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I can't believe it brownie cake...

Nor will you.
I had heard of using pumpkin - but don't like pumpkin so much.
So I tried beans.
Call me Miss Bean.
Do you know about Mr Bean?
Oh he is so funny.
Our daughter doesn't like him because she feels sorry for him.
But I reminded her he is laughing all the way to the bank.
Okay, back to Miss Bean.
It is amazing.
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!
These two ingredients:
That is it!
I only had the light seasoning ones so I  just rinsed off all the liquid
And added water.
I added enough water and beans to make 1 and 3/4 cup of bean-y liquid.
I ran the beans and water in the blender until nice and smooth.
Added the beans to the cake mix.
Mixed for 2 minutes.
Baked 350 for about 30 minutes.
YUM.

What I learned:
Use a smaller than 9x13 pan if you want them thick (like a cake) as they don't raise as much as normal.
We were fine with the "more brownie look".
They are not so good warm....too flakey, not as flavorful...but oh. my. When they cool.
They are so moist and delicious, like a brownie cake.
I sprinkled a 'few' chocolate chips on top.
But I didn't need to, so moist and chocolatey - would be fine without them.
Cook until toothpick is clean. I couldn't really tell by touching, like normal.
Trust me on this.
Have I ever led you astray?
You will love this.
Remember, I wrote this.
This is my new favorite brownie.

She plays with jewels

 
Some are just too pretty to mess with.
When they are intact and this lovely, I just clip them to a great portrait photo.
But when they have a damaged back or missing piece.
I mess with them.

Making bracelets.
Or
Necklaces.

Don't you just love these astute
Women?
What has happened to us?
We don't dress up
Like they use to.
And it seems like it would be even easier
Now
With wash and wear fabrics
And washing machines
And steam irons.
Maybe because it is 'the fullness of times'.
We don't treasure the little things.
Maybe we just have too much.
Of everything?
Let's make a conscious effort to notice
And treasure.
The little things.
In every area of our lives.
Smiles, tiny hugs, thank yous, dandy-lion bouquets, sticky kisses, a ray of sunshine, a cool breeze, unexpected surprises, an forgotten quarter in a pants pocket, a good joke, a phone call of concern, a sweet comment on a blog post, and yes, even those times when we can put on our "Sunday Best" .
Let's treasure the little things.
'K.

Making me happy today

Don't usually talk about cleaning on this blog.
I blog INSTEAD of clean.
But.
Oh.
My.

This little can of goodness.
(i don't know if the brand matters..but the spray foam in a can - yes, contribute to global warming - we need all the warm we can get...it is this white foamy spray)
Call Aunt Tillie and tell her about it.
The back story first.
We have a little bay window in our kitchen.
It catches the morning light.
Especially this time of year.
I love this window.
I hate a dirty window.
Well.
THIS
Dirty window.
I have tried cleaning with squeegee.
Every homemade window clean I could find.
Straight ammonia.
Straight rubbing alcohol.
Yes, Windex.
Newspaper.
Still streaks.....grrr.
Went to get a rock chip repaired in my windshield.
Mr Window man used this.
I couldn't believe my window.
NO streaks.
So clean.
I bought this cleaner.
Came home.
Cleaned
NO STREAKS.
VICTORY.
I don't care if it is toxic.
I don't care how  much it costs.
Get this.
You will come to my house and kiss me.

I scored in a tiny little store

Back behind.
Underneath.
Poorly lite.
In a box.
I found these:

They really aren't worth a plug nickle.
To anyone - but me.
Falling apart,
Badly stained.
Neglected.

Water stained.
Left to themselves.
All alone.

With delicious.
Yummy.
Old papers tucked inside.
Poems scribbled on inside covers.
And yes.
Even.
Pressed leaves.

Copy write 1941.
When did this studied, marked, well loved book become a leaf press?
When did this studied, marked, well loved book get tossed into the unwanted book box?
I am so happy I found you, well loved book.
You and your leaves.
My favorite, you ask?
This one....

This soft leather, well read, turned up corner book.
Great Adventure Stories.
Love you.
The dilemma.
To cannibalize (don't like that word...don't know whether to upcycle, repurpose, resue, reinvent) or not?
They aren't in good enough condition to be worth a plug nickle.
They didn't cost much more than a plug nickle.

Some will be reinvented into "found paper journals'.
Some will sit on my mantle.
Some will be read.
I am ready for a Great Adventure.

I scored in a tiny little store.
Back behind.
Underneath.
In a box.

I scored.

A peek INSIDE the magic room

Yesterday, it just worked out that RR took Miss Pepper Dog to work with him.
It was weird.
I felt like since I didn't have 'any kids at home'.
I could really tie in and tackle things.
One of those things was some organizing of the magic room.
That stop to "sharpen the saw" thing.
 
We now have mostly all the white button in the white button jar and mostly all the 'cool' other buttons in the 'cool' other button jar....
Mostly.

Mr Santa is still overlooking the entire operation.
I still love this Santa.
I still "kind o"f remember how to paint.
I have fingers that aren't as nimble as they use to be...but my head can paint really well.

And we have books.
Piles and piles of yummy old books.

And trinkets that are somewhat more organized.
Somewhat...

Deciding just 'how to' organize a vast array of trickets is a challenge.
Finally decided on mostly shapes.
Debating sorting by color.
I will probably do that on the next 'sharpen my saw' day.
Love handling and messing with these little things.

I found this item at a thrift store and it has been wonderful for my found paper journal making.
I can make and arrange pages.
In a small area.
Then when time to pile them together it is easy as sending out invoices (I think that was the original use of this little organizer)
Of course everything is done on a computer these days.

Am I the only one that still likes to 'handle' a thing?
Touch.
Feel.
Smell.
Oh I like Miss Dell okay.
But I still enjoy the handling of a thing.
Also put together a few found paper journals awaiting their front cover 'dressing'.

And Miss Pepper McDogus is back on duty.
Protecting our home from invading squirrels.

It is a good day.

Hope it is good for you.

I am busy - happily busy

Getting ready for this:

It seems to be just around the corner and FINALLY this morning we awaken to sunshine and no snow. Summer is really going to come.
I was beginning to wonder if the entire global warming thing, was a big hoax.

I came upon a set of "Book of Knowledge" books, I remember these being in my school classroom as a youngster and picked them up just to handle and hug.
Then decided to bring them home and deconstruct them for the delightful pictures and drawings.
I hesitated on the 'deconstruction' portion of this thought, but realized I don't have room for the entire ten volumes and so the best pages will live on - in altered "found paper" journals and such - to be enjoyed by the next generation.
I do believe the entire set would have landed in the local dump so I console myself, that I at least saved some of the great pages.
(BTW: there is a section in here about the prospect of global warming and the affects on the environment in just fifty years - well, it is fifty years later and miraculously we are still here - just saying.)

Currently I am fiddling with the found papers journals.
I so enjoy old paper.
These have been just delightful to make.
Last year at The Farm Chicks show I bought a raggedy remnant of wall paper.
It is so yum on some of the covers.

Then of course, I have the 'waste not - want not' thing always going on in my head and have now accumulated a box of this:

Yes, I like just having the box of scarps.
I've have been making those scrap paper garlands with them.
And enjoyed the packaging of them.
Remember that letter set? Oh, so vintage - so fun.

In the meantime, my life has more than the magic room.
We are putting our Honda up for sale.
I am emotional.
"Don't love anything that can't love you back."
I KNOW.
But this was my folks car before it was mine.
It has been such a good car.
Cleaning it up and getting it ready to sale.
I found I had a lump in my throat.

Feels like I am putting an old friend up for sale.
Good-bye old friend.....

And.
Also.
We document bruises and other such wounds, at our house.
Sounds a bit sick, I know.
But oh, I have such a great one.
I think I win 'the biggest bruise'  medal....so far.
I do hope it is the life time winner.

I had fallen and couldn't get up.
Isn't it great?
Thank goodness it looks much worse than it feels.
Th swollen knee is the most painful.
But heck, the bruise is the best sympathy getter.
And, yes, it goes all the way down the leg...oh goodness.
My Dad...my silly silly Dad...loved when his wounds would show a big bruise like this.
"Self pity is better than no pity at all" he'd say.

I am a one knee prayer giver of late.
But continue to pray.
Prayers of gratitude, mostly.
This beautiful world.
Family.
Health.
A dear husband that brings great joy to each and every day.

Because I feel so blessed, I pray to lend a hand and heart to those around me that have hurt, not just bruised knees, but bruised hearts and souls, folks short on opportunity - long on difficulty.
Of late I have been busy doing that - also.
Happily busy.

Hallelujah!

HE IS RISEN!
My favorite is "I will see my Grandfather again." (scroll down a bit)
This is the peace that passeth understanding.
I miss you Dad...and will especially have you in my thoughts this glorious Easter Season.

Dad.
One of my heros.
Never far from my  mind.
I think of him so often.
For example.
We bought a new car. (Well, new to us and pretty exciting as it was made in the decade we now live in! Woot!)
It is sort of a greenish silver.
When I walked into the garage the other day, I saw that car and my thought was, "Dad would be so happy for me."
He liked green...so he would like our new car.
OR...
I was shopping.
I turned the corner and there was an older man, with levi's and a cap on.
For just a second, I thought it was Dad.
Of course it wasn't.
But.
Dad always optimistic.
Use to say little ditties.
One of his favorite was "BY-O".
Don't even know what it means or how it began but he'd say "BY-O" "BY-O"
I hear that in my head sometimes.
His name is Jack.
He has four daughters.
He is the Jack and Mom and us girls are the five Queens.
And, yes.
We will see our Grandfather (Father/Husband) again.
Hallelujah!
Thank you...Sweet Jesus.

Because no wrist should go unadorned

It started pretty simple with me fiddling in the scrap basket.

Then I remembered some leather watch bands I picked up at a garage sale.
A bunch of them.
Someday I'll think of something to do with those, as I added them to the pile.

And sure enough - we thought of something.
Those big buttons!
They have been so much fun.

And the little leather bands are light weight enough I could just punch a hole in them to tie the fru-frus on.
Remember, I am living a little on the wild side with color these days.
Perfect addition.

And if one is great - many more are terrific!
Enough to share at the shows.
Funny silly little pops of color.

Doesn't everyone have at least one discarded watch band laying about - and a big old button?

inbox: 6:00 a.m. this morning

"I am an advertising specialty distributor and am looking for

500 units of a tote bag made from a flour sack.  These would be approximately 12" x 12" (or you can recommend size).  These will not have any decorations on them as they would be used for a trade show. Would you be able to have 500 units completed by mid June."

That will make your eyes pop open.

Mary Janes Farm Fair

A  farm girl is going to the farm.

Yip.
Ill be there.
Perfect.
Saturday July 4th.
Held in a historic flour mill.
Perfect little show -  perfect little place to peddle flour sack market bags,
Don't ya think?
Yahoo.

Yes, we are working on 'the girls'.
I still really like them.
I still like making them.
I still think they are terrific.
I still am afraid I will come to the end of my flour sack stash.
Then what?
...................
Boo hoo - that's what.