Look what I found on the shelves at my local Target store.  I wanted to make some tomato soup and I was happy to find these uniquely created cans of soup.  I have since learned that Andy Warhol did them "to mark the 50th Anniversary of his 1962 iconic artwork- 32 Campbell's Soup Cans.  These silk screen cans played a pivotal role in the emergence of the pop art genre.  Warhol was particularly fond of the Campbell's soup, which was often the subject of his pieces."   ~taken from the back of the can.

 

 

 

After removing the soup, I knew I wanted to do something special with the empty cans.

Well, here is what I did.  I am continually on an organizing binge in my home, and love to have rare time to complete projects.  I don't know if you are like me or not, but I can complete a project and be so happy with it's organized look, and before I know it, it becomes unorganized again.

Recently, I tackled my small craft area, and the empty cans worked for me.

I found a great sale at my dollar store for a huge pack of Bic ultra fine point permanent markers, and that added a fun aspect to the empty cans, along with my old blue canning jar for the scissors holder.

 

 

 

My cork board holds some of my creative treasures from family and friends, along with some special photos.

  

One of my favorites is this one taken of my dear husband, during cattle roundup week last September.
My own wonderful city slicker:)  It makes me smile everytime I sit and work in my craft area.

 

 

I used my old wooden flea market box as a holder for my colored stack of papers.

 

 

 

 

I used an old butter mold box, to store plain index cards in.  I do remember my grandma using this butter box and mold, to make her butter.  I know she thought it was quite fancy to be able to put a wheat sheaf imprint on her butter.  I think of her whenever I see this small box.

 

So, for now, I am pleased with my organized area, and I really hope to keep it like this for at least a month or two.

Thank you Target for providing me with this fun find.

 

 

And, while I am in the thanking mode, I want to thank my local KMart store, for providing me with the cutest matching clothing for my granddaughters and their dolls. 

I discovered a rack of clothes in the little girl's department.  Each outfit had a matching doll's outfit attached to the size 6X and size 5 that I needed.  As you can see, the girls were thrilled, and had fun playing with their dolls.

 

Oh, and by the way, the little blond did cut her own bangs a few weeks ago, can you tell?

 

 

 

Wherever creativity is found and expressed, I enjoy finding it.  It seems retailers are coming up with  more and more ways to share that aspect of retailing, with us as consumers.

 

Speaking of creativity, the blogging world and Pinterest offers so much eye candy in that area, and I appreciate it all.  To me, it beats watching baseball in the evenings.

 

 

 

 

She sat down on the kitchen floor, beside the green friend.

She just sat and stared at for a while, forgetting all about her pretzel snack in front of her.

 

 

 

 

Slowly I watched her offer her green friend, one of her pretzel sticks.

I sat there on the floor beside her, smiling as I watched her actions.

 

 

 

I asked her if she wanted to draw eyes on her friend...she did, and carefully she proceeded.  She said she is going to add feathers...she did.  I asked her if she wanted to put a scarf on it, she did.

Patiently her little green friend waited through it all.

Then the little blond made an even greater sacrifice...

 

 

 

 

She offered some of her strawberry milk to her new friend, concentrating as she held up her cup.

I must admit, it was so cute.

Hope you think it is too.

 

It now has found a place beside the big orange pumpkin on the old porch bench, welcoming family and friends to our home.

 

"Just a little something for you" this evening.

 

 

Today as I drove a familiar route, these are a few of the scenes I observed, and it all was most beautiful!

 

 

I noticed that the Monday laundry was done and already out on the line, at this home I passed.

 

 

The brilliant blue skies with the mounds of white fluffy clouds, added extra dimension to the already picturesque landscape. 

It all reminded again as to why this is definitely my favorite time of the year.  I have never seen a human artist create scenes this exceptional.  My heart was filled with gratitude that I live in such a wonderful part of this great country.  I had to think about how many times I drove this same route and was too caught up in my own little world of thoughts to observe any of it .  Today, the billowing white clouds made me pay attention to it all.

Thank you for stopping by tonight and partaking of this beauty with me.

"Never lose an opportunity of

seeing anything that is

beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting-a wayside sacrament.

 Welcome it in every

fair face, in every fair sky, in every

fair flower, and thank God for it as

a cup of blessing."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Relishing in the beauty of this gorgeous Fall day.  Thank you for stopping by.

 

 One day a dear friend, Lisa stopped by unexpectantly and dropped off this nice red and white box.

The kindness was such a blessing to me on a ordinary weekday morning.

I put the box on the pantry shelf, along with the other goodies in her gift bag, and thought to myself, someday when guests stop in I will make it.

 

I do not advertise on my blog, but when I discover a product that I find exceptional, I share it.

 

 

 

 Today, I am sharing this cake.  It has simple instructions, and all you need that is not provided, is the butter.  It makes a 9 x 13 inch pan cake.

When served warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it tastes so good!!!

It is the kind of product that I want to keep in my pantry, for times when you just need a quick, easy, and so delicious dessert.

 

If you do not live locally and want to order this product, you can find it at

www.GoldenBarrel.com

 

 

 

 Last night friends stopped in for a rare visit.  We sat at the kitchen table and caught up with each other's lives, and yes, we ate the warm cake, ice cream, and brown bag popcorn.  The popcorn is a low calorie snack, the cake and ice cream, not so much.

 

My friend is a scrapbooker extrordinaire, and she shared the latest book with me, on her newest grandson's first year.  I can't tell you how impressed I was, since I totally lack in the scrapbooking skills.  What a treasure the completed book it will be to this guy and his parents now and in his future.

 

 

 

Look what this good friend made for me, as she has so skillfully made for each of my other grandchildren.  A scrapbook for our newest little grandson.  All I need to do is to add pictures and document his first year of life.  A gift that keeps on giving, with the most creative detailing ever. 

 

 

 

 

Here she used colorful buttons and cut off the back of them.  I think that adds a perfect touch to this page. 

 

 

 

 

Stickers, rub-ons, buttons, ribbons, and colorful papers, all contained in a book for me to complete.  Oh, please pray that I complete it with as much skill and creativity as my friend did this book.  Please... really, I have the best intentions:)

The fun conversation, the warm-from-the-oven cake, and a beautiful new treasured book, all made for a memorable evening.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

  

 

 

 

This evening, after a day of heavy rain, I took these pictures of my remaining roses.

As you know, I have a thing for roses, especially with raindrops on them.  Soon I will be cutting them back to the 14 inches of stems, in preparation for the winter season.  Their exquisite beauty continues to amaze me.

I want to share a recipe that I tried recently.  I think it is a most delicious recipe, and an unusual combination.  I found it in my "Southern Living Farmers Market Cookbook".  The flavors of the sausage and the sweet potatoes, blend perfectly and make a great combination, especially with the lemon-garlic mayonnaise sauce.  We think this is an exceptionally good and easy recipe.

Recipe;

Sweet Potato Squares With Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise

2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled(I did not peel them) cut into 32 (1 inch) cubes
2 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 pound spicy smoked sausage(I used sweet sausage) cut into pieces
32 wooden sticks(I used plastic sticks from the grocery store).
Lemon-garlic mayo
Garnish; fresh thyme sprigs

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Place sweet potato cubes on a lightly greased 15 x 10 inch jelly roll pan.  Drizzle potatoes with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Toss to coat.
Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes, turning cubes twice. (I baked them at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.)
Cook sausage in a large nonstick skillet over med. high heat 3 -4 minutes on each side, or until browned.  Drain on paper towels.
Place 1 sausage slice on top(or underneath) of 1 sweet potato cube; secure with a pick.  Repeat with remaining sausage and sweet potato pieces.  Serve with garlic-mayonnaise sauce.

Yield; 8 appetizer servings.

Lemon-Garlic Mayonnaise

1 cup of mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley(I used parsley flakes)
2 tsp. minced garlic(I used 1 tsp. of Peter's garlic powder)
1 tsp. lemon zest
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt

Stir together all ingredients.  Store in airtight container in refrigerator up to 7 days.  Yield; 1 cup

Just in case you are looking for a dish to take to an event, or one to share for dinner.  I served this recipe for dinner, with steamed broccoli and cole slaw.

A little something for you this evening.

We spent a few days this past weekend, enjoying time in the mountains.  The weather was beautiful and so were the displays of nature. 

 

 

We walked by the streams and spent time relaxing.

 

 

 

On the way home we made an unexpected decision to drive a few extra hours, so that we could stop at our son-in-law and daughter's home.

They asked us to have dinner with them, and of course we were thrilled. 

Our daughter served us each, a bowl of her most delicious homemade soup.

 

 

 

I asked for the recipe because I wanted to make it myself.

If you would like the recipe for this healthy and creamy soup, you can find it here;

http://www.rachaelraymag./com/recipe/raechel ray-magazine-recipe-search/raechel-ray-30-minute-meals/harvest-creamy-corn-choup

 

 

 

Along with the soup, we were served this good tasting fresh garden salad.

What fun it was to find ourselves sitting at their table and able to spend a few hours with them.

What a gift it was to have time to spend with our two youngest grandchildren.  Moments we now treasure in our memories.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope your Tuesday is a good one!

"Happiness comes from counting our blessings, appreciating little things-a flower by a stream, seagulls circling over the ocean, laughter of little children, a call from a friend, a challenge met.  Happiness comes from cultivating a thankful heart."   ~author unknown

 

"Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more."  ~H. Jackson Brown

"Whenever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."  ~Anthony J. D'Angelo


A beautiful day is in the forecast for our part of the country, and sometimes one just needs some smiles to go with it.  I hope I provided it for you today.  Thanks for stopping.

 

 

 If you need a small gift this time of the year, you might wish to try this.

 

Quite simple.

Just mix a bag of candy corn and a bag of salted peanuts. Sweet and salty.  Stir well, and store in covered container.

 

 

At our local grocery store, I found these large, ceramic soup mugs with a plastic lid.  I purchased one and filled it with the candy/peanut mixture, and added a Fall ribbon and some faux leaves.  Simple, inexpensive, delicious gift. 

The next four pictures are from Google.  I appreciate that my youngest daughter sent them to me, because she knows how much I like this season.

 

 

  I hope you enjoy them too, and that they add beauty to your day.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Google

 

Good evening dear blogging friends!

It has been quite a while since I have last posted.

As in every day we are given, we learn new lessons, and discover new gifts.

Because of strong storms that hit our area on Saturday afternoon, we were without

electricity for 24 hours.  That has not happened to us for many years, and I was reminded how much I appreciate and depend on electricity.  I am aware that many of you have had to go through a week or two without the precious commodity, but for us, twenty four hours seemed like a long time.

I walked into my dark, quiet kitchen early Sunday morning, and did not smell my hot coffee waiting, as it always is.  My dear husband drove me to the local gas station and bought me hot coffee.

 

I now appreciate the simple luxury of having a pot of coffee waiting for me each morning.

I don't want to take it for granted.

 

 

I had the privilege of spending time at the farm this weekend, and visiting with my extended family.

Time to sit and share, by the lake, in the barn, or around the fire.

Again, I was reminded of the blessing family is in my life.

I also do not want to take that gift for granted.

 

The perfect clear, cool day on Sunday, was so refreshing after the many hot, sticky days we experienced the last few months.

I could feel "Fall" in the air and you all know how happy that makes me.

This is always the time of the year I look forward to the most.

 

 

 

The porch, the rockers, and the setting sun was the best way to end our family reunion.  Somehow, that enviroment provides the most comforting of all settings.  

Thankful for the little things this Monday evening.  Thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate you too.

 

A blessing in the world of blogging, came to me when I checked my emails this morning.
Here is the email I received...


"Hi Judy,

I stumbled across your blog today and I really found your post about the Women's Day magazine to be wonderful.  My family has actually been trying to find this magazine for a long time, because the De Golyier family mentioned in the "Americans I Admire" section are my great grandparents and their children.  We had never known what the cover looked like so we couldn't find it on ebay or the like.  But, thankfully, because of your post, we've finally been able to order the magazine that we've been searching for years to locate.

My mother and I just wanted to thank you so much for posting this blog post!  We can't thank you enough for it!

Rita

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What a blessing!  Carol finds this magazine in her attic, she wants to share it with me.  I find it so interesting that I decide to share it with you.  Then Rita somehow stumbles onto my blog and finds something that her and her mother have been searching for years for.
I love how that works.  I see it all as a gift from God.

The flower picture was captured by my uncle on his iphone.  Last week we were having dinner on the patio of a local restaurant, and he captured this exquisitely beautiful flower.

Just a little something from me on this hot, sticky September morning.
 

 

 

On Sunday morning at our church, a dear lady gave two old "Women's Day" magazines to my friend and I.  She had been going through possessions in her attic and found these two magazines.  Mine was dated September 1938.

I must admit, I was quite surprised that Women's Day has been around for so many years.

I think she saw my "going to school" post with my two grandchildren and was so happy to share this magazine with me.

 

What a fun, unexpected gift!

 

I found it so interesting when I read the article, "Americans I Admire", by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Do you have any idea who the Americans would be, that Eleanor Roosevelt admired?
This article is about two families involved in a special government project.  There were given land and a chance to make homes and a living for themselves, when they had previously lived in dire poverty.  She followed their lives and progress over the years.  The setting was Arthurdale, West Virginia.

Do you remember Ann Page, the best selling, classic salad dressing, sold in A &  P Food Stores?

 

 

Pattern your wardrobe after these popular fashions.  The patterns are all available to order, for .15 each. 

  

The advertisement for this tea states, "way back when grandmother was so sweet and a lovely bride, A&P was already well-skilled in the art of selecting and blending fine teas.  Nectar Tea was a national favorite.

 

 

Since I recently did a post on iced coffee, I found it quite interesting that they had iced coffee back in 1938.  Who would have thought?

 

 

All of this and so much more in a popular magazine dated 1938, and the price...2 cents per issue.

Wow!  Time sure has produced so many changes.

I am sure most of you in blogland would be too young to remember items of interest from this magazine, but I found it to be a touch of fascinating history.

 

Thanks for stopping by tonight.

And, thanks to my friend for thinking of me, when she found this Women's Day.