VCB

Last week Kathy and I had the opportunity to present a workshop the the Coles County Entrepreneur Class.  This is a new class this year offered to seniors from all three high schools in the county.  They have been touring different businesses to learn how they operate.  We had taken a small business class from the instructor Jeanne Dau and wanted to show not only a business at it's beginning but also how we manufacture on a small scale.  Our local high school was happy to participate and the family and consumer science teacher, Donna Stewart allowed us to take over her class room.  We demonstrated how to make liquid soap from start to finish.  We were concerned that the boys might not be interested, but they jumped right in.  Each student got to take home their own bottle of custom scented soap.  We were pleased by the interesting and thoughtful questions the students came up with.  The students were prompt, well dressed, attentive and involved.  Any teacher would be thrilled to have classes behaving like that.  With kids of this caliber as our future leaders we will be leaving the world in good hands.

witch hat

I saw paper mache hats at HL for $3.99 and decided I could make my own.  I had some paper plates on hand and picked up a package of birthday hats.
Sit the hat on the plate in the center, draw a line around the edge of the hat.  Following that line hot glue the hat to the plate.  I spray painted mine but you could brush it on and then using spray glue, do a small section at a time and glitter with clear or black glitter.  Let it dry and reglitter any naked spots.  I then made a small ball of hairy yarn and glue it to the top of the hat and used the same yarn around the edge.  Add a fun chore list, maybe a spider or web and seasonal berries and it makes a cute centerpiece. Or use long pins and top your pumpkin.

Snowy has decided this is the perfect place to nap

lethal brownies

These are so good, I had to give most of them away that day to avoid the temptation of wanting to eat them all.

1box chocolate cake mix
1stick melted butter
1 egg
Moosh this together with your hands, it's so thick it won't stir.
Line  a 9X13 pan with foil and grease well
Press into pan
Crumble 14-18 Oreos on top
Pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over everything
Top with 11/2C chocolate chips
Bake at 350 20-25 minutes
Next time I think I'll try pecans and heath chips

mumifying the yard

Nothing catches the eyes like big blocks of color.  When I wanted to add impact to the yard with some fall color I bought several mums in bright yellow.  I would have preferred burgundy or pink but these looked in better shape.  The same color adds consistency to the outside decorating.  I bought 2 8" pots and 8 6" pots for less than $30.00 and stuck them all over.  When it starts to turn cold I'll plant them in the flower beds.

junk score

I love me a great garage sale.  The excessively hot weather has limited the number of sales around here but I did pick up a few things recently.  When you are trying to negotiate a better price on items try bundling.  I got 7 frames, this sewing basket full of old bottles and the light fixture for $10.



I bought this charming baby scale at another sale for $3.00.  It was so filthy I couldn't tell it was a baby scale until I got it cleaned up.  Look beyond the dirt.



peanut butter pie

This easy and delicious treat is courtesy of my neighbor Brenda.  She always brings something wonderful to neighborhood gatherings.

1C peanut butter
1C powdered sugar
8oz  cream cheese
8oz cool whip
hot fudge
prepared chocolate or graham crust

Whip the peanut butter, sugar and cream cheese until well blended.  Fold in the cool whip.  Pour into crust and drizzle with hot fudge sauce.  Chill several hours or overnight

cooking with kids

Any time they come to visit, my grandkids love to cook with me.  Yes it's much slower, messier and I have to repeat myself over and over but they learn so much.  KT lvoes to cook so this time she helped make pancakes, she fliped them herself and learned that when the bubbles pop it's time to turn.  They were yummy even though they were from a mix.  After breakfast we made black forest cup cakes with butter cream icing.  They little girl learned why you don't lick a spoon and put it back in what you are fixing for other people.  A good lesson on germs, sanitation and delayed gratification.  Kids learn a lot more than you think when they cook with you.

Black forest cup cakes

1 box dark chocolate cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
Mix the cake per the directions on the package except cut the amount of water in half.  Dump in the pie filling and bake according to the directions.

When they are cool frost with your favorite butter cream recipe.

Butter cream
1 stick softened butter
1# powder sugar
1 tsp vanilla and almond extract

Blend togeter and beat for at least 5 minutes

Frost cooled cup cakes

Happy birthday to my wonderful sons Nathan and Rich.  I couldn't ask for better kids.  You have grown to be such wonderful men, fathers and husbands.  We must have done something right.

cute little bags

A girl can never have too many tote bags for carrying all her stuff.  I found these bags at dollar tree, the colors were good but I didn't care much for the printed on graphics so I changed them up a little.  I added 3 silky roses with hot glue.  That's it, everyone including the grand daughters loves them.  I think I'll be making more in the future.

The flowers were easy.  I bought 100% polyester light silky fabric.  I cut several size circles, 2-4" the more lopsided the better.  Light a candle and run the edges of each circle through the flame.  Do it fast, just until you can tell the edges are sealed, anymore and you'll have burnt fabric, not sealed.  Layer the petals from largest to smallest making a tiny pleat in each one put it on the needle and add the next petal with the pleat going in the opposite direction. Push the needle through all the layers and secure with a couple of stitches. I used six petals per flower Sounds confusing, but after the first one, you'll get the hang of it.  I added two green leaves out of the same fabric to each flower.  When you're done add a circle of felt to the back and a barrette or pin for attaching.  On the front add a vintage button or piece of jewelry to the center to finish it off.

happy birthday

Today is Andy's 65th birthday.  How did we get this old?  It seems like only a short time ago we were in our early 20's, knew everything and looking forward to all life had to offer.  You just don't think about getting older when you're young.  Now if the next 30 years are as good as the last 40+ have been, that would be wonderful.
We had a great party in the yard.  Lots of family, friends and neighbors.  Tons of great food. Everyone brought a covered dish, we added the burgers and hot dogs.  It's a good way to entertain a crowd without spending a bunch of money. 



birthday boy



L-R Carolyn, Sara, Andy. Cathy, Alan  the  first time all the brothers and sisters have been together in two years.  Busy, busy lives get in the way of spending time with family.

VCB

A couple of weeks ago Kathy and I had the opportunity to participate in EIU's ladies night to kick off  the football season.  We had a good time and made some great contacts.  We had several people tell us our booth was the best looking.  It never hurts to hear that kind of praise.  Small venues like this don't make us a lot of money but they do raise our visibility, which as a new business we need all we can get.

Crock pot chicken

This was fast and easy and the house smelled great all day.

4-6 boneless chicken breast  you could use other pieces also
1 package dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 can cream of chicken soup 1/2 can water
1 can of mushrooms
Put your chicken in the crock pot pour on everything else and let it cook on low all day.
When i know I have to work the next day I get everything in the crock pot and put it in the frig.  The next day all I have to do is take out the pot and plug it in.
I served it with mashed potatoes but noodles or rice would be great.

fall decorating ideas

While I was taking a forced break to recuperate I spent some time getting the house ready for fall.  Now to me that is not have the furnace checked and add insulation, it's getting out all the decoartions that say fall is here.  It's still in the 90's but when school starts my brain says Autumn.
The first project I started was painting gourds.  Last year we grew these beauties at a friends house.  We had them outside until the weather started to get cold.  We brought them in and stored them in the attic on news paper and left them alone until last week.  They are really gross at this point covered with mold, peeling skin and yuck.  That's OK they are suppose to be this way.  Soak them in a sink or bucket for about an hour, then go over them with a scrubby pad which will get off the gunk.  After that scrub comes the hard part, go over every square inch with a paring knife scraping off the remaining skin.  This takes a while but if you skip it your paint will peel right off.  They will still look pretty funky.  I them painted mine with acrylic metallic paints in antique gold, silver and copper.  You could spray paint them or paint them the way they look in nature. Finish with clear spray.  I think they make a great centerpiece marching down my table on a deep purple runner but burlap would look good too.