My Little Treasury - Someone Chose Me

Today I was happy to see that I was chosen for another treasury on Etsy. Bella Donna chose my Halloween Harvest Scarf for her lovely treasury. Please check out her shop and The Scarves of Autumn Treasury (links above).

Thank you for reading my blog. Once again, I'm excited to have been chosen for someone's treasury. Happy days of autumn to you all.

Pleasant dreams of pumpkins, apple cider, Halloween, hay rides, hot chocolate, blowing leaves, breathtaking colors...wonderful!

Harvest Queen

New Discovery on Etsy - Yummy Scents

Bulletin: Just discovered on Etsy (well, actually, I just discovered it). It's fabulous! I'm ready to order for Christmas and for me! Click on their name: The Abbey James Company

Pleasant dreams... whatever scent you like...Um-m-m-m.

Sweet-smelling Therese

Last-Trip-Up-North Treasures on Camera

Possibly our last trip up north this year, we went to visit "Uncle Bob"--our dear old school teacher friend. Bob is in assisted living. We walked the beach behind his home for a final trip of the year and snapped photos of interesting little treasures. I hope you enjoy them.

Beautiful Sandy Waters on East Bay of Lake Michigan (next 3 photos)

 

Underwater Zebra Mussels, Lake Michigan

Little Beach Blossom

While walking along the beach we spied these beach chairs showing off their colors

 Shoreline Shell Treasures

 Slow Path to Nowhere (can you see the trail)

 Low water this year left lots of algae along the beach and in the water

 
 Wild Turkeys off the beaten path (I scared them off)

Thanks for letting me share. It's so sad to see summer ending and everything changing. Even the water looks more blue and less aqua. Yet we had so much fun just taking in the glory of Lake Michigan.

Pleasant dreams of beaches, last glimpses of colorful beach chairs, brilliant falling leaves, slightly nippy night air, and all good things that autumn brings...

Barefoot-in-the-Cold-Sand Girl

Bridal Jewelry - Opinions, please...

Dear blogger friends!
I was asked to make bridal jewelry for a local shop. Here is my first attempt...HELP! There are tons of Swarovski crystals and Swarovski / Czech glass pearls in each one. There are actually only two sets here, though it looks like more.

Opinions, please. Be honest. Let me know what I need, if anything, and what I might do differently. Tell me if it's too loud or big or whatever... I will be making a couple of more delicate necklaces as well. Everyone has different taste.


So let's hear it!

Thanks. I would most appreciate it!

Beginner of Everything, Jack-ette of all Trades

Loyalty

Today the pastor at our church sermonized about the virtue of Loyalty, the first part of a series called, "Lost Virtues". It is unsettling to have believed all along that you were loyal, then to discover that you are truly lacking in that area.


What is loyalty? Well, it's not only being true to your spouse, significant other, kids, parents and friends, but it encompasses significantly more.


A friend is a friend in times of trouble as well as in the good times. When people are making fun of a friend, do you stand beside him or do you crawl under the rug?


Do you gossip? Do you talk about your friends and family to other people when you're angry with them? Do you walk away from a relationship rather than trying to work through a bad situation? Do you leave an organization you've committed to for a little disagreement instead of listening to the other side's point of view? Do you hang in there through the good and bad?

Employers aren't loyal to their employees, employees aren't loyal to the employers, sales people aren't loyal to their customers, people aren't loyal to their beliefs, and on and on.


Oh, boy! After listening to a half hour to an hour, where you could have heard a pin drop, was I ever feeling sheepish. From now on I'm going to try to remember that I can't take back what I say, so it's best to keep quiet if I have nothing good to say. A real challenge for a true "chatter box" like me.


Oh, but I'm loyal to all my Blog Followers!!!


Pleasant dreams. It's late and Monday is a work day. Dreams of far away places...as in "Six Days, Seven Nights". Not being stranded on an island but sleeping on an island in one of those cute little huts, sipping on pineapple juice and coconut rum. Nighty, night.


Your Loyal Companion

My Recollection...9/11

Everyone's posting thoughts on 9/11, today. Not 7-11, but, rather, 9/11, the number we'd like to forget. Today is coming to a close, but I'd like to write about my recollection of that infamous event:

Our company had just downsized, leaving me without a job. That was the very end of August. On September 11, I was enjoying not having to go to work by watching the Today show on NBC. In a moment of time, a news flash came into my living room, LIVE. As I saw the plane going into the tower, I thought it was a joke or an accident. It never occurred to me that, perhaps, it was really happening and that, perhaps, it was the act of terrorists. That is, until I saw the second plane appear and people in the studio yelling something about another plane flying right into one of the Twin Towers.

It all looked so phony, like I was watching a terrorist movie. It was a terrorist movie--really happening right now! LIVE! As I watched.

I got on the phone and called my husband at work. He hadn't heard. I called relatives and friends who were working to see if anyone had heard an announcement.

It reminded me of the time JFK was shot. The time the nun in my classroom at St. Tim's said to get down on our knees and pray. Oh, how I remember.

September 11 was my sister's wedding anniversary. I wondered how she was feeling.

Then I remember, later, painting the back door on our house while President Bush gave the nation his plan of action. It was freaky, scary, just listening to the President talking that way. Even he sounded scared.

You know the rest. Now, I'll not say, "Pleasant Dreams" tonight. This is a solemn occasion and a time to ponder on all that happened that September 11, a day never forgotten.

Sleep well knowing that we are here today, safe for the time being. We've lived through it. But what about
those people directly related to the incident. They will go on living through it for who knows how long, maybe the rest of their lives. I wonder if they can ever feel safe.

Beach Glass, Stones, Fossils for Me?

Last week we went to a friend's lake house on Lake Erie. Two of my sisters were finding lots of beach glass, but me--nope, not me. I'm just not that observant. Finally! I found two pieces of white beach glass. Until then I was collecting seashells, beach brick pieces, slag, stones and one Petoskey stone. Either a Petoskey stone or a fossil stone. We couldn't figure out why a Petoskey would be laying on Lake Erie shores.

I just visited a couple of Etsy sites where people sell the same beach items. I just loved looking. However, my husband is planning on learning to use a jewelry drill to make holes in my beach treasures. I can hardly wait. I also found a pendant that is a piece of beach slate. It's really great looking!

Well, off to bed for me. Pleasant dreams of summer's last beach walks--at least barefooted! Sleep tight.

Stoned, Old Fossil

German Chocolate or Bust!

Anyone who knows me also knows that I love to make up my own recipes. For my sister's birthday last week, I was asked to bring a cake. Her fav is German Chocolate.

I have a recipe that uses cream of coconut and is similar to a Jello Poke Cake, so I invented my own variation of that dessert:

1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix

2 8-oz Containers Cool Whip

2 cans German Chocolate Frosting

1/4 - 1/2 cup milk

Eggs, oil, water as listed on box

Bake cake as directed in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Open one can German Chocolate frosting, reserving one-third for later. Mix remaining two-thirds frosting with a little milk to thin it down. As cake cools on rack, poke holes all over  top with a knife, then pour/spread the thinned frosting mix over the cake. As it melts, spread it around and into the holes.

Mix the reserved one-third can frosting with an 8-oz. container thawed Cool Whip (whipped topping). Set aside. Take a second can of frosting and spread over cake while slightly warm.

When cake is completely cool, spread frosting/Cool Whip mixture over top. Chill for an hour or so. Top it off with another container of plain, thawed Cool Whip or chocolate Cool Whip. Refrigerate overnight.

Optional: Sprinkle toasted coconut, chocolate shavings, pecans over top. I prefer it without any additional.

The cake was a birthday success. I was asked not to lose my recipe, and I heard "YUM-M-M", so I guess that means they liked it!

Happy Birthday to all September birthdays out there. Pleasant dreams of chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!

Chocolate Lover

Fairy Me by Tarja

Hello, everyone! I'd like to introduce "Fairy Me by Tarja". She creates fairies from your photos by placing the subjects in wings and under toadstools and in the grass, and everywhere else in fairyland. I just love it! Fantastic work! Use the link above and see some of her work.

Tarja is one of the nicest people. Thanks, Tarja, for being so supportive!

Pleasant dreams of fairies, mid-summer night's dreams, lightening bugs and all that summer represents. I'm clinging on tightly to every minute. Nighty night.

Fairy Godmother