Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Lazy Man's Pickles (Refrigerator Pickles)



It's canning season. Today I tackled making pickles. I couldn't have done this last week with my back; however, this week I'm doing much better. So I thought I'd just do the Lazy version of pickles. They are oh, so E-A-S-Y!!!! I made two batches. Might make another two later in the week.


Lazy Man's Pickles

(Refrigerator Pickles)
Ingredients:
6 cups thinly sliced cucumbers
1 cup thinly sliced onions
1 cup sliced bell peppers
1 Tablespoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon celery seed




Mix the cucumbers, onions, bell peppers and slat. Store in Refrigerator for 2 hours. Remove and drain well.










Heat sugar, vinegar and celery seed until sugar dissolves.










Mix the liquid with cucumber mixture. Put into jar(s) and keep refrigerated.









Monday, August 30, 2010

The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Vigilante's Bride
Bethany House (August 1, 2010)
by
Yvonne Harris

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yvonne Harris earned a BS in Education from the University of Hartford and has taught throughout New England and the mid-Atlantic. Unofficially retired from teaching, she teaches writing at Burlington County College in southern New Jersey, where she resides. She is a winner and three-time finalist for the Golden Heart, once for The Vigilante's Bride, which is her debut novel.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Montana Territory, 1884...Is Her Kidnapper the Only Man Who Can Keep Her Safe?

Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas Eve and abducting a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expected to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from his pa, but instead ended up rescuing a feisty copper-haired woman who was on her way to marry Sullivan's dangerous enemy. Emily McCarthy doesn't take kindly to her so-called rescue. Still, she's hoping Providence will turn her situation for good, especially when it seems Luke Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. But Luke has crossed a vicious man, a powerful rancher not used to losing, and Emily is the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Vigilante's Bride, go HERE


Saturday, August 28, 2010

catching up on posting my winnings

I'm a little behind in posting items that I've won and have come in the mail. So I'll try to get it all posted here...

I don't know where I won all them I've lost track, but I'm sure I have the site's icon I won them on is in my side bar.

This will go to my niece that is expecting. If I was smart I would have had them mail it directly to her, but I didn't think of it at the time. I've also one a $25 gift card to on-line baby boutique. I also won this cool step stool that went directly to my niece from the CSN store, which reminds me don't forget about entering the drawing I have going on for the CSN store. Check it out here.

Won this insulated bag along with a pizza cutter/server, serving spoon and 4 coupons for Red Baron Pizza. Bought the Pizzas today we'll be having a pizza feast for lunch tomorrow.


Won this coupon for free Beyer's ice cream bars. Bought the triple chocolate ones today.


Won two coupons for Free Gorton's fish products. The fish is long gone but it was Good non-the-less.




aqua sticky notes and pencil. Suppose to be able to use them in the shower and bath. I haven't tried them out yet.



This cool soft cosmetic bag came today.







Friday, August 27, 2010

the TIME has come...


And now for my long awaited Review.... Did you guess???

The CSN stores has graciously allowed me to review the Chef's Choice International WafflePro Taste /Texture Select Classic Belgian Waffle Design

My daughter was so excited when I selected this waffle maker to do a review on. She has been wanting me to get one so I jumped at the chance to do a review on this product. My what a product it is. We have been totally pleased with this waffle iron. It has made the best waffles. It is easy to use and clean up is very easy. Well, providing you don't use more batter than is suggested. But even at that I let the waffle maker cool and then started cleaning up the mess. A toothbrush cleans this maker right well. I love the chrome and black color very modern. We made several recipes with this iron. We used just the basic waffle recipe on the back of pancake mix and then we used the basic mix recipe that came with the waffle iron. We also had to try out the waffle brownie dessert that came in the instruction guide. It was superb!







The waffles come out golden and wonderful in color and texture. You can make the outside crispy with moist interior or make the whole waffle crispy. My family has chosen the moist interior setting. Someday maybe we'll have to try out the crispy waffle. There is a darkness button if you like y our waffles more or less golden. I can honestly say we haven't been disappointed with this waffle maker. May post the recipe sometime. Be on the Look out.

Check out the CSN stores today! They have a wide varity of departments from home improvement to office supplies. Housewares, Home Decor, outdoor living. Kids and pets alike will benefit in their store line, as well as your feet and health and fitness. They have your needs covered with a wide range of items, over 200 stores to choose from. Their customer service is excellent. They are prompt in their service and delivery departments too. I was not disappointed in that area either. Excellent service is what I received from the CSN stores on-line.

Now for the good news. You can enter to win my $60 gift code giveaway from the CSN stores and be on your way to finding out what a wonderful store they are. I'll draw a winner for the $60 on Sept. 1st. Check out the details here @ Scraps of Life or @ 4 the LOVE of BOOKS.

~*Opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I was not paid for this post. Thanks CSN on-line stores for providing the product and $60 gift code giveaway for this review.~*


Thursday, August 26, 2010

Bear with Me please!


Sorry to you all for being away from the computer. I had shoulder problems for awhile. Then was on vacation. Now, I'm experiencing back problems. I will post as I feel I can, but please bear with me as I work through this pain. I'm just not up to par as of right now. Thanks for all your support and visiting my blog. I will post as I can.


Surrender the Heart by M. L. Tyndall

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Barbour Publishing (August 1, 2010)
by
M. L. Tyndall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. L. (MaryLu) Tyndall grew up on the beaches of South Florida loving the sea and the warm tropics. But despite the beauty around her, she always felt an ache in her soul--a longing for something more.

After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.

Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.

One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she'd only give her heart to Him completely.

She had written stories her whole life, but never had the confidence to try and get any of them published. But as God began to change her heart, He also showed her that writing had been His wonderful plan for her all along!

ABOUT THE BOOK

For the sake of her ailing mother, Marianne Denton becomes engaged to Noah Brennin---a merchantman she despises. But as the War of 1812 escalates, Jonah's ship is captured by the British, and the ill-matched couple learns vital information that could aid America's cause.

Relive the rich history of the War of 1812 through the eyes of Marianne Denton and Noah Brenin, who both long to please their families but neither one wishes to marry the other. Noah is determined to get his cargo to England before war breaks out, and Marianne is equally determined to have a wedding so that her inheritance can be unlocked and her destitute family saved. When their stubborn games get them captured by a British warship, can they escape and bring liberty to their country—and growing love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Surrender the Heart, go HERE.



Monday, August 23, 2010

Masquerade by Nancy Moser

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Masquerade
Bethany House (August 1, 2010)
by
Nancy Moser

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of over twenty inspirational novels. Her genres include contemporary stories including John 3:16 and Time Lottery, and historical novels of real women-of-history including Just Jane(Jane Austen) and Washington's Lady (Martha Washington). Her newest historical novel is Masquerade. Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She gives Sister Circle Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included. Find out more at

www.nancymoser.com and www.sistercircles.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

They risk it all for adventure and romance, but find that love only flourishes in truth...

1886, New York City: Charlotte Gleason, a rich heiress from England, escapes a family crisis by traveling to America in order to marry the even wealthier Conrad Tremaine.

She soon decides that an arranged marriage is not for her and persuades her maid, Dora, to take her place. She wants a chance at "real life," even if it means giving up financial security. For Charlotte, it's a risk she's willing to take. What begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl wanting adventure becomes a test of survival amid poverty beyond Charlotte's blackest nightmares.

As for Dora, it's the chance of a lifetime. She lives a fairy tale complete with gowns, jewels, and lavish mansions--yet is tormented by guilt from the possibility of discovery and the presence of another love that will not die. Is this what her heart truly longs for?

Will their masquerade be discovered? Will one of them have second thoughts? There is no guarantee the switch will work. It's a risk. It's the chance of a lifetime.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Masquerade, go HERE.

View the book trailer:





Friday, August 20, 2010

This doesn't look good...



We have had our own personal waterfalls here this Summer. I think we have a problem Huston! I don't believe it's suppose to be doing that. Opps!! Better call the person that did the siding and roofing. Something just isn't right. What else can you say? It's raining, it's pouring and the water's coming in YIKES! The pictures don't do it justice. It was flowing like a waterfall.