Mother's Chocolate Valentine

When my children were growing up they had a favorite Valentine book.

"It's Valentine's Day"

by

Jack Prelutsky

This is a book full of silly little short stories put in poem form.

Here is one of their favorites.

"Mother's Chocolate Valentine"

I bought a box of chocolate hearts,

a present for my Mother,

they looked so good I tasted one, 

and then I tried another.

They both were so delicious,

 that I ate another four,

and then another couple,

and then half a dozen more.

I couldn't seem to stop myself, 

I nibbled on and on,

before I knew what happened,

all the chocolate hearts were gone.

I felt a little guilty, 

I was stuffed down to my socks,

I ate my Mother's Valentine ...

I hope she likes the box.

HAPPY VALENTINES'S DAY

XOXOXO

Microfiction Monday

Welcome to another Microfiction Monday. Susan at Stony River hosts this fun meme.

She provides a picture and you write a short story about it.

Rules are, your story must be written with 140 characters 

(including punctuation)  or less.

Click ~HERE ~ for all the details.

This week, my story has exactly 140 characters. :)


Jon sat, pondering the events that just passed.
How was he suppose to know that what he
thought was a spider, was actually a false eyelash.

 To see how others interpret this picture click ~HERE

Need your help

Today we are taking a trip to IKEA! How you every been to an IKEA? If you have, you know what a treat it is! Later this year, we will begin to remodel our kitchen and even though today we are going for a totally different reason, I'm taking my camera and looking for some inspiration.

How do I need your help? Well ... Like so many of you out in blogland, I have caught the chicken/rooster fever.
Here are a few items I have.

I'm not sure I will use all of them and I also need to say that my kitchen area and my dinning area are separated by a header. My dilemma is trying to figure out another theme that can go with these items.
The theme now is lemons and limes.
Suggestions??!

I'm linking up to Debbiedoo's Newbie Linkie Party and hoping some of my new friend's can give me some great idea's.

Strangers ~Thematic Photographic 134

This week at Written Inc., Carmi has chosen the theme of STRANGERS. This could be a hard theme. . . I mean ... How many people take pictures of strangers? How many people feel comfortable enough to do that?


For me, it is all the "Social Setting" that aids to make it OK to snap photos of people you don't know.


These were taken Oct. 10, 2010 at the Chicago Marathon.
I don't know any of these people. I do know people who are running, but
trying to find them is "like trying to find a needle in a haystack."

Do any of these people know each other? They may or may not. It all depends on the goal they are trying to meet. Sometime people will run together "just to be able to say the ran a Marathon." But more likely, it is a personal goal they are trying to accomplish. So, even though, they know others who are running , they keep a pace to beat their own best time.
Did you know, that for some Marathons (such as The Boston Marathon), you must have a record of a certain time from another Marathon in order to participate?


Find more photos on the theme of "Strangers" @ Written Inc.

Better late than never ...

Happy Friday!
Yes, it is the Friday before Valentine's Day ... and FINALLY I am getting my act together. For 2 weeks now I have been traveling around blogland looking at all the wonderful crafts that you have made. I was inspired, I was in awe! There were so many that I would love to do myself ... but alas ... being sick for 2 weeks and having to go out of town took care of all my aspirations.

Last week, when driving back home from my travels, I stopped at HOME GOODS. Oh. . . how I LOVE Home Goods!! It is a wonderful store that sparks the imagination! The problem is, the closest one to me is 76 miles away. So of course, any time I know there is 1 around, I make time to stop and walk the isles.

While there, I was looking for several things and of course I found more than several that I would LOVE to have. One item was a Valentine Picture. BUT ... I didn't want to spend $14.99 on it. So I decided to make my own.

Now ... Does this ever happen to you? I knew exactly what I wanted to use and I know that I have seen the materials . . . someplace . . . but I could NOT find them. I came up with a picture that I like and that comes close to what I saw and ... best of all ... cost me about $7.00 to make.

So, what do you think??

Frame $4.99
stickers $1.00
craft paper $0.70
I'm also linking up to Boost My Blog Friday , another new linky party for me. :)

ABC Wednesday ~ D is for...

... DONUTS

First, a note about our host ~
Mrs Nesbitt, along with The ABC Wednesday Team (Cheryl, Donna, Gattina, Helen, Joyce, Leslie, Natalie, Sylvia, Troy and Roger) host this weekly meme. 


CAUTION ~ CAUTION ~ CAUTION
Before you look at these photos, let me give you fair warning. I have never posted photos of my kitchen. WHY?? Because it is sooooooo out of date and ugly. 
My home and kitchen were built some 40 odd years ago. Everything(in the kitchen) is falling apart. As a result, later this year we will be remodeling it. BOY ... will I be glad to get rid if the brown grout on my counter top!


Have you bought donuts lately? I can not believe how much they cost. I no longer have small children in my home, but even the "big ones" enjoy donuts every once in a while.


Here is a fun, quick, and easy way to enjoy warm donuts, practically, in just a few minutes.


What you need:  Oil, pan for cooking, bowl of sugar, tube of biscuits, a small cookie cutter for holes, a large slotted spoon, a paper plate and paper toweling. **There are several "cooks" in my home and not everything gets back to where it belongs. Today I used a bottle cap to cut my holes.**

Pour oil into pan and turn on the burner.

While you are waiting for oil to heat up open biscuits.

Use your cookie cutter or bottle cap to cut holes.

You may want to flour your cutter, but it really isn't a issue.

  When the oil is hot ( you will hear crackling noises from the oil), 

carefully add you holes. They will sink to the bottom,

 but within seconds they rise to the top of the pan. 

                                       

                  When the are slightly tan, turn them with a slotted spoon.
                                
                                      

   I turn holes and donuts 2 times to try and cook evenly.

Use your slotted spoon to get the holes out of the hot grease.

Drain on a paper plate and paper toweling

Roll the holes in sugar (powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar)

and place on plate. (Sorry for the fuzzy pic). 

Now, cook the biscuits the same way.

                                      They are best when served warm ... 
                   and don't forget to shake off the EXTRA sugar.

To see more posts for the letter "D" 

Go to

 ABC Wednesday

                     

That's My World~ Tuesday

Again, this week I am joining  a new Meme. 
That's My World is hosted each week by Klaus and the My 
World team, Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Sylvia, and  Fishing Guy. 
Join in the fun and share your world with others from all 
over Our World! 
To find out all the details click HERE 






Southern Wisconsin
Yes, it is February. Yes the days are getting longer,
longer sunlit hours are always an encouraging site. 
But Southern Wisconsin is still in the grips of winter.

Last Monday night we had a winter storm that was suppose to dump 16 inches of new snow on us.

We got 12 inches, but the blowing and drifting if snow produced drifts up to 4feet tall.

Feb. 2, 2011

Snow drift outside my front door.

                                           The road in front of my house.

                              My house from the bottom of the driveway.

                         Of course, conditions were perfect for some winter fun.

                             Then, again, more  snow on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

                                        But ... this is what I'm dreaming of. 

Take a look at other parts of our world at Thats My World