Snow Busted

Well yesterday we made a flying trip to the Big City to take the youngest for surgery.  It was pouring rain.  We got over an inch and a half at home.  Then the winds came up.   I thought we would never get out of the hospital and headed home.   After what seemed like forever we were ready to leave!  We "poured" the groggy surgery girl into the truck and headed back home in the pouring rain, wind and fast dropping temps.  Whew, we didn't drive into any sleet or ice.   We really dodged a snow bullet for sure this time.  Nothing but ice out there this morning.  Other areas around us are covered with snow and blizzard conditions.  Thank goodness the surgery went well and she did great with no bad side effects this time.  The wind is still howling this morning.  When I get brave enough I will chip out the frozen bird feeder so our feathered friends can at least get something in their tiny bellies.  I noticed a pair of sparrows sitting on the front porch of the hanging log cabin bird house out in the big tree.  They seem to be going in and out of the birdhouse.  How funny.  Smart little birds.  Well now all I have to do is get geared up to go to work around noon.  Thinking warm thoughts........

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It was so warm today!  The true calm before the snowstorm.  They keep changing the forecast which means they don't know what will really happen.    First they said 12 inches, then they said 6-8 now they say 6 or under with wind.  I did wash some windows, another neighbor was going to finish some wood trim they started over a year ago.  Between the two, it should blow up something good.  Just to be on the cautious side we put all the patio furniture away along with the flower pots.  What ever happens, we will be ready.  I plan on listening to Christmas music and wrapping presents, so let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.  Nothing says Christmas like snow.  Blessings to everyone!

Card Class

It's that time of the month again.  Seems like it gets here before you know it.  No, not that time of the month, card class time of the month.  A group of us meet, make about 4 cards, share ideas and have some food to go along with the fellowship.  Of couse you have to order something from the stamping up catalog.  Here in lays the delemma,  what do you buy after 14 or 15 months?   I love card class, but not the ordering every time.  Yeah, yeah, I know the purpose is to sell Stamping Up stuff.  But really how much "stuff" do you need?  I love their items, but after a year or so  I have all the Stamping Up "stuff" I want.  The decision has been made to lay out for a while.  Yes, I can go back if I want without any comittment to be there every month.   That's how I like it.  No comittment to pay out, but the choice to go back if I want. 

Crafty neighbor Barb and I have been going to card class together for quite a while now.  When they were passing around the sign up sheet last for next year, we didn't write our names down.  Of course we were "discovered" before everyone left for the night.  I just let Barb do the talking.   She talked really well, I just nodded my head.  I have a good excuse, I need gas money to make trips to the big city to see the baby!  If it's a choice between "stuff" and a trip to see the baby, guess which one wins out?  Not the stuff!!  Crafty Neighbor Barb sent me this via email.  It's too good not to share.

Christmas Songs for Stampers

 (sing to the tune of Winter Wonderland)

 Brayers roll...are ya listening?
 On the card...ink is glistening.
 A beautiful sight...we're happy tonight,
 Stamping in a winter wonderland.
 
In the kitchen we can build a snowman.
Then add color to his carrot nose.
You'll say: Are you finished?
 I'll say: No ma'am,
 I need to add some glitter to the snow.
 
When we stamp...ain't it thrillin'?
 Even when...the powders spilling.
 We'll create and we'll play...the art stamper way,
 Stamping in a winter wonderland.

Driving Around

I braved the shopping throngs in the Big City yesterday.  I survived, they survived and actually found some Christmas gifts.  We took the baby, monitor and all to shop with us.  He is a little bit of a distraction though.   People see the wire coming out of the blanket attached to the monitor, look at his tiny cute self and then ask about him.  Of course he is cuter than heck sleeping peacefully or just looking around in awe at all the cool stuff we are looking at.  He will be a good shopper when he grows up.  I can already tell.  One poor old guy was forced ( I am sure of this) to shop with some women in Bath and Bodyworks.  He followed Sadee around looking at the monitor and wires.  Finally he asked about it.  He said he was "studying" it and just had to know what it was.  Whew, Sadee was releived he was "creeping" with a purpose.  Nice guy, just in a terrible man situation.  Shopping with women in a girly store. 
I was terribly hungry for a piece of pumpkin cake by the time I was done.  That and a cup of coffee would have been the perfect end to a nice day.  Here is the recipe if you are interested in a super moist, dense and flavorful cake.  It is so simple it's sinful.

Pumpkin Cake
2 cups of sugar
3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup applesauce (use a flavored one if you want, it pumps up the flavor)
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups of canned pumpkin
4 eggs
2 cups flour (can sneak in a little whole wheat here)
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
smidge of salt  (about 1/4 tsp.)
3 to 4 tsp. of Cinnamon (use less if you don't like the bolder flavor)
1-2 tsp. nutmeg (use one tsp. if you don't like it or leave it out)
1 tsp. ground ginger (this is optional we love it)
1 cup chopped walnuts plus more for garnish on frosting

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour a 12 x 18 inch pan.
Combine sugar, oil, vanilla, applesauce, when combined add pumpkin and mix till combined.  Add eggs one at a time beating well after each one.  Add baking powder, salt, and soda and mix till combined.  Add flour stir just until combined, and then stir in nuts.  Pour into pan and bake about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.  You can put this into 13x 9 pan or round pans too you just have to adjust the cooking times.   Frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting and top with more nuts. 

Some times we don't even frost this, it just gets eaten "plain".  Yep, guess I will have to whip one up now.  Just talking about makes me hungry.....

Burrrr....

Some days I wonder why I procrastinate so long about things.   It's a life long habit.  It never ends well.  If it's bills, then you get a late fee.  If it's housework then you spend more time cleaning.  If you don't get something put away before the temperature drops for the winter, you get cold and have to chop ice.   I had some goldfish to get out of horse tank for the winter and waited until the ice was thick, the good old Kansas wind was blowing and the sky's were grey with thick damp clouds.  Now of course getting them out when the sun was shining and the temps were in the mid 60's would have been too easy.  It takes about 2 minutes to net them out.  But noooo...I wait till I have to chop some ice off my fish pond, put the little heater in and then chop another hole to put the fish in when I bring them home.  Then I drive to Mom and Dads, and go fight the ice chunks in the horse tank. Netting the fish and avoiding scooping up ice chunks is really hard.  After getting the big one's out, I had to freeze my duff off looking for the one little one that I can't see because I need some sunshine to help me see the dumb thing. 

Those fish really grew this summer!  I wonder what was in the food they were eating?   They are big enough to eat.   Well, if you like carp and eating your fish friends.  Yuck.   I think I really need a hair cut too.  The wind kept whipping my hair into my eyes.   It was hard to see and frozen hands don't work too well to get it out of your face.  It amazes me how hands turn into clubs when they get cold.  Really cold.    It's hard to wrap your scarf around your head with club hands too.  I need to really think about this next year.  Frozen hands on a cold winter day or warm hands, and quick netting job assisted by sunshine so I can see all the fish.  Hummm...I wonder what I will pick?   At any rate, the hair gets chopped off tomorrow.  

Another Keeper

Here is a recipe that is a new "keeper" at our house.  Thank you Pinterest!  This is great one night and can be turned into a round 2 recipe by rolling it up in flour tortilla's and smothering it in a white Monterey Jack cheese and bake long enough to warm it up!  Add a salad ( with the Italian dressing recipe) and presto instant great dinner.  Here it is:

Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili (that's a mouthful!)
2 chicken breasts, still frozen 1 can Rotel tomatoes 1 can corn kernels, do not drain 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix 1 T cumin 1 t chili powder 1 t onion powder 1 8-oz pkg. cream cheese.  Put the chicken in the crock pot. Top with the corn, drained and rinsed beans, ranch dressing, cumin, onion and chili powders, stir to combine then top with the cream cheese. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, stirring one or twice to blend in the cheese. Shred the chicken and serve over rice.

Now if you want to use fresh chicken, I use thighs and legs and put them in the crock pot, cook them on high for 4 hours and then shred the meat.  For perfectly shredded meat, I throw the meat in the mixer bowl of my kitchen aid mixer with the paddle attachment and turn it on long enough to shred the meat.  Presto!!  Perfectly shredded meat every time.  Enjoy.....

Copy Cat Italian Dressing

Hello, my name is Cheryl and I am a Pintrest addict.  Now that I confessed this, I must say I am trying a lot of the recipe's that I pin while lurking on that site.  Here is a keeper!  It's the Olive Garden wanna be recipe.  My grandson loves their salad, so I am going to surprise him next time he comes over.

Italian Dressing

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian spices
• 1 teaspoon salt
• black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 envelopes Good Seasonings Italian Dressing, prepared

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender on high until combined, about 30 seconds.
2. Pour into small bowl and cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Stir before serving.
4. **Don’t forget, add your 2 prepared recipes of Italian Dressing from the envelopes (I used Good Seasonings Brand) to this. Yes,yes, it makes a ton of dressing. Put it in the fridge, you’ll drink it later.

I have some other recipes to pass on that are "keepers" too!  I can only cook, eat, give away and post so fast.  I am trying to cut down on eating so I have to give what I get done tasting away.  Ok, family and friends get ready.......

What's up with that?

Why is it that I feel "overdressed" when I go to our local WM store?  Am I THAT old?  Does putting on a pair of jeans, clean shirt, and makeup qualify me as an Old Fogie?   I still have kids in college, I can't be that old!   Does putting on a  bra, coat (if it's below 32 degrees) real sox and shoes take so much effort that it just can't be done anymore?  I hope this does not offend people, but I really can't understand this.   Is there a clothing rule that I don't know about now?  When did pajamas, greasy hair, dirty slippers and optional clean shirt come into fashion?  Why do you take your infants out in freezing weather without a coat, blanket or SHOES?  Don't their cherry red COLD tiny feet ring any alarm bells in your mommy head?   Am I the only one going crazy looking at people in dirty clothes with no excuse other than they didn't want to "clean up" to go to the store?   I know some of these people and they CAN afford to dress in clean clothes.  Ok, guess I am done ranting now.  I think the man with the food splattered sweat pants and dirty smelly slippers tipped me over the edge today. 

I am a somewhat tolerant person. Really I am, but give me a break.  I can only bite my tongue so long. 

Playing with blocks

Crafty neighbor Barb and I have been at it again.  This time we have been playing with wooden blocks.  We decided that we could make those little painted blocks that say Christmas "things" on them.  Last week I bought the wood, brought it home and cut it into different lengths.  (Thanks Dad for the help) There was a craft show on Saturday so we checked out items to see what was selling and for how much.  There were some wooden blocks but we didn't like them, the price was right but they looked too "distressed" for me.   Sunday we got together to start our blocks.  We decided to paint ours and put paper on one side of them and then put the vinyl letters.  Hummm...how to put the paper on?  Glue it or spray glue it?  Ok, spray glue it is! The only down side to that is you can't spray it in the house.  Out to the garage we go.   It was all going well until the nozzel clogged up on the spray can.  Rats!!  I took a pencil to unclog the little hole.  What I didn't pay attention to was the fact that my finger was stuck fast to the nozzle.   I pushed down on the nozzle to see if it was unclogged and ...nothing.  I stuck that little pencil in the hole one more time, looking very carefully to see that I put it exactly in the right spot.  Pfffsssssttttttt.......right in my EYE!  I could not get my finger off the nozzle to stop it, fingers don't work too well when they are stuck.  Barb being the good friend burst out laughing and forgot ( I am sure she forgot) to ask me if I was OK!  Lock tight in the eye does not feel too good.  All I could think of is how would I explain this in the emergency room?  Heck, I would look like a pirate.  One eye stuck shut, no patch needed.  I suppose I could have just stick come Christmas paper over my eye to look festive.

I believe I might have said "shit" before I started laughing hysterically.   This was so obsurd.  There we stood hysterically laughing, I had to cross my legs to keep from peeing my pants,  the tears from laughing so hard were running down my face in the 20 some degree garage.  M glasses and face were spritzed with glue.   We could not speak, and my sides ached from gasping for air.   When we could stop laughing long enough, Barb looked on the can and read me the part that said to only clean the nozzle with turpentine.  DO NOT POKE IT.  Ok, note to self...next time don't look at the nozzle and stick stuff in the little hole.  We did manage to get the paper on the blocks and quit for the day.

 We finished the blocks today

I think they came out pretty well.  The peace blocks have ribbon around the edges of the blocks.   They will be for sale at Frog Hollow if you are interested.  I always seem to learn something when I am doing crafts.  This time it's to be more careful with spray glue.  I think next time Barb is in charge of the spray glue.  I can stick those papers on the wood.....right Barb? 

Stamped Tiles

Well crafty neighbor Barb and I got together and did some stamped coasters.

I think they came out pretty well.  I actually scored on the stamps.  Some gal was at a craft show and had a basket of "used" stamps.  I got 4 for 3.75!  SCORE!  The craft show was not very busy, I think the 45 mph gusting north wind had something to do with the turnout.  When you can't the the doors open (even between the gusts) it deters the little old ladies from getting in.  Nothing stops me from getting to the craft show.  It was amazing to see the tumbleweeds flying across the road in front of the truck on the way into town.  Where did they come from?  There was even one in front of the Municipal Building where the craft show was.    The crops failed this year due to the drought but the tumbleweeds had a wonderful growing season.

When my kids were little I gave them cap guns, strapped them in the car seats and let them "shoot" the tumbleweeds on the way to town.  I wonder what would happen if I did that today?  How long can I last before I get pulled over?  Shooting tumbleweeds was a great learning game.  You counted the tumbleweeds you "killed", talked about distance, colors etc.  it was far more entertaining than plugging in a DVD for them to watch.  I even remember some really creative people spraying tumbleweeds white, stacking them up and selling them as snowmen.  They shipped the tumbleweeds everywhere.  My favorite web sites had pictures of the "tumbleweed ranches" on the Internet that had the darn things scattered all over a wheat field.  All that green wheat dotted with brown tumbleweeds.  Like cattle grazing.......guess someone fell for that they sold like hotcakes!

Hey There Stampers!

Wow!  Crafty neighbor Barb came over and we filled some orders that we had for coasters and snowman candy bars.  Made 10 sets (I think its a blur at this point) of coasters, 31 covered Hershey bars and 6 stamped tiles.  The snowmen took the longest,  We had to sew the hats, and make the scarfs.  They are not hard, it just takes time to get the hats done.  They are so cute though!  Here are the new coaster designs that we made today.

I think we should do a you-tube video about stamping coasters.  It has been trial and error for us.  A video could save some other people the stress of screwing up and using an entire bottle of acetone to erase their mistakes.  I think we have our technique down now.  I have been thinking about how the video will go.   We need to keep it "real."  You know like it really happens in our craft rooms.  I know there are a lot of other crafters just like us out there. Before we begin, we will have to try one (or two if they are really good) of those drink recipe's that we have pinned on pinterest.  After we have loosened the jaw muscles and lips we will start off in our best Wisconsin accent-"Hello stampers!"  "Today we are going to show you how to stamp on tile.  To start you will need stazOn ink.  Next, you will need to have acetone and cotton pads handy in case you make a mistake.  Acetone will remove the ink from the stamped surface. You don't need to buy expensive acetone just get it at Walmart.  The cheaper the better.  Ink the stamp you are going to use well, but don't get carried away.  Barb will demonstrate the technique."  About that time you will hear "well.....shit" in the background. (Too much ink on the sides of the stamp)  We will have to pause the camera and wipe off the tile.  Ok, press the stamp firmly on the tile being really careful not to wriggle.....OMG!  Pause again and wipe off the tile.  OK take 3!  Alrighty there stampers, press firmly, don't wriggle and lift the stamp off quickly.  GEEZE!!  The damn stamp is sticking to the tile and lifting the entire thing off the table.  Pause again, wipe off the the tile, clean the stamp because it sat too long and the stazOn is sticky,  re stamp and start the video once again.  Now once you have the image like you want, take your embossing gun and heat the image up until it is warm to dry it.  If you use a embossing gun it will save the step (and expense) of baking it to set the ink.  Before you start, be sure to remove any acetone pads from the area, cap the acetone bottle and watch out not to heat up the plastic table top to much.  It will melt!  OMG....got too close to my fingers.  Stop the video, get another "beverage" and watch what we have so far.

This is how it usually goes when we get together.   A few "beverages", lots of laughter and a huge dose of creativity.   Yep, crafty neighbor Barb and I are pretty dangerous when we get together.  We are really good at experiment projects.  Footloose, fancy free, no kids, and husbands at work.  What more could a woman want?  Ok, maybe a cabana boy to serve the beverages....

My tiny little thoughts

Some Sunday mornings when I get up, I hear Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! You know like on TV.  I wonder what the day has in store for us.  Today the sun was not shining, it was too cold to play, so we just sat in our recliners on this yucky cold day.  No Sunday paper.. nope, they quit delivering the real paper.  No more mornings sitting there with a fresh cup of coffee looking at all the ad's,  clipping coupons listening to Jerry the bird yelling "hey let me out!"  Now we just sit there drinking coffee listening to "good morning!", "hello pretty bird", "here kitty kitty."  No comforting newsprint smell.  No rattling paper sounds.  What is this world coming to?  I don't want to look at a tiny version of the newspaper on the laptop.  Hell, I can't even see the print.  If I make it larger then I have to move the mouse around to see the articles.  We are talking about a all my life tradition here!  To focus the newspaper you either moved your glasses a little bit, or took them off.
I don't take this lightly.  My Sunday morning memories as a kid are waking up to the smell of coffee at my grandparents house hearing the rattling of newspaper and smelling eggs cooking.  Now, just who are these newspaper creeps that are messing with our Sunday morning memories?  What will the grandkids remember about Sunday mornings?   Oh, I know things change.  Money is the bottom line.   They are messing with tradition here.  Yes, I do look at the paper on line.  I am techo-enabled.  I just hate it.  The laptop is heavier, takes up the space that the little dog sits in, and if you hit a key that happens to be a hot key the whole screen disappears and you lose what you were looking at.  I do it all the time.  GEEZE!!   I am somewhat flexable and can adjust to change.  Some days I feel like a willlow tree in the 70 mph wind gusts.  I must admit, not being able to get a newspaper anymore feels like being screwed over and not getting a kiss when they were through with you. 
They even took the newspaper stands away.  It was like waking up Christmas morning to find that the Grinch took all the Christmas stuff.  It went something like DH- "hey no paper yet".  Me-"maybe we should call to see where it is."  DH-"They are not delivering it anymore."   Edit out the words the DH said here.. Me-"Ok go to the newspaper stand and see if they have one left."  DH- "hell I did, they took the stand away too!"  We both were in open mouth amazement.  Yep, there we stood just like the who's down in Whoville, I just wanted to hold hands and sing

 Fah who for-aze! Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze! Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas, Welcome Christmas,
Come this way! Come this way!

Maybe the newspaper fairy will bring the newspaper stand back.  Maybe someday I will look out front and see a newspaper laying on the sidewalk.  Yeah, in my life what will happen is that I will look out the front door and all I will see is a pile of dog crap from the neighbors dog.  That's change for ya!

Box Class Success

Well, today was the day!  Crafty neighbor Barb and I taught our first paper crafting class.  We agreed to meet at Frog Hollow (aka the venue) and get ready at 12:30.  Got all the supplies packed up and whew, had some time to kill.  Pinterest here I come.  When I came up to get a breath of air I noticed the clock said "past time to leave."  I jumped out of the comfy recliner, grabbed the totes and dashed off.  Making a quick calculation I figured I would be 10 minutes late.  Rounding the last curve about 1/3 of the way there I decided to make a mental note of what I brought.  Humm....SHUT the front door!! I had everything I needed BUT the packets of pre cut paper projects.  They were all sitting in the craft room on the table next to the spot the totes were sitting.  HOW could I forget those? 
Thankfully a dirt road corner was coming up.  I slammed on the brakes, flipped a U turn and raced back to the house.  Called crafty neighbor Barb to let her know I was going to be late.  No answer on her cell.  Ok, left a message.  Funny she should answer.  Ran into the house grabbed the folders and once again left.  Geeze, now I am going to be 20 minutes late.   Called Barb again, no answer.  Weird.  Guess she was setting up tables and could not hear the phone ringing in her purse.  A few minutes later called again, no answer.  Ok, she left the darn phone on the table at home.  Why can't she be like the kids, their phones are glued to their bodies?  I would not look like such a doofus showing up late if she knew where I was.  I just hope she does not have a heart attack thinking I am in the recliner at home sleeping while she is standing there with the attendees looking at her waiting for the class to start. 
I arrived and got the stuff out of the truck,  Whew, I was finally there and had all the supplies.  The vision of standing there starting the class and realizing all the projects were at my house faded.  We had a wonderful couple of hours trying out the class with 3 people.  I think it was a hit.  Everyone left with 5 or 6 completed projects, patterns and new ideas.  We are going to do it again in December.   Who knew someday we would be teaching other people how to do stuff??  We were amazed when we first started out that we could even make cute cards.  Next we were like whoop, whoop, someone got a cricut, then SCAL and MTC.  We did little happy dances, stayed up (still doing that) way too late lurking on internet sites.  Then, it was all over when we discovered the forums, free patterns and other paper cutters.   Now in the evenings all I hear from the DH is "what are you looking at on the computer NOW???"  I always say porn just to see the look on his face.  He always replies "oh yeah porn that looks like a card I bet."   Yep, he's right.  Who can resist a good card forum?

Wowza!

While lurking on some of the crafting boards, I found the pattern for these snowmen candy bar covers.  I just had to run and make a couple prototypes.  They are just the cutest things!  Oh yeah, they will be for sale at Frog Hollow next week.  Crafty Neighbor Barb and I are all ready to whip some of them up.  What cute stocking stuffers.  I really don't know how people come up with all the neat ideas that they post for others to make.  I am so grateful for their willingness to share patterns.  I think the neat thing is tweaking things to suit your artistic tastes after looking at what someone else did.  Thank you Laurie Furnell for the "free" graphic pattern.  Visit her website for some really cool graphics.  Barb came up with some cute post it note holders that are on acrylic picture frames.  I am not sure where she got the idea but it's a keeper!  At first I had a hard time figuring out what she used for the little stand.  Why it was the picture frame of course.  Thinking outside the box opens up all kinds of creativity.

Happy Crafting!

Did I do that?

Kudos to crafty neighbor Barb for actually buying that silhouette cutter!  I procrastinated too long and they were all gone at the sale price!  I wish I had one too now.  She really out did herself on this cut.  Just look at the detail on our glass block.

I just can't cut that detail on the old cricut.  Here is the second side. 

This block was created to be a Christmas and winter block.  It even lights up too! 

I love making bows but must admit I am a bow spaz.  I make much better bows using the "bowdabra".  If only I could have dreamed that little gizmo up.  It's just a little plastic stand that holds the twisted ribbon still while you fold and twist it.  Oh, and a little smasher to keep everything tight until you can wrap it up. 

 I think we are going to have to make more of these glass blocks.  I thought maybe crafty neighbor Barb and I should have held a little drawing to see who could win this one and call it our "prototype" block.  It seems a shame to sell it to someone.  I hope the new owner loves it as much as we do.  I think the suitcase I got from the curb next to Barb's trash can is nice and dry now.  I just need to see if it is in good enough shape to make the dog bed.  The old DH sure had a good eye when he spied that sitting outside.  Too many ideas and work keeps getting in the way!  Almost forgot, the glass block is for sale at Frog Hollow in Pratt. 

Blessings

Cheryl

Good will...

Bargain shoppers all know this.  When shopping for little odd and end things the local Goodwill store is the place to go.  The thing I love most is the kindness inside the store.  Someone almost always holds the door open for you when you get there if they are going inside also..  The employees always ask you if you need any help.  Someone will always strike up a conversation with you if you are open to that too.  I was looking for nice wine glasses to make some candle holders out of.  Here is one I made last night.

The picture does not do justice to the silver sparkle paper and shimmery snowflakes.  I have also been on the hunt for some old hard sided luggage to turn into dog beds.  They are beautiful when done right.  No luck finding some so far UNTIL....wait, what is that my husband saw across the street at crafty neighbor Barb's house?  No WAY!  A perfect looking suitcase sitting out by the curb.  And here I sit in my Jammie's and sticking up hair.  The trash man is coming soon too.  Pressure, pressure, pressure.  Trash man will show up soon and what IF I don't look at it?  What if I am kicking myself all week because I didn't go look at it?   Oh what shall I do?  Get out the spy binoculars and really check it out?  What the heck, I don a pair of sweats and flatten down the hair, wipe off the flaky mascara and run across the street to get Barb who is outside.  The poor suitcase is perfect but frozen shut.  Seems some snow got on it last night.  No matter I will chance it.  I run back across the street prize in hand coat flapping.  I hear her laughing all the way home too.  My husband says he has some dog crap we can spray gold too if I want some of that to go with the suitcase.  Ok non believers I will show you all.  I will post a pic of it when it's done.  That is if it unthaws, does not smell mouldy, and the hinges work.  If it does not work I will sneak it back across the street and set it back where it came from next week.  Ahhh, gotta love shopping, you never know when you will find that special treasure. 

What ever happened to Thanksgiving?

Funny how Thanksgiving seems to have slipped away from our sights.  Christmas starts to slip in about August.  It's kinda creepy if you think about it.  First it's those boxes from China sitting at the end of the school supply isle at Walmart, unopened.  Then the next thing you know some shiny ornaments are hanging in the lawn and garden section.  A few weeks later, someone sets up that dreaded kiosk that plays all the "favorite" Christmas songs.
Things like- Reggie Christmas Hits, Andy Williams sings Christmas Wonderland, or something like Tibetan Christmas Bells.  Now those are songs we all rush out to buy.  Then in September you go to Hobby Lobby to use your 50% off coupon and BAM!  There are some Christmas Trees lurking in the Chinese shipping boxes out in the lobby area.  Oh yeah, there is still furniture out in the lobby but you know overpriced tree land IS coming...Seems like then it's all over.  There are pumpkins and the like out in the isles, but there are also ornaments, trees, wreaths and little doo dads galore.  Good bye outdoor deco, and good bye Halloween misspelled fall signs.  Oh yes, HL had a whole display of signs that said "Bemare" instead of "Beware".  An employee putting up Christmas  stuff overheard us laughing and saying how scared we were just reading that spooky word!  She came over and laughed with us,  Even on sale I bet only bad spellers bought it.  It's totally all over for fall by the first of November.  All you can find are little leftover sections of tattered garland, broken fall picks, and clearance turkey paper plates on the end caps of the Christmas isles.  I love Thanksgiving!  It makes me sad we can't just enjoy fall and be thankful for all the good things we have.  Happy Harvest?  Fall Blessings?  Gone.  Going into any store after September first reminds me of the fall sign on my door,  "Welcome to the Nut House."   Christmas crap everywhere.....*sigh*

Here is the fall window Crafty Neighbor Barb and I finished.  It's for sale at Frog Hollow if you are interested. 

Blessings
Cheryl

Time flys....

Where did the weeks go?  My new grandson little Wyatt was just so excited to be born, he came 7 weeks early.  I thought 19 years ago I was done sitting by a crib in the NICU.   Not my child this time, but my child's child.  Once again, it was love at first sight.  A tiny wee man who is doing so fantastic!  We are so blessed, God is good!  I decided today that if I had to wear a sweatshirt that says something it would say "runs with scissors."   I have had that kind of a day.  Who wants to follow rules anyway?  Barb and I (my neighbor who by the way, is as addicted to crafting as I am) are busy getting together the items we will be making the class we will be presenting in a couple weeks. We are working on our double sided glass block and I messed around with wine glass shades.  Here is one I came up with.

The Goodwill store has such nice glasses for cheap!  I love shopping for stuff there.  Now to finish my Hillbilly wine glasses............so much to do and not enough time.
Blessings....

Celebrate!

Where else but in small town America can you hold a shopping event for the entire town (plus surrounding area) and serve liquor?  It was so much fun, shopping, food, wine, ghost-teenies, visiting with old and new friends (the more stores you stopped in and drank, the more new friends you meet) and lots of store discounts.  To cap off the evening there was even a large prize drawing at the end of the event at the municipal building.  I LOVE the small town life.  Everyone had manners, I didn't see one person with a sonic cup trying to fill it up with free drinks on the sly.  No old ladies had their purses open scooping up brownies for later either.   If you were nice you could get seconds on the drinks and snack were unlimited.   Some were homemade goodies too.   The local flower shop had killer home made cheese balls.  No one minded the jaywalkers threading their way across the highway and side streets.  Rock music from a radio station set up in front of the bank blared down the street.  One of the large gift stores had live music.  My lawyer was singing and playing the guitar.  Wow, I didn't know he did that on the side.  I have to see him to sign some papers next week, think it would cost me a little more for a song while I am there?    Keep the big city life...I don't miss it.

Free standing pop up box card

I am always amazed at the crafters that are willing to share their wonderful creations!  I was lurking on Split Coast Stampers site (don't know about you but I seem to spend a lot of time there) and came across a pattern for a free standing pop up box card by Mary Jo Albright.  (THANK you Mary for sharing)  Here is my version

This is a very easy card to do and looks so wonderful.  Here is what it looks like shut. 

I really have to look for my flower frog to display cards,  I noticed a lot of the "pro's" use them to hold the cards upright.  Duh!  I need to remember to keep it simple. 

I am always in awe at the talented ladies and gents who so freely share their patterns and products on the net.   For those of us who live in "Mayberry RFD" it is the only way we can keep up with the wonderful designs that are out there.  Lord knows I certainly can't dream up all my projects by myself.   Not that talented and never will be.  I can look at the pictures I find, and try to duplicate them or change them a little and they don't always come out well.  Sometimes it looks like a monkey did it.  You have to learn to laugh at your cockeyed creations.

I love how Karma works, if you share what you have, it comes back to you 10 fold.  Here's to a creative Tuesday evening!  Well after I uncover the table and find all the stamps, scissors, tape, sticky dots etc.  I think I might have thrown away some clear stamps earlier.  They seem to be like sox coming out of the dryer.  You never know what they are clinging to in their attempt to escape.   Sox seem to prefer shirts and stamps like paper.

Sunday,Sunday,Sunday....

I am busy finding my magic, but not at Macy's.  Who comes up with this stuff?  I would rather spend my money on crafting supplies.  This morning I carefully cracked open the door to the craft room, looked at complete disaster and then quickly shut the door.  I have coasters to make, and a couple of cards and I can't see the table.  Maybe the cleaning fairy will visit.  I wish I could get the dogs to clean.  Dachshunds don't seem to be into cleaning.  Fetching balls, laying in the sun yes, cleaning no.  They will sit by my feet while I create but that's it.  Sigh....

I did get some coasters made finally

Gee a bad photo but you get it I am sure..

I hope you have had a blessed day.  Going to the big city in the morning.  TJ Max here I come.  Hope the delivery truck came and they were able to put the stuff out.  Gotta love the prices there!

Saturday Night 10-15-11

Thanks Melissa for turning me on to Pinterest.  Sure, tell me about a really cool website, then have me sign up to join it only to find out that I have to be on a "waiting list".  Do I look like I am a good waiter?  NOT!  I felt like a plastic bag blowing in the wind waiting for the conformation email.  Then, when it came I spent 3 hours just looking at all the cool crafts I could make.  Mind boggling.  Because the hard drive in my mind is full, I am very grateful that pinterest makes it so easy to save cool ideas.  This is what I heard all evening "MOM what are you doing?"  Me-blogging.  "You can't blog"  Me-really?  "You can't even text without it looking like a foreign language!"  Me-"I'll show you a foreign language"......  Watch it, I am having some kind of fun now.