Dee

WOW! So much Thanks to you Snowmom for ALL the wonderful things that you sent. It was like Christmas. Snowy made me a really pretty plastic canvas picture of a light house with a passage from the Bible and I have added it to the light house motif of my kitchen. You did a beautiful job on it Snowy and I will cherish it forever. Other items in this huge box Snowy Sent are a really pretty butterfly with flower to put on a flower pot. Some cookbooks along with a bag Brach's Chocolate Easter Eggs and a Girl Talk Book which is really neat plus a Counted Cross Stitch n Frame Lighthouse craft which I will have fun making and an Address Book which ( how did you know I needed one) is really cute and packs of flower seeds ( you sent my spring flowers to me) and a tape of Classical Music with some lovely music, and a pair of garden gloves and a really cute magnetic calendar( I look like that girl on the calendar Carol, and a really neat light house applique patch and candles one gardenia fragrant and a water globe and angel and I collect waterglobes and angels and a beautiful white and silver angel and an adorable teddy bear angel which have all gone into my collection....oh oh I forgot she sent me a garden angel which won't go in the garden but in my angel case. She also sent a plastic canvass tea cup with tea inside the opening and a cross in a holder that you carry with you, its already in my purse with a saying about the meaning of the cross in my pocket and she also sent my mom a tea cup and cross which I delivered to my mom and last but not least A beautiful Light House Welcome Plaque which is really neat. Its blue and white with with a sailboat and seagulls, clouds and light house with Shells and sea nets oh and I can't forget the post cards of Minnesota which are great! Beautiful Lakes, Sunsets with sailboats and History... And a card of the whole State and special interests in the state. They will make a great addition to my post card collection and I hope some day we can get out that way to experieince your State and its many beautiful spots... Thanks so so very much Snowmom for the wonderful surprises. It really brightened up my rainy day!

This is another good recipe and frugal to boot! I want to eat alot of yogurt just so I can make this Thanks for the recipe Lowie.

Oh Hill these sound really good. I am going to make two batches. One with sugar and one with splenda... I will let you know how the splenda muffins turn out. I love Sweet potatoes too.... This recipe looks yummy.

Since its Mr. Reci's Birthday it will be a special meal for him. We are having a Nice pork roast with saurkraut Baked Potatoes with sour cream Corn Tossed Salad Applesauce Potato rolls and..... Happy Birthday home made double chocolate fudge cake with dark chocolate frosting along with icing flowers and designs..and some Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream.

Diluted Vinegar mixed with water can be used to clean off tiles and shower walls Lemon Juice can also be used as a cleaner. It is most effective not diluted. Lemon juice is can be used on anything that needs to be whitened. Just place it on a dishcloth and clean. If you are worrying about the disinfecting power of home made solutions; you can use isopropyl alcohol as a disinfectant. In most cases, this is not needed. If you want to use something more powerful and will lift tougher items. Try mixing enough water with baking soda to make a paste. This can be your non-scratch cleaner. This can be used safely on most items. It is a lot cheaper than products you find in the store. Salt can also be used for this purpose. It is coarser so you can use it on tougher stains. I hope this helps you Happy!

To revive dried-out Parmesan cheese, wrap it in damp cheesecloth, cover with plastic, and refrigerate overnight. The cheese will be fresh and ready for use the next day. - Defrost meats and poultry in the refrigerator, using rimmed baking pans to catch any drips. - Rid the air of lingering kitchen aromas: Simmer half a dozen lemon slices and a handful of cloves in a pan of water for 10 minutes. - To easily remove boiled potato skins, transfer them to an ice-water bath for a few minutes. Cup the potatoes in your hands, and use your thumbs to split the puckered skins; the potato will slide right out. - To keep your tea from cooling too quickly, warm the teapot first by filling it with very hot water. Pour the water out before steeping tea. - Don’t store eggs in the refrigerator’s egg holders—they will deteriorate more quickly there than in other parts of the fridge. - Store leather-bound books in a cool, dry room, away from direct sunlight. - For perfectly shaped pancakes, use a meat baster to squeeze the batter onto the hot griddle. - Before hard-boiling eggs, add a pinch of salt to the water to prevent the shells from cracking. - To get the most juice out of lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against a hard surface before squeezing. - For a soft, warm glow, polish wooden floors with clear bowling-alley paste wax, available at hardware stores. - Instead of throwing out leftover wine, freeze it into ice cubes to use in future recipes. - To peel pearl onions with ease, soak them first in warm water for 15 minutes. - For a quick buttermilk substitute, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to 1 cup milk. - For perfect, evenly shaped cookies, use an ice-cream scoop to form and place chilled dough onto the baking sheets. - To remove the smell of garlic, rub your hands on a piece of stainless steel under warm running water.

Did you know Coke or Pepsi can clean your car battery. Simply pour it on the battery and it will clean it like magic. Just wipe off

2 tsp of sugar and 1 pt of water when Ironing lace dip it in this solution first. it will prevent scorching the lace

April here we come and with the sign of spring weather on the way I want to get the last chill out of my bones so I think I will make some Beef Barley Vegetable Soup for Dinner. A nice grilled cheese sandwich would go well with this steaming bowl of soup. Sugar free Blueberry muffins

1. FROZEN PEPPERMINT PATTIES Yield: 20 servings 1 pkg. unflavored gelatine 1 T. boiling water 1 C. heavy cream 3 drops peppermint flavor 1 oz. cream cheese 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted 10 Splenda packets 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract Soften gelatine in the boiling water. Add all ingredients into a blender and blend well. Chill for 10 minutes and spoon onto parchment paper and freeze. Pack in an airtight container. Per Serving: 33 Cal (84% from Fat, 3% from Protein, 12% from Carb); 0 g Protein; 3 g Tot Fat; 1 g Carb; 0 g Fiber; 5 mg Calcium; 0 mg Iron; 7 mg Sodium; 10 mg Cholesterol 2. BAKED ZUCCHINI CHEDDAR CASSEROLE Yield: 8 servings 2 lb. zucchini, shredded 1 1/2 C. Cheddar, shredded 1 can cream of chicken soup 2 C. sour cream 1/4 lb. butter, melted 1/2 C. onion, diced 1 tsp. salt Shred zucchini and place in a colander sprinkle with salt and toss. Allow to drain for at least 15 minutes. Use your hands to press all the liquid out you can. Mix all ingredients. Place in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to one hour. Serves 8 to 12. Per Serving: 380 Cal (79% from Fat, 11% from Protein, 10% from Carb); 11 g Protein; 34 g Tot Fat; 10 g Carb; 2 g Fiber; 278 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 899 mg Sodium; 86 mg Cholesterol 3. CHEESECAKE COOKIES Yield: 16 servings 5 T. butter, softened 1 C. oat flour 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 2 T. heavy cream 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/3 C. Brown Sugar Twin, packed 1/2 C. Splenda 1 egg 1 T. lemon juice Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl blend thoroughly butter, Brown Sugar Twin and flour with a fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Put 1 cup of the mixture aside for topping. Press remaining mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish; bake for 15 minutes. In another bowl combine sugar and cream cheese, mixing until smooth. Thoroughly beat in egg, heavy cream, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Spread over the baked crust and sprinkle with remaining brown sugar mixture. Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool, then chill for at least 1 hour. Cut into 16 squares; serve. Per Serving: 91 Cal (77% from Fat, 6% from Protein, 17% from Carb); 2 g Protein; 9 g Tot Fat; 5 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 15 mg Calcium; 0 mg Iron; 89 mg Sodium; 40 mg Cholesterol 4. STRAWBERRY SHAKE Yield: 1 serving 1/2 C. heavy cream 2 Splenda packets 1/2 C. frozen strawberries, partially thawed 1/4 C. water 5 ice cubes Blend in blender until ice is integrated into mixture. Serve. Per Serving: 279 Cal (71% from Fat, 19% from Protein, 10% from Carb); 14 g Protein; 22 g Tot Fat; 7 g Carb; 2 g Fiber; 50 mg Calcium; 0 mg Iron; 25 mg Sodium; 82 mg Cholesterol 5. CREAMY MEAT BALLS Yield: 6 servings 1/4 C. butter 1 medium onion, chopped 2 lb. ground beef 2 eggs 2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. pepper 1/4 tsp. tarragon 1/4 tsp. marjoram 5 1/2 T. tomato paste 3/4 C. beef stock 4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp. vinegar 1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced 1 C. sour cream Sauté onion in half the butter in large frypan until golden brown. Put the onion in the crockpot. Mix together the beef, eggs, salt and pepper. Form into small balls. Brown meatballs in same frypan. Sprinkle on the tarragon and marjoram. Mix together tomato paste, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar in the frypan. Scrape the bottom of the pan and cook for two minutes. Pour over meatballs. Cover and cook on LOW for about 1 1/2 hours. Melt remaining butter in and sauté mushrooms for minutes. Add the mushrooms and the sour cream to the meatballs and heat through. Per Serving: 608 Cal (63% from Fat, 32% from Protein, 6% from Carb); 48 g Protein; 42 g Tot Fat; 9 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 85 mg Calcium; 6 mg Iron; 1255 mg Sodium; 250 mg Cholesterol 6. DEEP DISH PIZZA QUICHE Yield: 8 servings 4 oz. cream cheese, softened 4 large eggs 1/3 C. heavy cream 1/4 C. Parmesan 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning 2 C. pizza blend cheese, shredded 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 C. pizza sauce, lowest you can find 1 C. mozzarella, shredded Beat together cream cheese and eggs till smooth. Add cream, parmesan cheese and spices. Spray a 9-inch or larger glass baking dish with oil. Put the 2 cups pizza cheese in dish and pour egg mixture over it. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes or until eggs are set. Spread on pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and favorite toppings. Bake until bubbly and browning. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve. Make sure to adjust carb counts for your favorite toppings. Per Serving: 302 Cal (73% from Fat, 23% from Protein, 4% from Carb); 17 g Protein; 24 g Tot Fat; 3 g Carb; 0 g Fiber; 402 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 539 mg Sodium; 173 mg Cholesterol 7. CHEDDAR PANCAKES Yield: 6 servings 8 oz. medium Cheddar, grated 3/4 C. sour cream 3 large egg yolks, beaten 3/4 tsp. salt 1 1/2 tsp. thyme 1/2 tsp. dry mustard 2 tsp. butter 2 T. unflavored protein powder Set out a heavy skillet. Put the grated Cheddar Cheese in a bowl and add the sour cream and egg yolks, mixing well after each addition. Add the protein powder salt thyme and dry mustard, which have been mixed well in a separate bowl or cup. Melt the butter in the skillet over low heat and drop the batter by teaspoon into the skillet. Cook over medium heat until lightly browned on the bottom. Loosen the edges with a spatula, turn and lightly brown the other side. Serve at once with bacon or pork sausage. Makes about 2 dozen 3-inch cakes. Per Serving: 272 Cal (77% from Fat, 20% from Protein, 3% from Carb); 14 g Protein; 23 g Tot Fat; 2 g Carb; 0 g Fiber; 326 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 639 mg Sodium; 161 mg Cholesterol 8. ORANGE NUT MUFFINS Yield: 12 servings 6 eggs, separated 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar 4 Splenda packets 1/4 C. soy flour 1/4 C. walnuts, ground 1 tsp. orange extract, divided 1 T. Brown Sugar Twin 4 oz. cream cheese 1/4 C. heavy cream 8 Splenda packets 1 tsp. orange extract 2.6 grams carb minus .03 for fiber= 2.3 grams carb ea. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar and add 4 Splenda packets. Beat whites until stiff. Sprinkle the 1/2 teaspoon orange extract over this. In separate bowl, beat yolks with 4 Splenda packets and 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar Twin. Add 1/2 tsp. orange extract. Take a big spoonful of whites and add to yolk mixture and mix together, then pour yolk mixture over whites. Mix 1/4 cup soy flour with 1/4 cup ground walnuts (doesn't have to be super fine). Fold all this together and pile mixture into 12 muffin cups sprayed with Pam. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes until tops of muffins are browned. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F, and bake another 15 minutes. Cool and ice with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting if desired. Orange Cream Cheese Frosting 4 oz. cream cheese 1/4 C. whipping cream 1 tsp. orange extract Splenda to taste Per Serving: 126 Cal (60% from Fat, 34% from Protein, 7% from Carb); 11 g Protein; 9 g Tot Fat; 2 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 25 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 65 mg Sodium; 137 mg Cholesterol 9. HAM-ASPARAGUS BRUNCH BAKE Yield: 10 servings 2 T. butter 3 T. sliced green onion About 1/2 lb. fresh asparagus, cut (about 1 1/2 cups) 6 eggs 1/3 C. heavy cream 1 tsp. dried mustard 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 C. cooked ham, chopped 6 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter in large heavy skillet. Cook onion and asparagus over medium heat about 3 minutes. Stir together in large mixing bowl eggs, cream, and seasonings. Place asparagus mixture and ham in well-buttered baking dish. Pour egg mixture over all. Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle dish with cheese and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Yield: 10 servings; Serving Size: 1/2 cup Per Serving: 208 Cal (67% from Fat, 29% from Protein, 4% from Carb); 15 g Protein; 15 g Tot Fat; 2 g Carb; 1 g Fiber; 152 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 533 mg Sodium; 189 mg Cholesterol 10. HASH BROWNED ZUCCHINI Yield: 4 servings 1 1/2 lb. zucchini 1/2 tsp. salt 2 eggs 6 T. Parmesan cheese, grated 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed 1/4 C. butter Coarsely shred zucchini (you should have about 4 cups) and combine with salt in a medium-size bowl. Let stand for 15 minutes. Squeeze with your hands to press out moisture. Stir in eggs, cheese and garlic. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a wide frying pan over medium-high heat. Mound about 2 tablespoons of the zucchini mixture in pan; flatten slightly to make a patty. Repeat until pan is filled, but don't crowd patties in pan. Cook patties, turning once, until golden on both sides (about 6 minutes). Lift out and arrange on a warm platter; keep warm. Repeat to cook remaining zucchini mixture, adding more butter as needed. Per Serving: 213 Cal (72% from Fat, 18% from Protein, 11% from Carb); 10 g Protein; 17 g Tot Fat; 6 g Carb; 2 g Fiber; 174 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 628 mg Sodium; 162 mg Cholesterol

IMPORTANT - sending pkgs to troops (please read)... My husband who is an AF Officer received this e-mail from DOD regarding "care packages, etc... to troops" please read: TROOP SUPPORT MAIL POLICY STRESSED > > To bolster force protection, the general public is urged not to > send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service > members forward deployed unless you are a family member, loved > one or personal friend. > > On Oct. 30, 2002, the Department of Defense (DoD) suspended the > "Operation Dear Abby" and "Any Servicemember" mail programs due > to force protection concerns. Although these programs provide > an excellent means of support to friends and loved ones > stationed overseas, they also provide an avenue to introduce > hazardous substances or materials into the mail system from > unknown sources. Unsolicited mail, packages and donations from > organizations and individuals also compete for limited airlift > space used to transport supplies, war-fighting materiel and mail > from family and loved ones. > > Recently, DoD has become aware of organizations and individuals > who continue to support some form of the "Any Servicemember" > program by using the names and addresses of individual > servicemembers and unit addresses. These programs are usually > supported by well-intentioned, thoughtful and patriotic groups > who are simply unaware of the new risks facing deployed military > forces. Some individuals and groups publicize the names and > addresses of service members, ships or units on Web sites, with > good intentions. The result, however, is a potential danger to > the troops they wish to support. > > DoD cannot support creative and well-intentioned efforts that > defeat force protection measures, but can instead recommend > alternatives to mail and donation programs. To show support to > troops overseas, the following are recommended: > > * Log on to the following Web sites to show support, to include > greeting cards, virtual Thank You cards and calling card > donations to help troops stay in contact with loved ones: > > http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html > > http://www.usocares.org/home.htm > > http://www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html

I would be most honored if you included my two cousins, Steve .

Sunday: Roast Chicken legs Herbed Rice ( add your own spices and buillion and Peas and carrots added to the rice Fresh Fruit thats in season and on sale. Make 3 extra chicken legs for Wed Meals Monday Sloppy Joes on rolls, Use ground turkey with a little ground beef. carrot and celery sticks Home made oatmeal raisin cookies Tuesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce green beans bread with butter Fresh fruit Wed. Left over chicken from sundays dinner to make: Chicken with gravy over home made biscuits mixed veggies Applesauce Thursday: Get one of those 1.99 canned hams that they sell at CVS or grocery stores. Get a cabbage and a couple potatoes and for half of the ham dice it and cook it with the potatoes and cabbage adding 1 fresh carrot slices to the ham and cabbage- If you have some in your family who are squimish about eating ham and cabbage use the other half of the ham to make scallopped potatoes with diced ham and green beans in a casserole with a hand shake of cheddar cheese on top. Low fat peanut butter cookies or fruit Friday: Home made pizza day- add cheap toppings such as fresh veggies with extra cheese and pepperoni slices Jello Saturday: Hot Dogs Chips Celery Sticks Fresh Fruit Sunday: Chicken baked steak made with ground beef gravy mashed potatoes broccoli Gooey Brownies with a sprinkle of walnuts- make a sheet pan of brownies apples. Monday: Macaroni and Cheese steamed carrots Jello with fruit Tues: Home made chili w/ green beans and peppers crackers Apples Wed: Tuna Patties on 39 cent hamburger rolls baked fries- home made broccoli Brownies Thursday Turkey. buy turkey legs cheap cook and pick the meat off of them. make home made dressing Turkey Gravy carrots steamed cranberry sauce Pumpkin Nut Bread Save some turkey for Sunday dinner Friday: Chili Dogs- topping left over from home made chili cucumber sticks Chilled Fresh Fruit such as cantalope slices or chunks Saturday: Pancakes/syrup sausage links scrambled eggs Sunday: Turkey and Biscuits Peas and carrots mixed Applesauce low sugar cookies

Baked Veggie Rigatoni with mozarella topping the casserole, Cheese and garlic bread Sugar free blueberry muffins

Welcome to Mrs. S Marsha. My two cousins have been sent over to Kuwait. All those overseas are in my prayers as well as those at home here who may be called up next.

They are best sellers Loggy... part two is good also. His wife becomes pregnant while on the road I think. By the way get the book Wilderness Mother. It was written in the 1990's... very good read... the author is a real pioneer.

I just finished reading this and its great... talk about a real pioneer in the Canadian Wilderness.. and all this in the 90's. I am going to post the reviews and I hope you all get the chance to read the book... check this book out Lowie and Dee! and everyone. The ending is a shocker too. I going to write to the author and connect up with her. Here are the reviews: From the Publisher Wilderness Mother is Deanna Kawatski's fascinating and moving contemporary account of raising a family in the Canadian wilderness. Without electricity or running water, over a hundred miles from the nearest paved road and cut off from most contact with the outside world, Kawatski, her husband, and their two children fashion a life almost unique in the 20th century. The book focuses on motherhood: the anxieties of bearing children in the outback without reliance on medical care, the difficulties - and joys - of coping with infants in a wilderness setting, and the challenges of education, socialization, and safety for the children in the face of almost total isolation. Wilderness Mother is a unique and inspiring story, wonderfully told. Synopsis The author of this book "lived for 13 years in the wilderness of British Columbia. She first got a job as a fire lookout in the remote woods of northern Canada and while there met her future husband, a . . . hermit type who loves nature and solitude. The two married, and the author recounts giving birth to her two children and rearing them virtually cut off from the rest of theworld." (Libr J) From The Critics Publisher's Weekly They met at a fire tower in a remote corner of Northwestern British Columbia where the author was a lookout attendant. He was the local hermit, a homesteader in the Nengunsaw Valley. A year later, they married and for the next 13 years they lived as 19th-century pioneers had. Their cabin, without running water or electricity, was more than 100 miles from a paved road; it was a three-mile walk across boggy ground from any road. Kawatski has written about wilderness life for Mother Earth News and other journals. Here she focuses on bearing two children and raising them in isolated conditions. The family was remarkably self-sufficient, building their home, growing their food, making their clothing. Moose, bears and wolves were frequent visitors. But isolation brought problems that broke up the marriage. Kawatski, who loved the wilderness life and left regretfully with the children for civilization, tells her absorbing tale in eloquent prose. (Apr.) Library Journal This book fills the reader with awe and admiration for the rugged life the author lived for 13 years in the wilderness of British Columbia. She first got a job as a fire lookout in the remote woods of northern Canada and while there met her future husband, a strong hermit type who loves nature and solitude. The two married, and the author recounts giving birth to her two children and rearing them virtually cut off from the rest of the world. Her story is similar to women's stories in any frontier situation: she helps build the family home, plants and harvests the garden, hunts, cooks, and sews. Her love for nature permeates her life, but eventually she and the children return to civilization. Kawatski puts together an adventurous tale, but her observations and conclusions are hackneyed and trite, offering little that is new to the genre.-- Melinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editoral Svcs., Wondervu, Col.

Put me down for 8 miles this week!

Here's an easy craft for any springtime occasion that I did one year with a small group of seniors. Don't know how original it is, but it was easy and relatively inexpensive. Miniature Birdbath - You'll need several 3" or 4" terra cotta pots and saucers; assorted colors of craft paint; brushes; a kitchen sponge cut into about 1" squares. Small decorative birds, tiny satin roses or other mini flowers and moss. Also a hot glue gun and plenty of glue sticks. Base coat the pots and saucers a color of choice, let dry. Then sponge paint (a little or a lot) over that. Glue the saucer's bottom side to the pot's bottom side (does that make sense?) so you have a birdbath. Paint the inside of the saucer blue and let dry. Now squeeze a lot of hot glue into the saucer - about a good half inch but no more than that. Let set. Glue on the moss around the bottom of the birdbath, fix on some flowers. Glue the bird to the rim of the birdbath, or set him in the "water" 2. Easy Patchwork Table Runner From the book, Gifts from the Heart This table runner will add warm autumn hues to any room in your home. What You Need: The colors of ripe pumpkins, haystacks, and Indian corn come together for the celebration of the harvest season. 1/3 yard of dark red print 1/3 yard of tan print Scraps of prints, plaids, and stripes in assorted colors (red, rust, brown, tan, gray, green, gold) 1-1/2 yards of orange print for border 5 yards of wide red rickrack 1-7/8 yards of backing fabric 30 inches x 66 inches of quilt batting Instructions: 1. Download the free pattern for this project. (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.) Easy Patchwork Table Runner Download Adobe Acrobat All fabrics are 44/45 inch wide. Measurements have been adjusted to allow for shrinkage. All seam allowances are 1/4 inch. Cut the fabrics 2. To make the best use of your fabrics, cut the pieces in the order that follows. Cut strips across the width of the fabric. For this project, cut the border strips lengthwise (parallel to the selvage). The measurements given are mathematically correct. You may wish to add extra length now to allow for possible sewing differences. From dark red print, cut: 3 3-1/2 inch x 42 inch strips. Cut one strip in half to make two 3-1/2 inch x 21 inch strips. From tan print, cut: 3 3-1/2 inch x 42 inch strips Cut one strip in half to make two 3-1/2 inch x 21 inch strips. From assorted scraps, cut: 84 2-inch squares From orange print, cut: 2 6-1/2 inch x 51-1/2 inch border strips 2 6-1/2 inch x 27-1/2 inch border strips Center 3. Aligning the long edges, sew the dark red print 3-1/2 inch x 42 inch strips to the tan 3-1/2 inch x 42 inch strips alternately to make a strip set (see Diagram 1). Press the seam allowance toward the red strips. Repeat with the 3-1/2 inch x 21 inch strips. From the two strip sets, cut a total of 16 3-1/2 inch wide segments. 4. Lay out the strip set segments, alternating the red and tan squares (see photograph) to form a checkerboard pattern. Sew together the segments. Press the seam allowances in one direction. Inner border 5. Sew together 32 assorted print 2-inch squares to make a long pieced inner border. Press the seam allowances in one direction. Repeat to make another long pieced border. Sew borders to the long sides of the center. Press the seam allowances toward the center. 6. Sew together 10 assorted print 10-inch squares to make pieced inner border. Repeat. Sew these borders to the ends of the center. Press the seam allowances toward the center. Outer border 7. Sew one orange print 6-1/2 inch x 51-1/2 inch border to each long side of the pieced center. Then add a 6-1/2 inch x 27-1/2 inch border to each end. Press all seam allowances toward the outer border. Finish 8. Sew the rickrack to the right side of the raw edges of the table runner. Layer the table runner top, batting, and backing. Quilt as desired. This table runner was machine-quilted diagonally through the center squares, outlined around the inner pieced border, and in parallel lines about 1/2 inch apart in the outer border. 9. When quilting is complete, trim the backing and batting even with the raw edge of the table runner top. Trim an additional 1/2 inch of batting. Fold the raw edges of the top layer to the inside along the rickrack sew line. Turn under 1/2 inch of backing and blindstitch folded edge to rickrack. Use spring light colors to make this table runner! 3. As a child there were so many of us that my dad made our kites instead of buying them. He would make a thin wood frame and then tape newspaper to the frame, tie string on the pointed end and roll it for us. We painted the newspapers different colors and we put ribbons on the top part of the string. These kites flew great too. 4. Liven up those old grapevine wreaths with some spring flowers and greenage that you can buy at the dollar stores . Don't forget to get floral wire and ribbon and anything else you want to add to your wreath to welcome spring to your home and don't forget to pick up glue sticks too.

1. My tip is how to cook meat loaf. I use a glass pie dish and laid 2 pieces of bread side by side in the middle. I make the meat loaf the normal way and form a loaf. Place the loaf on top of the bread. Cook at the normal temperature. The bread absorbs all the grease. The meat loaf was less greasy. It was the best meat loaf I ever made. 2. Separate hamburger into zip locks and roll with rolling pin until evenly flat. Takes up less space in freezer and thaws much quicker. 3. A fast way to make bread crumbs is to toast the bread and then stick it in the blender. 4. To make homemade bread have a shiny crust, brush the top with white vinegar a few minutes before removing the bread from the oven. 5. For unexpected guests, a quick way to serve something nice with tea is to quickly zest a lemon or orange into some cream cheese, mix and serve with crackers or toastites. Serve in a nice crock with some fruit garnish. It is simple and elegant. 6. Have a favorite coffee but it costs too much? Buy it and some regular coffee and just add a little bit of your favorite to the regular, it tastes like your favorite and cheaper then just using your favorite alone. 7. Use less sugar and make your tea taste different by dissolving old-fashioned lemon drops, or hard mint candy in your tea. 8. Iced Tea taste bitter? Add a pinch of baking soda to your glass or a teaspoon in your gallon pitcher. Makes it perfect every time! 9. To keep eggs from cracking while boiling, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the water before boiling them. 10. Egg whites can be frozen for up to one year. They can be refrozen after defrosting also. 11. To see if a pineapple is ripe, see if you can pull out one of the leaves at the top. The pineapple will also have a golden tone to it. 12. Throw a spoon into boiling pasta and it won't boil over. 13. To have vegetables retain their color, add a lump of sugar, or vinegar, or a tad of lemon juice. 14. To help remove the silk from corn on the cob, get off as much as you can by hand and then use a wet washcloth and stroke downwards to remove the rest of the silk.

Oven cleaner: make a paste of baking soda and hot water. Sponge onto stains and wipe clean. For spills in the oven, try sprinkling salt on it immediately and wipe away when the oven has cooled. Cover one of the oven shelves with aluminum foil to use as a cookie sheet for cookies or to cook pizza on. This prevents the bottom of the oven mess.

1. If you burn your tongue with hot coffee, sprinkle a little sugar on the spot to stop the pain. 2. Grow an Aloe plant in your house. Place a rusty nail in the plant's soil to keep it healty. Before you go camping, cut a leaf from the plant and store in a zip lock bag in case of burns. If you receive a burn, spread the sap over the burn for several minutes keeping it moist. The pain will be reduced and healing can begin. 3. I keep a bag of peas in the freezer. Whenever I need to apply ice to an injury/sore muscle it's ready and easy to apply 4. Keep cold water running while you drain the hot water from pasta or veggies. It prevents the steam from scalding your hands. 5. For Burns, apply toothpaste to the burnt area. It will sting a little but it prevents the skin from blistering or pour white vinegar on the burn. Use a generous amount and do not wipe it off. Allow it to dry

Basic Bath Salt 1 box Epsom Salts or 2 qt. Food Coloring Perfume or fragrance oil Pour salts in large bowl add food coloring to reach the color that you want, add fragrance if desired! Quick, easy and simple. Enjoy!

FOR THE GARDEN OF DAILY LIVING Plant three rows of peas: 1. Peace of mind 2. Peace of heart 3. Peace of soul Plant four rows of squash: 1. Sauash gossip 2. Squash indifference 3. Squash grumbling 4. Squash selfishness Plant four rows of lettuce: 1. Lettuce be faithful 2. Lettuce be kind 3. Lettuce be patient 4. Lettuce really love one another No garden is without turnips: 1. Turnip for meetings 2. Turnip for service 3. Turnip to help one another To conclude our garden we must have thyme: 1. Thyme for each other 2. Thyme for family 3. Thyme for friends Water freely with patiece and cultivate with love. Unknown

FOR THE GARDEN OF DAILY LIVING Plant three rows of peas: 1. Peace of mind 2. Peace of heart 3. Peace of soul Plant four rows of squash: 1. Sauash gossip 2. Squash indifference 3. Squash grumbling 4. Squash selfishness Plant four rows of lettuce: 1. Lettuce be faithful 2. Lettuce be kind 3. Lettuce be patient 4. Lettuce really love one another No garden is without turnips: 1. Turnip for meetings 2. Turnip for service 3. Turnip to help one another To conclude our garden we must have thyme: 1. Thyme for each other 2. Thyme for family 3. Thyme for friends Water freely with patiece and cultivate with love. Unknown