HippieDog

a family affair.......

 

Some photos of our Fourth of July celebration. Patriotic cookie snacks adorned with flags. Silly straws just for fun.....

 

I made these fabric flags and stuck them in a pitcher of sand. Cracker Jacks and taffy for snacking.....

 

Patriotic tag hung from the flag pitcher :)

 

Lots of ice cold soda for sipping.....

 

My family.......

 

My three boys....

  

Sparkler time! 

   

Getting ready for the show. We are pretty lucky to have front row seats for the fire works. 

 

Hope your Fourth of July was wonderful :)

paper crafts + brownies = sigh

 

You know I love putting these inspiration scrappy packs together for you to enjoy. Available in my shop this weekend.

 

More vintage bottle cap magnets too......

 

 

yummy dishcloths.

 

Vintage dream flower pens.

 

 

Just crafting away........

 

Oh sure! Here's Dan's Brownie recipe :)

Yummy Ole Brownies

1 1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup cocoa
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 TB pure vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup nuts (optional)

In microwave safe bowl melt shortening. Add cocoa and mix well.

Combine baking powder, salt and flour. Set aside. In large bowl or mixer combine cocoa mixture, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Add flour mixture until well blended. Fold in nuts.

Bake in 9 x 13 greased pan 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick test comes out clean. Cut in bars and serve. Yummy!

 

Tomorrow we're having a Summer BBQ with the kids. Hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, chips and lots of ice cold drinks. Just your usual Fourth of July Feast! Hope you all have a safe holiday weekend! Hooray for Sparklers!!

Spinach Dip and Fatty McGee

 

We had treat day at work last night and I was asked begged to make my spinach dip. I haven't made it for quite awhile but then I started thinking.....wow, it's been twenty years since I found this recipe. Time flies! This is my version of the ole favorite :)

Spinach Dip

10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach
1 large container sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
1 package dry vegetable soup mix
4 tsp. fresh chopped onions
1 tsp. dry minced onions
Season salt to taste
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
2 loaves french bread cut in cubes
Shepherd bread bowl

Cook spinach on stove top as directed on package. Drain excess water from spinach, set aside.

Combine sour cream, mayo, soup mix, salt, and onions. Mix until well combined. Fold in spinach and add lemon juice. Stir well. Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours. Serve in bread bowl and use bread for dipping.

 

The dry creek bed is still in progress. We are planting some grass around the bed and adding some mulch and stepping stones. It's questionable if Fatty McGee will stay out of this shady cool dirt long enough for the grass to grow. Obviously, not seeing the ropes as an obstacle.

 

Fatty McGee doesn't understand why we are keeping her out of her favorite spot. She just steps over the ropes and makes herself at home. Whyioutta!

 

Summer sweetness with flower pens, fabric scrappy packs and desserts. More summer crafts coming soon :)

 

Be strong to the finish and eats me my spinach :)

Dreamy Lemon Bars

 

a sweet Summer treat for you.......

Dreamy Lemon Bars

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
1 8 oz. cream cheese
2 TB milk
8 oz. Cool Whip
3 1/2 cups milk
2  small packages Jello instant lemon pudding

Mix graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cups sugar and butter. Press in 9 x 13 pan, refrigerate 15 minutes.

Beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and 2 TB milk until smooth. Gently fold in 1/2 of Cool Whip. Spread over crust.

Combine pudding and milk, beat until smooth about 2 minutes. Pour over cream cheese layer.

Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Add dollop of Cool Whip and lemon wedge for garnish.

  

the garden is really taking off.....

 

can you see that cute little corn cob in there? He's cute as a button!

 

July flowers lead to our front door.....

 

Maggie keeping the birds in check.....

 

my favorite place to hang out.....

 

Dance, Jump, Sing and Giggle......it's Summer!

the happy place.......

 

they just make me happy

they really do :)

 

Firecracker and Summer love flower pens.

 

Available this weekend in my Shop. 

 

Smile......

Dishcloths and soap in a jar

 

Have you ever thought to......

If you must wash the dishes, you should do so in style. Sweet drizzler jars filled with your favorite dish soap. You can pick these up in the kitchen department. Their original purpose of course is for oils.

 

We like to use green dish soap in the Summer, orange for Fall, red for the Holidays and Springtime would be pink or yellow.

Soap just drizzles out a bit, so you use much less. Also, whip up some easy cotton crochet dishcloths for cleaning.

 

Oh and they look real pretty on your counter tops too.

close only counts in Horseshoes......

 

My parents were the best horseshoe players that I know. Of course, I really didn't hang out with too many professional horseshoe folks.....but my guess is they were pretty darn good at this game in their younger days.

  

How to make a Horseshoe Game Post:

1. Find an old fence post and cement it in

2. Nail a big ole rusty hook for horseshoe hanging

3. Grab 4 horseshoes, we spray painted ours a Nice Patriotic Blue

4. Add some charm with a little old sign

 

It is questionable to all if I really scored this winning game shot.

 

We don't play official game rules at our house:

I believe you are suppose to put your horseshoe stakes 40 feet apart, ours our 25-30 feet because of the wee ones and space. We count ringers at 3 points, leaner 2 points and close only counts in horseshoes scores a 1. Reach 20 points and win the game.

 

Jake enjoying one of the few sunny days we've had lately. Lots of rain! Rain is good though, so many hot sunny days ahead. Sure, we'll take the rain :)

 

The new addition to the playground.....Jake's Teeter Totter.

 

I would have loved to have this as a kid! Of course with a cottage playhouse close by for me and my dollies three. My Craft Studio is to the left of this photo, what a perfect view for me, watching Jake play.

 

Boy, it's great to be a kid!

 

Another questionable game play....
Add another 4 points, please :)

 

Happy Summer!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day

Thank you for that little boy of ours :)

The Salsa Garden

 

The beginning of our Salsa Garden. One raised bed full of green, yellow and red bell peppers. Lots of onions, tomatoes, anaheim, jalapeno, serrano and cayenne peppers.  

I'm smitten with these bird feeders! I've had this bowl forever and thought it should go in the Salsa Garden. I'll fill it with a few bird seeds or some water for bird bathing.

 

Soaker hoses have been a life saver. This is actually working great for us and we don't have to worry about over watering.

 

My little gardening helper. All ready to help me put the Salsa Sign up. We just glued some drift wood on a stake and painted "Salsa". CUTE!

 

You would think Jake is picking strawberries, wouldn't you? He's actually finding old flower and vegetable markers and putting them all in the berry patch. Dan's brother Chris would tell Dan when he was little that these were grave markers. He was fascinated with the idea! Then one day, Rosemary told him they were to mark the vegetables and flowers.....a little disappointed he was and I think still is :)

 

My beautiful pea gravel walk way............just admiring the corn.

Thank you Dan for my beautiful garden! It makes me smile every single day :)

 

Looks like it's almost salad time. Cute little devils!

   

Strawberry Patch mixed in with a few cantaloupes. Maybe some pumpkins too......it's going to be a bit cramped girls. I always forget where and what I plant when I use seeds. Where is Jake Parent and his garden markers when I need him?

 

Birds happy and keeping the bugs from eating the garden. Thank you Birds! I'll keep feeding you :)

 

Don't have a Salsa Garden? Oh you should, you really should!

Nothing is more the child of art than a garden.
Sir Walter Scott

Peanut Butter Smooches

Whipped up a batch of Peanut Butter Smooches.....a kiss from me to you :)

Peanut Butter Smooches

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
4 TB. milk
3 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 package miniature Hershey kisses

Combine butter and sugars until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla and peanut butter.

In separate bowl, combine flour, soda and salt. Add to sugar mixture slowly, alternating with milk. Mix well. Fold in kisses.

Drop a generous amount of dough on parchment covered cookie sheet. The photo doesn't show it, but these cookies are HUGE! Bake 375 degrees for 18 minutes, no longer. Cookie will be a dark golden brown--a crunchy yummy cookie. Serve with a glass of milk............delicious!

Garden photos on the way and lots more recipes. I'll also have a craft or two to share with you :)
Happy Week!