Another cool, rainy day!

It sure doesn't seem like July here in Ohio right now. The temps have been in the 60's and low 70's with rain steady for the last few days. We do need the rain in our area though, it has been really dry.

I got my 1st zucchini yesterday, I fried it for supper tonight, along with Italian sausage and buttered rice. We had Peach cobbler that I made yesterday and ice cream for dessert. I posted the recipe for the peach cobbler yesterday in the cookbook.

I spent some more time with my sewing machine today. I've been trying to catch up on some of Kevin's things. I finished up a pair of flannel pajama bottoms for him yesterday and today I sewed the hem in a pair of shorts and 2 new pair of slacks he got recently. I still have 3 long sleeved shirts that he wants me to open down the front so he can wear them like a jacket over shirts in the apartment
this winter. I will have all of his things caught up then.

I want to make some sun dresses dresses for myself and some night shirts. I think my clothes are all shrinking while they hang in the closet. I've got a few pair of slacks that I want to turn into shorts too, they will be my project for tomorrow.

I hope you all had a good day too.

I'll visit with you all tomorrow.

Hugs and Blessings,

New Recipe added to cookbook!!

I added a new recipe for a Peach Cobbler to the cookbook!
It is quick and easy and delicious.

I hope you enjoy it,

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

I'm back, with a new computer :) .........

my other computer bit the dust or so we thought. I now have a 10" Acer Aspire One Netbook. It sure is a big change from a full size computer with a 15 1/2" monitor! The small keyboard is taking some getting used too also. I can at least visit with you all again. We scrounged up every extra?? penny we had between us to get it. We had the money in mind for a new chair for Kevin so he wouldn't have to sit in his wheel chair all the time. We are now saving toward the chair again.

I hope you are all doing ok. I need to visit all of your blogs and get caught up. It seems like there is always so much to do in the summer. I have 6 tomato plants in pots with 8 little tomatoes between them. I got them started late. I also have 3 zucchini plants and the 1st zucchini will be ready to eat tomorrow. I think there are 4 or 5 more on the plants but it will be a few days before they will be ready.

We have a small Farmers Market here in town and I have bought enough zucchini to shred and fill 24 bags with 2 cups per bag, they are in the freezer for future use. I bought 3 miniature Sunflower plants , they only get about 18" tall and all 3 have buds. I will post pictures as soon as they are in full bloom...I can't wait!!

I was able to get a few fresh green beans and new potatoes...they tasted so good. I still have a few potatoes left they may become potato salad, mmmm sounds good to me!

I also tried a couple of new breads....Pineapple-Banana Nut Bread and Lemon Tea Bread, both were delicious. I found a couple of recipes for them on the internet, as soon as I try them and see if they are like the ones I bought I will share them with you.

I hope you all have a great day and I will visit with you again soon.

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

WOW !! 2 Months

since I've posted!!! It seems like forever since I've visited with all of you. The time seems to have flown by though so much has been going on.

I know I posted that we got a newer van, I just love it and so far it has been doing good. Kevin is able to get into the front seat of this van and has gone out with me several times. We were able to get a new mattress set ( king size) yea!! for the bed. We needed a new bed really bad ours was quite old and falling apart. We were also able to replace several other things that were worn out too. I am so thankful to have found the insurance policies mom had in with some other papers. I almost threw them out because they were dated 1960 and I figured they weren't any good. I am so glad I called to check before tossing them in the trash. God was surely watching out for us as was mom.

I have been having some health problems too during all of this. My arthritis and fibromyalgia have been getting really bad and I've had a rough time trying to get things taken care of. I went to the Doctor Monday and she put me on an anti-inflamatory to try again. I used to take Naproxen but it caused me a lot of stomach problems and I had to stop taking it, It has been several years so I am going to give it a try again. She also prescribed Lyrica for the fibro-myalgia but I haven't heard from my insurance yet if they will cover it. I hope to know by tomorrow.

I have more to tell but will save that for tomorrow. It is getting late and I'm getting tired. My aunt and uncle from Dayton are coming down tomorrow for a visit so it will be later tomorrow before I will be able to visit with you all again.

I plan on being here everyday from now on. It really helps me having all of you to share things with.

take care, God Bless,
Brenda

I have closed Country Dreams & Creations Store

I have decided to close my store blog. I sold most of the things I had locally. The opportunity presented itself so..... considering the economy I thought I better take advantage of the chance to sell the items. I will have items off and on and will post them here for sale. I want to thank all of you who visited the store.

I do still have 4 white damask and linen tablecloths that are for sale they are about 50+ years old and are in gently used condition. I will post more info here if anyone is interested.

I want to devote my time to this blog and the cookbook. It was just too much trying to do 3 and keep things going at home, there has been a lot going on here the last 2 months and I will tell about that in a separate post.

Blessings,
Brenda

To all of my dear blogging friends.

I hope you all have a Blessed Easter. I am so thankful to have found such dear friends.

Hugs and Blessings,

Brenda

A New Van !!!!!!!!!

We finally got a newer van today!!! We have been looking the last few days since we finally got part of mom's estate settlement and decided on a 2001 Chevy Venture Van.
It's all white and seems to be in good condition. It is so nice to drive something that feels like it will make it from point A to point B and back! I will try to take a picture tomorrow, if it isn't raining. Thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow.

I think Kevin and I have both finally gotten over the flu/pneumonia. I'm still trying to get my strength back but I know I will get it back sooner or later. I have been going non-stop since I started feeling better. I have to make up for the time I was sick....... So much to do ...so little time ...LOL

I just had to share with all of my dear friends here. Thanks for sticking with me. I feel like things are back on the upswing now and I will be here a lot more!

Hugs and Blessings my friends,
Brenda

Good Monday Afternoon !

We have been having trouble with our wireless internet the last few days. It only stays on for a short time when it feels like it. I hope it straightens itself out soon. I can't really complain too much though..... it was a "free for 5 years" incentive when we rented the apartment!

Kevin and I are both doing ok, still fighting the last few remnants of the flu. I will try and post more tomorrow if the wireless is in a good mood! LOL

Blessings and Hugs,
Brenda

Beautiful Day and I'm Feeling Better!!!!

Today and yesterday were both beautiful days. The first we've seen in a while around here. It was a little warmer yesterday but it was still nice to get out of the apartment for a while today , even if it was just to go to the store for a few things. We had some rain last night and it seems to have helped things green up a little. Elaine, my cousin in KY, has been telling me for days now how green it is and how long the grass is getting. They will be mowing (and raking) as soon as they get the mower fixed.

Elaine has been trying to find a few acres where we could both move to. Elaine and David(her DH) and Kevin(my DH) and I would share the property and each have a home of our own. Elaine and I have plans for chickens, goats and a Jersey milk cow for starters. They raise Registered Black Angus but we want a cow for milking and to make cheese and butter. Elaine and I are so much alike it's scary. We both have the traits of our grandmother as far as living off the land and being self-sufficient and very frugal. We both have a lot of old-fashioned ways of doing things LOL!

Kevin and I were going to move in to an apartment there until we found some property but that would mean moving twice for us, so we are just going to stay here until she finds something. I am starting to sort through things and packing up what we want to take with us that we don't need to use right now. The rest I plan to sell hopefully.

I will be listing a lot of the things I have to sell on my store blog as soon as I can get some pictures taken. The vintage things I just want to go to homes where they will be loved, I'm not trying to make a lot of money from them.

I hope to be able to start adding a few recipes here and there to my Cookbook blog too so keep an eye on that too.

I've got my mind made up to get back to blogging like when I first started. Writing was really helping me and I have missed it so now I am back!!!

I've missed you all and I hope to visit with you all on your blogs soon too...I have a lot of catching up to do!

See you tomorrow,
Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Just when I thought I was getting better.......

The flu came back as pneumonia last Sunday. The past week has really been hard on me. I am so sore from coughing and my lungs are so congested. I have been getting rid of a some of the congestion thankfully. I usually get this at least once a year but this has been the worst in a long time. I have been taking a decongestant and trying to take it easy, that's hard for me to do.

I have been getting all of the paper work together to file mom's life insurance claims and unclaimed cash claims that I recently found. It is all done now and in the mail. I still can't believe the insurance papers I found while going through moms things (again) recently were still active. She took the policies out in 1960. I'm glad I called Prudential to check before I just threw them out! I even found a policy my parents had taken out on me that year. I am surrendering that policy for the cash amount. Prudential told me to check unclaimed funds in Ohio to see if there might be any dividends that weren't collected and sure enough there were. I filed for those too. Mom is still looking out for me.. thank you Momma! The money we get will give us enough for a down payment for a newer vehicle to drive. Our van is a 1993 Ford :(. It gets me around town to the stores and for that I am thankful.

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda