Unfortunately...

Have you seen this fun google game where you search for “unfortunately, your name” (including the quotes) played on blogs or facebook? It made me LOL!!! I got sucked in and had to try it.

Here's what I got when I searched for “Unfortunately, Anne”

Unfortunately, Anne can only address one of these issues: corruption.
Unfortunately, Anne's social life died
Unfortunately, Anne was a younger 'trophy wife' replacing an older one
Unfortunately, Anne did not publish anything about this project.
Unfortunately, Anne does not seem to grasp that distinction.
Unfortunately, Anne was not their server, and disappointingly, the experience was not the same.
Unfortunately, Anne will be unavailable for the opening reception, but hopes you will enjoy the exhibit and bathe in the beauty of spring!
Unfortunately Anne wasn't nearly as good at the "dutiful wife" thing as she had been at the "snarky outspoken mistress" thing
Unfortunately, Anne was deeply in love with her cousin
Unfortunately Anne didn’t feel the same way.
Unfortunately Anne cannot reply to all emails and cannot enter into a one-to-one correspondence.
Unfortunately, Anne didn’t win the Golden Globe for “Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama”, as spectulated.
Unfortunately, Anne had to go to sleep early so she could compete in the morning and we bade the party adieu
Unfortunately, Anne desires the crown and abiding by the mantra that "love is no value without power and influence"
Unfortunately, Anne overhears and, despite her illness, rushes heartbroken out into the night.
Unfortunately Anne's tale does not end so happily...
Unfortunately, Anne has a separate opinion.
Unfortunately, Anne had a lot of enemies.

And my personal favortites:

Unfortunately, Anne’s stubbornness ruins her chance
Unfortunately, Anne just insults and rants and rants in a nonsensical manner,
Unfortunately, Anne herself can’t give out specific details which makes sense, so she herself is quiet on this regard at the moment.
Unfortunately Anne is especially frank, and comes off as a strong-willed individual
Unfortunately, Anne is not happy about this,
Unfortunately, Anne has lost all hope.

Unfortunately, Anne is beheaded.

Have a go yourself and see what results you get.

Until next time...

Okay...I Give Up...

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which begins the Christian liturgical season of Lent. Each year during Lent, my husband gives up 2 things, that being chocolate and eating after 9 pm at night. This is particularly hard for him because he is not always home from work before 9 pm and he really likes chocolate. In fact, a couple years ago after the winter thaw and the season of Lent, he found a small piece of Halloween chocolate in the yard, and he promptly picked it up and, without any thought, unwrapped and ate it!

This year I'd like to deepen my relationship with God and Christ, and join my husband in his practice of sacrifice... but what would I give up??? I considered many things… eating between meals, desserts, junk food, fast food, ebay, Facebook or impulse buying of fabric, yarn and scrapbook paper. Nothing seemed right, so I eagerly asked the women at my weekly bible study how they observe Lent. Surprisingly, not many women in attendance practice a Lenten fast outside of giving up chocolate, soda or Girl Scout Cookies. These ideas, all worthy in my eyes, should be a given for me, as a “practicing” Weight Watcher. Then it was suggested to me that I could add a something to my regular routine instead of giving something up. Hmm... what would that be? Additional bible study, prayer, meditation? Lastly, it was suggested that since I knit, I could knit a scarf and donate it to a charity. Or I could make a quilt and donate it. But, I did a lot of charity knitting last fall, and I make donation quilts for Habitat for Humanity. I wanted this to be something different, something special, something right.

So here is what I decided. When I am errand running, it is often a treat for me to drive through a certain popular coffee chain for a latte or tea. My forty days will be marked by fasting from these stops and tallying the urges for said stop. I will sum the tallies and multiply them times $4. Post Easter, the total will be given in kind to a charity. I will also commit to make more time for prayer and focus on gratitude in an effort to draw closer to God, and just maybe that will carry on for more than 40 days.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.

Tally = 2
Passing up a latte from you-know-where this afternoon wasn’t a huge sacrifice, but it did offer time for reflection on why I made this deal.

Retreating...

I have been off-line for about a week now... busy, busy, busy. My mom came to visit and we celebrated her (let's say 50th) birthday by going on a retreat in Batesville, IN with my creative and fun-loving quilting group, the Rockin' Bobbins.

The Rockin' Bobbins retreat 3 times a year. More than a year ago we discovered the Hickory Road Inn in Batesville, IN. This quaint bed and breakfast offers double rooms with twin beds and private baths, unbelievable breakfasts, and a large craft room in the walk out basement. The Inn is in the country where it is very quiet and serene.

In preparation for our retreat I packed my quilting and knitting and made a batch of Garlic Pretzels as a snack. A friend I met at a quilting retreat in Wisconsin shared this recipe with me. They are a hit at the husb's poker night too. You can find the recipe for these tasty tidbits at the bottom of this post.

We left for Batesville on Thursday morning. I am the youngest Rockin Bobbin, and I have a Honda Pilot, so that means I drive. Not a bad thing because then it also means I get to decide when we leave and where we stop - although my riders can usually talk me into anything. So we passed through Starbucks and hit the road. Our first real stop was The Back Door Quilt Shop in Greenwood, IN. It was easy to spend an hour shopping and drop a little cash on things I dare not live without.

On to Batesville. The weekend was filled with a lot of laughter, some really good food, inspiration from other Bobbins, and the chance to finish a few projects. I did a lot of sewing, as well as knitting. I made a quilt top for my sister. Unfortunately the kit she provided me did not have enough fabric for the first border - bummer...next project. I made 2 wall quilts with little kits I picked up at the Back Door. MMMMM...instant gratification. I also whipped up 12 nine patch blocks out of shirtings for our Bobbins swap. At our last meeting, Juna brought an antique quilt we all wanted to reproduce. Reproduction quilts from the Civil War era and the 1930's remind me of my Grandmother Jessie and they are my very favorite projects to work on.

As for knitting, I finished my first pair of socks. I think they are great - and they are mine... all mine, perfectly fitted for my cankles. I also made a scarf for my sister out of a kit she sent me. Do you see a theme here??? I have one sister (Jeanne) and she likes to pick out projects for me. She always tells me she likes my homemade gifts best so that pretty much seals the deal for her.

I have to mention our Friday night out. Friday was Mom's birthday, and Dottie's birthday too. Jerry, the inn owner, suggested the Ertel Cellars Winery and called to make a reservation for us. He really hit the mark. The food, atmosphere and service were outstanding. I ordered grilled pork chops with horseradish marmalade - which arrived at the table with 2 large pork chops, enough for a small village. If you live in Indiana, or nearby, you should really consider a dinner at the winery and an overnight at the inn.

It snowed on Saturday and everyone hunkered down and finished projects. I think Mom made a purse and 3 quilt tops, as well as a scarf. Here is a picture of Dottie with a flannel quilt she was working on. I love that quilt, but I love every project Dottie works on.

We headed home on Sunday, but not until we booked a date for next February!

Debbie's Garlic Pretzels (aka Poker Pretzels)

Snyder of Hanover Big Pretzels (I use the Nibblers)

1 cup oil (I cut this to 1/2 cup of olive oil)

1 teaspoon lemon pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dill

Mix the oil and spices. Break up the big pretzels into bite size pieces or use Nibblers. coat the pretzels and bake at 325 degrees F for 8 minutes. Stir and bake another 8 minutes.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

The house is quiet this morning and I am thinking of baking sugar cookies for my little family. Okay... let's get real... I am a Weight Watcher thinking of baking sugar cookies and eating at least 1/3 of the dough.

In celebration of this day of love, I'll share with you a sweet & easy recipe for no-roll sugar cookies that my friend Becky shared with me years ago.

Becky Home-ecky No-Roll Sugar Cookies
1 c sugar
1 c powdered sugar
1 c butter or margarine
1 c salad oil
2 eggs
4 ½ c sifted flour
½ tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
Sugar or nonpareils

Place sugar, powdered sugar, butter/margarine, and salad oil in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add the 2 eggs and beat to combine. Add remaining ingredients and beat at a low speed. Refrigerate about 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll dough into walnut size balls. Roll in sugar or nonpareils (sprinkles!). Place on greased cookie sheet and slightly flatten with the bottom of a glass. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. This recipe makes about 60 cookies.

Enjoy!!!

Welcome to Over the Picket Fence.....

This is my very first post on my brand new blog! Yeah! For some time now I have wanted to start a blog. Today when I mentioned this to my friend Carolyn she jumped at the chance to help me get started. Carolyn is an enabler - at least she enables me when I am lacking in the motivation department - which is a good thing.
Bio? I am a wife and mother with a mean case of APADD, that is Artsy-Phartsy Attention Deficit Disorder. For now this blog will be my way to share my passion for quilting, knitting, and cardmaking. I also love books, food, and my family and friends - maybe not in that order.
I guess what you'll see is what you'll get. So grab your cup of coffee, join me and we'll gab...Over the Picket Fence.
Anne