Shirley Anne’s Heart

Posted By drsao on February 4, 2010

Brother Dan in Orange

Happy birthday February 15 to my brother Dan – in Texas.  His real name is DANNY and he can thank me, his darling sister, for that, because I was given the honor and privilege of naming him.  My mother claims that I wanted to name him DANNY BOY but I do not remember that part!  Here we are in Kansas City in December helping my parents move into their new house!  I think he wore that bright orange shirt into Walmart while we were there….I wonder if anyone put his picture on the PEOPLE OF WALMART website!!  (He had on some pretty wild orange PJ pants with it earlier!!)  LOL

And on February 18th there are two birthdays to celebrate – HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my quilting friend Patsy…..doesn’t she look happy here at the CUTTING BEE in January!  For sure – we were all very happy!

Happy Birthday Patsy (behind the white sewing machine)

and happy birthday on the 18th to my nephew Tyler……he is a nice guy and a clown at the same time.  I think he looks a bit like HUGH GRANT!  I have a great picture of Tyler making a SCARRY face but since it is his birthday I decided to be nice!  Tyler is going to be a dad for the 3rd time on or around May 2nd….YEAH TYLER AND AMANDA!  I just love new babies in the family…..and I would like it even MORE if I could say girl or boy – but this time it is going to be a surprise!  🙂

Smiling Tyler with the movie star sunglasses

February 23 my DD in California is having a birthday………hope it is super special too because she is super special!  Anyone who gives me six grandangels is SUPER DUPER SPECIAL!!  🙂  Jan is the best gift my DH Max ever gave me!!!   I am sending CYBER HUGS! 

Jan getting kisses from Jannae and Collin

My cousin Janie has a birthday Feb 24th!!   Here we are in July in Kansas City – she gave my Thimbeberries Quilt a good home.  It is always fun to have your quilts find a home where they can be loved!    I have lots of fun memories growing up visiting Janie – riding horses – eating the best homemade vanilla ice cream in the entire WORLD – and experiencing country life!  I don’t know if Janie remembers this but I remember going to church with our Grandma Albertson and I can still hear Grandma singing those Methodist hymns – in a very loud booming voice!  🙂  Janie is also a QVC fan – like me – must be genetic – our dads are brothers!

Janie and sao with THIMBLEBERRIES 2008

And finally my DSIL Greg has a birthday on February 26th….the father of my three Virginia grandangels……and I still think he is cool even though he got me a LIFE SIZE BARBIE DOLL FOR CHRISTMAS and scares me by making her talk like an alien when I am not expecting it!  In fact Greg scares me EVEN WITHOUT the Barbie doll!  🙂  And I still go to watch him run and cheer for him – yes I do.   

Greg and the EVIL BARBIE

My dear friend Shirley in CA has a  birthday in February too and UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE A PICTURE OF HER.  Can you BELIEVE THIS!   Ok – so my mission on my next trip to CA is to fix this !!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY FEB. 28th SHIRLEY!!!!!!!  I miss working puzzles, reading GREAT BOOKS and eating black bean soup with you!!!  Thank goodness for e-mail!!!!

And this is a BIRTHDAY BLOG ENTRY – but I just had to add one tiny little thing………

 I JUST FOUND OUT THAT CATHERINE AND JOHN are celebrating 33 years of wedded bliss on February 19th.  That is SO SPECIAL.  I don’t have a picture of John – but imagine him by Catherine’s side looking very happy.  Happy Anniversary to my Missouri Buddy and Virginia BFF.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CATHERINE AND JOHN

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Posted By drsao on February 2, 2010

OK – by popular demand – I bring you the BLACK BEAN BROWNIE RECIPE from Dr. Oz’s website.  The recipe might be found in Kim Bensen’s book “FINALLY THIN.”  These brownies helped Kim lose over 200 pounds!!!!!!

 TA DA

Brownies

Ingredients

1, 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

½ cup agave syrup

½ cup self-rising flour

½ cup egg whites

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

6 tbsp mini semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

In a food processor, mix all brownie ingredients (except chips) together. Chop on high, until smooth. Clean off sides and blend for another 20 seconds. Add the chips in and stir well. Spread into the 8×8 baking dish. Cook for 20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for about 1 hour in dish at room temperature.

Frosting

Ingredients

6 oz fat-free cream cheese

¼ cup agave syrup

2 tbsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp semisweet mini chocolate chips, melted.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350º. Lightly spray a 8×8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. With a whisk attachment on an electric beater and blend all ingredients until light and fluffy. Spread evenly over the top of the cooled brownies. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the 2 tbsp of chips with a 2 second spray of nonstick cooking oil. Using a spoon, swirl the chocolate on top. Allow it to set in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy. Don’t forget to have seconds!

BLACK BEAN BROWNIE

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Posted By drsao on February 2, 2010

There is something EXTREMELY MOTIVATING about being SNOWED IN.  I have been doing BELLY DANCING, NAMASTE YOGA, and BODY SCULPTING on FIT TV every day – and having lots of fun (and yes I have been sewing!)

No pictures of my exercise adventure (THE DOOR TO THE BEDROOM WAS CLOSED TO KEEP OTHERS FROM HAVING FUN WATCHING!!!)  Well, OK – here is a picture of SOMEONE ELSE doing one of the poses that I did!  🙂

Warrior 3 Pose

OK – so here are my quilting adventures so far….

I pieced a 12 1/2″ squares scrappy blue back for my Confetti Quilt (designed by Augusta Cole.)  I have almost concluded that these scrappy sqaure backs are my FAVORITES.  I would really be INTERESTED to know the brain chemistry that underlies preferences – but these BONNIE INSPIRED SCRAPPY BACKS make me extremely happy!  sigh…..I guess squares stimulate my dopamine production!

Back to my Confetti Quilt

I put my 6 1/2″ block in the mail today for Dorothy’s GENTLE HUGS Quilt……if you are a member of the POCKET FULL OF MYSTERIES Yahoo Group, you will recall that Dorothy’s husband died last week while on a business trip.  Many of us are sending blocks to make her a quilt.  You just never know what each day will bring – so HUG your family today – and that includes the furry people as well!

Dorothy's GENTLE HUGS Block

AND TA DA…..I got the borders on my Ann Smith NEW YEAR’S EVE MSTERY 2009 Quilt……and the back is a LITTLE SCRAPPY too!  I was going to put another orange border on BEFORE the butterflies, but it failed the audition and looked better with just the butterflies after the black.  I made the top and bottom  black borders 1″ wider than the side borders and  the butterfly border 2 inches wider at the top and bottom than on the sides  I thought that would make it LESS SQUARE looking – oh yes, and it is ACTUALLY LESS SQUARE!  :):)

NYE MYSTERY 2009NYE Mystery Back

NYE Mystery Back

 I am laughing so hard because my DH is worried about being snowed in for DAYS and running out of ground turkey for Pepper’s breakfast patties (cooked on a Foreman grill because of course Max could never feed Pepper dog food – SHHH – Max doesn’t want Pepper to KNOW that he is a DOG!) 

I, on the other hand, am WORRIED ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF COTTON NEUTRAL PIECING THREAD.  No quilter EVER RUNS OUT OF THREAD – but I AM ON MY LAST SPOOL………TIME TO PANIC!!!  🙂

Pepper THINKS he is a boy, not a DOG!

Category: Ann Smith NYE Mystery09, Confetti, Gentle Hugs Block, Life Comments | 2 Comments »
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Posted By drsao on February 2, 2010

Groundhog Day legend Punxsutawney Phil is an actual groundhog, who made his annual prediction known in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2, 2010.  HE SAW HIS SHADOW!

This is Punxsutawney Phil!

We’ve compiled some interesting Groundhog Day history facts. You can learn even more about Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day at Groundhog.org.

AND, I just had to add, that I have a friend who was actually born in PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA – YEAH SHEDDY!  Sheddy, do you do something SPECIAL on groundhog day – you know – to celebrate your hometown celebrity, Phil?

Sheddy is on the right!

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Posted By drsao on February 1, 2010

I believe in celebrating EVERYTHING – so in honor of Groundhog’s  Day (author unknown but thank you Google) here is a poem and a song – in case you are a teacher or a parent or grandparent  or greatgrandparent or ANYONE who likes to have fun!!!!!

HAPPY GROUND HOG DAY

THE POEM

Groundhog’s Holiday

The second month, the second day,
We know is Groundhog’s Holiday.
The keeper of the local zoo,
Photographers, reporters, too,
Anxiously await together
Woodchuck’s forecast of the weather.
Each year this time he leaves his hearth,
His home beneath good Mother Earth.
He wiggles out to see the sun
And sure enough – ask anyone-
Should he perchance his shadow see,
Back to his home again he’ll flee.
And that sign’s still the surest thing
Six weeks must pass before it’s spring!

I LOVE SNOW, I LOVE SNOW, I LOVE SNOW tra la la

THE SONG

Mr. Groundhog

(to the tune of “London Bridges”)

Mr. Groundhog down below,
Pop up through the fluffy snow,
See his shadow watch him go,
Winter’s here to stay.

Mr. Groundhog down below,
Pops up through the fluffy snow,
Wide awake he wants to play,
Spring is on it’s way.

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