Redoing Our Bedroom

We have been busy for the last month having all the woodwork in the house replaced. We also changed cabinets in a bathroom and the pantry in the kitchen. All the wood now matches the cherry kitchen cabinets. We hadn't changed our bedroom for about 25 years, so we got a new bedroom set, painted the walls and put in new carpet. I've been making window treatments. Originally we were only going to have valances...better to show off the new woodwork. However when I completed them the windows looked a little bare, so I had to buy more fabric to make some drapes. I couldn't get all the fabric I wanted and now I wonder if the drapes are too short. I could add a border on the bottom to match the tabs at the top. Any thoughts?

Apple Dumplings 2

I tried another apple dumpling recipe, we liked it a lot better than last week's. My sister in law, Pam sent me the link to the different recipe (below). I changed the recipe a little... used 3/4 C brown sugar and 3/4 C white sugar and added a teaspoon of vanilla before pouring the hot mixture on the dumplings. I purchased crescent rolls with 6 rolls instead of 8 but that didn't seem to hurt the finished product. In the photo the dumplings appear too browned, but that is really the brown sugar and cinnamon. http://www.recipezaar.com/Mountain-Dew-Apple-Dumplings-61755

Apple Dumplings

I found a new recipe for apple dumplings. The recipe I used had orange juice for the liquid, my neighbor told me she had made them using Mountain Dew and I heard that recipe talked about on WSGW. We enjoyed the batch I made, but next time I might try less liquid and use apple juice or Mountain Dew.

When the book club meets in December, we are going to have a bookmark exchange. I had thought about making a quilted bookmark but decided that might be too thick. I ended up adding some glitter to Laura Burch fabric bonded to card stock. I printed a saying and picture on the paper side. I've been thinking I would like to learn beading so I made the tassle using ribbon and beads.

The Big 60

Turning 60 was a pleasant experience. I was already feeling old because while at the dentist last week another patient asked my advice about her Halloween costume. She pointed out that since I was older I would be able to tell if her 1967 costume was correct. No problem, I remember 67 styles--I was at CMU at the time. What bothered me was she looked about my age, at most a few years younger...so the question seemed an insult.

We went to Jeff's house on Sunday(my birthday). Some of my brother and sister-in-laws met us at Jeff's and we went to a nice home town tavern-restaurant in Milford. After an enjoyable time at the restaurant, we went back to Jeff's for birthday cake. He actually made a cake for me...a pudding cake. He wasn't sure if it would be enough so he had also bought a cake at Meijers. His cake was much tastier. It was great to celebrate my birthday with family members.

On Monday, my best friend Linda invited some of our friends to her home to celebrate my birthday. She went all out...great food, beverages and decor. We always have a great time together, we spend so much time laughing. Linda and I have been best friends for about 40 years but don't have that many photos together. Her daughter was kind enough to take our picture.

Many thanks to my family and friends for making turning 60 a fun time.

Mr. Peanut

New Yorkers are big into celebrating Halloween. Angie received complements on her Mr. Peanut costume on the bus and subway. She made it out of foam which she painted. She purchased the hat and cane and painted a monocle around her eye. Nice to see some people enjoy Halloween, we didn't have a single trick or treater.