Candy Canes

Candy canes are one of my favorite candy and now just look at this -- they're good for you, too!.

New studies on peppermint, the key flavoring in traditional candy canes, reveal the herb may do everything from kill germs to treat digestive troubles. Some researchers now advise consumers to eat a tablespoon or more of fresh peppermint, and other green herbs, daily.

Peppermint oil, found in most candy canes, also appears to have health benefits. A recent British Medical Journal study, led by McMaster University researcher Alex Ford, concludes that peppermint oil should be the first line of defense against irritable bowel syndrome, a condition characterized by abdominal pain and irregular bowels that affects between 5 to 20 percent of the population.



Peppermint oil, and other potent essential oils, may even one day be wafted in their vapor form over food to prevent the growth of bacteria.

Belated Merry Christmas

I was half tempted to cancel Christmas this year, but lo and behold, I did get into the spirit of the season when I finally put up my little Christmas tree.

This was my first Christmas without my Mother. Losing her this summer was one of the most devastating events in my life. She suffered for six months with several illnesses, but none of that mattered when the time came. We were not prepared. We wanted the suffering to stop, but we were not ready to let her go.

My Mother was a wonderful woman who enjoyed Christmas more than anyone and we were truly blessed to have her and the traditions that she passed on. I hope that she knows how much we love her and miss her. Life has not been the same with her gone, but it does go on and we are still trying to cope. From now on, every time I listen to Silent Night I will shed a few tears.

I must say that I did have a beautiful Christmas. My son went with me to mass on Christmas morning and that was a gift in itself. He left in the early afternoon to pick up his daughter and open gifts at his house and I took “the boys” with me to the cemetery to deliver the wreaths to my Mother and Father. It was a gorgeous sunny day and the air was crisp - so, after visiting the cemetery, we took a nice walk along the river for some fresh air. The boys enjoyed the walk and it gave me some time to clear my head.

A truly weird thing happened when we returned home. I’ve had the cold that won’t go away for well over a week – so smelling anything has been non-existent, and as I opened the front door, I could smell my mother’s perfume – even the dogs stopped to sniff the air. It just lingered for a few moments and then it was gone – but, I knew that I was meant to enjoy Christmas and she was with us in spirit – or else, I’m losing my mind.

My son and granddaughter returned around 3:30 p.m. and we opened our gifts. They spoiled me. I am now the proud owner of a collection of Jim Shore lighthouses that will replace the Jim Shore Santa’s that now grace my mantle, in addition to a host of other gifts. I was speechless.

Kylie was thrilled with her Wii Fit and told me that she received everything that she asked for for Christmas - how special is that??

After a nice leisurely dinner, where we cooked the potatoes out on the grill,

we played with Kylie’s Electronic Banking Monopoly

and I have never had so much fun nor laughed so hard playing Monopoly. Even the dogs had a chance to be "The Banker".

As the evening wore on, I had two tired pups, a house that resembles "Dog Toys R Us" and the joy of spending Christmas with my family, which isn't something that you can wrap up with pretty paper and sparkling bows.

I hope that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, too.

Thanksgiving Week

I love Thanksgiving week. I always take this week as vacation and get to spend some quality time with my Granddaughter as her school closes for Parent/Teacher conferences. I always knew that Kylie was one smart cookie, but now she has the proof - Straight A's on her report card - it doesn't get any better than that. She reminds me so much of her father it's not even funny - I don't think that I ever got Straight A's - except maybe in art. Yes, I am one proud grandmother!

After spending the better part of the week with Kylie, I've come to the conclusion that I don't ever want to grow up - it's just too much fun being childlike. Don't they call this Peter Pan Syndrome?

I picked up Kylie on Saturday afternoon for a "Girls Day Out" and we started off at Joann Fabrics for a papercrafting demo. I always hoped to get into scrapbooking, but so far all I've ever done is some retail therapy and amass a lot of stuff that I planned to use one day and never have. Thankfully, I didn't purge it when I was in my "clean it out" mode. Joann's was demo-ing one of those fancy new Cricut machines and as they were setting the bait to reel us in, I thought twice about spending $400 for a machine that I may or may not use -- then there were the cartridges that go along with it. Whoa, this could be an expensive new hobby. Oh, did we ever get caught up in the possibilities of the things that we could make with this machine, but as we browsed the aisles of Joann's, they had a Sizzix Big Kick machine that was hand crank and 40% off both the machine and die-cuts. Now that was more like it. After we left Joann's, we went to lunch and Kylie's head was just swirling with ideas of what we were going to make.

Here's Kylie at work with cranking out all of the designs.

Let me tell you, this was the best money ever spent. I have never had so much fun playing with little pieces of paper and glue and seeing the happy smile on Kylie's face as she was creating her masterpieces. The time spent together laughing, talking and being creative was priceless.

Kylie did take time to dote on "the boys" and they loved every minute of it.

I have a few projects that I've been working on that are quilt related and I hope to get back to them once the papercrafting bug has let up.

This is an embroidered pillow top that just needs a backing.

This is the background for a Country Santa that needs to be appliqued.

and, finally a Christmas tree quilt that needs to be quilted and I'm still playing with the prairie points that will rim the edge.

I'm hoping that posting these half-finished photos of works-in-progress will shame me into finishing them. Do ya think???

Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful that I had so much fun spending time with my granddaughter.

Early Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving came early for us this year. My granddaughter is going to be spending Thanksgiving with her mother's family, so we decided that we have so much to be thankful for that we would celebrate early.


I spent most of Saturday cleaning my house - and believe me it sure did need it. I should be charging those dust bunnies rent. The weather was dreadful, so it was a good day to stay inside. I had my "to-do" list and it felt oh so good to cross off all those tasks that I've been putting off. This was also my first attempt at cooking a turkey and I was a little nervous, but since it wasn't officially Thanksgiving we could just call and order from KFC if it didn't turn out. Thankfully, it was as easy as it looked!

The "boys", Toby & Bailey, knew that something was up and were excited that we were having company - or should I say they were planning who would spend the most time with Kylie.

Dinner was so relaxing and enjoyable - no pressure, just good food, good company and good wine. I was on my A-game today and everything was timed perfectly.

You know how people get really sleepy after eating turkey, we'll I have two tired and exhausted pups (yes that photo is really two dogs sleeping together) and now I have the rest of the evening to do whatever. It doesn't get any better than this.

Life Goes On

I'm sure that anyone still reading my blog would think that I would be gushing about the wedding, but that didn't happen. Another curveball in the game we call life. Once again our family has learned that no matter what .... life does go on. These things happen for a reason and you don't dwell on it - you just move on.


Enough doom and gloom and on to happier things.


How about those Phillies - 2008 World Champions!!! My son, granddaughter and I went up to Philadelphia to see the parade - 28 years in the making and it was worth every minute of it. Twice in my lifetime the Philies have won a world championship. I've never seen sooo many people in one place at one time. The closest thing that I can imagine is Times Square on New Year's Eve which I've watched on TV and wondered "are those people nuts to want to be in a crowd like that" -- YES! But, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I'm glad that I got to experience it.


I won't go into how the crowd roared when Chase Utley dropped the F-bomb on "live" TV! Way to go Chase.........


Another piece of good news - I got a new sewing machine - a little 12-pound Janome Gem 760. A great little machine to take to all of those classes that I plan to attend. I'm not having a lot of success with forcing myself to spend time in my sewing room, so maybe if I take a few classes, I'll get my MoJo back. It would probably help, if I took the machine out of the box.....maybe.





My friend, Deb, and I have been sewing Stockings for the Troops and that is easing me back into sewing a little. I'm not setting the world on fire sewing these things, but it is using up a lot of Christmas fabric from my stash.


I've been keeping busy with two houses, too. My mother's house is almost cleaned out and I need to do some rennovations before moving in. I've also been clearing out my own house to downsize before moving. Oh my, the stuff we keep. I do get into these binges of "Use it or lose it", but it is so hard to get rid of your own stuff. Now, I'm looking at stuff to "use it or move it."

I can't believe the Holiday season is almost here and for us it will be bittersweet without Mom, but once again life does go on.

It's Officially Unofficial

I received my invitation in the mail today. My son is getting married. I knew it was coming up fast and furious, but this makes it official. These Six weeks will go by so fast that my head is spinning.

I do have my dress and the alterations are going to be done this week. The rehearsal dinner is set. Now, it seems like all I have to do is show up and look good.

This time last year, I wanted the Fairy Tale and it will take place in 6 weeks. I guess Miracles really do happen --- if you believe.

Double The Pleasure - Double The Fun

No, this isn't an advertisement for Wrigley's Gum. When you have 2 Yorkies, what could be more fun?

The weather has been September-like the past few days and we enjoyed an evening in the Garden just Grillin and Chillin.

When I'm grilling, the dogs are usually sitting right in from of the grill praying to the altar of St. Weber that something on that grill will be for them -- they are never disappointed.

If you think it's easy to get two high-strung independent Yorkies to sit still long enough for a photo shoot - you're dreaming. I had to promise them that St. Weber would have a hamburger waiting for them when this was over.

Bailey wants to know how much longer until it's time to eat or do you think he is asking for his hamburger to be cooked medium-rare? I don't usually take requests.

Toby is the newest addition to the family. He was my Mom's dog and now he has been adopted by us. Toby is 18 months old and I'm hoping that one day he will grow into his ears.

He is just too cute and loaded with personality. Both Bailey and Toby were used to being an only-dog, however Bailey is trying to get into being a big-brother and is trying to teach Toby what nap time is.

As you can see Toby really likes to mug for the camera. Uh-oh, it's dinner time - so the photo shoot is over.

Quilting, Mexican Food and Baseball

I know that you're probably wondering just what these three things have in common? She's really lost her mind, but that was my day yesterday.

I started the day at the local quilt shop for the monthly Quilting Demo. They showed us this nifty new way to make Half-Square Triangles (HST's) by taking two pieces of fabric (right sides together) and placing the Star Singles paper on top, then pinning together and sewing along the dotted line following the arrows, cut along the solid lines, tear away the paper and viola - a perfect HST. It was like they cast the line and reeled us in hook, line and sinker. Not only did they demo the technique, they showed us samples of what you could do with them. Take a look at these cute placemats that incorporate a panel and piecing.

I was hooked as were my other two quilting buddies. Now the challenge will be to see who gets them done first.

These placemats are definitely on my wish list to get done for Christmas.

After spending the morning at the Quilt Shop, I met up with some friends for lunch at a local Mexican Restaurant for a Gab Fest. Good food and good friends is the perfect recipe for a good time. After lunch they were heading over to see Mama Mia.

Even though I really wanted to see the movie, I bidded them good-bye. I was heading home to let out the dogs and pack up the cooler for a little tail-gating before the Phillies Game. I just love a baseball game.

Why is it that hot dogs taste so darned good at a ball park? Do you think it's because you're washing it down with an ice cold beer?

My son had scored some great seats for the game and I couldn't pass that up. I can see the movie any time. I took this picture from my seat of Jason Werth on third base -- how often can you get up close and personal with a baseball player, without leaving your seat.

Trains, Phones & Emotional Baggage

I've been keeping busy this week while on vacation, or should I say "Staycation". I heard that "Staycation" is a new buzz word for staying home while on vacation. Man, I've been in vogue for years. I was never one to pack up all of my earthly belonging to trek to a remote location, only to find out that I've forgotten something. I'm one of those people that packs light -- only what you can carry with two hands.

Anyway, I'm digressing. I've been packing up my Mother's house. It seems weird going through her things when she's not there, but I know it has to be done. Hey, I have to make room for all of my stuff! I really thought that I could breeze through this chore like a freight train. I came armed with boxes and an organizational plan on how to pack things up to inventory. I sure wasn't prepared for the emotional baggage that went along with it. I must have this strange fascination with trains -- I'm always comparing things to a train ride......

Just as I would go into a melt-down, the telephone would ring and the person on the other end would cheer me up. Thanks, Bob and Judy -- you don't know how much it meant that you knew the precise time to make that phone call and ease that burden, which made the emotional baggage a little lighter.

What's In A Name?

I was doing a little blog-hopping early this morning and I stumbled across this on Mrs. Goodneedle's blog http://strawberrypatchquiltworks.blogspot.com/ and I had to give it a try. I'm such a sucker for these blog quizzes and such and I'm always so [dang, what's the word I want?] skeptical that these things can really have any authenticity. So lo and behold, imagine my shock to see how my name really fits me to a "T". Now, you know me better than I knew myself -- Go ahead and give it a try! I double-dog dare ya!!

What Kim means

People see you as a complete enigma, and only you truly understand who you are. You spend most of your time introspecting and seeking truth. You're a very interesting person... but not many people know you enough to realize it. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are deeply philosophical and thoughtful. You tend to analyze every aspect of your life. You are intuitive, brilliant, and quite introverted. You value your time alone. Often times, you are grumpy with other people. You don't appreciate them trying to interfere in your affairs. You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

A New Beginning

Today was the one year anniversary of when I started chemo - and one year later I am embarking on a new jourey in my life. I truly believe that life is a journey -- not a destination.

I have always had a love/hate relationship with the number 7. My son was born in '77 and I love him more than life itself. However the single "7" is always a challenge. '07 was a difficult year for me, but I survived it and hopefully, became a stonger person in spite of it. The zodiac sign, Cancer, occurs in the 7th month and I lost my mother in the 7th month to cancer. I now see that I was the lucky one and overcame it, I only wish that she could have, too. She told me more than once that "Miracles Do Happen".

On the last day of July (yes, in the 7th month), I decided that I am going to move to my Mother's house. I now own two houses and I can only keep one. A new beginning. The house is located in a quaint, colonial town with a gorgeous view of the river and a beautiful garden. The larger fenced-in yard will allow the dogs more room to run around and it will give me more space to play in the garden. It's time for me to move away from the city. I will miss my garden the most.

The prospect of the move is giving me something to look forward to. I will have to do some renovations to the house to make it my own because I can't live in my Mother's shadow. Since I have both houses, I won't have to live with the renovations and the dogs won't torment the contractors. The thoughts of downsizing and getting rid of stuff is a bit overwhelming, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime and I'm going to grab it. I have to now look at things with a critical eye and ask myself - do I move it? Or lose it? This should make my son very happy -- he thinks I'm a pack-rat.

Now that I have returned to Blogging, this should give me lots to talk about. I've already mapped out where my sewing room will be..

A Sad Return

It is with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes that I am returning to the wonderful world of blogging. I don't even know why I picked tonight to start blogging again, but I received an email from a fellow-blogger, Ann "Ancient One's Place - so I thought that it was time for me to return. I have been away long enough.

The last time that I was here, I was ending chemo and I was Oh-So thankful for that and the way everyone spurred me to go on - even when I felt like giving up. Many things have happened in my life since I took that hiatus. My son got engaged right before Christmas and the wedding is coming up so fast - October 10, 2008. Lesley will make a wonderful wife to my son as well as a Dear Daughter-in-law. I was also happy that my son does not share his mother's fear of commitment.

I thought that 2008 would be a year for New Beginnings. I was so happy to see 2007 end as it was not a banner year for me. However, I did attain remission from NHL and I thought that I buried that box so deep, that I would never have to open it again.

In January, my mother was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia. In February, I had my three-month check up and everything was fine. In March, Mom went back to the hospital with Renal Failure. In April, she went back to the hospital again and this time they diagnosed her with lung cancer -- my heart sank. I spurred her along and told her that she would have to be a warrior because the wedding was coming up and I didn't want to sit in the front pew at the wedding by myself. In May, I went for my six-month check-up and remission continues. I have put this so far behind me, that I goes days and weeks without thinking about it. On June 24th, Mom went back to the hospital with pneumonia again and a Sepsis infection and she was admitted to ICU. I brought her home from the hospital on July 5th and she seemed to be doing rather well. She was spunky, cheerful and happy to be home.

On July 19th, my entire world changed -- My Mother passed away in her sleep. I know death is an inevitable part of life and the natural progression of life is to bury a parent. It closes the Circle of Life, but we are never really prepared for it to happen. It's one of those things that will happen someday, and we hope that someday never comes.

She passed from this life peacefully in her sleep with a smile on her face, in her own home without any monitors, IV tubes, or interference of medical science. It's the way that anyone would dream of going, but I wasn't ready to say good-bye to my mother. Deep down, I know that she is in a better place, forever young and hopefully, running free.

It seems hard to believe that it was only 5 days ago that we buried her. It seems like a lifetime ago. I have taken comfort in the heartfelt condolances and I hold onto my memories like a lifeline to help me get over the pain of losing her. Life as I knew it will never be the same again.

Last year, when I was battling my own demons, I vowed to end every phone call with "I Love You". I also take comfort in knowing that those were the last words I said to Mom before she died.

To fill the void, I hope to get back into quilting. My quilt shop offeres monthly demos the second Saturday of each month and I have attended a few this year with my quilt buddies, Susan and Deb. My DGD, Kylie, has also joined us and she has quite the eye for picking out fabric. The demos seem to really suck you in and I've performed a lot of "Retail Therapy", but not much else. I have worked on a few embroidery projects that I made into pillows -- you can never have enough pillows, in my humble opnion.

I also have another Yorkie, Toby. Toby was Mom's dog and he is now living with us. Bailey is now a big brother and he thinks that Toby is the itch you just can't scratch. I promise to have some pictures next time, too.

If you have made it this far into my blog posting, thank you for listening to me ramble on. I promise to have something for show-and-tell next time I'm here.