Re-decoration - Out with the Old, In with the New

With the onset of springtime in Wyoming, my thoughts have turned to outside projects and gardening. With this change in thought process, many of the creative projects that I have been working on all winter get set aside for less busy days.

This year, I would like to change things by starting a re-organization of my craft room. The room in question was my son's childhood bedroom. He has grown into a man now (he's 16) and felt he needed a bigger room. We moved him into the hot tub room. (which has no hot tub) He calls it his "Man Cave."

Here is my plan to turn a boy's room into my craft room:

1. Ask Janice if I can borrow her camera to take before pictures and share them with the world.

2. Take everything out of the room and put it into Breanna's room. She isn't using it right now because she is off at college. She will, however, be back in May. I will need to have finished the project by then. I plan to

3. Cover the carpet with plastic sheeting.

4. Paint the walls. The walls in the room are 80's trailer house paneling. As I don't have the money right now to sheetrock, I plan to paint them with a nice eggshell color.

5. Make and Hang Curtains. I have some yellow material with sewing implements on it that I plan to use for curtains.

6. Construct a shelving unit. I plan to ask my dear Ron and Jake to construct a shelving unit to store miscelleanous supplies on.

7. Purchase baskets to put the supplies in and label them for easy access.

8. Move desk from the "Man Cave" into the room and install computer.

9. Set up sewing table.

10. Move fabric dresser and craft tower into room.

11. Sort all craft supplies and unfinished projects into four piles: Throw Away, Give Away, Sell at Yardsale or Keep. If I keep something, it needs to be for a specific project.

12. Put the Keep pile in the baskets on the shelves.

13. Take after photos and share them with the world.


This is my plan. If I put it out there for the whole world to see, I think I am more apt to actually do it. Here it is......world.

A Few Irish Recipes

Irish Champ
8 medium potatoes
1/2 cup milk
5 tablespoon butter
a bunch scallions or green onions, chopped

Peel and cube potatoes and boil in salted water until tender. Drain and mash slightly. In a small pan, heat milk and butter until butter is melted. Add chopped scallions. Fold mixture into the potatoes until well blended. For 6 people.

Irish Bangers

2 tsp. ground white pepper
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp sage
1 tsp mace
3 oz salt
6 oz bread crumbs -plain
10 lbs. fat pork butt(if lean add 1 lb fat back)
2 cups ice water

Grind meat-1/2 medium, 1/2 fine Add spices and mix very wellStuff into small casing links or make into compact patties.Leave overnight in Fridge before freezing.Fry till golden brown.

Corned Beef

First, I use Bill Baily's brand of corned beef. They are one of two brands that can actually corn the beef to my standards (I can no longer find the other brand).

1 corned beef brisket
6+ cups chicken broth (low salt or no salt works best)
1 tsp butter (margarine doesn't quite work the same) per cup of chicken broth

Time, plan in advance. Get a large stock pot or crock pot. Place the brisket into the pot and add the chicken broth, save the spices and drippings in the bag. You will need enough chicken broth to cover the whole brisket. I've found, depending on the size of the pot, approximately 3-4 cups of broth per pound of brisket works best. You may need more or less depending on how much corned beef you are making, and the size of the pot you are making it in. Bring to a boil and add the spices and drippings from the bag. Boil for about 5 minutes (until all the spices and drippings are fully mixed in) then reduce heat to medium. Cook on medium for about 3 hours per pound, prepare any vegitables to be cooked in with corned beef during this time. (2 1/2lb brisket takes about 7 1/2 hrs from this point) Check the beef with a fork every hour or so, add water to pot as liquid level drops. When it feels about done, cook it for another half hour and add the vegitables. Cook until the vegitables are done, then serve hot.

With Thanks to Michael May

I just paid it forward to someone and it felt so good! This inspired me into looking for the source of this phenom. Please read below from Wikipedia the "lowdown" on Pay It Forward.

The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of third party beneficiary in which a creditor who offers the debtor the option of paying the debt forward to a third person instead of paying it back. Debt and payments can be monetary or by good deeds. In sociology, this concept is called "generalized reciprocity" or "generalized exchange". A related transaction, which starts with a gift instead of a loan, is alternative giving.

The concept was described by Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Benjamin Webb dated April 22, 1784: I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.

The term "pay it forward" was coined, or at least popularized, by Robert A. Heinlein in his book Between Planets, published in 1951:

The banker reached into the folds of his gown, pulled out a single credit note. "But eat first — a full belly steadies the judgment. Do me the honor of accepting this as our welcome to the newcomer."His pride said no; his stomach said YES! Don took it and said, "Uh, thanks! That's awfully kind of you. I'll pay it back, first chance.""Instead, pay it forward to some other brother who needs it."

Heinlein both preached and practiced this philosophy; now the Heinlein Society, a humanitarian organization founded in his name, does so. Author Spider Robinson made repeated reference to the doctrine, attributing it to his spiritual mentor Heinlein.

The mathematician Paul Erdos, in one of his visits to Harvard University, met a promising math student on the verge of expulsion for inability to pay his tuition. Erdos paid the young man's tuition in full. Years later, the man offered to return the entire amount to Erdos, but Erdos insisted that the man rather find another student in his situation, and give the tuition to him.

In 2000, Catherine Ryan Hyde's novel Pay It Forward was published and adapted into a Warner Brothers film, Pay It Forward. In Ryan Hyde's book and movie it is described as an obligation to do three good deeds for others in repayment of a good deed that one receives. Such good deeds should be things that the other person cannot accomplish on their own. In this way, the need to help one another can spread exponentially through society, creating a social movement with the goal of making the world a better place.

The idea of the book has been championed in real life by the Pay It Forward Foundation. The Foundation focuses on bringing the idea of paying it forward to school age children, parents, and educators. The simple idea of doing good works for others to repay the good that has happened to you is one that can easily be conveyed to children and encourages them to be socially aware and take a role in making the world a better place. The main character of the book was a 12-year-old child, thus giving other children someone they can relate to.

In October 2005, Syracuse University's Residence Hall Association began a Pay It Forward campaign on campus. It spread on campus rapidly, and was noted for entering mainstream Syracuse society as a result. Many other schools have now begun campaigns such as this as well.

On October 26, 2006 Oprah gave her audience a challenge to Pay it Forward, giving 300 audience guests $1,000 USD on a debit card and a camcorder to record the acts of kindness they did. The rules of the challenge were very specific, the money had to be spent within one week and could only be used to help charitable organizations or an individual person but not a relative.

I'm Tired

Closing Etsy Store

In an attempt to simplify even more, I have decided to close my Etsy Shop. I haven't had any sales for months and it doesn't seem to be worth my time and effort.

I have been thinking alot lately about my talents.

I have always been a planner. I plan a vacation, I plan a business idea, I plan for my kids future. Problem is all I can do is plan. I'm not good at actually implementing the plan. Most times, I get paralyzed when it comes to actually making things happen.

I've decided that my thinking is all wrong.

With the recent passing of my dear Ruthie, I have been thinking about what made her so loved among her peers and family. Why did so many people attend her funeral and truly feel sadness that they had lost a friend?

I have come to the conclusion that she used her talents in a way that was pleasing unto the Lord and to her fellow man.

Occasionally, Ruth would sell a doily or a quilt at a craft show. I beleive her motivation was not to make money. I think it was to get to spend time with whoever she was doing the show with. She also enjoyed seeing the customers and sharing her talent with them.

Most of the time, her talents were used to make others happy. She made and gave away more things in her lifetime than can be measured. Her hands were always busy with one project or another. Never did she try to make her creativity a business. Never did she hide her talents under a business bushel. She was not a slave to a dream of success. She was a success because she dreamed of others.

My wish is to spread my talents with those whom I love and will love. Only then, will I be happy and content.

Simplicity is what you make it.

A cat makes everything simple.

What can we learn from them?

David Letterman's Top Ten Things Not to Do at a Funeral

10. Stand on the deceased's father-in-law's headstone during the graveside services.

9. Take pictures of the mourners while they are crying.

8. Take pictures of the deceased in their coffin.

7. Yell at your spouse during the processal.

6. Sit on the front row, taking up the space that should have gone to the deceased parents.

5. Re-arrange and add your own items to the displays set up by family of the deceased.

4. Tell others that you are sure that the deceased spouse will lose their house because of the medical bills.

3. Donate a burial plot and then brag about it.

2. Put items into the casket without the prior approval of the deceased family

1. At the closing of the casket, wail loudly, wave your arms, and block access to the deceased's family members, so the they are unable to say their last goodbyes.

Yep.............................Nuf' Said.