In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb

So today's weather forecast is a 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 56. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

I can't decide if that is a lion or a lamb.  Here in Texas I would consider sunny high of 75 a perfect lamb whereas a high of 40 and thunderstorms a perfect lion.

Where did this saying come from anyway?  I love Google.  Instant information.

This article first appeared on the Farmers Almanac Website March 2010 by Sandi Duncan

“If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb?”
Is there any truth to this saying??? Weather sayings are as colorful as our imagination. While many sayings are based on careful observations and turn out to be accurate, others are merely rhymes or beliefs of the people who came before us.
Those people often believed that bad spirits could affect the weather adversely, so they were cautious as to what they did or did not do in certain situations. Those beliefs often included ideas that there should be a balance in weather and life. So, if a month came in bad (like a lion), it should go out good and calm (like a lamb).
With March being such a changeable month, in which we can see warm spring-like temperatures or late-season snowstorms, you can understand how this saying might hold true in some instances. We can only hope that if March starts off cold and stormy it will end warm and sunny, but the key word is hope. However, this saying seems be to more of a rhyme rather than a true weather predictor.
Some other March related lore includes:
A dry March and a wet May?Fill barns and bays with corn and hay.
As it rains in March so it rains in June.
March winds and April showers? Bring forth May flowers.
What will the weather be like in March?

I also love the Farmer's Almanac.  Nowadays you can read their advice and wisdom online and like them on Facebook.  Oh how Granddaddy would have loved today's new information highway.

Meal Planning on a Budget

I know everyone has noticed how our grocery bills have gone up over the last few years.  I'm preaching to the choir. I know! I know! And there are so many ideas on the internet on how to save money on meals that it seems overwhelming to even know where to start.  Well this month I've decided to bite the bullet and really I mean really budget my grocery bill.

First off shop my pantry and freezer.

I was surprised at what I forgot I had. I planned the week using what I had on hand as a starting point and then found recipes that included those items.

First on the list- frozen ham bone from Christmas.

So tonight ham and lima bean soup!

 

 

I have never made this before. I probably should have called my mother but the internet made it look so easy.  LOL

I have been slow cooking the bone and beans all day. Just 4 quarts of water the ham bone and 1 lb of frozen lima beans.  Now that it is cooking and making the house smell so wonderful I wish I had thought to get the ingredients to make cornbread but we had crackers in the pantry.  If its as good as it smells I will definitely remember the cornbread for next time!


What are some tricks you've learned to help stretch your dollars when it comes to meal planning?  Let us know in the comments below.   I would love to hear from you.

Newborn Bunny Photo Prop

Is this winter getting you down?  I thought  Punxsutawny Phil said we were to have an early spring this year?  It's so cold and windy here in Texas and up north there are record braking blizzards that just won't seem to stop!

With all this cold and being stuck indoors I was glad when a friend of mine who has a photography business commissioned me to make a bunny newborn photo prop.  I was glad for the work because it helped get me out of my winter time blah mood. I got the pattern from Snassy Crafter at Etsy.com You can click HERE to see her shop.   It turned out better than I thought but when I saw it actually on a newborn I was wowed by the cuteness.  My friend really did a great job with lighting and positioning.  She now wants a ladybug for her collection of props and I can't wait to get started! Just the thing to keep those winter blues away.

 

 

 

DAR George Washington Luncheon

One of the best parts of being a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is attending events that stir up patriotic pride.  I love the swell of emotion one feels knowing we belong to one of the greatest nations on earth.  Today I attended our chapter's George Washington Luncheon.  The decorations were so cute and festive.  I love seeing the ladies who wear period costumes and the men also.  I would love to attempt making my own someday.

 

After our traditional opening ceremony of the pledge to the American flag, reciting of the America's Creed and Preamble, the singing of the National Anthem and pledge to the Texas flag, our regent gave a brief introduction to the event

 

 

 

George Washington, our first president, was born in Virginia on February 11, 1731, according to the then-used Julian calendar. In 1752 Britain and all its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar, which then placed George Washington's birth on February 22, 1732.  Beginning with the 100^th Anniversary of his birth in 1832 citizens of the United States have been celebrating the birth of our first president in some manner, as we are doing today

 

Then Linda gave a brief history on toasting of our first president and we all joined in a toast of our own.

 

 

 

After lunch we sang Happy Birthday and then our guest speaker a former CIA member told us the story of our first spy Nathan Hale of his capture and famous saying

 

"I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country"

 

It was a wonder day and I look forward to next year.  Maybe I'll even have my own costume by then too.

 

 

 

National Margarita Day and Happy Birthday George!

As a huge fan of Jimmy Buffett (aka parrothead) I was well aware of National Margarita Day today but as I glanced at the calendar I also noticed it is our first president George Washington's birthday!  And though Im sure Washington never had the pleasure of this tropical drink (his favorite was a sweet porter) I raise my glass and say thank you George for setting the bar high and being an awesome first president helping to make this country the great country it is! May I never take for granted the sacrifice of the lives and fortunes of our patriots which gave us the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which of course includes a great margarita!

Happy National Margarita Day and Happy Birthday George!

The Feel of Spring

You would think with all the cold weather keeping me inside I would be so on top of my blog posts and handmade projects for my shop. Wrong! There must be some truth to the correlation between low amounts of sunlight hours and depression.  Of course I'm not depressed but just feeling blah a lot of time and have taken way too many naps and watched way too much TV.

So anyway I was at the salon today getting that pesky grey colored and flipping through all the new March issues of my favorite magazines.  It was just what I needed to put that spark back in my days. I'm all excited about getting a garden started and making all kinds of cute spring bright colored projects for my shop.

My first project is a bunny outfit for a newborn. And the second is a baby quilt for a dear friend who's having her first baby in May.

Can't wait to show you the finished products!

So what are you doing to help bring spring a little earlier to your life?
Leave your comments below.  I'd love to hear from you.

 Happy Crafting!

Dr Seuss Quilt

Our grandson turned one!  Oh how the days are long but the years are short!  His mother threw a wonderful Dr Seuss party for the family and everyone had a great time!  All the decorations were so cute and fun.  She wants to decorate his room with Oh The Places You'll Go story so I made a quilt and framed two of the pages to help get her started.

 

I got this chevron pattern from HERE.

 

 

Happy Birthday Brady! We love you!

Christmas Dinner Place Settings

I know it's a week into January but I wanted to share with you the cute Santa Sleighs I made after getting inspired on Pinterest.  I invited the family over for dinner and went all out.

The cute Santa sleighs are made from:

• Candy Canes
• Hershey Bars
•  Hershey Nuggets wrapped in tissue paper
• Krisp Kringle Santa

Using a hot glue gun attach Candy Cane runners to the Hershey Bar.  I tried Tacky Glue at first but they fell off the next day.

Next tie up 4 candies in a red tissue sack with gold ribbon and name tag

Hot glue sack to the back of the sleigh

Finally secure Santa.

I have pinned this post to my Pinterest for you to save and give you inspiration for next year.  Remember Christmas is only 350 days away!

Happy New Year!

There are a lot of traditions that are observed around the world on New Year's Day and here in the southern United States it is eating black eyed peas for good luck.  The tradition dates back to our Civil War in the 1860's.   At first planted as food for livestock, and later a food staple for slaves, the fields of black-eyed peas were ignored as General Sherman's troops destroyed or stole other crops, thereby giving the humble, but nourishing, black-eyed pea an important role as a major food source for surviving Confederates.

One of my favorite ways to serve them is with rice, ham and tomatoes in a dish called Hoppin' John.

Old South Hoppin' John

Cheap. Fast. Good!

by Beverly Mills & Alicia Ross



 

Ingredients:

 

2 tsp olive oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped ham

2 tsp mince garlic

4 cups chicken broth

1tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 cup long grain rice

2 cans (15 oz) black-eyed peas

1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes

 

saute onion and garlic a couple of minutes in oil then add ham

 

 

 

next add chicken broth and spices and bring to a boil

 

 

add rice and lower heat to simmer 20 minutes

 

 

 



 

while rice cooks drain and rinse peas

 

 

 

 

When rice is done add tomatoes and black-eyed peas.

Cook, stirring, until the tomatoes and peas are thoroughly mixed in with the rice.

 

 

 

 

Here's wishing you and yours

good luck and a Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

A Quilt for my BFF

My best friend loves the colors of fall and so for her Christmas gift I made a simple lap quilt using a charm pack of the Phenomenal Fall by Sandy Gervais for Moda Fabrics.

 

After exchanging gifts we took her two girls to see Christmas lights. Sharing good times with good friends is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas.