For Jane Austen Fans

If you like the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice (it's GREAT), then you might like Wives and Daughters. Clarissa and I really enjoyed it. Added: We checked it out from the public library. I think it was originally shown as a mini series. Netflix has it, but I don't know about other rental places.

Yummy Grape Salad

My sister-in-law gave me this recipe. It's great! So, when grapes are on sale in your area you might want to try it. Sometimes I use all red grapes, but it's prettier with a combination.

2 lbs. green grapes
2 lbs. red grapes
1 8 oz. cream cheese
1 8 oz. sour cream
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Stem, wash and dry grapes. Place in a large bowl. In separate bowl mix other ingredients (some people save the brown sugar as a garnish, but I mix it in). Then add this mixture to the grapes, serve chilled.

p.s. the photo is from my kitchen- it has kind of Italian/grape theme

Spring Wreath

I have been trying to teach myself how to make a wreath. My sister in law gave me a few tips a while back. I've made a few attempts.

I didn't like how I had the three pink gerber daisies at the top, but Clarissa liked it that way so I left it. I'm ready for spring and it is only getting up to 39 today- oh, well, I can pretend! Do you have any wreath making tips?

Oh, I almost forgot- I got these flowers last year at a 90% off sell, they ranged in price from 10 to 30 cents each. I love it when I stumble across a good deal!

Magic Hair

S, age 3, came up to me the other day and said, "Mom, I love your hair". I said,"thanks". Then with a bit of awe he added,"it changes colors". Yes, it's true. I've been trying for a long time to find a hair color that I like, that covers gray, that I can afford to have done... I guess the variety has impressed one person (o:

Car accident, Part 2

Tip from a 40+ year old: Well, Farmers insurance said that they don't usually assign liability in a parking lot accident.?. Therefore, we should not plan on them paying for our repairs. Remember, the other driver admitted it was her fault. Well, even though I had written down all of the insurance wrong, I had gone up to a total stranger and asked him to be my witness. He turned out to have a very strong personality. After the insurance company talked to him they said they would pay for the repairs (now, we'll see how much). So, moral of the story.... even if your accident is with the nicest person in the world and the situation seems OBVIOUS- take pictures, get witnesses and if you can, get a policeman to make a report. Much better safe than sorry (o:

Guest Room

I've been slowly working on the guest bedroom. Amber picked out the wall color. The photos don't show it very well. It's a blue with green undertones. It matches the flowers in the curtains perfectly (in real life). It is the most relaxing wall color I've ever experienced. The bed and lamp are from Pier One, my sister in law glued the beads on the lamp shade bottom. I made the curtains and pillows. I sewed the bead trim so that the ribbon would show because I wanted to accent the beads. It is one of those projects that I can do something with whenever I feel the urge. Mmm, maybe I ought to change out the light switch (o:

Thrifting

E and S love going to Yard Sales (ever since we found a set of Star Wars figures). So, yesterday we stopped by one. They had lots of books! I love books. We picked out a big stack. I picked out some old ones- just because I love old ones. There is something about the innocence of the illustrations and the text that makes me happy. The oldest one I purchased was published in 1937. From what I could tell the Golden books were from around 1967 (my birth year). They were 50 cents a piece. To top it off when we left the woman holding the sale had enjoyed visiting with the children so much that she sent them home with a bag of pirate dress ups.