Look What I Found on Ancestry...

Way back in the early 90s, I became enamored with tracing my family tree and I worked it for about 5 years or so. That was back in the days before Internet and Ancestry.com were easily available. I was on Prodigy and there were some message boards I used and I used microfiche/film and other reference materials at the LDS Family History Centers close to where I lived. Then I got side-tracked and put little additional effort in researching for more leads. As a matter of fact, it had been so long, that my data files were stored on a floppy disc! 

A few months ago I bought a new genealogy program. The other day I finally installed it. The previous program I was using was Personal Ancestral File and that program is no longer supported. I purchased  Family Tree Maker Deluxe.  With this program, you can update your tree at Ancestry or on your computer and then sync them so all the changes show up on both places!  When I bought this program I got a 3 MONTH free trial for Ancestry.com too (I don't know if that was a limited thing time or not). I found this picture of my great-great grandparents on Ancestry and now I see where the chunkiness in the family comes from. 

 Once again, I'm up and running after my ancestors and filling in the blanks and looking for more branches.

Take care everyone!

Spiderman Baby/Toddler 'Ghan is Complete

It's done and now I'm getting ready to start a new project. I need to make a minion hat for a little boy.  There are several cute patterns in cyber-world and I need to pick one out.

Today is canning day. Yesterday's sauce is cooked down and I need to heat it, get it in jars and processed. Love the smell of tomato sauce cooking--it's like walking into an Italian restaurant. Who would of thought that plain ol' simmering tomato sauce could smell so good?

I'm rambling now so I'll be a good girl and get out of here.

Take care and stay tuned!

A Glitch in Finishing Blanket Tonight

I'm crocheting along, only a few minutes to go and my latest project is finished. When to to my wondering eyes should appear but a "lump" on my project.

Seems that Nellie Belle wanted some attention and since she's now an only child, the yarn and hook were put aside and it was time for some cuddling.

I'll finish the blanket tomorrow and then we'll probably have some more "quality time". 

Take care,

Sharon

Tomato Sauce Canning Time

Been picking, pureeing and cooking tomatoes for canning homemade tomato sauce. It's a lot of work but it is so delicious when compared to store-bought. I leave the skin on and then strain the seeds out after pureeing in the food processor so it is more nutritious.

More Information on Picasa/Blogger Photo Storage Issues

Here is some more information on using Picasa for your blog photos.  Hope this helps out others before they get in the position of either having to pay for increased storage, resizing all their pictures or starting a new blog.

• http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/picasa/_q6H3oOoPVA

• https://support.google.com/picasa/answer/1224181?hl=en

Hugs,

Sharon

Hope I'm Not Messing Things Up

I'm going through my picasa web albums and resizing and replacing all my pictures so that I don't have to pay for photo storage. Hope it's not goofing things up. I have started using Flickr and it's great with 1T of free storage but it is easier to use picasa. Crossing my fingers it turns out.

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (12 August 2013)

Today's free pattern link is for a pretty baby blanket done in shell stitches.

Enjoy!
Sharon

Peeking at a Work in Progress

This is what I'm working on now. It is going to be a Spiderman baby afghan for a friend's soon-to-be-born new grandson. I have more rounds to make and the webbing to put on. I love making round ripple afghans, they're so relaxing to work on.

Stay tuned for the final product....

Hugs,
Sharon

So Far, a "Slipperful" Week :)

I'm starting to get my crochet mojo back--YAY! I've finished 2 pairs of slippers this week and one was from a new (to me) pattern.

First, a pair of slippers from the pattern that I have made more times than I can shake a stick at.





The other pair of slippers is named "Tennis Socks" from the book Big Foot Boutique (Annie's Attic). I enjoyed making slippers from this pattern and I will definitely be making more. I did not put the embellishments on these because I think they look fine as they are and I had the "itch" to move on to another project lol!





I started another spiderman baby blanket last night.  I already have another project on the short list--a minion hat. I don't even know what a minion thing is but, I have been noticing a lot of cartoons and some crochet projects about minions.

Gotta go. I put a link below here for the book the slipper pattern came from. There's also a pattern for a cute pair of cowboy slippers--best of all, the patterns in this book are sized for kids and adults!

Monday's Link to Free Crochet Pattern (05 August 2013)

Today's free pattern is for an amigurumi dog. It is a real cutie too. Here's the link.

Have a great week y'all.
Sharon

Soft Green and Purple Baby Blanket.

Just finished this baby blanket today. The pattern I started with didn't work out. The center of the baby blanket was a granny stitch--meaning it looked similar to the pattern of stitches around the side of a granny square but it was made in rows and not rounds. The squares were supposed to go on the outside edges. My squares did not fit the sides of the center portion so I frogged the center and made a baby blanket out of basic granny squares. I think the colors give this blanket a special appeal. Okay, I've gabbed enough and here are some pictures. That's my Buster trying out the blanket. Now it's off to the washer with this one and time to tuck it away because the baby it's meant for isn't due for a few months.

Hugs,

Sharon

On the Lighter Side....

I saw this on facebook and felt an overwhelming urge to share it with you. ;)

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???

.

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