Greetings!

I love cards. I love sending them and receiving them, especially if a note is included. Once a week I pull out my boxes of cards and send out 2 or more.  I pick up cards at thrift stores, estate sales and occasionally garage sales.  A couple years ago Joanns discontinued carrying cards and I got several for 70% off.

 

 

My favorite are the old cards, which I still occasionally find for sale at estate sales.

 

Its rare that I need to visit a store for a card, but if you find yourself needing to, I recommend Dollar Tree.  Some of their cards are 2 for $1, others $1.  They have great cards, especially holiday cards and are stocked right now with Halloween, Thanksgiving and some Christmas cards. 

 

Not all of my cards have matching envelopes as shown below.  I don't care and hope that the recipients of my cards don't notice.  (I love the hidden pictures card in the lower right.)

 

The boxes are stored in my coat closet. 

 

I make a list of friends and family I want to send a card to, pull the appropriate boxes and go through them to find the card I want to send.

Love these old cards!

In addition to a card or two to a friend or member of my family, I send "Love in the Mail" once a week.  Love in the mail is group I belong to that sends a card or note and $1 (or more if someone desires) to someone in need of encouragement.  A lot of times it someone facing significant medical concerns.  People in the group submit the names of those we mail to. 

How about this week you send a card to someone!  Have kids or grandkids, have them draw a picture or color a coloring page and mail it to an unsuspecting relative, friend, neighbor or shut in.  I know they'll love getting a surprise in the mail. 

Stitchers Luncheon

The day after Cookbook Club, I had seven women come over for a day of cross stitching. I made Sonoma Chicken Salad.  I've made it before and its so good!  You can find the recipe HERE.  I also made a coolwhip fruit salad that wasn't very good and corn salad.

This recipe came from the same Gooseberry Patch cookbook the Hot Chicken Sandwich recipe came from.

Shoepeg Corn Salad

In a bowl mix;

1 15 oz can shoepeg corn, drained (the only can I found was smaller than that)

1 14 1/2 oz can French-style green beans, drained

1 15 oz can tiny garden peas, drained (you can fin these at Aldi)

1 2 oz jar diced pimentos, drained

1 green pepper, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1/2 c red onion, chopped

In a sauce pan bring to a boil;

1/2 c oil

3/4 c white vinegar

1 c sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp ground garlic 

Cook and stir until sugar resolves. Allow to cool slightly before pouring over vegetables. 

 

It looks pretty, but didn't go over well.  I don't guess its everyone's thing, corn and green beans.  It actually wasn't my thing, but just something quick and easy to make.  The other stitchers brought chips, cookies, meatballs and butterscotch bars.

So, what do we do at a stitch in?  We stitch, visit, share show-and-tell and Eat! Here are a few pieces that were shared during show-and-tell.  I love the colors in this pattern.  

Cats!  Check out the cat on the left side of the pattern!  See his outstretch nails and claw marks!

I love, love, love this pattern and I'm sure I could alter it so that it looked just like Lyncoln!  Look at those cute little mice!

I worked on my Halloween Line Up.  I finished all the stitching and just need to go back and add a pumpkin charm and 37 knots or itty bitty beads for the eyes in several of the owls, ghosts, bats, witch and kids at the bottom.

 

The return of Cookbook Club!

The fourth Friday in September marks the return of Cookbook Club and its supposed to be cool. It wasn't. I had guests coming over the next day and had wanted something easy and that didn't require I turn the oven on. I found the recipe in the Gooseberry Patch Church Potluck Favorites Cookbook.

 

I wasn't certain how many were going to come and had wanted a recipe that served 8 or more. This dish will reportedly serve 16. I actually thought it sounded gross and asked coworkers what they thought of it. Those asked thought it sounded great and that they'd eat it. So, I ignored my concerns and went with the recipe for Hot Chicken Sandwiches.
 

I used a rotisserie chicken from Sam's Club for the meat. If you have a Sam's membership, their chicken is something you should be buying. $4.98 is a dollar or more less than you pay at Walmart or Dillons for their rotisserie chickens and the Sam's chicken is much bigger and better tasting.  Once you've compared a Sam's chicken to say one you get at Dillons, you'll never go back.  

One of the reasons I picked this recipe was that it couldn't have been easier to make. Shred chicken, throw in 1 1/2 cups cubed Velveeta cheese (I prefer store brand, seems less salty to me).

 

Stir in one can of cream of chicken soup and one can cream of mushroom soup. I hate mushrooms and normally I'd substitute the cream of mushroom for cream of chicken. Recently I went to some friends for dinner and ate stroganoff. It was really good even though it had cream of mushroom soup and canned mushrooms! Since then I've decided to not substitute cream of mushroom in future recipes, especially recipes where there's already one can of cream of chicken.

 

Now throw in some chopped onion and celery. I used a red onion. The recipe hadn't specified and I had a half red onion needing to be used.

 

Stir and transfer to a greased or lined crockpot and cook on low 3 1/2 hours. My crockpot runs on the hot side and I turned it to warm after 2 hours and 20 minutes.

 

Serve on slider buns, I used regular hamburger buns. 

We also had quinoa stuffed peppers, savory rice and pop overs. I'll try to remember better pictures next month!

Hot Chicken Sandwiches

Serves 16 (if using slider buns)


6 c. shredded chicken (I used rotisserie chicken)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 c Velveeta
1 c. thinly sliced celery
1 c. chopped onion


Stir all the ingredients and add to a lined or greased crock pot and heat on low for 3 1/2 hours. My crock pot runs hot and I turned it to keep warm after 2 1/2 hours.  Serve on slider or hamburger buns. 

 

Treasure Hunting!

I left Friday morning at 5:27, last year it was 5:11! I traveled west and then north to Belleville KS where I began this years Treasure Hunt on Highway 36. A lot of states are doing something similar. I know there are two other similar sales in Kansas. Faboulous Finds on 99 runs next weekend, I believe and another ran last month in the southern half of Kansas and northern half of Oklahoma. These aren't as fun as a flea market, nor as easy, but I always enjoying getting out and hunting for some unknown treasures! 

The drive out, once the sun came up, was beautiful! 

 

 

In addition to some yummy Amish baked goods and treasures found for my parents, this years bounty consisted of;

Cards! Lots of cards! 

 

A silver frame and two $0.25 cross stitch books. 

 

I have plans for that frame. 

Some cookbooks. 

 

Bible trivia and bible card games. $0.25 each

 

I got a few other items I already put away. Oh and this piece. 

 

I already have thought of few things I could do with it, but none of the ideas will be completed by this Christmas. 

At one sale I found a stash of finished cross stitch pieces and imagined someday mine will be sold this way too. Each piece was $1. I didn't bring any home, but had wanted to.

 

 

There had to be several dozen pieces. If they weren't so far from home, I might have gone back the third day and offered something for all of them. They'd make nice gifts. Most could easily be made into pillows maybe for nursing home residents. Sadly they only had the finished pieces, no cross stitch patterns or materials. 

Two of my favorites;

 

 

While warm and crazy windy, it was a beautiful day. If you think Kansas is boring, you're doing it wrong! (Kansas Explorer quote!)

 

Fall Mantle

Last year I made a monthly garland to hang on the mantle. I made one every month, September through June and then grew tired of making them. I have another idea regarding what to hang on those hooks, but it involves stitching and will take some time. I've decided to pass on the garlands and focus on decorating the mantle 5-6 times a year. Winter, spring, maybe Easter seperate from Spring, Fourth of July/summer, autumn and Christmas.  I present to you my fall mantle;

 

I'm very happy with it. I found the glass container in the clearance section at Walmart late winter, early spring, the filler for the jar came from Joanns, the pumpkins all came from Walmart, the Coleman lamp is my father's, FALL and the garland came from Hobby Lobby, I already had the candle sticks and bought candles from Hobby Lobby. I also got small hay bales which you can't see at Hobby Lobby to lift the sign and two pumpkins. I'm now set for two and a half months! 

Potluck Pasta Salad

This is my go to I-forgot-tomorrow-is-treat-day-pasta-salad.  Its really easy to make and tastes great!


Make two boxes of Betty Crocker Classic Suddenly Pasta Salad according to package directions.

 

Do you have one of these little measuring cups?  I love mine and have 2 others that are similar.  The other two are smaller, holding no more than 3 TBS each.  You can find these at Walmart. 

 

Another view

 

Rinse and drain the cooked pasta according to package directions, adding in the seasoning packet, oil and water as directed.  Then dice up an entire 8 oz block of mozzarella cheese.

 

And throw in a bag of mini pepperoni. Of note, I was cheap this day, but I'd recommend the name brand over the store brand of mini pepperoni.  The store brand is bigger, thicker and I don't like them as well.
 

 

Throw all together, chill and enjoy!

 

While making the pasta salad, I decided to make blue box macaroni and cheese.  I already had the pasta pot and a colander out, so why not, right?!?   If though you decide to do this, make certain you remember which is the pasta seasoning packet and which is the macaroni and cheese packet!  I nearly made cheesy Italian pasta salad!  I doubt that would have been very good!
 

 

So, I got the milk out and noticed a few things.  First, theres a notice to refrigerate after opening.  Normally you read that on products that are bought at room temperature and need to be refrigerated once opened.  I bought the milk in the cooler/milk section, so it was cold when I bought it.  So, why the notice to refrigerate after opening?
 

 

Another notice to chill (and shake) before serving.  Can you buy room temperature milk???
 

Now check out the sell by date!  DECEMBER 11!!!  What kind of milk are they making these days!  Though it does say above its best if used within 7 days of opening, I'm still not familiar with any kind of milk that lasts over three months from the purchase date. I guess if milk ever goes on sale you could buy several months worth and just not open it until needed now!?!  If this is so, this is great for the person like me who rarely buys milk and only does so if I intend to make a specific recipe.  If this is true, I can buy milk now and just keep in the fridge for the next three months or until I need it.  Weird. 

Sparks and White Cloud Fall Flea Market 2017

I love a flea market! Fortunately there are a few that aren't too far away. The Sparks KS and White Cloud KS flea markets are held twice a year the first weekends in May and September.

 

The weather couldn't have been better for the September market. I've been on raining and cold weekends and clumped through mud to view all the booths. None of that this fall. Sunshine and average warm temperatures. 

 

My father and I went this time together. We each have carts and head in whatever direction we want and meet up back at the car. There is NO cell phone reception at the Sparks market. If you take your cell phone out people instantly ask "Do you have cell phone reception?" Or give you instructions on where you might go to get reception; If you go clear down there, then walk 50 yards in that direction, not by any food trucks and stand on your head, you might get reception!"  Promises, promises.

 

I forget to take pictures while I'm there. There's too much to see and often so many people it's hard to get good pictures. Take for example the nice butt on the right. Oops! Missed that!

 

$1 linens!  Ah, but I have enough linens.  I took the picture and quickly moved on!

 

More fun notions. 

 

Fun trims.

 

Dogs are still welcome at the flea market and water was set out for them at this booth.

 

Lots of pumpkins and some veggies were available.  Potted plants can be found too.

 

 

The one disadvantage to having a cart is some of the trailers and houses that have items. 

Pretty glass at White Cloud.

 

The very small community of Fanning KS home to one church has an indoor flea market.  I love stopping in here and never leave empty handed.  They also have nice indoor bathrooms and lunch for purchase.
 

 

Speaking of lunch, the options are endless...

 

Above is a Mennonite stand, below is the Dutch oven food stand.  Food is prepared fresh in Dutch ovens!
 

 

There are a lot of food trucks!

 

In case you were wondering what the nasty nator is;

 

White Cloud normally has Indian Tacos for sale.

 

We almost always eat at the White Cloud American Legion.  Its indoors, air conditioned, they have indoor plumbing and we love to support them.  Over the years their menu has drastically be reduced, but its still good food and great men and women that work there. 

 

More pies were added by the time lunch rolled around.  I got a piece of chocolate pie and thought it the best I've ever eaten!

 

White Cloud also offers ice cream!  I think I've only had it once.  Normally I'm too full from lunch to get ice cream, but it always looks good.

I leave you with a doggy stroller.  The second one I saw that day.  If you look closely you can see the dog.  Lyncoln (my cat) thinks he needs one of these.  It sure would have come in handy when I was taking him to the assisted living to visit grandma!  She had one of the furthest rooms from the front door!