Chocolate Banana Bread

A perfect way to end a day at home before heading to an overnight shift at work -- do some baking!

Just got a fresh baked loaf of Chocolate Banana Bread out of the oven. Got the recipe in an email from MomsMenu.com -- added a little cinnamon and nutmeg. The house smells wonderful and the taste test divine!!

Savannah Rose Jewelry

I am enjoying my daughter's new interest in working with beads and making jewelry.

She has made a special friend at a local art shoppe that has invited her to come one day on the weekends to work together.

Savannah Rose is learning about the names of jewelry parts, how to use the hand tools, and patterns.

It is sparking visualization. She doesn't admit it or like to have attention told to her about how creative she is.

I sure do love my special young lady and can't believe she is about to turn 18 this May.

The earrings and bracelet pictured above were made by Savannah especially for her Aunt Barb as a birthday present. I hope she smiles when she opens the box.

Tulip Quilt Progress

I am seeing the end in sight on this requested tulip quilt. Just need to make more flower centers and leaves -- then sew them on. A thin strip matching off white border on two sides and then sandwich together to finish. This has been quite a project to do.

Someone requested this for their mother and told me that she will want to use it on her casket in the future. I had never heard of that before. Seemed very strange to me and even hindered me in coming up with a visualization of what I wanted to do.

I talked with a very nice elderly resident in personal care where I work about my project and she said in a rather matter of fact way, "Native Americans have had this tradition for years. Their quilt is usually a star quilt." I guess that sparked me on to get this far and just seeing it laid out with the rest of the tulips pinned will mean completion by next week.

Then it will be onto a stack of unfinished blocks I have laying around the house and tons of embroidery pieces to create into something.

Feels almost like I am Spring cleaning or something!!!

Waiting for Spring

Took a drive with my husband over the weekend to get out of the house where a flu bug has been residing for nearly two weeks now.



I noticed all the brown and found myself thinking -- "I am really wanting and waiting for Spring this year."



I do love green and signs of life!



Did fall in love with this picture of the tree I took. They (trees without leaves) seem to be characters that can move and grab you (just my imagination here) like those in the Wizard of Oz.



I plan on taking another drive when the landscape has gone green and do another post on here.

There is talk in our house of a garden with all family members getting involved. This will be something new for us to try.

My neighbor already has some seedlings started of veggies she has planned for her garden -- am wondering if that is the way to go, better get off here and doing something about it.

How Do You Decide Whom to Marry

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?
(written by kids)



You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10

-No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10

2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then..
-- Camille, age 10




3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8


4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8


5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8(isn't she a treasure)

-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10


6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
-When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7( Love her )

-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7

-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
- - Howard, age 8


7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )


8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is .......


9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK ?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky, age 10