An almost total CASE

After spending so much time prepping for convention, you would think that I would be paper crafted out.  Believe it or not, I have wanted to get my hands back into the process.  I found myself sitting at my desk and staring at all my new toys and feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure where to turn. 

I opted for an easy card that I could just copy.  For those that don't know, CASE means copy and share everything, but give credit.  Once I get my hands in and start working, then the ideas follow.

So I won prize patrol at convention (this year everyone did)  and I got this really cool die cut that makes a swing card, flip card, flip flop card...whatever you want to call it accompanied with lots of other little embellishments to go with it.  So Fun!

Here is a sample I almost totally cased from the Stampin Up's concept artists.  Shelli Gardner showcased these in her demonstration during convention.  A swing card without all the fussy measuring and cutting.  I need to work on my folds, so they don't look a mess (yes I know, I just brought it to your attention) I keep getting the lines from the thinlit as well as the fold line.



front/closed

I used a bit of washi tape which is a new item to our catalog and some glitter paper and an embossing folder.

Inside/Open
 

 

See the full flyer HERE  Looks fun huh?  Can't wait to get my hands on the circle kit as well.

I am a bit tired, so I am off to bed.  These guys are much smarter than me.

A Stay at Home Day

I looked forward to today as I knew that neither I nor Ralph had anything extra planned.  We had the church thing, no extra meetings, visitors, projects due etc. 

This morning was amazing.  I didn't taste the air when I left to take Riley for his morning business.  The sky was blue and the sun was shining.  Halfway through church, I looked out the window and what did I see.....(not popcorn)  Rain.  When I left church it had stopped raining, but I knew what was coming.   SNOW  When I got home from church I put on my Utah sweats and sweatshirt, a pair of socks and snuggled down under the blanket with Riley and a glass of diet coke and watched mens figure skating. 
(Ralph begged for control of the remote, but I didn't hand it over until a winner had been announced.  He wasn't even watching, he was reading a spy novel anyway, so why should he care?)

The snowstorm hit and I knew it was a good thing to stay home.  As of now we have about 4 to 5 inches of new snow.  That should make the commute to work in the morning loads of fun.


We had a total comfort food dinner of meatloaf, twice baked potatoes, cooked carrots and a big green salad.  The meatloaf recipe I use is from the Barefoot Contesssa, except I use a couple of large cloves of garlic as well.  It uses ground turkey (healthy)  I half the recipe and it gives us food for the week.  I love me a good meatloaf sandwich for lunch.



Can you really make meatloaf look appetizing?



Turkey Meatloaf

• 3 cups chopped yellow onions (2 large onions)
• 2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried)
• 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 3/4 cup chicken stock
• 1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 5 pounds ground turkey breast
• 1 1/2 cups plain dry bread crumbs
• 3 extra-large eggs, beaten
• 3/4 cup ketchup

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a medium saute pan, over medium-low heat, cook the onions, olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme until translucent, but not browned, approximately 15 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste and mix well. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Combine the ground turkey, bread crumbs, eggs, and onion mixture in a large bowl. Mix well and shape into a rectangular loaf on an ungreased sheet pan. Spread the ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 1 1/2 hours until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F. and the meatloaf is cooked through. (A pan of hot water in the oven under the meatloaf will keep the top from cracking.) Serve hot, at room temperature, or cold in a sandwich.

Looking forward to a productive week.
Ta Ta for now.

Village of Cuteness

Oh good grief! I did it again. It was NOT my intention to leave you hanging the last week or so.  However a few things got in my way.  Namely the Stampin Up convention and then trying to catch up with my sleep and everything else that got neglected during my time away. 

With that week over - I was exhausted.  I just needed sleep.  I should take notes and learn from my little bulldog.  Riley knows how to rest in style.  This is a picture we took of him after he had been playing with his buddies at the family compound. 

Ralph made me promise not to pick up another papercrafting item for a few days so that we could have some time together.  I did my best.  For some reason, life doesn't ever slow down for you to catch up. 

Ralph went to irrigate the garden on Wednesday night.  I should have been cleaning this....

instead, I opted to clear a space on the table and work on a project that I didn't get done at convention.  Wanna see?

Cute Huh?  The houses are made out of 2x4.  Painted, distressed and then decorated using Stampin UP Product.  They have found a place on my fireplace mantle.

This is the WOW card I swapped this year.  I got the idea from here. Magnetic closure card by Michelle Force

It is a cute card and I don't think I will be doing that again, at least not in the 110 quanitity that I made to swap.  Every year I think I have a simpler card and when it gets down to it...I don't. 

The images have been colored, the snowflakes cut out with a sizzix die that turned out to be much more of a project than originally planned.  The humidty from the swamp cooler kept making the paper stick to the die and the snowflakes had to be removed very carefully so as not to tear them.  The snow has been glittered, the boots and buttons have crystal effects (stuff to make them shiny) and then there is a washer and magnet for the closure.  It is a stinkin' cute card though and everyone that saw it wanted to swap with me. :)  Front:

Inside:  Left blank for a written note.  The magnet is placed just at the tip of the flap and the washer is on the inside of the card just behind the front and covered with a punched out circle to hide it. 

During the week of convention, Ralph's family had a bridal shower for my neice.  I volunteered to make the favors.  What was I thinking????  I made 30 of these little cone shaped boxes.  Ralph came to my rescue and made the little chocolate covered cake bites to go inside.  I think they were a hit.  I thought the cake bites tasted yummo! 

I didn't get a picture of the little gift I gave to my fellow demos, but I will try to recreate my awesomeness  the projects so that you can see them.

I am off to attempt cleaning my space...hopefully there won't be too many distractions.

Pictures of Riley and Sadie Belle

We took Sadie Belle to her new home over Memorial Day weekend.  Here are a few shots of her and Riley playing it up.  She loves to chew on his jowls and his ears.  I guess they are easy access.  He was so gentle with her and I think he enjoyed the playmate.

While we were in Idaho Riley developed a strange little wart growth inbetween his toes on his front paw.  He actually has those growths once in a great while and they never bother him.  Well...they have never been between his toes before.  He licked and licked and licked until it was raw.  I didn't really want to take him to the vet for a cone of shame, so we put neosporin on the sore - wrapped it in gauze and then borrowed one of Moms thin trouser socks to put on his foot to keep him from licking the sore raw.  The sock worked pretty good, he still licked it, but he couldn't get to the skin.  By they time we went home it was getting better and within a week the growth was gone.  Here is a picture of his little boot with the red tie that he had to wear.  We are so thankful that Riley's Grandma gave up a pair of socks for him.

These last two are of Sadie Belle - isn't she a cutie

Here she is in Mom's robe pocket.  She is a perfect fit.

What a cute little puppy belly.  Just want to kiss it.  It has been a long day - sacked out !

Puppies

Puppy licks, puppy poops, puppy sighs, puppy loves, puppy tinkles, potty pads, puppy cries...
We have a little puppy at our house named Sadie.  Ralph calls her Nakich, I call her Sadie Belle.   No, we did not add another dog to our collection, we are just puppy sitting until she gets delivered to her new mommy.  Which happens to be my Mom.
This little girl is full of personality. She is constantly on the go, or curled up next to a warm body for her naps.

 Here are a few shots.

She is hard to get a picture of, but I was visiting a friend last night, and her daughter got Sadie to sit still for a picture.

 

 Here is her cute pink puppy belly.  She is even smiling for this shot.

 Here she is tugging on Riley's leash.  She did this both with Sam Sam and Riley.

Resting time.  She loves to snuggle against someone warm.  Riley seemed to be the perfect option.

Valentines in the mail

Snail Mail that is.  I am doing everything I can to keep the US post office in business.  Apparently they have posted another loss for January - not because of me.   Anyway...here is one of the cards that got mailed today.

I have seen this bear used to string up all kinds of goodies - so this is not my original idea, but a cute one none the less. The card was thrown together at 10:30 ish last night because I needed to get it in the mail today in order for it to reach it's destination by Monday.  (coloring done with a blender pen - didn't turn out so great in the picture - looks ok IRL)

Stamps - Under the stars, well scripted
Ink - Black Stazon, chocolate chip, early espresso, soft suede
Paper - chocolate chip, Valentines Bundle DSP, real red, whisper white
Accessories - small heart punch, linen thread, three heart punch

More valentine projects will be posted between now and Monday.  Two more cards to make and several cookie boxes. 

I had the opportunity to participate in a Focus group at Stampin UP - I went with my BFF Wendy (she is so much fun to hang with) and we got see some fun stuff.  Can you beleive they are planning a year in advance.  Wowsers.  The Stampin Up building just exudes "fun".   You walk in a say...gee I would love to work here.  I imagine that your work would still turn into a J-O-B then again maybe not.  Playing with paper, stamps and ink 8 hours a day may not be such a bad idea.  I do get a free stamp set out of the deal.  Made it worth taking the morning off to hang with my friend talking about some of our favorite things.

Mom is here for a visit.  YAY!  We have all kinds of plans - catching up on sleep is at the top of the list for some.   We plan on doing some geneology work, window shopping, hair coloring, reading, cooking, eating, exercising because we ate, and temple attendance.  Good times. 

Since their arrival Ralph & I have been taken off the top of Riley's favorite list by a little black dog named Millie Pups - she puts up with Riley, barely, and all he just wants is to play with her.  He wouldn't even stick around for his morning belly scratch before he had to go check on Millie.  He usually loves to ride in the car to drop me off at work but as soon as we came outside he completely emptied his bladder in one spot (not usual for a boy doggy) and pulled on his leash to go back into the house.  He had no interest in coming with me.  He would rather have stayed home to play with Millie.  Where's the LOVE????

Ta Ta for now

Garden Harvest and stuff.

Summer is definitely over.  Sigh.  With the fall breezes my allergies have spiked this week.  My nose is sore from wiping it so much.  Ralph harvested the rest of the garden and got it ready for all the plants to be tilled under.  I think we will be doing grape juice here shortly, once we have a freeze  - makes the grapes sweeter.  the apples have been harvested and we are scheduled to help press them for cider next weekend.  I am glad we don't have a ton of leaves to rake this year.  The abundance of trees and leaves at our last place of residence was overwhelming. 

It is raining and a bit cold.  The forecast is for colder weather.  My problem is that I don't have any sweats, pajama bottoms, or pants that fit.  This is the time of year when I come home from work - change from my fancy duds to my pajamas and a sweatshirt.  Old Navy should have something cute and comfy - maybe Shop Ko or Smiths Marketplace.  What I really need is a sewing machine and some cute flannel fabric to make my own.

(I feel bad about my neck!)

So if you are wondering...Ralph and I opted for a football game instead of stake meetings.  Even though it was in the rain for the majority of the game it was worth.  I love spending time with Ralph watching football.  This is time we set aside to be together without the stresses of home and other responsibilities.  Church meetings just take a 2nd to certain things.  with all the different colored rain poncho's the stadium looked like a big package of skittles.   It stopped raining by about mid 3rd quarter, but our bums were already wet.  We got home from the game and had hot chocolate and made buffalo chicken wings.  The hot chocolate felt so good going down.  By the time I finished witht he - my lips were burning!  They were so tasty and I even baked them instead of frying and believe it or not they still turned out crispy. 

We did attend meetings today down at the conference center today as it was a multi-stake/regional conference.  Our stake just happened to be one of the many that were invited downtown.  The messages were very basic - go on a mission, be temple worthy and focus on your family.  All of them very timely considering the moral values of the world.  I love 2 hour church!

I am working on starting up a home book keeping business.  One of my BFF's is helping me get on my feet.  No guarantees yet that I am going to stick with it, as it is hard enough to put in 8 hours and come home and do more, but the extra income sure could help us out.  Combine that with some of the things Ralph is working on  - hopefully things will turn out for us.

I haven't stamped much this week - I was trying to get things done for a gal that missed the stamp a stack.  She wanted to take my stuff home and work on it.  Normally that wouldn't have been so bad, but she lives in Ogden and I wasn't ready to part with my stuff.  I ended up stamping all of her projects and assembling a sample so that she could assemble the rest when she gets home.  I have missed a couple of my Christmas countdowns...so I will make it up to you on Friday with some great ideas.

Monday brings a new finance program at work.  I am not quite sure where to start, when I arrive at work, but hopefully things will run smoothly.

So as we have been getting doused with rain, Saturday morning Ralph and I stepped out onto our porch to wactch the rain come down... I left the door open to see what Riley would do, knowing full well that he hates getting wet.  Sure enough he sat in the doorway and barked at us.  There was no way he was coming out in the rain, but he didn't want to get left either.  Then he ran back in and started doing things that gets him in trouble - just so we would come back in.  Funny little dog.  On that note - I am going to take Riley while it is not raining to do his business and then watch the UofU football game again before bed.
Ta Ta for now

Walks With Riley

Taking Riley on his daily walks can be an adventure.  We have seen kitties that need to be chased.  Dogs of all breeds which need to be greeted, sniffed and played with.  Trees, branches bushes, childrens toys, piles of poop -all of which need to be marked.  We have seen people sprawled out on their lawn like they were dead which panicked me until I realized they were just cooling off in the grass after a hot July day.  We have seen toys, liquor bottles and guns thrown into the alley way.  Fortunately the gun ended up being a toy, but it looked very life like to begin with.  We have picked apricots, plums and blackberries from bushes and trees no one seems to want to claim.  He avoids sprinklers like the plague, unless he is forced to walk through them.  (Can we say Big Wuss!)  Sometimes he has to be coaxed into walking - sometimes he flat out doesn't want to walk.  Oh yes - he will be the first one out the door if you let him, but sometimes he just doesn't want to move.

Anyway, last night did not disappoint.  There is a portion of sidewalk that we freqent that is overgrown with  sunflowers.  These plants get to be 7 to 8 feet tall and hang over the sidewalk.  It is to the point where I guide Riley into the street to avoid that specific area because you can't see and you get hit with all this yellow pollen stuff.  Who knows how many spider webs and bugs there might be lurking amongst the flowers.  As we walked last night it looked like someone was hanging out in that area of the sidewalk.  I thought for sure my eyes were playing tricks on me.  As I got closer there was definitely someone on the sidewalk.  I thought maybe they were cutting some of the flowers to take home but didn't want to get caught so they were accomplishing their task in the dark (yes I have thought of doing that very thing myself)  As we approached the area from the street I looked over and there was a disabled man that had missed the edge of the sidewalk in his wheelchair and had gotten stuck in this crazy garden of sunflowers.  He had managed to get out of his wheel chair but could not move the wheelchair by himself back onto the sidewalk.  Riley and I had a chance to be a good neighbor.   We were able to get the wheelchair back on to the side walk and get the poor guy on his way.

I am glad we went on our walk a bit early and I am so grateful we went that way and that we were able to help this man.  Ta Ta for now

PS - Questions from yesterday.....No corn dogs - my treat day was the birthday dinner - can't have more than one a week.  And yes - my UTES WON!!!!

Happy September and Book Review

Wowzers!  It is already September 1st.  My how the time flies by.   I only wish I felt that way at 9:00 in the morning as I sit there at my desk wondering if I am going to make it through the day.

I recently finished the book The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I am not sure I have a lot of good things to say about the book.  The story takes place just before WWII hits the US.  It focuses in on 3 women - a postmistress who is kind of the town know it all spinster, a war correspondent/journalist who travels to Europe to report on the War, and a young newly married bride whose husband, a doctor, after a medical procdure goes awry travels to Europe to help in the hospitals.  It seems that most of the book follows the journalist as she documents what she sees over in Europe while periodically develping the other two characters in Cape Cod MA.  The book ends as they all story lines come together and each woman somehow is affected by the others.  My issue with the book is this...the author does great at telling the story, but wraps everything up so quickly it leaves you wondering what really happened.  I was disappointed in the ending - I wanted more.  There were so many good reviews, maybe talking with someone who has read the book and liked it might change my mind. 

Well - since the rest of the week and weekend are booked - tonight is the only night I have available for chores.  What chores you ask...?    Ralph has already bottled many quarts of tomato juice (I haven't counted) and made bread today.  I need to:

1. Clean bathrooms
2. Fold Laundry  - Put clothes away
3. Brush Riley - prep for bath
4. Make birthday cards   AND
5. Clean craft area 

With Grandma coming for a visit - Riley is in great need of a bath and brushing.  If we don't brush him before his bath - the tub gets too full of hair and clogs the drain.  After his bath  and he's dried - he gets another brushing.  He absolutely hates the whole process.  I usually bribe him to sit still with his favorite treat as I get as much hair as possible.    Quite the pile of hair I must say.  Ralph has volunteered to do the actual bathing. 

It has been a productive day so far, and I hope to have it end as productively as it has been so far.  I am off to get more stuff done.

Ta Ta for now

Pictures and a Birthday Card

This morning bright and early (like 7:30am) I head over to the ward house to fill the font for the baptism that was taking place today.  Turns out - the stake are the only ones who have keys to the font.  So... my question is why wouldn't our bishopric know that and tell me where to get the keys- especially since they were going to be out of town today.  Long story short - the font was filled on time and the baptism and confirmation went great.  We were home by 11:00 ish.  I got some stampin done as well as a little bit of organizing.

Monkey #1 had a birthday this week and we are celebrating this evening but I wanted to get the card photographed and posted before it goes in the envelope.  On the inside I stamped another little frog/toad and the greeting says "we hope you had a "toad"ally cool birthday"   I love this image - she is so cute and a little spitfire to boot.

Pictures of Sam and Riley  -  the new game it to see if they can get the bone from each other by creating some kind of diversion.  They are getting very creative in their games.

They are so cute together.  Riley will surely miss Sam when he goes.  Riley still guards the food bowls and Sam still wants to mark everything.  My house smells like DOG!    We will have to clean carpets when all has settled down.

Off to get a book at the book store for the b-day party and then to dinner with some friends before we head to the family compound. 

Ta Ta for now

A Book Review and a Treat

Ok - for those following the Sam story - here is an update.

The little stinker is still peeing on the floor - We just have to keep better watch.  He loves sleeping and hanging out in his kennel.  I am sure if Riley had not had such a rough start with his giardia problem - he would love to sleep in his kennel as well.   Sam LOVES to go for walks.  He is like the energizer bunny - he wears all of us out by the end of the day.  Riley still thinks he owns all the food dishes in the house.   As long as I stand between the two as they eat and not let them cross the dividing line - they do ok.  Sam eats his food just like my Mom's dog.  He takes a mouthful from the bowl and takes it to another room where he drops the kibbles and eat them one by one and then returnes to his bowl for more.  Riley?   he just sits there and scarfs until he has had enough.  Sam is a lovey little cutey!  I keep trying to get more pictures but he just won't sit still.

I had bookgroup at my house tonight.  Which means I got to pick the book.  I chose Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.   The book...wow how do I sum this up.    The book starts out with a doctor and a couple of nuns headed for Ethiopia - which leads to a story about conjoined twins and their coming of age and then where their lives lead and those people who had some sort of impact on these boys.  And yet... the story is about so much more.  I will say there are a few "scenes" in the book that are not necessary and maybe - ok -not maybe, a little graphic.  I think it does belong on the best seller list - and I would recommend the book

For dessert - I once again faced the challenge of including or not including my vegan friend.  I came up with Cherry Jubilee - minus the "Jubilee"(alcohol spirits) served with a crisp cookie. Here is the recipe I used that was such a great hit.  I found it on the Northwest Cherries website It initially didn't sound very exiting to me, it is just a warm cherry sauce over ice cream.  It turned out to be a huge hit, lots of compliments - fed my ego a bit!
   
Ralph's input is that it would be super good with tart cherries.  Yes, it would be good, however this particular recipe is supposed to be sweet and showcase the fresh sweet cherry.

Fresh Cherry Jubilee
1/2 C sugar
3 T cornstarch
1/4 C water
1/4 C orange juice
3 C cherries - pitted and halved
1 tsp orange zest
1/4 C brandy - (or 1 1/4 tsp brandy flavoring)

Mix the sugar and cornstarch together - add water and orange juice  - cook until thickened and smooth.  Add cherries and orange zest return to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.  At this point I also added the brandy flavoring.  For those interested -gently heat brandy, pour over sauce and flame.  Serve over ice cream. 


Happy Reading!
Ta Ta for now -