cottage, vintage ~ to the site. We are excited! And we are looking forward to seeing you there!!