In Florida but NOT for fun!

Just thought I would share where I have been for so long. My mother is 85 and can't live by herself anymore. Since I live 2500 miles away from her, and am her only child, she needs to come back to the cold North. I am busy trying to convince her that she doesn't need ALL the things that she has accumulated over the years, and am trying to pack her up, sell her house, etc. etc. etc. It is NOT a fun job but it has to be done.
IF anything exciting happens down here I will be sure to let you know. Until then, HAPPY CRAFTING, and I hope to be back soon.

Hugsss, Judy

I SHALL RETURN

It's late tonight, and I'm supposed to be in bed, but I just need to post a promise. I AM going to be back to blogging real soon. I have a craft show to get ready for and I need your support and accountability!! See you real soon!!

Jude, who needs to be more organized!!

Monday!!

Good ole Monday!! A new week, a new beginning. LOL.

Well, I've been able to list several days in a row in my Etsy shop and I'm so proud of me!! I don't do very well on promises I make to myself, but so far, so good!! The last two penny rug candle mats that I mentioned have now been put on my shop, and I also listed one that I mentioned as a surprise for a friend!! That one is the Monkey Business Candle Mat.



Christine Harling (www.sugarandspice.etsy.com) has little girl who is going to be 1 year old very soon, and she is having a "Monkey Themed" Birthday Party. I designed the candle mat for her, but decided to list some in my Etsy shop too!! What a fun candle mat it is!!

Tomorrow I am listing a mustard candle mat with pretty little white pozys!! I really love this one too. Check out my shop to find even more candle mats!!

Thanks for reading, and goodbye until tomorrow!!

Hello!! LONG time since I last posted. I'm sorry. Life got in the way, but I'm ready to move forward now, full force!!

I've been stitching up a storm, some older designs, and a few new ones. I do have one finished that I can't show you right now, cause it is a surprise gift for someone (and she just might come in and read this blog). I don't want to ruin the surprise. I love surprises, don't you??








These two candle mats are "HOT OFF THE PRESS" and not even listed in my Etsy Shop yet, so you get a sneak preview!! If you are interested in them, please just email me (jlongtin@niagara.com)!! I'd be glad to accomodate you!!

Well, it's time to get ready to wander the roads with my DH. He's off on vacation, and we didn't go anywhere, so he's been underfoot. LOL. Today he has some places to go to, so I'm going to tag along, stitching in hand of course. Talk to you later!!

AND.... We have a WINNER!!

Well, actually two winners.... Let me explain. First of all, hubby and I couldn't agree on a name, what I liked, he didn't (so what's new with that!! LOL) Soooooooooo, what I did was put all your names into a hat... Well, actually a margerine container, lol, and pulled one to be the winner... And the winner is.... (insert drum roll here) JUDY REYNOLDS!! Congrats Judy... we didn't pick Cleo for the birdy's name, but we did pull your name from the "hat". LOL. You get to pick which pattern you want out of my big line of 4 patterns - they are on the left column under Patterns. LOL. And I will be sending you some ornie's as well. If you would like your pattern right away, I can send you the e-pattern. Otherwise, I think I am mailing out on Wednesday and could send you a paper pattern then. It's up to you. Just let me know which one you want.

Now, I did mention that there are two winners and I will explain that too. I wandered through the blogs of the contestants, and as I was looking at Kady's wonderful pictures, I came upon a picture of a kitty who's name was Mickey!! Well, I thought to myself... hmmmm. That would be a nice name for Blue... It's for either a boy or a girl, it has the all important "K" sound, and it just suits him or her... So, her name is going to be Mickey!! So, you win a prize too Kady!! You can pick a pattern too, either by email or I will mail it with your ornies.

Now wasn't that fun!!! I think it was and "Mickey" now has a name!!
If the winners could please email me at jlongtin@niagara.com, with your mailing address, and your choice of patterns, that would be great!!

Thanks all of you for playing!!

Well, no Indian Summer here yet, lol, but it has warmed up to a balmy 41 degrees today. But, it's still dark, dismal, and cloudy with a prediction of 100% chance of rain tomorrow and Sunday. Sigh. Oh well. I guess that it's a good time to stay inside and stitch and TO BAKE COOKIES!! Here is a recipe that is great for the fall days like this with a very seasonal ingredient.... PUMPKIN!! I got this recipe from my Aunt Lucille many years ago now and I still love them, and her, lol.

Oh, update on "Blue"!! She is doing just fine, but hasn't uttered as much as a churp yet. I guess she is waiting for her new name before she talks to me. LOL. You still have the rest of today, tomorrow, and Sunday to help me pick her name!! Do you have any friends who would like a pattern to stitch?? Tell them to enter too. The more the merrier!! OK... No, I didn't forget. Here are the cookies!!

Pumpkin Cookies

2 ½ C. Flour
1 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Nutmeg
¼ tsp. Ginger
1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 C. Shortening
1 ½ C Sugar
3 Eggs
1 Cup Canned Pumpkin (not Pie filling)
1 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. Lemon Extract
1 C. Raisins
½ C. Chopped nuts

Topping
¼ C. Sugar
¼ tsp. Cinnamon

Sift together first 6 ingredients. Cream shortening and sugar, add eggs, pumpkin, vanilla, and lemon extract. Blend well & add dry sifted ingredients. Add raisins, nuts, and mix well. Chill. Drop by tsp. onto well greased cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork (dip fork in water to avoid sticking.)

Mix topping and sprinkle on each cookie

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Brrrrrr!

Well, another dark dreary day here in Niagara, only 35 degrees and YES, I did see some of those white flakes coming down past my window... but they never lasted on the ground. Oh man. I'm really NOT ready for this yet. One good thing though.... Indian Summer always comes after the first snow, so I'll be watching for that. LOL.

OK... I am still waiting for more names for Blue, oh, and will close this contest as of midnight, October 26th, so that gives you 5 days, counting today. AND I am ready to tell you part of the prize you will win if I pick your Birdy name!! I have a very small line of penny rug patterns (4 to be exact, lol) and you will get to pick any one of the four as part of your prize! I will also include some primitive Christmas Ornies!!

Hope you have a wonderful day, and KEEP WARM!!