For Rent

You can get it for a song!

Cozy living quarters
In mountainous tree
Surrounded by pine cones and ivy
Adorned with a variety of mosses

Prime second story elevation for privacy.
Near two land caretakers 
who occasionally fill a feeder
and share bread.

A busy weekend of being rained on

and traveling so now back to the stitching board.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Sloppy Joes - Real Food

Memorial Day weekend is coming up.

Simple Real Food is always good, 

and this happens to be an easy fix.

I don't usually post recipes on the blog, 

but thought this was worth sharing.

I don't actually use recipes most of the time,

so this can be altered to make your taste buds happy.

Per 1 lb. ground beef (browned)

add:

ketchup - 1/3 - 1/2 cup (about)

a couple slices of onion - chopped fine

Worcestershire sauce - a tablespoon or so

garlic salt & pepper

then if you like, you could add:

chopped peppers, celery, parsley or cilantro - whatever you like:)

I toasted the buns like I would do a grilled cheese sandwich - 

buttered then grilled.

They might be good with a little shredded cheese.

I served them with corn.  Corn on the cob would be best,

but my corn is only about 2 inches tall right now.

One pound fed myself and Mr. LB, but he works hard...eats lots.

You can adjust the amounts for your family.

I hope you enjoy.

Have a fabulous weekend~

and maybe fit in some stitching.

Until next time

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

The Shoe Shine Box

Okay, I am kinda dating myself,

and I am telling of a culture.

Growing up, we had a shoe shine box.

I grew up on a ranch so it had boot polish,

specific 'rags', brushes and sponges with handles.

I remember finding just the right color of polish 

to shine my boots.  

It was a process: polish, rub, shine.

(maybe repeat for good measure.)

Our shoe shine box wasn't decorative like this one.

Ours was just brown, but had the boot rest on top.

There is an old song about a shoe shine boy

singing and making a rhythm with his rag.

Does anybody remember that song?

If so, let me know - I would love to look it up.

This sweet little box is now in my etsy shoppe.

I saw an applique block in the design.

I thought it would be a fun display with a little Dutch colored

quilt draped out of it.

I spent a good portion of the weekend getting a few things listed.

I have more to list - just need to take pictures.

It seems I can only keep up with one thing at a time.

This weekend it was etsy rather than blogger:)

Truth be told, I've been playing outside when weather permits.

PS: I had a friend call me at work today "Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy."
It's by Red Foley. 

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Bea's Stitches

Many years ago,

I was visiting some friends

and happened to admire a certain pillow.

I was informed that 'his mom (Bea) made it.'

And theeeen....

"I have her stitch guide she drew up

if you would like to see."

Within minutes, 

I was holding the pages with hand-drawn stitches,

designs, and motifs.

I asked if I might just borrow them 

for an evening or two.

"Oh, of course."

I drew them all out by hand just as she had done.

I kept them in an old organizer/planner

that needless to say is not only very out of date,

but also in pretty bad shape.

(It was really embarrassing actually.) 

So, when I visited recently,

I asked if they had a picture 

of Bea that I could borrow and return.

I was presented with a few,

and chose this one.

I embellished it just a tad:)

I'm going to take this to show them 

when I go to make them dinner Friday
for his 93rd birthday.

I also have some of Bea's recipes.

I used 3 rings so that I can add them to it.

If you would like to learn from my mistake:
Notice in the 'B' a water mark.
There was a little (maybe 1/16") white spot
of iron away pen that wouldn't iron away.
I barely dampened a q-tip
to try to remove it.
I was soooo upset.
Don't use water or iron out pens on photo transfers.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Western Union Mother's Day Telegram

A truly kind telegram

from my Great-great-Uncle Rock

to my Great-great Grandmother.

My G-g-gma passed in 1944

so this is from prior to that date

as there is no date on the document.

It even has a matching envelope

and still no date.

To all of the mothers

and all those who bless other mothers' children

when their own aren't available~

A very happy Mother's Day

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Really I'm Stitching

Cathedral Window Progress

Just thought I would let you know

I really have been stitching when I can.

I seem to have 2 or 3 hand stitching projects

all going at the same time.

Also, I still have issues showing incomplete work.

I first mentioned it here.

So 396 squares later, I am stitching.

I stitch 4 squares together,

then add the windows.

Next, I will put 2 of the 4-square blocks together,

and add 2 more windows where they join.

I have 14 of 99 4-squares done.

Only 85 more to go:)

Does no-one else question my sanity?

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches