BEST Brownies in the World

I just had to share what we had for dessert tonight. It was weight watcher Brownies (I've been on a diet all my life).

These 2 items

turned into this ...... sorry we couldn't wait to eat.

I got the recipe from WW Leader Heather in Ohio. I did add 2 egg whites as sometimes I find WW make-over recipes can be a little heavy in taste ..... so I added some fluff.

POINTS: Now for the items I used .... Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie mix (do not use fat free mix) and WalMart Black Beans the points would be

TOTAL.....2340 calories, 45 grams of fat, 4 fiber comes out to be:
2 points for 24 brownies,
3 points for 18 brownies,
or 4 points for 12 brownies.
That's straight out of the recipe builder. :)

If you REALLY want to lower the point count, make the brownies from scratch with Splenda instead of sugar. The sugar, alone with the 2.5 grams of fat per serving coming from the mix, is what makes the count higher than if you used healthier substitutes.

So next time I'm going to compare the brownie mixes at the store and see if I can find something with less calories. The count came from Heather on the WW forum who has access to the recipe builder. I'm a regular on the Neighbors Wild Wonderful West Virginia; Neighbors Taking it Off in Ohio and 50-year olds Quilters' Thread ........ we post everyday ...... love it.

Hope this helps. Remember though your points will depend on what brownie mix black beans you purchase. Again the recipe is on Heathers blog .

Grocery Bag for DH

I've been reading lots about making your own Grocery Bags. Of course, I had to try it. Like everyone I have 1000's of those plastic bags which I keep a few but mostly throw them away. Yes I know that's bad but gosh I can only keep so many and where I live we don't have a recycle center (that I know of).

I have to confess that last night I threw it in the trash because I just couldn't figure out the instructions. I decided to wing it and things went alot better. Now I did start out with the grocery bag instructions from Crafter.org (love that place). If I decide to make anymore I plan to cut the handles down by half as it's just too much bulk.

I needed a photo model and roped DH when he came home for lunch. LOL

Outside and Inside

So if you're sick of plastic bags ........ get those sewing machines humming and make yourself a few. Of course, I'll need about 15-20 for my grocery shopping but even 5-6 will help. AND the best part is you'll be StashBUSTING your stash.

Oh just found this one (tutorial).

Oh my gosh just saw this on another forum. It's from Martha Stewart's website. The video is about 9 minutes (first 5 minutes is on gords) ... it's a great idea.

AND last but not least ...... here's 35 resusable ones from tipnut.com

Photos from Space ... Amazing Experience

The link below will take you to photos just in from the current (just landed) Space Mission. The photos are so good that you feel like you're there hanging in space with your own camera. ENJOY


http://www.texasjim.com/NASApix/NASA%20pix.htm

National Project Linus Blanket Day

I donated 8 quilts on National Project Linus Blanket Day, Feb. 16.


We had people come and go all day to sew and cut. I don't have the final count yet. All in all it was a very productive day.


We'll be sewing again on National Quilt Day, March 15 for Project Linus.

No School AGAIN

No School again today ..... but I had a visitor early this morning. ring ring "Nanny, can I come over?" "Hello Ryan, of course you can come over". "Bye Nanny, I'll be right there." GAWD I love having my GC living right behind us or is it us living right behind them ... either way it's wonderful and we wouldn't trade it for anything.

Cat Tracks

Now I must get quilting.

Habitat House Quilts

A WW friend works for the Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity Organization way over on the other side of the State. I volunteered to make cuddle quilts for the 3 families. I hope they will like their cuddle quilts.

I made various House labels for all the adult quilts (above).

AND cuddle quilts for the children. Flip flops; football; ballet

I used up approximately 18 yards from my fabric stash ......... yipppppppeeeeeee

Check out those Shoes

These are the feet of GD#1 who is 15. She's going to the Snowball Dance ......... I hope she'll be able to dance and walk in the heels. They grow up way too fast.

No School .... la la la ..... No School

No School again today .........................

My 3 GC (15, 10, & 7) came over this morning and did some crafting. 15yr made Valentine's. 10 and 7 year olds made t-shirts. Afterwards we had to go to Joann's and check out all their goodies.

Of course we had to talk to our boyfriend .... that's my cat, Sweetie, taking a nap.

And I finished piecing this bar quilt, pieced the backing together and attached the label. I'm ready to quilt it on Prince.

Poor DH had to go for his 2nd sleep test last night for Sleep Apnea .... he was very tired when he got home at 6AM. So he thought he'd take alittle nap with his cat "Mister" before going to work.

"Oh No" Sponge Bob is frozen in the fish pond ..... no need to worry because the fish are down deep and probably asleep.

Two frozen cats made their way into the house.

We hardly ever get snow as we're in the valley (Mid Ohio Valley) ... a few inches a year is about it. I love the way the backyards of all my neighbors look with snow.

Now our Son-In-Law is crazy crazy for WVU so he painted his barn blue and gold. He's certainly been the hit of all the neighbors (male) who want to paint their barns blue and gold but their wives say "NO NO NEVER"

Need A Laugh .........I Sure Do

This past week was super stressful for me. I found out that my dad's supplemental insurance stopped paying for his medications .... right now he's close to $1200 in the hole. No one notified us that January meds would not be paid for by the insurance company. Over a year ago he was diagnosed with dementia with possibly an Alzheimer's disease component. For the last year he's been living at the Inn At Marietta assisted living home where he receives his medications and regular, nutritiousl meals. Last Friday I was informed by the Ohio State Plumbers & Pipefitters Health & Welfard Fund Board that they will no longer pay for his medications. AND I was told " I had" to use CareMark for mail in prescriptions. Then I was told by the Inn at Marietta that "I had" to take care of ordering, delivery and keeping track of the medication to CareMark (note: I don't live in Ohio and it's 40miles). AND I found from CareMark that he has to have a credit card or debit card before I can order the medication. Now I cut up that credit card a year ago because he was charging like a wild animal. It never ends. I was on the phone from 9AM until 2PM trying to get this all straightened out.

So I've been pretty depressed ....... to cheer me up a friend sent me the following:




No matter what life throws at you,
No matter how long and treacherous your journey may seem Remember, there is a light at the end of tunnel

.................................LOL ........................

Project Linus

I'm ready for the Project Linus meeting today ..... I'm happy to report I have 8 quilts (various sizes) to donate today. I even have their required label attached ... oops I just realized I have to measure and attach the size of each quilt. See the 2 light blue quilts ... that's Sponge Bob fabric with fleece backing ... they are so cuddly.

Cell Phone and/or Camera Bag

I had to drop everything this week to make these cute (I think they are) bags for my GD's. Of course, they went to School and friends just had to have one too. Bag production is over ......




This little bag I made for myself, lined with fleece started the whole thing. It holds my cell phone because I could never find it in my purse. It doesn't have a closure as I sit it inside of a zippered pocket in my purse.


The girls were thrilled. In fact, they came over and spent quite some time looking through my fabric stash for just the right fabrics. Then they had to look through my fleece scraps again for just the right one. First they only wanted them for their cell phones until they discovered that their digital camera fit too. Of course, they each had to have two (2) bags.

No I don't have a pattern .... I just winged it. Although awhile back a nice blogger (Lisa) sent me instructions which I kind of used. The bags are approximately 6 inches long by 3.75 inches wide. The cuff is a bias strip . Each bag is lined with fleece. I used an elastic hair band for the closure with a button.



By the way the buttons are from my GD's Great-Grandmother Margaret's button box (thanks Aunt Mary Ruth).

I did find a nice tutorial at Cotton Spice but in the end I decided to do my own thing. I'm sure there are other "free" tutorials on the internet, search Goggle.

I'm thrilled, as are the girls, with our cell phone and/or camera bags.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Jan!

THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

7 Random Facts About Me:
1. I've been married for 41 years last December and I still love DH!
2. I graduated High School in Yokohama, Japan and have never been to a class reunion.
3. My quilt studio use to be a 2 car garage and we have a fish pond.
4. I took early retirement at the age of 55 from GE Plastics.
5. I read Mary's blog everyday ... she is truly an inspiration to me.
6. I taught my 3 GC to sew by machine, last year we made 16 cage quilts for the Humane Society.
6. I have my hair cut every 3 weeks.
7. I own 7 sewing machines, 1 serger and a Nolting 18" long arm machine called Prince Charming.

7 People I'm tagging:
1. Irene
2. Heather
3. Ami
4. Linda
5. Penny
6. Tracey
7. Alycia

Webshots Update

Webshots is back up for the 1000's of us who were locked out since January 31, 2008.

They didn't bother to answer any emails except for the auto reply thingie. I have their blog address now so will be leaving notes whenever necessary ... they probably don't read those either. Here's a some important information to keep handy for the next time 800-305-6766. If you want to email your suggestions (complaints): help@americangreetings.com and customersupport@webshots.com

Apparently webshots changed their IP address or something along those lines so many who were on AOL, COX, Suddenlink, PadotNet, Verizon DSL, Broadband (UK) and other ISP's around the World were locked out. It took their engineers awhile to figure out the problem. I knew I was in big trouble when I was unable to ping webshots IP address. They could have notified us of the update and problems. After all they love to send out ads which I don't want.

Just a few of the comments that were posted on Webshots blog.

Webshots Problems

I have not been able to access any Webshot photos for over 5 days now. I've been asking others but it seems I was the only one .... not so. Finally a friend (thanks Carolyn) took pity on me and looked at the Webshots Blog and discovered:

Webshots blogs and discovered that many, many people are still not able to access Webshots. Lots and lots of complaints. So friend, it's not you or your computer but the area you are in. Here is an email address to get some help or answers. webshots@custhelp.com or customersupport@webshots.com

PLEASE take a moment and send webshots an email. I did and also told them I expect to see a credit on my account.

Thanks.

Mardi Gras Celebration

No quilting today .... today we're having fun and celebrating being a FAMILY.

Our family attends St. Xavier Catholic Church where DH is a Deacon. It's a very old Church, 1859. That's GD#2 with DH.


Today we had our Mardi Gras celebration before Lent starts in the Parish Hall. The food oh the food was wonderful. We had chicken/sausage jambalaya, shrimp jambalaya, garlic bread, salad and dessert that I didn't get the name.

We also have a terrific Associate Pastor from India ... Fr. Dass (Rev. Soosai Arpudam Arokiadass, H.G.N.). He is a much loved favorite with all of us especially the children.


Dinners in the Parish Hall are always fun and there's always something special for the little ones.
Making their mask for Mardi Gras today