Something terrible just happened. Near as I can figure, I fell asleep...and then, I had a horrible nightmare...I dreamed that Pia was voted OFF American Idol!!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I was STUNNED that Pia was in the bottom three -- but never worried for even a minute that she would actually go home...
So -- you can imagine my shock.
Pia was ALWAYS MY PICK to be the last girl standing...her voice was awesome. Simply amazing. From Day One -- Pia never missed a single note.
And did I forget to mention -- SHE IS A STUNNER??
I'm beginning to rethink the whole concept of American Idol. Maybe we really shouldn't be allowed to vote...Honestly -- I am losing faith, people. WHAT'S WRONG WITH US??
Listen up, American Idol -- I'll give up one Stephano, one Haley, one Lauren and a Paul to get my Pia back...c'mon...I'll even throw in a Jacob....I AM BEGGING YOU...
And, hey, since I'm already in a very pissy mood after losing Pia -- what was up with that last "musical number" by Iggy Pop? The wrinkled, withered old naked old guy who was jumping all over the stage?
EEEwwww....
I mean -- who is he blackmailing -- c'mon -- PAY THE MAN!!
I'm going to quit watching so much television.
Pia -- I apologize. This is all my fault...because I never actually "vote"....so I feel just terrible about tonight.
But you should NOT FEEL BAD. Nobody remember the WINNERS of American Idol. The losers actually get the big careers...Crystal Bowersox, Adam Lambert, Chris Daughtrey, Jennifer Hudson.
Hold that thought, babe...
Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson....!
Rita's Sew Fun -- a sporadic, random blog about nothing in particular.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Rice Bag Heating Pads
The best quick gift idea I ever learned came from Sue Hausmann. It's the rice bag heating pad. And I've made many of them through the years...
Elliott uses the rice bags to hold his guns steady when he does his gunsmithing. So, their current supply of rice bag heating pads are covered with gun oil -- so we decided to make a new batch.
First, we weighed 1 3/4 pounds of long grain white rice into some baggies. We have enough rice to make 8 rice bags...
I cut up a yellow bathtowel (18" x 12") -- then got fancy and added some handles (made out of t-shirt hems cut off other things)...
A wide mouth funnel is the easiest way to add the rice...
Sorry -- but my pictures of the finished rice bags didn't turn out. In this pic, you can see a couple of them stacked up on the table. (We also filled some old tube socks with rice for Elliott's gun stabilizing).
You can also see Lilly running away in a dinosaur shirt -- I'm SURE I have a better picture of her someplace...
Anyway -- I use one of these rice bags EVERY SINGLE DAY -- I put it behind my neck while I'm working on this laptop computer. When I don't us the rice bag -- I get a neck ache...
AND if you want to heat it up -- stick it in the microwave for 2 minutes. (depending on your microwave)
Obviously, you can make them any shape...square, oblong, etc. And if you are REALLY IN A HURRY -- you can pour the rice into a tube sock. Knot one end and -- VOILA -- you have a very, very quick rice bag heating pad...
**********
Elliott uses the rice bags to hold his guns steady when he does his gunsmithing. So, their current supply of rice bag heating pads are covered with gun oil -- so we decided to make a new batch.
First, we weighed 1 3/4 pounds of long grain white rice into some baggies. We have enough rice to make 8 rice bags...
I cut up a yellow bathtowel (18" x 12") -- then got fancy and added some handles (made out of t-shirt hems cut off other things)...
A wide mouth funnel is the easiest way to add the rice...
Sorry -- but my pictures of the finished rice bags didn't turn out. In this pic, you can see a couple of them stacked up on the table. (We also filled some old tube socks with rice for Elliott's gun stabilizing).
You can also see Lilly running away in a dinosaur shirt -- I'm SURE I have a better picture of her someplace...Anyway -- I use one of these rice bags EVERY SINGLE DAY -- I put it behind my neck while I'm working on this laptop computer. When I don't us the rice bag -- I get a neck ache...
AND if you want to heat it up -- stick it in the microwave for 2 minutes. (depending on your microwave)
Obviously, you can make them any shape...square, oblong, etc. And if you are REALLY IN A HURRY -- you can pour the rice into a tube sock. Knot one end and -- VOILA -- you have a very, very quick rice bag heating pad...
**********
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Gift For Matthew
About last night's American Idol.
I am loving the actual SINGING this year -- but am wondering BIGTIME about the styling. Did you see those horrible puffy shorts poor Lauren had to wear? I was so embarrassed for her -- I was still trying to recover when PIA came out on the stage wearing a strapless, pedal-pusher jumpsuit made out of a chicken feed muslin...
GIRLS -- ARE YOU LETTING THE BOYS PICK YOUR OUTFITS??
What else could explain this obvious lapse in fashion judgement??!!
************
My cousin Kim, who you've met many times, has two children. Carrie and Matthew.
Matt is in the National Guard -- and he's back in Iraq. This is his second tour over there, and one of the big differences is how Matt is able to stay in touch via Facebook and telephone calls -- using his laptop and Magic Jack. Don't ask me how the Magic Jack works -- but it is amazing...
For Matt's 30th birthday coming up -- Kim sent several packages. One of the things Matt asked for was golf balls. Several years ago, we had some kids living in the neighborhood who liked to drive balls into our hay field. It made John crazy -- and he would spend hours picking up those balls...
So, now, John has a purpose...he washed a 5 gallon bucket of balls...and lined them up on the table...
At the end of the day, there were 14 dozen golf balls...
Kim was packing up some of those USPS Flat Rate Priority boxes to create a party....there will be golf balls, and some mini-Christmas lights, grill seasoning...well, you get the idea.
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATTHEW. When you hit these balls off into the desert -- try to visualize an Iowa hay field...
I am loving the actual SINGING this year -- but am wondering BIGTIME about the styling. Did you see those horrible puffy shorts poor Lauren had to wear? I was so embarrassed for her -- I was still trying to recover when PIA came out on the stage wearing a strapless, pedal-pusher jumpsuit made out of a chicken feed muslin...
GIRLS -- ARE YOU LETTING THE BOYS PICK YOUR OUTFITS??
What else could explain this obvious lapse in fashion judgement??!!
************
My cousin Kim, who you've met many times, has two children. Carrie and Matthew.
Matt is in the National Guard -- and he's back in Iraq. This is his second tour over there, and one of the big differences is how Matt is able to stay in touch via Facebook and telephone calls -- using his laptop and Magic Jack. Don't ask me how the Magic Jack works -- but it is amazing...
For Matt's 30th birthday coming up -- Kim sent several packages. One of the things Matt asked for was golf balls. Several years ago, we had some kids living in the neighborhood who liked to drive balls into our hay field. It made John crazy -- and he would spend hours picking up those balls...
So, now, John has a purpose...he washed a 5 gallon bucket of balls...and lined them up on the table...
At the end of the day, there were 14 dozen golf balls...
Kim was packing up some of those USPS Flat Rate Priority boxes to create a party....there will be golf balls, and some mini-Christmas lights, grill seasoning...well, you get the idea.So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATTHEW. When you hit these balls off into the desert -- try to visualize an Iowa hay field...
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Talk about your BAD Karma...
Ina Garten -- the Barefoot Contessa -- turned down a little boy from the "Make a Wish" Foundation.
She turned him down twice. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I just cannot get over it....
First of all -- I love to cook and I am a HUGE fan of the FOOD channel. It is my "go to" network. I watch all the shows. Next Network Star, 30 Minute Meals, Paula Dean...you name the show, and I've watched it. Many times.
So you can imagine my surprise and DISAPPOINTMENT when I read about Ina Garten saying "NO" to Enzo Pereda, the 6 year old leukemia patient who was a big fan. She turned his request down twice.
I predict Ina Garten is done. Finished. I believe the FOOD Network is about to fill her time slot with Emeril reruns. Because like the vast legions of former-Barefoot-Contessa fans -- from now on, I'd watch Happy Days reruns before I'd tune into her show...
Apparently, these "celebrity chefs" think of themselves as the new DIVAS. They are rich and famous and the "I'm better than you" attitude comes with the territory. Ina Garten thought she was all that.
But if you thought you were invincible, Ina -- think again. Nobody is.
I've got two words for you....Tiger Woods.
She turned him down twice. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I just cannot get over it....
First of all -- I love to cook and I am a HUGE fan of the FOOD channel. It is my "go to" network. I watch all the shows. Next Network Star, 30 Minute Meals, Paula Dean...you name the show, and I've watched it. Many times.
So you can imagine my surprise and DISAPPOINTMENT when I read about Ina Garten saying "NO" to Enzo Pereda, the 6 year old leukemia patient who was a big fan. She turned his request down twice.
I predict Ina Garten is done. Finished. I believe the FOOD Network is about to fill her time slot with Emeril reruns. Because like the vast legions of former-Barefoot-Contessa fans -- from now on, I'd watch Happy Days reruns before I'd tune into her show...
Apparently, these "celebrity chefs" think of themselves as the new DIVAS. They are rich and famous and the "I'm better than you" attitude comes with the territory. Ina Garten thought she was all that.
But if you thought you were invincible, Ina -- think again. Nobody is.
I've got two words for you....Tiger Woods.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Peanut Butter Frosting
When Ross was a student at Western Illinois University -- on his 21st birthday, I drove 4 hours to deliver a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing. Even though he told me not to do it. Even though I knew he would be working. Even though I completely understood he wasn't going to take a five minute break to say hello to his mother. I drove the cake to Macomb, dropped it off with his house-mates, then got back in my car and drove home.
I did it because one day, I was hoping it would be something Ross would "remember".
And the truth is -- God only knows what a kid is going to remember...so you've got to keep trying different things, hoping for the best...
Anyway -- this is the cake John made for me -- on my birthday -- the first year we were married....
And I've made it for HIM -- and for our boys -- for every birthday they've ever had...
Sometimes the boys are home for their birthdays -- of course it is a JOY for me to make the Farro family birthday cake. But, if they're not coming home -- I make it my mission to have somebody at THAT END of their lives make the cake. Of course, Emily is in charge of Elliott and Lillian getting the cake...
Last year, Ross was surprised when his friends, Shawn & Melissa, were the ones who made the chocolate cake and peanut butter icing!!
When Melissa called to get the 'secret" recipe -- she was delighted when I told her it's a Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake Mix...lol...
But it is the frosting that makes it SPECIAL. Here it is:
1. Cook 1 cup of milk with 6 TBL of flour until it's very thick. It will be a big glob....At this point, I put it in a shallow dish, cover it with plastic and stick it in the freezer to COOL COMPLETELY.
2. With electric mixer -- beat until smooth:
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. chunky peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
3. Scrape the flour glob into the butter/sugar bowl and continue to beat. (it will seem grainy at first). Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla at the last minute.
PERFECTION. THIS FROSTING IS SO GOOD -- you could eat it on a saltine cracker.
Here's the funny thing. I don't think I knew for a long time that the peanut butter icing would become "THE" Farro Family birthday tradition. That's the thing about traditions....maybe you never know when you're starting one...
I did it because one day, I was hoping it would be something Ross would "remember".
And the truth is -- God only knows what a kid is going to remember...so you've got to keep trying different things, hoping for the best...
Anyway -- this is the cake John made for me -- on my birthday -- the first year we were married....
And I've made it for HIM -- and for our boys -- for every birthday they've ever had...
Sometimes the boys are home for their birthdays -- of course it is a JOY for me to make the Farro family birthday cake. But, if they're not coming home -- I make it my mission to have somebody at THAT END of their lives make the cake. Of course, Emily is in charge of Elliott and Lillian getting the cake...
Last year, Ross was surprised when his friends, Shawn & Melissa, were the ones who made the chocolate cake and peanut butter icing!!
When Melissa called to get the 'secret" recipe -- she was delighted when I told her it's a Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake Mix...lol...
But it is the frosting that makes it SPECIAL. Here it is:
1. Cook 1 cup of milk with 6 TBL of flour until it's very thick. It will be a big glob....At this point, I put it in a shallow dish, cover it with plastic and stick it in the freezer to COOL COMPLETELY.
2. With electric mixer -- beat until smooth:
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. chunky peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
3. Scrape the flour glob into the butter/sugar bowl and continue to beat. (it will seem grainy at first). Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla at the last minute.
PERFECTION. THIS FROSTING IS SO GOOD -- you could eat it on a saltine cracker.
Here's the funny thing. I don't think I knew for a long time that the peanut butter icing would become "THE" Farro Family birthday tradition. That's the thing about traditions....maybe you never know when you're starting one...
Monday, April 4, 2011
Day #1 Expo Outfit (by: Deborah)
Like other speakers and vendors who attend the Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington -- I plan a different outfit for EVERY SINGLE DAY. With the help of my embroidering sister, Deborah, that is...
On Day One -- this was my outfit. Deb embroidered the show logo on the bottom front of the jacket.
And I LOVE the pants I wore! Do you remember when I blogged about them? I bought a pair of pants at the Goodwill store just because it had this great embroidery on the bottom of the legs.
The right leg is way different than the left leg. The hardest part of this re-styling project was finding a BIG ENOUGH PAIR OF PANTS THAT MATCHED...lol... Then, I had to cut the fancy legs off and reattach them to my plain pair of pants...
Yes, you're right. Deborah also embroidered the show logo on the butt-cheek of my black linen J.Jill jacket.
I enjoyed wearing my newly restyled jacket and pants (despite the velcro butt in this pic)...but I don't have a photo of me on Day One of the show. (although -- I have another 1200 pictures coming my way). So, I had my book clubber take a picture at last week's breakfast ...
GREAT JOB, DEBORAH...you are the BEST.
On Day One -- this was my outfit. Deb embroidered the show logo on the bottom front of the jacket.
And I LOVE the pants I wore! Do you remember when I blogged about them? I bought a pair of pants at the Goodwill store just because it had this great embroidery on the bottom of the legs.
The right leg is way different than the left leg. The hardest part of this re-styling project was finding a BIG ENOUGH PAIR OF PANTS THAT MATCHED...lol... Then, I had to cut the fancy legs off and reattach them to my plain pair of pants...
Yes, you're right. Deborah also embroidered the show logo on the butt-cheek of my black linen J.Jill jacket.
I enjoyed wearing my newly restyled jacket and pants (despite the velcro butt in this pic)...but I don't have a photo of me on Day One of the show. (although -- I have another 1200 pictures coming my way). So, I had my book clubber take a picture at last week's breakfast ...GREAT JOB, DEBORAH...you are the BEST.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Shower Curtain REDO
Boy -- time flies! When I started writing this blog, one of the first DIY projects I blogged about was the tile repair job in our bathroom. Water had seeped in behind the tile, and John had to repair the wall, put in new cement backerboard, etc. My cousin Linda and I bought boxes of leftover tiles from the local "Restore" place.
The new tile wall came out GREAT -- and I modified a shower curtain from Target to look a little "custom".
Mostly, I just added two tan strips of fabric -- to match the odd tile we had to use...
Well - it turned out great!
However -- recently -- the bottom of the shower curtain was left inside the tub and the trapped moisture caused the dreaded MILDEW. Even with my magical laundry powers -- there was an unsightly stain...
Hey -- I STILL LOVE IT. So, I decided it was worth a repair job. I simply cut out the mildewed white fabric (right above the blue t-shirt fabric)...and created a NEW STRIP of fabric...
Which I created by cutting up the unstained parts, and adding some plain blue t0 pick up on the random blue tile theme...
Then, I cut the blue t-shirt fabric to create the fringe...
I added a little zebra stripe at each corner. JUST BECAUSE I COULD...
y'know what?? It took me longer to BLOG about it than it took me to actually DO IT....
Yep. I can sew.
The new tile wall came out GREAT -- and I modified a shower curtain from Target to look a little "custom".
Mostly, I just added two tan strips of fabric -- to match the odd tile we had to use...
Well - it turned out great!However -- recently -- the bottom of the shower curtain was left inside the tub and the trapped moisture caused the dreaded MILDEW. Even with my magical laundry powers -- there was an unsightly stain...
Hey -- I STILL LOVE IT. So, I decided it was worth a repair job. I simply cut out the mildewed white fabric (right above the blue t-shirt fabric)...and created a NEW STRIP of fabric...
Which I created by cutting up the unstained parts, and adding some plain blue t0 pick up on the random blue tile theme...
Then, I cut the blue t-shirt fabric to create the fringe...
I added a little zebra stripe at each corner. JUST BECAUSE I COULD...
y'know what?? It took me longer to BLOG about it than it took me to actually DO IT....
Yep. I can sew.
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