DIY Easy No Sew Roman Shades

If your house is like ours, you have a house full of ugly old blinds.  Today I decided to do an up cycle and create an updated set of roman shades from some of my old blinds.  I was surprised to find it was a simple and easy project that even a person who can not sew could accomplish.  This project took 4 hours from start to finish. 

Step 1- Gather your supplies. 

Fabric

Fabric glue

Slide ruler

Paint brush

Hem ruler

Blind(can be large or mini)

Hot glue gun 

Hot glue

Craft scissors

Fabric scissors

Pen

Scrap paper

Iron

Step 2- Determine fabric needs.

Measure the inside of your window (where the blind would hang). 

Formula for calculating fabric-

Measure the length and width of the inside of the window.  Subtract 1/4 inch from both of those measurements.  Take the answers and add 2 inches to both.  That is how much fabric you need for one window.  

Step 3-  Prepare your blinds.  Remove all of the cage ropes that control if the blinds are open or closed and hold the slats in a specific location.  Do not cut the rope that runs through the center of the blinds that pulls them up and down.  You need these cords to move the shade up and down.  Remove all but 6 or 7 slats. Keep the thick bottom of the blind.

Step 4-  Fold down a 1 inch hem all the way around the fabric.  Use the iron to press it down.  

Step 5- With a brush use fabric glue to glue down the 1 inch hem.  The fabric will now be the exact measurement you  got when you measured the window. 

Step 6-  At the corner, clip a triangle off to keep the corner from being too bulky. 

Step 7- Lay the fabric pattern down (make sure if your fabric has a correct direction that it is going the right way).  Place the blinds on the fabric.  Glue the top of the fabric to the top of the blind.  Use the hot glue for this.  Then glue the bottom of the fabric to the bottom block of the blind.  

Step 8- Space the slats evenly down the fabric.   To assure the shade lays correctly,  make sure the cord comes from behind of the blind slat and through to the front in the middle then goes back under the next slat.   Then take fabric glue and glue the slats to the fabric.  Do not glue the cord down, you need the cord to move so that the blind will move up and down.  

Step 9- Let it all sit for 15-20 minutes to dry.  Add hot glue to any edges that seem loose.  

Step 10- Test the shade and make any corrections you need to make.  

Step 11- Install the shade and enjoy.  Once you get your measurements these blinds take approximately 1 hour each to make.  

Walking Horse Hotel Pecan Pie

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Anyone that ever visited Wartrace, Tennessee could not pass the Walking horse Hotel without walking back to pay homage to the humble stable of the first TWH World Champion Strolling Jim or going in side the Hotel  for a RC Cola and a slice of Mrs. Wright's Pecan Pie. In honor of the last day of the 2014 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, I have decided to share a special treat that was passed on to me by one of the best cooks I have ever known, Linda Potts.  Mrs Linda was given the recipe by Mrs. Wright who cooked this pie for years at the Walking Horse Hotel in Wartrace.   Cook one up and enjoy it for Labor Day!   Now if I could only get my hands on the oatmeal cake and caramel sauce recipe from the Bellbuckle Cafe! 

The Walking Horse Hotel Pecan Pie
Mrs. Wright

4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup white karo syrup
2/3 cup of stick margarine (melted) * Linda uses 1/2 stick instead of 2/3rds
1 teaspoon vanilla
Beat all of this together well 
add 1 cup pecans
pour into a pie crust
Bake on 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until it sets

Do You Hear What I Hear?

My mom is a walking miracle. It is as simple as that.  She amazes me day after day with her strength and determination to persist even when the chips are down.  She has a disorder that would cripple most people but yet until she had a massive grand mal seizure, she continued to live alone on the farm, drive and was completely self sufficient.  Even after everything we have been through the last few weeks, she still makes it hard for me to dote over and help her.

Since being diagnosed with NF2 in 1988 much progress has been made in NF2 research.  While there is still no cure, there are new types of surgery, new devises to help those who suffer and new equipment to make life more comfortable.  For example, the invention of the mobile phone was huge for the world but the concept of a text messaging, email and Facebook have changed her life and others who suffer from this disorder.  Her new latest favorite technological advancement is FaceTime.  These are all means of communication for her.  She has a phone at home now that automatically converts your voice to text so she can read what you are saying in real time then she talks back to you in her own voice.  These are each small blessings which have allowed Mom to remain independent.  

There however has been one invention which is nothing short of a miracle.  In 1999, Mom became part of a federal trial being done by cochlear for the auditory brainstem implant devise.    While this devise was created and built by the cochlear Corportation and looks like the cochlear devises you see regularly now, it is VERY different.  Mother does not hear through acoustic nerves as they were completely severed in the tumor removal, she hears directly through her brain stem. 

This is mom's testimony before the FDA.  It's a real reflection of her spirit and strong will.  Enjoy! 

CHAIRMAN PATOW: Our second speaker this morning is Donna McLaughlin.

MS. McLAUGHLIN:  Do they know who I am or should I -- 

CHAIRMAN PATOW:  If you could.

MS. McLAUGHLIN:  Just checking.   Good morning.

CHAIRMAN PATOW:  Good morning.

MS. McLAUGHLIN:  I bring you greetings from the great State of South Carolina.  It's such an honor for me to be among such a fine group of people this morning, and I'm glad to be here.   I'm here to share with you the story of a miracle that occurred in my life last year.  In 1988 I was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis 2, a genetic disorder of the nervous system.  It is estimated that this conditions occurs in one in every 40,000 births and is found on genes, chromosome number 22.

  

In 1988, my diagnosis included bilateral acoustic neuromas.  The nine tumors on both of my auditory nerves of either side of my brain stem, as well as nine other tumors in random spots between the meninges into my brain.    Since 1988 I've had three tumors removed, including two which were the acoustic neuromas, the last acoustic neuroma being removed 16 months ago.  When I awoke from the long surgery, I was profoundly deaf.    In January prior to the surgery, Dr. Gary Jackson of Nashville, Tennessee informed my husband and I that I was a candidate for an auditory brain stem implant.  The implant took place on March the 24th, 1999, the same day that the last tumor was removed.   I spent 60 days following the surgery in total deafness.  It was such a scary and frightening time for my family and myself.  In the surgery my facial nerves suffered some trauma.  My taste buds suffered some shock.  I've also experienced problems with depression, my equilibrium, tear ducts, saliva glands, and swallowing.  I have learned to function, but it has been a battle every day.  To some folks, they would have said that my battle would have been too much.  If you can imagine, even chocolates taste bad to me.   (Laughter.)

MS. McLAUGHLIN:  I've lost 65 pounds since March of '99.  The weight loss within itself is a miracle.   (Laughter.)But not the miracle that I've come to talk to you about today.  The real miracle came for me on June the 1st, 1999 when my ABI was activated.  You see, I can now somewhat hear.  Some folks call it the marvels of technology and some call it modern medicine.  You can call it what you like.  I simply call it my miracle.   My faith tells me that miracles come from God, and I believe with all my heart that I received a miracle.  Some of you may also ask what do I hear.  Now that's a hard thing for me to answer, that I hear funny things.  Let me share to you.   I can hear the bell on the car when the door is left open and the keys are in it.  I can hear the sound of a Kleenex being crumpled up.  I can hear the wind blowing in the trees.  I can hear the blinker on the car when I've left the turn signal on too long.  I can hear the frogs croaking in our pond.  I can hear the crickets chirping on a still night, and I can hear my dogs barking.   These are just a few of the things I hear, and they don't sound exactly like they once sounded like, but I'm hearing something, and my braining is learning exactly what I'm hearing when I hear it.  I'm still in the process of learning.  

The most humorous experiences happened with my ABI, and I think it does us all good to look at our life experiences and get a little laugh every now and then.  So I'm going to share with you this little experience that I had.   After I got hooked up for the first time with my ABI, my hubby and I ventured down the street in Nashville, Tennessee for lunch.  I went in to eat lunch, and I went into the ladies room to wash my hands, and I washed my hands, and I tore off a paper towel, and the paper two went "zip.   Well, I stood there, and I thought, "Hey, I don't remember when I've ever heard a paper towel being torn off," or if I ever had heard a paper towel, what the sound was like.  So I tore off another one. (Laughter.)       MS. McLAUGHLIN:  I sat there, and I kind of got tickled at myself, and I thought, "What are you doing?"  And in walks this lady, and she looked at me like, "What are you doing, lady?"  And I could vision myself standing in a huge pile of paper towels just standing there listening to the zip.  So I began to get teary eyed and think about how blessed this little device was really going to make my life in the years to come, and I didn't tear off anymore paper towels.  I just went back to eat my lunch.

As the months have gone by, I've had numerous tune-ups, as my children affectionately call them, at the Wilkerson Center in Nashville, and this is where I go to the audiologist, Susan Amberg, there, and she works with me patiently for hours at a time, and makes adjustments to the tones and volumes of my device.    At my first reading without the aid of my ABI, I could comprehend the lip reading only 55 percent of the time.  Now, with the aid of my device and my lip reading skills, I am able to comprehend 99 percent of the time.

Today I look at life totally different.  My friends tell me my self-esteem has improved immensely.  I look for the blessings in my life, and I'm here to tell you that my ABI has truly been a blessing.   Since my surgery I have been blessed with many wonderful things.  Let me share with you a few of them.  I was blessed with the ability to hear the crowds' applause when my son, Sam Roland, won his first Tennessee walking horse national celebration down in Shelbyville, Tennessee back in September. I was able to attend my eldest daughter's wedding in November and know when she and my new son-in-law said, "I do."    I'm able to hear every afternoon my middle child Celia's dog bark and let me know that she's home from work.   I have been blessed with the ability to sit in church on some Sunday mornings and look at my husband and say, "I believe they're singing 'The Old Rugged Cross,' right?"  I'm really blessed.  My hope is that God will grant me the resolve to use my talents and my gift of hearing to the benefit of others.  

Until my activation I knew no one involved in the National Ear Foundation, the Cochlear Corporation, or any of the panels -- any of the members of this panel with the Food and Drug Administration.  I have no knowledge of any one of you knowing either me or my family.   However, in some wonderful way I think the Lord has brought us all together.  He has allowed me to hear again, and you are a natural part of my miracle, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

      

CHAIRMAN PATOW:  I want to thank you for your comments this morning.  What I need to know from you is two things.  Are you affiliated with any company?  And has anyone paid your way to come here today?

MS. McLAUGHLIN:  Thank you.

MR. WEST:  Can I help you?  He needs to know if we paid your way here today, Cochlear Corporation.

       

MS. McLAUGHLIN:  Not that I'm aware of.  You invited me.(Laughter.). I don't know that you did.

MR. WEST:  Well, I think we did take care of her air fare.

CHAIRMAN PATOW:  Thank you very much.  And thank you for your comments.

MS. McLAUGHLIN:  Thank you very much.

Neurofibromatosis Type 2

For many years, my family has been asked if our Mother has had a stroke or bellspaulsey.  The answer is "no" to both.  The disorder our mother has is called Neurofibromatosis Type 2. Neurofibromatosis type 2 is also call BANF, bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis, central neurofibromatosis, familial acoustic neuromas, neurofibromatosis 2, neurofibromatosis type II, NF2, schwannoma, acoustic,  and bilateral.  This disorder is characterized by the growth of noncancerous tumors in the nervous system. The most common tumors associated with neurofibromatosis type 2 are vestibular schwannomas or acoustic neuromas. These growths develop along the nerve that carries information from the inner ear to the brain (the auditory nerve). Tumors that occur on other nerves are also found with NF2.   Our mother had bilateral acoustic neuromas which were removed of from her auditory nerves which left her profoundly deaf, caused the facial paralysis, a lack of tears, lack of saliva and had major impacts on her balance and taste buds.   Our mother has undergone a total of 8 different surgeries to deal specifically with this disease. She has had 5 cranial surgeries, 1 gamma surgery, 1 tumor removed from her spine and one removed off of her eyeball.  Thus far there have been 9 very large tumors removed and a multitude of small ones (too many to count).

Mothers symptoms began after the birth of her third child and she was in her early 30's.   She experienced severe hearing loss which no one including the doctors could explain.   Finally in 1988 she was given an MRI and was diagnosed with NF2.   NF2 symptoms are usually noticed in their teens or early twenties.   However, this disease is random and ,as with my Mom, the tumors can begin at any age. The most frequently noticed early symptoms include hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and problems with balance. In most cases, the tumors occur in both ears by age 30. If tumors develop elsewhere in the nervous system, signs and symptoms vary according to their location. Complications with NF2 include changes in vision, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, and fluid buildup in the brain. Some people with neurofibromatosis type 2 also develop clouding of the lens (cataracts) in one or both eyes, often beginning in childhood.  Mom had a tumor actually come up on her eye ball and has had cateract surgery as well.  

" 

Mutations in the NF2 gene cause neurofibromatosis type 2. The NF2 gene provides instructions for making a protein called merlin (also known as schwannomin). This protein is produced in the nervous system,  which surround and insulate nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord. Merlin acts as a tumor suppressor, which keeps cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way. Although its exact function is unknown, this protein is likely also involved in controlling cell movement, cell shape, and communication between cells. Mutations in the NF2 gene lead to the production of a nonfunctional version of the merlin protein that cannot regulate the growth and division of cells. Research suggests that the loss of merlin allows cells, especially Schwann cells, to multiply too frequently and form the tumors characteristic of neurofibromatosis type 2.

Neurofibromatosis type 2 has an estimated incidence of 1 in 33,000 people worldwide and it is an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.  Typically those with NF2 are born with one mutated copy of the NF2 gene in each cell. In about half of cases, the altered gene is inherited from an affected parent. The remaining cases result from new mutations in the NF2 gene and occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family.  Unlike most other autosomal dominant conditions, in which one altered copy of a gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder, two copies of the NF2 gene must be altered to trigger tumor formation in neurofibromatosis type 2. A mutation in the second copy of the NF2 gene occurs in Schwann cells or other cells in the nervous system during a person's lifetime. Almost everyone who is born with one NF2  mutation acquires a second mutation (known as a somati mutation) in these cells and develops the tumors characteristic of neurofibromatosis type 2.

This is a list of resources which address the diagnosis and management of neurofibromatosis type 2.  I have found these links very helpful over the last 20 + years. 

• Boston Children's Hospital
• Gene Review: Neurofibromatosis 2
• Genetic Testing Registry: Neurofibromatosis, type 2
• MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Acoustic Neuroma
• MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Neurofibromatosis 2
• Neurofibromatosis Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital

This is a list of good resources to help you get a better understanding of this disorder.

• MedlinePlus - Health information (4 links)
• Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center - Information about genetic conditions and rare diseases
• Additional NIH Resources - National Institutes of Health (2 links)
• Educational resources - Information pages (9 links)
• Patient support - For patients and families (5 links)

If you want to help cure this awful disorder support NF2 research by going to the website below to get your NF2 bracelets. 

http://nf2crew.org/marketplace/nf2-awareness-wristbands

       http://www.nfmidwest.org/learn-about-nf/nf2/nf2-specific-resources/

Ham Steak with Orange and Pineapple Glaze

Normally, our family grills ham steaks but have had a problem with the outdoor grill so I began to look for alternative ways to prepare one of our favorite quick suppers.  I found this recipe on Pinterest a few months ago and have cooked it several times.  The kids love it and it is quick.  I served this with steamed brocolli and rice pilaf.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 (2 1/2-lb.) package fully cooked, bone-in (1/2-inch-thick) center-cut ham steak
• 1 cup orange juice 
• 1 (8-oz.) can pineapple tidbits in juice
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon cold water 
• 
  
• Preparation
• 1. Rinse ham, and pat dry.

1. 2. Cook ham in a lightly greased skillet over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until thoroughly heated. Remove ham, reserving drippings in skillet.
2. 
   
3. 3. Stir in orange juice, and cook 2 minutes, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Stir in pineapple, raisins, and mustard. Stir together cornstarch and 1 Tbsp. cold water; add to orange juice mixture. Bring to a boil; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Serve sauce with ham.

The Perfect Bra

How many times have you said "this bra is so uncomfortable I think it is cutting me in half?"  If you are like me, it is a regular occurrence.    An uncomfortable bra can ruin my day quicker than just about anything else.   How many unworn bras are sitting in your drawers, rarely worn because they just don’t feel right?  Until recently, I was not comfortable going out without an underwire bra.  Last Christmas, I accidentally forgot my bras when we were traveling and I when looking for a quick replacement, I stumbled upon the Bali Comfort Revolution Collection. What I found is the most comfortable yet supportive bras I have ever worn. A bra so comfortable that I forget I’m wearing it and it does not budge all day yet the fabric moves with me in every direction.  Here it is... the perfect bra.

Bali Comfort Revolution Smart Sizes bras simplify bra shopping by offering one flexible bra (24 size options – 32B to 44DD) in six easy-to-fit sizes. It is virtually impossible to get the size wrong.  There are three bras in the Comfort Revolution collection that use the Smart Sizing system and two with regular band and cup. All of the bras provide full-coverage, comfort, support and lift – ensuring you will look great in your clothes.   My personal favorite is the  Bali® Comfort Revolution® Smart Sizes Shaping Wirefree Bra - 3488.  I have found these bras at Belks, Kohls, and at the Bali Outlets and have paid anywhere from $34 to $15 each.   

Bali Comfort Revolution Smart Size bras

• are available in XS, S, M, L, XL and 2XL
• are made with a stretch fabric with shape-to-fit technology for a customized fit
• are seamless, and the stay-in-place Comfort-U® Design keeps back and straps in place
• have special knit-in zones for targeted support

I am not a person to endorse products unless I actually love them.  The Bali® Comfort Revolution® Smart Sizes Shaping Wirefree Bra is truly a good thing.  You deserve a new bra today!