BUDDING CHEF

I am a messy cook;

I'm in a challenging position; having to learn to cook and bake gluten free for health. Is there a difference... OH Yes! Today I am trying out my own recipe for Honey-Oatmeal bread. It's put together and in the pan resting. 60 minutes or one hour. Then it will have to bake over an hour. Bread making is not a quick process or do you want to rush it... unless you want a flat,dense loaf that tastes like cardboard.

My assistant; making rice soup(aka... rice and water) He is a particularly handsome man and very smart. He measures everything out and he doesn't like to be hurried! Only the very best ingredients goes into his creations. His tastes are exquisite, fine juices, tasty fruits and vegetables (cut in a medium dice, not pureed), and OH... the cheese! Just call him "Chef Gray-soun", that is, with a french accent!

FAMILY CHRISTMAS 2010

GRAYSON DECORATING HIS COOKIE

SHOWING OFF HIS NEW "THOMAS THE TRAIN" BACKPACK AND CONDUCTOR HAT

UNCLE MICHAEL TRYING OUT THE CONDUCTOR GEAR

MATTHEW AND ASHLEY


Sunday, we celebrated Christmas with all the kids and their families. Roast Beef, mashed potatoes and all the fixins! Ashlyn baked Christmas cookies, a first. I usually do the baking and the kids decorate them. This has been our family Christmas eve tradition since the kids were little. This year we decided to change things around a bit, since every one's work schedules are different. Grayson ate the frosting and sprinkles and left the cookies! Next, on to the gifts. Grayson was so excited, ripping into each gift and loving it all! Papa and I (Nena) got him a train table and train. Thomas the Train is his all time favorite!! Something for Daddy to put together! It was a fun night and all the kids had a good time, so did I. It was nice to have them all together, the noise, the laughter and all the fun!

MICHAEL AND SAMARA

ASHLYN AND JAMES

DEAR BLOG

Dear Blog,
It seems I have left you in the dust again. Sorry, but life happens!
p.

"DANGER DANGER!!!"

What a week! The tale of the beginning of the week.......
Wow! What a whirlwind day! I kept Grayson all day because Ashley (DIL) was having surgery. (It went well-she is home recovering/thank goodness) I went and picked up Ashlyn to go shopping (Grayson needed a few new toys for our house since he has outgrown the others). Any hooo... we ended up having to rush to Stanley Hospital because her fiance shot himself in the shoulder with a roofing nailer. 2 1/2 inch staple embedded into his right shoulder (straight into the bone-ouch!). Into surgery he goes. Anyway, he is home now - recovering. Dufuss! This is the second time he has done this. A year and a half ago, he shot his foot. Dufuss! Yes! I called him a dufuss! DUFUSS!!!!!
After all was said and done...... Grayson got to go to Walmart and he picked out a CAT front loader with all the bells and whistles! He's happy and so is Nena!

On with the week...Planned on going to the LSS for a little fun, too much on my plate for the day. Needless to say, nothing really got accomplished! Another day gone.
Imagine this... 4:30 am... you're sleeping and in the middle of a dream... next thing you know, you're lying on the floor. Hmmm.... note to self... "Get side rails for the bed". Yes, I rolled out of bed, hit the floor and took all the covers with me. Hurt like hell and all I wanted to do was laugh! I don't even remember what I was dreaming about! Was it good or bad??? Who know??? Scared the hell out of John! Poor guy!
Today I managed to clean off one side of my desk and put some stuff away. I stayed off ladders, kept sharp objects out of reach and didn't go near the stove! Didn't want to take any chances! Tomorrow will be a day of rest and hopefully, next week will be less dangerous!
Here are a few of the cards I promised you from my last posting. Enjoy!

DIGGING OUT

I know... it's been a while... a long while. Sometimes I just get too many irons in the fire and it all comes crashing down on me. After that, it just takes me a while to dig myself out. That is what I am doing. Digging myself out. I actually had a week with absolutely nothing scheduled. My calender was blank! So, I spent three, yes three days at the LSS, just playing!!! I made a few cards for OWH, helped stamp and adhere base cards to a new shipment of cards to get them ready to ship overseas. It was a good week. Tomorrow, I will try to post a few new pics of the latest, but for now..... goodnight!

Think Happy Thoughts,
p

"COOL DUDE"

"Dude... Waz up?"

"NEW"

We've had a great week here. I saw the movie "Grown ups" with Ashlyn and I laughed my hiney off! My second movie, this time with Dear Husband, was "Twightlight". (I think I "need" to see it again!) Grayson spent a day with us and we took him to Lazy 5 Ranch. I'm not sure who likes it better... him or me! On the 4th, we went to a cookout with Ashlyn's future in laws and the family. Good times! Yesterday was BAD.... I ate donuts for breakfast, then a nap, then to Ashlyn's so Daddy could fix the computer. We ended the day with yummy Mexican food. Only the donuts were bad, but I have done so good this last week. Very little sweets or soda! I'm trying hard, I really am. (Is that convincing enough?)


My "NEW" friends! (I took this picture as I was standing on the front seat of the truck with my head out the sunroof.)

Our "NEW" driver. Too bad he can't reach the gas pedal or see over the dashboard yet!


Two "NEW" families of chicks! There were 14 in the second brood. Oh My!

A brand "NEW" calf. This little guy was only a few days old.

My weekend project. The canvas bag I bought at Harbor Freight a couple weeks ago, but have not had the inspiration do anything with it. That is... UNTIL... I saw this awsome vintage flower trim during one of my crusades on the internet! Oh, I MUST have that! I want more now...NOW! In all the colors. I first applied gesso to the whole bag to seal it. Then I painted it with Claudine Hellmuth's Studio paint in Landscape Green, Painterly Pink and Sable Brown mixing in a little Studio multi medium for gloss and thinned with water. ( I think next time I'll skip the gesso if I use Multi-medium) The flowers were stamped with a thicker mixture of the paints and multi-medium using my Hero Arts "Hydrangea" stamp. I let it dry for several hours and then sprayed Tattered Angels over the whole bag in English Ivy, Coffee Shop and Vintage Pink to give it a distressed "Vintage" appearance. I then sewed ivory, crocheted lace and torn, frayed fabric together and glued it to the upper pockets of the bag. I topped that by gluing the vintage flower trim to the top over the seam. I am so in love with this trim! In fact, there are many more items from this particular company I think I "Need". Ha-ha!!!!! Any hoo.... now you have it! My "NEW" embellishment bag......

(Sorry, the quality of this picture is poor)

Today, I am going to visit an antique shop or two. Maybe... I'll find some goodies! If I do, I'll share. (pictures of course, not the goodies)

Think happy thoughts!
p

CRAYONS

Today was an awesome day. I had an early lunch with the hubby, then it was off to the LSS to crop! Actually, it was OWH day and there was a full house. It was great! I strayed off to finish a project for my Mom and Dad. My original plan was to give it to them in May, when they were here for my son's wedding, but somehow it all got put on the back burner. I'm almost finished, just have to add a few final touches. Check back for pictures of the final........ OK, I'll give you a hint.... it's a ???
Ha-ha.... You'll just have to wait. (smile)
Tonight, we had supper with Matthew, Ashley and Grayson. I haven't seen the little guy in two weeks, since I was sick. It was killing me!!! I just can't get enough of him. I'm hoping for another little person to be added to this ever-growing family, soon! We ate pizza and pineapple and crayons and bread. OH! Did I say "crayons"? Yes, green ones and then we tryed a blue one. Or, at least Grayson did. He tryed to feed Papa a bite..... well.... let's say Papa declined. It would get stuck in his teeth. Hmmmm.... green teeth. Not attractive.

Think happy thoughts.
p

PRE-SCHOOL GRADUATION

Hey! It's going to be a hot one today! High 97 degrees and who knows what the heat index will be after you figure in the humidity. Great invention.... airconditioning! Any-hoo........... Not much on the schedule for today. Wednesday crop day at the "SB and Etc" but my daughter scheduled her eye doc appt today and I am playing taxi once again. Her car is dead! """AGAIN""" I think dear hubby has intentions of junking it and getting the old Chevy truck up and running for her. Fine with me. It's an eye sore sitting at the side of the driveway!

Grayson's graduation from 2 yr old pre-school (he was actually only going 2 days a week to get used to it for next school yr). He was the smallest one there. Most of the other little guys have turned three already. So cute standing on the stage with his "thumb in his mouth". Made me want to cry, grab him up and run! He just turned two a few months ago, still a baby in my eyes.




Grayson with Nena and Papa

"UNCOOPERATIVE"

OK...After two weeks of company, a wedding, then two weeks of cleaning and painting 8 to 10 hours a day, my body decided it wasn't going to cooperate anymore. Flu/upper respiratory infection, fibromyalgia flare up and to top it off, my dog chewed my power cord to my laptop! What's a girl to do? In bed, can't go anywhere, nothing on TV, no oomph to play in my studio and NO INTERNET! Yikes!!!! So here I am, a week later, body filled with antibiotics and other pharmaceutical concoctions and a new power cord for the lappy. I'm in business! Now...... what can I get in to?

CREATING KEEPSAKES

After taking a workshop at INSPIRE in May, I decided to create a keepsake using the remainder of the kit that Margie had used in her class. I've had this unfinished shadow-box sitting on my shelf for about two years now, not knowing what I wanted to do with it. As I sat at my table working on another project... it was like someone turned on the light in my head. BLING! I knew exacly how I wanted to use this blank treasure I had. It took me a couple weeks to complete, but it was not like I had other projects going on! HA! Too many at once, but I managed to finish this one and I really like how it turned out.

WORKING HARD

Hey everyone. I thought I would give you an update on the house. It is really coming together, although we are no where finished! This is the bedroom after all was boxed up and taken out.

Ashlyn painting... it took a gallon of primer for the whole room and then three coats of paint on the bottom. The walls were just soaking up that paint! I absolutely hate working with the dark colors, but it's beautiful after it's done.

James installing hardwood floors. (and doing a great job!) Those feet in the pictures are John's. He was "supervising!" (I'm laughing)

James doing the Happy Dance!

By the end of that day, we were all so tired. Dinner was drive-thru, showers and bed. As you can see here, Ashlyn didn't even make it to the bed!

We also finished the laundry room and are working on the kitchen. Kitchens make me testy. Lots of nook and crannies to be cleaned and primed.

"TODAY'S RAMBLING"

Today...
- I slept in.
- I spent the day at home, by myself.
- I watched TV, all day.
- I read and responded to my emails.
- I talked to an old friend.
- I ate toast for supper.
- I enjoyed the quiet me time.
It has been good to be me today. (smiling)

"DEAR STUDIO, MISSING YOU"

It's Memorial weekend and "are we having fun yet?" Not yet! Today we are going to pick up a sofa for Ashlyn. She knows someone who is getting new furniture and they have a blue sofa in great condition for $25!!! It's a steal! After that, a picnic with some of her "to be" in law family, then off to paint some more. They will be moving into the house Sunday and Monday, so we have to finish up a few things fast. Still looking for a sectional for the den and a recliner. Eventually we will find them.
All my goodies I bought from INSPIRE are still sitting in the bag. I haven't had time to play. I'm going thru withdrawal! HELP!!!! Really, I see the word "studio" on the "closed" door to my "happy room" and I want to go in and play. I can hear my name from a distance..... "pammy, come in... pammy, come in.....". Kind of spooky! So here I go, past the door that's calling my name, into the truck, to go buy a stupid sofa and paint some walls. (I'm weeping...)

"UPDATE ON THE REMODEL"

Wow! Another full day of painting at Ashlyn and James house. I have paint splatters on my clothes, in my hair and down my arms. Nothing neat about this! We are almost finished with the bath and bedroom. It's taking a while... the walls are sucking up the paint fast and we put primer on them first! We did have to repaint the bathroom a darker green over the original color chosen. Lemon-lime on the walls just didn't work. The demolition man (James) has taken down walls, ripped out a fireplace (non-working) and pulled up carpet in two rooms. Hardwood floors are going in soon. This is going to be a really big job, but it will look fabulous when done! Eventually, I will work on some artwork for the wall over the bed. Retro is the decor of choice, so I have a chance to do something funky and fun....well.....maybe.

"MY HOME TOWN HISTORY"

Seneca Falls, NY. ; home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and The Woman's hall of fame. Elizabeth (Nov 12, 1815 - Oct 26, 1902) was an American social activist and leader of the woman's rights movement.

Part of the Erie canal remains, running thru the middle of town. The locks that flank the upper and lower portion of the canal remain intact and function to let the water traffic move between the lakes.


Historic, Trinity Episcopal Church, lies on the edge of the canal bank. This is the church I grew up in, baptised and married. My husband and children were all baptised here too. It is beautiful, with hand carved wood and original stained glass windows.


The house I grew up in.

"MIXED EMOTIONS"

So many changes for me, at this place in my life. Two of my children married, a third one engaged. The oldest just got into his first house, has a child of his own. Child #2, just married, starting his new life with his wife. Number three, engaged, taking on a big job of making a home, starting college soon, looking forward to her wedding. They (my daughter and her fiance) were "given" a mobile home to fix up and live in. It needs a lot of work and a little TLC! Soon, it will be "home" for them. I'm not sure which emotion THEY are feeling highest..... excitement or overwhelmed! Me..... mixed emotions..... my babies are no longer babies, but young adults with their own lives. I am happy for them and so proud of their accomplishments, but also feeling a little, well..... melancholy.

MY TERR(i)OR

Here is my terrior or I should say terror. Cody likes to get into things when he is left alone. Today he chewed open a bag of hickory chips for the grill and ate half a bagel from the garbage!

"TODAY'S MOTTO"

I saw this wall decal in a scrapbooking store while in New York. I thought I would share.

SHARING

I wish I could have done the whole INSPIRE event, it looked like so much fun. I did two of the mini-classes (Margie Romney-Aslett and The Glitz Girls). Margie, you have an uniqueness about you, that makes you a very special person. So full of creativity, fun and sincerity. Don't change, just grow.
This weekend was an inspiration to me, not only creatively, but spiritually. Being with women that share a same love of art, who can laugh together and just be themselves without judgement or criticism is uplifting. OK.... now that I have gushed all over, I'll share a picture of my sister and I with a new friend. Meet Margie (in the middle).

INSPIRING VINTAGE DREAMS

Shop...shop...shop....... we've been shopping almost everyday. It's like Christmas for my daughter! She and her fiance are getting a house and they need everything to furnish it. She is so excited and I am happy for them!

San and I went to the vendor faire on Thursday for INSPIRE. It was great! So much to choose from - all kinds of vintage! I bought some cool pieces to make an altered book along with paper, embellishments and Claudine Helmuth's paints. I am in love with these paints and her gel medium. It was an altered artist's dream come true... lol :) Tonight we go back for two classes. I am liking this event better than CKC! So cool and the artists are great! Hats off to Donna for a great event.

WEDDING AND ALL

Thought I'd take a break from my company and give you a little update on what's been going on. Saturday my son was married. It was a pretty ceremony, I especially like the minister! He was very friendly and even though he was not someone we knew, he took the time to "get to know" the kids and us and made the ceremony personal. He said an Irish blessing at the end and that got me, "hook line and sinker!" So now I have two children married and one to go. )Maybe next year.) I'll have to post pictures later.

Tomorrow, my sister and I are going to a vendor faire for Donna Downey's INSPIRE event. We usually go to CKC every year, but with the traveling for the wedding, we won't get together this year.

I am enjoying having my family here. It's been three and a half years since my parents have been able to travel. I just hope it won't be another three yrs before they come back!

Happy Days to you all!

A Good Day

Today is a good day. My parents and sister are flying in from NY and my mother in law is here. Why? My son is getting married on Saturday! I am especially glad to have my parents here, as they have not been down in 3 1/2 years. They are both 81 yrs old and in fair condition, but not traveling like they used to. They have been a bit nervous about flying. It's been 30+ yrs since they have flown. Wow! They will get to see their great-grandson, Grayson. They saw him when he was 5 weeks old on our trip to NY for a funeral. Not good circumstances. Now he is running all over and talking.

I just signed up for two mini workshops at Donna Downey's Inspired for next week. I'm going with Amy. Yeh Amy! I am sooooo excited!

OK, I better continue to get my stuff picked up in my studio, as it will become someone's temporary bedroom. For now;

Meet my Mom.

GENEOLOGY

I have been working with my second cousin, on gathering information for a family genealogy. She has contacted a historian in NY and also has received a collection of pictures, letters and memorabilia that her grandfather had saved. I did a short genealogy of the Smith's (my maiden name), my Sr. year of high school and fortunately saved it all. I have been plucking my Mom and Dad's brain to fill in the missing pieces. We have recently lost two more of our older generation, so it's important to get all the stories on paper, before it is all gone.

This couldn't come at a better time, as I am preparing and gathering for a Heritage Album. I want to fill its pages with pictures, family trees, stories and tid bits of history. This has to be different from my normal act of embellishment and pictures. It needs to be a continuing journal of past, present and future history. I need to concentrate on my Mom's side, as there is very little of the older generation left.

BACK FIRING EMAILS

It's been a while since I posted. With John gone on business so much, the holidays and my trip to NY, I haven't been able to get back into the swing of things. I tend to work better with routine and consistency. Now, I haven't always been this way, just the last two years or so. Maybe it's age! Ha-ha-ha-ha......

OK, getting ready for National Scrapbook Weekend. I sent Traci, owner of Scrapbooks & Etc., an email to remind her of the upcoming festivities. She kindly emailed me back and said, "Remind me to discuss this at Friday night's crop." So I did. :) Well, Friday night came and I did as she asked. Have you ever heard the expression, "Open mouth and insert foot?" :P Let me give you a little background. One day, some of the girls and I were sitting with Traci, doing a little brainstorming for the store. It really is a lot of work for one person to run the store, inventory, place orders, restock, clean, hold classes, etc. You get the idea. Everyone helps where they can. So I (innocently) said, "You need to designate!" You can now see where this is going!..... Traci took my 'idea' and designated me to put together Nat. SB weekend. To Traci; good job! For me? Keep my mouth shut!!! (laughing) Really, I accept the challenge fully, as I enjoy hosting and have a great love for this art and my friends!




For information on Festivities for that weekend, please visit;
http://scrapbooksandetc.blogspot.com

WHERE I'VE BEEN

Hey Friends, Yes, it has been a while since I've last posted. My trip to NY to see my family went well, but as usual, it's nice to come home. I have been cleaning up my craft room, doing a little re-organizing, purging some old stuff I no longer use and making room for all the new goodies I see coming out! It makes me Happy! I just bought some of Tim Holtz's new distressed inks! Ooooo..... is all I can say! My current project is in full swing and I'm almost finished. I am on my last layout of my wedding album that I have been working on for over a year. Oh, by the way, I have been married for 27 years, but better late than never! Until next time...

A LITTLE TOUCH OF HEAVEN

This layout is very special to me. My very first Grandbaby and the memories of that day came flying back! He'll be two at the end of this month. Where does the time go? He stayed last night with Papa and Me...... he is a smart little boy. We put a board in the bedroom doorway, so our puppy will stay out. Well, Grayson decided he didn't want Cody (puppy) in Papa's office, so he attempted to put a piece of cardboard in the doorway, except it wasn't fitting right. He backed up, turned the cardboard, place it in the doorway and turned it back so it would fit. Logical thinking, two year olds don't have that. He watches the discovery and the military channels with Daddy. Very curious about everything. Maybe we have a future president! Hahaha......
Back to the layout. I wanted to add birthdate, weight, etc., but didn't want to clutter too much more with journaling. I decided to make a tag with all the info and hide it behind Daddy's picture. I raised the matte under the picture with strips of double-sided adhesive on three sides, leaving the top side open. This allowed enough room for the tag to slide nicely. I added a ribbon to the top of the tag to catch your attention and make it easier to grasp the tag.
Thanks for taking a look. I hope you enjoy this as much as I am.

"GLUED AND FLOCKED"

Sunshine, on my shoulders - makes me happy....
Sunshine, in my eyes - can make me cry....
Sunshine, on the water - looks so lovely....
Sunshine, almost always - makes me high!!! (John Denver)

OK. Back on track. here is the layout I was working on yesterday, finished and ready to put in the album. Although, I am thinking I might put up a curtain rod on the wall and add clips to display these for a time. Hmmm... think that's a good idea. (make note; buy curtain rod and clips) All the pieces were cut out using my Silhouette. Giraffe's spots made with Elmer's glue (Thank you Donna Downey's resist technique) and Rhino was painted with distressed stickles and then painted over with crackle paint. This gave a nice texture for the skin and the look of the rhino after rolling in the dirt, as they often do. The leaves of the vine were glued and flocked. (kind of sounds dangerous; like tarred and feathered!) Lots of distress inks and various Hero Arts stamps. The photo of my Grandson, in the lower right corner, was altered to Sepia, cut out, distressed with a sanding block and lightly painted over with diluted paint. This was a fun layout for me. Lots of various mediums and some new techniques!

"A GOOD DAY FOR CREATIVITY"

I've been working all day on a new layout. I have to put my journaling (if you can call it that)on it and it will be done. My desk is a mess... ink, paint, bottles of flock, glue and the list goes on. It's been a good day, a very good day for creative inspiration! I have so many ideas for a batch of photos I printed out. I must write them down or by the time I get to putting the ideas to use, I'll have lost them... somewhere in the depths of my aging brain! Any hooo... Oh.... I must share with you my new photo board I made yesterday. I found these squared buttons at Ben Franklin the other day and 'HAD' to have them. This fabric was calling my name too! It's kind of vintage-Bohemian-earthy... whatever. I like it! My decor in my craft studio was headed in the wrong direction. I often lose track and have to re-organize my thoughts. Again... somewhere in the depths of my aging brain, things go a mess. Oh well.


I must make a note to myself... old man winter visited us this weekend. 5 inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain. It was pretty, the snow, that is. Now the mess can go away. Until things dry up, it will be slushy and muddy. Not very attractive.