Snowman Love

I had been waiting in happy expectancy for a stamp order to arrive this week...this precious image is Precious Innocence...isn't she sweet? Admittedly I had a bit of difficulty finding the right shade of paper to go with my copics to go with my designer paper...but I think the contrast looks pretty good. The pink background was stamped in versamark and white craft ink with random snowflakes to blend the colors a little more. I clipped off two pom poms from some pom pom lace to add to the little girl's hat and added some Flower Soft "Polar White" to the hat bands and more Polar White and Martha Stewart Holiday glitter to the base for "snow." We actually have the real stuff outside, but it's not this sparkly today!
Wishing you a very blessed Sunday and thanks for dropping by. Oh, this is for a "Musical Challenge" from Dani Dell on SCS...the first time I have participated. The song was "Chain of Love."

Teapot Tuesday and my Stamp a Stack Christmas Cards

Is it Tuesday yet? I am late, as always, to the Teapot Tuesday party...but this week the destination is a hospice organization in Austin, Texas, and I couldn't miss sending a card to such a wonderful organization! You can view Cindy (Mothermark's) teapot Tuesday story by clicking on the black and white polka dotted teapot on my sidebar to read and laugh!!

The rest of the cards are from a Christmas card stamp-a-stack I attended over the weekend, at my demo, Carn's house. This was only 3 of the cards we made, I still have one more to make up! I don't have any of these stamps, so it is really nice to have a variety of cards to add to my small stash, and of course, I got home and had to add a silver pearl here, or some glitter there. The snowman was made of punches, and I am so punched challenged, I tell you, I had glue stuck everywhere. So if it were not for this class, I am sure my punches would be underused!
Tell me, which is your favorite of the Christmas designs? I'd really like to know!
We had snow last night, and this morning, a blanket of gentle peace covered the ground. So pretty!!
Thanks for stopping in, I've got French Roast on the menu, would you like a cup?

Hugs for a Friend

This card is not for a challenge or a cause...just me stamping because I want to! I love this Mo's Digital image...the dog reminds me so much of my Corgi...who by the way, is lame in one leg today. I am hoping it will go away, as he has had it before and it does.
Anyway, I have several friends who are going through some tough times right now...so this hug is for them...you know who you are!
This image was copic colored and white fine tulle was added as the bow at the top. The flowers were "borrowed" off a card I received over a year ago from another friend...they were the perfect touch. Does anyone else remake cards? I do it all the time.
Wishing you a day of sunshine and a hug from someone close!
Thanks for stopping by today!

My little "Hope Tote"

As many of you already know, I was just recently visiting my parents in Grand Junction as my Dad underwent knee replacement surgery and mom was transferred to a care center. Dad's surgery went well, and he was transferred to the care center a few days later to join mom. Although on different wings they are "together" and each can encourage the other while there. The plan is for Dad to finish up rehab to the point of being able to go back into the home and not only care for himself, but also do the wheelchair transfers needed for mom to return. That is the challenge ahead of him!
I am going to include the address where you may mail a card if you're moved to do so at the end of this post!
Thanks to my friend, Cindy, (Mothermark,) this week's Teapot Tuesday destination was none other than my home town to Grand Junction, Colorado!! My parents will be deluged with cards from all over the country encouraging them, lifting their spirits, brightening their days and I am sure the staff's and anyone who crosses their paths!! Thank you to all the "Tea Potters" who are sending cheery cards their way!!
My sample for this week did not follow Mothermark's story or sample, but I wanted to make this little tote and a set of cards to include. I saw this tote on Stacy (Twinshappy) blog found here. I loved the size of the cards this was intended to hold (4x4) and used my favorite SU! paper to make a set of cards. This tote is made from a clear acrylic box cut in half!! What a fun concept, then I used nestabilities four to cover the front and back.
Here's a silly thing I did though, after attaching the handle in brads and scor-tape, I wasn't able to take any of the note cards out!! So I had to remove the handle and make a new one, and this time I left it really long so the cards could be removed!
You can see this week's Teapot Tuesday challenge by my wonderful friend, Cindy here!
If you scroll down to the bottom of her post, you will be able to view the one-of-a-kind personalized card that Cindy is so good at making: it has a "picture" of me and our two daughters with our names on it!! How special is that!! The story and the cards can also be viewed on SCS's home page by looking under Tuesday's heading. I'll include a post later on my next visit to see my parents of all the cards!!

Ok, here is the address:

Joyce and Roy Cotton
C/O Mantey Heights Care Center
2825 Patterson Road
Grand Junction, CO 81506

Tags and Tots!!

I have two quick projects I needed to get on here...the first one is a complete and shameless CASE from Sharon Johnson's No Time to Stamp blog! (Please click on my sidebar blog favorites). I needed a few baby cards for the women I am a "mentor mom" to in my church's support group for moms of preschoolers. This paperby Webster's Pages is beautiful and vintage, but has always perplexed me how to maximize it for a regular A2 size card. This has two prints on the front, and then the scraps decorating the inside. The ribbon is a beautiful drapey silk from Sharon's
Stamp Simply Ribbon store. She has a wonderful selection of ribbons that I just droole over, plus stamps, papers, and more!
The second project is a Christmas tag for Waltzingmouse's "Tag, You're It" challenge. I used a SU! set, embossed the cardinal in burgundy embossing powder, covered the tag with pretty Jovial papers by Basic Grey, added some Baker's twine and a button...this is a hodge podge of products and I love the way it turned out...but the recipient better not throw it out as this took as long as a card to make!!

Thank you for the encouraging words for my parents in my last post!! I so appreciate those and the prayers...thankfully Dad's surgery went well and he and my Mom will be at the Care Center for at least a month, so a long recovery ahead! I was so glad to be able to go and see them for a week and am sure I'll be back before long!

Hope you're having a great mid-week...and thanks so much for stopping by!!

Hope You Can Cling To

Well, I am on my way over the mountains to take care of some "business" at home. My Dad is being admitted to the hospital on Tuesday for his second total knee replacement surgery. My Mom will be admitted tomorrow to the care center waiting for my Dad to join her. I am thankful that between my Dad, family, and local health services, my parents have been able to live at home. With Mom in a wheelchair, she has been helped tremendously with home health providing everyday care needs like showers...but now that Dad won't be there to help, she has opted to go there. The thing about my Mom is...she is a blessing wherever she goes. She is cheerful, sunny, encouraging, gentle...my only regret in this visit is I will be sharing her with the care staff instead of able to spend some one-on-one time which is very rare! (as in not once in the last 20 years. So I am feeling a bit sentimental right now.
Anyway, it will be good to be there and help out for a few days!
Today's card is for two challenges on Splitcoast Stampers (SCS)...one by my friend, Cindy, (Mothermark), for this month's Breast Cancer Awareness drive..."Hope you can cling to." What a fun challenge, "Let's Dabble in some Scrabble" make a square card with at least 4 squares and some letters...well I got some of that right! Oh, and of course pink...and today's inspiration to be inspired by this cookie site here.

My inspiration cookie is the top row, second from the left! And it is guilty, I tell ya, of making me hungry for one. Now, aren't you glad I identified the culprit?
Thanks for stopping in...until next time~

Emerging Leaves

It's been a beautiful fall here...but the thing about this wonderful season in Colorado is it can all be over too soon! If we have a drenching rain, or a couple of very windy days...poof...it is over! So while I am thankful for the beauty inherent in this season, my gratitude is not based on the changing weather patterns, or the seasons, but on those things which do not shift with the changing winds, but are anchored deep in my soul. My faith, my love for family, my trust in a good God that sometimes allows bad things to happen for the purpose of growing me up and establishing my deeper in His word and His promises.
This card is for two challenges, the Flourishes October sketch challenge here, and Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge this week to make a thank you card. You can click on the SSC blog on my sidebar to view the entire challenge!
The stamped background in my oval is Flourishes "Thank You" set, the Leaf swag is SU! Country Blessings...and the technique is "emerging color" found on this week's Gina K's Stamp TV. I used Tim Holtz distress inks for the colors.
Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you a day full of blessings!

My Daughter

 

I had a great time experimenting with my camera and trying to capture the changing seasons...and with a subject as pretty as this, it made my job much easier!
This is our daughter, Erin, who is in her junior year at college and living away from home. My time with her is pretty special!

Splendor in Steamboat

 

Just wanted to share one of my photographs taken around Steamboat Springs...caught a close-up of one of the last of the Autumn leaves clinging to the branch on a crisp cool day!

Hopeful Daisies

Today's card was made for two challenges. The Flourishes newsletter issued a challenge in conjunction with World Card Making Day to make a card any other size than a typical A2. This card is 4 1/4 x 6 1/2. There were extra entries given if the card had pink and also had a ribbon. I think I got the pink in, can you see it? You can find the challenge here.
The second challenge is this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge here.
For my card, I used the Flourishes stamp set, Gerber Daisies and SU! for the sentiment. The cute button is handmade from Tessa Ann's etsy shop. The image was colored with various shades of copics, and I used a different method for the flower centers, you just pounce the marker lightly, which I did with two shades of pink. I left some spots white and then also went over with a signo gel pen to add a few more white spots. I like the way this highlights the flower centers. Scoring was added to frame the image.
Thanks for stopping by...we have a cloudy day here and a bit cooler weather. A perfect day to be here visiting with you!

Sweet Sunday Sketch

If this card looks familiar, scroll down to my previous post and card. I had these papers out and had just received a box of stamping tool goodies, meaning no new stamps, but lots of fun tools. Itching to try them out, I used my Tim Holtz embossing folders in large swirls and my Nestabilities new Blossoms die to frame this cute latte image from Stampin Up! I also used some crochet lace from the Flourishes store and Karen Giron's sketch on her blog, "The Sweetest Thing."
Just wanted to give a recommendation for stamp supplies like these on overstock.com...I have always ordered from them, but just recently discovered they carry the nestabilities by Spellbinders and a lot of other stamps and supplies...and best of all, their shipping is always only $2.95. Not that I am advertising for anyone, I just like to pass on a good deal when I see it!
Thanks for stopping by...I hope you like my card, I was still inspired by these colors and am happy with the way it translated to coffee and a cute little sentiment, "Sending warm thoughts your way."

Tilda Stamped and Revamped!

Good morning!
This Tilda card has been shelved for a week now. You know how you go through your closet with the changing seasons and literally have nothing to wear? That was what my Tilda needed...she had been originally cast in a lacy number with those round white doilies and this big 'ol flower and just seemed dwarfed!! I had put her on the shelf wondering who I could send her to when I received some of this pretty crochet lace in the mail! So, as habit with me, I ripped Tilda off the doily and decided to try a diminutive ruffle with pearls to give her a bit more presence...and paired her with this background damask...and now I think she is ready to mail!! Sometimes our wardrobes and accessories just need a bit of revamping...mine needs a complete overhaul!
My card today is for the Just Magnolia Challenge to use lace on your card. This ruffle is so easy to do with a strip of scor-tape. I am glad I tried it out! The pearls have those Stampin' Up glue dots underneath to keep them anchored. I used my paper piercing tool (also Stampin' Up) to place them. It is sharp and dangerous, but really handy when it comes to placing small objects!
So I am off to Macy's today because Tilda is looking better than me! Thanks for your visit, have a blessed day!

September Stamp Club cards

Good morning! I wanted to share two of the cards we made at my monthly Stamp Club last night. This first card was made in the prettiest blue, using a one inch square punch and each square was either stamped in blue or embossed on the blue in white detail powder. This is so striking with the ribbon treatment and I frayed my twine. (I added the frayed twine, it is the only thing on this card that is my own doing...) Ya know, usually the only addition that is mine to the card is the part that I cover up due to a major goof!!



This second card is a Fall Thanksgiving using the Cajun Craze cardstock (love that color!) with the leaves hand cut and double mounted on square punches, and then the green leaves from the two-step bird punch were interwoven to add a dash of color to the warm rich hues of Fall! So much detail, punches, cutting, embossing, and an easy to do border made the inside more interesting also!
Well, lots of fun last night...thanks so much to my demo, Carn, and the women there!!
I'll have another one to show you tomorrow...my favorite!!

Inspiration 24-7

Good morning!
I wanted to share a card I made over the weekend. This was just for fun, (isn't all stamping?)...but here I mean there were no challenges or deadlines involved.
This large bag was purchased at Barnes & Noble last year around Christmas. I was drawn to the colors and design, and it inspired this card. Today's card was taken from the side of the bag, the beautiful crisp white damask print set against the rich cranberry...ooh love!!
I used the Friends 24-7 for my card, taking the damask and flower and white embossing over PTI's scarlet background paper. The bird was stamped in scarlet ink, and the SU! large Very Vintage wheel rolled across the bottom portion. A simple pearl and taffeta ribbon adornment, and there you have it!
I am always finding inspiration in different places, where do you find your stamping inspiration?

Teapot Tuesday on a Wednesday!

This card was made for this week's Teapot Tuesday Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers! You can read about the challenge by clicking on the polka dot teapot on my sidebar and reading Cindy's (Mothermark on SCS) story and the destination station!
This week the cards are being mailed to a fellow SCS'er who is struggling with chemo therapy sessions.
Having had several family members who in the past year have undergone several surgeries for cancer, I feel a lot of empathy for people undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and special "diets."
I used the "polish stone" technique for the background, it is so pretty in person. The color combo I used was SU's! wild wasabi, ballet blue, and lovely lavender.
I decided to make two of these as I have lots of occasions for this particular stamp!
Thanks for popping in to see me...I always appreciate your visit and love reading your comments!

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge~by Me!

 

I am so excited to be the guest designer this month for the Flourishes Timeless Tueaday challenge!! As the guest designer, I was asked to submit a fun challenge and make a card to accompany it.
For the challenge if you already have Flourishes stamps, by all means, use them...but if not, play along anyway!
You may visit the Flourishes Newsletter to read more about it, and submit your cards.


The Challenge:

Summer Sojourn

With the last days of summer, it is time to bid farewell to long languishing days and warm endless nights! The school bells are ringing and children are catching the bus (or mom's carpool) all over this land!
We stampers are always looking ahead to the next project, hailing in the next holiday...but this week before we wave our final good-byes to summer's end...let's take one last backward glance. This week's Tuesday Challenge is to capture a memory of this summer in your card. Was it canning the last fruits of the garden, berry picking, a summer trip to the ocean or mountains, family celebrations...whichever conjurs up a memory to you, put it in your card. Then along with your card, share your memory with the rest of us stampers so we can celebrate with you!!
Have fun creating!!

I just recently received this set, "Humming Along" from Flourishes, and knew right away it would get a lot of use. This spring, a family member unexpectedly sent me a one-of-a-kind patented hummingbird feeder made in Virginia. We took it to our mountain retreat in Colorado and I filled it and hung it on our small deck. It took a couple of days for the hummingbirds to find it, but once they did, it was so fun to watch. The birds were the smaller varieity, dipping and diving each other, but what really tickled me was they could perch on the edge and be still. Up until then, I had only seen them in flight, so it was a treat to view their full beauty and just how tiny they were! I was actually able to capture them in a photograph! So that was one of my many summer memories, just the simple joy of watching God's handiwork in nature!!

Stamps: Flourishes "Humming Along"
Paper: PTI white, SU! Presto Patterns, Bazill Pink, Basic Grey 6x6 pad (Lemonade)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Sky
Accessories: White satin striped ribbon SU!, Labels 8 Nestabilities, Little Yellow School Bus stick pins, beads from SU! Pretties Kit, Basic Grey rhinestones,Circle Nestabilities

Thanks for stopping in, hope you will participate in the challenge!
Thanks so much Flourishes, for the opportunity to be guest designer this month!!

The balm of Friendship

It is Sunday, and that means a new Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge! This week the Lovely Linda encouraged us with her words on friendship and the accompanying scripture. You can visit their blog here. Linda's verse was
Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friends sharpens a friend."

I just recently received my first ever WaltzingMouse stamps order...these are "nestability friendly" stamps meaning they are designed to fit into the nestabilities perfectly. Using Webster's Pages paper and this wonderful pink silk wide ribbon, this card was very easy to fashion! This ribbon reminds me of first proms and white gazebos with pink roses, and all things pure and innocent! The sentiment is one that drew me to this stamp...friendship is indeed a balm to the soul!~! The challenge was to add metal to your card, this ribbon slider is from the Flourishes store.
Thanks for stopping in and I wish you a blessed Sunday!

Serene Christmas

Today's card is my submission for this month's Christmas challenge by Flourishes Stamp Company! The challenge this month was to make a flat card, one that is mailable with one stamp. Now it didn't say the stamp had to be 44 cents postage, but that is what I think they are going for.
I have just recently received this set, Forest of Trees, and decided to create a circle mask using my nestabilities and sponging a soft sky ink around the inside perimeter. My image was inked and then a darker marker was thumped for color dimension, then spritzed and finally stamped on Flourishes watercolor paper.
I added some icicle stickles to the tree and some gingham ribbon around the corners attached with scor tape.
The sentiment was then added (holding my breath, I might add!)
I love the simplicity of this, although it took me a few tries to get the spritzing right on the paper.
Hope you enjoy! One card down...many more to go!!

Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens!!

Yes, it is another Teapot Tuesday in stampland...over on SCS my friend, Cindy, (Mothermark) has a teapot this week without a head. Something about chickens too...so I went straight to my stamp shelf and pulled out this cutie image from Penny Black. How did she know I have been just waitin on the word, "chicken" so I could put these cute critters to ink!!
Anyway, to read the entire story, take a quick peek at the story, just click on the polkadotted teapot in my sidebar (scroll down) and you'll get there!!
Hoping everyone is having a great Tuesday!!

Double Rainbow

 

Can you see it?? This picture was taken at Steamboat Lake this past summer when so typical of Colorado, we were caught unaware by a brief thundercloud and ensuing rain. We were huddled in the boat under the cover for about 20 minutes, teeth chattering and whipped by the rain while my husband calmly kept throwing his fishing line in off the back of the boat waiting out the storm.
But after the rain, the rainbow. Not only one, but two...which made the storm and the wait so worth it. Don't you just love rainbows?

Serigraph!! Seriously?

Lately life seems to be one pit stop after another...the inbetweens are the little respites between big events. I would like to say that I handle all the changes in life with ease, that I glide through one transition after another...but that isn't the case. So in my effort to blog about the past two weeks, I have a little coaster I made using stazon inks, tissue paper, and modge podge. I still need to apply a coat of sealer to this, and it is not perfect, but if I wait for perfection, this blog will soon be a thing of the past! But I love the vibrancy of the colors and think is a project I want to try again using this technique!

The second is a card I made late last night...that should explain a lot!! I wanted to give this technique a whirl as I had seen it on my friend, Charlene's, blog (Where m&m's Gather here... and loved the look! So pulling out my inks and embossing powders, I went to town...thinking this would be quick and easy! Not so, but it was something different for me, and I think I might use this as a manly card. I used two different stamp sets and several distress inks for this. A simple sheer ribbon and the "HB" was stamped separately, punched and added last. I kind of like it...what do you think?
It is fun to take a break from your usual style and try something new...hope this inspires you as well!!
My word of caution: don't attempt this after midnight~!

Hide and Seek

Good afternoon!
So happy to be home again and near my stamp room!
This card was made for two of this week's Flourishes Challenges: the sketch was given by Cindy Haffner and I chose this sketch to fashion my card.
The second was a challenge "Kid's Play"...don't you just love that picture? The challenge was to make a card that reminded you of a fun game you would play from your childhood.
My chosen game was "Hide and Seek," one of the few I recall playing with all the neighborhood kids in the summer until it was pitch black outside and our parents would call us inside for the night!
So what does this hummingbird set have to do with the game "hide and seek?" We hung a hummingbird feeder last week at our deck at our mountain condo and enjoyed watching the tiny birds flit in and out to feast on the nectar. Well, my neighbor had warned me that I should bring the feeder in at night, as bears were attracted to them. I know this is true, as we had one on our deck hanging from the feeder with its greedy paws all over it, a couple of years ago. So, anyway, I didn't heed her words, and the next day, I found the feeder torn out of the railing and laying desolate on the deck. I watched the birds that afternoon humming around where the feeder had been, looking for it, and just hovering as if they knew it was there somewhere. It tickled me to watch. Well, next time I'm there, I'll put the feeder back up and remember to take it down at night!!
This card was a bit time consuming as I haven't stamped in awhile, or colored with copics. I finished all the shading on the flowers and decided there needed to be a bit more pop of color, so added some shimmering h2O's at the end and was excited with the effect it gave!
Hope you like my card today and the story that goes with it!
You can find these challenges on the Flourishes blog here.

Last of the Lazy Days of Summer

Good afternoon, sweet blogging friends!
I have been taking a break from here due to travel, but some have made inquiries as to my whereabouts...so thought maybe I should check in!
Late July, my husband, youngest daughter, and myself took a vacation to Portland and Seattle. Since I am away from my home computer, I can't show you any of those photographs, although I did upload them to Facebook about a week ago. We had such a nice time, driving around West Linn and Lake Oswego, Oregon, and driving by our first two homes we had while living there. The very first one is up this wriggly road that passes a creek and some strange looking homes. Our daughter, after seeing it and hearing of some of the things we did there called us hillbillies!! The nerve...I had to laugh. Well, we would take our canoe to the creek and row down it with our dog, we had a donkey friend that came to visit us in the backyard and would feed it apples and carrots, and I did some canning and made berry pie fillings. I guess that makes us hillbillies!!
Anyway, we got back and then turned around and drove up to Steamboat Springs, Colorado where we own a pretty condo tucked into a little patch of heaven with a creek running below it. When we get here, it is always tough to leave...so even though it is just me and the dog, I stayed. I am so enjoying it, don't know when I will come home!! There is so much to do here in the summer, even though it is known as a ski destination resort! There is hiking, a hot springs pool, fun shopping, furniture consignment stores, fishing, boating, gondola riding, lunch on the Yampa river, Fish Creek Falls, and a really nice botanical park where this photograph was taken. And a lot of amazing art galleries in the historical downtown area. Anyway, I have lots to do, including a quiet read on the deck and just plain ole relaxation!!
All except not being able to stamp, but I figure I can do that soon enough. Hope you are enjoying these last lazy days of summer!
Are there any things you have planned to do before the next season begins? I'd love to hear all about it!!

Fill your Day with Happy!

I have always loved this stamp set from SU...the little critters with their banner...and today is Teapot Tuesday's challenge to make a card that is easy to make and flat to mail. I had already colored this image, so it didn't take any time at all to assemble this. It is for a fellow SCS'er who mails cards to kids who need some cheering up due to illness.

I am happy to make this card that will be mailed to children in a locall burn center to hopefully bring some cheer for them!! For the Teapot tuesday thread, click on the polka dotted teapot in my sidebar.

Thanks for looking, and make your day happy today by cheering someone else up. That is the best kind of happy there is!!

Two Challenge Cards

Today's cards are two that are combined challenges. Why do I do this? I want to "play along," but with the time it takes me to decide on a layout, stamps, colors, accessories...the only way to participate is to combine!!

So the first one here is this pretty little SnowLady whom I love, this time with gold buttons and white puffy sleeves...she is for this week's Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge. This week is hosted by the gracious Grace, and her devotional regarding the verse along with the challenge can be found on the SSIC blog here. The challenge was to use a stamp as your focal point that requires some thought to construction. I thought of quilts, cabins, houses...etc...then decided what I really needed was an early start to Christmas cards. And this lil lady, just like me, needs some work everyday to look good!! Which reminds me I need to go find my blush...

And both cards are submissions for "Dare to Get Dirty" challenges hosted by the Dirty dozen design team on SCS...which I am not allowed to share specific challenges here, but you can look them up on the home page of SCS if you're a Fan Club member!!

The challenges were:

DTGD10CraftyCaro

DTGD10notimetostamp

DTGD10flowergal36

DTGD10sketch '

and one more I forget...

And last, but not least by any means....Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday challenge this week was to bring hearts to a little girl in need of a bit of cheer. The little girl has one heart to add to the collection this week~~You can see this week's Teapot Tuesday challenge by clicking on the button on my sidebar!! Such a wonderful group of teapotters and lots of fun too!

Whew, I think I did it...

Bless you for reading through this!! I so enjoy your comments and hope you are having a great day!!

Chocolate~Dipped Strawberry Recipe

This month the Flourishes blog issued a recipe challenge. I made my 6x6 recipe card using a variety of designer papers, paper-pieced my Strawberry Tilda image by Magnolia and added another stamped Heading perfect for recipe cards.



You can view the challenge here on the Flourishes blog:
http://www.flourishes.org/blog/page/2/
I have really enjoyed seeing the variety of recipes and even tried one for dinner last night...it was delish!
Please remember you can click on the picture to see it in more detail and also view the recipe. I find chocolate dipped strawberries are easy to make with just a couple of helpful tips...make sure your berries are cleaned and totally dry before beginning...and use a wooden skewer through the top of the stem (leaves attached for pretty contrast)...to dip. Dip and twirl to keep the chocolate on, and lay on waxed paper lined cookie sheet to set. The coating stays on better if you don't refrigerate for too long. Serve same day. You can also drizzle white chocolate over the semisweet chocolate for a fancier look. Just melt a few chips in a freezer ziplock bag in the microwave. (About 45-60 seconds for 1/2 cup) and then snip the corner of the bag with scissors. A perfect little tool to drizzle the chocolate!!
Thanks for coming by , hope this Tilda gives you a smile and happy cooking!!

A Place of Rest

First off I just want to thank you who visited my blog and left such encouraging comments last week!! I do not like to "complain" on my blog, but I have to be my authentic self, even if that means at times sharing the burdens of my heart...so thanks for understanding and the uplifting comments.
I value my friends so much!!
An update on our daughter's surgery and a little bit of "history" which might explain my anxiety over it. Our youngest daughter had a ruptured appendix about 7 years ago that due to the displacement of the appendix and her symptoms which came and went for SEVERAL weeks...was left undiagnosed and treated as an ulcer by our doctor even after repeated visits. By the time I took her to the emergency room, she had an infection raging in her system that was affecting all her organs. The surgeon informed us she had only hours left to live had we not brought her in when we did, she would not have survived. The result was a 10 day hospital stay and another 3 months of very slow recovery.
Now, I am so grateful to say, our daughter is the picture of health. She takes good care of herself, exercises, watches her diet...but she was left with a very unsightly scar that she had wanted to have "revised." While I am not a fan of her going in for another surgery, I could understand her desire to have a cleaner scar and hopefully little reminder of what was left from this difficult time in her life. She went in Friday and even though it was a more traumatic surgery than she had thought it would be, the scar looks clean and it should heal very well. She is recovering very nicely and I've enjoyed the past 4 days of taking care of her.

This card was made for the Stamping Sisters in Chirst challenge this week. The verse is from Matthew 11:28: "Come to me you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

For me this week, the ease of my burdens, the rest in my soul, has come primarily through seeing my daughter's invigorated health and seeing her rest easily inspite of the pain. I have much comfort in just seeing her, having her here on this Earth, as in not losing her at an early age...I am grateful to God for giving her life and extending her days, and thus my joy!
This image reminds me of her in our garden. One year she planted sunflowers and they grew taller than her. And the sunflowers remind me of the sunshine she brings to my life!!

Hope you are enjoying your summer, and thanks again for your friendship!

Teapot Tuesday and Patented Bird Feeders

Have you ever had a week/day/month/year that just seemed to be discombobulated? Definition: to throw into a state of confusion, upset.

My week has definitely been that way...I can not explain all the variables and factors that have entered in to make my normal world tilt off it's axis, but it is discomforting to me. So today, because I was home, because I had 2 dogs instead of one, because I had no car because my daughter was in a car accident and needed mine, because I am taking my other daughter into a surgery that I am not even sure is a good idea tomorrow, and because she is coming in on a plane this afternoon from a 3 day Las Vegas stint that I don't approve of for a girl her age, and because the exterminator called at the last minute and was in the area and could he spray the house, and because my tummy still hurts...I decided to stamp.

I wish I could say I feel all better now, but if nothing else, this card made me smile. It reminded me of simpler times when I could control at least a few of the circumstances life threw my way, and I could laugh at our kid's humor.

My card was made for my wonderful friend, Cindy's 101 Teapot Tuesday cards celebration. The assignment was to bring dots or spots...and so in an effort to add to this dotty card, I ran the sweet puppy image through the CB swiss dots folder. After I looked at this dog, now all covered with what looked to be a bad rash, I was reminded of my oldest daughter's run-in with a moderate case of chicken pox. She was covered in those dots, and her little sister, always the mischievous one...giggled with glee and demanded some "chicken pops" of her own. It made me laugh, and still makes me smile to think of it.

If you click on the first picture, you can see the hummingbird "in flight." I received this patented "Best Hummingbird Feeder" from a family member from Virginia as a hostess gift. We had talked a lot about our love of bird-watching, and living in Virginia, she has a wider variety of colorful songbirds than we do here in Colorado. I was so delighted to receive this in the mail, and hung it up immediately when we got to our mountain condo this past weekend. I must say, it is pretty cool to watch the hummers, they can actually "perch" on the lips edge which is flatter and wider than most hummingbird feeders. I just took this with my little Kodak camera, so was happy it came out so well.

So tomorrow I will be helping with my daughter's convalescing and hoping that the surgery goes well..

I wish you a happy, even though possibly, discombobulated day~~