I've got sunshine on a rainy day

Yesterday was such a rainy, gray day, so I made my own sunshine!

I made up a batch of my favorite jelly, apple~cinnamon.

The jelly is very simple to make with easy-to-find ingredients.

You can find my recipe and instructions here.

It's a proven fact that gazing at anything red will uplift your spirits.

It works for me!

This post is linked to:  Rednesday, Whatever You Want Wednesday

Honey, do you mind standing up to eat tonight?

I've got the table loaded with red, white, and pink crafty stuff.

So here's my story; I went to Hobby Lobby today with a 40%-off coupon in hand.  I was just going to buy a new calendar for the new year. This little conversation went on before I went in the store; The Sherry Angel (SA) told the Sherry Devil (SD), "You know the checking account is pretty anemic right now, and will be even more so when the credit card bill comes in with all the Christmas purchases on it. So only get the calendar."  And the Sherry Devil said, "Fine with me!"  But then we got inside the store!   I grabbed a cart ~ Mistake #1.   SD said, "Let's just look at the flowers, they're 50% off!"  Okay, we'll look.  Oh, we all three found so many bouquets that would look perfect on the table and we all agreed they would brighten up the winter days so much. But I would need a new vase to put them in. Let's look at some.  Then SA comes to her senses, "Wait! We only came after a calendar!" 

I won't tell the whole story but I will tell you this back-and-forthness went on in the fabric department and again in the Christmas clearance aisle.  SD was so convincing that SA let me put a couple of things in the cart and ride them around awhile before convincing me I didn't really need them. SD said, "Oooh, but we could use some of the Christmas clearance stuff to make VALENTINE decorations with!"  Now, I'm with SD on this one, afterall Valentine's Day is my favorite day of the year.  But, SA had another idea,  "Go home Sherry, pull out all the pink, red, and white craft items you already have, put them on the dining room table, then see what you can make from what you already have." 

"Okay," ...me, whining...So I bought my new calendar then came home and worked all afternoon pulling out anything I thought I could use for Valentine crafties.  And you know what?  SA and SD disappeared!  Poof!  Just like that and left me here all by myself with this colorful mess. 

I told you this story for a reason.  I'm a sad little copycat with no idea what I can do with all this stuff.  Please, dear blog friends, GIVE ME IDEAS! GIVE ME LINKS! I WISH YOU WERE HERE!

Seriously, I would love for you to leave me a comment with your favorite Valentine links or craft ideas.

The post linked to:  REDNesday , Transformation Thursday, Show and Tell Friday, Frugal Friday, Pink Saturday

REDnesday

Thank you for stopping by my place on my first REDnesday, I am honored to have you as a visitor.

I am thrilled to show the beautiful apron I won on CC's recent giveaway. I love the red scallops! But, not only did CC send the lovely apron...

She also sent along these sweet treats...

I was wondering, CC, did you make the sucker and pin cushion?

Here's a close-up of the card. Aren't the red tulips pretty? I love tulips...I can't wait until spring! Thank you CC for all the special gifts. It really made my day when the mail lady brought my little package. You are so sweet!

Now, a few more red pictures:

For some reason I have always loved chickens. My granddaddy raised chickens and rabbits when I was a little girl. You're probably picturing him living on a farm, but no, he lived right in the middle of town, three houses up the street from us! I'm sure he was a favorite with his next door neighbors. He raised bantam chickens. We call them "bantys" or most likely "bannys" in the south. Well, Pawpaw gave me my own pair of bannys, a hen and a rooster, when I was about 12 years old. My daddy built me a little pen for them, and I loved them so much! I wouldn't let my family gather the eggs for eating. I let the hens hatch them out and I ended up with 16 chickens! I kept them all until one day I was watering them, and I let the slippery water jar, a Mason canning jar, slip out of my hand and it landed on one of the little chicks! I won't describe the scene before my 12 year old eyes, but believe me, it was traumatizing! I couldn't stand to go back to my little chicken pen after that. I gave Pawpaw's pair of chickens back to him plus an interest payment of 14 chicks. But, I guess I got over that early-life trauma, because I talked sweet Neil into building me a chicken house after we married and he moved me to the country. We now have three hens and this red-combed rooster...

I like chickens; real and plastic. These planters are waiting out the winter in my greenhouse. Can't you just imagine them cleaned up and filled with red geraniums? Hurry up Spring!

For my last REDnesday contribution, a little color from my front yard. We planted these Nandina bushes a few years ago, just for their winter color. The red berries just seem to glow this time of year, adding some much needed cheerfulness to the gray winter days.

For a complete list of REDnesday participants, just click here to link to Sue's blog. Again, I want to thank you for coming by for my first REDnesday. It would make me so happy if you leave me a comment to let me know you visited. Please come back soon, I love visitors!