~~Steelers All The Way~~

Yahoooo....the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl... Go Steelers! Go Steelers! Go Steelers! Go Steelers!

~ Something Different ~

Today was a baking play day...have you ever heard of the cake recipe where you add a can of diet cherry soda to a chocolate cake mix...well it's a Weight Watchers concoction and suppose to be sooooo good. So I decided I'm going to make it. Off I go to the store...can't find any diet cherry soda but I did find a diet chocolate soda and I thought why not try that with a white cake mix...see what happens. Just two ingredients soda and cake mix...plus cute cupcake liners...I love cup cakes. All you do is....

dump the dry cake mix in a large bowl, add the soda and mix well. This mix will be lumpy. I used a 1/3 cup to fill the cupcake liners and baked according to the box directions. In this case it was a 350degree oven for 18 to 22 mins. Here's the ...

finished little cakes...I sprinkled them with a bit of red sugar crystals...a perfect little touch... Now for the taste test....

Pretty good.....now for the real test.....

honey thought they were good too. These cupcakes are very different and not for everyone, but if you are doing Weight Watchers they are = to 1point and may be just the thing for you...hugs, Linda

~ A Little Whimsy ~

Agatha, my iPhone has a new outfit......... While out and about my DH found this darling cover for her.

Isn't she pretty? I love it....thank you honey. Hugs, Linda

~ Weekend Happenings ~

This weekend was really nice...it was so cold here we just stayed in. Saturday we had a ... Jane Austen film fest and on Sunday watched all the football games plus I did a bit of stitching and got a little reading in too. Did anyone else watch the games? I'm happy with all the wins and hope the Steelers go all the way. The days are still foggy and very grey....

but these pretty tulips from the grocery store just add a bit of cheer and a promise that Spring is in our future. It's amazing how a bouquet of flowers lifts your spirit....hugs, Linda

~ Lunch And A Sweetie ~

Hi everyone! The Johnson Girls, as I call our "group"~~friends from high school, got together for lunch this week at the Riverside Cafe. It was great seeing everyone and catching up with each others news. Here we are...starting in the lower left corner....Sharon (pink sweater), Jeanie, Susan, Marcia, me, Judy, Janet and Ann. The picture was taken with my i-Phone that's why it's a little dark...sorry about the quality, but at least it a remembrance of our happy get together...

Look at the darling nest Marcia brought me...she found it abandoned in an arrangement on her porch. It is very delicate and the construction is amazing, very intricate When..

you turn it over look at the darling little flowers the mama bird found and added to her little home. This is why I collect bird nests...they are just little treasures, each so very different and I think each made with love...

Marcia, thank you for this little sweetie, I love it.....hugs, Linda


Note~I think you can click on the pictures to enlarge.

~ Sweet Pretties ~

Today the postman delivered a wonderful surprise package to me... Look at this beautiful handmade doll Lib and her sweet niece Little Shadow created. Lib is one of my dearest blogging friends and Little Shadow visits her auntie often to bake, make jelly, have tea parties and lots of other fun things.....

My doll is made with vintage linens and costume jewelry pieces plus they also sent this pansy heart....they are both darling pieces and I love them. She has the prettiest face and isn't her hat cute?

It's a fancy little doily. Her dress is fashioned from a vintage.......

dresser scarf with a crochet edge...so pretty. She even.......

has lace pantaloons. Lib and Little Shadow, thank you ever so much for these gifts...there is nothing more special than gifts from your heart and hands...hugs, Linda

~ It's Foggy Today ~

Good morning. Today is the 4Th day of our new year and........ it's a wonderful foggy day. I know lots of people do not like fog but I love it! This is a picture of the little park just four houses away from me. With all the fog it's a perfect day to stay in and finish taking down the tree...that's my last little bit of Christmas to finish tucking away and I will be so glad when I'm finished. Then I going to make a little pot of tea.....

and read. For Christmas I received four great books, right now I'm reading A Darcy Christmas...it's a holiday tribute to Jane Austen and just wonderful. I also plan to stitch a little on .......

Winter Woolens by Staci Nash. This is such a sweet little stitch....that bit of stitching in the right corner is going to be a reindeer~~really it is. Have a happy day. Stay warm and cozy, hugs, Linda

~ Happy New Year ~

Sending wishes to each of you for a Happy New Year. May our new year 2011 treat you kindly....hugs and warm regards, Linda