Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Grandma and her legacy...


As with many of us,our Grandmas are our role models,our great treasure and we are their legacy.We lived in Tennessee,down in the hollow(that's hollar down there);),my grandma and I would go blackberry picking.She'd always tell me to watch out for bears,my eyes would get big and I'd look around,but I was with Grandma and nothing could hurt me.We'd go back and she'd make blackberry dumplings on the stove,oh,how good that did smell,what wonderful memories.The best memories you can give a child are the love and times you share together.

Blackberry Dumplings:
1 quart blackberries, rinsed 1 cup water 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
Dumplings- 1 1/2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon(or more) sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 2/3 cup milk (I just use cinnamon sugar,I always save the little bear honey bottles and mix my own cinnamon/sugar to taste)Some add a little nutmeg in the dumplings also.

Mix berries,water, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 t salt and lemon in large, wide saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. For dumplings: Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and milk. Stir until mixed. Drop by TBS into berry mixture. Cover tightly and simmer 15 minutes. Serve in bowls with a dollop of whipped cream.

Today is a gift...

Be thankful each day you wake up,thank the Lord.Pray for everyone you can think of,because you don't know what each day could bring.You can't do anything about the past,but you can do something about your present here and now.Call someone you've wanted to talk to forever. Do everything you can to love,encourage,share,hug and remember your opportunity is right now,it's a gift,it's The Present.

Monday, June 18, 2007

paint and stencil...



I painted this old wooden chair,then I stamped the rose and just painted the leaves.You can buy stamps or stencils.I painted an old wooden table this same color and decoupaged vintage girl pics for my daughter.I then modge podged about five coats on top,let each coat dry completely.It would be good to let cure a little and paint just one coat a day.Years ago a friend decoupaged pics of her family on top of her table and polyurethaned many coats on top of whole table,took a long time,but was awesome.