We Have Winners!

Here are the lucky winners for last week's giveaways at The Olde Country Cupboard
and Samantha's Accessories:
Libbie's Home is the winner of Samantha's set of Snowman Ornies. Congratulations!
Here is Samantha's new giveaway for this week. You can sign up by becoming a member
of her blog and asking to be entered in her giveaway. You can sign up until midnight
Thursday, July 21,2011. Winners are chosen on Friday, July 22, 2011. Samantha is
giving away two sets of 3 each of her e-patterns. These are just two examples
of the e-patterns that you can chose:

Adorable Kleenex covers! Both winners will go to Samantha's Accessories and pick their
choice of 3 e-patterns as their prize.
The winners of last week's giveaway at The Olde Country Cupboard are:
Angela at Thru Nana's Window, Ellie's Country Accents, and Jessica before the Dawn.
Congratulations to all three winners. This week's giveaway will be for 3 sets of
medium and small size Beeswax Gingerbread Men:

Aren't they wonderful? Here's another freebie for you, Sandy has such fun making these, she says. The name of the pattern is Sno Folks. Go all the way down almost to the end of her blog and choose this pattern in her download box. She has lots of other freebies, too

Here is another new e-pattern for purchase from Samantha. It is #215, Christmas Is
Coming applique pillows. She offers it on her site for only $4.00. Click here to purchase.
So remember to join their blogs if you have not already and leave a comment to be entered
in their giveaways. They are having them each week in the month of July. New giveaway items are posted on Fridays and you have until the following Thursday at midnight to sign up for them. The winners of each giveaway will be announced Fridays.
Bye for now, Primmies.
Warm Regards,
Susan

Some Yum Yums To Keep You Thinking Cool

COCOA BREAKFAST SMOOTHIES

INGREDIENTS:
1 container (8 oz.) strawberry yogurt, 1-1/4 cups cold milk, 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced 1 ripe, medium banana, sliced; 3 tablespoons HERSHEY'S Cocoa, 2 tablespoons honey
DIRECTIONS:
Place all ingredients in blender container. Cover; blend until smooth.
Yield: Approx. 5 servings
Just 2.5g fat and 140 calories per 6oz. serving!
Here's the next yummy I really like:

BROWNIE AND FRUIT KABOBS

INGREDIENTS:
BETTY CROCKER*Fudge Brownie Mix Water, vegetable oil and eggs as called for on brownie mix box, 4 cups fresh pineapple chunks, 5 cups halved fresh strawberries, 10 large bananas, cut into 1-inch pieces, 1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine,21 (10-inch) bamboo skewers
DIRECTIONS:
1)Heat oven to 350°F. (325°F. for dark or nonstick pan). Line 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil letting foil hang 2 inches over sides of pan. Spray or grease bottom only of foil. Make brownie batter as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Spread in pan.
2)Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side comes out almost clean. Cool completely. Lift brownie from pan; remove foil. Cut brownies into 1-1/4 inch squares.
3)Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. Alternately thread 3 brownie squares, 2 pineapple chunks, 2 strawberry halves and 2 banana slices on each skewer. Place kabobs on waxed paper.
4)In small microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and butter uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring once until chocolate is melted. Drizzle over kabobs!
*(Betty Crocker is a registered trademark of General Mills, used with permission)
Mr. Glen Oaks makes his brownies from scratch, he just uses the recipe on the Hershey Cocoa container. They are marvelous. We almost never use mixes anymore for baked goods. When recipes call for "cake flour" we use regular flour. I can't think of the ratio right now, it's +/- 2 tbs. I think, and sift the flour 2-3 times. Your cookbook will have a substitution chart for cake flour and all common ingredients used in cooking, usually where the chart for measure equivalencies are found. His cakes come out light and tasty, not "heavy" like some homemade recipes turn out. My mom says that many years ago before the advent of mixes cakes usually came out heavy and chewy, but not Mr. Glen Oaks'! He has the magic touch. Oh, and he swears by parchment paper for lining the pans and cookie sheets. I actually clued him in on that little trick. I think I discovered parchment paper from Martha Stewart recipes. You can also make little parchment paper pouches to bake fish with. Parchment Paper, it's a "Good Thing".

This Week's Free Patterns

Hi, Primmies...
Today at midnight is the deadline for sign-ups at The Olde Country Cupboard and Samantha's Accessories Christmas in July Giveaways. See my post below for photos and details. Here is Sandy's free pattern for this week:

Her Prim Santa Head finishes up to 15 inches. She says he's simple to make.
Click Here to go to her blog to download this and more free patterns, and to join her blog and giveaway.

Samantha's free pattern is for these adorable Snowman Mini Pillows:

Click Here to go to her blog to download this and more of her free patterns, and to join her blog and giveaway.
She has a quick tutorial on how to make these sweet Santa Cans, they would be great to
use as a gift tin for cookies, coloring books and crayons or whatever you can think of:

Aren't they adorable? She's very clever like her mom, Sandy! Sign up if you already haven't for their blogs and giveaways and MORE free patterns from these talented ladies.
Stay cool, primmies.
Warm Regards,
Susan

The Family Visit Part 2,Another CITRASOLV Use & Antique Samplers

Well, Sister and BIL should have been here last night. My daughter called me just before midnight to say that Aunt Rose was in the hospital with a kidney stone. In her haze from the pain shot, it seems she could only remember one long distance number. My Ashley likes her sleep, and it's a miracle she answered the phone at that time. Anyway, I called and she was home and she told me what she had been through for the last couple of days. I have to wonder lately about doctors and hospitals. I have recently had the feeling that we just get shuffled around to someone else,a "Specialist" when the doctor is maybe overwhelmed. So the new plan is that she rest for a couple of days at home,
and she could travel by Thursday. So the anticipated arrival is now Friday night. This time I'll make double sure she's really on the road tomorrow. I thought when I got the message on the cell that they were in a "no reception" zone. Yeah, in the hospital! You just never know...
Oh, back to my rant, what about the policy of "turning the office phones off" BEFORE the office is supposed to be closed!?! Yep, she went through all of that but with HMO's you have to call your PC first. She should have just gone to the hospital. You are supposed to follow a procedure before going to the ER or be responsible for the bill. Well, I've been of the opinion lately that I'd rather pay the high copayment and go to the ER first and get taken care of. This of course is still for only real emergencies, like if you're doubled over in pain!
So Mr. Glen Oaks has been granted a reprieve on the floors. He's taking the opportunity
with much gratitude. He can now do what he wants to do to the finish. He's using Tung Oil and because of the cats, we aren't using any petroleum solvents like oil stains or polyurethane finish. After multiple coats of tung oil (he says at least 4, it will be impervious to water and other spills) handsome is believe it or not cutting the tung oil with TaDa CITRAVOLV! It keeps the layers from just floating on top of each other, so that each layer is smooth like glass. He will be handwaxing the final coat. All beautiful and no toxic fumes. The drying time is unbelievably quick. We can only keep the kitties upstairs for just little intervals. They like to "hunt" in the cellar!
So they should see the "new" floors all finished when they arrive. We thought they were just going to see them sanded down. I'll take some pictures and post to the blog hopefully before the weekend. They are going to be beautiful. As with all his work, they will be perfection.
I'll be back later. I have a new blog from England that I came across that I'm very excited about, the loveliest photos of antique samplers, the auction house where they are to be sold and charted designs of antiques. And of course any great methods or tips I read about in blogland.
Stay cool, primmies.
Warm Regards,
Susan

Make Your Own Primitive Fall Twig Wreath

Here's a super simple Twig Wreath tutorial from Tammy at Rock River Stitches. It finishes up to approx. 11inches. I think they look more beautiful than the craft stores carry and the "Free" price can't be beat. Just need a coat hanger and twigs from your yard. Go make some wreaths, Primmies...

Click here Make Your Own Primitive Fall Twig Wreath

Warm Regards,
Susan