Fashion and Me

I had a heel spur that didn't react to treatment, so surgery was scheduled and I got a new fashion look, this lovely shoe.... seems the problem was more scar tissue then heel spur which is why treatment didn't work.

time went by and the shoe came off and sneakers were once again my fashion choice.

This past Saturday was the first day DH and I had in months to just shop, we went to yard sales, a auction,  the sewing machine store, Wal Mart, JoAnn's and the grocery store and then it happened... I stepped and felt a pull in the bottom of my foot... OPPS shouldn't move that way I guess... went home put foot up, took Tylenol, and iced the foot. 

Sunday I worked a little in the yard, cutting the Lantana pulling weeds and helping DH in his workshop putting things in the attic space.  Sunday night foot is swollen  and warm so  back to Tylenol, and Ice on the foot... 

Monday foot hurt so didn't do much , also  because it was my birthday.  Well I did do two loads of laundry, then I settled into my recliner and stitched a little..Foot is hot & swollen so lots of Ice and more Tylenol

Tuesday had a follow up appt on the foot, was supposed to be the last follow up appt. from the surgery.  Told Doc about Sat and the pulling... he checked foot, took X rays and the results are this new fashion accessories for me, isn't it just lovely. All thanks to a new stress fracture..

The Walking Cast .

I am making  the Frankenstein look  the new in look for the summer....

What do you think, maybe some bling or a little lace or ruffles... hope I am not in this to long.. Now whats next...

Ultimate Blog Party

Ultimate Blog Party Link

I am so behind on things lately, but better late then never..

I am participating in the Ultimate Blog Party again this year... I have been checking out all the wonderful blogs. If you want to check them out click on the logo and it will take you to the main site.

As for Me and my blogs... Southern Style is my Family, Cross Stitch, Quilting and Charity Blog, Nanbon's Corner is my giveaway site.  You are welcome to visit any time..

This is me and hubby, taken many, many, many years ago....well not that many... this was taken at the Strasburg Railroad Depot.. It is a tourist spot near my hometown.  Just a little steam engine that will take you to Paradise.. We now live in a little town near Pensacola Fl.

I am retired and a very craft oriented type person... I make cakes and candies and have many hobbies, Cross stitching, stained glass, warm glass, blown beads, ceramics, floral arranging, painting, card making, sewing and quilting.  I also belong to a Yahoo group called the World of Charity Stitchers.. these ladies cross stitch squares which are sent to quilters to be made into quilts for nursing homes, ill children, cancer patients, and abused women and children.. I have been a member of this wonderful group of ladies for two years now, I stitch for them and I am one of the quilters... Last Year I stitched, 6 squares and made 14 quilts plus tote bags, bookmarks and eyeglass cases and little bags.  So far this year I have stitched 14 squares (been healing from heel spur surgery so lots of stitching time) plus I currently have 9 quilts in the works for them. As you can see I am always on the go.... Thanks for Stopping by... 

If you want to visit The World of Charity Stitchers Blog just click on the name and off you go...

Birthday Time again

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!
Yes, another year has come and gone and I am another year older... I don't feel older, but when I look in the mirror that youthful girl is gone and my mother has taken her place... wrinkle and all.... hate the wrinkles, maybe some day I will go with that Lifestyle Lift thingy... maybe not... I am just  a Nana who could use a face iron... maybe I should invent one, I would be rich if I could...

I thought of making this cake for my birthday, but it was to big

So I thought of making this one, but it was to fancy..



Then I saw this one and I just love berries, but it didn't look Birthday enough

Since I was born on Easter, why not make a Easter Egg Cake.   I pulled out the pans and NOPE it didn't get done... I will make the Egg cake for Easter...

As for my Birthday and my cake, sadly there is None.... Hubby had to attend training today before his scheduled work shift so I am home alone, well the dogs are here. But they can't have cake, Hubby isn't supposed to and me I can only eat a small piece so no birthday cake for me..
I did make a TV dinner and there is a brownie in it, so that will be my cake, no candles, they wouldn't all fit.
My grand kids called and sang to me and wished me a Happy Birthday, So my plans for my big day are for me to sit in my recliner, watch Gone with the Wind and Stitch my Jim Shore Cat, that hubby got me..

I almost forgot to mention, the above photos are from the Wilton site... I had asked if I could attach them to my blog... I love the Wilton Site, if you have never been there you need to stop by.  There is all kinds of recipes, decorating ideas, Wilton Products and tip and techniques, perfect for any type or style baker.  I got the recipes for my grand daughter wedding cake from the site and the marshmellow fondant was the best. Cake recipes were good too.  wilton.com is the place to be.

Thanks again Wilton, I have been a loyal customer for many years and will continue for many years to come.

Spring is here

Color, color everywhere..... I love taking a stroll in my neighborhood at this time of year, because all the Spring trees and bushes are showing their colors..... and how beautiful they are... Currently in my yard the Azaleas are in full bloom.... I try to plant at least one new bush every year... hoping that one day my yard will look as stunning as my neighbors... he has Fuchsia azaleas bordering his yard, white and pinks will lead the way up his driveway and if you look at the back of his lot there are pinks and purples everywhere.... Here are some of my blossoming beauties.... Enjoy!!!

Didn't I tell you they were beautiful?? Most of the bushes are taller then I am, so you know they are putting on a show... But sadly the show will be over so soon... You see, every year the Azaleas bloom and look so beautiful, then it rains and the flowers just droop and fall to the ground.... After that first good spring rain, you hear the frogs singing there little hearts out looking to find a mate.... and believe me they can get really loud at night... my fault I guess, I have a small pond in my front and back yard flower beds and the frogs make the ponds their home during mating season... soon after you will see clear lines of eggs in the water, then a little later the water looks like someone dumped a pepper shaker, little black specks everywhere... they will grow and leave and sometimes you might just see a tiny frog after a summer rain... I was ahead of time on my outside chores list, I drained and cleaned the ponds last week. Good thing I did, because yesterday it rained and there is more rain on the way, but tonight I heard the old familiar song of the frog prince as he invites a princess to join him in the pond.... LOVE is grand.. Oh and the toads will make a home in the ponds as well during this time of love..

I also have a announcement to make, if you look at my side bar you will see this logo...

 I posted about the Golden Quilter's Awards again this year... I nominated my favorite quilter's and products, I voted and tonight they announced the winners... and some of my nominees won, but then I knew they would because they are great...  Darlene works so hard on her blog and I am a loyal follower. She gives so many tips and techniques, will let you know what is new in the quilting world and she  host some of the best contests... she will also let her readers know what other bloggers are hosting contests... she has even posted some of mine... Love You Darlene, You do a great job, thank you so much...

so here are the winners of the 2011 Golden Quilter's Awards

The notice from the SewCalGal site:

  The envelopes are opened and I'm happy to announce the official winners of the 2011 Golden Quilter Awards.

Best Designer                      Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs

Best Teacher/Instructor       Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville

Best Author                        Eleanor Burns, of Quilt In A Day

Best Quilt Store (Physical)  Mary Jo's in Gastonia NC

Best Quilt Store (online)     Fat Quarter Shop

Best Long Arm Quilter       Judi Madsen - Green Fairy Quilts

Most Innovative product (physical item)      AccuQuilt Go! Fabric Cutter

Most Innovated product (software item)     EQ7, by The Electric Quilt Company

Most influential person in the world of quilting to-date, aka "Lifetime Achievement"
                                     And the winner is       Eleanor Burns, Quilt in a Day

Best Quilt Retreat                              Two Wacky Woman (Southern California)

Congratulations to all the winners, you make quilting so much fun....

Spring and Lilacs

I love spring, I love watching Mother Earth awaken from her Winter nap... The colors of spring are so pretty, there is the yellow of the forsythia, white shows on the Bradford pear trees, the peach trees are flashing their shades of pinks and soon the Azaleas will be in full bloom as I have seen the buds showing their colors of magenta, pink, peach and white... But alas I live in Florida and I am still learning what loves this area... My lovely northern tulips just won't do anything here as no freeze in the winter for them... the daffodils did bloom, but not like the ones I had up north... I miss my tulips, I had thousands of them around my house in the north that would signal springs arrival.. The other plant I miss is my Lilac bushes, I had four of them in my yard and you just needed to open the back door of the house and it would fill with their lovely scent... I always cut a few and had them on the table to bring spring into my home... But here they just don't grow... I tried... I have heard there is a version of the Lilac that would do well here, but I haven't found any yet...

I can't have the scent of my fresh Lilac so I did the next best thing yesterday.... Lilac scent filled my home. No I didn't find a home spray that was Lilac and no one sent me fresh Lilacs... I made Lilac bath products.... There are three of us that just love Lilacs.... My Mother In Law, My Step Daughter and of course Me.. Mel had gotten some Lilac bath products for Christmas, but they were lost in the fire.. so I decided to make some items for both of us..  So last night my kitchen became my lab... I started with Lilac bath salts, Lilac soaps, then some Lilac bath gel and finally some Lilac lotion... when I was done the house smelled like a spring day....plus I now have lovely Lilac bath products to keep springtime a little longer...

                                                   Lilac soaps in the mold

                                                         Packaged Lilac soaps

                                                              Lilac scent and colors

                                                   Lilac lotion in the making

                                                           Lilac bath gel 

                                           and the finish, Lilac bath salts, with Lilac lotion, Lilac bath gel and Lilac Soaps... I am now ready for Spring....Lilac everywhere or at least in my bath...

Friday's Blast from the Past time

Welcome to Friday's Blast from the Past.
Time to take a trip back in time and see if you remember these wonders

This week's Blast is  PHONES   I recently had a conversation with a person in my stitching group and she had suggested some Antique items and Rotary Phones was on her list.... Antique, I think not, I remember them, does that mean I am a antique... I thought classic was 25 years, vintage was 50 years and antique was  100 years or older  maybe I am wrong, But really I  might be vintage, but not quite a antique, at least not yet..

My first memory of a phone in the house was one of these lovely wall phones is stylish black

My best friend had this beautiful desk model in of course the all to classy black

Every teen wanted one of these phones for their pink bedrooms the beautiful Princess Phone

then there was the oh so modern sculptured phones and I had one that looked like a donut

The Cradle phone graced the tables in one of my first homes and Mickey was the next one.

For my old fashioned kitchen, my step father decided that I needed a new wall phone with the Antique look.

But over the years the kids have bought phones for us that they just knew we would love.. The designs were different, but I hated the ringers, can you say MOO  or Choo Choo

Now I still have a house phone, maybe that is soon to be a classic or just a thing of the past but I like my cordless phone with no set style.... I have a cell phone and yes I could go on and on about the cell phone as I had one of the first models that was huge, it came with its own bag and it was bigger then my purse... now the have one so small it fits in your ear... We don't use our cell phone that much, when we want to get away we don't want to be bothered with the phone. Our grand kids are so hooked on their phones if they have a day without it, well lets say that is the worst thing that could happen to a teen.... Not to be able to text your friends   how awful....  and yes, I know their parents take the phones away as a form of punishment....is that cruel and unjust punishment.... I wonder        One more thing about the phones, there are so many websites where you can purchase these phones, I found quite a few at Oldphoneworks.com  and there are sites where you can buy just about any kind of phone design you may want, balls, figures, animals, products, you name it I think someone made a phone of it...

Pet Peeve of the Day

Thank You, is on top of the Pet Peeve list today,  is it so hard for people to say thank you now days?  My Mother raised me to say please and thank you, and I raised my children that way.  But I think somewhere along the line things changed.  I send things out all the time and if I take the time to purchase or make something and give it or mail it to someone the courtesy thing to do is to say thank you or at the very least acknowledge that you received the item.  My ex DIL was famous for forgetting to let someone know a package arrived let alone saying thank you to the giver... My Mom used to get so mad when she had to call the kids and find out if they received a package.  Ex DIL was always to busy to pick up the phone... Now the grand kids follow as they get birthday cards with money and yet they never call to say they received the card or to thank us for sending them their birthday money.  Wonder if they would notice if on their next birthday nothing came in the mail.... 
I couldn't do that, I will keep sending and hope one day their manners kick in, maybe if the kids start remembering their manners the adults will too.  I have been on Melanie's case for the past few weeks to send thank you cards out to all the people who have sent her craft supplies or money.. She received so many cards, and packages from people she didn't know, who just wanted to lend a helping hand and support her as she recovers from the fire that took her home and everything she owned...
So remember, If you receive something, a thank you takes little effort but means so much... We tend to be nicer to strangers then we are to those we love or are related to...and they are the people that really count.
 

 Giggle of the Day

Now for the fun part of Friday's Fun post

It is a commercial, I know there are so many stupid commercials out there and most times I just change the channel.  But I love the commercials with animals... remember the dog at day camp, or the dog with the pacifier in its mouth, they are priceless... and who could forget the Taco Bell dog, he even made it on shirts... My newest favorite is not one, not two but numerous dogs in a commercial for, Are you ready for this??

 

DOGGIE DENTURES

 

Here is the link for the commercial
http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/pedigree_dentastix_doggie_dentures
OK so there isn't doggie dentures (thankfully), but doggie teeth hygiene is a serious problem and Pedigree Dentastix is a great product and besides what dog doesn't like a treat to chew on and its great for their teeth

At the pedigree site you can upload your dogs photo and give them dentures

http://www.pedigree.com/oralcare/denture-your-dog.aspx

Well that's all for Friday's Fun

Our little Lizzy

I know you have all been introduced to our grand daughter Lizzy. She is Jenny's 4th child and she is following in her siblings footsteps.  Jack is on his way to becoming a Eagle Scout and he has been involved in many community projects, Allison for her Bat Mitzvah choose to make and place mugs filled with supplies that were donated to the Ronald McDonald House... and now comes 9 year old Lizzy and her Bright Idea

Lizzy is concerned about her youngest sister Becca and her having to test her blood sugar daily.  Lizzy was so concerned about children and diabetes that she decided to take on a project and help the cause to fight diabetes.  I could tell you about Lizzy and her cause and what she is doing but instead I have chosen to put the link to Lizzy's site so you can read her thoughts and see what she is doing to help. I am a proud Grandmother, proud that my grand children are trying to make a difference in this world, proud that my step daughter and her husband are teaching their children to care for others and to take positive actions. Please visit Lizzy's site and leave a comment on her efforts, if you would like to make a donation you can follow the link from that site or leave a comment here and I can send you a address where to send your donation.  Grand pa and Nana will be making our donation to her cause.

Cranes4aCure