I'm a 63 year old mother of 4 and grandma of 4. Widowed 9 years ago after a very happy marriage of 31+ years. I have had a new relationship for the past three years with a man who lost his wife to breast cancer. We hope to be able to live together in the near future. I was born in Southern California. Moved to Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh) when I was 12. Two years of college in PA, then worked on an Indian reservation in Kansas for a year when I was 20. Finished college in KS and worked in public welfare. Moved to the most beautiful San Francisco Bay area in 1968 and have lived here and loved it ever since. Am semi-retired, still working part-time as a substitute teacher. I love to read, travel and do puzzles of all kinds. I also want to spend more time doing mosaics, silk painting, counted cross stitch, and quilting, and taking classes of all kinds.

Sounds like you've had a pretty fulllfilling life so far Suzy! I hope I can say as much when I reach that age

Welcome to the forums @SuzyQ! A very fulfilling live indeed!

My sister enjoys mosaics and silk painting, she is a very creative girl.

Hi SuzyQ...I had a feeling we were close in age. Glad to hear you are "starting over" in a new relationship. No one should be alone. I also have done counted crossstitch. I would like to do quilting but haven't done so yet. I am self taught on all the crafting that I do. Enjoy your vacation and we will look forward to your rejoining us when you return. Dee

Go Suzy! I don't know where you find the time to play solitaire!

Hi Suzy! Great to have you back in the game. How was your trip? Dee

Quilting is my one crafty thing. I spent more on my sewing machine then on my laptop. LOL

Stacy G. I don't believe you've introduced yourself yet to all of us. Would like to know more about you and your quilting.

I believe it was you who said your mother worked the opposite way across the stacks of cards from the direction you do. Does your mom play on solitaire craving? If so, who is she?

Peppermint Marshmellows/Dee McNally...very easy
1/2 cup 10x sugar, 1/3 cup cornstarch, 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin, 1 and 1/3 cups granulated sugar, 2/3 cup light corn syrup, 1/2 cup crushed candy canes or peppermint candies (I use candy canes), 1/8 teaspoon salt.

Mix into small bowl the 10x sugar and cornstarch. Line a 13"x9"x2" baking pan with nonstick foil. Coat with nonstick cooking spray. Sift 2 tablespoons of the sugar-cornstarch mixture into the pan, tilting it to coat the sides. Leave any excess in the pan. Place 2/3 cup water in large bowl and sprinkle with gelatin. Let soften 5 minutes. In a medium heavy bottn pan heat granulated sugar, corn starch, candy cane pieces and salt over medium heat for about 7 minutes until sugar and candy are disolved, stirring occasionally. Strain this mixture into bowl with the gelatin. Beat at high speed with electric mixture until light and fluffy, about 10-15 minutes. Spread into prepared pan and smooth the top. Dust with 2 tablespoons of the 10x sugar- cornstarch mixture. Let set for 2 hours at room temperature. Lift marshmellow from pan using the foil. With wet knife cut into 6 squares. Spread remaining 10x-cornstarch mixture into a baking sheet. Invert marshmellow blocks onto sheet. Now cut each block into 6 squares. Toss in the 10x-cornstarch mixture and let set for an additional hour. Store loosely covered at room temperature. (If you seal them tightly they will get gooey.)

Peanut Butter Fudge/Dee McNally
This fudge is very easy and I have never had it fail to set up.
In large saucepan, mix together 3 cups granulated suger, 3/4 cup milk, mix together and bring to a boil. DO NOT STIR...After mixture comes to a full boil, turn to medium heat and continue to cook TIMING it for 5 minutes. DO NOT STIR. Remove form the heat and stir in 2 huge heaping tablespoons of peanut butter and 2 huge heaping tablespoons of marshmellow creme. Stir until melted and mixed through. Pour into a 8"x8" square glass pan. Let set for 8 hours. Cut into squares with a paring knife, lifting each square out carefully. Yum!

Dee these recipes sound absolutely delicious but I'm not sure that all the ingredients are available in the UK. eg marshmallow creme which I gather from Wikipedia is uniquely American. I guess I'll just drool over the recipes.

PS I can't seem to get a coloured smiley face.

Keggie...In the U.S., Marshmellow creme comes in a glass jar and is made by Kraft, Fluffo or generic brands. Ask your grocer. They are very GOOD!

Thanks @Dee. I'll certainly try.

SusyQ...The filled cupcake receipe is in Introduce Yourself/Dee. I hope you try the recipes, they are sooo good. Later, I will share my favorite cookie receipe.

Hope Santa brings you a new laptop. Miss hearing from you and hope you are well.

I'm also very glad that you have started a new relationship. You seem like tomuch of a great woman to not have someone to love. I hope to meet you sometime in the forum!