Jeter's Advice To Eli Paid Off

From Dan Graziano:

During his rookie season, while he was in the midst of losing his first six games as the New York Giants' starting quarterback, Eli Manning got an unexpected phone call. It was from Derek Jeter, the star shortstop of the New York Yankees, and he had a simple message for Manning, who remembers it to this day.

"It was kind of right after I'd become the starter and had a couple of tough games," Manning said. "He just told me, 'Keep your head up, keep doing what you're doing and it'll get better.'"

This was 2004. Jeter was an established New York superstar, owner of four World Series rings and on a Hall of Fame path. The phone call mattered because Jeter was someone Manning had been studying carefully.

"Derek's a guy, from the time I first came here, that I definitely have paid a lot of attention to," Manning said last week after a Giants practice. "He's a great player, but he's also a guy who really shows you what you have to do to succeed in a place like New York. The way he's handled himself on the field, off the field. The way he's dealt with all of the attention without letting it affect the way he does his job. He's done that better than anybody."

...

"Playing in this market, you learn quickly that you've got to be immune to the distractions," Manning said. "And watching Derek and seeing how he's kept his private life private and managed to keep the focus on the field and on the job he has to do, that's a big help for someone like me. That's what you've got to do, and he's the ultimate example."

...

"Eli is Eli," said Justin Tuck, Giants defensive end and admitted Yankees fan. "If you want to make the comparison, he's more Jeter than he is Peyton. I'll give you that. But he's Eli. He's himself. He doesn't need to be compared to anyone."

But the comparison to Jeter as a clutch player and an even-keeled star is a worthy one, and it seems to please Manning and Jeter, who share a mutual respect.

"I've always appreciated the way Eli has carried himself, not only on the football field but more importantly away from it," Jeter wrote in an email through the Yankees' media relations department. "He certainly seems to me to have the perfect demeanor to handle the spotlight that comes with playing in New York. He's already had a great deal of success in his career, and I don't see any reason that won't continue for a long, long time to come."

It's these little things that we rarely hear about that truly makes Jeter Jeter. Well done, Captain.... oh, and go Big Blue!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!!! ..........

Well, well, well ..... It only seems like yesterday that I posted OMG.....60 today, and now another year has gone by and today I have reached the dizzy heights of 61 !!!! The older you get, the quicker it goes. Note to self ..... squeeze in even more things this year than last !!

As you can see by my face , I can't quite believe how quickly time flies !!!!! 

Anyway, today it's all about ME !!!!   Time to celebrate ..... last year I managed to make my birthday last about a fortnight so, let's see if I can make it last even longer this year !!!!

I think that this cake is a little more appropriate as I am rapidly approaching my dinosaur years !!!! haha ......

By about 5.00 p.m. this evening, I am hoping to be at about this stage with more to come.

Here's to another wonderful year, full of fun, laughter and good times and, I just hope it doesn't go as quickly as last year !!

Thanks so much for all of your support, lovely comments and blogging friendship and I shall raise my glass to all of my blogging friends ..... probably more than once today !!!! 

images 1 & 2: via me, image 3: via Brown dress with white dots, image 4: via  the sweetest occasion, image 5: via Bathwater

A Finished Quilt During My Mini Vacation

I finished binding this quilt a week ago, and completely forgot to share the pictures.


Usually, with a quilt like this I would have chosen white fabric for the bias tape, but this time I wanted to do something I normally don't do... and you know what? I think I kind of like it.


Since that last procedure was canceled and we had to reschedule it, I have been working on some projects. I am going to be able to share a couple of the projects soon, and some not so soon, but I am enjoying this little "vacation time" from the procedures.

I miss having you all for my link parties on Wednesdays, but I decided that it is best to take a break until this medical craziness calms down. I don't know exactly how long, but probably a few months.

Having said that, what project is making you happy? What have you been working on?

Yanks Sign for Red Sox Reliever Manny Delcarmen

The last time we saw Delcarmen he put up a 4.99 ERA in 57 appearances for the Red Sox and Rockies in 2010. He did not pitch in the big leagues last season

Yanks in Talks With Bill Hall

Andy Martino also tweets that Hall is still considering "other teams" as well.

Last season, Hall hit .211/.261/.314 with 2 HR and 14 RBI in 185 at-bats with the Astros and Giants.

Happily Ever After

One of my “virtual friends” noted that I have been a little MIA lately…sorry about that! My furniture projects tend to slack off in the winter months; it’s just too cold to paint outside! And then sometimes…life happens. Last weekend I got a nasty bout of strep throat, and then, being the caring, sharing person that I am…I proceeded to pass it along to two of my boys and my husband! Then my daughter tripped going UP the stairs at her school and gave herself a nasty sprained ankle, so she is in a boot and on crutches for the next few weeks. Whew! It’s been quite a week!
But I do have a project to share!

I had a niece who was getting married in December (yes, it already happened), and I made a simple copy of a beautiful wedding sign I had seen on etsy (note: the link to the original sign has been removed at the creator's request).

Using another of my salvaged cupboard doors (you can see other cupboard door projects here, here, and here), I base-coated the door black, then used my Silhouette to cut vinyl out for the words (those are the blue letters you see).

I brushed plain white glue on the board, and let it dry for a few minutes until it was just tacky.

(Note: you can also use a purchased crackle medium for this step, and to be honest—I think it works better. It’s not that expensive—especially if you “borrow” it from a friend! But use what you have on hand. Or what your friends have on hand.)

Then I painted a creamy white paint over the board, sticky glue, vinyl letters, and all! While the paint was still wet, I removed the vinyl.

You can see that the edges are a little rough, but that can be cleaned up with paint later if necessary. However, since the board will also get sanded and glazed, it’s not really a big deal!

The crackle finish takes a while to really show itself, but it’s so cool when it does!

At my niece’s wedding reception, the sign was displayed on a large floor easel right outside the door. It was super cute!

************************************************

Linking up here:

Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday	Elizabeth & Co.
Domestically Speaking’s Power of Paint	Stylish Once Again
Hookin’ Up with House of Hepworths	No Minimalist Here’s Open House Thursday
Friday Remodelaholic	2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday	Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special	The DIY Show Off
Primitive & Proper	I Heart Naptime
Beyond the Picket Fence’s Under $100 Party	My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect	{Primp}
Mod Vintage Life	My Repurposed Life
Too Much Time on My Hands	It’s So Very Cheri
Common Ground	Simply Klassic Sundays

Cooking with Cast Iron

We have been cooking with a cast iron for over a year now. Our reasons for switching from standard non-stick cookware were based primarily on health considerations and the confusing information we had read on the chemicals used in the non-stick coating.

Before switching to cast iron, we had been using a 'green' non-stick version that had eliminated the controversial PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)  and PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) coatings. But we didn't think it held up very well and just started worrying all over again about the various other chemicals used to create this new form of non-stick.

So we made it very simple for ourselves and went back to the 'original non stick' - cast iron.

Cast iron possesses no potential dangerous coatings, will not chip or scratch and is also a great way to introduce trace amounts of iron into your diet.And if that wasn't enough incentive, cast iron is also very affordable. A twelve inch skillet for example is less than $30 (here) and it will last forever.

Cast iron is also great to cook with as it distributes heat evenly. We primarily use a pair of large and small skillets for everyday cooking. We also use a cast iron dutch oven in place of a crock pot for stews, slow roasts and soups. Our remaining cookware consists of copper-bottomed stainless steel sauce pans.

We purchased our Lodge cast iron skillets pre-seasoned.  Every several months, we re-season them by coating with oil and baking in the oven at 350 for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, we turn the oven off and let them cool on the oven racks.

For daily maintenance, we soak the pans in warm water after each use. We then scrub with a scouring sponge, rinse with hot water, and pat dry. Occasionally, we also rub a light coating of oil into the skillets while they are still warm from rinsing. We follow the same care with our Dutch Oven.  With cast iron it is recommended to not use soap and to not soak in water for long periods of time as this promotes rust and deteriorates the seasoned condition of the cookware (which makes the cast iron non-stick). In the worst-case scenario, you just have to re-season the cookware as described above.

Like all choices we make in life,  we strive to find ways in which we can live by the healthiest means possible. Some choices are easy to make, some take effort. But we are passionate about creating the healthiest life for ourselves and our babies, so the transition to cast iron does not feel like extra work. In fact, it offers quite the opposite for nothing outweighs peace of mind.

My Dining Room Redo In Pictures

Good Day at the Thrift Store

One of my children had a doctor's appointment a couple days ago. After that, I took him to school and dropped him off. By the time I did that though, it was better for me to stick around that area than go home, since we live kind of far from school. It is not worth the drive home if I have to leave right away to pick them up from school.

So, I decided to have a little peek at the thrift store... boy I made a good decision!

I found some vintage pillow cases, a couple of Liberty of London clothes (by Target) that I can use for quilts and such, but I will share some items that I am really thrilled about.. .check them out! (followed by a squeal of JOY)


Aren't they gorgeous?

A vintage tea towel...


Also a vintage table cross...



and, milk glass cups...


Aren't they so pretty? I am most excited about those vintage tea towels and the table cloth. They are in such good condition, and such items are VERY hard to come by.

Every year around September I get antsy because I know there is going to be a Country Living Fair in Atlanta (or Columbus, Ohio). What's country living fair? It is basically a festival-like atmosphere with over 200 vendors and artisans selling antiques, gifts, home décor, and jewelry. Also the events are filled with seminars and demonstrations from Country Living editors, contributors, and special guests, as well as live music, gourmet markets, and more.

Mmm... Doesn't that sound like a lot of fun or what? I certainly don't care for ALL types of antiques/vintage items, but there are certain things that I love, yep, you guessed it right, fabric, linens, laces, buttons and other sewing notions. I am wondering if there is going to be some vendors selling those things at CLF, if you have been to CLF before (you lucky you!) please share your experience, I would love to know!

It is one of many dreams of mine to attend the country living fair someday. Until then, I guess I will get an adrenalin rush from the thrift stores when I find those rare vintage items. ;)

Ibanez the top DH target?

From Kevin Kernan:

The Yankees have interest in lefty hitting Raul Ibanez, according to sources. Ibanez’s average dropped to .245 last season with the Phillies, but he hit 20 home runs and drove in 84 runs. Ibanez, who will turn 40 in June, has drawn interest from a number of clubs.

Ibanez recently had a productive workout with hitting guru Rudy Jaramillo and believes he has corrected flaws in his swing. Over the past six seasons, he averaged 24 home runs and 100 RBIs.

If he actually fixed his swing that certainly makes him a much more attractive candidate. Either way, he's a professional hitter and is probably better than anything the Yankees currently have sitting on the bench, so why not?

Tutorial ~ Sweater Refashion

I shared this sweater refashion at Me Sew Crazy last week. I am posting this here today just in case you missed it!


{You will need}

Sweater
Fabric
Laces, Ribbons and buttons
Matching thread

{How to}

1. Wear the sweater and decided how high you want the triangles to go. For example, just below the bust line or a few inches below the bust line. Also, mark the center with a pin.

2. I made a triangle template out of a cereal box and cut 8 triangles out of the fabric. The size of the triangles all depend on how long you cut into the sweater. If you want a more flared look, make sure that the triangle has a wide bottom. If you want a subtle flare, the triangle needs to have a narrow bottom.


3. Start making the cuts to the sweater. I made 8 cuts in all. In the center on the front and back, just to either side to those center cuts, and the sides of the sweater. They are about 4" apart, but you need to adjust that according to the width of the sweater. Just make sure that they are equal and well balanced.


4. Fold the bottom of the triangles and sew.


5. Sew the triangles to the sweater using a Serger or zigzag stitches.


6. Since the sweater was one size bigger than my size, I cut off some fabric from the sides and under the arm.


7. Pin, and sew the side. Make sure to sew in the fabric triangle to the sides at this step.



8. Make sure to mark the center of the neckline. I wanted the neckline to be slightly lower, so I drew the line and made the cut around the neck.



9. Make bias tape for the neckline. I cut mine 1 3/4" wide.


10. Sew the bias tape around the neck with zigzag stitches.


11. Start adding lace & ribbons between the triangles. Cut them to random lengths and seal the ends with fray check. Pin them in the desired places to check the balance and sew.



12. I didn't care for the long sleeves, so I cut them... I made the cut at the ribbed part, and took 6" off.


13. Sew the ribbed part back to the sleeves. I made it into 3/4 sleeves.



14. I thought it was a little bare around the neck, so I decided to decorate a little.

I made some yo-yo's, leaves, and flowers out of lace. Pinned all the embellishments onto the sweater to decide where I wanted everything.



* Sizing for the embellishments

* Yo-yo's: (S) cut 1 1/2"circles, (L) 2 1/2" circles (here is the link to how to make yo-yo's)

* Leaves: use 3/8" wide velvet ribbon. Cut 2" and fold it in half and lay both ends together and sew.

* Lace flowers: (I used 5/8" wide lace.) Cut a piece 5" long and gather the top and make a flower.

15. I wanted a little something at the back of the neck too. So, I added a tag with ribbon.


It is all done. All I needed to do was to try it on...


LOOVE it!





See you at next post!