GRANDPA AND THE GOOD OLE DAYS

"GRANDPA AND THE GOOD OLE DAYS" is how the song goes...tell me about the good ole days.

Well, my "good ole days" with Grandpa were every July 27th & July 28th. My two Grandpa's birthdays were side by side. They weren't the same age. And they were so different as Grandpa too.

My first Grandpa worked at a coal company. His job was to oil all the draglines and heavy equipment. Hard to imagine but he never missed a day of work, not even when we had the snow blizzard of 1978.

There never was a day gone by without stopping in to see my Grandpa when he got off of work. He worked on cars at his garage for people. He also worked on my bicycle fixing my tires. After fixing my tires he taught me how to ride my bike backwards. Trust me... he was much better doing so than me. As I learn how to drive he always preached to me the first lesson about a car, you can let it run out of gas but never let it run out of oil.

My Grandpa sure could be a character when he wanted to, but overall he loved all of his children and grandchildren. I was the third grandchild in the family among many others down the line.

I always made sure he got his birthday card every July 27th as he loved to see his cards.

My second Grandpa... many years my Mother's family got together and had a birthday dinner for Grandpa. We always tried to have his birthday dinner on Sunday as he owned a Phillips 66 Station. The station was closed on Sunday.

I had a different sort of granddaughter relationship with Grandpa, I was the only granddaughter out of six grandsons. Yes, he did spoil me. My Mother always said after a Sunday visit back home that she couldn't do anything with me as Grandpa spoiled me. He held me as a baby most of the day. I meant the world to him & him to me. As I grew older, there were many Sundays he took me to his family to show me off. Again, I was the only granddaughter. As I would go home on Sunday evenings he always made sure he gave me a couple dollars folded up.
I was in the eighth grade of school when he just had to buy me a new bike. Can you believe an eighth grader still riding a Sting Ray bike ? Not in todays world ! Grandpa was so proud of buying this new bike for me. It was a Schwinn Sting Ray and they were the new thing that year. We walked from his station to the bike shop and as I rode that bike out of the shop, he couldn't have been prouder. That was the last thing my Grandpa ever did for me as he passed away that fall. That year happened to be 1964 and here we are today 2009 and I still have that Sting Ray bike with the original tires, flower basket, banana seat and high handle bars. I just can't seem to part with it.

I also made sure Grandpa got his birthday cards too.

Yes, Grandpa and the good ole days !
Again, both of my Grandpa's were different but yet alike in many ways as they both loved their children and grandchildren.

So, every July 27th and July 28th I go back into time thinking of the "good ole days" with Grandpa. Here is to each...HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA !!!

CROSS STITCH WOMAN

SUPPORT NEEDLE SHOPS

I was in my local needle shop last week visiting with the owner. As we were talking, the owner shared with me she would soon have her contract renewal of her needle shop location. The owner shared that she didn't know if she would be staying in business or not. The ups and downs of the economy and the history of needle crafts being very seasonal was taking a toll on the business.

Over the last year the shop owner has sent email news letters asking for all of our support by buying from her shop. She wants to remain in business but the economy is playing a huge factor.

There are many advantages of buying from our local shop owners...
Being able to see patterns/charts in front of you.
They will always be happy to order anything for you.
But more than anything... the knowledge they can share with you is great.
If ever a question on how to do something, they are there to help you.
Also, trunk shows...just the best way to see first hand what is new.

So, I am hoping that each of us won't forget our local needle shops and the owners during these tough economic times.

Plese support your favorite needle shops !!

CROSS STITCH WOMAN

BARBECUE SAUCE

Absolutely the best barbecue sauce !!!

THE JUG !!!

THE JUG comes in a red jug and you just cannot beat this barbecue sauce. It is great for grilling, hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken, turkey, bratwurst, ribs and etc. The Jug is great for homemade barbecue sandwiches too.

THE JUG is sometimes very hard to find, therefore, ask your local grocery store manager to order it for you. They will be happy to learn about such a great barbecue sauce.

THE JUG Barbecue Sauce is packed by A. Camacho, Inc., Plant City, Florida.

THE JUG BARBECUE SAUCE is a sweet, mild barbecue sauce. My family has been using this barbecue sauce for at least 25 years. It is very addictive and cannot be beat as a great barbecue sauce.

Please look for it and give it a try, you will add it to one of your favorites.

HAPPY GRILLING !!!
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

COOKOUT

Sunday was a cookout day and the kids came over to eat. On the cookout menu were grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. We had bar-b-que beans, scalloped corn and scroodles. For our desert I fixed a peach cobbler and our daughter-in-law Karen brought a banana cake she made. Karen's banana cake was delicious.

I am giving the recipes for food I fixed and Karen will have to post her Banana Cake recipe.

SCROODLES
This recipe is on a previous post, please check the archives for Scroodles.


BAR-B-QUE BEANS
Large can Campbell's Pork n Beans
1-2 Small cans of Campbell's Pork n Beans
Heinz Ketchup
Brown Sugar
Chopped onion

I mix all the ingredents to my taste of being sweet, so the ketchup, brown sugar & chopped onion is to your liking. I put sliced bacon on top of mixture and bake at 350degrees for about 2hrs or until I feel they are cooked to my liking. Sort of the guessing game.
The reason for 2 small cans of Campbell's Pork n Beans is because they have more juice than the larger can.


SCALLOPED CORN
1-Box of Jiffy Mix Corn Bread
2 Eggs,beatened
1-Cup of Sour Cream
1-Can of Cream Style Corn
1-Can of Whole Kernal Corn, drain half of juice
1-Stick Butter, melted
2 Tbls of Sugar
Salt & Pepper to liking

Bake 350 degrees

Mix all ingredients together, bake 1 hr. covered and the last 10-15 minutes uncovered dish and finish bake until golden brown.


PEACH COBBLER
4 Cups peeled, sliced peaches
2 Cups Sugar, divided
1/2 Cup Water
8 Tbls Butter
1 1/2 Cups Self Rising Flour
1 1/2 Cups Milk
Cinnamon

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Combine peaches, 1 Cup Sugar and 1/2 Cup Water in saucepan. Bring it to a boil, simmer for 10 minutes. Put the butter in a 9x13 baking dish and put in oven to melt.

Mix remaining 1 Cup Sugar, Flour, Milk. Pour slowly over the melted Butter, not stirring.

Spoon peaches on top and gently pour the syrup over it. Sprinkle with cinnamon on top. Bake 30-45 minutes.

Serve hot or warm with ice cream, cool whip or whipped cream.

Enjoy !!

**I want to mention the Peach Cobbler recipe came from another Cross Stitcher/Designer's blog. Plum Street Samplers** Be sure and check her blog as she has free patterns and recipes.

Our Sunday cookout was enjoyed by all of us. I hope if you try these recipes they become a favorite of you and your family.

CROSS STITCH WOMAN

COUNTRY SAMPLER

Guess What ??

It is out...
The new Country Sampler magazine for the month of September. It is packed with autumn decorating. This issue is always my most favorite because autumn is my favorite time of the year. I am a Halloween collector and just love seeing all the Halloween decorations.

I have taken a few pictures so all of you can take a peek inside Country Sampler magazine. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I have.


You can also get on www.CountrySampler.com and find some interesting tips on decorating. I found a Stitch Guide for sewing and directions to Tea Staining on felt, muslin and paper. You just never know what you might find. So, please check into the Country Sampler.com.

Enjoy !!
CROSS STITCH WOMAN

CORRECTIONS

When I get a new pattern/chart the first thing I like to do is purchase all of my floss.This way I'm ready when the time comes to start without making a trip to Michaels. I think it is more about being excited with a new pattern and picking the colors of floss. I love seeing how the colors all come together.

When I purchased the March Three Stockings by Blackbird Designs I hurried to Michaels to pick all my new floss colors. I had this number of DMC and I looked and looked thinking maybe it was out of numerical order. With no luck finding such number I start telling myself I must have written the wrong number. So, back at home I go searching for this DMC number to find it was the same number out of the booklet. I then start thinking "oh a new color and floss number". So, here I am researching on the computer, still no luck. By this time, I decided it was time to call Blackbird Designs. I was so surprised to be speaking with Alma and had a very nice talk. As she is talking with me she says " oh you know what ? " I have transposed that number. Ha!! By this time it was funny to me...I know her mind was in many different places as she said " all of those books are out in shops ". hmmmmm . Can't you imagine what she was thinking ?
So, long story short .... the DMC floss number that is correct is 524 and this is used with the Quaker Fragments pattern.

Now, to the next correction...
This is in the May Flowers Three Stockings Booklet. This I actually found on the Blackbird Designs blog site. This is for the pattern Lily of the Valley. The color Snowball(DMC B5200) is to be the open circle. Shaker White (DMC 822)is to be the solid half circle. As you look at the color codes, you will see they were just reversed.

Speaking of corrections...have you ever stitched a wrong color of floss in a pattern but it turned out just fine ? I have done this and I just let it be. Looked okay to me.

CROSS STITCH WOMAN

STOCKING UP

Stocking up with all the BLACKBIRD DESIGNS stockings booklet. I have each booklet that is out in the needle shops. That means there are seven booklets of stocking designs. Each booklet offers a pattern/chart that stands out more than an other to me. I have to say there isn't one month that I don't like...I love them all. However, July is at the top of my list as my favorite.

PATRIOTIC JULY is just that ! I really love the stocking with the American Flag,Fourth of July, I believe it catches your eye as the flag is waving. The Bountiful Stars is very colorful with the red and blue.
Then comes Summer Roses stocking, the roses never wilt.
So, you can see why I favor the month of July stockings so much.

June Stockings...My favorite is the New Arrival with the stork.
Second favorite is the Wedding Ring, Here Comes The Bride.
Honeysuckle, I like it...I grew up with Honeysuckle around my parent's home and could smell the sweet fragrance.

May Stockings...Lily of the Valley, the little bells are so sweet.
Tulip Border, these two patterns stand out to me the most for the month of May Stockings. Tulips are my most favorite spring flower.
May Basket, this pattern goes along with the month of May bringing flowers.

April Stockings...Oh yes, April Showers, I love the umbrella !!
Oh Sweet Pea, Another spring flower I love, brings memories of growing up as my Grandmother had Sweet Peas growing all around her home.
Spring Wreath, so spring like with the colors.

March Stockings...March is my birthday month !! How could I not like the month of March Stockings ? Wild Clover, again the green colors just make you think of new beginnings of growth after a long winter.
Springs Arrival, says it best! A new spring flower.
Quaker Fragments, the spring green.

February Stockings...This month of stockings was a delight to stitch. I couldn't wait to finish a stocking to move on to the next stocking.
February's Violet, the violet color was beautiful and reminds you of growth.
Be Mine, the bird was interesting to stitch as I have a bird.
The Sweetheart Sampler, this stocking was a breeze to stitch. Such fun !!

January Stockings...This being the first month of stockings was so exciting to stitch. I couldn't make up my mind which pattern to stitch first..I chose the Birthday Stocking.
Birthday Stocking, So much excitement stitching, couldn't stop stitching and loved every minute.
Winter Carnation, once again all the colors were such fun.
Auld Lang Syne Stocking, this stocking was a quick stitch.

So you have it !! All seven months of stockings. Each month of Blackbird Designs Stockings gives you an enjoyment to stitch. Just think...when the year of stockings are all stitched..you will have 36 stockings. Wow !! Hope we all have a place to hang them.

I would like to encourage anyone who loves Blackbird Designs to take a look at these patterns/charts as they are so much fun to stitch. Watch out ... they are very addictive !!

I will be adding my pictures of the booklets, so please check back soon.

Until we meet again,
Happy Stitching,
CROSS STITCH WOMAN