tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12774893597340997612024-03-14T02:12:55.523-05:00tlc's Random LifeA sporadic collection of my twisted, random thoughts and stories all in one place. You never know what you will find here. Stories of quilting, photography, adventure, family, friends, book reviews there is always something happening. Jump in and enjoy. Welcome to my world.Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-82257985950330946922021-10-18T13:51:00.001-05:002021-10-18T13:51:27.279-05:00Manipulation cookies <p dir="ltr">The family has figured out how to get anything they want from me. They learned this and used it against me last night. </p><p dir="ltr">Everyone knows my baby girl is expecting and since the day she told us about it I have quite literally given her and/or done anything she wants. She is spoiled like that anyway being pregnant made it 10x worse. <br><br></p><p dir="ltr">Last night all the kids came for Sunday dinner and some pumpkin carving, while trying to get dinner on the table she says "do you have the ingredients to make some cookies?" Of course I do was my answer. And I started mixing up cookies. Because baby wanted cookies baby is getting cookies.<br></p><p dir="ltr">After getting some cookies in the oven we got ready to eat dinner and Stephen comes walking into the kitchen and asks "your making cookies for Brittnie? I said yes, he starts laughing Britt says "You are going to give yourself away." I am looking at them a bit confused at first then it hits me.</p><p dir="ltr">I have been manipulated. They figured out how to get whatever they want by sending my pregnant baby girl to ask for it. <br></p><p dir="ltr">Funny thing is...</p><p dir="ltr">I would do anything for any one of them they just have to ask. They had me though. I will literally drop everything I'm doing to do anything Britt wants right now. Don't get use to it sister come April only tiny baby will get that kind of attention from me for the rest of forever (or until I get more grandbabies)</p><p dir="ltr">So today after lunch I enjoyed a few of the manipulation cookies with a nice cold cup of milk.</p><p dir="ltr"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZOpy1m3E_eI/YW3CF9wtWzI/AAAAAAAAVag/MQKGObj4jqo2Y5xH_kqpZsz-h_hnt3NPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20211018_130644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZOpy1m3E_eI/YW3CF9wtWzI/AAAAAAAAVag/MQKGObj4jqo2Y5xH_kqpZsz-h_hnt3NPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20211018_130644.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="2604" data-original-height="4624" width="180" height="320"></a></div><br></p><p dir="ltr">Recipe for manipulation cookies:</p><p dir="ltr">Follow the printed recipe on the back of Toll house chocolate chips bag. (That's what I did)</p><p dir="ltr">Have a fantastic week!</p><p dir="ltr">I know it's been a while since I wrote maybe I'll be back again soon. </p><p dir="ltr"><br></p><p dir="ltr">Thanks for reading. </p><p dir="ltr">Tammyc</p>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-11696489870915843082020-10-27T14:49:00.000-05:002020-10-27T14:49:55.296-05:00Cookies in the Sewing Tin.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-96-KPoj2Ux0/X5gXu62BRYI/AAAAAAAAVA8/Jwkm6Sz1WCIUerbk20obMjY3M1frm1CBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20201027_074026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1467" height="292" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-96-KPoj2Ux0/X5gXu62BRYI/AAAAAAAAVA8/Jwkm6Sz1WCIUerbk20obMjY3M1frm1CBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20201027_074026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I work for an ambulance company and my department is responsible for cleaning out the ambulances after the crews end their 12 hour shift. Medics & EMTs are notorious for forgetting things on the trucks and nothing really surprises me anymore. Today when I got to work this tin was sitting on the counter and honestly my first thought was "Why are there Christmas cookies when we haven't even had Halloween yet?" I inquired about the tin, who do they belong to, where did they come from and what have you, even opened to verify that it did in fact have cookies in it. Because let's be real, how many times have you opened a tin like this hoping to find cookies but was disappointed to find something other than cookies? I laughed and made a comment about how there were actually cookies still inside. Manny (a co-worker) said that another co-worker brought the tin in from a truck and when he left it asked "Who put cookies in the sewing tin?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know why I found this funny and worth sharing but I cracked up laughing. Mostly because growing up I know my own mom & grandma had some of these tins filled with sewing stuff or buttons. I would bet that most of you had a grandma or mom that had a tin with that sort of stuff in it instead of cookies as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What all did you find inside when you have came across one of these cookie tins? I would love to hear about all the treasures these pretty little tins have held. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, can someone explain why I have been feeling so darn nostalgic these days? Geez.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can find me on Instagram @a_junebug_ or my quilting page @twistedchicksquilts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can leave your comments below or over there on one of my pages. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for reading my random thoughts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a great week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">always</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">tammyc</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-51435008713443220372020-10-22T10:07:00.001-05:002020-10-22T15:10:16.546-05:00This One Here<br><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hMfPScB1weY/X5GgH5Dc38I/AAAAAAAAU_w/i2NycJGSDeMoxutw1yUi2tBMcvq1E86vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20201022_083328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hMfPScB1weY/X5GgH5Dc38I/AAAAAAAAU_w/i2NycJGSDeMoxutw1yUi2tBMcvq1E86vQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20201022_083328.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="3468" data-original-height="4624" width="240" height="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">I have been gifted many cups and mugs over the years. Heaven knows I have bought more than a few of them myself. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">I never really think about it when I'm making a cup of coffee which one I'm using but just now this morning I realized that this one, yes this one here is special. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">It was just a sweet gift from a co-worker oh so long ago and let me say, that is what prompted this story and this flood of memories today.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">I worked in a billing office for Tulsa Radiology when my girls were little. Britt was only one when I left there. That is what stopped me in my tracks today, this simple gesture of a going away gift years ago. I am a little saddened that I don't remember the girl that gave it to me, well not her name. I remember conversations we had (she worked at the desk across from mine) we knew some of the same people from my home town. I remember that she had beautiful long straight dark hair, but I cannot fish her name out of my memory for nothing.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Anyhow this morning walking to the couch to enjoy a nice cup of "perfect blend" coffee I remembered that I have had this cup for 20+ years. This cup has been my go to favorite cup for 20 years. It has held just about anything you can think of coffee, soda, tea, root beer floats & chicken soup. It's probably even been a fancy wine glass before. It's been used many times while preparing dinner. It was rescued from the depths of a teenagers room with who knows what growing in it. It has been used for rooting new ivy plants sent home by my momma. It has been a paint brush cleaning cup. It has had more than its fair share of milk & cookies in it. It was even with me that one day when I couldn't sleep so I sat outside watching the sun come up the first morning after my daddy past away. It's now sitting in the sink because 3 cups of coffee is probably a bit too much and causes my brain to race through loads of things no one really wants to read. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">I'm certain if you look back through social media photos you will see it has even been there. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">It's silly how just one cup can bring back a lifetime of memories and at the most weird out of left field times too. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Well, if you're still reading thanks for sticking around to read my random thoughts. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">What is your "wow I've had this for that many years" item? I would love to know. You can share them with me over on Instagram you can look me up @<i>a_junebug_</i></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Have a great week. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">always </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">tammyc</p></div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-50031595998802370502020-10-09T14:45:00.001-05:002020-10-09T14:57:41.027-05:00It is Better to Look Ahead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aeL6MlUx27A/X4C9xFjAkhI/AAAAAAAAU98/-V4t2MyvyL0X-B9S9hYAWQrO6f-MxHq2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20201009_135809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=" margin-right: 1em;margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aeL6MlUx27A/X4C9xFjAkhI/AAAAAAAAU98/-V4t2MyvyL0X-B9S9hYAWQrO6f-MxHq2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20201009_135809.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="1080" data-original-height="2020" width="58" height="108" class=" " title="" alt=""></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fgo6iexFU5U/X4C9xTS3cAI/AAAAAAAAU-E/tTGHObNVw7MKtm91Kg85l0DLYzAIvQFkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20201009_135832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=" margin-right: 1em;margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fgo6iexFU5U/X4C9xTS3cAI/AAAAAAAAU-E/tTGHObNVw7MKtm91Kg85l0DLYzAIvQFkwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20201009_135832.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="1080" data-original-height="1919" width="62" height="110" class=" " title="" alt=""></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Every year for the past several years I have done my best at keeping a planner with all my quilt business stuff like social media posting schedules, when quilts were due, quilt store sales, shop hops, client meetings and lots of other things. I tend to keep several personal things in it as well.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I was on track with 2020 until February when my world stood still. My family took a truly hard hit. Those of you that know me know my dad past awayon the 29th. I know we all heal differently and it has been crazy hard on everyone. My quilt business has suffered as well.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">The planner that I bought for 2020 (photos above) sits in my sewing room closet in a large ziploc bag of other things that were in my backpack that I used to carry to all dads appointments. <br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">I used waiting room time to do quilt business and hand stitch embroidery. I have not touched neither of those things except to put them away since he left us.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fUXwieEos44/X4C9x2xKlTI/AAAAAAAAU-M/A2EoWh41CSk1GRGr_fE8V93SBRVe6xfSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20201009_134603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=" margin-right: 1em;margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fUXwieEos44/X4C9x2xKlTI/AAAAAAAAU-M/A2EoWh41CSk1GRGr_fE8V93SBRVe6xfSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20201009_134603.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="3251" data-original-height="3671" width="150" height="169" class=" " title="" alt=""></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">2021 will be difficult for the first couple of months of that I am sure. I do have faith that we will continue to heal our hearts and continue on the search for our new normal. Hopefully this pretty little planner helps me on this journey.</p><blockquote style="text-align: left;"><i>It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret ~Jackie Joyner-Kersee</i></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">It does seem like it is getting easier to write how I'm feeling about things instead of closing the door in my brain where all this years memories are stored. Mom and I talk about him nearly every day and some days it feels like he could still be here with us. We laugh, we cry and we keep on keeping on.</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">One thing is for certain I think we are all ready for a new year, 2020 just wasn't our best. </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Thanks for reading my rambling. Have a great weekend! </p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">always</p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">tammyc</p></div><br></div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-6265483430415074902020-01-29T12:08:00.001-06:002020-01-29T12:11:01.701-06:00Momma's Spanish Rice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x9Kxy8xDEdk/XjHKJw37xNI/AAAAAAAASIU/Ca2TFzBvjKATRTXxyQ9Eg_TSJ_19a7MEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200129_115059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x9Kxy8xDEdk/XjHKJw37xNI/AAAAAAAASIU/Ca2TFzBvjKATRTXxyQ9Eg_TSJ_19a7MEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200129_115059.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="1564" data-original-height="1564" width="320" height="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Growing up this dish was a staple at our house. Moms favorite food I would say. Her version of Spanish rice, a recipe taught to her from her mom & grandma. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Growing up many different people had it & loved it with the exception of a few (the one little girl Sally that dumped it in the floor & hid it with her plate🤣). Man was mom mad. Over all though most everyone that's ever eaten it liked it. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Now the rice above may look like my mom's Spanish rice, only one thing is different...I used the instant pot (not the insta pot, the one we have isn't that name brand) but let me tell you...I LOVE IT! It belongs to mom & dad, they only ever used it a few time because mom doesn't like it. She says it makes the food taste weird. It doesn't that is her just being resistant to change. Since bringing it to my house (because my parents live with me) I have been using it every chance I get. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Today I made her recipe in the instant pot & let me tell you it was fantastic. Mom ate some and even gave it two thumbs up.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">She said it tastes just like hers. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I might be winning her over to the instant pot. I just have to figure out more of her recipes to cook in it 😉</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Do you have one of these instant pot pressure cookers? What are some of your favorite things to make in it? Please share, I am in search of something yummy to make.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Have a great day</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Thanks for reading. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Tammyc </div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-34514050368589573082019-11-03T18:32:00.001-06:002019-11-03T18:49:34.045-06:00Grandma's apron <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o4M4D3PhtIw/Xb9xpPnmWWI/AAAAAAAARHg/gH0DOU7pRyQMk3yXr42v8LX5gGZtbCZFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20191103_180626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o4M4D3PhtIw/Xb9xpPnmWWI/AAAAAAAARHg/gH0DOU7pRyQMk3yXr42v8LX5gGZtbCZFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20191103_180626.jpg" border="0" data-original-width="1564" data-original-height="1564" width="320" height="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I wore this old apron yesterday while serving beans at the benefit we had in my dads honor. To most people they seen an old, stained, ratty apron that made me look like an old lady. To me and dad we seen a little hint of grandma at his benefit and when we reached the goal we were hoping to meet he said to me "it was grandma's apron huh?" Yes it sure was. She was watching all her friends and family come together when it was important, setting aside our pride & differences to come together for a common goal. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I wore that apron with pride yesterday and every time I put it on. (Though not often because I want to keep it as long as possible)</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I have no idea when she got it and I have no idea when exactly I got it but was I given a box of her old fabric and such once and it was stuffed inside the box. I was already all in my thoughts of her and all she meant to me (the oldest granddaughter) when I came across this precious gem. It smelled old, like things tend to do after being stored for years and it had some stains on it (stains probably older than I am). After examining it I could tell it was well used and it probably ended up in the box of fabric because she knew it needed a lot of repairs and maybe she planned to fix it one day or maybe she was going to use it for something else entirely.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">All I knew was that I needed to preserve it. I washed it stitched up what I could and gave it a good pressing. It now hangs in my kitchen. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her in some way. I use the apron occasionally but for the most part it is just a little piece of her in my home.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">That is the story of my old apron that made a public appearance yesterday. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Thanks for reading. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Have a great week.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">tammy c</div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-16235532790632256802019-01-01T14:03:00.000-06:002019-01-01T14:03:16.982-06:00New Year, New Me...NOPE!<br />
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Well hellooo. I know, can you believe it? I am posting on the blog.<br />
Here we are the first day of 2019. I still can't believe how fast this past year flew by. I am learning that when you get older the years seem to fly. Never really believed it until now. My girls are adults, I've been married for nearly 25 years...it really does seem just like yesterday I was a kid living at home.<br />
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I know I've said in the past "I'm going to post blog updates more often, blah, blah, blah" but lets be real here I am a bit forgetful & I get sidetracked easily. I'm likely not going to post any more often than I already do but that's ok.<br />
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2018 was a pretty great year, busier than it seemed while I was in the thick of it. Made some new friends, lost some old ones sadly. Had a few adventures visited some countries outside the US. Heck I even started building a small business & with that business created 17 quilts in one year. (That seems like a lot) watched my girls make some good life choices for their futures, got to spend so much time with friends & family (the family that likes spending time with me anyway 😉) I don't know how 2019 is going to be able to top it but I am looking forward to it.<br />
I hope 2019 brings you all the changes you hope for as for me I'm going to be the same person I was last year. I like her sure she made some mistakes but darn it she has a good heart and loves with all of it. (Unless you owe her or her family money then well you're probably dead to her.) None of that new year new me BS everyone loves sharing this time of year. <br />
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Holler at me sometime this year maybe we can find an adventure to share. Happy New Year!<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
tammyc<br />
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Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-2880402245716505082018-07-08T08:55:00.001-05:002018-07-08T09:14:40.647-05:00Money everywhere!<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rQej3YvmiPY/W0IX4psXlcI/AAAAAAAALtE/Nuc_uQRX5nYZhifsFGjCP0Z9FR9iVJ-SwCHMYCw/s1600/%255BUNSET%255" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="" data-original-width="" height="266" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rQej3YvmiPY/W0IX4psXlcI/AAAAAAAALtE/Nuc_uQRX5nYZhifsFGjCP0Z9FR9iVJ-SwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" width="320" /></a><br />
I wish. But to day it seemed like the case. You see, these two gift cards have been sitting around on my vanity for who knows how long. I know that every time I straighten things up I think to myself "I need to throw these cards out.. but I'll check them first" and I get sidetracked and forget.<br />
I notice them every day and occasionally I think I'll take those with me to work and check them today only to forget them on my way out of my bedroom. <br />
Today however I remembered them. Why? I have no idea I just did. And boy am I glad I never just threw them out. The Walmart card has a whole $6.29 on it probably left from me buying a card to get fuel at some time or other. The Starbucks card has a whopping $10 on it (it's like gold) however it will barely get ya one drink there but 10 bucks just sitting there collecting dust. You can bet your last dollar that I would have never left a 10 dollar bill sitting there that long. Months! I don't even remember who gave me the card or when they gave it. It has been there that long.<br />
So, today I challenge you to clean out your purse, empty and sort the junk drawer (don't play, everyone has a junk drawer) and see if you can find any money just laying around hiding as a gift card that didn't get used up.<br />
<br />
Have a fantastic Sunday<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
tammycTammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-13523371502068780202018-04-04T15:51:00.001-05:002018-04-04T15:53:02.658-05:00Hello, my name is Tammy and I am a fabriholic <p dir="ltr">Hello, my name is Tammy and I am a fabriholic (is that even a word? It needs to be a word)<br>
No for real though, I always go to the fabric store with the intent of only purchasing what I need to work on the current customers quilt and I always leave with extra fabric because "oh my gosh look at this it would make a perfect gift for (enter any name here)!" And of course I have to get no less than 2 other coordinating fabrics because what kind of quilt can I make with only one fabric cut? <br>
Today I went in for 2 yards of black fabric to finish up the top I'm working on and nothing else...<br>
I did really great. There are so many amazing fabrics right now with spring and Memorial Day right in front of us. But I held strong. Touched them matched a couple but put them back and headed to the check out.<br>
Woah!!! Wait I do need another one of those (a sweet little trible jelly roll)...I bought that one last time and well I can't make anything decent sized with one jelly roll (this is a lie I often tell myself to talk myself into buying fabric, it worked.)<br>
I am however currently working on a plan to help me get through my ufo (unfinished objects) pile. I'll post about it when I get it all lined out. It seems like a pretty good plan. We'll see.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Have a great day. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Thanks for reading.<br>
Tammy c</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ps. That sweet little jelly roll is pictured here with the one I bought last time. Now to find a pattern <br>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vaNgNQD156w/WsU66LEaTMI/AAAAAAAAKEM/5iUDHReGLREV2Mj9gF1Fy9UiqZVxktdZwCHMYCw/s1600/1522874905426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vaNgNQD156w/WsU66LEaTMI/AAAAAAAAKEM/5iUDHReGLREV2Mj9gF1Fy9UiqZVxktdZwCHMYCw/s640/1522874905426.jpg"> </a> </div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-91197775428197165102018-01-26T23:14:00.001-06:002018-01-26T23:14:17.012-06:00DIY Fabric Spray Starch<p dir="ltr">Around this time last year I was in the sewing room a lot using a lot of fabric starch to get the fabric nice and crisp for sewing to get the best possible seams.  After buying a couple of bottles of Best Press fabric starch (around $7.00 for a 16oz bottle) I decided that there had to be a less expensive way to get the results I wanted.  So I called on every crafty (and not so crafty) gals trusty old friend Pinterest.<br>
Typed in a few key words...</p>
<p dir="ltr">Starch<br>
Fabric starch<br>
Diy spray starch<br>
Diy starch</p>
<p dir="ltr">And before I was sucked into a wormhole that has me completely sidetracked I found several home recipes for what I was looking for.  There really are a lot some using corn starch some using vodka.  I went with one of the many with vodka in it.  No not because I wanted to sip it occasionally.  But mostly because I didn't believe it would work. <br>
I made a trip to the local spirits store and got the cheapest bottle I could find (less than $7.00 for a small bottle) and returned to make up some of this wonderful concoction the ladies in the quilting blogs were raving about.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mixed up a small batch to test it out.</p>
<p dir="ltr">1 part vodka<br>
3 part water <br>
a couple drops of essential oil</p>
<p dir="ltr">Made a super small batch enough to fit in a 20 ounce water bottle.<br>
Took this to the sewing room and went to work on some fabric.  <br>
What AMAZING results!!<br>
Yes that's right it worked as well as any store bought spray starch. </p>
<p dir="ltr">What it didn't do:<br>
It didn't stink like alcohol.<br>
It didn't leave flakes on the fabric.<br>
It didn't cost a ton of money.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I kept the small bottle of vodka in the laundry room and would mix up a small batch when I ran out in the sewing room.  I just last week used up the last of that bottle.  It lasted just under a year.  Did you catch that?  Almost a years worth of spray starch for just under 7 dollars. <br>
I knew I needed to make up some more so this week I went to the store again and this time I picked up a much larger bottle (for 13 dollars) and made up a gallon of spray starch.  I use lavender essential oil in mine because I like that scent.  This gallon will last geez who knows how long and when it runs out I still have half a bottle of vodka to make up another gallon.  So $13.00 for what will seem like a never-ending supply of quilting spray starch.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Hope you enjoy this tip and if you try the diy starch recipe please come back here and let me know how it worked for you.  I would love to hear from you.</p>
<p dir="ltr">**this could be used for any ironing not just while pressing quilt seams.  It works great on my family members clothes as well.**</p>
<p dir="ltr">Thanks for reading</p>
<p dir="ltr">always<br>
tammyc</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GWhT9wOOG9Y/WmwKphy8MzI/AAAAAAAAJkU/u13YwdpY7iAUEdmFstPtAQjaYnM409Q2ACHMYCw/s1600/Snapchat-311946124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GWhT9wOOG9Y/WmwKphy8MzI/AAAAAAAAJkU/u13YwdpY7iAUEdmFstPtAQjaYnM409Q2ACHMYCw/s640/Snapchat-311946124.jpg"> </a> </div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-17408092223989589302017-06-25T10:39:00.000-05:002017-06-25T10:39:40.708-05:00Another tripYep, that's right. Another trip around the sun has come and gone, here I am still all talk and no writing. This past year really just slipped right on by. Not without notice though but defiantly without any stories written and shared here on the blog.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out on a date with my guy☺</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have had such a busy year, my baby completed her senior year of high school and is enrolled in college beginning the next step of her life. She will be moving to her dorm sooner than I'd like. Val has finished college and is about to begin her career in a field that she has always loved. They both had milestone birthdays that required major celebrating (18 & 21) where has the time gone? They are adults. I could not be more proud of the adults the hubby and I grew. With the girls going their own directions we have been spending a ton more time than usual together and it is nice. It's like our dating days all over again only that awkwardness of just meeting isn't there to make us uncomfortable. <br />
I find myself wondering what this next trip has in store for me. I'd say I'll write more but who knows really what's going to happen in my next 365 days...who knows if I'll have time.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
Have a great Sunday.<br />
<br />
tammyc<br />
<br />Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-8861918994234612692016-07-09T01:29:00.001-05:002016-07-09T01:29:54.005-05:00Oh how I miss writing...It's true. I love writing. Maybe not everyone loves to read what I write, but I do so love writing. The thing is I have this full time job thing and it seems to get in the way of all the good writing time. <br />
<br />
OK well that may just be an excuse and not even a good one but it is really the only one I have.<br />
<br />
I work this crazy 12 hour night shift with these crazy days at work. It seems that when I am off work I am running a thousand different directions. I never know where the time has gone to when it is time to go back to work.<br />
<br />
But here is what I am thinking of trying. I have started a list of things I would like to write about and share with you. Yeah I know, it is mostly stuff going on in my life but also stories. I like short stories. So my blog is going to take a bit of a turn. I am going to write. I will be writing true stories and fiction stories. I will still be writing about my girls and what is going on in life for those family members that like to hear about what we are all up to. But I am going to be pulling memories and such and also be pulling together my crazy random thoughts that seem like they could be stories. I don't know how long this will last or even if I get much more writing done. <br />
I have had a long time dream of writing a book and getting it published and maybe actually making a little money doing so. Will this ever truly happen? Probably not as I can not ever settle on a good story line that keeps my interest for more than about 500-1500 words or so. But no matter what I will still continue to write. I hope the 7 followers that I have are still willing to read when I finally get this change thing going, who knows...maybe I can get some more followers. Maybe 10 whole followers. Slow down those crazy thoughts, I don't know what I would do with that many followers. (hehe) ☺<br />
<br />
So until we meet again. Read something that makes you happy.<br />
<br />
and thanks for reading my little blog.<br />
<br />
always<br />
tammycTammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-86698392277099036972016-05-04T09:51:00.001-05:002016-05-04T09:51:09.872-05:00Slightly off track<p dir="ltr"><u>I</u> got a phone call this morning shortly after Britt left for school, I figured she had forgotten something again, this happens about once a week with her...poor thing just like her mother in so many ways.  She didn't forget homework or permission slips but rather she forgot to turn the heat lamp off that she has on her baby chicks.  She asked if I could run out and turn it off because it would be warm today and despite my asking if she wanted baked chicken for dinner she insisted that I please turn the lamp off.  Of course I would.  After all what are moms for right? While out there I noticed they needed fresh food and water as well but I was unhappy with what she has been feeding them from.  So I headed to the shed in search of chicken supplies.  I know we have them, this isn't our first go round with chicks, we've had several.  I checked the small shed where all the feed use to be kept but turned up nothing.  So I wondered over to the big shed thinking I was sure there were no chicken things <u>in</u> there but maybe I could find something that would suit my need for them.  Looking around picking up this and that but putting it back because it just wasn't right I noticed a tote that appeared to have fallen from the loft and was looking like it was going to spill out.  This is where my train of thought got slightly off track, while getting the lid and about to place it back on the loft I realized it was some of my parents things that is stored there.  Took a look inside and and that train of thought got completely derailed sent rolling down memory lane.  There were so many things that my brother and I did in school from the early 80s (30+ years ago people) some newspaper clippings, letters, old school photos.  There was even and old Donkey Kong game for Atari (why I'm not sure but it was there too) there was so much to look at.  There are lots of things I want to share with my brother and his family and I hope we can make some time to sit and reminisce while we dig through a part of our past that mom must have felt would be important or special.  But I wanted to share just a couple of the gems I came across.  Oh how I love old memories.  <br>
I finally pulled myself away from the tote and refocused on my first mission. The chicks have better food and water dishes and me well I can't wait for mom to visit again so we can look through it all together. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Thanks for reading</p>
<p dir="ltr">always<br>
<u>tammyc</u><br>
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b1se-pEhYKU/VyoMV1-iAKI/AAAAAAAABps/IoHvYnKra-A/s1600/20160504_083207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b1se-pEhYKU/VyoMV1-iAKI/AAAAAAAABps/IoHvYnKra-A/s640/20160504_083207.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WNuO8m0DAzQ/VyoMWhD_9iI/AAAAAAAABpw/Gqkvdm_N5CA/s1600/20160504_083651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WNuO8m0DAzQ/VyoMWhD_9iI/AAAAAAAABpw/Gqkvdm_N5CA/s640/20160504_083651.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jPUtdRugjOg/VyoMXLt_E9I/AAAAAAAABp0/CDJLCb6vEHg/s1600/20160504_084421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jPUtdRugjOg/VyoMXLt_E9I/AAAAAAAABp0/CDJLCb6vEHg/s640/20160504_084421.jpg"> </a> </div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-42015715589897062592016-04-05T23:18:00.002-05:002016-04-05T23:23:20.081-05:00Happy First Birthday Magnolia Jane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XWGJGIUsTnY/Vd2Zj9-hldI/AAAAAAAABhI/fnfS0-Xm44o/s1600/20150511_202142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XWGJGIUsTnY/Vd2Zj9-hldI/AAAAAAAABhI/fnfS0-Xm44o/s200/20150511_202142.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">about 6 weeks old</td></tr>
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Those of you that know us have probably had a chance to meet our most recent fur (grand) child Magnolia Jane, Maggie Jane, Maggie May, Magpie, Maggie moo she kinda has lots of names really. She belongs to Miss Britt and let me just say I got in tons of trouble for allowing Britt to bring her home. And sometimes I question myself as to what I was thinking when I told her I would talk dad into letting the dog stay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TCg5_odmE54/VwSL-9QmjZI/AAAAAAAABpE/gnPZgkGxM6k/s1600/IMG_20160331_090340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TCg5_odmE54/VwSL-9QmjZI/AAAAAAAABpE/gnPZgkGxM6k/s200/IMG_20160331_090340.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 year old</td></tr>
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Let me go back to the beginning. We had taken Britts friend Chriss home after an Ag event. While there he asked if Britt could come see his dogs babies. Of course I said sure and for the record as she was leaving the truck I did say "don't even ask we are not taking one home with us" Well she did ask and I did let her bring it to the house with us. I did however the whole way home panic about what Stephen would say. I knew he was going to be mad, he was going to tell us to return the dog to where it came from. I will spare you the sad details and the tears over the thought of sending her back when she made that blond child of mine so stinking happy. He let Britt keep the new huge (little) puppy.(her mom is 98% wolf & 2% husky, her dad is German Shepherd NOT A LITTLE DOG AT ALL)<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HG2SWvR0fxc/Vd2ZkQeoXaI/AAAAAAAABhM/4PzdQ_pCHz4/s1600/1432777571325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HG2SWvR0fxc/Vd2ZkQeoXaI/AAAAAAAABhM/4PzdQ_pCHz4/s200/1432777571325.jpg" width="112" /></a>We've had lots of animals because of Britt, she is an animal lover. She even yells at us if we hit a snake on the road. It is just how she is and I wouldn't change a single thing about her. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mt-Ku__n1qg/Vd2ZlJ1XywI/AAAAAAAABhY/-RkxOQ-7yHQ/s1600/20150513_191710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mt-Ku__n1qg/Vd2ZlJ1XywI/AAAAAAAABhY/-RkxOQ-7yHQ/s200/20150513_191710.jpg" width="200" /></a>This dog goes everywhere Brittnie goes for the most part. She loves Britt. Until I met and got to really know Maggie a bit I never really noticed a bond between a human and a dog like this one before. I know other humans have this kind of bond but I had never really seen it in an everyday way. Does that make sense? If not sorry. I don't know that I even know how to put it into words. <br />
<br />
</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-48mqftMcgB0/Vd2Znc884dI/AAAAAAAABho/_Q6YDOw82xA/s1600/20150610_063449-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-48mqftMcgB0/Vd2Znc884dI/AAAAAAAABho/_Q6YDOw82xA/s200/20150610_063449-1.jpg" width="200" /></a>I think the craziest thing about Maggie is that I don't think she knows she is a big dog. Really. She has been raised inside the house with our two little wiener dogs. She does everything they do, her and Remington are best buddies. They really do get along so well. Marty on the other hand tolerated her and that's about it. Every now and then he plays with her but not for long then he is back on the couch or in Stephens lap being the cranky old man he is. </div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OaNBkHUCvCY/Vd2brN2omsI/AAAAAAAABiU/k6Icc9n5ixk/s1600/20150616_163512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OaNBkHUCvCY/Vd2brN2omsI/AAAAAAAABiU/k6Icc9n5ixk/s200/20150616_163512.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t2bRCGuOK5s/Vd2bqWSO52I/AAAAAAAABiM/USeiQnjQ5hA/s1600/20150614_170837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t2bRCGuOK5s/Vd2bqWSO52I/AAAAAAAABiM/USeiQnjQ5hA/s200/20150614_170837.jpg" width="112" /></a>It's nuts how quickly she grew into the huge dog she is now. She is so
playful and loves to climb into your lap and snuggle. Like I said she
doesn't know she isn't little.</div>
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I could go on and on with Maggie stories but I will just share a few of my favorite pictures and not keep you all day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EXdcN0McqrA/Vd2bsI_nWwI/AAAAAAAABic/ulRyaW-pEs4/s1600/20150626_172548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EXdcN0McqrA/Vd2bsI_nWwI/AAAAAAAABic/ulRyaW-pEs4/s200/20150626_172548.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Britt left and left her at home, she waited like this for a long time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_1YEYXDtyho/Vd2bs5sYezI/AAAAAAAABik/zG9F2435t3c/s200/20150704_172600.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her first overnight trip with us to the lake. She didn't stay too white that weekend</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y_8Z0P9NUDY/Vd2btpLOlTI/AAAAAAAABis/c2L7ti5-gFU/s200/20150809_165057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She always finds a pillow or a blanker to sleep on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See I told you she doesn't know she is huge. She wanted to look out the window so she stood on the back of the couch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she also stands in Stephens recliner to see out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She is a pretty happy traveler. She enjoys car trips</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She did not however like the trip to the dog wash :-(</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Britt, Maggie, Gunner & Laney</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PARTY TIME!!</td></tr>
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Just the other day Britt was super excited because she had never owned a dog that she knew the actual birthday for. Maggie was born on mine and Stephens anniversary last year March 31 2015 so this year Britt went all out and made doggie safe cupcakes, bought party hats, sent invitations to her friends and family that has dogs themselves and had Maggie a birthday party. I had to miss it and it make me sad, after all she is my grand doggie. I hear not all the party guest got along but hey that's how it is when you get too many humans together too so I guess it turned out OK because the dog catcher didn't get called and no one tried to bite anyone else. Below are a few of the cutest pictures of the cutest girl and her dog (and friends).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Marty & Uncle Remington</td></tr>
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And even though grand mommy didn't get to go to the party Maggie had close friends & loved ones there including her favorite uncles Marty and Remington. I think it helped Maggie have a good time as she was a bit sad that her cousin Boomie and her great uncle Wally didn't make it to the party. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jax not looking thrilled with the choice of head wear ☺ </td></tr>
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I love that my baby girl has such a huge heart when it comes to animals. Being that I was raised in town I never had lots of animals she is always wanting to bring home. I just wish we had more land and a bit more money to be able to bring more animals home. </div>
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Hope you enjoyed yet another peek into my crazy life (who has birthday parties for dogs?) Yep my crazy daughter. </div>
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Thanks for reading</div>
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always</div>
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tammyc</div>
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Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-53114112411581158542016-03-31T13:10:00.001-05:002016-04-01T23:07:58.243-05:00Family secrets<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S71JTV5Fqck/Vv1oH1hqszI/AAAAAAAABoE/Z94C189M-qU/s1600/Snapchat-1943315216586076777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S71JTV5Fqck/Vv1oH1hqszI/AAAAAAAABoE/Z94C189M-qU/s200/Snapchat-1943315216586076777.jpg" width="111" /></a></div>
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Ok well it probably isn't a secret but it is something that has been handed down from grandmother to mother to daughter to granddaughter in my family. <br />
I have tried and tried and tried to make my mother's homemade flour tortillas. And have failed more times than I care to count. She never measures anything and I can't seem to cook a single thing without following a recipe and using good measurements. <br />
A few years ago my momma taught Val how to make them and she does great but she is nearly 20 and staying home to make flour tortillas is not something that is at the top of her list. <br />
Today mom and dad are over visiting and we are going to have dinner this evening and needed the tortillas. Mom was determined I was hoping to learn. </div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3GvBumu6JGk/Vv1oIVKVOEI/AAAAAAAABoI/hn46UQirEV4/s1600/Snapchat-6839586911787066247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3GvBumu6JGk/Vv1oIVKVOEI/AAAAAAAABoI/hn46UQirEV4/s200/Snapchat-6839586911787066247.jpg" width="111" /></a>So as she was not measuring her ingredients I was taking them and trying to measure them out before she added the next ingredient. I thought I had finally figured out how to measure her tortilla recipe. It looked right (kinda) I mixed and mixed trying to get it ready to roll out. But it just didn't look right and mom said it was too dry and stiff the dough wasn't soft enough. I rolled one out and cooked it to prove I had gotten it right by measuring everything. After the first one finished cooking all I could do was admit defeat. It was too dry and cooked up even dryer. YUCK! (Like eating Sheetrock or something) So I thought I would just add some water and it would soften up. Nope. That made it super gooey and nasty. Had to throw it out and start fresh. I did not measure a single thing just dumped things in a bowl and mixed away just like she <u>does</u>. Guess what? It was perfect. The dough, the rolled out tortilla and it cooked up just like mommas would. Tasted like heaven with butter on it. </div>
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Now, those of you close to me know mommas health hasn't been the best and I worry every day something is going to happen and I won't get to learn all the things I still need to learn from her. Today I ticked one of those things off my list but it is such a long list she had better be around for another 100 years. Can't wait for dad to try these tortillas to see if they compare to moms. ☺ </div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kl7r0BswvL8/Vv1oI4b8I_I/AAAAAAAABoM/bCBmZ29b628/s1600/Snapchat-6903482212937515395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kl7r0BswvL8/Vv1oI4b8I_I/AAAAAAAABoM/bCBmZ29b628/s200/Snapchat-6903482212937515395.jpg" width="111" /></a> Thanks momma for teaching me how to be a good wife and mom. I wouldn't be able to do any of this stuff if it weren't for everything you have taught me. I love you more than you will ever know. </div>
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Thanks for reading.</div>
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always<br />
tammyc</div>
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Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-45026800135007756062016-03-09T01:09:00.001-06:002016-03-09T01:09:33.787-06:00Where dreams come fromMost people would say the middle of the night while you're sleeping. And yeah, I kind of agree with that except I don't sleep during the middle of the night very often due to work so sometimes dreams come from the middle of the night while you are trying to keep yourself awake to keep your night schedule going. Just the other night I was staying up so that I would be able to sleep during the day before work and was flipping through the TV struggling to stay awake when I came across the very tail end of a movie called <i><b>Wild</b> </i>it has Reese Witherspoon in it. It's about a woman who felt her life was crumbling around her and she decided to hike alone to clear her head and find herself (well at least I think. It was just the end of the movie so I'm not too sure.)<br />
Thanks to google I have learned that this movie was based on a true story that was written by Cheryl Strayed. My long time rule is that if a movie is based on a book you must first read the book (my girls hate that rule and are now old enough to break I'm pretty sure they do too) I love reading and I have not found a movie that was better than the book yet. It just doesn't happen. The book is always better. Trust me...ALWAYS.<br />
So thanks to the world at my fingertips I went right to amazon and ordered the book <b><i>"Wild From lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail" By Cheryl Strayed.</i></b><br />
I cannot explain it but just the tail end of a movie that I had never even heard of has sparked something inside me. I've done more reading and research on hiking in the last 3 days than I have my whole life. I can't wait to read this new book (and the other book I bought that night <u><b>Oklahoma Hiking Trails</b></u>) and see where the spark spreads.<br />
I do know one thing for certain...I think I'll take a hike☺<br />
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When was the last time you did something for the very first time?<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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always,<br />
tammycTammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-82977905897457177052016-02-17T22:45:00.001-06:002016-03-09T01:09:51.591-06:00Current excitement<div dir="ltr">
For years now I have asked my immediate family (hubs, kids, parents, brother and his family. Eleven of us total) if we could for just one year do a homemade Christmas. Where everyone give and receives homemade gifts. Not homemade by someone else and given as gifts completely homemade by each family member...this past Christmas they all agreed! For Christmas of 2016. I can not even express how excited I am about this.</div>
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Everyone knows I love to sew and my dear brother made a comment a few weeks ago about not being surprised at Christmas because everyone was going to get a blanket from Tammy this next year. I laughed. He thinks he knows me so well but the reality of it is I have several months to scour over pinterest to find just the right gifts for each and everyone of them. And though some are crossing their fingers and praying daily that they will get a new quilt (Janae) not every person will. </div>
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Today I did start work on one of my gifts and cannot wait to see it done. I am truly looking forward to all the fun stuff I am going to make this year and can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with. </div>
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Here's to keeping our fingers crossed that everyone holds up their end of the deal with homemade items. Because it isn't about how much money you spend on gift it is the thought and love that goes into choosing something for each person and thinking all the fun memories you have with that person while you are working on a unique gift for them. </div>
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Thank you family for indulging me with this request I am absolutely blessed to have each and every one of you in my life. (Now get working on your gifts it's almost March already!). </div>
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Thanks for reading<br />
Have a great week.</div>
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tammyc</div>
Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-56288489454080350912015-09-15T17:12:00.001-05:002017-12-02T15:30:19.007-06:00A long long....long time ago<div dir="ltr">
For as long as I can remember I have always wanted a convertible Mustang. When I say a long time ago I mean before I ever got my drivers license and I'm old so we all know that was a long long...long time ago. <br />
But God had other plans for me. I married at 20 and by the time I was 21 I had a baby and another at 25. So needless to say a mustang was not a practical car choice for us. And well with 2 girls the budget wouldn't allow for one either. But fast forward some years and I mean fast forward because it really does seem like yesterday that my girls were babies. Life has changed so much, my babies are both nearly grown and though they are not out of the house they are however never really needing me to chauffeur them from here to there and back again. I am no longer that softball equipment toting mom with girls, bats, balls & gloves spilling out of every car door. It's for the most part just me going to work and having a little fun with the hubs and friends every now and then. So the old truck was beginning to show it's years by not running like it should and despite hubs best efforts just wasn't cutting it anymore. So after 20+ years of day dreaming of a fun car I finally got to get it. My dream car. It took a bit of fighting with myself and listening to everyone tell me I didn't want a mustang. But I finally got it. It isn't brand spanking new but it i s new to me. Very nice and even though she isn't a v8 she can flat run. (Safely and at the speed limit of course) ☺</div>
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I call her Judy, big booty Judy to be exact. As I can fit 2 weeks worth of groceries in her trunk. So even if she isn't all practical she is still useful in my book. </div>
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And before I go I'll answer a few questions I have heard rumored about since buying my new car... Yes I am spoiled. No I am not having a "midlife crisis". No I don't need an extra job to pay for it. Yes I feel like I deserve it. No I haven't been bragging about it I am still in shock that it is actually mine. But with all that said I think each and everyone of us should own our dream car at some point or another in life. And I thank God every day that Stephen and I are blessed with good jobs that allow for us to provide for our family and have some fun while doing it. </div>
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Hope you all have a great week.</div>
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Thanks for reading.</div>
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tammyc</div>
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Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-70041629787764119772015-09-04T08:25:00.001-05:002016-03-09T01:10:24.136-06:00Simple enough<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's no secret that I like to use the creative side of my brain often. Most the time I am being creative in the sewing room with quilts of just about any color and design. </div>
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Sometimes however I will be scrolling through Pinterest and find something that begs to be made that isn't sewing. And that is exactly what prompted this latest trip to town for "crafty supplies". </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tCew1AyJ-sE/VembsO8T1AI/AAAAAAAABk0/JEIOjzG5ghA/s1600/20150902_231901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tCew1AyJ-sE/VembsO8T1AI/AAAAAAAABk0/JEIOjzG5ghA/s640/20150902_231901.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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I work nights and sometimes on my nights off my brain doesn't want to sleep no matter how hard I try, so on this night when I wasn't even near sleepy I went to town and gathered a few supplies I did not have on hand. (Sewing stuff I'm your girl, other craft stuff forget about it)</div>
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Back in March Stephen and I celebrated 20 years of marriage and our girls threw us the sweetest party with our friends and family in attendance. Part of their decorations were balloons floating with pictures of the life we had built hanging from strings on each balloon. Now I know I have most all those same pictures on my phone or on Facebook or some other social media but seeing them all in the same place was kind of neat. I ended up saving all those snapshots for a "project" later.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uioSte1SwBE/VembuD_hUJI/AAAAAAAABlE/hx1Fgw6LTH8/s1600/20150903_033013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uioSte1SwBE/VembuD_hUJI/AAAAAAAABlE/hx1Fgw6LTH8/s640/20150903_033013.jpg" /></a></div>
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So it's later (nearly six months later) and I finally got around to doing something with those snapshots. I bought some mod podge, a little black paint, some glue and a canvas (6 actually). Added the black paint around the edges and the background. Glued the pictures onto the canvas where I wanted them and then gave them all a nice thick coat of mod podge and left them to dry. </div>
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And there you have it a project that was simple enough for anyone with even no craftiness to do and have people wondering how you did that. It was fun, didn't really cost too much (buy cheap canvas because you're just going to cover it in glue anyway) and your end result is a nice way to showcase some of your everyday moments that get lost in the social media world otherwise. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dl8zmiNue6M/Vemb8AdM7KI/AAAAAAAABlU/yh2W9CWzkqo/s1600/20150904_082032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dl8zmiNue6M/Vemb8AdM7KI/AAAAAAAABlU/yh2W9CWzkqo/s640/20150904_082032.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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Here it is. All done and hanging on the living room wall. It still needs some rearranging as I'm not certain I like the layout now that it's actually on the wall but hanging canvas was stuipt hard to get all in line. So maybe I'll get to changing it later. But I love how it turned out.</div>
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(Please don't mind the 70s paneling. It needs updating but we'll get there one of these days.)</div>
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I would love to see pictures of your creative projects. Please share here in the comments or in my Facebook group. </div>
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Thanks for reading</div>
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Have a great weekend</div>
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tammyc</div>
Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-75475927061306814042015-09-02T09:09:00.001-05:002015-09-02T09:15:14.649-05:00Pop!<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mzg85cfGV-U/VecD4ehUqeI/AAAAAAAABkY/1Pqx4SklugM/s1600/7684418_G.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mzg85cfGV-U/VecD4ehUqeI/AAAAAAAABkY/1Pqx4SklugM/s640/7684418_G.jpeg"></a>Or soda, I don't know what you call it and in most of my adult life I have called it soda. Don't ask why, I don't know. Here in the middle of Oklahoma I have been made fun of for it for years. But it doesn't matter what you call it, it is bad for you. <br>
I won't bore you with quotes from medical studies and such you know all the bad things they say about it just as well as I do. <br>
For years and years I have been quite proud of my ability to say I have never smoked cigarettes or ever even tried any kind of drugs but the truth is, that is true for the most part. I have always been grossed out by cigarette smoke and never felt the need to try any type of drugs. But ya know what? That sweet sugary liquid that most people are chugging down every single day is just a legal kind of drug. You get addicted to the ingredients in it just like you would any of those other things. <br>
I have been drinking soda nearly all my life and I am now at this crazy age starting to see how it has taken its toll on me. <br>
So being all crazy and sleep deprived at work on Monday I decided that with September here I would start the new month with a new goal. Kicking my soda habit. (That idea came to me while sipping a nice cold Dr Pepper at about 11:45pm on August 31st) I had a few more sips and at straight up midnight I tossed half a can in the trash. <br><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L_TfxKdYiQI/VecD5AUk5zI/AAAAAAAABkc/eyk7Q78_G7U/s1600/avoid%25252Bdrinking%25252Bsoda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L_TfxKdYiQI/VecD5AUk5zI/AAAAAAAABkc/eyk7Q78_G7U/s640/avoid%25252Bdrinking%25252Bsoda.jpg"></a></p><p dir="ltr">Yay me right? <br>
Ha! <br>
I thought I would be ok if I just drink my water & got some juice, (cran-apple and pineapple variety so I don't get bored with just plain water) and if I made some tea at home. No tea isn't great either but asking me to give up all caffeine all at once is like asking me to stop breathing. Are you crazy? One vice at a time, one vice at a time.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It's been 33 hours, I cannot even describe the crazy headache I have had and I am positive the people I work with are planning to hire a priest for an exorcism. I have been a beast to say it nicely. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So if you see me and I am drooling, babbling nonsense, angrily yelling, dazed, zoned out or pounding my head against the pop machine you'll know I haven't just fallen off the crazy train I am just wishing for soda while trying to stick to my goal. (They also say it only takes 27days to form a habit) keeping my fingers crossed my new habit will be drinking water and not soda. <br>
Maybe it will level out soon and things won't be so hard.<br>
Maybe I can lose a little weight and then find more ways to torture myself for the sake of being healthier.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Hope you are having a great week.<br>
Thanks for reading</p>
<p dir="ltr">tammyc </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div>Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-83693973970624715222015-07-29T04:05:00.003-05:002015-08-18T07:56:56.591-05:00Where does the time go?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know, I know. You all are thinking where the heck have you been? There hasn't been a single post on the blog since late March. I'm sorry but I was busy. It was a rough few months there, the end of school meant my baby graduating from high school and the summer has kind of been a whirlwind. But if I'm not blogging you can find me in one of 3 places...work :-( the fabric store or in the sewing room. </div>
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Yep that's right the sewing room not just the kitchen table a whole room just for sewing.</div>
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Here is a peek into it. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Ok that last part might be a bit of a stretch but you get the point. </div>
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Let me tell you how this all came about. Dreaming and scheming. Yep dreaming of a better place to sew without having to put everything away for dinner or running the risk of something being spilled on a project. Both of which have happened. And scheming a way to try and turn an old feed shed into a quilting cabin. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The dreaming has been going on for a few years really. Since Stephen and I moved in to our home and I didn't have anywhere to set up my sewing stuff. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In our tiny house even though it was small everywhere it had a huge laundry room that allowed for plenty of room for a table and sewing machine. Ya know, no room for the family but tons of room for dirty laundry and a sewing machine ☺ so when we got a bigger home that lots of room for the family it had a small laundry room and no space for projects. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The scheming started after visiting with dear friend and she was having the same "kitchen table sewing area problem and her fabric got juice on it. I suggested maybe using the old feed shed. The 2 problems would be talking Britt into letting us move all her animal stuff out & talking our husbands into finishing the inside so we could heat and cool it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mentioned to my hubs and well it was not well received. I had visited with my mil about it and she instantly suggested we turn the spare room at her house into a sewing room. She had been looking for something to keep her busy since retiring. It kind of snowballed from there there and we've spent tons of time in the sewing room since. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you need me you you can find me at the sewing machine at her house working on my next big idea ☺</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is super fun to be able to sit down and work on something without having to worry about something getting lost or ruined in the shuffle. It's also quite funny that every time someone new comes to visit while we're in the sewing room they can't help but feel that crazy urge to sew something. 3 out of 4 of our daughters have started quilts of their own and Val & Britt have finished their firsts tops on their own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We even started a Facebook page to maybe help us make a little money by making and selling the quilts we finish. Please look for us</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Twisted chicks quilts</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You never know there might be something you can't live without on there. (And Christmas is closer than you think)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been a blast and I can't wait to see what all comes out of the awesome sewing space we share. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below are a few of the things I've finished up since having a sewing place</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div>
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Have a great week & thanks for reading</div>
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Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-68131259633431726552015-03-31T02:49:00.000-05:002015-03-31T02:49:31.782-05:00Twenty<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">We've been married for twenty years. Let me just say that again...We've been married for twenty years. I know, it sounds funny when I say it out loud too. I think it's because only your parents or aunts & uncles are married for twenty years right. Not us we're too young for that huh? But look at us though, we have been married twenty years. We are the parents, we are the aunt and uncle that has been married 20 years. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I remember thinking when</span> <span style="font-size: small;">we said our "I do" that I hope we are married forever like my momma & daddy or like Nanny & Mikey at that time they were married over twenty years and that was the goal...it had to last as long as those guys. And here we are. Those guys still loving strong too. Mom & dad with nearly 44 years and Nanny & Mikey just celebrated their 41st. That is my new goal. I love that they give us such an awesome example of how it should be. Thanks guys I know standing where I am now that it isn't always peaches and cream. Sometimes it is straight out hard work but you have proven that it is very well worth the fight and work that goes into it. I don't think either of you know how much we look to you as our example. Thanks for making it look easy and attainable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our sweet girls had us an anniversary party this past Saturday and the family and friends came out to help us celebrate this special anniversary and while there I was asked "So has it been easy?" I had at that point had a little too much wine and just shook my head yes and laughed out loud. But then I answered him honestly. "No. It had not always been</span> <span style="font-size: small;">easy" But you know what nothing worth having ever really comes easy now does it? I can tell you (most of you reading already know this) between raising kids, dealing with in laws, a mortgage and all the bills that come with raising kids and having a home to call your own is tough. There are always fights over who was right or wrong who is better at saving or who is the spender, where to spend holidays...and so on and so forth, but in the end it isn't the problems that make or break you rather how you handle them. Maybe we didn't always handle them right because there were a few times one or the other of us walked out only to return a little while later (after cooling off) to kiss and make up. How much fun would life be if you never got to kiss and make up anyway (right Uncle Mike) ☺ </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Twenty years...sometimes it seems like they took forever but they flew by and I find myself looking back with nothing but smiles. Yes smiles. Even at the bad times because even though they were bad times they taught us lessons we needed to learn and can you be upset with that? Nope not really.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am looking forward to our next 20. They are going to be even better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have a fantastic day & thanks for reading</span></div>
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Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-4938935711281674102014-12-28T02:12:00.001-06:002014-12-28T02:12:43.102-06:00Christmas 2014<div class="mobile-photo">
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Wow, Christmas is over and the New Year is almost here. Where does the time go? This Christmas was a whirlwind really, I had to work until 9 in the morning on Christmas eve and as soon as I got off work I was headed to Scotty's to learn how to make pies. Yeah, I probably could have looked up a cream pie or a coconut cream pie on Pinterest but it wouldn't have been the same. The pies I wanted to learn to make are my grandma Hilton's pies. I have tried to make them before without any luck at all they tasted good but never set up. So this year I asked if I could be included in the pie making. I think it's great that Scotty and Mikey get together every big holiday to make the pies just like she did. Every time I take one bite they remind me of all the fun holiday memories I have that she helped to create. This year a new memory was added to the collection. I got to Scotty's house and the crust were already about to go in the oven, so I missed that part. But I was there and the important part was about to start. Let me start by saying that if Cathy and I didn't have bad luck we probably wouldn't have any luck at all on this day. I was super excited to make meringue to top the pies with and well next time I think I will just skip that part. We got the first few pies done and were ready to whip up some egg whites to put on top and let me tell you they looked fantastic. Next we had to put them in the oven to toast the top just a touch. We were all standing around talking and reminiscing about the past and what we could and could not remember from our pasts and how some of the memories we had were 20-40 years ago. Right in the middle of all those sweet memories we realized that we had put the pie in the oven to lightly brown the top...well it was a bit more than lightly brown more like heavily black. Yep we can remember 20-40 years ago but to heck with remembering 2 minutes ago when we put the pie in the oven...that was the first of many issues we had that morning. Burnt the meringue and had to make up some more. It really was all down hill from there I don't know how we made it out with 10 good and yummy pies, but we did. We had an issue with the meringue and the mixer (the mixer decided it didn't want to play well with others and threw the meringue all over the kitchen) Cathy picked up a pie that wasn't quite cool and spilled it all over the counter top...Yea, I really don't know how we got it done but I am betting that Uncle Scotty never lets Uncle Mike out of pie making again (he'll probably beg me not to help again that's for sure). All in all it was a great lesson for me and I hope that when I try to make them on my own they turn out as well as they did for us this Christmas. </div>
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Christmas eve with the family was a bit different this year, we usually have sandwiches on Christmas eve because of all the Christmas food everyone eats on Christmas day but this year we made lasagna. Oh boy was it good. My mom was worried that we wouldn't make enough so while shopping for all the things we needed to make it she kept "saying get two, we need to make sure we have enough, there are 11 of us you know." I kept telling her I know what I'm doing but she kept insisting and I was just trying to get her out of Walmart. This is probably a blog post in itself but I will clue you in...She walks slow ( like crazy slow and I worry she will fall) so the girls (Valorie & Haleigh) wanted her to drive the little buggy they have for the handicap people. I was OK with that for all of 3 seconds until I realized how many stinking people were at the store and the fact that she drives that thing worse than she drives her car. She had no regard for shelves or people...if it got in her way she was going to run it over, frontwards, backwards or in circles (me included while I was bending over to get something off the shelf) The girls thought this was great though so they were no help at all. We finally got all the things we needed and got the heck out of there. </div>
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If you follow me on facebook or instagram you might remember one of my last garage sale finds...a HUGE roasting pan. I used it at Thanksgiving for our turkey (BIG @#$ PAN) Anyway, with all the stuff mom bought and all the worrying she was doing about not having enough for 11 people I pulled out the big pan and we started putting together one GIANT lasagna (thanks Val for your help) The picture you are looking at is a nearly 20 pound $70 lasagna. It was fabulous and all eleven people ate until they were nearly sick and guess what...we had enough leftovers for about 32 more people. (there is still some in my fridge as I type)</div>
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Christmas day! I love when the girls wake up to find gifts under the tree. Yeah they know where the gifts come from but it is always fun to see them light up when they see the things they have been wishing for. This year "Santa" left treats for the dogs under the tree as well and even though the girls were happy I am positive neither of them were more happy than our little doggies. They were running circles and trying to decide which treat they wanted first. It was sweet. (and Marty has not completely destroyed his stuffed toy yet either Janae)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dCLXVBStxCc/VJ-RGvVPQqI/AAAAAAAABYo/tiC3AErQ6ms/s1600/IMG_20141226_183626-714332.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dCLXVBStxCc/VJ-RGvVPQqI/AAAAAAAABYo/tiC3AErQ6ms/s320/IMG_20141226_183626-714332.jpg" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6097751965453730466" width="200" /></a>To top off my awesome Christmas post let me introduce you to my newest favorite kitchen item...you can call her Ruby. She has found her new home right up on the kitchen cabinet ready to work at a moments notice. I never really thought about what color I would like to have just that I have wanted one of these stand mixers for several years now. But since being given this bright red beauty I don't think any other color would have worked as well as this one does. Stephen keeps talking about taking better care of ourselves and eating better to lose some weight but I am afraid that with the addition of Ruby we are going to have to work extra hard because so far she has started off with making cookies (hope she knows how to make healthy stuff too) ;-)</div>
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Stephen got a fancy new toy this year too (he is just as spoiled as the three of his girls) if you want to see it you
will have to stop by and let him get it out of the safe to show you.</div>
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I truly am blessed beyond measure with the love of my family and friends. I enjoyed my whirl wind holiday getting to spend so much time with you all. The gifts mean nothing compared to each and every one of you. I love you all.</div>
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I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and may the up coming New Year bring you exciting new adventures. I know I am looking forward to what 2015 has to offer.</div>
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Thanks for reading</div>
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always,</div>
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tammyc </div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-hq2hNqbO-9Y%2FVJ-RDdHZ6nI%2FAAAAAAAABXs%2FeHChXAotASU%2Fs320%2FIMG_20141224_143013-701384.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hq2hNqbO-9Y/VJ-RDdHZ6nI/AAAAAAAABXs/eHChXAotASU/s320/IMG_20141224_143013-701384.jpg" -->Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-3971401981604961252014-11-17T02:03:00.001-06:002014-11-17T02:07:38.783-06:00Pinterest tried it...owl bet you laugh at this one<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So it's been a couple of years since I thought to myself that I would make a whole quilt out of cute little yoyos. You know what I'm talking about, the small circles of fabric that you stitch around the outside and then pull and gather the outside in to the middle (see photo and you will be like "oh yeah, I know what those are") Anyway when I started forever ago it was such a sweet notion but as I continued to make these little circles and stitch them by hand the more I stabbed my poor fingers with the needle the more I started thinking about quilt size...did I really need a large quilt made from these things? Nah. I can just do a small lap quilt, so I continued making them. That is until I just sat them down one day and didn't pick them back up for nearly 2 years. And when I did finally pick them back up I got to rethinking my idea about what to do with them yet again, do you have any idea how many two inch yoyos one would need for even a small lap quilt? Yeah too many to think about. So I had seen a lamp shade on Pinterest that I was sure I could do but even that seemed like it was going to take forever so back in the bag and into the sewing cabinet they went. I really don't have that much time to sit and make that many of them by hand anyway and it wasn't something I could work on at work either seeing that the bosses actually want the employees to do work while at work. Ugh!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PvhQxhvpFbM/VGmjlQUujSI/AAAAAAAABW0/J-GyDETjg50/s1600/2014-11-16_22.32.58-799891.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PvhQxhvpFbM/VGmjlQUujSI/AAAAAAAABW0/J-GyDETjg50/s320/2014-11-16_22.32.58-799891.jpg" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6082572632172956962" width="320" /></a>Today however I am way out of whack with my sleep schedule and I was awake with hubs he was watching TV and I sat browsing Pinterest when I came across this cute little owl made of yoyos. I had pinned it a few days ago and had forgotten about it until today. I got one of those "ah ha" moments and took off to the sewing cabinet, got the all but forgotten bag of yoyos out and sat down and went to work on trying to figure out how the lady made hers. I mean she is selling these cute little guys on Etsy for $12 each. It looked fairly easy so I color coordinated my yoyos and started to work. Now stop laughing, this was a trial run and I only spent about 45 minutes working on it. After I finished I was quite surprised that it even remotely resembled an owl so that for me was good enough. I was proud for even trying. I can see by looking at it that it's not anywhere close to what the other lady made, mine looks like he has been starved nearly to death and his eyes are OMGoodness large but hey he looked kinda like an owl and now I know what I did wrong if for some crazy reason I feel the need to make more of them. (I doubt it) ;-)</div>
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Hope this little out on a limb (bahaha pun intended☺) crafty post inspires you to try creating something even if it doesn't quite turn out how you expect it to. You never know until you try </div>
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Also if you would like to buy one of her cute little owls this is where I found her listing <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/184786092/fabric-yo-yo-owl">https://www.etsy.com/listing/184786092/fabric-yo-yo-owl</a></div>
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Thanks for reading</div>
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always</div>
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tammyc</div>
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Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1277489359734099761.post-33706777210904433752014-10-19T23:47:00.002-05:002014-10-19T23:47:59.621-05:00Logic & Reason...Take that elsewhere Mister!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oqFW4HxIUgM/VESFDR7ZsWI/AAAAAAAABWU/iMWDqquEOIE/s1600/20141019_102903-752016.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oqFW4HxIUgM/VESFDR7ZsWI/AAAAAAAABWU/iMWDqquEOIE/s320/20141019_102903-752016.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6072124489000923490" /></a>This past Friday a dear friend and I got to get away for a couple of hours of treasure hunting (garage sales but treasure hunting sounds more exciting) anyway...while we were out and about I came across this travel tumbler sold by Starbucks. Now I have seen this tumbler before but was never willing to pay the price for one brand new. I mean really 20+ bucks for a cup? No. It never made sense to me. But like I said treasure hunting...I found this for only $2 and yes two dollars is a bit much for one item at yard sales but after all it was Starbucks brand. I bought it, took it home, gave it a good washing and began using it at work that night. I keep ice water with me throughout my shift and this lid doesn't leak while in transport inside my bag. I liked that. But that is not the end of my amazement with this tumbler. <br />
If my memory serves me right I remember another of my dear friends owning one of these exact tumblers and I believe she had mentioned in the past that hers kept her drink cold most if not all of her 12 hour shift. I filled it at 8pm and at 4am it still had ice in it from home. I added more ice and at this point I put in a cold can of soda at 9:30 in the morning the soda was gone but the ice looked as if I had just filled it up. WOW! I was impressed. It kept things cold and didn't sweat like most glasses and water bottles. <br />
After two nights of using it for cold drinks I asked myself..."if it keeps things this cold how am I ever going to drink my coffee out of it? It is never going to be cool enough to drink" So at the end of work I got home and mentioned all this awesomeness to the hubs (he wasn't nearly as impressed as I was~buzz kill) but before going to bed I informed him I was going to be conducting "an experiment" I want to know how long this cup will keep my coffee hot. So I am in the kitchen with my new awesome cup in the space for cups on the Keurig waiting ever so patiently for the thing to brew my cup of hot coffee when hubs walks past<br />
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Hubs: Why are you making a cup of coffee, you are about to go to bed<br />
Me: Do you even listen to me? I want to know how long this cup keeps coffee hot.<br />
Hubs: But why are you making coffee?<br />
(it is at this moment I realize that I could have just had the Keurig heat water for my "experiment" and not wasted a cup of coffee)<br />
Me: Why are you coming at me with all this logic and reason? <br />
Hubs: shook his head and walked away <br />
Me: I'm going to bed. Don't let anyone pour out this cup of coffee...I'm doing my experiment.<br />
(sometimes I feel like I need to repeat my self to him because I am sure he doesn't really listen to me and all my craziness) :) <br />
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I had it in my head that I wanted to know how hot the coffee would stay (because who drinks hot water?) and in my defense I was at the end of my 12 hour night shift and my brain was already trying to shut down for the day and he was fresh from sleeping all night long. <br />
<br />Experiment findings: the coffee that was left in the cup on the cabinet from 10:00 am until 5:30 pm was lukewarm. I don't drink coffee lukewarm but who really leaves coffee in a cup for seven and a half hours and still drinks it anyways? Gross! So I believe this cup is worth the $2 I paid for it and it may have even proved to me that $20+ might not be too terrible of a price to pay for one new. <br />
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Hope you got a giggle out of this as now every time I see or hold the tumbler I hear hubs voice asking "why are you making coffee" and my response of "...logic & reason" and it makes me smile. Oh the conversations we have. Be glad I don't share all of them. :)<br />
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Have a fantastic week<br />
Thanks for reading<br />
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always<br />
tammyc <br />
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Tammy Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15092954598598173866noreply@blogger.com0