Cool place

If you are regular reader of this blog you know I love thrift and junk stores.  Surgery has put a damper on doing much of anything this month, so for my first big out of town adventure we headed for the bigger city to one of my my favorite places.  It's called the IDEA Store, it is located in Champaign, Il.  The concept of the store is to provide a place for businesses or individuals to donate reusable materials which are then resold at great prices.  There are no clothes, dishes or electronics like regular thrift stores but what they do have is rack after rack of materials to stretch the imagination.  What I love best is that everyone who works there is a volunteer and all the money goes directly back into the local schools.  With an ever changing inventory of art materials. fabric, papers, game pieces, containers and recyclables they offer you the chance to to fill bag after bag with things you can use in the classroom, crafts or for your own art.  I have purchased yarn, fabric, jewelry, buttons, sewing supplies, containers for the business and many other items.  This time I had a bag full for just over $6.00.  If you are a teacher, a crafter, a junker or an artist I can't recommend this store high enough.  One caution I will include is if you don't like crowds, don't go on a Saturday afternoon. They offer birthday parties and the place was packed with little kids poking in every container to find the just right pieces for their projects, and loving every minute of it.  I love their enthusiasm but almost got knocked down a time or two.

puffs

I've been making these for years because my boys love them but this batch was made by my sis Paula while she was helping me with my recuperation. These cookies are crispy, chewey and even diabetic friendly.  Of course I did mine with chocolate chips but you could use any kind of flavoring you like.  Be sure to seal in an air tight container after they cool.

4 egg whites room temp
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
2/3C sugar or mix half and half sugar and sweetener
1tsp vanilla
3/4C chocolate chips
1/2C choppped nuts optional

Beat the egg whites until foamy add sugar gradually and cream of tarter
Mix in vanilla, chips and nuts when whites form stiff peaks
Drop by rounded teaspoon on to parchment paper
Bake 250 45min then turn off the oven and let the cookies set for two hours or over night

microwave angel cups

So quick and easy.  Another great idea from my sister.
Mix 1 box angel food cake mix with 1 box of a regular cake mix(we used chocolate and lemon)
When you are ready for a little cake, mix together 1/4C mix with 2T water.  Microwave in a coffee cup for 1 minute and wait 2 minutes remove from cup and serve.

The lemon was just as good, but you know me chocolate is always first choice.  Diabetic friendly 150 cal and 1 carb serving.

Aunt Annes meatballs

These light and savory meat balls are legendary in my family.  Another of the great meals my sister made for us while I was recuperating from surgery.

2# ground beef
1# ground pork
1# ground chicken
1lg onion chop fine and set aside half for the sauce
2 clove garlic minced
2 eggs
1/2C Parmesan cheese
1T parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
6 slices of bread run under water to soak and wrung out
Mix it all together and use an ice cream scoop to form into balls
Bake at 275 30-45 min
Let cool and package in freezer bags if you aren't doing sauce.or  transfer to sauce and simmer for at least an hour

Sauce
1T olive oil
Reserved onion and 1 clove minced garlic saute in oil
Add 4 12-14oz cans tomato sauce
3/4C Parmesan
2T parsley and basil
1tsp oregano
Simmer everything together 1-3 hours
Makes great meatball subs, sliders or spaghetti sauce.  Use the meat mixture for meatloaf.  This makes enough for a large crowd or freeze for later meals.

sparkling center piece

After the over the top decorating of the Christmas season I'm ready for something a little simpler.  I just looked around the house for clear candle sticks and containers.  I filled them with white candles and set them on a pretty tea towel.  Almost instant decorating.

I'm back

From this week on, hopefully I will be able to make regular posts to this blog.  Knee replacement surgery is no fun.  It is painful and the recuperation takes a long time.  I could not have gone through the last three weeks without all of the prayers, meals, emails, cards and calls.  Each one has brightened my day.  I have been so blessed to have AH here every step of the way as well as my SIL Cathy, MIL Sara and sis Paula.  They have waited on me, cheered me on during therapy, kept the house running and most important, to the animals anyway, kept us fed and happy.
 My hope is that next time you know some one who is recuperating from surgery, sick or housebound you will remember this post and pass that same caring on to them.  No matter how small the gesture seems to you it will mean the world to the recipient.

faux roll up shades

We repainted the living room and kitchen over the holidays, you know I couldn't just let it go at that.  I have to move things around, revamp and redo.  I decided to redo the window treatments and roll up or stagecoach shades.  They don't really roll all the way down to the bottom of the window but they are adjustable.
Measure the length you want you shade to be most of the time and add 24-30" to the length, plus 6" for hems.  Make the width 1" wider if you're lining(highly recommend it) 2" if not.  Attach your lining and fabric together like a pillow case, then fold over, press and sew hems.  Press and you're done.  If you aren't lining fold in your side seams press and sew then add hems.
Cut a fabric tube(ask any where that sells fabrics they usually throw these out, or use a thick dowel)  It need to be 2" narrower than the shade.  Run heavy duty double face tape along the hem of the fabric and press on the dowel or tube.  Roll up to the desired length and tie with ribbon, cord, fabric strips whatever goes with your decor.  I wanted mine to be very discrete so I used 6" tulle tie in a knot, turn the knot to the back side or tie in a bow, adjust and there you have it.  Simple shades, if you make them the full length of the window you can let them down all the way for light control.
Here are the shades and the other fabrics I'm using in the rooms.