Chatbug Karen

Buyer Beware

Karen — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:36:05 +0000

I am a dummy for thinking that everyone knows what I am talking about when I said we eat puppy chow. Puppy Chow is a snack made by adding peanut butter, butter and semisweet chocolate chips to Rice Checks cereal. Microwave all until the butter is melted. Then the mixture is tossed in a few cups of powdered sugar to make a treat that is irresistible.

To make the weenies, I use 2 packages of little smokies and add 1 bottle (12 ounces) of chili sauce and 1 cup grape jelly. I stir all together and put in my crockpot for 6 to 8 hours on low.

My husband and I stayed home and watched the Super Bowl last night. Hubby’s ankles are still giving him trouble. He has tendonitis. I would have been furious if my tv didn’t work and I missed the big game. My sister and her husband bought furniture and a tv at Big Sandy Superstore in Pikeville, Kentucky. The furniture had to be replaced 3 times and is still not right. The tv broke and still doesn’t work. My poor sister and her husband have made countless phone calls and trips to the store to solve the problems with the tv not working and the furniture not being the correct style. These items were not cheap. They deserve satisfaction.

Four Food on Friday #104

Karen — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:27:42 +0000

One question for Four Foods on Friday this week and here it is!

1. Name four things you are planning on eating this weekend.

Since it is Superbowl weekend, I will be eating plenty of junk food.

I cannot keep from eating puppy chow. I also eat nachos with cheese, pretzels and hot dogs cooked in grape jelly.

Ready for It

Karen — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:30:37 +0000

Hubby and I are ready for the big snow storm we are supposed to receive during the night. We have plenty of groceries in the house and I am smack dab in the middle of putting a quilt together. I would love nothing more than to be stuck in front of my sewing machine while watching the snow build up on the ground outside. I have heard that people complain of cabin fever. I am not experiencing that at all.

I feel bad for the people who have to travel long distances to work. If they don’t work, they don’t get paid. They have to get out on the dangerous roads no matter the danger. I feel bad for the animals. I wonder if deer get cold. Do ground hogs get crabby when the weather freezes their whiskers? We have gold fish in our pond that survive each winter. We have pond fountains that run to keep the water from freezing but still keep a cattle type heater in the water too. Our fish don’t even require food during the winter months. They must live off the algae because they are always there come summer. It amazes me that they survive through the winter.

I understand that there are areas of the US that are receiving snow that are not used to that type of weather. It sounds like they enjoy getting a bit of snow for the first time in years. Now, they can get that cozy, stay at home feeling that I enjoy. Cabin fever? It hasn’t bitten me.

Heads or Tails

Karen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:29:55 +0000

Make any kind of post listing 3 things from any category you choose.

Three reminds me of Michael Jackson singing ABC.

My other two favorite Michael Jackson songs are Ben and Billie Jean.

Plugging Through Winter

Karen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:45:41 +0000

I finally feel like the year is really here. January, being the first month, usually flies by with work to be completed for end of year inventory and payroll tax forms. I loathe January. The only highlight in January is it is my favorite daughter’s birthday. I think we have only missed one of her birthdays where we were not together as a family. She usually requests a cherry chip cake with pink icing, a day of Wii or xbox games and just being together as a family.

February means the year is really here and time to make progress. All the file folders in the cabinet have been replaced with ones that say 2010. It is a struggle to ignore the cold weather and icy sidewalks but we plug along and contemplate my birthday dinner and Valentine’s Day, anything to make the winter go by faster. I’ve been asked to let hubby know where I’d like to celebrate my birthday dinner. Any suggestions?

Colt’s Purse in Progress

Karen — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:51:10 +0000

Today’s plans have changed! Instead of clearing all the tax papers from my office furniture, I will be sewing. Often, on Saturday, I work in my office to avoid interruptions that can cause me to make mistakes when working with numbers. It is crazy how much more quickly I am able to get things done without the interruptions. Hubby usually runs the customer side of our business on Saturdays. I’ve always thought that if he would work in the store instead of installing, we would sell so much more carpet. He can dig through stuff and satisfy the customer’s needs much more so than I can. It isn’t that he is pushy; he knows what he is talking about when it comes to how things should be done. He installs to make sure things are done the way they are supposed to be done. These attributes have afforded us thirty one years in business.

I digress to the topic as to why I will not be pushing numbers but the pedal of my sewing machine instead. I had a customer this morning! She saw a Colt’s purse I made for a friend and wants me to make one for her. I have the fabric and the time. Off to sew I go. Have a nice weekend everyone!

Four Foods on Friday 103

Karen — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:13:17 +0000

My friend Val hosts Four Foods on Friday each week. The participants have fun answering her questions and learning about each other. If you’d like to join us click on the picture.

Val changed the meme a bit this week! She must have been heading out to a sale because it was short and sweet this week! Thanks Val.

Name four things you ate today.

blueberry bagel
leftover fried chicken
coleslaw
snickerdoodle cookie

Bubble Wrap Turns 50 Today

Karen — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:59:50 +0000

According to CNN online, Actor Pernell Roberts, who played the eldest Cartwright brother in TV’s “Bonanza,” died at his Malibu, California, home Sunday at 81, his lawyer said. He was my favorite Bonanza star. I loved his dark hair and eyes. I didn’t know he was the same guy who played Trapper John! His bald head sure did age him!

Speaking of age, my husband keeps reminding me that I am older than bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is 50 years old today. I won’t be sending any party invitations to celebrate my birthday but I will be glad to pop some bubbles and annoy my “sweet” hubby. I might even use a roll of it to bonk him on his “sweet” head!

Weekends Are For Sewing!

Karen — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:58:39 +0000

This is going to be a quiet weekend. The roads are too icy and make traveling a bit treacherous. I don’t want to chance going into the ditch even though I am anxious to get to a fabric store and search for some purple and green fabric. Hubby said he saw a truck owned by our utility company in the ditch. Seeing that big truck laying on it side would put me in need of an AED aka automated external defibrillator. I don’t need that much excitement.

I have been catching up on quilt blocks for our local quilt guild meetings. I love making each block to see how it turns out. My last block turned out a bit darker than the 11 other blocks but I think it will be alright. I hope it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Can you tell which block I am talking about?

Icy Sidewalks

Karen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:08:35 +0000

When I walked across the sidewalk to the gym today, I felt my feet trying to slide out from under me. I leaned to the left and then to the right and managed to stay upright. It was close though. My husband had told me how slick it was and I should have listened. I spent the rest of the day tip toeing while walking on any sidewalks. I wasn’t wearing any fancy Christian Louboutin shoes. I was wearing dependable, skid resistant shoes with rubber soles. Not the prettiest shoes mind you but very dependable for a gal who has the nickname, ClutzyK.

Why did I have to go out on such an icy day? I finished a purse for a patient customer. You see, I went to grab the purse she purchased from my Etsy site and discovered I had already sold said purse. Yikes! What to do, what to do. I felt like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. I contacted the customer and she said she was fine with me making another bag as long as it was similar. Shewy! I had just enough fabric to make this bag. I hope she enjoys it. I really like the way it turned out even better than the first bag.