Compilation

It has been a busy week around here. I had so much I wanted to share with you and have just not had the time to sit down and do it, till now. So this post will be a big pile of it all on one day.

First I was ask to share this recipe.

lt is quick and easy and oh so good.

Beer Bread

3 cups self rising flour

3 T sugar

12 oz. beer

Fold together all ingredients, just till moist.
Butter a loaf pan and place batter in pan. 
Bake in preheated, 375* oven for 55-60 minutes.
Or until browned nicely. 
Remove from oven and then from pan and allow to cool on wire rack.

******We like the crust to be crunchy so I remove it from the pan and then place it on the oven rack after the oven has been turned off. Close the door and let it cool with the oven. This makes wonderful toast or grilled cheese sandwiches.*****

I have been trying to incorporate more movement into my daily routine. So I am having to get creative about doing it. I thought I would share a few of my tips and hope you will in turn share some with me.

I do Zumba at least 2 evenings a week

I take a toning class on fridays.

I wear a pedometer every day and always log at least 10,000 steps. More like 14,000 is what I aim for.

When I go to the store or Dr.'s office I always park as far from the door as I can and walk the additional steps.

When I go to Zumba class I get there 15 minutes early and walk fast for 5 minutes and then turn and walk back to class.

I take the stairs in hospitals or office buildings.

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Today is thursday so let me share some of the things that I am thankful for today.

I am thankful for my dads health and ability to keep moving at 86 years of age.

And for the nudge he has given me to keep moving as well.

I am thankful for all the good Dr. reports that hubs has been getting.

Also for the time to sketch in my sketch pad.

And time to crochet.

Recycle or Upcycled

These are 2 words that at first glance we think of as a new phrase. Well not new but just a few years old. We know what they mean. It is when someone takes an item that is intended for one purpose and remakes it for another. Here are just a few examples.

This is a necklace made from an old spoon that had seen its better days and I am sure no one would have wanted to have used it to eat with.

And these are crosses that are made from old carpenter rulers.

Well I am here today to ask you to just think a little about the terms recycled and upcycled. Because I believe that while those words might be somewhat new to our language, the concept goes way back and has been practiced for years and years.

Stay with me here, if you are a Christian then you realize that we are all born sinners and that God can/will take us as we are and "upcycle" us into something wonderful and useful. Into something beautiful on the inside and outside. Something created in his image with a new and fabulous purpose.

So I hope the next time you hear the words upcycle or recycle you stop for a few and remember that modern day man may have coined the terms, but the concept was created by our maker. And he is the best at what he does.

Feel Good Friday

Well I started out today with some bible time and then a cup of coffee and my sketch pad. 

Later I met a friend for coffee. We were going to do lunch but neither of us need to be eating all that much so we decided on coffee so we will feel more like we are doing it together instead of just eating. The weather was so nice outside that we went to the park and walked about 2 miles afterwards.

I came home after and baked Beer Bread. A loaf for us and a loaf for a neighbor. So today is about feeling good and I thought it might be nice to make someone else feel good too. i spent some time with the neighbors when I took over the bread. her hubs has Parkinson's disease and she is his full time care giver. So they enjoyed the company and so did I.  

So what did you do today to make yourself or someone else feel better?

Thankful Thursday and This and That

The sun is shining today. And there is a slight breeze blowing outside. The two will work together to dry up the ground and get it ready for plowing.

 

The Heelers are enjoying time resting today after being outside for most of the morning. 

They try to act like they don't like each other, but I will find them laying together like this or even bathing each others faces. They are just like to kids.....I swear if they could talk they would be saying, he is looking at me, make him stop!!

Finished more of these crosses today and will add them to the totes of product for my upcoming shows.

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Things I am thankful for:

* Auto insurance which helped replace my van

* The wind and sunshine which are drying up the soggy ground

* Our food stores from last summer

* the fact that it is time to start playing in the dirt again

* all of my craft supplies that enable me to stay occupied

* my energy level which has increased as I am losing weight and exercising