Pies and Roses

Hi there everyone. So how are you doing after the elections? Gosh, I can't believe how in an uproar this country still is. I was not happy when Obama was elected the first time and then a second time.....I sure did not go out and protest like these people are now....like come on....grow up!!! I heard a lot of these people are being paid to do the things they are doing. It's a shame. Berkley College in California, all the kids walked out of classes because they were so distraught over Trump being elected.....oh good grief!!!!

I think Donald Trump will do very well, he's a good businessman and running this government is a business. He may not have experience running this Country....but did Obama? Time will tell, I only know God gives his people exactly what they want and the majority of the people spoke and were tired of the way things were going. Our County was sinking fast......yes, I am glad Trump won, now we need to pray for him......BIG TIME!!!

Just made a pumpkin pie tonight. Truly very simple. I cooked up a small pumpkin. Put the pulp in a blender, added a cup of milk, 2 eggs, Teaspoon of pumpkin pie seasoning, 2 Tablespoons (over flowing) sugar. Blend together and pour into a pie shell and bake @ 400 degrees for 15 minutes then turn the oven down to 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Once it cools down, a little bit of whip cream will top off this lovely pie.

Took some pictures of the last roses of summer. Above is my salmon color rose...she must be over 20 years old and just keeps blooming and blooming. I still have to put her to bed for the winter. I just wrap white plastic around her then cover her with leaves....that's all.

This is JP's yellow rose....she is only 5-10 years old and still does not get to a very big height and has very few blooms on her. Not sure what her problem is. She sits right next to the salmon colored rose. But her blooms are always very pretty and vibrant.

My lovely long stemmed white rose....this is such a pretty rose bush and the white roses are gorgeous. This rose bush is already for winter, she is all covered and ready for the first snow fall. I might want to add some fertilizer before they go to bed for the winter.

Well time to close, I need to get some cards into my Etsy store....more Christmas cards....sure do hope some of them sell. Nothing is planned for the next couple of days....maybe just rake leaves and get them on the street before pick-up on Monday.

You all have a great night and keep looking up....better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

A Card for Etsy and Turkey Soup

This might turn out to be a short blog, depends on how wordy I get. Goodness, it's been five days since my previous blog and a lot has transpired since then! Whilst typing at the computer on my last blog;

• Two explosions erupted at the finish line of the Boston Marathon......many people hurt and mangled. Then the hunt began for the terrorist.
• A few days later two poison letters were sent to Obama and the Senator......the terrorist captured.
• Then the explosion at Waco Texas and again many people hurt and killed and much damage for many blocks. Haven't heard who or what started that explosion yet.
• Then the killing and capture of the terrorists from Russia who bombed the Marathon finish line.

During all this the weather has not been good to us, with spring STILL not making it's entry. People are talking that we may see Summer come first. The weather will go from cold and rainy and snowy to warm and no in between. My goodness so much to make your head swirl. Life sure can be over-whelming at times.

On a lighter side...........I had U-Verse was installed on the 12th and it is working wonderfully well, there were a few kinks, but they got worked out. If ever you are deciding to change your TV-Internet-phone bundle, do go with U-Verse, I have the basic and that has enough channels to keep me as a happy camper. I don't have to fool around with rabbit-ears anymore and that just about drove me crazy!!!! So it is true everything has a happy ending eventually.

I was able to go to the Scrap Booking Expo in Milwaukee yesterday. Really enjoyed the outing, weather was good for traveling. We left at 7:00am, stopped for breakfast at 9:00am and got to the Fair Grounds about 10:15am. We followed "Mr Garmin" all the way down there and did not get lost!!!! "Mr Garmin" is something I shall have to get if ever I take a trip to someplace far away.

Anyways, we got to the Expo and received a free gift of a glue stick and hot pink color pen. The first vendor I went to she was making butterflies with a die cut that cost $15 and running the butterfly through her cuttlebug. Well naturally I had to get that butterfly..........wish I had had the $$$$ to get a few more die cuts. But, maybe next time. Found a few other things that I will eventually use....probably tonight.

Well I think I shall close this blog for today. I have some turkey soup cooking. Put the carcase in hot water and added some chicken stock. Time to take the turkey out of the hot water and add some onions and noodles and then debone the carcase.....nothing more added, just a simple basic soup for today. You probably noticed the card way above.....That is a birthday card using the "Polaroid picture" effect. Taping off the edges then sponging the card and stamping the image. I will be putting this card in my Etsy store today for $3.00. Just a simple basic Birthday card.

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

Birthday Cards and a Smoothie

I was asked to make a card for a man in Hilbert who turned 105 years old this week. Put the card on Facebook and thought I should add it here too. So what do you think??? Been having lots of fun making these cards, cause no two have been alike. I just picked up the "model T Ford" stamp at Hobby Lobby. So when I was asked to make the card, just so happened, I had the stamp.....good timing!

This is the inside of the "105 year old" card.

Here is a look at another one of my "Children's Cards" for a 9 year old. (that's a long way from being 105!!!). I can make this for a little girl also.....the ideas are endless, as long as there is a stamp, there is an idea!!! I will be putting this card up in my Etsy store in about a week or so. I think today I am putting #7 in my Etsy store today. The card will be for $3 + postage ($5 total). I should be charging much more for these cards as I put a lot of time into them. But I figure postage will cover that. I guess this is just a labor of love on my part and hopefully lot's of people will enjoy my cards and I will see a few more orders for them.

Had a smoothie this morning..........didn't exactly have THIS ONE. The above picture is one from a few weeks ago. BUT it looks pretty much the same........GREEN!!!!
Today's smoothie:
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 T Chobani yogurt (chocolate or any flavor you desire)
3-4 strawberries
handful of kale (what fits in the cup)
a few leaves of mint
a few sprigs of parsley
Mix altogether and enjoy!!

I bought a smoothie recipe book at Sam's club and found a few smoothies I want to try. There are so many recipes out there....guess it is just your preference as to what you want to drink.....they all look great. For me it is what I have in the house at the the time. Guess I will always have strawberries, blueberries, bananas, spinach and kale.....so that will be my "go to" every day.

Well, today will be a quiet day....guess I have to take my Christmas tree down.....it has Valentines on it right now.........thought about a St. Patrick's tree. Saw some Easter lights at Shopko yesterday and thought well, why not an Easter tree!?!? Don't think the husband would go for that though.

Took the taxes in yesterday.......now the wait to see if we get a refund.....hoping, hoping....please be kind Obama!!! Have to work on bills and balancing the check book today....another chore that takes awhile. There's never quite enough money to cover the bills....but it always seems to work out at the end of the month for some reason. Miracles upon miracles!!

Well, time to close here for today. Time to go make JP's lunch and get him ready to go off to work. You all have a great day and enjoy the weather that comes upon you. We are starting to get some of that snow that is hitting the midwest and 10 inches for Chicago. Guess we are getting snow-showers, better then rain-showers, ceiling doesn't leak with snow-showers.
Keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!!
Cheers ~ Louise



Funny Picture Saturday and Snow Blowers

Found this funny picture the other day on the internet. Poor puppy dog, hope he didn't get into too much  trouble with his owners that day. We had a dog named Alvin who pulled the instillation out of the walls......gosh did we get upset with him. Hyko had the garbage thrown all over the kitchen and then they look up at you  with their big brown eyes and say like.........."I don't know, who did that, must have happened all by itself...."

Well, I kinda got upset today........our electric/gas bill went up $20 bucks a month......yikes. We have been on a budget of $113 a month for a couple of years........we could manage that. Now it's $133 a month, guess we will have to cut something out......I am sure this is an OBAMA thing, some how he caused this with his tax cuts, "fiscal cliff deal" and ObamaCare. Food does not seem to be going down, but up, up, up!!! Where I used to spend $40 - $50, now I am spending $60-70 on food. Should be an interesting year for all of us, hope you have a faith in knowing that all things will work together for good to those that love God and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). LOVE GOD......not Obama!!!!

We found a snow blower in Menasha. JP wanted an Ariens electric start. There was a second hand one for sale for $250. They took a trade-in for our old one with delivery ($40) which brought the total to $210 and that was including taxes!!!! JP was going to give the old snow blower to a man at church for free.........I said, "NO, see if you can get a trade-in and get something for it"........yay, he actually listened to me and we did get something off for the blower. Well, hope this one lasts a couple of years and will be easier to start for JP. It won't be delivered till Tuesday, so after that, it can snow.

Well, time to cut this short, have a few things to do. Just love Saturdays and they just don't seem to last long at all. So you all take care and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

BIG Storm "Briana" Coming Tonight and Hibiscus

Hi everyone, how is your day going this dreary day??? No funny pictures today........probably one of those days that we need a funny picture to brighten our spirits. Will have to look for a funny picture, do you have any ideas????

Well, the above picture was of a lovely pink hibiscus flower. I say "was" because I had used www.picmonkey to change the flower into a black and white photo album ready picture. Kind of cool, huh? The program is free to play with....which makes it my kind of program. The next picture you will find what the hibiscus looked like originally, down a paragraph.

OIE!!!!! The weatherman says 6-12 inches for the Fox Cities........well, as long as I don't have to drive in it.  Looked around for some pictures of snow, but could not find any. So, no pictures of snow today, maybe in a couple of days. Weatherman says this will be a big storm..........and guess what ????? our snow blower does not work. JP called Northside to have it picked up $35 and then to work on it, who knows what that might cost. Nothing like waiting to the last minute......procrastination!!!! Well, I guess we weren't the only ones waiting till the last minute to get our snowblowers fixed. Looked like there were 3 other blowers on the trailer also. Our neighbors are coming home today from their trip to Michigan..........soooooo he will be happy to know we are without our blower. Maybe the spirit of "kindness" will fall upon him and he will do our side of the driveway also. JP and John usually take turns doing the drive, as it is connected, so we will see what happens.....when "Briana" makes her appearance.

Pink Hibiscus flower.

Getting a lot of my Christmas planning done. Decorations finally all up, just have to light my Christmas Village. Was debating on whether to bring a box of figurines up, might still do that yet. Still working on JP's stock car racing album. It has been a real 'kick' and I'm enjoying doing it....brings back a lot of memories, that I kinda forgot. Hope JP likes the album. Want to make some pumpkin cookies and a cherry pie yet, the stuff is on the counter waiting to be prepped into what they are supposed to be. Cards are all out, except for one card........Biz, I am still waiting for your address!!!!! Otherwise, maybe I can just kick back and enjoy Christmas now, what there is of it to enjoy. 

Wonder if "Christmas 2012" will be the last Christmas as we know it..........like, what is ahead of us in 2013 with Obama getting a second term, will his agenda roll out into reality? If you saw the movie "2016" our future is not very bright.......and I have a foreboding of what will come of "America" in the next few years if Obama has HIS WAY!!!! Not a very pretty sight. Sad, how the agenda of one man can destroy the lives of many. (like the CT shootings of all those children) I wonder sometimes, where God is in all this, but, HE IS. Do you think that it may be possible that the people of America are getting exactly what they wanted, a dictator??? God allows things to happen for a reason, hopefully in the end it draws all men to HIM and what better time then now......At Christmas time!!! 

Well, I think I shall close this blog for today. Time to get JP off to work, he has been worrying all morning and afternoon about the storm, I keep telling him, there is NOTHING you can do to stop it so just relax!!! His worry sure does drive me crazy!!!!

You all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh! Jesus may be coming sooner then we think............of course if that "end of the world" Mayan prophecy comes true on the 21st............that would be Friday, but then NO ONE knows the time and day of HIS return. 

CHEERS ~ Louise

New Creations and the Elections

My newest addition to my creations. A frosted etched glass dish. Picked this dish up along with 8 other dishes at a rummage sale. My first thought was to break the dishes and turn them into stepping stones. (I still may do that with a few dishes next summer) For now, they will be.....maybe....large candle holders or a serving dish for _______, fill in the blank. The snowflake was made with my Cricut cutter, cut the snowflake on vinyl then put it on the plate. This particular dish had 3 coats of etching goop applied to it. It was a lot of fun to make and most likely will make a few more.

My second creation is this cute little candle holder with snowflakes on all four sides. The snowflake is from a die-cut which was run through my cuttlebug. The etching goop was applied and left on for 15 minutes then washed off with cold water. I have 3 more to make and probably will put one in my Etsy shop in the next few days. Will also make a few for Christmas gifts. Will have to sell the candle holder for at least $10, as the light and candle holder alone were priced at $4.50. Have not found a place cheaper as yet, but will be looking around.

Also on my agenda is putting together a scrapbook for JP's Christmas present. 40 years ago, when JP was still in stock-cars and racing, I put together 2 scrapbooks in 1972 and 1973. Those books are falling apart now, so I thought it would be fun to put one together. I am hoping to get at least 3-4 pages done (maybe more) before Christmas.......as I get them done I will post them here. Bought this big blue photo album and extra pages for the smaller pictures and actually found some racing stickers and 12x12 racing paper. Should be fun. So far I have about $40 into this project. Hope JP likes the album and doesn't ask me "how much did it cost?"

Still working on my Christmas cards, better get going on them SOON, cause Christmas is right around the corner and I have at least 25-30 personal cards to make and also put some into my Etsy shop. As you can see I am just a little busy, craft wise. There is always something cooking on the stove in my home.....hahahahahaha!

Well, the elections are FINALLY over. I think I am "politics saturated" and ready for some R & R (rest and recuperation) from politics, although I still like listening to Rush Limbough, Sean Hannity and Mark Levine. I had hoped that Mitt Romney would have gotten elected but that was not the will of God...........He is in control of everything and that includes these elections. I don't really understand what it is we are to learn from this, but whatever it is...."All things work together for those that love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Well you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption is drawing nigh......getting closer everyday♥
Cheers ~ Louise

Locast and "Hurricane Like" Wind Storm

Locust...........you hear them all around you during the summer months, but never see them. Well, here you go, I found one up close for you to see......ugly little chap isn't he/she???? How I came upon this lovely locust.......was cleaning up a little after the storm and brushing the leaves off our car and WA LA a locust!!!! I ran for my camera and took a bunch of pictures. I think God placed this bug on my car.......I know, I know sounds kinda crazy.......but, a few nights ago as I was letting my dogs out and waiting for them, was listening to the locust and thought....."how come you never see them God, only hear them?" I believe this is my answer from God.......

Years ago, when I was 7 or 8, remember leaning up against a tree......and BUZZZZZZZZ...leaned up against a locust, scared me alot, but I remember what it looked like to this day. I have always loved the sound of locust, but maybe seeing the damage they make, may not like that.

So here are pictures of the damage done in our back yard after the storm hit. Two large limbs came down, one on my little swing and the other on our roof. The limb on the roof caused more damage to our "leaking ceiling" cause after the limb hit, the "drip, drip, drip" became a steady flow of water. Gosh, I get so angry at the roofer who supposedly "fixed" our roof. Because of HIS greed and wanting more money in HIS pocket we are paying for HIS neglegence. There is no recourse for us, he sold his business and we don't have the money to sue........so here we sit with a leaking roof that just gets worse.

Oh...another thing that happened during the storm, the electricty went out....from 9:30am, off till 1:30am....16 hours, gosh we sure are dependant on electricity aren't we? Well, I brought out the candles, and got the Fondue Pot going for coffee......funny how you crave certain things when they are taken away. Any other day I could go all day without a cup....but yesterday, no sireeeee! I started to worry about the frig and if things would stay frozen and cold. I took some chicken out to defrost in the frig to keep things cold in there. Fired up the grill about 6:30pm and cooked some sausage, a small packet of chicken and a hamberger and 3 small potatoes. Just in case JP ran out of food to eat. When he was about to come home I got the Fondue pot going put some chicken soup in it and the chicken, sausage and potatoes. (the hamberger was eaten by Louise) So, it turned to be a good meal......just as JP was eating, the lights came on.....what magic!

Another picture of the limb on our roof.......I am hoping we can find a good samaritan that will come with a chain saw, needing free fire wood to come take the limbs down for us, we can pay for the gas. But that is it, cause we really need to get our roof redone and you know........finances just are not there at this time and the mortgage needs to get paid yet......Thank you Mr. Obama for all you help!!!

Well, you all have a good day ~ Cheers ~ Louise

Hel.....looooooo? Where did Summer GO?

I must have closed my eyes for a season and missed summer..........where did it disapear to? I know I have been busy, but here it is August already and I am not even sure we had a summer. Good grief and September is right around the corner. I was doing dishes this morning and actualy saw a leaf on the backyard tree starting to turn to it's lovely orange and yellow colors of FALL.......yikes winter is not far behind.

Well, I have been pretty busy making cards lately. Was able to put some cards in the "Inches A Weigh" establishment and have actually sold a few cards. (or should I say, they sold themselves)I am trying to refresh the card basket with new cards every couple of weeks just to keep things interesting. Following are some of my newest cards that I will soon be adding to my etsy store also.

A lovely elagant wedding card in light blue, I have a wedding card in light violet and teal and may add those at a later date. Isn't life Sweet and a little note card that you can add your own sediments to. I am going to try and add a few more cards to this blog................if it will let me.

Next on the agenda is a little aligator birthday card. It tickled my funny bone when I first laid eyes on it. I really must buy this stamp so I can have him close at hand. In the mean time I will have to borrow him from Betty. My Thinking of You card was made from a tag punch.........another item that I need to purchase (hopefully I can sell enough cards to buy these two items in the near future. Well, I will add a few more cards on my next blog at: http://www.cards4ubylouise2.blogspot.com/ keep you in suspense so you will have to check that blog out also.

We have been pretty busy, doing lots of yard work, house work, body work..................I am still stuck at 10 lbs and 20 inches, well, guess that is better then nothing. 10lbs is 10lbs and 20inches is 20inches, can't bark at that, that is for sure.

Goodness, alot of things have happened this summer. Micheal Jackson and Farah Fawcet died, Obama wants to put us under bondage with his health care regiem, Farve is not going to the Vikings and is actually retiring, Jeanene won "So you think you can dance" (I was hoping for Brandon), Adam Lambert lost to what's his name on American Idol oh and Paula will not return to Idol...........I think she will go on to judge on So you think you can dance..........my prediction.

This will be the summer of surprises............well, I think I will close this one for awhile...........I await your comments................have a great day and keep looking up. Louise

Yep, life is sweet!!!!!!

Easter and Monday Ramblings.........

It's going to be a quiet day today. So far today, I pulled up some of the merchandising jobs that I need to do tomorrow and Wednesday (taking down all the Easter cards, counting and tearing them and putting up the Mother's Day cards.........that will keep me busy. Plus, I just checked out Etsy and made a few changes in the store, added a card for Mother's Day and changed the announcements. Check out my store at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ Oh, and while you are reading this blog, press the play button on my new gadget and listen to some David Archuleta music>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Perhaps today I will go into my studio (sounds so much more professional then "going downstairs in the basement....lol) and make a few cards for the store and build up my inventory. Was reading on the forum, what people look for in cards that are made. Mostly note cards with it being blank on the inside, so they can write their own sediments. Maybe a few wedding cards, baby cards, congrats cards. Oh and cards for men. Someone could not find a Valentines card for a male...............so I need to keep that in my mind for next year.

JP is talking to his mother right now..........she still lives in Chicago. She is giving him the low-down on what happened at yesterday's get-together for Easter with the family. I talked to my step-father on Saturday, he lives alone in Las Vegas, he was going to make a chicken in his "NuWave" oven. I made a turkey on Thursday, so now we have the left-overs to eat. Yesterday we went to a friends house for Easter, we had Ham, potatoes, asparagus, spinich salad, relish tray, cherry salad and dessert was a double chocolate brownie with whip cream......oh yummmm!

Let's see, what else is going on today and this week. As I look at the calendar........going to Betty's house next Tuesday, she teaches card making, for $12 we make 4 cards of different designs, it is always fun going there and learning something new.

In May we are looking at going down to Chicago for our niece Callie and her fiance Matt's wedding. Should be fun, I hope, but the older I get, the more I just want to stay home, have become quite the home body, I guess. Everything is costing so much, there is not much you can do now a days and keep it under $100. Ha......that is a laugh, by the time Obama is done with us, we will need to be bailed out. My step-father says JP and I should be doing okay what with social security coming every month. I honestly have not seen relief yet, if it wasen't for that check I get, we would not have been able to pay our mortgage, it has been that tight. Thank God for social security.

Well, I think I am going to shut this blog down, as I need to go make JP his sandwiches for his lunch box and also make something for him before he leaves for work. No problem though, Turkey is on the menu oh and turkey soup.

So you have a great day and keep looking up! I
{{{{hugs}}}}
Louise