My skin is becoming very thin.

Now as I age and still need to sew for therapy, I've had to adapt. I find that pins will pierce my skin much easier. I have found these wondefully helpful little clips to use instead of pins. for many years, a pin prick here or there was never noticed, now I need to run to get a bandaid to prevent ruining my project. The bandaids are kept with my sewing supplies.

New Sewn purse for ME

I used a tapestry for the outside, open weave so I had to bind the seams before assembly. A Beautiful Green printed silk for the insdide. I just love it. ONE OF A KIND.

FORCEPS for turning and stuffing!

I'm not sure where I got these forceps, maybe a drugstore or thrift store. They have become my must-haves for turning my small sewing items and then to stuff in the batting as well.

I grab inside the very end of sewn item and holding it with foceps, simply pull it through turning the fabric as I go.

Works great for little items especially.

Then I grab a bit of fiberfill, sometimes twisting it slightly fo form a little ball at one end to grab on to and put it way into the sewn item.

I keep putting the fiberfill in in this way so that it is firmly packed.

So much easier than with my clumsy old arthritic hands. HAPPY SEWING........♥

Sewing tips for "Older Adults" and/or vision impaired

I was not ready to give up on sewing but threading my machine was difficult. This is the solution that I came up with. many years ago, OXmoor house sent me this freebie with a mailing.

With a black marker, I colored one corner:

I have used this numerous times to thread my machine by putting this behind my needle on the blacked side if using light thread and on the darker side to see dark thread I am able to see the hole in the needle clearly.

then after inserting the thread, I use the long tweezers to pull the thread through to the back.

I don't remember where I got the tweezers but they are now my must haves for sewing.

I hope this is helpful to someone. ♥

I found these in my files today and hope to share them with anyone that may need them, they are needed in this Covid crunch that we are in.

Feeling very Martha-ish Today!

I was in the process of making a lemon blueberry loaf cake to have with our "first coffee" in the AM. Realizing that I was out of lemon zest ....ekk.... a key ingredient. Drive to small corner store, none. Hannaford, none. so I bought a bag of lemons. I had a lemon zester from a few years ago. So in an instant, I had the needed amount for the cake. With the cake now out of the oven and cooling, I turned to the remaining 7 lemons. NOW the MARTHA section. After zesting all the lemons, I had a small amount to dry at 200 degrees for 20 minutes in the oven. now after drying and slightly crumbling, these 7 lemons yielded a "scant" 2 tablespoons of zested lemons.

Proceding to the zested lemons, I rolled them and juiced them, including the 2 from the original reason for buying the lemons origially.

This procedure yielded "Almost 2 cups of lemon juive to freeze in small containers for DIY lemon aid. I really think Martha goes to the store and buys her lemon zest in a glass container like I normally would.

On Amazon for $6.78 ($4.52 an ounce) Did I mention that the bag of lemons cost $3.99 and all of that physical work and the cost of the oven for 30 minutes. I WILL FIND LEMON ZEST AT A STORE SOON OR ODER IT ON AMAZON.

I found my old blog today

Great memories.........so much has changed. We have moved and are making it on Social Security. It was a long struggle to get to this place but we are finally able to "Age in Place" peacefully. We were so worried about losing our home and being homeless. Our health was deteriorating because of injuries and age related arthritis. WE were still trying to work and keep it. My Daughter still is not speaking to Me because we sold her inheritance! She said there were so many memories at the house. WE wish that we could have kept it and were praying for a lottery win...lol.

We love this home, 10 minutes from I95. 25 minutes from a major hospital, 15 minutes to a small one. 15 minutes to major grocery store and shopping. In Rangeley it was an hour away on bad roads. Two hours to Home Depot and Sam's Club - one way. That works for the young people, they love the privacy and quiet. We have a lovely Screen room so the black flies in the spring and the mosquitos in the summer are not a bother. Two bathrooms!! Washer and dryer not in the basement. Large master bedroom on the same level with a private handicapped shower bathroom. Perfect. And did I mention a pantry and lots of kitchen storage, no basement shelves to deal with. A craft/sewing/home office/exercise room. Quiet little town - bird feeders and flowers.

Updated photo of George and I - Thanksgiving Day 2015

Blueberry coffee cake with Almond topping

Today I am craving something fun for breakfast, I find a copied recipe "Cooks" Magazine. It sounded good. I remembered that I had some frozen blueberries in the basement freezer that need to be used up. I run down to the basement to see and sure enough - just slightly freezer burned blueberries. (Our food saver is old and sometimes doesn't finish vacuuming before it seals.)
I quickly glance at the other ingredients and deem it doable.

I take out my "prep" bowls and set the oven to 350 as the recipe states. 9" pan sprayed with vegetable spray...have to use baking spray. Butter is pretty hard, I measure and zap it slightly. Brown sugar...ok so I get the little stool from the bathroom to reach the brown sugar, granulated sugar and flour.

Nearly fall off the stool so I spill about a cup in the sink . I Remembered that I had just scrubbed the sink last night after dishes..so no biggy. I measure out the sugars (taking 1/3 cup out of the sink) and flour and put the 3-step stool back in the bathroom so there is room so I have some room to work.

I first mix up the topping, 1/3 cup of chopped almonds....oops can't find them ...pecan will do. 1/3 cup of flour, damn I put it back up on the shelf. So, I go to the bathroom-get the 3-stepper-bring down the flour and measure it out in the small bowl. Put the ladder back. 1/4 cup of brown sugar (check), 1 tbsp butter (check) 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Measure this in the palm of my hand...close enough. Try mixing this with a tablespoon, gum it all up, switch to fork. ok, fine. directions say "set aside".

"In a large bowl" mix .....Mixer, oh yes on the shelf in the basement, get that.
"Beat together the sugar (1 cup- forgotten but all measured out beside my bowl). butter (1/3 cup), eggs(2), and almond extract. (which I have) , mixing well" Combine flour (1 2/3 cup),baking soda (1 1/2 tsp.), baking powder (1 1/2 tsp)........damn return to bathroom for stool, can't reach it), stir until just blended" " Stir in Yogurt ( 3/4 cup 2 %) YOGURT...oh man, that;s what I meant to get yesterday! How didn't i see this in the recipe first...cause I wrote in quickly and scribbled. How about mayonnaise- no that has vinegar...milk 2%...I used that free poured until it looked like batter "
stir in blueberries. ( it actually said- "stir in blueberries and flour" I missed that part.

Reread recipe while writing this and; It did say in the list of ingredients 2 Tbsp. flour on the bottom. Oh well ). Pour into prepared pan and as I finish doing this ---- I notice the cup of sugar in my cute little prep bowl. With a spatula ,scape batter back out of bowl and mix in sugar---of course now that I've added the blueberries my batter turns blue making the remaining ones that didn't get smashed to sink to the bottom. So much for prepping the pan

. " Bake for 35-40 minutes until cake is done} ( I baked mine for 55 minutes, cause it didn't seem to be done. George and I had a piece just now...pretty good. I'd do it again with yogurt and floured blueberries and spraying the pan would sure help. I need to bake more!

Updated Photo of George and I

We're overweight and showing our age, but So happy........Thank You God. Photo taken at The Octoberfest in Wilton,Me.

My Grandson, Harrison Downey is Graduating this year.....WOW...What a handsome man he has become.

My Niece, Maggie, has given birth to her little boy. He's somewhat of a miracle, as her doctors had told her that her chances of conceiving and carrying to term were slim. But now we got to meet Declin Harrison Adams............On May 25th....9lb 6oz. of cuteness.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Eric Adams

Retirement looms - not Loons

We have a mortgage on our home. By budgeting, we're able to keep up on the finances. George is now working 52+ hours and I am working 26 1/2 hours a week and collecting my Social Security. We truly love this home but sadly I need to be able to retire and have my poor "achy knees and hips" husband and retire also.

In the Spring we'll be putting this property for sale and paying off mortgage. The hope to put an affordable small home on our other property on Haley pond up the road. This is both scary and exciting. Much to be done and with our physical issues, I'm a little nervous about the big move and all it involves. Our goal is to have the new home finished or at least the mortgage paid before 4/17/2018 when George turns 65.

Step one: Get land cleared. It is wet, we've had the perk test done and the survey of 6 1/2 acres is complete. By clearing the property it will allow the sun to get in to dry out the new lot.

Shaklee distributor

i have joined as a member so I may order what I need at the better cost , not necessarily to sell, although I could and may at some later date. I really believe in their products and will be "frugal" and use all my left-over product before changing over to SHAKLEE FOR NEARLY MY ENTIRE HOUSE. I'll still be making my own laundry detergent, but still use the commercial dishwasher detergent.

Sunrises in Rangeley and here in my yard

We call the trees on the left "Two trees" , I think they look like a mother and child, so maybe the fat one on the right would be the Daddy tree?

Moose

We have many moose here in Maine.One day as we were on our way home from the store we saw two moose fighting over a female. One of the males followed the female behind our truck. Very close to our truck window.


Here's another picture of a moose with a nice rack that we encountered on the road another day.

Winter on Haley Pond

We get our share of snow here in Rangeley, Maine. It is a lot of work to clear it but it's also quite beautiful and peaceful.We choose to live here!

Recently I have renewed my interest in quilting. A friend and Client in Maine has inspired me. I have been "practicing" the 1/4" seams and making and sewing the binding. The hand sewing of the binding and applique work is very relaxing in front of the TV in the evening. Here's what I've made so far. This is just a fun wall hanging...yes....I'm love dragonflies too. ( As millions of us!)

Then I made two small "mug Rugs".

Ice Hockey photo on Local TV channel

My photo of Ice Hockey competition preparation on Haley Pond was featured on Channel 8 as "the picture of the day" Here's the picture:

Harrison's interest switched to plays at Burr and Burton Academy

This fall George and I had the privilege of watching my Grandson (Harrison Downey) in the production of "MASH". He did such a wonderful job. We also had a fun visit with my Daughter, Terry Downey, and her significant other, Keith Wyman. The weather was perfect also.