Burrrrr....Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to you and yours. May 2014 be the best ever for you. I for one am looking to better things ahead. If the END of 2013 is a sign of things to come........maybe it won't be so good for me. For the last 4 days my kitchen drain has been backing up and water was not going down, and if it did, it was ever so slow going. So I have plunged and plunged and plunged. and to no avail, plunged some more. Bought some Draino and  then JP attempted to plunge and plunge and then poured draino down and hot water from the facet. Then again he tried it. He went off to work and I took to plunging again. It took me 3 times to plunge and pour draino down and hot water...hot, hot, hot water from the microwave. FINALLY the pipes cleared and I could hear the sound of gurgling water going down the drain.....oh what joy!!!

I guess now I can do the dishes that are waiting to be done. My mother always said, "put a penny on the window ledge and you will always be rich in the new year. Have your dishes and clothes always washed by the last day and you will be caught up in the new year"........huh, not sure that has ever worked for me. Wonder if that works for the husband, have him all fed by 2013 and he'll not be hungrey all the time in 2014?????? He is eating a BLT right now....I have enough bacon for a couple more sandwiches.

I was frying some bacon in the oven this morning while dealing with the drains, plus trying to read some blogs...........my last batch of bacon got a little well done. I opened the oven and a bunch of smoke came out and all of a sudden the fire alarm went off......well, at least we know that works!! I ran for a pillow to wave the smoke away and then opened a window to let the cold, freezing air in and smoke out!!!!

Oh my goodness I have had enough excitement for a morning to last a week. SO, if this is a sign of what next year will be like??????? I am not sure I am ready for 2014!!!!!!

So have you set any New Years Resolutions??? I haven't, can never keep them anyways. I like the picture on my blog today.....a guitar. I have a guitar, maybe this year I will find time to learn how to play it. That would be nice, never too old to learn. Maybe I should find someone to teach me....we could barter, I will make some cards for them if they will teach me a few chords????

Well, I am hoping to see a few more sales in my Etsy store this year......hopefully a few more then what I had last year. Just not sure what people are looking for. But I am thinking maybe a set of 12 Thank you cards, a set of 12 Birthday cards, a set of 12 Thinking of You cards.........and of course the set will be a reasonable price like maybe $16 (that would be about $1.35 a card + postage).

I believe this is my 122nd blog for this year. I challenge myself to try and surpass each years number, so 2014 hopefully will bring more blogs then 2013, maybe I will try 12-15 blogs a month, 12-15 a month will be 144-150.....that will be my goal. Oh yes, I am planning on doing a "Give-Away" April 25th. I will have been blogging 6 years.....now that is hard to believe.....where did all those years go??? I have made a few new friends and probably lost some friends in 2013. Hopefully 2014 will bring new friends that I have not yet met. My "Give-Away" will most likely be a set of 12 cards that I have made. The rules will be simple, 1) that you are following my blog and 2) that you leave me a comment on a regular basis. The drawing will be April 25th and most likely I will announce the "Give Away" April 1st. So, you have some time.

I guess I will try to lose 10-20 lbs this year. Managed to keep my blood sugars down the last 6 months.....but my weight went up 10 lbs..........I have felt very uncomfortable. SO I guess this will have to be a priority for me this year. January 9th I have another blood test to see if my AC1 is down from 6 months ago....here's hoping.

I am wanting to get our roof fixed this year. We could get another grant from the city, which would mean a lien against the house again. But it would not have to be paid off till we sell the house.....if we don't ever sell the house then we don't have to pay off the loan. I have to get the papers all together and the application filled out and sent in by the 17th. So if we get the help, the roof and new gutters and possible the kitchen ceiling would finally get fixed properly. We'll see, if 2014 will be kind to us involving this situation.

Now that we have a good running car, on the agenda is a little trip to Ladysmith and see our old poll-shed home in Ladysmith. Maybe see some old friends and stay a night at the Elrancho and  then come home again.......not a long trip, just long enough to say hi. I have a good friend in Ladysmith that I used to work with....and some friends in Barron, we still send Christmas cards to each other. It's good to send cards to each other.....you just never know.

Here is a sad ending note to 2013....I got a little note in the mail yesterday. I had sent a Christmas card to an old friend from back in the 60's. Char and I were great friends back then and we had dreams of going out west together, following "Route 66" in our corvette. (Charlene made it out west to Nevada, I stayed in the Midwest) Every summer, Char would stay with her sister and you could find us playing canasta every day. We also played with cut-out dolls her sister made for us. (Darlene was an artist) We would make clothes for our cut-outs too...I just ran across those cut-outs, geez that brought back memories. Charlene's sister died about 5 years ago. Char just passed away this past November of lung cancer. I had wondered why I didn't hear from her....the note that arrived yesterday from her BIL that anwered the question. So keep your friends close, you never know.

Well, I guess in a way I have laid down some of my resolutions for this new year 2014. Here's hoping it's a good year for you and for me..........keep looking up!!!! Cheers ~ Louise

♥Valentine Cards♥Icicles♥Flowers♥

Hi everyone, hope you are having a lovely evening with not too much stress going on. Thought I would post some Valentine cards I just listed on Etsy tonight. These cards have been in my inventory for awhile. They've either been in my Etsy store for 4 months and then sat in my stock for a year. I decided to re-list them for $1.00 each and put them in a set of cards for $12.00+$5.00 postage. If you would like a closer look, just click on my Etsy Store link to the right of this post. It will take you straight to my store.

ICICELES HANGING FROM THE GUTTERS.........This can't be too healthy for our "already weakened roof" problems. Glad it is frozen up there, otherwise we would be dealing with a leaky roof and kitchen ceiling. There is a chance we might be able to get a grant with the City if we quilify, I have to download the application and see where we stand. It would be nice if they could fix.....what they broke 11 years ago.

In this picture is a shot from the kitchen window looking out the backyard. You can see how much snow we have already had and December is not over with yet. JP knocked the pretty icicles down. But I am sure more will form again. Our front porch roof is leaking now...just not sure what that problem is. I know that when the roofer took the gutters down....they were not put back up the right way, sad, the trouble one man can create.

Pretty flowers........went shopping Friday and decided to buy a bouquet of carnations for Louise. They smell so pretty. Only paid $2.99. I thought that was a good price for a little bit of prettiness. Got 3 little bouquets out of one big one. A small one in the kitchen, on the dinning room table and one right here by the computer....I can smell their aroma right now. SWEET!!!!!

Well, time to close here for awhile. Talk to you all later, hope you have a nice rest of the weekend....take care and keep looking up!!!!! Cheers ~ Louise

A New Year is Coming Soon

Hi everyone, how did your day go??? Mine was fine...went shopping today and bought half a turkey, "managers special". Just took that turkey out of the oven. JP will have baked potatoes and turkey for dinner. Frozen cranberries and string beans. Pumpkin pie for tomorrow.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We had a plumbing problem and had to call the plumber. He replaced the innards of the toilet. I am suspecting there was a slow leak that got worse these last two weeks. Maybe that was why our water bill was so high this past billing. We will see when the next bill comes across my desk.

Well I think I will close this blog for today. Only a few more days before 2014 is upon us. We have nothing planned for New Year's Eve, it will be quiet on the home front. Here's hopeing 2014 will be much better then 2013 was. In the mean time, keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

PS I hope you use the whole box of crayons this year!!! Every color will be perfect!

Merry Christmas♥

Hi everyone. Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas. All the rushing around, the buying of presents, wrapping, decorating, cooking and baking have all come to a screehing halt and finally we can actually remember what this season is really about. It's not about "US, YOU or ME" No, it's about Jesus and his birth over two thousand years ago. Of whom it was predicted would come....but no one believed and there are still some....still waiting. Won't they be surprised when Jesus comes back a Second time?

I love these pictures....although they are not quite scriptural...because the 3 wise men did not show up at the home of Mary and Joseph till after Jesus was 2 years old. Nope...they were never there, just the shepherds. Actually, it is said that Jesus was born in October, because the shepherds brought the sheep into the barns in November/December. Guess it might have gotten a little chilly about then. (Did you happen to see how much snow Israel got last week...so, yes, it just may have been cold for those that lived in desert places back then)

This is probably my favorte picture (below) of that "Holy Night" Just Mary and Joseph, an angel and the animals watching over Jesus. The greatest gift of all times is the gift that God gave us....Jesus.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son (Jesus). That whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Now...we march on to 2014....I pray this new year will be your best ever and that if you have not done so....Ask Jesus into your heart and ask Him to forgive all your sins, big and small alike. He is a forgiving God and no matter what you might have done, He'll wash it all away as if it never happened. Make Jesus your Lord and Savior, then you too can know that if you would die this very moment in time, that you will be in heaven...believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

Well, you have a wonderful Christmas and keep looking up for your redemption does truely draw nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Christmas Village.....

Hi everyone. Well the count-down begins....four more days to Christmas. Where in the world has this month gone. Used to be Christmas took forever to get here when I was younger....now it flies by. I think as of today I have everything checked off on the "to do" list, so now I can sit back and enjoy the season.

Cards made and mailed, the last of my cards with letters sent off today. My step-fathers gift was sent off to Las Vegas today. I was surprised that the lines were not long, maybe because of the weather??? Or maybe the bulk of everything was mailed earlier. Cookies and apple pie made, pumpkin pie next week. Decorations up. Presents bought for JP. I'm watching "It's a Wonderful Life" What's Christmas without that movie???? How many times have I seen that movie...and it still brings tears to my eyes.

I don't have any other gifts to buy....it's just JP and I, oh and my little dog, Kylie. JP's family is down in Chicago. We've not gone to Chicago for Christmas in a long time... As for my family it's just my step-father, Pops. He should get his present after Christmas...I couldn't see spending $16 for it to get to him sooner. As it was, his gift was $12 to send...the cookies and stuffed doggie didn't even cost that much. Oh well, it's the thought that counts.

So today I am showing you my christmas village....I love putting it up every year. And, every year when it comes down, I am sad to see it go.

Every year, I like to buy something new for the village, whether it be a building or people or whatever that might be. I am running out of space though, might have to extend the village for next year.

In this picture is the whole village. I guess I have some space yet to fill. Will have to check the stores for 50% to 75% off village accessories after Christmas sales.

Oh...I had some good news today. Went to the eye doctor. A different one from the last time. I had no faith in the last one and customer service was bad. So this eye doctor checked my eyes and said there was not much change from the last time and when he checked the eyes for diabetes, he said there was no sign of diabetes in my eyes...usually people who have diabetes the inside of their eyes have pools of blood. My eyes were clear. Thank you Jesus!!! My blood sugars have been normal pretty much. I told the Doctor that my average for 8 days was 115, he said that was a very good average. He even asked me, "how long have you been diabetic?" I wish I could say I am not diabetic anymore....that would be nice. Now if I could just get this weight controlled, I would be a happy camper.

Well, it is time to close for today. Tomorrow we are going to do some shopping and pay the electric bill. There is supposed to be a big storm coming our way, Weatherman is saying 4-8 inches.......it's going to be a WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!! You all have a great weekend and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers and Merry Christmas ~ Louise

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!!

♥Coooookies♥and a Recipe♥

Hi everyone, how you all doing?? Keeping your Christmas activities "stress-free"?? So much to do in so little time it seems. Well I have a lot of loose ends to tie up. Finally got all the decorations up. Need to finish up a few more cards which usually contain a letter. I used to do those Christmas letters to everyone, but who wants to read a run-down of everything a person does in the year. My year was not that much different then the previous year...so I guess not alot of news.

Been doing a bit of baking, need to send a package to Pops in Las Vegas. So far I have Buttered Popcorn cookies and Peanut Butter cookies with almond kisses in the center. As you can see in this picture below.

Today I will be making some Georgia Tea Cakes and hopefully packing the package tonight in order to mail it tomorrow. Oh and I am adding a cute little stuffed puppy dog. I Hate to see the lines at the post office tomorrw, but it needs to get done.

The recipe for the Georgia Tea Cakes is really easy....that is why I chose them. Here's the recipe:
1 cup sugar (I might add less)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
2 - 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
Colored Sugars

Intructions:
Mix together sugar, butter, vanilla, egg and milk. Stir in enough flour to make a stiff dough. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets; sprinkle with colored sugar. Bake @ 375 degrees for 9-10 minutes. Center should be soft when cooled.

So maybe when I get the cookies baked, I will add the picture to this blog at the end of the day so you can see what they look like. If you would like the recipe for the Buttered Popcorn cookies here is the address: http://www.milkandmode.com/2012/11/buttered-popcorn-cookies.html?spref=bl the Peanut Butter with kiss centers is from Pillsbury Peanut Butter dough.

After reading this blog a couple of times, I failed to let you know what I thought of the Buttered Popcorn cookies....I really liked them, but then who doesn't like popcorn????

1) The dough was really good and you probably could add just about anything your heart desires to it.

2) The recipe calls for 1/3 cup un-poppedcorn which is equivilant to 4-5 cups of popped popcorn.

3) Mix the dough and popcorn all together then roll into golf sized balls. I found pressing the balls down before baking rather then waiting after they baked, they will be more crispy-er...which is the way I like them. Good Cookies for popcorn lovers.

Well, you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

Making These Tonight ~~ Buttered Popcorn Cookies

Milk & Mode: Buttered Popcorn Cookies: Fall brings many things that I like, not least of which is cookbook season. For some reason, all the good cookbooks get released sometime...

We Three Kings of Orient Are....

Hi everyone, how are you all doing? Hope you are keeping warm or if you live in a warm area like Florida or California, you are keeping cool. Time sure does fly, it's been 6 days since I last blogged, that's a long time for me, I have been trying to go every 2-4 days. Guess I didn't have much to blog about, if that could be possible. Oh I was doing the Etsy Tap Dance on Sunday, got an Etsy sale, so I was pretty happy about that, took me a couple of day to prepare the mailing. Then the weather got REALLY cold and a little snow fell on Monday. Been busy decorating the house for Christmas and getting my Christmas cards mailed out also.

We took our car in for an oil change and it seems to need a couple of belts and a thermostat...oie vey...to the tune of $350+ not exactly what we need at this time. But, I guess it is a neccessity. Otherwise if not taken care of, the motor could blow. Then it would cost even more.

So in the above picture is my 3 Kings which I made back in 1968.....geez 45 years ago. They are made of paper mache'. I must have been going to an art store and they were giving classes in different art media. I have completely forgotten how these Kings were made, can you believe, I still have the paper mache' stuff from back then. Guess I always thought I would make something else with the stuff, some day maybe.

Anyways, my 3 Kings come out every year and are placed in some royal spot. Every year when they get put away, I think, is this the last time I will see them??? Then here we are for another Christmas. Who knows, someday they will get put away never to be seen again. So I will just enjoy them this season and shed another tear as they get put away. Who knows, maybe in 20 years they can collect Social Security...lol!

So in this picture is my little Christmas tree. I like this tree, easy to put away and easy to take out and decorate. I like the lights, it goes on about 4pm and goes off about 3am. I have been known to keep my tree up into February. Last year I had Valentine hearts hanging from it and was even thinking of making a St. Patrick's Tree....but there comes a point that it is time to take it down. I left the lights on the table for another month....so I was satisfied into March and April. Maybe this year I will get Easter lights to replace the Christmas lights.

I still have my village to put up, probably this weekend. Then I can sit back and enjoy Christmas, make some cookies and stuff. I still have to get a package off to my Step-father in Las Vegas...that package might be late. Need to look for a stuffed animal to pack with the cookies...what do you get an 87 year old for Christmas????

Well, I think it is time to close, have to go ride my bike and make some thank you cards. So you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh, oh and stay warm. Cheers ~ Louise

Made Some Cards 4 Hospice

Hi everyone. How you all doing tonight? Hope you're getting your Christmas planning, shopping, baking, card giving, decorating and wrapping done in a stress-free manner...if that is possible. Thought I would get a blog going whilst I am watching the Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood. I think it is going very well, considering it is a "live telecast" I sure don't see any mistakes. I was reading on the internet that the Von Trapp Family were not happy that Carrie Underwood was playing the part of Maria....when they heard there was a re-make of the story they had hoped Anne Hathaway would play the part because she is a professional actress and has received an Oscar....Carrie doesn't even know how to act and is just a country singer. I don't know.....I think Carrie is doing pretty good.

So tomorrow is the Hospice meeting at Denny's. Looking forward to breakfast there and seeing the cards the other ladies brought. The next 3 photos are a sampling of some of the cards I made. I think they turned out pretty good. I am sure those receiving them will enjoy them too, I hope.

In the above picture are some recycled cards. They are really fun to make and I think I will continue redoing cards....it's sort of a challenge to see what I come up with.

In this picture are some cards I created or found an idea on the internet and "cased". Of course I changed them a bit. I don't always have the same stamps, tape or colored cardstock. Oh I must add....the top card is a recycled card someone else made, I just added different colored cardstock.

Thank You cards are in this picture....all these cards getting "New Life" as a recycled card. In all, I put together 78 cards for Hospice this month. I think my first meeting was in March and altogether I donated 393 cards....wow!! Useing a lot of cards I made, or that people gave me and cards I have made in my monthy card class.

Thought you would like an up-date on my diet....so far since Monday....I've lost 3 lbs and 4 ozs. I am feeling much better and have noticed a little more energy. Today it was bananas and Skim milk and diet soup. Had some pop corn again...that might hinder my weight loss, but I need the "crunch". Eating at Denny's tomorrow could be a problem, but I am planning on doing eggs and fruit. Not sure about the toast part, because I have not had bread, butter, cheese, or pasta since Sunday. Just lots of fruit and vegies, this is kind of an expensive diet...but it seems to be working. Sunday is the last day of the diet, let you know the results and if I plan on continuing this plan of losing weight.

Well, it is getting late and I still need to get down stairs and ride my bike for 3-5 miles and make a pair of earrings. So you all have a great evening and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

A Few More Cards and a Diet

Hi everyone, hope you had a great day. I did, nothing too exciting, got a few things done around the house. Put up a few decorations and changed the dinning room table cloth to red and changed the Fall centerpiece to Christmas with red candles. Tomorrow the ornaments will go on the little tree, had to find the plastic container that holds all the ornaments.

Today, I started a 7 day diet....hopefully to lose 4-5 lbs. It's more like a cleansing type diet. Today was fruits and water. Tomorrow, vegies. Wednesday, fruits and vegies. Thursday will be wierd, bananas and skim milk and diet soup. Friday, add some rice and tomatoes, vegies and protein. Saturday, vegies, rice, soup. Oh and lots of water, 10-12 glasses a day. My choice of excercise will be walking Kylie around the block and riding my staionary bike 3-5 miles a day. I will see how it goes this week, and how my blood sugars do. The Doctor had put me on some medication to lower the blood sugars and then my weight shot up and sky-rocketed to a number I have never been before. Really have been feeling very uncomfortable in my own skin. So I thought I would give it a try. February I have to go see the Doctor and I would like to be a little bit lighter when I see him again.

My biggest battle is keeping JP fed and keeping food in the house he likes. Oh, and not eating and tasting the food I prepare for him....cause I am always taste-testing everything I make for him. I'll see how this week goes......(sigh).

I don't think I added these cards to my collection. Although, come to think about it, I did post this card earlier, but the flower was a stamped flower. This flower is made out of tissue paper. I punched about 6 layers of tissue with a round punch. Then made a hole in the middle and put a bracket through to hold the circles together then scrunched the tissue up to make it puff up. Fun to make cards.

This is my Santa card. Stamped about 10 Santa faces, coloring him in last year. Turning him into some cute cards for the Hospice group.

Well, time to close this blog for today. You all have a great couple of days, and I will be back to tell you how my diet is going. Keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

More Christmas Cards in My Etsy Store

Hi Everyone, how are you all doing this fine day.....the last day of November. Not exactly sure where this month went to, but it sure did fly by. For me, it went pretty fast, as it is my birthday month. I always look forward to Thanksgiving and a wonderful turkey dinner and all the trimmings. Hope your Thanksgiving was a blessed day.

Well, today I have added some cards I have been making for Hospice, Etsy and for my personal use to send out to friends and family for Christmas. Hope you like them. For Hospice, I am donating them. On Etsy: they are selling for $3.00 + postage (about $1.50 cause I always add an extra card.) If you are friend or family, you'll be seeing one of these cards or one like it in your mail box in the next few weeks. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

This is one of my more prettier cards. I made this one last year, but kept it for a sample and made a few more this year. I like that blue shimmery background which I ran through my cuttlebug then embellished with the tree and gems and my new Merry Christmas stamp.

In this card I used the same cuttlebug folder but turned it on it's side and embellished with snowflakes and gems.

I got the idea for this card from a fellow stamper on blogspot. Becky @ http://www.scrappin'andstampininGJ.blogspot.com I visit her daily. She likes to use Washi tape, as do I. A very simple card, one that can be produced pretty quickly. This was a good card to make for Hospice. Check her out, she always has some great ideas. Thanks Becky.

This card was fun to make and I could make quite a few at one time. I cased the idea from Brenda @ http://www.inkspiredtostamp.blogspot.com Thanks Brenda.

This Christmas Tree Washi tape card....ummmmm...not sure where the idea came from, but I cased it from someone. So, whoever you are Thanks.

My last card is my gingerbread man. Have lots of gingerbread men, maybe I should make more of these for Hospice. They go pretty fast.

Well, there you have it, more cards from the inventory of http://www.cards4ubylouise.blogspot.com and http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com Have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

More Recycled Christmas Cards

Hi everyone....hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We spent a quiet day and ate about 4pm, yum, turkey, dressing, potatoes, bean cassarole, ginger bread and Apple pie. Just what the Doctor ordered. Now onto "Black Friday"!!! I intend on staying home. Don't care to shop on this day. I probably will pay some bills, mail them at the post office and get some stamps. That will be all for my travels on Black Friday.

Been working on making Christmas cards for Hospice. I have one more week before we meet for breakfast at Denny's and bring our cards for this month. I am pretty sure I made enough for Hospice and for my own personal use. If not, there definately is time to make more.

Following are some more recycled Christmas cards. They are not only fun to make but can be constructed pretty fast. I am calling this line of cards my "New Life" cards, because they have been given new life and a second chance to make someone happy and loved even as they come to the end of life. I think I will continue on in doing this, as it is very rewarding.

There you have it. More recycled cards, I did add a set of these cards to my Etsy store. A set of 6 cards for $6.00 + postage. I've had a lot of people "favoring" my cards lately, course, I have been favoring a lot of Etsy sellers too. I am going to be adding more Christmas cards in the next few days. Then on to Valentine cards and St. Patrick cards...my how the season's pass by fast when you make cards.

So you all have a great Black Friday and enjoy Saturday as December is right around the corner......where in the world did 2013 go??? What will 2014 hold??? Only God knows the answer to that question. Keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Happy Thanksgiving and a few Recycled Christmas Cards

Hi everyone and Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I hope you are enjoying and looking forward to time with your family and friends. I already made my turkey...a little 9 pounder. Took it apart to make soup, the rest will be for tomorrow. JP has had a couple of meals from the little turkey. Made my apple pie from those wonderful apples from our tree....which reminds me, I must have some pie tonight.

Tomorrow, I'll be making a fresh bean cassarole and pumpkin pie....got to do a little bit of cooking. Last year we had turkey dinner at a friends house. So it will be nice, not to have to go someplace and just kind of lounge around and take our time doing stuff and eat when we want. The Packers are playing @ Detroit at 11:30am oh, oh looks like I will be recording my doggie show and maybe part of the parade so I can watch the game. Jimmy Swaggart's Campmeeting too....can't miss that!!!!

So here is my cute little turkey that I made over a month ago. It caused quite a stir on the internet. The person that made the original turkey was more elaborate then this one and had more feathers. This one is just a small duplicate of the larger one. But anyway he comes your way to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving Day.

Give thanks to God for all that He has given you because all that you have comes from HIM. He gives and gives and gives. "For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life. John 3:16"

I've been doing something a little new. A friend gave me a box full of old cards. Some were so old they were browned around the edges. There were also some cards that were handmade for someone. I went through them all a found some cards I really liked and cut them down and am now "recycling" them. The above cards, the two snowmen are a few of my favorites, I think they turned out pretty cute and I've had a lot of fun rejuvinating them.

Sorry the typing is small. I deleted something I shouldn't have and I can't figure out what it was....oh well, maybe the next picture and caption will be better, I will reframe from pressing the delete button.

Well I kind of messed up....I had a few more pictures added to this blog but lost them and blogspot won't let me add any more, I guess this will have to suffice for now. I will add a few more pictures in my next blog.

Next Friday the 6th is our Hospice meeting, so I shall blog then with all the cards that I made for you to see. Well you all have a great Thanksgiving and careful not to overeat. You can always eat again in another couple of hours....turkey sandwiches sound so good to me...mmmm turkey, cranberry sauce and mayo with lettuce...YES! YES! YES! Sounds GOOD!!

Keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Do You Like Chocolate Cake???

Hi everyone. How are you all doing on this bright and sunny day??? Well, it is bright and sunny here. Looking out the window though...looks like I need to wash a few windows...hahahaha.

So here's my question: Do you like Chocolate cake??? If you do, this is the BEST chocolate cake I have EVER had!! I thought I might be able to freeze a little, but I don't think it will make it to the freezer, maybe a couple of pieces might, just not sure at this point!!

If you are looking for a GOOD cake for one of those special occasions...this is your cake to buy. Go to: http://cakebosscakes.com

You'll see a big picture of Buddy holding a pretty blue cake. Go up to the right of the screen and click on PRODUCTS go to the pretty teal cake wrapped up like a present. Click on the cake and up will come 7 different cakes and OH! there is that wonderul "Oh My Ganache" cake I had for my birthday!!!

In this picture the cake has been taken out of the box and is sitting pretty on the table. My taste buds were singing at this point and I could hardly wait for the first bite of this scrumptious cake.

Here I have placed 3 candles on the cake and lite them (67 candles would have taken too long to place, light and then blow out) 3 candles was enough and also all I had on hand...lol!

Here I have cut a piece of cake and lite another candle........mouth drooling......I could hardly wait for that first bite of heavenly, delicious, chocolate. YES, YES, it truly was what I was expecting. If I could give you a piece...I would have.

In this last picture is all that is left...actully JP got another slice. And yes.....I did manage to save a few pieces and freeze them for later on in the week, like maybe for Thanksgiving day. BUT....I may get some Peanut Butter Cup Cakes from Buddy...maybe, maybe :)

Well there you have it....Ode to "oh my ganache" cake.......best birthday cake I ever had and best $19.99 I ever spent and well worth it!!!

You all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Happy Birthday Celebration!!!!!!

Hi everyone, how is your day going?? Well, it's my Birthday tomorrow. I get to turn 67 years of age!!!! Never thought I would make it this far!!! When I was young, I thought, I would stay young forever. Being old was for those who were already "OLD" like "antique Old" When I was 16 and my mother was 36, like, I thought she was ready for the rocking chair, she was soooooo old. Hahahaha....now I don't think that way, cause now....yep....I am ready for the rocking chair. Of course those that are older then me will say...."OH Louise!!!! You are still young and you have alot of years yet to go"!!!! Well, my mind is willing, but my body ain't!!!!

So anyways, I am celebrating tonight and tomorrow. Tonight, gonna make a steak with mushrooms, fries and salad....doesn't that sound good???? Was thinking of making a little cheese cake with cranberry sauce...we'll see. Tomorrow, I am going to Festival Foods to buy my "Cake Boss" Cake, it will cost $19.99, oh but that's what I want for my Birthday with a candle on top. JP, does not know it yet....but he will sing Happy Birthday to me...hahahahahahaahaha.

Here is my cake. A chocolate ganache cake, hummmmm wonder if I can find the exact makings of this cake on Cake Bosses website. Okay...layers of heavenly chocolate cake with chocolate shavings filled with a creamy fudge filling and topped with Belgian chocolate ganache. A couple of pieces should hit the spot....looking forward to this. What ever is left, I am sure we can freeze it again.

Thought you would enjoy seeing a picture of me when I was 7 or 8 years old. I think this was taken in 1953. A man with a pony would come around and take pictures of the kids in the neighborhood. Have no idea what the cost of a picture was....maybe back then it was $1.00 or 2.00. Gosh, I wonder how long the wait was for the picture...who knows. This was my first attempt to scan a picture and download it into my computer. Then I went to picmonkey.com to crop it, that's a fun program to play with. Must go back there and play some more.

Well, time to close here. Time to walk Kylie around the block. Gosh, it's 5:15 and pitch dark out there already....uge, uge, uge. I miss it being light at this time of the day...the days are soooooo short!!!

You all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Bloggers Block?????????

Hi there everyone......how are you all today???? I am having "bloggers block" right now. Can't think of a thing to write. It has been so dreary and rainy outside and as usual the ceiling is leaking. I don't even like to cook in the kitchen when the ceiling is leaking. I swear, someday the ceiling will cave in.

But one things for sure....I could be in southern Ill where tornado's hit today and through out the midwest. 65 tornadoes were reported today. I could be in the Philippines and lose everything to the typhoon. Yes, we cry in our sorrows so much...not thinking that others have it worse. A leaking ceiling some how does not look so bad right now. BUT...I will be forever "Looking for a City" A city of gold where the roses never fade and we are forever young, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.....yes there is a place like that and far much better then this world has to offer.

Hope you enjoy this little segment of Jimmy singing..........I like his music, always calms my soul!! Jimmy started playing piano at age 8, never had a lesson. He asked God to give him the talent to play the piano. His father asked him where he learned to play like that, did his aunt teach him? Jimmy said no, he just asked God to help him. Jimmy sat down and started to play a few chords and here he is today. Amazing what God will do, if we just ask with the faith of a little child.

Well, so much for today, guess I am not much into blogging today. You all have a great rest of the day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.

Taking pictures of some of the Christmas cards I have been working on, so stay tuned for the next issue of  "cards4ubylouise"  Have a great rest of the evening and Cheers - Louise

My Monthly Card Making Day

Hi there everyone. Hope your day went well and you are enjoying the evening, that seems to go much too fast. It's already 7:20pm. Made a couple of pumpkin pies tonight had such a taste for it, just like I thought, mmmm tastes good. They won't last long, once the husband gets wind of them walking into the kitchen tonight. Not one piece will he have, but probably 2 pieces, well, at least they won't go to waste and end up in the garbage.

Yesterday was my monthly card making day. In the above picture are two of the cards. The card on the left was colored in with copic markers and the cardinal colored in and cut out and layered on the cardinal to pop up. The card on the right, little sweet magnolia girl sitting on a frame. The frame and two trees were first sanded down, the trees were embellished with speckles and the frame was left plain. Then the trees were layered on top of each other, one being popped up and the frame popped up also. The sweet magnolia girl is layered on top of the frame.

This card was stamped in blue ink, the trees smeared with glue and sprinkled with glitter. It looks like in this picture the glitter is hard to see. The picture then placed on a lovely border, blue ribbon glued on the card and the saying stamped in blue at the bottom. A blue bow added to embellish the card.

In this Santa Claus card, he is stamped on glossy card that was die cut as an ornament. We dabbed pink ink on the rosy his face up, colored in his glasses and blue eyes. He was then layered on a fancy frame and little tree branches, gems and ornament holder added. Then everything is layered on the card with ribbons and bows.

In this picture is a lovely voltive that we will be making next month. Betty designed this herself. So I will be looking forward to making this next month.

In this picture are two of the voltives one in white and one in beige. I think I will make the one in beige. Soooo in my next card making blog next month you will see the beige voltive I made along with the cards we'll be making too.

So next week on the 21st is my birthday.....wow, never thought I would get this old. I am looking forward to getting my Birthday cake at Festival. Cake Boss's "chocolate gonache cake" can hardly wait to take my first bite of that delicious cake....mmmm!!!! I think along with that cake I will make a steak and fries also. Yeah....looking forward to another year of blessings!!!!

Well, time to close here and get downstairs and work on some cards for Hospice. So you all take care and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Yummy Food and Keeping Warm

Hi everyone, how was your Saturday?? Mine? Very fine, slept in a little bit later then usual. Played on the computer and had breakfast, Changed the sheets on the bed and put a new quilt on. (you will see the quilt in the last picture) Washed my hair.....normal type things. Walked Kylie in the windy cold, I don't think she minds what kind of weather it is outside, just so she can go for a walk. Oh, we finally took the air conditioner out of the kitchen window. Burrrr, winter is coming. Cooked dinner, we had hamburgers, french fries and salad. Oh and made some lasagna soup too...this is batch #10.....oh yum. Yes, I guess it was a good Saturday. Now it is time to blog a little, then I will go downstairs and work on some Christmas cards for Hospice and sending out to friends and relatives. Ride my stationery bike for a few miles and then finally hit the sack in some nice clean linens...oh what cozy-ness!!! Yes, it was a good Saturday. But Sunday is coming and we must get up early for Church.

In the above picture is one of my favorite breakfasts I had recently...eggs, spinach, cheese and 1 slice of ham cooked and placed on a warm tortilla and folded over like an omelet. Sometimes topped with hot sauce or honey mustard...oh yummy. You also see some yummy watermelon pieces. A cup of decaf coffee went along with this also. This little breakfast will hold me over till 3 or 4pm then I get the munchies.

Another picture of my favorite breakfast, 2-100 calorie tortillas, eggs, spinach, cheese and 1 slice of ham. With a side of strawberries sprinkled with Stevia. A cup of decaf coffee made with my Keurig coffee machine. Oh and btw...just had a little cup of lasagna soup....oh my, this is very good. I put the recipe up on one of my blog posts, will have to check out the date. Okay, I found it in October "New fall cards and Lasagna Soup". So click on October or you can go to this link directly and get the recipe: http://twodogsinthekitchen.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/lasagna-soup/

In this picture are the ingredients for some meat balls I made a while back with the Mann's Broccoli slaw. As you see by the ingredients, eggs, hamburger, the slaw mix, garlic powder and garlic salt, (which I will cut down a bit) Parmesan cheese, parsley and dry Italian dressing. The recipe is on the back of the Mann's slaw bag.

        Mix it all together and make little balls. Place on a cookie sheet and bake @350 for 20-30 minutes.

Then I mixed the meat balls with noodles and pesto sauce and served. In this picture, I am sure it does not look very appetising but it was another one of those "very good" recipes I tried out on the husband. The best meat ball recipe I EVER tried was Fabio's Italian Meat balls...oh those were awesome. Here is the link to his meat balls. www.nutripro.net/the-perfect-italian-meatball-recipe-by-fabio-vivani/  When you go to this link, go to the search button and type in "meatball - Fabio" then click mouse and it will take you to Fabio's recipe.  Click on Continued Reading and you will get the recipe. You might also enjoy looking around at this sight.......looks kind of interesting, I might go back there for a snoop.

So in this last picture is the quilt my SIL Robyn made for me.....it's beautiful isn't it??? I was very surprised when she presented it to me. It is now on the bed, looks rather nice and very autumney....I like the browns....most of my favorite colors. One of my plans this winter is to paint the bedroom. So I will go with one of the colors in this quilt for the walls. Have not decided yet....I have a few months to play with that plan in my mind.

Well, time to close this blog for another few days till I can think of something else to talk and ramble on about. So you all take care and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise