Swirly Birds

I love these flowers and birds. The bold lines mixed with delicate swirls create a wonderful pattern. I am not sure where these are from, I got them in a big box of unmarked patterns. They were very faded and worn, thus the lightness of the picture. Nonetheless, ENJOY!

Things I've Learned Since Turing 40

 Big thanks to Yotam.Hadarr

It's been almost 2 weeks since I turned 40. What kind of wisdom have I learned within this time? Well, come closer my young whippersnappers.....

One of the most important things that I have learned is to be yourself and be happy with that person. That is, unless you are a jerk. Which if that is the case, stop reading this blog and go get some help to stop being a jerk and go yell at your parents for raising such a jerky kid. If you are not a jerk, then remember to love yourself and know that you are the best in this world. There is nothing wrong with thinking that you are the coolest kid in school. Just don't get a big head - then you become a jerk (see comments above).

Which leads me to the second thing I've learned. Stop saying WHEN. Oh you know what I am talking about. I'll be happy WHEN I lose 10 pounds - no you won't. You will find something else wrong and start worrying about that body part. Or how about-I'll be happy WHEN I have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Really? How about loving yourself right now and being happy that you can eat chocolate chip cookie dough in bed, fart and not blame it on the dog and not have to explain your Pez candy dispenser obsession to someone. STOP SAYING WHEN and live RIGHT NOW!

Another thing, being grateful for what you do have. This one is certainly a hard one to remember. Just think to yourself, am I in a Turkish prison? Am I dead? No? Then you should be grateful for the day ahead of you. I know that there will be rough days and trust me, I am not always happy and positive but I know that I am truly blessed for what I do have and for the people in my life. I definitely need to thank those people more & you should too.

Stay positive! Positive thoughts yield positive results. No one likes to be around a negative person. You just aren't fun if you are constantly complaining and being a downer. Besides that, your positive thoughts are contagious.

Last, it's okay to fail. It's okay to fall down but it's not okay to stay down. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. I have fallen many times. Some of those times were caused due to the bad decisions I made (okay, most were due to bad decisions) but I didn't give up. I tried a different way - went another way around and cruised on. Learn from your mistakes and try again. Just don't give up. If you give up on yourself, everyone else will too.


Those are just a few things I've learned. I've also learned that dogs love strawberry champagne cake but they really shouldn't eat it, blaming your burps on OMP in the middle of a store will get you dirty looks and cotton candy for breakfast is an excellent idea. Take these and do what you will with them - they are just a little life lesson from your Aunt Pam.

Tie One On Tuesday Wieners!

Drum roll please.........

The winner of the Tie One on Tuesday syrup giveaway is.....

BECKY! Go Becky! Gonna have a good cocktail! Getting funky!


Please email me at v1313@hotmail.com with  your address so you can start making yummy cocktails. Thanks to everyone who entered. There will be more giveaways in the future. So stick around for some fun times and great cocktail history.

Doggone Great Movies!

I am such a sucker when it comes to movies about animals, especially ones about pups. I will even watch those horrible talking animal films. As long as it has a cute little animal in it-I will watch it and cry at the right times-just like the director wanted. Yep, I am a SUCK-ER for sappy animal movies.

The most recent movie that had me in tears and wanting to adopt every dog on the planet is Hotel For Dogs. I know what you are thinking-Seriously Pam? Really? Let me explain why I was in tears. We had just lost Kato and I made the dumb decision to rent a dog movie cause the lead pup looks like Lola. Well, that alone made me think of Lola and Kato playing together and thus the waterworks started. The movie is a kid friendly movie about two orphans and their little Jack Russell Terrier. One dog leads to another and eventually an abandoned building turns into a hotel for strays. Waterworks will follow in this sweet "No Dog Left Behind" movie.

I remember seeing Benji as a little kid and crying my eyes out because he didn't have a home. Then he got one and then he became a stray again. As a 4 year old, I knew I was the only person who understood Benji and wanted to take care of him. Benji is a stray dog who helps two kidnapped kids escape from their captors. Of course this movie started a whirlwind of Benji movies and TV shows, then then the lunchboxes followed. I never got my Benji lunchbox, instead my mom thought a Donnie and Marie lunchbox would be better. Thanks for the therapy mom!

My friend grew up in a family that participated in dog shows and swears that Best In Show is a true and accurate portrayal of the business. As everyone was laughing it up, she was shaking her head and screaming, "If you only knew!" The story is a mockumentary about several people heading to the biggest dog show in the United States. This is a classic Christopher Guest movie with the wonderful cast of characters that we have come to know from his films. There have been many times that I will walk up to OMP and say, "Pine nuts, Macadamia nuts." He loves me.

There are SO many more dog movies out there. Some great tear jerkers are-of course Old Yeller, My Dog Skip (I can not watch this movie at ALL). Some classics that have been updated-101 and 102 Dalmations (I have seen them so many times, they are banned in the Casa de Pedersen) and then the great buddy movie with Turner and Hooch, Homeward Bound and Eight Below.  No matter what your style is, grab your best furry friend, snuggle in on the couch and enjoy a doggone great movie. See what I did there? Doggone? Hello? Hello? Is this thing on? Lola thought it was funny. 

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

I am a huge fan of rescues. What better way to give an animal a second chance. You may just find your best friend. Take Rosie for example-this sweet little Jack Russell is looking for a forever home.

This is a little tidbit from my friend who helps with the Jack Russell Rescue.

This is Rosie.  Formerly Hurricane Rosie, now affectionately known as Rosie Roo... we call her Rosie Roo because she is one big bouncy ball of fun!  Rosie is a little over a year old and is a Jack Russell Terrier.  She is 17" tall, and looks a little like a petite Springer, or Brittany Spaniel size wise.  She came from Hurricane, Utah, where she was spending her days tied up in a trailer park.  Her new foster mom is exhausted and just cannot exercise her enough.  What this little ball of love needs ideally is this... someone who is a runner.  A real runner, not just training for a one time marathon.  When properly exercised, this dog is the smartest most obedient dog on the planet.  She knows "sit", "stay", "get on your bed" and sadly, "no".  She doesn't get into things when she is given proper toys to keep her busy, and when she has been properly exercised it is a total non-issue.  She can smell a tennis ball a mile away.  Sometimes, she can find them when they have been put away and forgotten by her human.  She can play ball FOREVER, but it is not good if it is her sole source of amusement and exercise.  She loves to be with her people.  So a work from home person would be ideal.  She loves other dogs and engages in play with them easily.

Please help us find Rosie a forever home. If you are interested in Rosie, please contact me and I will get you in touch with the rescue. Everyone needs a best friend in their lives. Rosie just might be yours.

Sweet Saturday

The funny thing about living in the Pacific Northwest is one day it could be 40 degrees and you need to turn your heat on in the middle of June and the next it's 80 degrees and you are sweating your eyeliner off.Can you guess what kind of day it was today? Let's just say I'm looking like a raccoon that got ditched at the prom.  That being said, I needed to make something sweet to appease my sugar tooth and cool off at the same time.

I've always wanted to make granita but it seemed like a lot of work and very intimidating. Nothing could be further than the truth. It is so easy and so tasty that OMP may be lucky to get any when he gets home tonight. You can use all sorts of fruits but since my raspberries were ripe for the picking, I decided to use them.

Raspberry Granita
Ingredients
3 cups fresh raspberry
1 cup water
3/4 cups and 2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Combine water and sugar in medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to  slight boil. Remove from heat. Chill syrup until cold. (I chilled it in the fridge cause I hate waiting)

Mash 3 cups raspberries in medium bowl. Stir in lemon juice. 

Mix sugar syrup and raspberry mixture.

Pour mixture through strainer, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. 

Pour mixture into shallow baking dish.

Freeze until almost firm,stirring every 15 minutes for 2 hours. This may seem like a lot of work but it is really easy. I cleaned the house and pulled weeds then went back and took a break and stirred the granita. This is a must! It will really make the difference.

After 2 hours, continue freezing granita until firm (do not stir), at least 3 hours or overnight. 

Scrape out the granita with an ice cream scooper. The consistency should be like a sorbet-this is why the stirring is so important.

Granita can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and keep frozen.

Granita is the perfect after dinner treat or after pulling weeds treat or just sitting in the sun doing your best Jane Mansfield impersonation treat. Your family and friends will think that you are a gourmet chef with this little number. Only you will know it took nothing at all to create this masterpiece.

Feel Good Friday!

Ooohhhhh my full belly. I'm a little late with Feel Good Friday-sorry about that but OMP grilled out some yummy food and I needed to help him eat it. Now my tummy is full and I'm ready for bed or at least a cocktail. While I'm looking for the Tums, let's see what I have for you.

 Aimee Ray rocks my socks. I remember seeing her for the first time on Craftster and then when her book came out, I HAD to buy it. Now she has new patterns and a flickr group. Check her out!

I'm sure I have mentioned Plays With Needles before but I just love this entry on her blog. It makes me happy. I read Susan's profile-swimming, triathlons, taking care of a son AND stitching. I got tired just reading about her. Holy macaroni lady-you need a medal and a cocktail.

For my birthday my friend Lori sent me the most beautiful spoon bracelet. The pattern was retired in 1910. I love it and wear it all the time now. I was looking for more spoon jewelry and found this wonderful company.  Silver Spoon Vintage Jewelry has the most beautiful bracelets, rings and necklaces.

Apparently I not the only one with a full belly and ready for bed. Have a great Friday-I'm gonna sit under the stars and have sweet dreams. You should too.