~~ Mug MeMe ~~

It's Monday already...Monday afternoon in fact. Where did the weekend go? And for that matter where did the month of June go? I can't believe this year is half gone...maybe, as I'm getting older, it just seems time flies. Is it like that for you? Well anyway, welcome to My Mug MeMe. Sharon at Rose of Sharon tagged me for this fun meme.....so today I'm sharing some of my favorite mugs (click on the pictures for a close up). Starting with Christmas mugs. During the holidays I enjoy using a different mug each day. I love the Santa ones and for some reason the littlest Tom and Jerry mug appeals to me. The pretty Poinsettia mug is a favorite from....Lisa. And

can you see the mug with the Christmas lights on it? Carl found it at a little garage sale years ago...it is so cool. When washing it you have to be so careful, if you scrub too hard the paint will wash off. Thank goodness I didn't put it in the dishwasher the first time I used it. Here are .....
more holiday mugs. For Halloween I do trade off between these three and then for St. Paddy's Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving I like to use the same mug for the whole month. I'd love a 4th of July mug, but I've never seen one for that holiday. Have you?
Love, love, love hearts and here are some of my heart mugs. The Queen of Hearts is another favorite. Now here are my motto mugs......
Carl was with Campbell Soup Company for 38 year and we have lots and lots of their mugs, but these are favorites. The mall is a good place to be, don't ya think? I know I'm loved but I think the mugs on the left from the most important people in my life are neat.
Here are the mugs I use daily. Each morning, when I have my coffee, I tend to choose a different mug. They are mementos from fun trips or from someone special and the little one in the front (I really think it's a cup) with the sweet roses is my current new favorite. I bought it at last months WX Peddlers Faire......and I've been using it everyday...go figure. I never know what will tickle my fancy.

Well, there you go. Please stop by, we'll chat.... I've just made a fresh pot of coffee, what mug would you like to use?

This MeMe was so much fun and now I'm tagging....

Patty at Attic Clutter
Pea at Pea's Corner and
Priscilla at Priscilla's Cottage

I hope you'll join the fun.......Hugs, Linda

~ Morning At The Market~

I'm in heaven. This morning I went to our farmers market and bought the most wonderful produce. Look at the gorgeous tomatoes. We haven't had a tomato for weeks because of the salmonella scare. My mouth is watering just looking at theses beauties. Love summer squash and I think stuffed bells are in our future.
Yummy zucchini and a different variety of summer squash.
Nectarines, Royal Ann and Bing cherries.....plus I got two new pair of earrings......
Love my earrings.....yes, these are earrings. When I was little and you found double cherries we would drape them over our ears and walla...earrings. Did any one else do that??
Remember the beautiful tomatoes? Well, I made the best sandwich, maybe not the healthiest but the best ever. Two slices fresh white bread, Best Foods Mayo on both slices, sliced tomatoes, a touch of salt(Carl like lots of pepper too), a few rings of red onion and then top with the other slice of bread. Mmmmmm, this is delish. I hope you try my sandwich...enjoy, hugs, Linda

~~Little Trips~~

Gosh! I can't believe it's been a week since we visited. Hello, and how ya doin? This past week has been kinda busy. Carl and I took a couple of little trips and I really didn't get a chance to visit with you all. I have a lot of catching up to do...it may take me awhile but I'll be by for a chat for sure.

Yesterday, we took a ride up to the sierra's to see how things looked. We love to RV and wanted to see what the conditions were like and let me tell you...the forest is so green and lush and the three lakes in the Crystal Basin are full. The water is soooo very clear and the air smelled so fresh and clean. How beautiful is this? We'll be up there for at least a week in July...Carl can't wait to fish and I'll be poking around, a little hiking, boating, reading and stitching. Perfect.....I can't wait either. On the way home we stopped in Placerville , where there is a nice little stitchie shop.

This is Kelsey's...it's right on the main street and I know if you stop in you'll find a little treasure or two. I found a couple of treats.........
Two Halloween stitches...one for me and the other for Lisa, and the project bag is for Lisa too. Isn't that the cutest kitty pattern...love it! Oh, shhhh, and I found a little treat for my friend.

Well, it's good to be back. See you soon. Have a lovely Sunday.....Hugs, Linda

~~Our Stitching Mascot~~

It's Saturday morning and going to be a lovely day, but a warm one. I was hoping to sleep in this morning, but no such luck. My internal alarm clock woke me up at my usual time...5:00AM. I really love the early mornings when all is quiet...but I wanted to sleep just a bit longer today. I thought about reading but decided instead to stitch on my Monday night project....I'll show you my progress in a moment. But first, meet our little mascot......it's a little frog and when you rub his back he flashes all different colors. Can you see he is flashing now? He's just too cute. Now, you're probably wondering why a frog.......well......when you are cross stitching and if by chance you make a mistake...(and it happens) you have to remove those stitches. Frog or frogging is a slang term used by stitchers.....when you take a stitch out...you have to rip it, rip it. Get it? If you make a mistake frog comes and sits with you, I know kinda silly.... but we are having fun and enjoying our project. We stitch for a couple of hours and then have some homework to finish up by our next get together. So far this is working out and we are already talking about what our next project might be. Here is my stitch.....

Within the nest two weeks our goal is to finish the pumpkin, corn stalks.. and the house...then I think we'll be doing the moon and stars. At the rate we're going we'll be finished by Halloween. Don't ya think?

Have a nice weekend and I'll see you next week. Hugs, Linda

~~Sunday Flea Finds~~

Good afternoon friends. Take a little break with me and have a cuppa. I'm having tea but the coffee is made too. Sunday was the WX Peddlers Faire and I did find a few treasures to add to my collections...... I love nesting chickens and look at this milk glass one I found. I'm calling her Mama....she is the largest in my collection. For now she is roosting here but I'll be putting her with the others in a few days. The flower pot holder is a flea find too. Can you see the little pink birdie peeking out of the ivy? It's a cake candle holder....too tweet. Love ivy. I always say...."when in doubt put a little piece of ivy there."
Here is the tablecloth ( ivy and little red flowerpots) and apron I was telling you about. Someone made this darling cloth with the fancy edging. At first I thought it was crochet, but now I'm not so sure. What do you think? I cross stitch and when I saw this apron, with all the cross stitching, on the $1.00 table I couldn't pass it up.
Here is a cute little girl for Christmas and I found this......
little chick for Easter. Well, it back to work for me. Enjoyed our chat. Remember, when in doubt ....try a piece of ivy. Warm hugs, Linda

~Monday Is Washing Day~

Good morning everyone. It's Monday and washing day. Call me old fashion but I like to line dry my sheets, towels and kitchen items.......mmmm, they smell so fresh and clean when you take them down.....love it. Today is sunny and there is a light breeze, perfect to line dry the laundry. Is Monday your washing day? It's mine and I also do a few loads during the week. Anyone else line dry things or am I the only one? I just hung some towels and my next load will be up in a few minutes. Can you guess what color my main bath is....pink and blue....I know, nursery colors. It's straight out of the 50s. Every once in awhile I get the urge to redo it....but I love the tile work so we've never made any really big changes.

I found some little treasures yesterday at the WX Faire.....two of my purchases are washing right now....a cute little apron and the sweetest little tablecloth with a crochet edge. I'll be sharing them later this week. Well, I think the wash has finished, time to get back to work.

Hope the sun shines on your day....hugs, Linda

~~ Weekend Plans~~

Yippee, it's Friday. Do you have plans for the weekend? Tomorrow, Lisa and I are doing lunch and then the movies. Sunday is the WX Peddlers Faire...I have two little treats that I'll be taking to WX and all the sales. The first is this cute...... little bracelet Carl bought me in Lodi. When he saw it he said it had my name on it. It's made from old typewriter keys...and, honey I love it!
This is my favorite purse...I can carry so much in it...I think I could live out of my purse for several days. Everything except the kitchen sink is in it. Well, this is the purse I carry everyday and take to the peddlers faire. I'm always having to put it in the cart or have someone hold it...Carl is always telling me to carry something smaller so my hands are free.....and I agree that's a better way to go, but I love this purse. Well look what my honey found last week at a garage sale.......this darling organizer.
It's a Brighton and I love it. I know, a Brighton...he finds the best things. It has all these wonderful pockets and compartment and best of all I can fit all my essentials in it. Well, I have my bracelet and I'll be shopping hands free.....I'm over the moon. If I find treasures, I share them in the days to come.

Have a wonderful weekend......see ya soon. Linda

~ A Little Fishin Therapy and A Lunch Date~

Last week Carl went for his bi-monthly blood test and then we had a date for lunch at one of my most favorite spots. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. After the lab he had a therapy session.....a little fishing and mother nature provided........ a beautiful sunny day, peaceful setting, the anticipation of a catch, plus....ducky entertainment, lots of birds singing and chattering, a red headed woodpecker tapping away, turtles swimming by and sunning themselves on nearby rocks and if your lucky you might even spot a sea lion......
Hi honey.......time for lunch. Nothing fancy, but isn't this just a blissful spot. Carl had lots of bites and I know, it sounds like a fish story, but a big one did get away. Guess who had the catch of the day? That's right, me. Just a little fellow...to small to keep...but so much fun to bring in.
Walking up the levee you never know what you'll see. I think this is some sort of a thistle, kind of pretty...but awfully prickly......
And I don't think I want to know what lives in there....hopefully just a furry critter.

Well, time to head home.....same time..same place..next week. It's a date!

Find your spot and enjoy.......Linda

~~Sunday Supper~~

When I was growing up, Sunday supper was always meatloaf, with enough left over for yummy sandwiches the next day. My family loves the traditional meatloaf but I have a recipe for muffin-size individual meatloaves they just love. For this recipe you will need..... 1 1/2 pounds lean ground ground beef ~~ 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini ~~ 1 cup soft bread crumbs ~~ 1 egg, slightly beaten ~~ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ~~ 1/2 teaspoon salt (I use 1/4 teaspoon) ~~ 1/4 cup ketchup
While you are shredding and preparing your bread crumbs, heat oven to 400 degrees.....
To make meatloaves: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except ketchup, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Place approximately 1/3 cup beef mixture into each of 12 medium muffin cups and press lightly. I actually use a measuring cup. Next......
Spread ketchup over top and bake for 20 minutes or until it is no longer pink and the juices runs clear........ I usually serve with mashed potatoes and a small salad.
Well here you go.......Enjoy......Hugs, Linda