Can You Believe It's July?!

There were time this year when I didn't think the summer was every going to get to Northern California because of all the rain and cold days-all of a sudden we are in triple digit weather!  We didn't have much of a spring, so it seems that we have gone from winter to summer overnight! 

One of my oldest friends is retiring today after thirty six years-yipee for her!!! (Although, I secretly wish it were me!)  She is an avid quilter and I have always enjoyed watching her create a thing of beauty.  In fact, many years ago, she is the one who inspired me to attempt quilting.  As I sat yesterday, trying to figure out what I could do as a meaningful gift to mark this occassion, I thought about a quilt, but didn't really have enough time to put something together.  I wanted the gift to be a reminder of her time working, but also her new path in life in retirement.  I finally came up with an assemblege quilt.  I haven't done one of these in a long time, I do enjoy making them as they are so individual to the person.  Her favorite color is yellow combinded with blue, I hope she likes it.  I thought she could hang it in her quilt room as a constant reminder of the good and bad times, the friendship and the love.  And that she will know that it is she who inspired me to try my hand at quilting.  Congratulations Alice on your retiremen!!!

Everyone have a great blast of a weekend, stay safe!

Still A Sad Day...

On this day of the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, I still feel sadened to have such a musical giver gone.  No matter what your individual opinion of the person is, he was a humanitarian and he gave a lot of himself in everything he did.  Personally, Michael and I were/are the same age, so I grew up with him, purchased all his albums, yes, I did say albums!  Listened to him on the radio, back in the AM days!  And enjoyed the display of his talent.  The day of his death even brought to me some self reflection and how precious life really is.  I for one, still truly miss his contributions to this world and wish his family peace and healing.

I think I Can Slow Down-A Little!

What a week and weekend!  I think I can finally slow down and get back to my continued project of the reorganization of the craft/computer room! 

For my sweetie's birthday this past weekend, I made his favorite wine cake and I forgot how yummy it is, here is the recipe:

Di "Vine" Wine Cake
Cake
1 box of devils food cake
1 small box (6 ounces) black cherry gelatin
4 eggs at room temperature
1 cup California Cabernet Sauvignon Wine
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (12 oz) package of semi sweet chocolate chips

Wine Glaze Ingredients
2 tablespoons room temperature butter
1/2 cup Cabernet Sauvignon Wine
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees, grease bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. 
In a large bowl, beat cake mix, gelatin, eggs, wine, and oil on low speed for 30 seconds.
Increase speed to medium and beat for one minute-scrapping the sides.  Add chocolate chips
making sure all indredients are well mixed.
Slowly pour cake into the bundt pan, tapping pan lightly to make sure all air bubbles are released
before baking. Bake on the middle rack for 40 minutes.
Carefully remove from oven, set aside for 10 minutes to cool.  Carefully use a plastic knife to loosen
cake from pan, invert onto wire rack.
While the cake cools, prepare a simple cabernet wine glaze.  Combine the butter, wine and powdered
sugar in a medium saucepan.  Bring all ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract.  Set aside for drizzling on individual slices of cake.

Pretty simple to make and a great crowd pleaser.

I Can't Believe Almost A Month Since I Posted!!!!!!

How time flys when we are all busy!  I returned from So Cal after many long hours of cleaning and organizing a house with sixty four years of memories.  Have put some incredible aniques into storage for a later date when I have the room to move them and display them.  I also came back with two 18 gallon containers of pictures and we have barely scratched the surface!  A good trip but an exhausting one.

I just got back yesterday froma two day trip to Reno.  We took approximately forty ladies, chartered a bus, stayed at the El Dorado hotel and casino and saw a fantastic show, Shake, Rattle and Roll!  Boy did these kids have some energy, an hour and a half of constant dancing and singing.

Today I have a baby shower, and I have attached a photo of the baby card I had to whip up quickly this morning-because I was too busy running around the country, making poodle skirts, and just in general overloading myself!  

I am off again tomorrow for a long weekend with my sweetie, we are celebrating his birthday and father's day all rolled into one weekend-with me getting the benefits of the celebration! 

Getting Ready To...

I packing and getting ready for the long weekend in Southern California.  Must do some family stuff, cleaning a house that holds sixty four years of memories-which requires going through lots of things, and putting stuff into storage-big job ahead.   I wanted to upload some pictures of the beginning of the birthday cards for month for my sweetie.  Each and every year that we have been together, I have made him a card for each day of his birthday month leading up to his special day-some years I am definately challenged in the creativity part!  Here are the first three:

   Each year I try to think about my sweeties personality and make cards that reflect that.  So, knowing he loves his MGS, the first card seemed appropriate, the second card came about because he was somewhat of a hippie in the 60's and the lava lamp just seems to reflect those times.  The third card is the crab and since he is a Cancer, the crab seemed appropriate-besides he is too cute peeking out of his shell.                                                                                 So, once I get back from down south, I need to kick into high gear and get some additional cards done so that I don't get behind the power curve-which seems to happen more often than not!  There are times when I just can't seem to get creative and I have to turn to other people's blogs and SCS for inspiration-to tap into other's creativity!  Thanks goodness for the computer or I would be stuck.                                                                                                               I am still working on redoing some thrift store finds and will post them when I return.  I have also been trying to put the computer craft room back together after completely clearing it out and only putting things back in that I have a use for and that will fit.  I fell into the mindset of "it's on sale, and I might use it one day" but after five or six years, it never has been used.  I have started a pile and plan to donate some things to a senior center or to the upcoming SPCA sale for the care and feeding of the animals. I can't believe that I can accumulate so much stuff and in a relatively short period of time!

                                                                                                                                                                    

 

So Much Catching Up To Do!

Lot's of stuff going on and barely enough time to craft or cook-two of my favorite things to do!  Last weekend everyone pitched in to rototill the backyard-that was a job!  The backyard is huge and really needed to be done!  We are planning on laying in the grass seed and then completely raking it-unfortunately, with three dogs, they will have to be taken out front for the next three weeks until the backyard sprouts-we don't want anything to kill the grass before it starts!

I completely gutted the craft /computer room and started cleaning-WOW, what a job!  I have moved the heavy pieces of furniture back into place and now the task of plowing through everything deciding what I need to keep and what can be given away to those who will use thing!  I have also been going through all the old magazines, hopefully, I can offer them to my stamp group who may be able to draw some inspiration.

Today I have a turkey cooking in the roaster.  We have not had turkey since Thanksgiving and I thought what an easy dish with leftovers for sandwiches this week.  I also made some cookies this morning, peanut butter marshmallow.  The recipe I picked up off the Picky Plate blog.  So easy with only three ingredients and who knew just three minutes from start to the oven!  Everyone here loved them!  In fact my 26 year old son woke up out of a dead sleep "does my nose decieve me or are you making cookies?" 

Just a pretty much laid back day tring to get things done around here.  Oh, and the best part-my home computer is back up and running, I don't have to wait until I get to work to do things! Yipeee!

Spring is Here, But I Can't Wait Until Summer!!!!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Easter! Not too much activity yesterday, as Northern California was turned into a shower of sorts most of the day.  We received almost three-quarters of an inch just yesterday-so that tells you how drenched we were.  Then today, the sun was out and shinning, but I heard we are in for some move wet weather this evening.

I wanted to post a guitar card I cased from Splitcoaststampers, I did my own pattern and I think it came out pretty good.  My significant other was up for a musician of the year award and when I saw this card, I thought it was perfect since he plays base guitar.  So I started to design the guitar in his favorite colors, make sure it was a six-string, since that is what he plays, added some bling, put a wonderful little sentiment in it-and whola-his own designer original!  He didn't win, but at least we will have the card to remind him that he was nominated!!