Where has the time gone

18 years ago I went on my first date with my wonderful husband Jerry. 

We've been together 18 years; in 3 decades, 2 centuries, and 2 millennia! Wow!

Peanut Butter Coconut Oil Dog Treats for Dry, Itchy Skin and Shiny Coat

PEANUT BUTTER COCONUT OIL DOG TREATS 

• 1 cup Peanut Butter, All Natural / Organic

• 1 cup Coconut Oil, Organic

• 1 tsp Cinnamon

• 1/2 cup Oatmeal, Optional

• 2 Tbsp Flax Seed, Optional

Preparation Steps

1. Microwave coconut oil to soften if needed. 

2. Add in peanut butter, cinnamon and any optional ingredients then stir until mixture is well mixed. Note: mixture should be thick, but pourable. 

3. Pour mixture into silicone ice cube trays and refrigerate or freeze until set.

Pop dog treats out and serve them to your pup! (Store in an air-tight container and keep in refrigerator.) 

Notes

Yield: depends on size of ice cube trays

It improves overall skin and coat health (it moisturizes and reduces itchiness due to allergies or eczema), but it’s also been linked to preventing diabetes and heart disease. 

*Start with about 1/4 dose of coconut oil and gradually increase over the course of several weeks so your pup can get acclimated if needed by decreasing coconut oil in recipe.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

So I think we finally got our recipe down for the most part. 

Slow Cooker Creamy Beef Stroganoff

• 2 pounds boneless beef round steak or stew meat, cut into thin strips

• 1 cans (10 1/2 ounces each) Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

• 1/4 cup Beef Broth or Beef Stock

• 3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp ground black pepper

• 12 ounces white mushrooms, sliced (about 4 cups)

• 3 medium onions, coarsely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

• 8 oz Cream Cheese, Light or Fat Free okay

• 1 cup Sour Cream, Light or Fat Free okay 

• 12 ounces (about 7 cups) medium egg noodles, cooked and drained

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)

• 1 Tbsp Corn Starch, if desired to thicken

Preparation Steps

1. Stir the soup, broth, Worcestershire, Dijon, garlic and black pepper in a medium bowl.

2. Place the mushrooms and onions into slow cooker.  Top with the beef.  Pour the soup mixture over the beef.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours or until the beef is fork-tender.  

4. 20 minutes before serving, add cream cheese to slow cooker and replace lid to allow cheese to soften. Turn setting to warm or off. 

Start preparing egg noodles. 

5. 10 minutes prior to serving, stir the sour cream in the cooker.  

Serve the beef mixture with the noodles.  

Sprinkle with the parsley, if desired.

Notes

Add splash of red wine if desired to taste

Lighthouse at Sunset

Finished size 12x12

Completed July 2015

Sunset

Finished size 20 x 27

Completed July 2015

I'm working on some smaller pieces since its been so hot!

Peacock Fan

This one was a little tricky. Not only did I fully bind the edges, the rug is scallop shaped making trimming it a challenge. 

After binding, I applied two coats of non-skid backing and it is now on the floor in front of my bed. 

Finished size 40 x 27

Completed June 2015

Pot of Pansies

I currently have this one hanging, but will probably apply a non-skid backing and make it a rug before winter. 

I started making these because they are beautiful and portable. I can do them in bed or on the couch, I even keep one at work to help make me take my breaks. 

Finished size 20 x 27

Completed May 2015

It's Peep-tacular!

There are so many great examples of creative peep usage, I compiled a few of my favorites:

Vincent Van Peep

Peep Show

Lot's more after the jump...

16 years ago today...

The Art Of A Good Marriage

Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.

A good marriage must be created. In marriage the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner; it is being the right partner.

Body Language of Fear in Dogs

Happy 10th Chemoversary to me!

 

Happy 10^th Chemo-versary!

I told Jerry we’d stop celebrating chemo-versary at 10 years, maybe it was getting to be a bit much.  He said we were going to keep celebrating because every chemo-versary is another year he has his wife with him. So, even after this one, we will keep celebrating.

 

To celebrate, I got my first mammogram.  Put it off for 2 years, dreaded getting it.  Was in and out in 45 minutes and the hardest part was trying to keep my balance when they were trying to get a certain angle on my medi-port scars.  This is one instance where I think big boobs are a blessing.  You just slap that girl up on the plate and the top plate comes down, a gentle squish, 20 seconds and all done.  I think ladies with small boobies have it rougher because there is probably some tugging involved to get the girls to stay in place.
 

I have been fortunate in that even though my Hodgkin’s was advanced (Stage 3B), we were able to treat successfully and I have had no recurrence.  One thing I do find peculiar is that know that my immune system is suppressed from irreversible damage done by the cancer, I actually get sick less.  Weird, huh? 
 

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