I Need to Exercise BAD!

DSCN0180, a photo by Ms Sharon Marie on Flickr.

Yesterday I decided that I need some exercise and a bike just might do the trick. So I went shopping and got this one; it was marked down too. I also bought the basket that I figured Nellie Belle could ride in when I got familiar with riding a bike again. To be honest, it's going to be a while before that happens--lol! I peddled about a mile and the slight inclines kicked my butt. I'll keep up with it and one day Nellie Belle will proudly sit in the basket catching the wind with her nose.

More bicycles

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (29 July 2013)

Today's pattern is for a sweet scarf for a special lady either young or young at heart. Hope you enjoy!

Sadness in Our Home

Our Opi passed away this morning. We weren't expecting it so there is much sadness here. Here's a look at happier days with him.




For more about Opi and his sister Nellie Belle, you can see their blog here.

Another New (to me) Recipe

Here's a recipe that I found on Facebook. Recently, I mentioned that I seem to be in a rut with the meals I fix. So, I'm going to try something new every now and then and let you know what I think about it. Here's the recipe for tonight's concoction.

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole
Ingredients

1 lb. of Lean Ground Beef
28 oz spaghetti sauce 
8 oz of Cream Cheese
1/4 cup of Sour Cream
1/2 lb. of Cottage Cheese
Whole Stick of Butter
1lb pasta such as elbow noodles or rotini
Bag of shredded cheese (I used mozzarella)
optional: sliced mushrooms, diced bell pepper, diced onion

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Boil the noodles. Mix together the cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese in a mixer to thoroughly mixed together. Set aside. If you have chosen to use the bell pepper or onion saute them for 3 minuted then toss in the hamburger meat. Brown hamburger meat in a skillet and drain. Add spaghetti sauce and mix together. Put a few slices of butter in bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish. Then layer half of the noodles in the bottom of the dish. Spread the cheese mixture over this layer. Then add the rest of the noodles on top of this with a few pats of butter.
Now pour the red sauce and meat on top and spread.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and spread cheese on top and return to oven for another 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

This was delicious although it is very rich tasting. This recipe is going to be made again. Ummm ummmm GOOD!

Blue Baby Blanket out of Squares

I finished this blanket for a baby boy tonight. I'm going to do a quick wash and blocking and then it's off in the mail. You can find the pattern here.

I have 2 more baby boy blankets to make--one is almost done and the other one will be another spiderman one (per request). Oh yeah, and there may be a 3rd one, but if it is a girl, then I have a pretty one in the gift drawer that I may use but if it's another boy, then I'll have to whip up a quick one in boy colors.

My tomato sauce is still cooking down on the stove. It smells delicious! I'm getting in the mood for some Italian food. I'm thinking that I might try out a new recipe tomorrow night. Stay tuned...

Hugs,
Sharon

P.O.D (Plan of the Day)

It's that time of the year again--tomato sauce making season. This year, I am using roma tomatoes (and other misc tomatoes from the garden too). I do have a gripe about this years tomato crop. I ended up with 6 cherry tomato plants and I expected them to be "big boys." Seems like the wrong name was put in the planters for my tomatoes. We'll see how this years batch of sauce turns out. Sauce making is about to commence very soon now.

After our evening meal, when we usually kick back and watch a little television, I will be finishing up the baby blanket I have been working on. I only have a few ends to weave in (mostly kept up with them), a quick wash and then a bit of blocking on the spare bed.

I hope to have a "reveal" of this blanket within the next few days. I'm loving this pattern. I had a hard time deciding on how I wanted to join the squares; I've developed a fondness of single crocheting on the right side and that's the route I went. You've probably guessed from this picture that the blanket is for a little boy. Must be my age or something but I really like the traditional "pink for girls and blue for boys" colors and was pleased that the friend I'm making this for requested blue.

Stay tuned for the reveal and link to pattern.

Have a great weekend!

Sharon

More Canning Supplies

Definitely Needs Blocking!

DSCN0169, a photo by Ms Sharon Marie on Flickr.

This is going to be a baby blanket soon. These squares are wonky and I'll be blocking them.

What's for Supper???

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I'm trying a new recipe for supper tonight. I had bought a large package of skinless-boneless chicken breast at Sam's Club and spaced out breaking down the package for more than one meal. So, for Sunday dinner,  I defrosted them and set aside 2 pieces to go on the grill the next day. The rest I found a new recipe to try in my crock pot. Seems like I've been stuck in a rut with my cooking so I decided to try something different. There will be enough for a few meals out of this for dh and me. Here's the recipe:

Slow Cooker Pineapple Glazed Chicken 
Ingredients:
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 (20 oz) can pineapple slices, juice reserved
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup cornstarch (could add less if you want sauce to be thinner)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, more or less depending on heat level you like)

Directions:
Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken breasts inside slow cooker and place pineapple rings on top of chicken. In a separate bowl, mix together remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook on low for 5-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Serve over rice and garnish with green onions (optional).

I doubled the sauce recipe so that we would have plenty to spoon over the rice. I did put in the optional red pepper but I used ground and did not double it. 
I found the recipe on this site and there are plenty more delicious looking things there for us to try.

Ray wasn't too impressed with this. I like it but this probably won't be a regular feature on our dinner table because I have to please the hubby too.

Have a great week everyone.

PS--I'm working at uploading my photos from flickr instead of picasa because I'm over my limit for free storage there; so please forgive any "goofs" related to formatting and picture postings. I'll work on getting better.

  Paula Deen Cookbooks

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (22 July 2013)

Probably the finished crochet projects I used the most beside potholders and dishcloths are slippers. I find that I can always use another pair.  Here is a sweet looking pair of slippers for the ladies.

More Patterns for Slippers

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (15 July 2013)

Here's a pattern for another hat for the men in your lives. It's a small project that is nice to work on during hot summer days. Hope you enjoy!

Hugs, 

Sharon

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (08 July 2013)

Hope everyone had a fun 4th of July weekend. We cooked out with some of the neighbors and had so many leftovers, we got together the next day to finish them off.

For this week's pattern, we have a beanie for men. The pattern comes with the option of making it with or without a cuff. Seems rather difficult to find many nice patterns for men so I'm going to try and dig up a few this month to share with you.

Have a great week everyone!

Sharon

 

Smile...

I got a new camera and I was playing around with it. Love the zoom lens . The text is from fotoflexer. 

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (01 July 2013)

Today's link takes us to a free pattern for a toilet seat cover. It is done in a pretty shell design. A project this size is nice to crochet on these hot summer days. Hope you enjoy.

Sharon