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Friday, August 28, 2009

Food Fun Friday-Crock pot Granola

Crock pot GranolaFeel free to switch around ingredients depending on your family's tastes/wishes.

The Ingredients.

- 5 cups oats
- 1/4 cup honey * (see note below)
- 1/4 cup melted butter * (see note below)
- 1 T flax seeds
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1/2 cup dried fruit (I used raisins and cranberries)


The Directions.

Put all the dry ingredients into your crockpot. You'll need at least a 4 quart.

Melt the butter in the microwave, and add. Add the honey. Toss well.


*note: if you add this amount of honey and butter, the granola will be cereal-like, and not trail-mix like. If you'd rather the granola clump together in pieces, you'll need to add more honey and butter. I tried it with the honey and butter doubled (1/2 cup each) and it still didn't clump much--so if you'd prefer your granola that way, you'll need to add at least 3/4 cup of honey. yum yum

Cover, but vent with a chopstick. Cook on high for 3-4 hours, stirring every so often. (important)

If you can smell the granola cooking, go stir. It will burn if you don't keep an eye on it. But it won't burn as quickly as it does in the oven!

Dump out on some parchment paper and let cool. Eat with milk like cereal, warmed with milk like oatmeal, or as is. Seal well in an air-tight container.



This is a new one from Recipezaar. You don't have to cook it........... but it doesn't exactly sound low-cal...

Trail Mix:
Ingredients
1 cup salted peanuts
, roasted and blanched
1 cup tart dried cherries
, pitted
1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup whole cashews
or cashew halves, roasted
1 cup salted
whole almond, roasted
Directions:
1Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix well.
2Keep stored in airtight container.
3Great for traveling, parties, kids' snacks, etc.

NOW FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS...
I am COOKING FOR MONEY!
Mr. Produce brings his box of quiches ( see here) to work to eat during is morning break --at 6am-- everyone wants some.. Well one bachelor guy paid me 10 buck to make him some for next week! cool eh? Martha Stewart watch out!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Mallory's Birthday

It was our grand daughter's birthday Sunday and we took her and her mom&dad out to breakfast.
Mallory is a whirly-gig of a now 6year old little girl.. NEVER stopping or slowing down.
She was extremely good and played with ALL the goodies she got for her birthday.
like Mother...
like daughter...

Wednesday Wisdom


The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

Chinese proverb

This reminds me of the post from my bff (blog friend forever) Sue here. She IS a writer. She has a way with words and ideas and music and poetry that jog your mind into action. Here she relates this same proverb to the ocean and polishing the rocks. Adversity, got ta love it, or not, but it is here to stay so might as well find meaning in it. I'm trying.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Lisa's craft night

First of all I have to say its great being (sort of) back. The computer is STILL harboring viruses so I can't use the PC, I am resorting to using mr. produce's laptop, and (cringe) loading my pics on it!
- - - Let's get started.
This month's craft class was all about the MONOGRAM. I found a pot (ok, it is a little garbage can) and thought it would look classy monogrammed!
I found a font i liked on line and downloaded it...(hmmmmm is that where i caught the virus?) ... printed it, used carbon paper and traced it.
yep, tracing
all ready to fill in the blank with a sharpie
Here's Kieri helping with the final detail. WHAT concentration!!!!
And there you have it, my very own ... garbage can, uhm pot for ivy&roses.
NEXT
I wanted to do a button pillow. I will give this to my mom for her birthday next month.
for Mary Louise.
Again download a cool looking font (I'm still wondering???????) then use white tracing paper and trace it onto fabric. Make sure your fabric is big enough for the size pillow you want to make.
trace it onto the fabric
use buttons to fill in the outline, I used white buttons AND I used white tracing paper.
lift up each button and add a tiny bit of glue, just enough to keep it in place while you are sewing all the buttons on.
I used a stiff fabric behind my blue fabric to keep it from stretching while I was sewing all the buttons on. After all the buttons are sewn on, sew up your pillow ( I used a contrasting piece to frame the button area.. and also make it a little bit bigger) and here you have the final project.
Do any of you have any monogram projects out there??? I think everyone loves to see their "letter" adorn almost anything (even a garbage can)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

computer gremlins

Today I need wisdom.
My computer has virus's.
Help.
i guess i need to take some classes in computer -fixin'.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Thank you EVERYONE

Thank you for celebrating my 100th post with me...
I am geared up to create more, share more and learn more!!!
Thank you to everyone, I learn so much from you.
I am gathering addresses and mailing out your goodies.
LAVENDER-sniff sniff

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Celebrate 100 with a GIVE A WAY FOR ALL

I am still learning about the BLOGGING world…. But as I checked into my blog, I saw that I had reached my 100th post, that is cause for celebration.
Lauren (daughter#1 and the vessel carrying my grandchild) created it for me because she thought I needed to "blog". (she was here last week, we had such fun check out her blog here)

Oops*off subject.

Well if I am going to commit to something, then by-golly I’m going to do it and do it right.

I started blogging as sort of a journal for what was happening around here so friends and family could see what we are doing. It has evolved. I started reading other blogs. and am amazed everyday by what is out there, and just WISH it was a full time job I could get paid for by grazing over all the great and interesting blogs and sucking up all the talent and information from the many bloggers… and get carpel tunnel and have to wear glasses and get really fat making all the food out there (thanks bakerella) and spending lots of money buying all the amazing crafts and products that everyone reviews….which they seem to be making money off of their reviewing products and touting their virtues… but I digress.

(I’ll try to keep it to simple statements and not go off on a tangent)It is amazing all the beautiful blog’s out there.

I have learned WAY more from my blog-bff’s than I can ever give back.

I am not a writer.

I like to learn. I like to share. I like to share what I learn.

I am a visual person, that is how I learn

Let me ask YOU

What do YOU like to see in a blog?

What parts of my blog do you like best?

What do you want from me (so you will keep coming back and blog-stalking me)?

I am offering a Give-Away TO EVERYONE WHO POSTS A COMMENT!!!!!

I have made a special gift for this occasion: Lovely Lavender Sachets made out of antique hankies.
(insert cute picture here)

Post a comment and get a gift, not too shabby eh?

If I don’t have your snail mail address, email me! (from my profile)This contest will end Sunday 8/16th at 9pm PST.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU


Here's to 1000 more posts for Davis Dialogues
* * * * I promise to offer up the exciting news of our lives punctuated by tutorials, food laughs and give-aways

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Wednesday Wisdom


Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
-- Leo Buscaglia

Sunday, August 9, 2009

I love Yard Sales

This weeks haul was a strange one...
Kieri and I went to 4 sales before WE HIT THE MOTHER LODE... a development (manufactured homes) with 37, count them 37 people having garage sales! That said, we didn't come across any "great" items, but enough cool things to certainly make it worth our while...
my biggest and best I didn't even take a picture of. I got 20 MAGAZINES!!! (one dollar) Better Homes & Gardens, and Martha Stewart and O...I love magazines and TV at night...

uh ahem... back to the finds:
a very cool OAK rack for the garage $1, plateholder $1, paint brush bucket 25cents,bags of buttons&rickrack and a light for hubby($3)

a LARGE lamp FULL OF BUTTONS (5) and a rack to repaint and fill (1)
A beautiful soft baby quilt (2) and a RED table cloth (3)

That said, after 41 garage sales in one morning (it was now noon) we called it a day and didn't even go to the rest of the 15 garage sales in town (another one was in a large development too)

As the day ended (7pm), we were headed home from Home depot and on the main drag we saw a little hand painted sign (free stuff, take all you want) it was pointed to the Senior Center which had had a garage sale Thurs & Fri....( kieri found a mouse for her lap top there)... so we MADE Mr produce turn in.... and .....WOWWie Zowwie... lots of junk left over FOR FREEEEEEEE>>>
Wheeeeeeeeeeeee. (Mr produce was now sorry he turned in~) K & I spent a half hour going thru boxes... (giddy laughing ensued) and lookie lookie:
free, free, free, 3 small Christmas trees. A box full of greenery!!!!! Christmas and otherwise, 3 stencils, more basket ribbon, nests, suction cups, - - uh oh, somehow THAT picture got deleted, but take my word lots of crafty stuff! then.... then.... I saw the best FREE treasure of all.
A chair.

This is the official Before picture:
and as soon as I find the deserving material.. it will become a beautiful accent chair for the living room. IT IS STURDY AND JUST NEEDS LOVE AND A MAKEOVER!
WHAT A DAY. free free free

disclaimer: I live in a small town where 65% of the population is over 65. There are a LOT of yard sales ...reasons: downsizing/death/moving/to make friends. Most garage/yard/estate sales are on Friday, I can only go on Sat

Friday, August 7, 2009

Happy Birthday Will

Happy Birthday to the newest member of our family. Our Son-in-law Will.
Although he's been around a long time. He is the first and only boy Lauren ever dated.
Great with cars - especially old ones with designing their return to greatness.
A champion of the underdog and downtrodden.
Loyal & Honest in one package.
A wonderful artist.
Loves animals.
My favorite story was dressing like Mr. Incredible (for Halloween of course) and going to the mall and having the kids look at him and ask their mom if this was the REAL Mr. Incredible!!!
(I like that story even better than the "Hot Pockets" story.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL- YOU'RE NOT THAT OLD YET.... SO THERE ARE MANY MORE TO COME! YIPPEE

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

wednesday wisdom

this week is a bit from "Anne of Green Gables"
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?

Sunday, August 2, 2009

I love Yard Sales

This week the girls and I went on Friday, a MUCH better day for fun finds. Lauren found these beautiful crystal and brass lamps for $2.. and I got a ? I think its an "album" holder for $5
and a beautiful table for 10,(expensive
Kieri and I got fabric for fifty cents
a great trivet (fifty cents) towel&potholder, heavy brass frame and Lauren got black trivets
from the free pile........ Christmas greenery!!!!!

disclaimer: I live in a small town where 65% of the population is over 65. There are a LOT of yard sales ...reasons: downsizing/death/moving/to make friends. Most garage/yard/estate sales are on Friday, I can only go on Sat