Finally......Feeling Better

Hi there everyone. Yes.....finally feeling better. This has been quite a bout with the flu or whatever this was. Now JP has it. Lots of coughing and hacking and blowing the nose. Tiredness and no ambition to do anything but sleep. Didn't even feel like blogging....nope, had nothing to say and no pictures to add to this blog.

To top that off, my computer decided to act up....for some reason it was not letting me in. I am wondering if I got hacked???? I finally had to let the computer reset itself back to when I first got it. Which meant I lost some programs, like Microsoft Word, a few games and Norton to name just a few, oh and my screen saver pictures.

Norton was telling me I needed to buy a new subscription.....that was upsetting me, because I still had 2 months left before I had to renew, which will be $100. Then losing my Microsoft Word, was another bummer. I ended up having to buy a subscription yesterday, for a year at $69 and will have to renew next January. Not exactly sure how I got the previous program. I finally did find the games that I lost, I like scrabble and Yahtzee, found them, which were free. Now I guess I can get on with life for awhile. Till something else happens to my computer. Computers are kinda expensive to have I think.

The picture above is another idea for the new peony stamp I bought from Altenew. Looking forward to making a few cards with this stamp in the next few weeks.

My card making "mojo" has been very low. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm probably a 2 or 3, no creative juices flowing!!!! I did manage to get some cards put together for the Hospice meeting on the 26th. What I did was pull a bunch of cards together that were in my inventory. Made a few Valentine's Day cards and placed the inserts for Heartland Hospice in all the cards. My next batch of cards, I will make labels and place them at the bottom of the card instead of ripping the inserts out with the sayings on them and replacing with the Heartland Hospice insert. So much extra work eliminated. I noticed that the other ladies were just using labels.....I thought, why can't I???? So now that I have my Word program, why not make labels???? The message is still the same.

Finally....took my Christmas Village down today.....I guess that is a sign that I am feeling better. I left my table top Christmas tree up....it is decorated in red for Valentine's Day. I'll take it down before St. Patricks.....not unless I change my mind....who knows.

Well time to close here. You all have a great day and keep yourself healthy, get plenty of rest and stay away from the coughers and sneezers!!! Keep looking up ~ better days are coming. 

Cheers ~ Louise

Still Taking Some R&R

Hi there everyone. Yes....I am still fighting the flu....but getting better. Actually made some dinner tonight. Haven't really felt like eating, so JP has had to fend for himself. One good thing about this flu, lost some weight. Hooray for that!!! Now if I can just keep it off and keep going at this pace!!

I did go out to the store Saturday, JP drove me there. I had two sales this past week, one on Etsy and one through JP's work. That was a totally good surprise. The sale on Etsy was a surprise too, but having to pack the figurine and waiting to see if the transaction was deposited in my account took most of the week. Then take the item to the post office. I didn't want to wait too long on getting the item out, it was going down to Texas and was a gift for the buyers friend. 

My little excursion on Saturday, did take it's toll....sure was pooped by the time I got home. Bought something at the buffet so I did not have to cook. Kylie needed some food, JP needed his fruit, plus a few other things were needed. I think I slept a couple of hours after shopping.

Well, all went well and the package is off and will meet it's destination on Wednesday. Hopefully the buyer is happy with her purchase.

The above card is another look at the stamp I bought from Altenew. I am not quite sure how this card was done....maybe watercolors. I really like this peony and can't wait to play with it.

I probably will get a chance this week, as our Hospice meeting is this Friday and I need to get at least 50 cards put together before then. Nothing like waiting to the last minute. But then, I work better with deadlines....don't know why. Sometime my best work comes out of a deadline.

I am still going to take it easy this week though....R&R....is the word for this week. "Rest and Recuperation." Hopefully by Friday this flu thing will be over with. But now I think JP is coming down with it......hope we don't share it back and forth. 

Guess I will close this post.....just rambling on and on. You all take care of yourselves and keep looking up, better days are coming!!!

Cheers ~ Louise

Taking a Rest!!!

A Wordless Wednesday kind of day............

Missed my card making day at Betty's today. Kind of sick, coughing, coughing, coughing....uge!!

Think I will make this card, as I have the stamps. Have a great day!!! Cheers ~ Louise

A New Year ~ What Will Transpire??

Hi there everyone. How is your New Year going so far?? Already it is January 6th.....where oh where did that time go??? I took down 1/2 my Christmas stuff. I still have my village up and my little table top Christmas tree is now decorated for Valentine's Day. I found some red Christmas decorations at Walmart at 50% off. I could not resist. Red snowflakes, a red butterfly and two red hummingbirds. Sweet. I still have to finish decorating the tree with a few more things, beads, bows and bulbs. I will take a picture when finished.

I have an apple pie in the oven right now. I can hardly wait to try it. It's called "Apple Crumb Cheesecake Pie" I am going to see if I can get the video up on this post. Nope...no video. But here is a picture of the cake/pie.

 Well, I just had a piece of pie with a small scoop of vanilla Geleto ~ YES this is worthy of making again and again. It was simple to make. I used a Pillsbury pie crust. Made the cheese spread with 1-8 oz package of cream cheese, softened. 1/4 cup sugar and 1 large egg and beat together. This mixture is then spread on the unbaked pie crust.

The apple pie filling. 6 cups of apples, peeled and diced and 2 T. lemon juice poured over the apples so they don't brown (I used frozen apples, no need for lemon juice). 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cornstarch, 1 t ground cinnamon, 1/4 t nutmeg, 1/4 t. salt 1 cup water.

Stir together the sugars, cornstarch, spices and salt in a sauce pan, whisk in the water until everything is dissolved. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer till thickened.  Add the apples then increase the heat to medium, cook and stir together for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool. 

The directions say to refrigerate the filling in an airtight container for 4-6 hours to thicken. But I poured the mixture over the cheese right away. Did not seem to affect the pie any.

The crumb topping is 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup quick cooking oats, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 t. cinnamon, 1/4 t. nutmeg, 2 T melted butter. Mix altogether till crumbled and spread on top of the apples.
Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. DELICIOUS !!

 How do you like these Valentine cards, I found them on Pinterest. I think I will make a few of these to send to the nephews and nieces. LOL....I think they are cute!! I do have PLENTY of eyes.

Funny cards above....kids will love them.

This heart with one eye is cute, I am trying to figure out how to put this one together. I do have that stamp..."I've got my eye on You" I have a few weeks to play with it though.

I guess I am going to start working on our income tax. We got our work sheets from the accountant today. So, the sooner I get them done the sooner we might have a refund. I just have to get my rear in gear and motivate myself to do it.

We have quite a few Doctor appointments coming up in the next couple of months for both JP and I. Why does it seem the older we get the more the Doctors want to see our bodies. I don't remember seeing the Doctor that much in my 30's and 40's, maybe for only the annual exam...oh well, I guess they have to eat too. JP always says that. And I say, yeah, but not on my nickle!!! Boo, bad sport!!

We ended 2017 with car problems, the car was leaking antifreeze. Took it in, JP thought the clamps needed to be tightened, they did that, but it still leaked. So we started 2018 with car problems. On  Friday, JP took the car back in and it was decided we needed a new water pump. The water pump was on warranty, which saved some money. So we just have to pay for labor. Whew, glad it was not more then $100.

Since I do not have a crystal ball, I cannot say what will transpire this New Year....maybe I do not want to know, I might not want to take that leap into the unknown. I just hope I can draw closer to Jesus and seek Him more for all my needs. It is so easy to walk this life without inquiring  of the Lord as to what to do next. I used to do that...ok Lord, what do I do next. But I forgot, and stopped doing it. I think 2018 should be my year to depend on God more for my every need. Oh, oh.....you know God is inspiring me to write this, He will take me at my word.....this should be an interesting year!!

Well, time to close here....this post is getting a bit tooooooo long.

You all take care, keep looking up ~ better days are coming!!

Cheers ~ Louise