First swim of the summer

2 years ago Cindy and I went in together to buy a pop up pool for the family.. that thing was a total wreck.. ohmygosh.. never again will I buy one like that..Anyway, we finally managed to get it up.. somewhat level.. and clean.. by the 2nd year I was a pro.. kept it clear all winter long...until a storm blew in in Feb.. ripped the ring to pieces.. of course, Rick being Rick thought he could fix it.. you can not tell this man a thing.. he knows it all.. for instance last summer he just knew he could clean that pool.. several hundred dollars later he took Joe's advice, drained the pool, cleaned the pool and refilled the pool.. and yes, I did suggest it many times before.. but.. I'm just ME.. I know nothing... ha! Anyway, back to repairing.. that man is so stubborn he worked for weeks.. to repair those major rips.. I'm not talking a small puncture from cat claws.. I'm talking RIPS.. the size of the NILE... he finally gave up.. F.I.N.A.L.L.Y.... my niece offered to sell us her pool.. needed a bit of cleaning.. that wasn't on Rick's radar and if it isn't on his radar it ain't happening.. so, I thanked her..told her to sell it to someone else.. As would happen another niece overheard me whining.. I mean, discussing the situation .. and offered to GIVE us her old pool. She lives in a nice community that has a pool so didn't need this one any longer.. when Rick heard FREE he was all over it.. went the next day, drained, cleaned and brought the pool home. I'm not sure where I was but when I came in.. the pool was up.. with water running in it.. so, after several weeks of chilly weather, the pool was finally christened by the family.. Sophia and Maddie love swimming.. so does Jace.. I'm pretty sure Zeke and Ben will love it too.. not sure about Ellie and Connor.. we'll have to see exactly what I buy for them to lounge on while in the pool.. or.. YaYa can play with them while the others enjoy... ha..

Here is to a happy, fun filled summer!!!

Patrotic wreath

I've seen tons of wreaths on the internet... pinned over 250 on pinterest ... who knew I had such a wreath fettish? Not I... until Deco Mesh.. haha.. now I can't stop making them.. I'm pretty sure I could change them out weekly and almost.. almost... never use the same one.. if that's an exageration it soon will not be.. LOL..

this is my latest wreath.. it took all of 15 minutes to put together.. again, no photos of the process because it is so quick I forget to stop and snap them. I've seen the forms you can buy to whip up these wreaths in short order... I refuse to pay $5.99 to $10.99 for a form.. so, I use whatever I have on hand.. today it happened to be a Christmas wreath from days gone by.. I like a full.. large... wreath.. over the top I suppose.. This is just a "piece" of a roll of red/white/blue deco mesh. I picked it up at Carolina Pottery in Cary NC last year after the 4th of July for $3.00 a roll... The ribbon is also deco mesh.. picked up at Carolina Pottery for $9.99 a roll.. this makes a lot of bows.. and has also been used in wreaths with other colors. I still have half a spool.. ... this particular spool is 6 inches by 15 yards.. lots of ribbon! I pull up big loops and twist 2 strands of the wreath around the gathered part to attach to wreath.. continue around leaving a space for the bow to be attached.. This particular wreath has 12 loops with a 12 inch bow.. I told you. I like a big wreath! LOL.. I want it seen from the highway.. we live several feet back... not that anyone really looks my way.. but, just.. in.. case.. I want that wreath seen.

The hardest part of making this wreath is sweeping the pine needles that fell from the wreath... geeze... what a mess!!

I made Maddie a hat...

After seeing Sophia's yellow hat Maddie asked for a pink one.. afterall Pink is her favorite color. She tries to like purple but alwasy reverts back to her trusty pink as color of choice! I used a combo of 2 different patterns for this hat. I'm pretty sure I'll be making her another one .. I think the holes are too large so I plan to use a different stitch around the edging.. either way Maddie was thrilled with her hat..

Homemade Onion Rings

So not on a Diet Menu that I can find... if it was I wouldn't feel so guilty.. oh what the hey.. I don't feel guilty.. I feel.. well... full.. and satisfied... and well.. FULL.. oh, I said that already, right? If you like onion rings but have been afraid to make them at home.. don't be.. these are better than you'll find anywhere and are actually very easy to make.. honest.. I wouldn't yank your chain.. serious.. e.a.s.y.!!!

YaYa's Onion Rings

1 Large onion.. vidalia are the best.. but any large sweet onion will work

1 lg can evaporated milk. I used store brand from walmart

1 cup bisquick baking mix... I'm sure store brand would be fine. I happened to have bisquick on hand

Salt/pepper/garlic salt mixture .. equal parts of each. I keep it mixed and handy for use on everying... I love it!

Slice the onion to the thickness you like, roll in bisquick, dip in milk, roll in bisquick, drop gently in hot oil. Do not crowd fryer. *I used vegetable oil and a regular pot for my fryer.. nothing fancy.. oh, and a fork to turn the rings and remove from the oil.* Sorry I didn't read the temperature. I use the sprinkle method.. meaning sprinkle a bit of flour into the oil.. if it bubbles and sizzles it's ready.. if it doesn't the oil isn't hot enough and will soak into the coating.. trust me.. it will be ugly if that happens.

Watch the onion rings closely, flip them over once when the coating is golden brown. Remove from oil and drain on paper towel or paper bag.. your choice. I've used both and think the paper towels are less messy.. but being conscious of the environment I know I should use a paperbag.. maybe next time...

So.. I made a little wreath... errr.. well... not so little as you can see!!!
My friend, Sandy asked me to try and put together a daisy for her.. she purchased 2 woven grapevine wreath forms.. one large.. one small.. I wired white deco mesh to the large one before ever finding the yellow.. 3 weeks and 5 locations later.. still no yellow.. even online it's all sold out.. so, hello Decor-sheer.. I forget what it really is.. but Decor-Sheer is what it's called on the package.. maybe.. it's organza?? Anyway, it worked up so quickly.. big loops wired to the smaller wreath form... then I wired the small form to the large form, found a piece of split bamboo I happend to have thanks to my son, painted it green, added a bow in a complementing green for leaves.. and viola.. a daisy wreath.. it might be too big for even my taste! LOL.. I'm thinking I'll make myself one.. but leave off the stem... sorry I didn't take step by step photos.. I tend to forget that.. maybe next time!

Thought I'd share a recipe today...

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Ingredients
1 (2½ to 3 pound) broiler-fryer chicken, cut up
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
cooking oil for frying



Place chicken in a large flat dish. Pour buttermilk over; refrigerate 1 hour.
Combine flour, salt and pepper in a double-strength paper bag. Drain chicken; toss pieces, one at a time, in flour mixture. Shake off excess; place on waxed paper for 15 minutes. Heat 1/8 to 1/4 in. of oil in a skillet; fry chicken until browned on all sides. Cover and simmer, turning occasionally, for 40-45 minutes, or until juices run clear. Uncover and cook 5 minutes longer. Remove chicken and keep warm.

GRAVY:
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste

Drain all but 1/4 cup drippings; stir in flour until bubbly. Add milk and 1-1/2 cups water; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook 1 minute more. Add remaining water if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with chicken.

You could just use boneless chicken breast in this... yum good!

After Courtney pinned a diaper cover and addressed it to me...

I had to find a pattern and make one for Ellie...and of course I had to make matching flip flops and a headband.. she already has the flower to go on the headband.. but.. I may make another.. you never know.. LOL.. I found the pattern for the diaper cover here: http://http://cbraden7.blogspot.com/2011/08/diaper-cover-pattern.html and the flip flop pattern here: http://http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showpost.php?p=2294804&postcount=1"

I'll try to write the pattern down for the flip flops I made.. I just winged it after attempting to make the ones shown.. they're cute.. but came out too big for what I needed... it really was just a bunch of single crochet in a continuious oval until I felt it was the right size.. and a single crochet joining in 3 spots on the top of the sole... nothing fancy.